Ch 30: When Our Paths Crossed, A Tale of Destiny

The story of how Alexander and Amelia met, set 24 years in the past.

            Walking through the streets of Loralu carrying his grocery bags, Alexander drew cautious stares from the townspeople as he passed by. Those in his path hurriedly moved out of the way upon seeing him coming, and without glancing at them or acknowledging them in any manner, he continued on his way towards the southeast gate. Then he suddenly noticed that he was being followed, and quickened his pace. Yet he could tell his attempt to shake his stalker had been unsuccessful, and turning down an alleyway he quickly set his bags down and formed his sword, muttering, “Ventus Ambulans.” 

Moments later, a girl who looked barely eighteen with short pink hair, halman ears, and violet eyes turned down the alleyway cautiously and paused as she noticed he had disappeared, leaving his grocery bags lying unattended on the ground. From up above her on the wall he had climbed using his wind walking spell, Alexander noticed she wore leather armor and had a folded up bow strapped to her back. Wondering if she could be an assassin, Alexander dropped down to land behind her and raised his sword, leveling the tip of the blade at her back as he said, “Who are you and what do you want?” 

Slowly putting her hands up, the girl glanced back at him with a smile and said, “Sorry, I didn’t mean any harm. My name’s Amelia, Amelia Spes. I’m a halman who moved here with my mom and dad ages ago. I know most of the townspeople by now, but I’ve only seen you around a couple times, and I wanted to ask you something.” Feeling as though he could believe her, Alexander lowered his sword, and Amelia turned around to face him as she said, “I’ve heard stories of a man who never grows old that lives in the old mansion out in the forest. They also say he comes to the village to buy food from time to time. Some of the stories I heard say he’s actually Gabriel the Immortal, one of the three gods that were part of Angelorum Lux. Other stories say he’s a dangerous wizard who uses strange magic and hates other people. Are you the person all these stories are about?” Letting his sword evaporate, Alexander picked up his grocery bags and said, “Yes, and I’m afraid it’s the latter. I don’t care for dealing with people anymore. All I want is to be left alone…”

            Walking the road through the forest, Alexander muttered to himself, “Honestly, I came all the way out here to get away from my life as Gabriel the Immortal, not to mention all the bothersome admirers that come with it.” Arriving at the front gate, Alexander set his groceries down and began rummaging around in his pocket for the key. Suddenly dropping down out of the branches of a tree, Amelia said, “I was wondering when you’d get here. Next time you should cut through the woods, it’s much faster.” Turning to her with a sigh, Alexander said, “Just what the hell are you doing here?” Folding her hands behind her back and smiling, Amelia said, “Living all the way out here by yourself, it must be lonely! So I decided to invite myself over and keep you company!” 

For a moment only the sound of a slight breeze hung in the air, but finally the silence was broken as Alexander said in irritation, “Let me make this clear for you. I need neither your friendship nor your sympathy. I live here for the sole purpose of being alone. I’m not lonely or anything of the sort, and quite frankly you’re beginning to annoy me. Go bother someone else!” Alexander turned back to the gate and pulled out his key, but rushing between him and the gate, Amelia just smiled at him and said, “C’mon now! Is that really any way to talk to a cute girl?” His eye twitching angrily, Alexander said, “I’ll tell you if I see one…” Then Alexander stepped back in surprise as her countenance suddenly changed to a look of quiet anger, a strange aura of fury around her as she said in a menacing tone, “I’m sorry, but what did you say?” 

As she stared him down, Alexander thought to himself, “Why am I the one backing down here?! She’s nothing but an eighteen year old girl with an odd sense of fashion, but that foreboding air about her is just…!” Heaving a sigh of defeat, Alexander said, “Alright, you can come in for awhile.” Briefly looking surprised, a big smile quickly spread across Amelia’s face and she said, “Thanks! By the way, can I ask your name sir?” Seeing her smiling so energetically, Alexander felt his face turn red, and he quickly looked away and said, “My name is Alexander. Don’t get the wrong idea though, I’m just tired of arguing. All I want right now is to sit down and rest, so let me unlock the gate already.” Amelia moved aside, and as Alexander unlocked the gate, he thought to himself, “Despite what I said, that smile of her’s really is charming. Still, this feels like it’s going to be nothing but trouble…”

            Stepping through the gate into the magnificent garden around Alexander’s home, as Amelia looked around, she exclaimed, “Wow! It’s such a big place, how do you take care of it all by yourself?” Heading down the path towards his mansion, Alexander said, “I have nothing but time on my hands after all. It keeps me busy, if nothing else.” Following after him, Amelia said, “But the garden is so big, how could you possibly water and weed and-” Cutting her off, Alexander said, “I designed this entire estate myself. It has a special underground irrigation system that carries water from the nearby river, as well as a barrier generation system installed within the wall around the area which keeps seeds and spores of any foreign plants from passing through, among other things. That just leaves the pruning, which I don’t mind doing.” 

