Ch 41: Farewell?

Barely surviving his fight with Claus, Grey awakens to find Amy taking care of him. His feelings for her only grow, as does his fear for her safety. Once they're cleared, will he make her stay behind?

            Wondering why he hadn’t been killed, after a moment Grey opened his eyes. With a clear look of surprise on his face, Grey saw that all the knives had stopped in the air around him as though time itself had stopped, pinning him in position. Appearing before him, Claus said, “I could have them end you if I desired, but as I’ve said before, I have no interest in killing you. Without your friends, you are no threat as you are now.” Leaving his hiding place within the elevator, the King charged at Claus and shouted, “He isn’t alone!” Dodging his attack, Claus quickly got behind the King and grabbed him around the neck with one arm, then leveled his knives at his throat with the other. Still trapped in place by a wall of knives, Grey shouted, “Your Majesty!” Seeming to glance at Grey, Claus said, “It’s over.” The suspended knives dropped to the ground and evaporated as Claus announced his victory. Grey struggled to move, but then Claus said, “Move again and I won’t give him the courtesy of listening to his final words. Just stay there and be quiet.” Determined to somehow turn things around, Grey shouted in desperation, “Let him go you coward!” Struggling to speak, the King said, “Claus was it…?” Holding his knives firmly against the King’s throat, the assassin replied, “Yes.” With a strained laugh, the King said, “I knew someone on the Council would send someone like you after me eventually. Take my life if you wish, just let Grey go.” Grey’s eyes widened in panic as the King looked over at him cheerly and said, “Look after Catherine for me… Grey.”

            A shaft of fading sunlight shined through the shadows around Claus’ face, and Grey could see the lower half of his face as he turned to the King and said, “Strange. I expected someone like you to beg for his life, offer me money in exchange for my withdrawal. Yet all you ask is I spare a life I’d already expressed no interest in taking?” Smiling, the King said, “I suppose I am a bit of a strange one. Just ask my daughter!” Claus let slip a slight laugh, and then he said, “Strange indeed. A member of the Council sacrificing himself for the sake of an energist…” Turning to look at Grey, Claus continued, “For that matter, an energist fighting to protect a member of the organization that so oppresses his own kind.” Unsure what was going on, Grey said, “I don’t like what the Council does, I know plenty who have suffered because of them…” Claus simply said, “Then why?” Staring at Claus sternly, Grey said, “My parents taught me that a person is a person whether they’re energists or not, that there’s good and bad people in the world. I’ve hated the Guild sure, but recently I’ve realized it’s true even for them. The King is a good person. I’m not so sure about you…” Grey thought he saw a smile cross Claus’ face as he said, “The world is not so simple. Equality is nothing more than an idealistic dream, and there will always be a gray area in between good and evil where people like me stand.” Smirking in defiance, Grey said, “Well I’m chasing that dream, just as soon as I settle the score with Altera Veritas. I don’t know what excuse you think you have for doing what you do, but running around killing innocent people for money sounds pretty black and white to me!” Claus simply laughed quietly for a moment. Then he released the King and said, “There’s the confidence I was expecting. Perhaps you really are the Herald of Origin’s Will. Pray we never meet again, for if we do, I will not retreat so easily…” Jumping high over them Claus sailed over the railing of the viewing platform. Quickly struggling to the railing, Grey looked over but did not see Claus anywhere. It was as though he’d vanished. Staggering away from the railing, Grey could feel pain all over his body. Finally he collapsed to the ground, and as the King rushed over to him he thought, “That guy… He really got me good…” Grey struggled to look at the King, but he soon blacked out.

