[6] ONLY I CAN BE

For being the 'Strongest Rookie Seeker', Vyzen felt pretty powerless. The life of his closest friend was in danger and he had willingly left him alone.

Dream. Sliff had said. But to dream, one must live first.

Vyzen knew that this night would be a long one, for even the moon was laughing at him with its big face, making him feel smaller, even more powerless.

He heard soft whistling coming from the corridor to his room, so he leaned even more toward his window, starlight showering his face, breeze blowing his hair. Why did Alaric have to say it? What did he know about Sliff?

The door opened without a sound, this stronghold of Kratur was pretty new, after all. For being a non-affiliated Guild, they sure were quite keen to help the search party.

Alaric stepped in carefully, clanging of glass making his silent steps useless. He settled on the bed, placing two glasses before himself, uncorking a bottle afterward. He exhaled softly, pouring a drink in both glasses. "I don't know what came over me, kid, but what can I do except for apologizing?"

Vyzen turned. "If someone badmouths you, Alaric, I'll make sure they don't have a mouth afterwards." He stepped toward the bed; sitting opposite to Alaric. "And you badmouthed my closest friend. You should be happy we're on the same side."

"I really am, Vyzen," Alaric said, raising his glass. "Happy, but also ashamed. My experiences with friendship have not been that great, you know. But of course, that doesn't excuse my behavior…so, I apologize again, alright?" He pointed at Vyzen's glass.

Vyzen picked up the other glass, gently tapping Alaric's glass with it.

Smiling, Alaric downed his entire drink in a swift gulp. "You can be quiet dramatic, you know that, kid?"

Tears flowed out of Vyzen's eyes as he stared into his own drink. "I'm sorry, Alaric, I couldn't get angry at the council, so I simply redirected all of my anger onto you. I'm the worst…"

Placing a hand on Vyzen's shoulder, Alaric smiled. "It's not your fault, kid, I shouldn't have reduced your dear friend to the identity forced upon him against his will. I really messed up. But everything's fine now, so no need to cry, alright?"

Vyzen looked up, exhaling with his eyes closed. "The council will just execute him after his testimony, Alaric, but the worst thing is that I know it and still can't do anything about it."

"Who said that?" Alaric asked.

Vyzen whipped down his head, meeting Alaric's eyes. "Are you finally ready to switch missions?"

Alaric nodded, pointing toward him. "But even if you're present in the council meeting tomorrow, you won't be able to change their decision."

Vyzen frowned, making a fist. "I'll figure something out. I have to."

Pouring another drink, Alaric chuckled. "You simply don't have the authority to influence their decision, Vyzen. Not only the top guildmasters and commanders of Kyubu will be present at tomorrow's meeting, but also a Celestial."

"I don't care, Alaric," Vyzen said. "I just need to find a way to save Sliff from his execution."

"That's what I'm asking, kid," Alaric said. "How're you planning to do it?"

Vyzen gulped. "I'll figure something out. I… I…"

"Is that how you became the strongest rookie?" Alaric asked. "By not asking help?"

Confused, Vyzen shook his head. "Huh?"

"Being weak is fine," Alaric said. "But being ashamed of it is not. Isn't that what you always say, kid?"

"Yeah…" Vyzen said. "But I'm not weak…or ashamed. Just…"

Alaric chuckled. "There isn't just one kind of strength, Vyzen." He raised his glass. "Asking for the right help from the right people is a power on its own." He downed his drink in a single gulp again.

Vyzen nodded, processing Alaric's advice. "You're right, Alaric. So…will you help me?"

Smiling, Alaric poured yet another drink for himself. "Of course! You're the only one keeping me from thinking that friendship is a waste of time, after all."

Vyzen smiled, frowning just after. "You should try talking to him sometime. It can't be that bad."

Alaric shook his head, waving a hand. "I don't think that things will ever be the same, you know. Ever since he became a commander, Safrax just…changed. If I bring up the past with him, it will only seem like I'm jealous of his success or something." With that, he raised his glass toward Vyzen. "But because I now understand how much you care for your friend, maybe I can save you two from parting ways the way we did, you know."

Vyzen's eyes widened as he smiled. "Thank you…so much, Alaric."

"Be sure to drink this time, kid," Alaric said.

"Oh, right…" Vyzen said, picking up his glass then tapping it against Alaric's glass. "Cheers!" They both gulped down their drinks—

The screech from below jolted them onto their feet.

***

"Is that it?" Lisha asked.

Sliff frowned as he thought. "Did she even listen to what I just said?"

"Declare war on them," Galarax said in a matter of fact tone. "That's what I did, anyway."

"You did what—?"

Lisha chuckled. "That was the stuff of legends when I was younger. We used to listen in awe as the elders told us the stories of the 'Madman' and the Battle of Burning Lands."

"Huh?" Sliff said in confusion. "I didn't think she was that much younger than you, Galarax."

"She's not," Galarax said. "She's actually older than me—" Lisha knocked his head with a jug.

"Let's just say," Lisha said, flushing. "I know about Luma, more than anyone here."

Galarax shrugged. "Fine."

"So how old are you?"

"I was thirty-two when I died," Galarax said. "But telling you how old my spirit is right now will be quite difficult, kid."

"Why's that?"

"Because of time, Bryphon," Bazyn said, lying on his hands which rested atop the table.

"Bryphon?" Lisha said, laughing. "Where'd that come from?"

"Brown-haired Zyphon," Bazyn said, shrugging. "Bryphon."

Galarax chuckled. "Anyway, it's as Bazyn said, time is weird in the spirit planes."

