The Encounter

Compromise

It is a good sign that some of them are wiping away their tears, well at least I hope it is a good sign. They are standing there for quite some time with their weapons drawn and tears streaming down their faces. I am not sure if those are tears of regret or anger.

Suddenly, as if by some silent agreement, they all drop their weapons and just like that the battle is over. Of course, that doesn't mean that our problems are over, but at least we can use some other, peaceful methods to solve them.

I can see that Sam is really proud of her little boy who is much wiser than all of us put together. He managed to stop us from hurting each other only using his words and love. Let's face it Artim or not that is quite impressive.

Once we leave the battlefield it is arranged for all of us to have a meeting to try to figure out a way for both parties to be happy, a compromise.

We gather around a huge tree stump in one of the most beautiful parts of Solactia. The weather is sunny and beautiful. We can smell nearby flowers and hear the fairy music in the distance. For me, it is the most magical surrounding I have seen in a while.

Bright colored butterflies are flying around us, curious and playful. Even once-angry-humans can sense how beautiful and pure the place is.

"Once upon a time this was a huge and powerful tree, but when the separation occurred one of our magical brothers was so desperate about losing his counterpart that in his grief he cut down the tree. " Peace says.

"That action was considered cruel since there was no actual need for the tree to be cut down. But we could understand that he was blinded by grief, and we forgave him. Artim, well he did more than that, he made the tree into a symbol. A symbol of pain and separation, but also of hope. He said it was a symbol of separation, but when the prophecy came true it would be a symbol of hope.

Only now do I understand what he meant, as we sit here around the stump, our hearts filled with hope. One much wiser than me is here with us today, so I will let him lead the meeting."

"Well, I wouldn't say I was wiser since I don't actually have Artim's memories, but I have this feeling of what should be done or said that I am compelled to follow. I understand some things better than you do but that is about it. I promised I could give to anyone who wishes a semblance of the life they had before and I stand by that.

You see I can't give you the same life since that was made impure by the influence of the darkness, but I can get you something similar to it. Mind you, I am not promising you a perfect life, I am promising you a choice. We have been wrong in assuming that everyone would want the magical life my parents and others dreamed of.

What I can give you is a part of both Solactia and Earth that you can arrange according to your own wishes. If any magical work is needed I will do it myself and you will have the kind of life you had worked for. There is only one condition and that is to never harm others." Pete says.

Upon the humans agreeing on that condition the meeting becomes more practical and concerned with numbers, so I stop paying attention. This whole ordeal with humans makes me think of what I want.

I have spent so much time immersed in the work of helping the two worlds assimilate that I forgot to think of me. What the future might hold for me? Although there is a lot of work still to be done, one day everything will be finished and then what?

I thought I would love to stay in Solactia and enjoy its beauty, but I am not sure I am ready to leave my family and friends. I take a look at Sam and Dan as they admire their son's strength and wisdom and wonder what they would do.

From how Pete reacted to Solactia I think they will probably stay, but is that the best move for me as well?

Being in Solactia always makes me feel a bit overwhelmed. Although I love all the beautiful, magical creatures it has to offer I am often just lost in my mind trying to comprehend a new being I learned about or the magical phenomenon I saw for the first time.

As I am sitting here, not listening to the boring details of the meeting, I start remembering the time, well one of many, when I was left speechless by Solactia. I was helping out some humans settle in this amazing little house in the forest that was so perfect.

Finally, they settled in and didn't need my help, so I went exploring a bit since I had some free time. It was the most relaxing walk with the life of the forest buzzing around me. I felt much better than I ever had on Earth.

Breathing in deeply I kept strolling around the forest with no idea where I was or where I was going. It was nice to walk by myself even though I loved the company of my friends.

All of a sudden I was in a clearing with a wonderful view in front of me. I was standing on a huge cliff and on the opposite side there was a huge waterfall. It was nothing like the waterfalls on Earth. It was the most magnificent thing I had seen.

There were so many colors, red, green, yellow and blue. A rainbow waterfall, I guess you could call it. It was so colorful and yet so powerful.

I could hear the roar of the water and it was difficult to understand that although it had so many colors it was still water. It was obvious by the smell and freshness of it that saturated all my senses.

Although I have always admired natural beauties, the ones in Solactia are always more than astonishing.

While I am reminiscing about the past, the meeting has ended. They had agreed about all the details and that was that.

Is this an end to our troubles? I don't think so, but I am not sure.