Erased

Song rec:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kB4k0Ti4_sE

Michael averted his eyes, "That's... that's not it. I'm just saying you should consider your options,"

Veretta let out a sigh, " I will make my own way in life according to values,"

"Just think about it. That's all I'm asking," Michael said quietly.

Veretta nodded quietly. There was a long pause then, Michael rose from the bed," I should go and speak with the others. Why don't you get some more rest?"

With that, he left Veretta alone in silent contemplation. Just when it seemed like she could reach him, he alway pulled back. Was this his way of ending things? Before they had even begun? Veretta's chest felt heavy...

She closed her eyes, lying back. She began to think on all the moments she had shared with Michael. Things had come to a head so quickly, yet she felt her heart had stirred so easily. It was as if she knew instinctively that he cared for her. But how?

Veretta kept reflecting on each time they were together, the feeling she had for Errik- the pain and the moments of joy and surprise. As these feelings swirled into one, a strange light in her mind seemed to open. She suddenly recalled the night on the mountain. She remembered Michael's kiss and the warm beach. She could recall it all.

Veretta's eyes opened in surprise. Why had she forgotten about that? Michael had asked for magic and they had watched the pink fish dancing. It seemed so vivid now. It was the first time she had begun to have feelings for Michael. It was as if her heart knew all along, but somehow she had forgotten about it completely. If so, then what other memories could she be missing?

Veretta knew what she had to do. That night, she waited until the other parties had Retired. Under the cover of darkness, she snuck over to Michael's room and lightly rapped at the door. Within a moment, he opened the door.

"I've thought about what you said," Veretta said quietly, " I do need to think about my future. I'm going to fight Leva Veral,"

Michael's eyes twitched. He quickly grabbed Veretta by the wrist and dragged her inside. He hastily closed glanced down the hall then closed the door behind them.

"Are you out of your mind?" Michael questioned with an irritated smile.

"It is as you've said. To get power in this world, you must take it from others. Then who better to steal it from than the most powerful woman on the continent?" Veretta replied with an unreadable expression.

"That is not what I meant when I said to think about the future,"Michael signed.

"Think about it," Veretta said cooly," Why return to the college when they don't want me? If I make a name for myself, I can find my future through other means,"

"Do you know what kind of people seek the power of dark mages?" Michael frowned.

"The rich and powerful?" Veretta shrugged.

"Precisely!" Michael snapped, " People who have the means to exploit others,"

"I'm surprised by your reaction," Veretta returned undeterred, " I thought you would praise the Idea. Isn't it something you would do?"

"That is different! " Michael argued.

" What is different about it?" Veretta smiled, " unless you think I don't have the ability to succeed?"

"It is because you succeed that I say this to you!" Michael protested, " surely this wasn't the second chance you had in mind,"

"I am the witch who used you to get revenge. I killed Silthus' men. My own friend died in the pursuit and it didn't stop me," Veretta replied coldly, " are you sure you know my mind?"

Michael seized hold of Veretta's shoulders, "What has gotten into you?"

"This... you and I, it's temporary, isn't it? So what does it matter what I do?" Veretta answered apathetically, "give me one reason why I can't ?"

Micheal pulled Veretta in frantically. His kiss was hard and rough. Veretta pushed him back onto the bed. Her hair slid over her shoulder as she stared down expressionless.

" That is not an answer," Veretta stated icily," you said we couldn't be together. What exactly did you mean?"

Michael attempted to tom his face away, but Veretta caught him by chin forcing his face to hers,"You always look away when you're about to lie" she whispered," if the next words out of your mouth aren't the truth, I will go straight from here to Leva Veral's room to challenge her,"

"Are you threatening me?" Michael grinned.

"It's not a threat If you don't care either way," Veretta answered unflinchingly.

" I do care," Michael said in a low voice, "I don't want you to throw your life away pursuing power as I did. Is that what you want to hear?"

Veretta stared down icily, " There are things I can't remember, do you know the reason why?"

Mchad's eyes widened,"I...I do but..."

Veretta's lips quivered, she pulled back with a hollow laugh. She continued laughing until her eyes were filled with tears. She rose to stand but Michael grabbed her hand desperately. Veretta slapped his hand away.

"Get off me!" She cried, "I knew it was strange! I knew it! Telling me to help Leva Veral. Acting like you care, but pushing me away. And Darius told me about you and Cora. You used me to provoke her into a fight, didn't you? "

"It isn't like that!" Michael entreated," will you just let me explain?"

