Manus Pluma Volantis

10 - Katolis

"King Ezran. Can we... talk?" Opeli walked toward the throne. "About?" Ezran questioned. "You seem to be... upset. I would like to know if you want somebody to take over for a bit while you... recover." "I'm fine." "I just want to make sure your duty is getting in the way-" Ezran snickered, interrupting Opeli.

She sighed. "Please, King Ezran. Let's just focus on letting you move on." "I have moved on. They're gone. They're dead. And I've accepted that." "You may have accepted it, but have you moved on?" Opeli asked. "Yes! Yes, I have! It wasn't that hard to move on! I have moved on," Ezran yelled. He couldn't take it anymore. Mainly because he hasn't. He hasn't moved on. What was he talking about?

"Okay. I apologize, King Ezran." Opeli bowed and left the throne room. Ez sighed as she shut the doors. "Why won't people stop talking about them, Bait?" "Ez!" Claudia was running through the throne room, desperately trying to see him. The guards were running after her, trying to stop her. "Stop!" Ezran yelled, causing the guards, along with Claudia, to pause in their tracks.

"Let her pass. I told you, she can see me whenever she likes." Claudia smiled at him. "I've found something."

She led him to the high mage's office. "Where are we-" Claudia shushed him. She pulled open the painting that led to the walls. They stepped down the steep staircase, going further and further into the forbidden chambers. They reached that same wall. "Little help?" Claudia asked him. He sighed. "Rock, rock, stone. Rock, stone, stone."

The staircase opened behind them. Claudia sped down the steps. Ezran glumly followed. Her face lit up as she scanned the shelves for what she was looking for. "Ah-hah! Gotcha!" She pulled several jars and viles off the shelf. "There may be something I can do. You might be able to see them again." "Claudia! What happened to, "I'm done with dark magic?" he asked, using finger quotes.

"This is different. All those time were different. I'm giving you a chance to say goodbye. The spell is complex, but we have everything we need! All we have to do is go to that willow tree and preform it. For you, Ez! You can hug them one more time. Callum can tell you one more cheesy joke. Rayla can tell you one more fact. You can say you love them. You can say goodbye."

"But... how? How can we bring them back? And, if we did, why would I need to say goodbye?" "Because the spell isn't a spell to bring them back, it's a spell to let their spirits return to our world for one day. Just one," Claudia explained. Ezran thought it over. He would be able to say goodbye. He would be able to see them. He would be... happy. For the first time in a long time, he would be completely happy." "Okay. Let's do this."