Chapter 21

I had to shield my eyes from the light using my arms. It was blinding; I felt my eyes burning at the thought of it. Zath shielded his eyes and me too, ready to jump in front of me in case anything dangerous happened. It took a while to cool off, and seemed to only get brighter as the seconds went on. In the end, it dulled and formed into a ball, letting me see that Alys was no longer visible. I used my initiative and hoped that he was inside the ball. Just after the ball had formed, it began to crack, rays of light pouring through, small parts chipping off like an animal hatching from an egg. I had to shield myself for a second time, and Zath pushed me behind him a little. The last of the ball cracked, and the light dulled, leaving an elf behind, with white hair and white horns. He resembled Alys quite a lot. It then hit me; it was Shyael, back from the dead. 

Elaria was quick to act. She almost threw herself on him, sobbing and suffocating him with her hug. He returned the hug slowly, possibly a little tired from the amount of magic he used. What surprised me was that his hair was long again; it was no longer shabbily shaven, and reached the middle of his back. She moved back eventually, looking his face over. 

"I can't believe it," she mumbled, tears streaming down her face as she tilted his. 

"You don't know how difficult it was to resist, to keep it a secret," he replied, holding her hands and removing them from his face, locking his hands in hers. 

"But why? Why didn't you tell me?" She uses  

"I know what happens to elves like me, what's to say you wouldn't love me anymore?" He sunk back a little. "I fell to the darkness, gave in. My mind was clouded with negativity, and all I could think of was the worst thing that could happen; you would no longer love me. I was scared, and I'm sorry,"

Elaria smiled, embracing him once more. "Don't ever think that. I'll always love you,"

"I know you will," he hugged her back. 

"My Goddess, I tried to murder my own friend," Lydan mumbled. "I attacked my own friend, insulted my own friend, almost got him killed-"

"You didn't know," Shyael turned to him with stormy white eyes. "It's natural for you to react like you did, I'm not going to get angry at you,"

"But-"

"Lydan, don't worry," he shakily stood up, supported by Elaria. "It's alright, I'm not going to hold it against you,"

"If it helps, you were arguing with me more than him," Alys spoke, taking us all by surprise. He looked like a spirit now, except he wasn't blue and had his usual colours. The only difference was that he was slightly transparent. 

Lydan pointed between the two, most likely a little confused at the two. I'm sure we all were actually. 

"Shyael's too pure of heart to be tainted by the darkness, so instead of tainting him, it formed into me," he explained. 

"And how do you know?" Lydan asked. 

"I talked to Vinia," he replied. "She's actually quite nice,"

"You talked with the Goddess?" Lydan's jaw practically hit the floor. 

"Yeah?" He shrugged it off. 

"Casually?"

"Yeah?"

Lydan spouted a bit of nonsense, pointing at him in utter confusion. On the other hand, Alys appeared as if it was a normal thing. 

"What?" He asked. "What did I do?"

"Well, it's usually not a normal thing to talk to a Goddess like a normal elf," Shyael explained. "And when did this happen?"

"When you two were dancing," he replied. "I'm surprised you didn't notice I was gone," 

"You two danced?" Lydan asked. 

"Under the moonlight, as a blessing," Elaria said. "I'm sure that Ignis heeded our call,"

"I'm sure he did," he kissed her on the forehead. 

"I still can't wrap my head around the fact that I've been friends with the Altum," Zath added. 

"Well, you talked to me more than him," Alys told him. "I kept him away from control the most that I could,"

"That reminds me, why did you do that?" Shyael questioned. 

Alys shrugged in return. "Let's just say that it wasn't something you'd like to see,"

Shyael nodded, knowing what he meant. 

"But still, you're royalty," Zath mentioned. 

"I mean… I suppose so," Alys pondered the thought. 

"Well, now we have three Altums and one Altium," Lydan's lips turned into a small smile. "We should probably tell the Altioreum,"

Shyael turned to the Witch and Hycis. Hycis walked over, looking shocked. He reached his hands out to touch Shyael's face, but he pulled away. 

"You're back," he mumbled. 

"And you tried to knowingly execute the both of us," Alys mumbled. 

"I had no idea that you were my Filius," he replied. 

Alys snorted, laughing under his breath. "You knew perfectly well as soon as you heard we were the witch's Fillius,"

"I had no idea that my Fillius was the Fillius of her," he replied. 

"That's surprising," Alys raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. 

"What do you mean?" Hycis' tone shifted from joyful to slightly angry. 

"You know what I mean," he replied. "Do you want to tell them, or do you want me to?"

