Chapter 18 - Feelings

As Soleil was flying on the skies above the winds were getting strong and the sky was beginning to look unclear. Sefir noticed that it was getting dark and as he began to look around he saw a plateau with a clear landing spot. He commanded Soleil to land there and the dragon did as he wished. Sefir got off the dragon's back first then he assisted Genieva to get down as well and unsummoned the dragon.

"We should set up camp here for now. It's too dangerous to fly when the sky is this dark." Sefir said

"Who knew that the dragonrider was scared of flying into the dark sky?" Genieva joked.

"Its basic flying you know. You don't fly when the sky condition is unusually dark." he replied.

"Geez you don't have to be so serious about it" she replied and walked around to examine the terrain.

The plateau was high above the ground and it had a clear summit and it looked stable. Sefir decided to spend the night on top of the plateau. He had alot of things in his mind.

"Where do I go from here? Where do I start? Why did she come with me?" Sefir thought to himself.

"We don't have a tent?" Genieva asked him

"Do we need one?" Sefir replied coldly

"Ugh... I hate sleeping outside the cold." she replied

Then at a glance Sefir examined the terrain. He saw some trees with big leaves and twigs lying on top of the plateau he pointed at them and said.

"We could use those to make a makeshift shelter if you want"

"You better get a move on then" Genieva demanded

"Fine, but if you don't help you're not sleeping in MY tent" Sefir said with wit.

Genieva was forced to help with the construction of the shelter so they gathered the materials and began making the shelter. After a few hours they have made their shelter into a reality.

"It doesn't look so bad..." Sefir said.

"Yeah I guess you're right. Besides it's only for one night." Genieva said "Now we need food." she added

"We don't need food.  We are dark souls.... We are technically immortal..." Sefir replied.

"You didn't have to remind me....I want to feel human you know atleast in that aspect." she replied

"Well that's far from happening" he replied and sat down on the ground.

Genieva gathered some twigs and lit a bonfire with her power. She sat down beside Sefir. They were under their makeshift shelter. After a few minutes she tried to spark a conversation.

"So.....what were you like when you still.....you know had your humanity?" Genieva asked.

"I don't want to talk about it" Sefir immediately replied

"Aww c'mon, besides it's just the two of us here now." she replied.

"Still no." he replied coldly.

"Well.... can you at least tell me if you have ever been in love?" she asked some more.

"Yes." Sefir answered. "It happened when i was still human." he added.

"What was it like?" Genieva asked "because you know....I've never been in love" she added.

"It's a waste of time....because in the end you will lose the one you love anyway..." Sefir said.

"Someone's bitter" Genieva commented.

"I loved her with all my heart Genieva....but then....I was appointed as guardian of Ivalice which in return resulted to me never seeing her again.... I almost died fighting Nerzhul at that time... and she thought I was already dead. I tried to go back to Shylark but I cannot because she might not accept me anymore so in return.....I began to forget her and soon after that, my memory of her loving her faded away...." Sefir told Genieva.

"You were guardian? So that's why you know all of those things..." Genieva said. "I'm so sorry..." she added.

"It's okay.....It was a petty feeling anyway...." Sefir said.

"Sefir.....do you know the reason why I accompanied you?" she asked

"Yeah.... you are loyal to me." he replied.

"I am not only loyal to you.... I want to be with you when your world becomes a reality." She added

"Extreme Loyalty huh?" Sefir asked "I would've expected less from you Genieva" 

"I also have feelings for you but you just might not understand" Genieva thought to herself.

"You better get to rest now Genieva we need to leave early for tomorrow" Sefir said.

Genieve went inside the tent now and Sefir stayed outside to stand guard if ever they were ambushed by Nerzul's Shade. While standing outside he cannot help think about the time when he was guardian. While he was outside, it began to rain.

"Rain...yes it was rainy that day too..." Sefir said to himself.

He remembered the day when he left Shylark for his mission on eliminating Nerzhul's evil that has spread to Ivalice. It was raining heavily then.

"How long has it been....since I left..." He murmured again.

Suddenly flashbacks of that time began to occur in his mind. He remembered not only the rain but also the person who had seen him off.

"So you're actually going now huh? You're not gonna say goodbye to her?" Cairn said.

"It would only sadden her. I do not want to bring her that kind of burden." Elrond said.

"It would sadden her indeed, but at least you said goodbye to her formally." Cairn replied.

"I have a feeling that we won't see you again..." Cairn added.

Cairn noticed that his daughter was already awake because of the rain. She saw her father and Elrond talking with each other. Cairn left to leave them alone to talk about things.

"Elrond, where are you going?" The girl asked

"I'm headed off to start my journey. To destroy the evil that Nerzhul has conjured." Elrond replied.

"Oh....well...will I see you again? Will you come back afterwards?" The girl asked.

"I will... But always remember this, I will always be with you." Elrond replied with a smile.

"Please come back safe to me....I do not want to lose you... Elrond.." She said.

She hugged Elrond very tight like it was the last time they'll ever see each other. Elrond held her tight as well and tried not to let her go.

"I'll be back for you....Maaya...I promise.." Elrond said as he let go of her and he went on his way.

"I'll be waiting!!" Maaya said.

Sefir now wondered in his mind.

"Will you still accept me like this?" He murmured to himself.

"It's been two years...since I've seen her...Maaya...I'm very sorry..I should have never left you....I should have never accepted that task...." He thought.

"Two years indeed Sefir or should I say...Elrond." a mysterious voice said.

"Who's there?!" Sefir said as he drew Cerberus.

The voice vanished away in thin air. The rain still poured heavily and Sefir is no soaked with the rain from head to toe. Sefir cannot help but think about the past that he had already left behind.