"You've been using me from the start! " Verettu exhaled a trembling breath. A sudden realization dawned on her," And you've been taking my magic, just like that day on the mountain. You are the reason I felt so weak. Your sudden interest in me, It all makes sense now!"

" What are you talking about?!" Michael shook his head, " I never stole your magic. I asked for your permission and you gave it! Cora attacked me, I never intended to provoke her, but what was I supposed to do? And your memories...it's complicated, "

"What is complicated about it?! Did you or did you not erase my memories? " Veretta snapped.

"I didn't," Michael stated flatly," it was Shallow. I asked him to..."

"Shallow?! Then that is why he didn't answer," Veretta stared down with eyes full of tears, " you did it so you could keep using me without me noticing! "

"I did it so you would forget about me. I did it because I wanted you to be happy without me!" Michael trembled slightly.

"You didn't need magic to do that," Veretta said coldly, " just showing your true colours is enough,"

She stormed out the door slamming it behind her. She hurtled down the hall blinded by tears. Suddenly, she collided straight into another person.

"Veretta? What is wrong?!" Darius asked, taken aback by her appearance.

Veretta opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. She bit her lips hard and took off running once more. Darius called after her, but she was gone. He noticed the door to Michael's room adrift with light glaring out. He slowly approached.

He found Michael sitting on the bed, his head hung low.

"Michael, is everything alright? " Darius asked apprehensively.

At first it appeared Michael did not hear him. Then slowly he rose his head. His eyes were dark, almost bereft of life.

"It's late," Michael said in a low voice, " whatever it is, it can wait, "

"Actually it can't, it's about Leva Veral, " Darius began, " I think you were right..."

Michael let out a long sigh, "Close the door,"

Darius complied. He watched Michael slowly pull out a bottle of wine from a casket on the floor.

"I thought you didn't drink?" Darius questioned.

"Do you want me to listen to what you have to say or not?" Michael shot him an icy glance.

Darius gave a disconcerted nod. Michael filled the glass to the brim and began to chug it down. He licked the red stain from his lips.

" Drinking is the mind killer. That's what my old man always used to say. 'And without your mind, you're nothing'. Why can't the Gods just let me be nothing then?" Michael sniffed.

Darius had prepared his speech anxiously before coming. Now it seemed somehow pointless.

" You asked me before what I was in prison for," Darius poured a glass, " it was for murder,"

Michael glanced up. He seemed neither surprised nor aggrieved by this statement so Darius continued.

" My powers were hard to control. They were frowned upon, despised," Darius said slowly, " but I had nothing else. I joined the knights brigade to feed myself. They looked down on me because of my background. But it didn't matter because I had a friend who believed in me. He didn't do well in training. The others treated him like trash. Only he couldn't bear it like I could. The training master kept pushing and pushing him. One day, he collapsed from exhaustion, but the master wouldn't stop. He started beating while he was down. I stepped in to stop it and next thing I knew...that master was dead and I was put in chains. I never meant to kill him, but I did. I was ready to accept my punishment...but then Silthus came. He overturned the town, killing everyone there. My friend included,"

" Then why did you become his general?" Michael asked.

" He told me he could raise my friend from the dead if I did, using the power of the scroll...all I had to do was take the West. But I couldn't...hurting people, killing them - I couldn't do it. I set up camp hoping to delay the battle as long as I could. Then the ambush happened. And I was back in chains again,"

" So you didn't try to escape on purpose...you wanted to be punished, " Michael took another sip of wine.

"I thought by helping Estelle, I could make up for what I did, but how is this any different than before if I let another person die? Ace was always kind to me. I can't just leave him there. That's what I came here to say,"

" I was a lot like you when I was young..." Michael said at length.

" How can that be?" Darius scratched his head embarrassed, " you were a great wizard. I was just a poor street kid who failed at being a knight,"

"I was lost, trying to find purpose. My friends died and I felt someone had to be punished. But unlike you, I turned that anger outward instead of inward. I punished everyone else and it only made me more miserable. I wanted to die, but I wanted everyone else to die with me,"

Darius flinched, his brow furrowed grievously, " I can't say I haven't felt the same,"

" But you are different to me. You are honest. Transparency so. Your heart pains but remains untainted. You can be free Darius, "Michael smiled mournfully.

"Why can't you be free, Michael? " Darius asked quietly.

"Because I don't want to be free. I want to roll around in the fifth I've created and let it swallow me whole," Michael replied with a mirthless smile.

"I don't that's true," Darius replied sadly.

"It doesn't matter," Michael replied drily, " that's what is going to happen either way. As for this dispute with Veral, do what your heart tells you. It will provide better judgement than I can,"