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"A Renewed Purpose" "Whoa! Slow down there! I'll explain over breakfast," Moldun said, clamping a hand on my shoulder to prevent me from collapsing. You would too if you had stayed in one position more or less all of the last seventy-two hours. With support, I made it to a chair, plopping myself in front of an elaborately set table. Miraculously, my house was clean. Where you would normally see various pieces of clothing, assorted junk, and the odd living organism, you could actually see the floor. I just didn't have the energy to junk it up in my usual manner. "Ah, you brought breakfast. Thanks man," I mumbled, stuffing a spoonful of natto into my mouth. "Um, I didn't bring anything," he corrected, squeezing into a seat across from me. I pondered this little quandary for a moment, busy grinding the food into oblivion. There was one way to find out. Lifting a cup of milk set on the table, I sniffed it's contents carefully. Further testing my hypothesis, I upended the glass, watching as the milk slid along the sides, a gut-wrenching slurping sound erupting as the whitish substance hit the table, wobbling like an opaque cylindrical jello mold. Problem solved. This was the same exact meal I'd set three days ago, when I'd decided at the last minute that I wasn't all that hungry. Done experimenting, I looked to Moldun, his face the oddest shade of green. "So, you said you were going to explain," I said, pushing the now empty bowl away, "You've got my attention." He nodded, apparently sorting his thoughts. "Here goes. It all started sixty-three years ago with my grandfather. He was a powerful warrior and ended up doing some great service to mankind. As a reward, someone granted him one wish. Being the selfless man he was, he convinced whoever it was to pass the wish on to his descendants," he paused for a moment, "Got it so far? My father never got around to using it, so he passed it on to me. According to my grandpa, the wish is good for anything, maybe even resurrection." "Ok...," I said, taking my time in replying, Moldun ran a hand through his beard. "You don't believe me, do you," he asked, looking crestfallen. "No, that's not it...it's just...I don't mean to sound rude, but I don't care if monkeys flew out your grandpa's wazoo as long as there is some chance to bring Rei back." "All right, now that I can live with...but it could be dangerous." "Really? It's not like I haven't risked my life before and I have absolutely no qualms about doing it again." Moldun grimaced. "Yes, but this will be extremely dangerous. There is a high probability that neither of us would come back," he muttered darkly. I stopped to think about this new development. So what? I wasn't about to eke out a life in the timeless limbo I'd designed for myself. By God, I had hope now, a reason to go on living! I wasn't about to waste it for fear of something as simple as my mortality. "I'm willing to accept that. Did you tell Rosa this though," I replied, now resolute in my decision. "No, you know as well as I that she wouldn't have let me go, at least not alone. There are a couple of other problems also... in order to make the wish, we have to go to Mt. Rakutei and find the monolith. If everything my grandfather said is accurate, the monolith is invisible to the human eye." "And how do we find it then? Wander around until one of us runs slams into it," I asked, a hint of sarcasm evident. "'Invisible to the human eye'. Non-humans are another story altogether. They should be able to see what we're searching for." "Non-humans? Kobolds and Wingers?" "Not exactly... Have you ever heard of the Sindar?" "I've read a thing or two about them. They went extinct a while back and now all that's left of them is the odd ruin here or there," I stated, uncertain of my information. "For the most part that's correct, but they haven't completely died out. In all of Jowston there is a handful or so left and they're hidden, doing whatever it is they do. My theory is that my grandfather helped some of these Sindar out and as a result, they were the ones who bestowed the wish upon him." "That's all fine, but where in the hell do we find one of 'em?" "We don't need a full Sindar. We could probably get away with anyone having at least a small amount of their blood in them. And before you ask, I already know someone that fits the description. She is waiting for us outside, but I need to warn you...be prepared for just about anything. Rafaela thinks of herself as a, uh, wild spirit, but there are more accurate terms for that kind of thing. Well...you'll see." "Hmm, got it...that everything?" "Yeah, there is one more thing. The wish can only be granted if it is foremost in your heart. So here's my plan, we find the monolith and I sign the wish off for you to make. I'm not exactly sure how they'll respond to that. Worst case scenario being they refuse and best case being they agree, but from what my grandfather said about them, they'll test the wishmaker to check if it really is your ultimate desire. The Sindar aren't about to grant a wish to someone who doesn't know their own self." "What type of tests?" "I have no clue." "Well if that's through, should we get started on our journey? If you hadn't noticed, I'm anxious to get started." Moldun nodded. "I thought you'd feel that way so I already prepared our provisions and equipment. We can go now, if you want," he said, prying himself out of the too-small chair. I grinned brightly, "Yes, I want. Let's get moving." The both of us walked outside into the bright light, the VERY bright light, I noticed. Shielding my eyes, I failed to see what attached itself to my arm, cooing. "Hey big boy, you must be Amada," the female arm-clinger purred. I jerked backwards, so that was what Moldun had meant by 'wild spirit'. "Um, hello...Rafaela, was it," I inquired, attempting to keep her at bay and failing miserably. She flashed a coy smile my way, her every feature enhancing it's appearance. Platinum blonde hair fell across her brow, nearly obscuring two deep-emerald eyes. Beneath the gleaming orbs, lay a perfectly proportioned nose and crimson lips. She smelled faintly of lilacs. "That's me, call me Rafa. Where we headed," Rafaela asked, the last pointed at Moldun. "Well, Mt. Rakutei is in the Matildan knights' principality. I say we boat to Coronet and head north past Muse and on through the Muse/Matilda checkpoint. There is a town thereabouts, I believe," Moldun replied, pulling out a map and tracing our intended path. Rafa nodded in agreement. "Sounds reasonable. I know someone in Matilda that could help us," she said, finally detaching herself from me. Pushing away feelings of uneasiness, I managed to mutter, "I'll go prepare the boat." Moldun fixed a concerned stare on me for a moment before he returned to a conversation with Rafa over our journey. I stalked all the way to the docks, considering the new addition to our group. Rafa seemed like a nice person, but her flirting had seemed like so much more than sheer playfulness. Maybe it was just my imagination...at least I hoped it was. Rejecting others was one thing I wasn't very good at, but I'd have to talk to her somehow. And soon. When she had latched on to me, I'd felt certain desires arising, desires I quickly repressed. After all, I reasoned, I'm in love with someone else, this kinda thing wasn't supposed to happen to me anymore, right? Stepping upon my boat, all my worries vanished as I slipped into the familiar routine of preparing ship. This was more like it, nice and uncomplicated, so unlike the real world, I thought with a smile. Picking up the sails, I thoroughly examined them for wear and tear. Seeing none, I set the sails with a practiced ease, subconsciously measuring the wind's speed and direction. Holding my chin in my hand, I nodded, the wind would be with us and would carry us swiftly to Coronet. That done, I leaned into the breeze and watched the gentle azure waves break against the rocks. The boat rolled softly beneath my feet as my body fell into the harmony of it all. The water was my heritage, my birthright. Virtually all of the inhabitants of the southern islands had the bond, being completely surrounded by water the people of Shikitaresame had no choice but to depend on the sea for survival. Obviously, this led to the phenomenal seamanship that many of it's that many of it's inhabitants exerted and I was no exception. Comforted at this reaffirmation of myself, I didn't hear when my two comrades boarded. "We're ready to leave," Rafa said softly, interrupting my introspection. I took one last look upon the blazing sunset before untying the tether. It felt good to feel again.
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