Reaching the front door of the mansion, still holding his grocery bags, Alexander said, “Since I have my hands full, I suppose it would save time if you got the door. It’s not locked.” Happy to be helpful, Amelia cheerily opened the door and both of them walked inside. Stepping into the entry hall, Amelia once again was impressed, staring in amazement as she said, “This place really puts all the houses back at town to shame! You must be rather wealthy, huh Alexander?” With a slight laugh, Alexander said, “I would think that should be obvious by now.” 

Noticing his coat of arms hanging on the wall, Amelia walked over to it and said, “Hey, a coat of arms?” Looking at it as well, Alexander muttered, “Yes, that’s right.” Glancing back at him curiously, Amelia asked, “Then are you from a family of nobles?” Amelia thought he seemed sad as he was staring silently at the coat of arms, and in concern she said, “Alexander?” Pulling his gaze from the coat of arms, Alexander muttered, “Me? A noble? Hardly…” Heading down the hallway to the left of the door with his groceries in hand, Alexander said, “Stay here and don’t touch anything. I need to put these away.”

            Walking across the black tiled floor of the mansion’s large kitchen, Alexander set his grocery bags down on the wooden kitchen counter next to the refrigerator and started to put things away. Then as he reached his arm out to pull out another item from the bag, he found himself struggling to find it and looked away from the open refrigerator to find that the bags were gone. As he stared in bewilderment at where they had been, he suddenly heard strange noises from behind him and slowly turned around. Emptying the bags of groceries onto the large rectangular counter in the middle of the kitchen, Amelia started looking through them with a smile on her face, seeming to be appraising them. 

Walking over to stand next to her, Alexander suppressed his anger and said, “Excuse me Amelia, but what are you doing?” Seeming to pick out certain items for whatever she was planning, she replied, “Sorry to barge in, but I realized you couldn’t have had lunch since you’ve been in town since earlier.” Taking cooking utensils from out of a drawer, she twirled a large spoon in her hand and added, “I’ve always wanted to try cooking by myself, so why not start now?! Right?!” Warning alarms going off inside his head, Alexander said, “You… mean you’ve… never cooked anything yourself?” Shaking her head with a smile, Amelia said, “Nothing proper, just animal meat roasted over a fire. When I was really little I made some simple things for a sick person, but I can’t remember how they turned out.” 

Realizing he might be worried about her skills, she added, “Oh, I’ve made normal things with help before though. Bucht always let me help him cook when he was still around. He did most of the work, but I’m sure I learned enough to make something decent.” Raising an eyebrow questioningly, Alexander said, “Bucht?” Turning around and looking through the cabinets behind her for a bowl, Amelia said, “My guardian. He took me in after my parents died, but he passed on as well just a year ago. I’m getting by fine though. I hunt animals and monsters to sell their meat and hides to traders. I’m rather good with this bow of mine, if I do say so myself.” Staring at her as though he’d never truly seen her before, Alexander thought, “She’s so energetic and kind, she doesn’t seem at all troubled. I never would have guessed she’d gone through such hardships…” 

Then seeing her throw a whole egg into a bowl, eggshell and all, Alexander quickly moved to take the bowl away from her as he said, “What are you doing?! Look, I appreciate your offer but you’ll just make a mess!” Holding fast to the bowl, Amelia said, “Oh calm down, it’ll be fine!” Not relinquishing the bowl either, Alexander said, “It’s not fine at all! I paid for these, and I’ll not see them wasted!” Amelia fired back, “Who’s wasting it?! I’m just using a little! You could probably afford a mountain of these anyways!” Alexander quickly retorted, “That’s not the point! The sooner they’re gone, the sooner I have to go get more! I hate going into town, it’s a nuisance! No one there understands how I feel!” As Amelia let go of the bowl suddenly, Alexander fell back on his behind and the bowl landed upside down on his head. Pulling the bowl up so he could see, just as Alexander was about to get angry at her, he saw she was gone. Looking around in confusion, he said, “Amelia?”

