"Can you see the future young one?" the old man asks me.
I shake my head, "No, sir."
He throws his hands in the air, "By the lords grace, help me! She isn't the one!'' he says, going around me in a circle.
"What do you mean I'm not the one? What are you talking about?"
"Winry Pandora Shade. Do you know who I am?" the old man asks.
I shake my head again, "No,sir."
"I am your great great great great Grandfather! Garrett said you'd be here one day..."
My head snaps up, "You knew my father?"
"Yes, of course I do! I trained him, didn't I?" the old man tells me.
"Sir, you," I struggle to find the right words, "You-um- what do you mean, trained him?"
His eyes get wide, "He's a Traveler dear! Didn't you know?"
I shake my head once again, "No, sir."
The old man laughs, "Well- I guess Garrett hasn't told you anything at all then."
"I haven't seen my father since I was thirteen. And now my mother's getting married, I need to stop her, bring her a reason. I need to find him." I tell him, looking out of the old window, watching the rain fall.
Pitter...patter...
Pitter...patter...
"Winry. You're father- I'm afraid, has made a great mistake." he says.
"And what would that be, sir?"
The old man chuckles, "He's hidden you from your rightful path for far to long. If you wish to save him from his doom with the Empire, I suggest you pick a path."
"What path?!" I yell.
"The one that calls to you every night, dear."
My eyes widen, "The door."
"Good, now tell Evangeline I wish to see her soon." he says.
"Who's Evangeline?" I ask.
He takes a step back, "Your mother dear, who else?"
"My mother's name is Kimberly Ambrose, sir." I say.
The old man sucks in a deep breath, "Oh dear lord."
That response did it. My whole life has been a lie. What about my friends? What about Kimberly Ambrose...my pretend mother, the one I've called Mommy since I can remember?
Is everything just coming back to hit me?
I might as well just be falling in reverse.
"What of this thief I hear that has hidden themselves in The Lands of Luxury?" I say. Rail lowered his emerald eyes towards the horizon.
"Have you thought of my proposal?" Rail asks, avoiding my question. He had asked me many times to become his protector and leave the True One. Of course, I always say no. It pained me to see the hurt in his once peaceful eyes.
"You know my answer." I whisper. I lay my hand on top of his. There was always a spark that clouded my mind when I touched Rail. I pull away, dropping my eyes. "This was a wonderful gathering, Rail. Thank you, but I must return to the True One." I begin to light the room with my silverlight overpowering Rail's golden blaze, getting ready to flash.
"Wait! Stay to find the thief. Please, Aderes." I'm hovering over the floor. Rail grabs my hand, and the shock brings me back to him. I lower myself and let go of him.
"I will stay until the thief is found. Then I must return to the True One's heaven." I try to smile at Rail to calm him. It works. His green eyes linger on me as I walk away from the balcony and return to the gathering.
***
After meeting Jay, Sarah's father is killed, which causes her to accidentally tap into unknown powers. Sarah begins to learn the truth about who Aderes is and how Sarah herself is connected to her. But most importantly, she learns who's been lying to her since the beginning.