            Great Spire Palace, Bastion. Saturday June 16, 520NA. Awaking to find himself lying in bed in his guest room, for a moment Grey could not remember what had happened. Attempting to get up, he stopped as he found his chest seemed rather sore. He heard faint breathing close by, and turning to see who it was, he saw Amy sitting in a chair while bent over the side of the bed with her head resting on top of her arms. She was clearly asleep. Wondering what had happened, Grey noticed his coat had been removed and there were several bandages on his arms, and in realization he thought, “That’s right. I lost to Claus on the viewing platform, but he spared us both for some reason…” He looked over at the digital clock on the nightstand at the other side of the bed. It was almost three o’clock in the morning. Raising his arm and flexing it, he thought, “My chest still hurts from that Blackhand of his, but it looks like they healed most everything else.” Turning to look at Amy again, Grey thought, “Has she been looking after me the whole time? Come to think of it, she spent a lot of time looking after me back when I was laid up before, didn’t she? Amy…” Hesitating a moment, he reached out and placed a hand on her arm to wake her, and suddenly something flashed in Grey’s mind. Finding himself in darkness, he heard Amy’s voice say, “It has nothing to do with his mind! Grey’s heart is his power, a power you’ll never have!” Looking around, he thought, “Amy? What’s going on here?! I feel like this has happened before… Didn’t I remember something like this when I fought the Professor?” Staring around the darkness looking for Amy, he suddenly heard her say, “Grey please, wake up! I’m here… I’m here for you now, and I always will be! No matter how sad and painful it is right now… we’ll get through it together! I love you Matthew Greyson, please come back to us!”

            Grey could not believe what he had just heard. As he found himself back in bed, he thought to himself, “Wh-what was that, a dream? Whose dream? Mine? Her’s? It was so real… I felt sure it had happened before, but…” Staring at Amy, he thought, “We have always been so close, sometimes I’d wonder, but I always wrote it off as wishful thinking. I mean, I held her hand on the Audentia once, and when she talked some sense into me after we left for the ruins. She’d always act strange whenever Mythra flirted with me too. But she’s never said anything to me! Well, unless this really happened, but how could I forget something like that?!” Flopping back on the bed he thought, “I’d have to be the worst to have forgotten something so important…” Disturbed by the sound of him flopping back onto the bed, Amy suddenly stirred and uttered, “Mmm?” Seeing him awake, her face turned red as she realized she’d fallen asleep on his bed. Quickly sitting up, she said, “Ah! Sorry!” Grey’s face turned red as well, and turning away he said, “W-what are you apologizing for?” Amy simply laughed nervously. Looking at her from the corner of his eye, Grey said, “You’ve been looking after me the whole time?” Taken aback, Amy said, “W-well mostly. When they brought you in, you were all cut to pieces! Everyone was so worried. The King wanted to call in a doctor, but Alexander said he’d fix you up himself. After he’d finished, he went to talk with the King and left me here to look after you, and well, I guess I fell asleep… All the training Alexander had me do made me tired…” Certain his face was still red, Grey still didn’t look at her as he said, “I see…” No matter how hard he tried to act normal, he kept thinking about the vision he had. After a moment, Amy said, “Is there something wrong?” Quickly, Grey stammered, “N-no, nothing at all…” He glanced at her and saw her leaning over looking at him, and he said, “What?” In concern, Amy replied, “Your face is all red. Do you have a fever or something?” Greatly relieved by her misunderstanding, Grey said, “Uh, maybe…” Getting up, Amy said, “I’ll go get a towel and put it in some cold water.”

            Thinking about what he should do, Grey thought, “I don’t think I can bring myself to ask outright. Still, how else can I find out? I’ve never been good with this sort of thing…” Returning with the cloth, Amy smiled and said, “Ok, here you go.” As she placed the cloth on his head, Grey felt somewhat bad, having made her go to the trouble even though he hadn’t really been suffering from a fever. Taking her seat, Amy said, “You know, this reminds me of back then.” Looking over at her questioningly, he said, “You mean when I was sick a little while ago? I don’t remember much, I was asleep a lot.” Shaking her head, Amy said, “I mean back when we were kids. We came to the village because you were sick, remember? After Dad treated you, he let me help look after you a bit. I’d go and get wet towels for you, since I couldn’t do much else.” With a giggle, she added, “You’ve always been cute when you were asleep.” Grey could feel himself turning so red that he was sure if the sheets had been red he’d have been able to camouflage himself in them. Wondering if she’d even heard herself, he managed to say, “W-what?!” Realizing what she’d said, Amy sputtered, “I-I mean… No, I didn’t mean…!” For a moment there was silence, neither of them able to look at each other. Grey thought about how Amy had helped take care of him back then as well, something he couldn’t remember either, and as he thought about the past it suddenly dawned on him that he had once again forgotten the reason they had parted ways. Grey thought to himself, “That’s right… What am I doing getting all excited? If she stays with us, with me, sooner or later her mother’s vision might come true. Just look at me! I take a walk around the place and I come back looking like this!” He stared up and the ceiling, and as it sank in, he thought, “It’s not safe for her to be together with me…”