            Getting up, Alexander put the bowl on the counter and wiped the egg off his face as he thought, “Where did she go now? I guess I’d better find out where she… Wait a minute, why do I care? This is what I wanted, isn’t it? Now that she’s gone I can finally relax.” Standing there a moment, he then thought, “But why did she suddenly just disappear? She seemed so determined to befriend me. Despite all the rumors around town, she sought me out. Why give up now?” Then in realization, Alexander thought, “She’s one of the townspeople too of course, what I said could easily have offended her. As much as I meant what I said… I didn’t mean to… I just…” Standing there struggling with himself a moment, he finally rushed out of the kitchen, thinking, “Damn it, why do I care?! For some reason, I just can’t let myself leave it like this!” 

Briefly searching the hall and the entry hall, Alexander burst out of the front door and looked around. Spotting her standing over by one of the fountains in front of the house, Alexander walked over to her, trying to think of what to say. Having been staring into the clear waters of the fountain, as Amelia heard him approaching, she turned and said, “I’m a little surprised you came after me. I thought for sure you were fed up with me…” Sighing, still unsure what he thought he was doing, Alexander said, “Amelia, why are you so stubbornly trying to befriend me? All the rumors that are floating around town, had they been true you would have been putting yourself at great risk. What do you have to gain out of it?” Smiling at him, Amelia simply said, “A friend.” 

Alexander felt as though his heart had been stopped by her sincerity, and after a moment he said, “That’s it? That’s all you wanted? How could an energetic, kind, and cheerful girl like you possibly have so few friends that you’d go and seek out someone as strange as me?” With a sly grin, Amelia jokingly said, “Well, I suppose you could say I was thinking we could be more than friends if everything went well…” Certain his face was red, Alexander adjusted his shades in irritation and said, “Of all the… I’m afraid I’ll have to decline.” Laughing, Amelia walked up close to him and sincerely said, “That’s too bad, I actually am starting to like you.” Turning away from her, Alexander said, “What are you saying? You don’t know anything about me…” 

Walking around to stand in front of him again, Amelia sternly said, “I’m more than willing to learn! You say that no one understands you, that no one knows you, but have you ever opened up even a little to any of those people?! You have to give us a chance Alexander!” Struck speechless, Alexander simply stared in awe at the determined look on her face. Suddenly feeling as though a great weight was lifted from his shoulders, a smile crossed Alexander’s face as he laughed a little, and then he said, “I don’t know about being more than friends, but… If you wouldn’t mind helping me make something to eat, we could have a little chat over lunch. I warn you though, mine is a long story.” Smiling back at him, Amelia said, “Oh really? Those are my favorite kind!”

            Sitting out back at the table on the patio with Amelia, Alexander stabbed at his burnt and unappetizing looking scrambled eggs for a moment. Just about every part of the meal they had fixed together had in one way or another turned out badly. Feeling a bit of regret for having entrusted her with what he had thought were simple enough tasks, Alexander was still not about to point out that it was her fault, and so he simply said, “I’m a little more rusty at these dishes than I thought. I’m sure it will taste just fine though…” Looking up from his plate at her to see she was already eating her’s eagerly, Alexander suppressed a laugh and decided to begin his grand tale, saying, “So, where should I start?” 

Lowering the fork-full of food she was about to stuff into her mouth, Amelia said, “Don’t most stories start at the beginning?” With a chuckle, Alexander said, “Touché. Well then, do you remember the coat of arms you saw in the entry hall? It’s the coat of arms of my family, the Bastille family. What I said before about not being a noble is partially untrue. My father told me that thousands of years ago, one of our ancestors became a hero by defeating the leader of an opposing army and ending some great war. The Defender of Humanity they called him. He was knighted and made a noble, but centuries passed and our family’s name was besmirched by some unsavory event, and then was soon after forgotten. A little over one thousand years ago when I was born, my mother and father were the only members of our bloodline left, the coat of arms and the stories passed down by our family all that remained of our forgotten legacy." 

