The Ark Of Lost

Raiyen was in the forest, around the outskirts of the Old Chapel, practicing his knife throwing. But Ashley had forgotten about the competition and was slumped down in front of the fireplace.

"You okay, Ashley?" asked Mavislin, tugging the stick man out from his daydream.

Ashley, with the little girl's permission, carried Mavislin up and onto his lap. He stared blankly at the fireplace and then at Mavislin, meeting her small, pure eyes. He gingerly combed through her chestnut locks, earning a wholesome smile from the Valkyrie.

"Why are you sad?" asked the little Valkyrie.

"I'm not," replied the stick man, forcing a smile.

"Your eyes are heavy," argued the little child with her stuffed toy bunny.

"I'm not sad, I'm just tired."

"Tired? Sleep!"

"It's not as simple as that. And besides, I don't even know what I want for myself," replied Ashley, rubbing his face.

"Why? What happened?"

"Well, if I do go back to my family, which Minwoo is forcing me to do now, I'm not gonna enjoy it. But I've got no choice. If I go back to the Mafia, they'll know that I belong to the Marquess' family."

"But Minwoo is good? Why you no like him?"

"It's not Minwoo that I don't like. It's the entire system of the family that I don't like. Minwoo's not truly the boss just yet. If I go back, I'll be working under people who don't give a rat's arse about me. I'll be worked to the bone with no chance of promotion."

"Then go back to the Mafia?"

"They'll kick me out in they're kind enough. Kill me if they are having a bad day. I'm just sick and tired of being stretched out in the Mafia as well as family problems. Minwoo is taking the lead and I'll be left in the dark, as usual."

"Alone..."

"And I'm on the verge of blowing up if someone doesn't do his job properly. The Mafia is doing the best we can, at least before I met Minwoo again. But it's never enough for the people."

"That's not fair..."

"Yea, but that's true. I know for a fact that people don't give two cares about other people unless they have a want or need. And that to excel that is entirely dependant on you."

"That's life. I think we have to accept it. But I'm glad that exists."

"Why? I don't think so, that's why I want to get away from people."

"Because of people like that, the lesser ones are given a chance to soar greater. Gillian told me that Old Man Pond is their enemy but without him and his anger, there won't be the Mages around us. I won't have a home."

"I guess I wouldn't either since, without the Mages, the Husks would've killed me. But now, I still don't have a home to come back to."

"Stay with us?"

Ashley froze. This was the same person he'd tried to kill a day ago. And she's willingly inviting him to stay? Moreover, he'd been hating Mages for all his life. He can't possibly live with a house full of them.

No, he loathed them. They were the ones who caused chaos. Without them, there won't be an issue of the Husks. Without them, humans won't end up having a bias against one another. Ashley clenched his fists and bit his lip.

The little Valkyrie sensed there was something wrong with Ashley and gave him a little snuggle using her bunny on his chest.

"How long have you been in the Mafia?" asked Mavislin.

"About 21 years. I'm about 30. I made friends with the Mafia at a young age. But I fully entered it ten years ago," replied Ashley, trying to remember his past.

"Little Mavislin," whispered Ashley, to the little girl.

"Hm?"

"What do you think is passion?"

"Uhm... Mama used to tell me passion is something you like to do, without profit, purely for the benefit of your happiness."

"Your advanced speech is so random..."

"Why that question?"

"Because, to me, passion is in the action of doing things. And passion is so easily used for the benefit of others."

"Then you can't let them do that! If you want to fly, you gotta own your wings and soar!" said Mavislin, giving a determined look.

"Hehe..."

"But you gonna do something else?"

"Most probably. I get the sense that I'm not doing the best I actually can."

"Then do it!"

"Looks like Mavislin is the only one that can talk to you about this, eh?" asked Minwoo, coming in with a fresh look.

"Hmph. At least she's a kid, she doesn't have to understand a whole lot."

"Don't be so sure about that. This child has seen conflict like no other. The Battle of Valokia was not one to look down upon," explained Ysabeau.