            Seeing him staring into space with a depressed look on his face, Amy said, “Is something wrong Grey? You look upset… I’m sorry if what I said-” Interrupting her swiftly, Grey said, “Don’t apologize, you didn’t do anything. I’m just…” As he trailed off, Amy looked confused as she replied, “Just…?” Closing his eyes, Grey clenched his fists and braced himself as he said, “Amy, as soon as we settle everything with the Council, I want you to go stay in Aerennis.” Shocked by his sudden declaration, Amy said, “What…?” Turning to look at her, he managed a smile as he said, “What I’m doing… What all of us are doing, it’s too dangerous. Look at what happened to me just from taking a look around. I don’t… I don’t want something like this to happen to you…” Staring at him with desperate look, Amy said, “But why?! I’ve been with you all this time! As long as you’re all with me I should be fine, right?!” Seeing only one way to convince her, Grey shook his head and said, “I won’t take the chance. There’s a good reason for me to be concerned. Amy, your Mom was an energist, a soothsayer. The reason that you left Aerennis… It’s all because of me. If you stay around me, something really bad is going to happen to you!” With a look of surprise, Amy said, “You were awake?!” Looking equally surprised at her reaction, Grey said, “Wait, what?” Realizing her mistake, Amy looked away quickly and said, “Um… Don’t be silly, how could that be true?” Seeing through her attempt to cover it up, Grey exclaimed, “You knew?!” Amy donned a guilty look and started fidgeting as she muttered, “Yeah…”

Grey was speechless. Trying to calm him down, Amy explained, “Alexander told me after the fight in the graveyard while you were in bed unconscious. He told me I’d die protecting you…” Grey thought his heart stopped. The words echoed in his head. Gritting his teeth in anger, Grey muttered, “I should have known he knew more about this!” Confused by his reaction, Amy asked, “Wasn’t Alexander the one who told you too?” Grey simply grumbled, “No, it was your father.” Then he looked at her sternly and added, “Anyways, this is all the more reason you can’t go with us anymore, understand?!” As her eyes were becoming slightly teary, Amy said, “No, I don’t understand! How do we even know it will happen?! No one knows for sure if the future is really set in stone or not!” The words he’d countered Giselle with back in Aerennis came to his mind, but Grey ignored them as he said, “I said I won’t take that chance!” Starting to get angry, Amy said, “It’s my choice what I do or don’t do! I have the right to come if I want! Whether it happens or not, I want to protect the person I love!” Grey shouted as he replied, “What do you think I’m trying to do?!” Their argument quickly ended as they both realized what they had just said. They stared at each other as though they’d never really seen each other before. Then Amy quickly jumped out of her chair and ran to the door as Grey shouted, “Ah, wait!” Before he’d even finished, she had opened the door and left. Grey tried again to get up, but he quickly flopped back onto the bed and clutched his head as he thought, “What now?! I’m doing the right thing… Aren’t I…?”

