Author's Note:
Long delayed, so now I present chapter 4…

Final chapter, soon…

Luc's troops advanced forward. Since his day one in the castle, he's been assigned to an individual group. Naturally, they were magicians like him. It wasn't as hard as he imagined to teach and to lead them. The fault wasn't Luc's of course—he expected the men to be stupid, undisciplined soldiers, but they were behaved. Most were just scared though of this cold magician.

The troops were in perfect condition. Luc hadn't seen the opportunity to strike with magic. They were in between the melee and archery troops. Currently, the cavalry troops are advancing forward valiantly.

Luc can see the mass number of people charging and attacking under the gaze of the blue sky. The bed of grasses was disfigured from fire, magic, and blades and feet. It was noisy and loud, so unlike of yesterday.

"Believing in someone is not stupid. It's normal to have faith in someone. It's something we all do so we can live happily together. We have to trust to each other for our dreams. Riou…Riou only dreams to end this war so everyone will be happy. Everyone trusts him in his dream, their dreams. I…I believe he can do it."

His emerald eyes stared at the cold floor of the castle.

She believed in him until the end. She chased him and his dream despite her confusion. With absolute faith, she followed – not because she was his servant, but because she loves him.

Would someone 'love' him as much as Nanami had loved his brother? Or would he be the one who would be chasing after the beloved and die for him or her?

"Um…"

Would he be the tragic hero who would be left alone, or would he be the martyr to be the first to die?"

"Ah…um…"

How would it feel like – for such despair?

"…Mister Luc?"

His gaze lapsed and two visible sandals appeared on the floor. He recognized the sky-blue dress and the ever-confused pair of eyes.

"Miste—"

"Yes?"

The teleportress, Viki, bit her lip. "Umm, I know you're busy and all…well, not really! You look so serious and bored just standing here, so I don't think you're busy…but since you're not busy and I don't think you are, I want to ask you something."

Luc gave her a quiet, expressionless, still look. Viki was melting under the gaze.

"Ah-ah, well, you don't have to look mean…"

Luc didn't like the sudden change of topic since the ditz was finally going to finish her statement. "What is it you want?" he asked, irritated.

"It's not like you're busy!" she defended hastily. She covered her mouth as if she told a blasphemy. Luc scowled. "Ah, well…I was thinking." She started to do funny gestures. After a minute or so, she said, "Would you like to go on a picnic?"

She finally had managed to say it out. A huge burden was now off her shoulders.

Luc was quiet for a while, somehow letting the detail sink in. His mind was still in deep thought, so the supposed casual idea made his mind a bit stunned. It was funny how it worked, with a supposed intelligent young man like him. He turned his head away, finding the other side of the room interesting. With a word, he made Viki's efforts useless: "No."

"Oh," she said, extremely disappointed.

Viki didn't appear to be leaving anytime soon. Her eyes were downcast. Though Luc was cold-hearted – at least, appeared one, he wasn't genuinely un-feeling to not sense awkwardness. He gazed at her disappointed look.

"Why?" he asked.

"Huh?" she blinked.

"Why?" he repeated.

"Why?" she asked.

"Yes, why."

She cocked her head. "Huh?"

Luc growled inwardly. "Why do you want to have a picnic?"

"Oh!" she said. A smile came up in her face and her eyes squeezed happily. "You look lonely standing here, so I thought I should invite you outside."

"No…you should just go alone."

"Charge!" roared the soldiers. A familiar cry on the enemy's side can be heard: Lucia, chieftain of the Karaya tribe. Luc eyed on Lucia's unit. With the strength of the Karayas, a simple combat between soldiers would have greater causalities on their side. He was going to signal an attack on the approaching unit, but a trembling cry alerted him. Hearing horses coming to their side was even more alerting.

"When—"

General Hauser's cavalry unit was just there. With Jess, former acting mayor of Muse, in the unit, he didn't expect the side—

"Gyack!"

The magicians were easily going down with their horses from the real cavalry unit. He can hear Jess' cry to intercept and protect their unit. Luc knew it was hopeless. He could recognize the pair, Seed and Culgan easily. Camus, the only real fighter in the magician's unit, was taking care of forces attacking from the other side with the rune mistress Jeanne. This corner was on Luc's command.

"All to the ground!" he ordered. He was the only one who didn't follow. For those who didn't wouldn't be his fault if their heads would be severed. Jeanne have realized this much sooner and scared off horses with her Lightning Rune before letting the horses lower.

"Shining Wind!" he shouted after muttering the chant. His rune glowed and his staff released the redirected magical energy. The spirit of the wind blew out of nowhere behind Luc. His robes billowed in the effect and his hair whipped in the air. The wind darted like an arrow on top of the ducked magicians and knocked most of the soldiers off their horses. The other soldiers' horses panicked and fled, but some were blown all together. Those trained had their horses ducked like the magicians.

