A Tale of the World **HIATUS**

Chapter 7: The abandoned will always be found

Nina rolled her shoulders around, she was the only left standing. Her audience, mouth dropped open, said nothing, didn't move, even held their breath, for that one girl who challenged five celestial spirits.

"How long are you going to pretend, Gin?" Nina asked.

"Heh, since you are asking," he smiled, stood up, and with one simple twitch, the binds around him shattered. Allie gasped.
No one has ever broken from June's bindings before, so how? How is he able to do that? Allie thought to herself confused and frightened.

He then released an energy that flowed from him that made everyone fall down to their knees, expect Nina; she withstood his force.

They all were breathless. Allie summoned back her celestial spirit and yelled out, "I won't forget this humiliation!" She extended her left arm out, "I, Allie Star, void contract with The Fallen Knight!"

The bind around Rolan dispersed and on his card, a slash through the middle of his card appeared. The tall man picked up Allie and they all ran away.

Nina limped over to Rolan who sat on his knees, depressed. Before he knew it, tears slowly ran down his cheek and landed on his knees. He couldn't help it anymore. He thought back of when he was with Allie. The memories came flooding in. Nina looked over to Gin, he nodded his head forward.

"Hey, Rolan," she said gently, "If you don't mind me asking, why not form a contract with me?"

He looked up to her with his teary eyes. Then looked back down. "No, in the end, I'll be abandoned again," he mumbled. "I don't want to experience this over and over again. It never changes," he wailed.

Nina didn't say anything, she gave him the space he needed.

"If you need some time alone then I can give you that. I'll be back at sundown, if that's alright with you," Nina said assuring him. He nodded.

Nina turned around to gather her cards, but they were already picked, Gin was holding them for her, presenting them with a gentle smile. She accepted the cards; Gin threw Nina's bag over his shoulder and with his support, Nina and Gin walked away. They decided not to go back to the kingdom in case something happens to Rolan, but they wanted to give him space too, so they decided to roam the forest, until they came to another clearing.

Nina collapsed onto the floor exhausted and then turned to face the sky. She raised her hand towards the blue cloudless sky. Then she saw a hand from above reach over and gripped hers, not too tightly, but gently. She smiled and sat up.

"You were too reckless," Gin said.

"There was no helping it. They insulted you guys. I can't just sit back and do nothing," Nina retorted back removing her hand from his grasp.

"And you did, to their celestial spirits," Gin smiled.

Flustered, Nina answered back, "I just wanted to teach them something valuable. Celestial spirits are not just shields or meant to be abused."

"Then what are we? What do we mean to you?" Gin asked, eyes focused on Nina.

She turned away blushung, "Well, it's complicated. I don't see you guys as shields but I do see you guys as beings with their own hearts,"

Gin smiled and placed his hand on her head, "You did good."

Nina smiled back. She pulled out her healing spell card, Angel's Touch. As she summoned it, the sunlight illuminated a figure, an angel that bent down and gently touched Nina on the tip of her nose. From one single touch, her bruises disappeared, her scars and wounds, but her clothes remained the same. After healing, she thanked the angel and the angel transformed back onto the card.

Nina picked up Rolan's card. The large slash on the back made her frown. She flipped over the card to the front side, the knight who kneeled in front of death.

* * * *

Nina and Gin walked back to see Rolan. But when they arrived there, he wasn't there anymore.

"Can you sense him?" Nina asked Gin; he nodded.

"He went east from here," Gin pointed.

They went in the direction he pointed. Then they came to a cliff side view, there they saw Rolan, on his knees, just staring at the sun that was about to set.

"Rolan-" Nina started.

"I'm tired. I'm just tired of everything, being used then abandoned. I'm done," he said quietly.

"But life itself is not over yet. Don't give up on the life you still have to live, whether it's good or bad," Gin said.

He slammed his fists on the ground, "Seven times! She was my seventh contractor. She said I was everything to her, yet- she-" he choked.

Nina went quiet and smiled behind, "Then that must make my your first real contractor," she said walking over and stood in front of him beside the sunset.

Rolan said nothing as the breeze gently caresses past them. "Lift your head, Rolan," Nina told him.

He stayed looking down. "Hold your head up proud. From those scars, if you continue running from them, they'll hold you back from what you are capable of doing, but if you can overcome those scars, you'll become stronger. Don't let the past determine the future for you," Nina stated.

"But, I'm afraid..." he finally said.

"Isn't that why I said I am you first contractor," she smiled.

He lifted up his head to see a girl who smiled and honest smile, tender, gently towards him. The sunset behind her brought forth the beauty in her he has not seen before, stunned.

"Doesn't sound too bad does it? I will never break my promise. I will not betray you," Nina said extending her hand to him.

Rolan managed to bring a smile of happiness and hope to his face and gripped her hand as tears ran down his cheeks. "Then, that brings the contract between I, Nina Arundel, and The Fallen Knight, Rolan, together. Not as master and servant, but as friends," Nina smiled.

Rolan smiled back and kissed her fingers, the appreciation of a knight. Then he stood up, lighter than he has ever felt before. "Let's head back," Nina smiled. Rolan stood up and wiped his tears, "Thank you," he whispered.

Nina walked ahead while Rolan and Gin still stood by the cliff side. "Now that I think about it, you are actually really strong, Gin. What's your card name?" Rolan asked with curiosity.

He smiled, "The Reader,"

That wasn't an answer he was expecting. "If you don't believe me, asking Nina." Gin said reading Rolan's expression.

"And one more thing...how is it that she is capable of having two celestial spirits out at the same time? Normally it takes a lot of energy away from the summoner," Rolan observed.

Without a single change in his expression, Gin answered, "That's a secret."