Hycis glared at him with a look fueled by hatred. He mumbled something under his breath in that mystical language. Alys raised his eyebrows higher, smirking. 

"Care to show them Shyael?" Alys looked at him. Shyael seemed a little confused until he tapped his wrist. 

"An Atramento," Shyael let go, pulling the bracelet of hair down to reveal a small tattoo of a flower. It wasn't particularly detailed, and looked more like a birthmark than anything. 

"But…" Lydan paused. "So that means he's related to you?"

"What is it?" I asked, a little confused. 

"All with royal blood have an Atramento," Zath told me. 

"It's fake," Hycis said, speaking in a panicked tone. 

"No it isn't," Alys shook his head. "You lied,"

"Indeed, they are right," the witch walked over, standing next to her son. "Twenty-six years ago, I had a Fillius, his Fillius,"

"You mean…" Lydan looked utterly horrified. 

"They're lying!" He yelled frantically. "They've set it up,"

"Hycis," the woman walked over, Shyael's mother, with her son. "I can't believe it,"

"Elyth, listen to me," he approached her, but she backed away. 

"And I'm not the only one," the witch shook her head. "Am I?"

"How many are there?" Elyth asked. "How many?"

"I…" he stuttered. "I don't know,"

"I can't believe it," she shook her head. 

"I think you're overlooking the real problem here," Hycis interrupted, overruling her. "He's back, and you remember what I said,"

"What?" Zath stared at him as he pointed. 

"You return, you die," Hycis shrugged. 

"Actually, that's incorrect," Lydan shook his head. "According to rule 103, it's Shyael's choice whether to act on it or not,"

"Excuse me?" Hycis turned to him with a deathly glare.

"If a royal commits a deed like you have, they immediately lose control and it goes to the next in line, Shyael," Lydan smirked. "So Shyael, do you think we should kill him?"

"No," he shook his head, smiling at his friend. 

"But it's a rule!" Hycis yelled. 

"Actually, it's not," Lydan shook his head. "I've read all the rules, all the rules, and none are about Periculo. Unless it's hidden somewhere, it doesn't exist,"

Hycis paused, staring at him in disbelief. "You…"

Before we knew what was happening, Hycis had attacked Lydan. He managed to dodge, but Hycis was becoming feral. In the end, Shyael grabbed him with vines, almost tethering him to one spot. Lydan went to grab him, but he pushed him away. 

"Why are you doing this?" Elyth questioned, pain in her voice. "You slept with multiple feminae, you broke multiple rules, tried to murder your own Fillius, if anyone else did that you'd have them executed! What gives you the right to do that? Why do you want to lead, when you know what you've done?"

Hycis took a deep breath, a long deep breath, one that lasted abnormally long. "I'm here to reign eternal. Nobody shall take my place. I'm here forever,"

"Clearly you're not," Lydan shook his head in distaste. 

"I am!" Hycis snapped. "I will rule forever! I have been the best ruler by far! None shall take my place! None shall be better than I am! Look at this place! I've improved it so much! It's so beautiful!"

"Well, considering the laws, you're no longer in power," Lydan shook his head. "Take him away, we'll decide what to do with him later,"

Two guards appeared, and dragged Hycis away, who was throwing a massive tantrum. The witch was surprisingly still stood with us, her hood still covering her face. 

"I was wondering," she looked at Shyael, and then at Alys. "Will you forgive me?"

"For what?" Shyael asked. 

"For everything i've done," she looked at the floor. 

"Of course," Shyael walked over, taking her hands. "Oh my,"

She pushed her hood down, looking at him. Surprisingly, her skin was back to being pale, her eyes were white and her horns were too. She let out a few tears. 

"I'm sorry, I let it take control," she mumbled. "I hurt my own Fillius, and I could do nothing about it. Will you forgive me?"

"Of course I will," he nodded. 

"We both will," Alys nodded. 

"Falling to the darkness is easy, but pulling yourself out it much harder," Shyael told her. "And I'm proud that you have,"

She smiled, hugging him. The stayed like that for a while, with the Witch sobbing softly. 

She pulled away soon after. 

"Your forgiveness is all I need," she smiled. "I hope you can put the old me behind,"

"I can," he nodded. 

"Thank you," she smiled. "You can take me away now, i'll go willingly,"

"I'll visit when I can," Shyael said softly. 

Two more guards appeared, gently taking her away, most likely acknowledging who she was. 

"Oh, I'm so glad you're back," Elyth embraced him. 