"What power!" Seed hissed.

Culgan could easily spot the source of this power though. "Seed!" he called.

"Ah!"

The spirit of the wind sapped the chivalry unit and now soothed to a calming wind that the magicians breathed. The spell was still to be finished though. Luc steered the horse in an attempt to run, but his own horse was a bit shocked from the power on Rune he just used. He grimaced at the bad timing.

A knight in red intercepted, taking on Seed. Camus evaded past him. Luc's situation hadn't changed.

Quick thinking plus recklessness in a situation like this, Luc took the chance to cast a quick-spell from his Pale Gate Rune. He stood there, awaiting those two men. His rod moved and pointed like a lord to vanquish them.

"Open Gate!"

A void, a hole wrapped open above Luc. A canon emerged, and this canon was actually from a ship. The thing materialized from the void, particles coming together. A powerful aura of magic began to spread. But then, the particles coming together suddenly broke apart and the hole disappeared or the sky mended the hole.

The magician felt intense pain as the cold sword sliced through his shoulder. He fell from his horse and dropped to the ground, dropped his staff. His staff rolled to Culgan's feet. The summoning was completely cancelled.

Seed and Camus were locked together in a parry, but Seed pushed him back and went after Luc to finish him off. The movement of the horse running toward him hypnotized him. The ground became shaky and the sky melted in his view. Dimness crowded his mind, but then a sword pierced through this darkness.

He lay on the ground and weakly opened his eyes. Little orbs of light have fallen from the sky. He felt it like a snow melting warmly and rejuvenating his wounds. He felt for his fallen rod and wobbly stood up. He looked around.

"Hey brat, you awake?" he heard the old grizzly bear, Viktor cry as he easily took down three soldiers mounted on horses.

Luc squeezed his eyes tightly and suddenly regained voice. "Pull back!" he ordered loudly with a signal with his rod. He rode back onto his horse's back and followed his own unit that Jeanne temporarily led. As soon as his unit was in a good distance, he raised his rod and pointed it to the sky. The magicians followed his suit and the end of their rods glowed. The cavalry unit of the enemy was ablaze in whirlwinds. Horses panicked with the swishing noises and the cutting-edged wind.

Viktor's unit saved them. Though they weren't skilled in cavalry, they were strong soldiers, enough to drive Culgan and Seed's unit off. Luc didn't stay standing still. He went on onwards carefully on the sidelines. Their units were blocking the east, where they were. They were many interceptions in the middle. As Luc's unit approach L'Renouille, he spotted Lord Riou's unit taking on Lucia and Han's unit at the same time. Lucia's unit was extremely fast.

Again, Luc made the signal. They blasted Lucia's unit to cause disarray. Even Lord Riou's units were forced to duck from the dust and noise that erupted. Lord Riou made fastest recovery and used this chance to strike at Han's unit. However, a cavalry unit once again intercepted and Luc saw Han fleeing to L'Renouille.

"My lord, focus on getting to L'Renouille and defeat the king!" Shu advised to Lord Riou.

Riou nodded and his unit began to move. Luc made another signal to stop pursuers from coming after them.

"We're going to L'Renouille and defend from there!" he yelled. It was safer than being out in the battlefield. With the king of Highland inside, they wouldn't do anything reckless to the city.

As Luc's unit moved, so did Lucia's unit. Lucia seemed to separate from them though as her allies ward off some soldiers. Luc chanted The Shredding and took off some Karayans off their feet. Unfortunately, Lucia had gone past the area of reach of the magic and got inside the city.

Later on, his unit finally arrived. Flik's and Viktor's units were not too far, but were a bit busy still warding enemies off. General Hauser was taking care of a lot of units, while Ayda's and Kinnison's were still firing multitude of arrows. Mazus, the other 'great' magician was making quite a scene.

"Lord Riou," Shu said. "We have to take down King Jowy now. If we don't, we will only prolong the war."

Riou nodded.

"All our men are not here at the moment, but select those who should come with you. We can't bear to wait even for a second for more of them to come."

Having heard this, a voice spoke up firmly. "Let me come with you, Riou."

"Rina!" came Eilie's cry. Her protest seemed to have change upon frowning and standing up. "Then I will come too!"

"No," Rina replied. "Stay here with our brother."

She sensed the concern in her tone and was guilty of it. There, she turned her head slightly to Doctor Huan's circle where they were treating Bolgan's heavy wound. She could barely see what the situation was and was told not to disturb them.

