Chapter 165, The Silhouette of Night

It was pouring, we were all inside the hotel. It doesn't seem to want to let up any time soon. It's been raining since yesterday, the two have yet to wake up.

"This is really worrying." Lia says.

"It is." The manager of the hotel, a young man with golden hair, white skin and amber eyes said as he offered us tea. "There hasn't been a storm this strong in a while."

"So storms really hit Blue Lagoon City?" Mayumi asked.

"Yes. They reach us but there has never been storms as strong as this before." He answered. "Could something have happened to the Shrine of the Great Spirit?"

"Shrine of the Great Spirit?" Eddy asked.

"Ah, it's located on a small island in the middle of the lake." He answered. "There's this legend about a water spirit dwelling within the lake after all."

"What legend?" I asked.

"On the island rests the great spirit, when the sun is covered by dark shadows, the waters shall swell and whirlpools shall form, when the island is covered by mist, wander not the shores nor the the waters, lest you wish to be lost." He said. "It's an old legend. If ever there's a storm, or the island where the shrine is located is covered in the mist, no one ever goes near the beach or the small rivers that feed the lake. Not unless they want to get lost."

"What do you mean? Get lost?" Adele asked.

"The Great Spirit, Spriggan is said to dwell on the island. If ever it awakes, the beach is covered by a mist that causes any to enter it to get lost." He answered. "Many have lost things precious within the mist."

"Spriggan... the guardian of treasure...?" Licht said. "Van?"

"No idea." Van answered. "But I'll check."

Van takes to his feet, taking out his book, a tower of paper surrounds him. He begins to scan the many pages before all but one returns to his hand.

"The Watcher of Treasures rest amidst the mist, holding on to a vow that was made seven years." He read. "Only the one who walks amidst the mist shall meet with the Mischievous Fairy."

"There's no proper explanation?" Xander asked.

"No." Van answered. "If my powers as Le Livre are being tampered with, that means..."

"Arata is the only one who knows the truth." Licht stated. "Le Fleur alone has the power to tamper with the abilities of the other Called Ones."

"So, to get to the bottom of this we have to wait for Arata." I sighed.

-----

"Ugh..." I opened my eyes, I was lying on a bed, Arata seemed to clinging tightly to me. I pat his head and keep him close to me. "I'll definitely keep you safe, Arata."

The howling of the wind and rain against the class persists. It's just like that day, five years ago. Arata, no matter what happens, since that day seven years ago I promised I'd keep you safe.

"Will..." Arata now calls my name as he stirs, his hands don't seem to want to let go anytime soon.

I lie there for a while before my stomach growls and I get up from the bed. Arata has released me but just incase, I take off my shirt and wrap it around a pillow and leave it by his side.

Changing into a different shirt, I open the door and see that Adonis and Mitan are walking to the lower floor.

"Mitan! Adonis!" I called to the two.

The three of us go down where breakfast was being served. As we watched the news, a reporter informs us that the storm is growing so strong that all citizens are advised to stay indoors at all time.

"This could be very bad." Mayumi says. "If the storm persist then it ciuld cause a flood."

"It won't flood, little lady." An middle aged man, with gray hair and light brown skin smiled as he set down a plate.

"What do you mean?" Moyu asked.

"Five years ago, a storm just like this came, just as it suddenly appeared it also suddenly disappeared. It left as abruptly as it came." He says. "Without a trace, the rain and wind disappeared to a clear sky in a matter of moments."

"Five years ago?" Ethan asked.

"That's right. Five years ago a storm as strong as this came and for some reason it left suddenly." He says and moves over to give me a cup of tea. "If I recall correctly, back then two young lads, a black haired young man and a blond boy appeared and said that no one should leave their homes the night before the storm passed."

"A black haired young man and a blond boy?" Andrew asked.

"Yes. To tell you the truth the two actually stayed at this hotel, I was a young trainee back then, but I remember it clearly." He said. "The two left the hotel in the dead of night, the winds were howling, the rain was pounding the glass of the entrance."

"What happened to the two?" Theo asked.

"Nobody knows. The two took a boat out to the lake in the midst of the storm. The townsfolk found their boat on Fairy Island after the storm calmed." He continue. "Tied to a dead tree, footprints that entered the woods were all that were left, no sign of them leaving the island. No body knows what has become of the two."

"I see. Did you happen to get their names?" Van asked.

"No. The two were always together, the black haired young man kept close watch over the blond boy." He answered. "Nobody here knew them. The blond boy would do most of the talking, the black haired young man would only nod or talk to the blond boy."

"Then we have no way of knowing who they were." Andrew sighed. "Or what's become of them."

"Only the Island knows what has happened to the two young souls." The man says before leaving.

I sigh, trying to forget that day but it seems some people still remember it.

-----

"Arata... you've finally returned." A voice said.

On the island at the center of the lake, a sole silhouette appeared from the mist of the forest. With dark green hair, brown eyes and white skin, it gazed at the other side of the lake longingly.

"William, will you choose, Clear Skies or Rough Waters?" He said as he disappeared once more into the mist.

As the man's silhouette disappeared into the darkness, an old was about to unravel. An old promise and a responsibility that was abandoned, a role left unfulfilled, a choice not made.