"Normally," Lisha said. "Time is determined by the celestial bodies, but here, the thing you thought was the sun, was actually just another element of the plane."

"I…" Sliff said. "Don't really—"

Lisha sighed. "For your dummy brain, just know that time does not flow here in the way you're used to. These guys tried to keep track of time in other ways. But after I got here and told them 'when' I died, their clocks basically failed."

"Is that so…" Sliff said. "But what about day and night? Or even weather?"

"Each region has its own special properties," Galarax said. "While it may be a dark, winter night in my region, meanwhile, Lisha or Bazyn's region may be experiencing the brightest spring morning."

"Wait. Wait…" Sliff said. "What do you mean by 'your' region?"

Lisha snorted. "Not the sharpest knife, are you twiggy? What do you think we do here? Just sit around and play all day?"

Sliff's eyes widened. "I never really thought about it…"

"Each member of the Valhalla council has a region to protect," Bazyn said. "What did you think this meeting was about?"

Sliff gasped. "Then...all of you are kings!"

"Warriors," Galarax said. "Nothing more, nothing less."

"But what do you protect…" Sliff asked. "And against whom?"

"Invaders, of course," Galarax said, as Lisha shook her head. "Distorters threatening the peace of Valhalla."

"And we protect the natives," Lisha said. "The ones who were here when this plane was created."

Sliff's head was spinning, not knowing what to say or even what was said.

Lisha exhaled softly. "Planes are created by higher beings, twiggy. Do you think the flora and fauna in Valhalla were warriors to be here? No! They are simply elements of this plane. Everything in a plane is its element. That includes us too."

Sliff raised his eyebrows. "Even me?"

Galarax stroked his beard. "Hard to say… Depends on if you can still go back."

Sliff placed his hands on the table, closing his eyes. "Let me see…"

The room went silent, safe for the bubbling cauldron.

"Can you see it?" Galarax asked. "Can you see your Luma, kid?"

Sliff nodded slightly, trying not to break his focus. "But it's not as bright as before… Probably only half as bright…"

"Well, duh…" Lisha said. "You used your technique to get here, remember?"

Opening his eyes, Sliff leaned toward her. "You mean, if I use it to go back, I can never come here?"

Lisha shook her head. "If you run out of Luma, no."

Sliff settled back, his head falling.

Galarax patted his head. "What? Storing Luma is your talent, kid. You'll be able to Store enough of it to return in no time."

Turning, Sliff's eyes brightened. "Really? I can restore the light?"

"Yeah," Galarax said. "There are only two principles of Alchos after all: Storing and Harnessing."

"Oh! I get it now," Sliff said. "But it's not like I really want to go back."

"You have to," Lisha said. "If someone harms your body, you won't ever be able to go back."

Sliff looked at her. "It doesn't matter… I was going to die tomorrow anyway."

"That'll make you useless," Lisha said. "The only thing special about you is that you can freely travel through Valhalla and the human plane. If you just stay here, what'll that make you if not a burden? Don't you have a dream?"

Sliff's eyes widened, he turned toward Galarax, who did not meet his eyes. "I wanted to become…"

"Whatever it is," Lisha said. "It can only be achieved outside of Valhalla. There's no room for dreams here."

Galarax gritted his teeth. "As much as I hate it, kid…she's right."

"But, Galarax…"

"The only bad thing about dying, even as a warrior," Galarax said. "Is that you can no longer dream. I achieved most of mine, but seeing you, I just wanted to give you some hope, shorty."

Lisha shrugged. "Why does it matter? He's going back. He'll dream."

Sliff got up, slamming his hand on the table. "They'll kill me!"

Lisha rolled her eyes. "So, just don't let them."

"How do I do that? Nobody is stronger than the council!"

"Except for a warrior, Sliff," Galarax said, placing a hand on Sliff's shoulder. "And warrior, you are! It's time you accept that."

"I'm not a warrior, Galarax! I'm just…a scared kid."

"You are a warrior, twiggy," Lisha said. "Whether you like it or not."

Sliff's head fell as he tightened his fists. "What kind of warrior has no talent?"

"You, Sliff," Galarax said, smiling. "You're 'The Talentless Warrior'! But a warrior, nonetheless."

Lisha rose, pointing at Sliff. "A warrior never runs away, Sliff. You have to face death with a smile, no matter the situation or the outcome."

Sliff's jaw fell slightly as he mouthed what Galarax titled him.

"I'm…The Talentless Warrior…?"

Galarax smiled. "Fear is not real, kid, it's all in our heads. Everyone dies someday. So it's better to die with a smile than to die scared! And I don't know about you, but I wouldn't be able to smile if I knew I ran away from something that is not even real."

Bazyn raised a fist above his head. "Die like a warrior, Bryphon."

Sliff gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, visualizing his death. A thousand times. "I've died once… I can do it again…"

An orb of bright, silver light floated in the darkness within him.

Sliff touched it gently, feeling the familiar euphoric warmth. The warmth he now realized was the result of his technique. His Alchos. His Luma. He was a strong Lumus, according to Galarax and Lisha after all.

Sliff opened his eyes…wearing a big smile.

"It's just like before, kid," Galarax said. "You're shattering to golden dust."

"So this is what your spirit summon looks like, huh?" Lisha said.

Bazyn's eyes widened as he straightened his back. "Whoa…!"

"See you soon, kid," Galarax said with a smile.

Lisha waved lazily. "Be sure to fight back, okay?"

Sliff nodded, half of his body already shattered to golden dust. He turned to Galarax, before everything became completely bright.

"I'll be a warrior, Galarax," Sliff said. "After all, only I can be...

"The Talentless Warrior!"