            Out in the hallway, leaning against the wall to the left of the door of the guest room she and Mythra were sharing, Amy stood with her hands over her face, sobbing as she thought to herself, “Why did it have to be like this?! I always wanted to know how he felt, but what good is it if he doesn’t want me around anymore?!” Suddenly the door to the guestroom burst open, and Mythra, wearing her purple pajamas and a purple night cap, stepped out and shouted, “Alright, what’s with all the crying out here?! People are trying to sleep!” Looking over at Amy, she raised an eyebrow and said, “Eh? What’s wrong with you?” Turning away, Amy said, “Nothing…” With a sly look, Mythra said, “Hoho, things not going so well in lover’s lane?” Turning red, Amy said, “Sh-shut up…!” Quickly Amy brushed past her into their room. She jumped into her bed and pulled the covers over herself, and staring at her in irritation, Mythra thought, “Jeez… I wonder what’s up. I’d have been happy just to look after him all night! In fact, why am I feeling sorry for her?! I should still be cursing Alexander for locking me out of their room!” Grumbling for a moment, she kept staring at Amy. Then letting out a sigh, she thought to herself, “Honestly, as her rival I should be happy to see some tension between them, but… as her friend, this just doesn’t feel right at all…” Walking over to sit on the bed, Mythra said, “Hey, calm down already. It can’t be this bad. Just what happened?” Pulling her head out from under the covers, Amy sniffled and said, “W-well, he…he…” Suddenly donning a look of shock, Mythra came to the wrong conclusion and reeled back as she said, “Wait! He didn’t try to do anything funny with you did he?!” Shaking her head frantically, Amy shouted, “N-n-n-no! No, no, no, no, no!” With a sigh of relief, Mythra said, “Well then what?!” Looking downhearted, Amy said, “He told me he didn’t want me to come with us anymore because it’s too dangerous. Once we get cleared, he wants me to stay in Aerennis.” Nearly falling over from disbelief, an irritated Mythra said, “Ugh… That’s why you’re acting like your life is over?! I can’t believe I woke up to such stupidity!” Standing up, Mythra ripped the covers off the bed and said, “Get up! We’ll just have a little talk with him about this!” Shaking her head, Amy said, “No! He won’t listen anyways, not after…” Crossing her arms, Mythra expectantly said, “After what?!”

            Quickly Amy explained about the prediction of her future. Sitting down on the bed looking rather uneasy, Mythra said, “Well, that certainly complicates things… Look Amy, I’m not going to pretend every soothsayer who ever lived had one hundred percent accuracy, but there’s a good chance that if you stick around, you’re gonna die…” Looking at Amy, Mythra could tell this didn’t bother her, and she thought to herself, “She’s got guts, if nothing else…” Scratching her head, Mythra said, “Instead of getting upset, think about he feels. Even if you’re fine with it, just how do you think he feels about you dying to save his life? If you ask me, he has enough traumatic experiences. Do you really want to add to the collection?” Clutching a pillow to her chest, Amy stared blankly back at Mythra as she spoke. Getting off Amy’s bed, Mythra walked to her own bed and pulled a small suitcase out from under it, opened it, and extracted some clothes. Taking off her pajamas and getting dressed, she said, “Well anyways, I’m going to go have a word with Alexander.” Grabbing her hat off the nightstand, Mythra adjusted it carefully over her ears and walked over to the door. As she exited the room, Amy thought, “I know all that, but still… I don’t want anything to happen to him either…”

Reviews

[Ryan Henderson]

Oh my goodness! This was a powerful chapter! The character interaction between Grey and Amy was very believable and sad! (In general of course, not really for me) as much as I like Amy's character, I ship Mythra and Grey. Amy sort of gets in the way of that. I'm sorry Amy! It's nothing personal! Just shipness!

After the tension between Amy and Grey (the tension AND the admitting of feelings) I LOVE how you softened it up with Mythra's appearance towards the end of the chapter! Perfect! Mythra's speech of sort of slangy and it always has a tone of joking to it, but she can be serious and rash at times, too. She's a very dynamic character indeed.

No spelling/grammar errers in this chapter, so good work! I look forward to reading on but I'm outta time tonight. As Walden would say: "Great write, I'll be seein' ya'round, eh?"

[KeithKVH]

Thank you for the review Walden. xD

All joking aside, this chapter is powerful I suppose. It's not really over obviously but it's an important decision being made, and a difficult one. I also like Mythra's part after it all. Being rivals doesn't mean being enemies. You can see clearly that to Mythra, Amy is actually an important friend.

[Ryan Henderson]

I know! I love that about Mythra. She can put on a brave, competitive front but she obviously cares about her friends.