Legacy of the Golden Wielder

Chapter 14

If you want to get in the sad mood at the end of this chapter listen to INTERRUPTED FIREWORKS fro the FINAL FANTASY VII Soundtrack.  

Anyhow, hope you enjoy the beginning of the third and part section of this novel (NOT the last chapter).

Part III- The Visitor From The Cosmos

Sorry for any grammar mistakes that ninja'd their way past me.

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Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14

“What’s next?” asked Linius. The rest of the men looked at Aadi, expecting an answer. True, they now stood outside the camp, but they still had to get out.

Aadi remained quiet for a second as he exchanged looks with Arajakata. After gathering his emotions, he spoke loudly. “You are all free to go live your lives. I will lead you out of the here. After that, find your loved ones. Just remember, that for many of you the life you left behind will no longer be there.” He thought back to what awaited him back in Missea. Had Zoen survived this long? He certainly hoped so. Then there was Ishani. Had she moved on? Probably. She was a beautiful girl. Certainly many suitors had tried to get her attention.

“You were saying?” Arajakata asked expectantly.

Aadi’s wandering mind raced back to the present. The men continued to look at him, hanging on his every word. “As I was saying. If the life you return to is not the same you left, do not fret. Make the best of the gift you have been given. If there are some in your lives who have moved on, cherish their happiness. Do not hold it against them." I know I won’t.

“But what about you, sir?” asked a voice from the crowd. “What will you do?”

“I'm an earth wielder. As such, a tremendous responsibility has befallen me.” He took a breath, thinking of the words. “I shall do my best to bring an end to this scorch and return the land of Va’siel to its former glory.

“Let us come with you!” called some from the crowd.

“Yes. We will serve you, sir.”

“No!” ordered Aadi. It was not that he didn’t want their help. Many of the men had been prisoners most of their life. Could he now deny them their freedom? “Be free and live your lives.”

“We are living our lives,” called Linius. “And some of us choose to go with you. We’re not being forced. This is a decision of our choosing.”

Aadi thought back to the firs day he had met Linius. He felt a source of pride. He had been the most timid of the men, but now he had grown into one of the most courageous. “Whoever wishes to accompany me on my journey is free to do so.”

There was a collection of cheers from the crowd.

“What about them?” asked Arajakata, pointing at the dozen guards who were tied up together. “I say we feed them to the worms.”

Many of the men chimed in.

“Serves them right for the way they treated us.”

“Perhaps we should have them work the mines day and night.”

“Put them in the crusher all night.”

Aadi stepped atop a rock. “No one is killing anyone. There has been enough grief and pain to last a lifetime. It ends here.”