Those dull and gray days of mediocrity coming back to him with painful clarity, Alexander continued, “Living in a life of poverty, things became worse for my parents when I was born. As an energist, I was feared by those who did not understand me, and my parents suffered because of it. Despite this, maybe by accident or perhaps because of poor judgment, they had another child just four years later. My younger brother, Alastor, who was also born an energist. Struggling to make ends meet, our father literally worked himself to death, and our mother fell ill and passed away not long after. I was eight when they passed, and Alastor was four. He always asked me to tell him what they were like, as he couldn’t remember much about them…”

            Having stopped eating, Amelia stared at him sadly and said, “That’s terrible, losing your parents so young. I’m sorry…” Putting on a smile, Alexander said, “There’s nothing for you to apologize about. Besides, from what you’ve told me, you had quite the similar experience.” His smile faltering, he added, “Not that our suffering ended there…” Hesitantly, Amelia said, “So, you said your family name was Bastille? Alexander and Alastor… Your names are the same as the leaders of the Dark Crusade.” Sighing and looking slightly ashamed, Alexander said, “You picked up on that did you? Yes, we are regrettably one and the same. I won’t blame you if you judge me accordingly. Despite the little known truth behind it all, we both did unforgivable things.” With a warm smile, Amelia shook her head and said, “I don’t believe for a moment you would have done such things without some sort of reason!” Taken aback, Alexander muttered, “It’s not quite that we had a reason. It’s more like a curse.” Blinking in surprise, Amelia repeated, “A curse?” 

Fiddling with his food with his fork again, Alexander said, “Once we’d grown older and honed our abilities as energists, Alastor and I began a journey. A journey to find great power, and use it to change the world. Change it so no one was treated unfairly because of their status or birth, to create a world of equality. Those were the ideals we lived by, though looking back, it was my zeal that pushed us into the dark fate that consumed us both. On our journey we sought out a renowned soothsayer, who told us of the power we sought, and that it was within the royal library of the Citadel of Domus that we would find the book which could lead us to it. "

Despite never having felt the desire to speak of it at all, Alexander did his best to live up to the interest she was showing, trying to sound like a professional storyteller as he said, “We used our powers, broke into the citadel, and stole the book from the shelves of the library. It was a strange book, written in an ancient language and giving off a foreboding feeling. Alastor tried to make me see that it seemed dangerous, but I wouldn’t listen. I studied the book intently, and finally I discerned what I thought was the location of the power the soothsayer had told us of, as well as the requirements for unlocking the seal upon it.” Listening intently, as Alexander left her hanging in suspense, Amelia said, “And then? What happened? Did you find the power?” Nodding grimly, Alexander quietly said, “Yes, we found it. And that is when our greatest nightmare, our unrivaled tale of tragedy, truly began…”

            After a moment of silence, Alexander continued, “Traveling to the Lost Temple of Umbra, having altered my Anima Weapon to serve as the key, we descended to the seal and unlocked the door that served to hold back a terrible monstrosity. Our brief glimpse of it was horrifying, but it quickly took humanoid form in order to communicate with us. He called himself Malum, expressed his gratitude for freeing him, and told us he would grant us the power we had come seeking. He said the price for that power would be determined by the strength of our resolve. With confidence in ourselves, we accepted without hesitation, letting the being known as the Nameless One bond itself with us. We gained immortality and the unimaginable power of Corrupted EDE, yet our resolve apparently was not enough, for it quickly warped our minds and turned us into monsters who craved only one thing. Ultimate power…” 

Raising a hand before him and staring at it solemnly for awhile, Alexander said, “For years after, these hands brought death to the innocent. We spread across the world like a plague, inducted any who foolishly sought power in exchange for their loyalty as our ‘Revenants’, and uncovered a mysterious artifact known as Vas Initio. Just when the world seemed to be within our grasp, a pair of heroes appeared. Amanus of the Infinite and Serius the Unbound descended from Mautau to end our madness. Together they were unstoppable, quickly forcing our armies of darkness back, and in anger I went to the front lines to destroy them. However, deep within me, the man I used to be struggled to hold me back in the hopes that Amanus would finally bring an end to my twisted existence." 