"It feels good to be back," he mumbled. "I'm just glad to be accepted once more,"

More guards appeared, and more elves too. It seemed that they were watching from inside. Elves came along, began talking to Shyael and hugging him. It seemed like he knew them all. Eventually, me and Zath got pushed to the back of the crowd. 

"Well, I'm glad this ended on a good note," Zath turned to me and smiled softly. "This reunion's making me tear up,"

"Please don't cry, you'll make me cry," I told him with a smile. 

"I'll try not to," he wrapped his arm around my shoulder, hugging me. 

We stayed like that for a while, before an elf appeared. He seemed to know Zath well. 

"Zath?" He walked up to him, smiling. "My Goddess, it is!"

"Dak," he mumbled. 

"I've missed you," he walked over to him, but Zath pulled away. "What's wrong?"

"You betrayed me," he replied. "That's what's wrong. I've spent nine years on the streets, and once in prison because of you,"

"I didn't mean it," he told him, looking up. "Honest. I still like you, and I was hoping you would too,"

"Well, guess what?" Zath stood tall, smiling triumphantly. "I found someone better than you,"

And with that, he turned to me, his fingers on my chin, and kissed me. I felt my cheek instantly turn red at the contact. It was only a small kiss, a tester of sorts, but it as enough to send Dak raging. 

"Fine then!" He turned away and stormed off, leaving me with a bright red face and Zath with tinted cheeks. Upon seeing my face, his cheek turned darker. 

"I-Im sorry, that was abrupt," he stepped back, rubbing the back of his neck. "I should've asked, I'm sorry,"

"It's fine," I pushed out through my surprise. 

"Really?" He gave me a small smile. I nodded in response, unable to form any more words. "Then… I don't know how to say it," he rubbed the back of his neck, stumbling over his words in embarrassment. "Will you… date me?"

I could only nod. I was unable to form any words through the shock of someone kissing me. I had kissed someone before, but it never felt so… right. It was an odd feeling, I didn't know how to describe it. Upon seeing my nod, his face lit up. He pulled me into a hug, his head resting on mine.

"I'm glad," he mumbled. "I thought I offended you,"

"No," I managed to form. "I'm just not used to it,"

"Well, at least you didn't react poorly," he pulled away to look at me, just as Alys reappeared. 

"Well, it took you long enough," he complained. "Anyone could see your attraction from a mile away,"

"It was that obvious?" Zath asked. 

"Yeah," he shrugged. "But, at least it happened,"

"Yeah, at least it happened," I smiled brightly. 

There was a moment's pause as Shyael, Elaria and Lydan walked over. Shyael had his arm around Elaria, holding her close, and was laughing with Lydan. 

"What happened with you two?" Lydan asked upon seeing our flushed cheeks. 

"They kissed," Alys mumbled. 

"Really! Oh, I'm so glad!" Elaria beamed brightly at us. 

"Thanks," Zath smiled, nodding. 

"Well, I'll sincerely miss having you constantly with me, Iefyr," Shyael stood beside Alys. 

"What?" He looked generally confused at his words. "Why are you calling me that?"

"Because you are," Shyael replied. "You have been heroic,"

"When?" He asked dryly. 

"When you saved us from the witch, when she was evil at least," Elaria added. "Iefyr,"

"Stop calling me that," Iefyr said. 

"What's wrong Iefyr?" Zath asked. 

"Stop,"

"Why, Iefyr?" Lydan added. 

"My name isn't Iefyr, so stop,"

"What are you two doing?" Elyth walked over. 

"Just teasing Iefyr," Shyael smiled. 

"Stop calling me that!"

"Well, as your Puella," Elyth smiled. "Your name is now Iefyr,"

"You aren't even my Puella," he sulked. 

"Well, I'm Shyael's Puella, and he's essentially you, so I'm your Puella," she told him. "Iefyr,"

Knowing he lost the battle, he sulked. We all laughed. At least until his spirit began to waver, becoming more transparent, then less. 

"I take it it's your time to go," Shyael said softly. 

"I think it is," Iefyr nodded. 

"Well, it was nice to know you," Shyael said. "I give you the best of luck,"

"Same here," he nodded. "I'm sure our paths will cross again,"

"I'm sure they will,"

And with that, his spirit finally disappeared into the air. 

"Well, I think it's time to arrange your coronation once more," Elyth's lips curled into a smile. 

"Yes, it is," Elaria grabbed his arm.  

"And to return Oliver home," Zath wrapped his arm around me. 

"Of course," she nodded. "I think it's time the Elves opened trade once more with the humans,"

"I think it is too," Shyael nodded. 

And with that, the story ends.