"Besides," Rina smirked. "It makes me jealous to see another woman of beauty and strength among these men. Though I'm not really the type to be in battle…"

"Rina…"

Riou did not question Rina's resolve. He nodded once their eyes met. When his eyes met Eilie's, their eyes lingered at each other for a moment, until he silently nodded too. Whether Eilie still had doubts, it had been decided.

A red-haired turned to this scene. Having watched the moment, she couldn't just silently stand around.

"Hix, let's go!"

Her partner was not as enthusiastic with the idea. The rough battle they just went through had him panting – and the crazy concern for Tengaar.

"I don't think that's a very good idea…" he slowly said, but then added with a look at Riou, "I mean, I'll come to help!"

Tengaar impatiently tapped her foot. "Then what are we waiting for?"

The young warrior looked at Tengaar with pleading eyes. "Tengaar, I don't want you to get hurt."

Tengaar looked scandalized. "If you don't want me to get hurt, then protect me!" She loomed like a tower in front of Hix. "We're both from the Warriors' Village! We don't run away from fights just because we don't want to get hurt!"

"It'd be all right." Riou approached the duo. "I won't let suffer anymore. We…will end everything, so please, lend me all your strength."

Tengaar smiled passionately and Hix tentatively smiled, moved by the lord's caring words. A little bit from the corner, a bulky young man showed a lot of disapproval in his face.

"I guess I'd have to come then."

Riou had experienced more than once Bob's indifference attitude, but he had already learned much that the lycanthrope cared.

"Thank you, Bob."

"Hmph."

"Then, Luc…"

Luc did not delay the conversation. "Lady Leknaat had ordered me to help the army. If you request my assistance, then I will come."

People just answer so differently just to say something. The thought made Riou smile knowingly, which only made the magician raise an eyebrow.

"We'll be off, Shu," Riou told the strategist.

Shu nodded. "Be careful, Lord Riou."

"Riou, we've lost our army, but not our spirit!" Lucia cried out. "I will not let you pass, for all the warriors that have died – for the Karaya, FOR THE KING!"

Fire erupted from the insignia of the Fire Rune in Lucia's right hand. Rina's face was contorted with disdain as she attacked with the same element. The two Fire Rune Bearers glared at each other venomously, an animosity in which that empowered their runes.

Luc took this opportunity to use his Pixie Rune. He lowered his rod and positioned his aim. His left hand sparkled, sending tickles of energy in the ends of his fingers and toes. He sprang like a hare from the back and reappeared in mid-air with his rod pointed down at the chieftain. With a strike that would have been at the head had not Lucia attempted to move, Lucia was thrown off once struck at the side. Riou was not reluctant to strike at the battle that was clearly one-sided. At the same time, Lucia was not reluctant to sacrifice her life.

Lucia whipped her weapon to wrap around one of Riou's tonfa. Hix rushed in the scene and sliced the whip, but the strong elastic did not give into the blade easily. Lucia pushed Hix yards back with a mighty kick on the stomach. Tengaar cried out for her fiancé, in which she soon replied with a Revenge Earth spell on Hix. The warrior was back to his feet again and doubled team with Riou against Lucia, each of them taking turns into striking her. Lucia has quick reflexes and good control of her whip to ward of Riou's speedy attacks a bit.

"Riou, Hix!" Rina shouted. She raised her rune-embedded hand. "Flaming Arrows!"

Rina's rune glowed. Hix backed away, while Riou, glued to the spot the whip would let him, put together his tonfa to form a shield. Even if Lucia tried to tug her whip, Riou's tonfa would not budge. To avoid the downfall of flames upon her, she released one of Riou's tonfa and pulled back. At the instant she did, Hix lunged and did a vertical swipe. Lucia dodged, but not without her shoulder getting caught in the blade.

She saw to whom the match was favourable for. Perhaps she has been blinded and fooled by her own emotions to not see this at the start, but she dared not to give in. She was ready to give up her life. Her anger, rage, fury…she looked at the young leader – it had been all his fault, his idea of bringing in his leadership in which Lucia believed would be a failure.

"It's not over yet!"

Riou did not show any change in his face despite the weak statement over the situation at hand.

"Riou, let me handle her," Rina said as she make her way in front. Without turning, she continued, "Please, end this war."

Lucia was outraged. "I won't let anyone pass! Not the leader!"

Riou nodded at Rina, once again not questioning her resolve. By this, he had completely ignored Lucia.

"Luc!"

The magician complained in his mind the excessive use of his rune recently. In the outside, he just quietly complied. He created a distraction as they ran past Lucia. The chieftain of course tried to give chase, but Rina wouldn't let her get off that easily.

"This place will fall with everything in this war," Rina whispered audibly. Her eyes flared with the desire for revenge and anger – the glint that Eilie did not see, but had sensed, for the time their brother was struck by the Karayan.

"You're correct," Lucia replied. "Nothing would fall as long as I protect this place to stand!"

