Heroes Of Havalore

Ch.24 Love Lost

The group now without James for the day enter the feudal lord's estate. A servant wearing traditional clothing for Yutonese people. leads them to the feudal lord's conference room. "Now that I think about it Gabriel wouldn't have died from James's stab wound because of the Phoenix's immortality. That was a pretty dumb statement on your part James." Caleb thought as they go to meet the feudal lord.

Gabriel now fully conscious walks with the group as he nurses his minor concussions and probably broken jaw, "Dammit! James just put two holes in my shirt and it was a nice one too! He is going to buy me a new one before I snap his neck." Gabriel thought as his face begins to show it's annoyance.

"Aw, someone mad that they got their ass handed to them on a platter." Miria teases Gabriel causing him to blush in embarrassment which makes everyone laugh.

"Shut up! I don't know why you're laughing Caleb, last time I checked you barely last a minute against me!" Gabriel barks 

Caleb still laughing responds by saying, "My dude, I would've won but my I have a time limit on The King's State. I might have lost, but at least I wasn't completely and utterly decimated like you." The comment only upsets Gabriel even more as he walks up in annoyance.

"Geez, guys, you don't have to bully him. He is on his cycle right now!" Jessica jokes but says loud enough for Gabriel to hear. Then with a devious smile, Gabriel snap his fingers and instantly singes off everyone but the servant's clothes to the underwear. 

"What the hell Gabriel? We were just joking." Aria says distraught trying to cover up her cleavage causing Veyra to laugh who is unfazed.

"Aria wow, you have a tattoo on your shoulder!" Veyra cheers causing Aria to cover it up instantly. Aria's reaction garners the attention of everyone. 

"It's something that my father told me," Aria says.

"What did your dad say then?" Miria asks.

Aria smiles as she brushes back a strand of hair. "It says Darkness can poison everything but light," Aria says

"Light, but your element is air?" Gabriel asks now completely invested.

The smile from Aria's face begins to turn from a warm one to a smile that lacked the warmth that it usually had. She says, "I am from a noble family of light mages, so for the early stages of my life all I did was dream about becoming a light mage. Everyone from dad's bloodline is guaranteed light magic aptitude. So when I became of age and took the test and I got wind aptitude they found out that I was not my father's child so, my mother and I was shunned. A few years later my mother died from depression. To be honest I was glad that she died because after we were banished she blamed me even though it was her who slept with another man. But I was a prodigy with wind magic at least I thought I was until I met James and Caleb in college. It's funny because when I first met James in class I was stripped of all confidence do to him being a true genius and practically good at everything. But, one day with the help of James I came to the conclusion to outwork everyone so one day I can show back up to my family and show them what they missed out on. So this tattoo is a reminder to return to the place where I was born." Aria eyes begin to water causing her to wipe her eyes and say, "Wow, shit, the only person who knew about that was James. Does usually feel this good to talk to someone about bottled up emotions?"

Everyone in the group wipes their tears out their eyes except Veyra who is just smiling at Veyra. Then Gabriel still low key whimpering asks, "Hey, Aria does the black necklace that you have on, have sentimental value too?"

Aria nods as she says, "Yeah this was originally my real father's."

"Hey guys I hate to intrude on a beautiful moment but we arrived at Lord Hyun's conference room." The servant says unenthusiastically.

"Guys, we're still in our underwear," Thalia says pointing to their almost nude bodies.

"I got it," Veyra says and with a twirl of her wrist everyone's clothes appear and they walk into the conference room.

"Mom!" James calls out.

Nala turns around and exclaims, "James!" They reach out to give each other a hug but they pass through each other reminding them of that hollow feeling in their chest. "James, how are you doing this?" 

James now grinning east to west responds saying, "I used my angel powers to create a mental bridge so we could talk. I met dad."

Nala smiles as she asks, "Do you like him?"

"I guess, but since we are on the topic have you met my older brother Gabriel?" James says so fast that he almost stumbled over his words.

"Yeah I met Gabriel, geez the both of you look a lot like your father. So how are Aria and Tybalt?" Nala asks.

"They're okay, but, mom on to more important topics how do we get you out of hell?" James says as his demeanor switches to a more serious one.

The warm and loving mother James knew starts to disappear as the holy knight begins to appear. "James, don't look for a way to get me out of hell. Focus on getting stronger so you can complete the prophecy. This is a lost cause."

James's face twists into a frown as he says, "No. You're my mother I refuse to give up on you. What the hell do you think you are asking me that!?"

"James I am as good a dead since the moment I have been down here. Don't waste your time it is extremely limited" Nala yells at James

"No!" James roars back

Nala explodes in a fit a rage as she says, "Shut the fuck up James! You can't save me! This is bigger than me and you so stop acting like a fucking brat and listen to me!"

James's eyes burn bright red as he yells, "Fine then I'll save you without your godamn help!" Then James destroys the mental bridge causing him to drop down onto his bed. James's eyes begin to water as he his voice cracks, "Why?"