"So, it has come to this." Culgan slowly unsheathed his sword.

"We can't let you touch our king," Seed said, his sword already unsheathed. "Even though the hope is little, we believe in it. You're not going anywhere."

"…get out of the way."

Culgan narrowed his eyes. "We've told you, Lord Riou, we can't let you touch our king. We believe in him, the hope for Highland. We're not going to let you pass."

"Just get out of the way."

"We won't just oblige and make it easy for you!" Seed said angrily. "Why don't you kill both of us? You've killed enough of this country to make our deaths reasonable!"

"There's never a death made reasonable by murder."

"Then what proposed for this war to spark, Lord Riou? Have you forgotten Luca Blight?"

Luc looked at the leader's unchanging face.

"Because people wanted change, even Luca Blight."

Culgan became intrigued, though slightly annoyed by what he had just concluded. "And you are to bring order with the people's cry for change?"

Luc looked at the leader's right hand.

"That's right."

"Cocky, aren't you?"

"Who are you to bring 'order'?" Seed spat. "You're worse than I thought! You'll never understand being under that crazy prince's rule."

"Enough chitchat," Culgan said coolly. "Aren't you in a hurry, Lord Riou? If you make no haste in dealing with us, then you will bring no 'order'."

"I would force my way in then."

"Of course," he said quietly. "With swords."

Riou prepared himself. "No, never…never with swords."

Seed advanced first, followed by Culgan, straight at Riou. As Riou took in a defensive stance, a humanoid wolf crossed in between them. The two were not at fault for halting and looking up at this beast – a lycanthrope.

"Hmph!" he grumbled. "You owe me so much since you're so weak!"

Hix, who has been intently watching Riou's face and listening to his words, firmly grasped the hilt of his sword. "Lord Riou, please go!"

Tengaar would rejoice for Hix's brave initiative. She winked at Riou, truly in support of her boyfriend.

"You're not going anywhere!" Culgan threatened.

Bob's size and menace was intimidating enough for a start as a distraction. As only Riou and Luc are then left to go, they were able to slip past easily.

Hix closed his eyes and meditated for a moment, his sword vertically up and close to his face.

"Tengaar, protect me with your blade and I will be your strength."

Luc had seen no signs of anyone pursuing them – something he had hoped very little would happen. With only the two of them, the times have been extremely difficult. Riou was not showing his waning stamina, but Luc can hear his fast heartbeat. Luc was quite drained of his magic. Though he suffered little physically, he believed not he could truly fight at the battle they would be soon.

"Lord Riou—"

Guards cried out as the door behind them burst open. A feathery beast screeched and blew them away, knocking them unconscious. Out from the griffon's back were three tall figures, one of which they all easily recognized: Jeanne.

"Tee-hee…" was her usual greeting.

Riou smiled widely in relief. "Everyone!"

The garbed red-haired man smirked. "Well, not everyone, but I'm one man worth an army – or even more." This cocky phrase came from no one else but Zamza.

Another flaming red-haired was standing beside him. Her muscled arms were exposed, looking powerful enough to break necks easily. "Hm, Shu told us to come here and protect you."

"Yes…" Jeanne said. "Normally, I wouldn't want to fight too much, but since the handsome requested it…"

"Where are the others?" Zamza looked around. "Are they all dead?"

Riou was quite shocked by the statement.

"Hopefully not," Luc said.

"No, they aren't dead," Riou said. With his lack of explanation, still, everyone was silenced. He allowed this silence to drift in them. "Let's move."

Feather cried aloud, spreading his wings.

In those feathers, Luc saw the castle he has been, but rarely had he truly seen it. In the sky he was with for a moment in the flight with Feather, in the ecstasy of fire that took over as the wind and the light merged in his skin, he felt the message reawaken itself.

Under the sky was a castle, a castle whose insides were locked from outside. In there, he stood near the tablet. Upon remembering the day before then, he walked off the spot and approached the teleportress.

"Where would you like to go, Riou?" Viki asked. She cocked her head and studied Luc. "You're not Riou."

Luc shook his head. "No."

"Oh! You'd like to teleport too! I thought you could do it on your own though."

Luc gave no sign of impatience at the slow catch up. "It's about something else."

"Oh. Okay. What is it?"

"I'd like to apologize about a while ago," he said. His voice lacked sincerity, but it had no sarcasm or humour in it like something he'd usually say. "The…weather was bad."

"A while ago…" she pondered. "Oh, the picnic! Oh, it's okay! If you say the weather is bad. It was pretty windy! I wonder where the wind blows to since it was in such a rush!"

Luc lowered his head and smiled ever so slightly.

"Well," he said. "It seems it's always seeking something."

End of Scene 4.