Smiling in remembrance of his old friend, Alexander continued, “Instead, Amanus risked his life to free me. With all his heart, he reached out to me and somehow or another brought me back from the darkness, and using my knowledge of the ancient seal that once held the Nameless One, I turned my sword into a prison for the piece of his essence within me. It nearly killed me in the process, and along with the monster that had been controlling me, my own powers as an energist were mostly sealed away as well.” Amazed by his story so far, Amelia said, “Alexander, I believe you, but I’ve never heard about this in the legends I’ve been told of Angelorum Lux. Why haven’t you let the world know what really happened? Everyone thinks you and your brother were monsters, but in reality you’re both the victims!” 

Laughing cynically, Alexander said, “Who would believe me? There are those who know, but like all legends, the full details can be lost and exaggerated over the span of an entire millennia. It’s not like I myself was ever persecuted for what we’d done anyway…” Surprised by this, Amelia said, “Really? Here I thought I’d figured you out. So you didn’t move here and push everyone away because people were afraid of you and treated you like a monster?” Getting up out of his chair, Alexander said, “Nothing could be further from the truth, despite how much I may have deserved it. Come with me, I’d like to show you something…”

            Leading her to his living room, a room with brown wallpaper and carpeting, a luxurious brown sofa and coffee table, a wooden grandfather clock, a brick fireplace, and other decorations like framed photos and abstract paintings hanging on the walls, Alexander went to the fireplace and took a framed photograph off of it. The photograph had a picture of four people standing side by side, who unbeknownst to Amelia were the members of Angelorum Lux. Showing her the picture, he pointed to Serius and Amanus and said, “These two here are Serius and his son Amanus.” Doing a double take, Amelia said, “Wait, Serius and Amanus were father and son?!” Nodding, Alexander said, “Yes, they indeed were. Quite the awkward family, but family nonetheless.” 

Staring at the photograph in great interest, as she shifted her eyes to Alexander standing next to them in the picture, not yet wearing his signature shades, she said, “Wow, you really do look exactly the same now as back then!” Then seeing the fourth person, Mythra, Amelia asked, “Who’s she Alexander?” Chuckling as his memories of her came back to him, Alexander replied, “The most frustrating woman I’ve ever met. She is the all but forgotten fourth member of Angelorum Lux, Mythra the Spellweaver.” Excited by this bit of information, Amelia exclaimed, “There was a female member of Angelorum Lux?! I’m so jealous you got to meet all of them! Wait… Where’s Gabriel the Immortal?” 

Smirking, Alexander held up the photograph and said, “We’re all there, Angelorum Lux. After recovering from creating the vessel, I developed Rune Swordsmanship from the ancient writing in the text we stole from the citadel’s library, so that I could fight alongside Serius and Amanus. I’m sorry I lied to you, but the whole reason I came here was to forget my life as a hero. We were no gods, but together the four of us fought against my brother alongside the Sages of Light. We rallied the world together, and pushed back the darkness.” 

As Amelia stared at him with an astonished face, Alexander’s smirk disappeared and he turned around to place the picture back on the fireplace mantle, staring at it sadly as he said, “Yet in the end, Amanus lost his life trying to save my brother, who was sealed away through his final act. My comrade and friend dead at the hands of my own brother, my brother himself most likely gone forever, countless lives destroyed, and the ideals we set out with left unfulfilled to this day. For me, I’m afraid it wasn’t much of a victory.” His body starting to shake from his deep regret, Alexander quietly said, “If I’d only listened to Al, none of it would’ve had to happen!”

            As Amelia suddenly walked up behind him and put her arms around him, Alexander stopped shaking and stammered, “W-what are you…?” Then his eyes went wide behind his shades as he heard her say in a quivering voice, “I’m so sorry…” Trying to calm her down, Alexander said, “Don’t be silly. You’ve done nothing to apologize for.” Clenching her eyes shut, Amelia exclaimed, “No, I have! When I was following you in town, I had thought to myself how amazing it would be if you were actually Gabriel the Immortal! Even after you told me you weren’t, even though I’d decided to become friends with you and help you learn to accept people again, I also wanted to be friends with you because I thought you must have some interesting past as an adventurer. But you never got your happy ending! You’ve suffered so much, and here I am getting all starry eyed just because of my stupid fantasies of going on my own adventure someday!” 

Beginning to break into tears, Amelia suddenly felt Alexander place his hand on hers, and to her surprise, he quietly said, “Thank you Amelia… This is the first time since I was together with Serius and the others that I’ve felt like I have a friend who truly cares. I didn’t realize how much I had missed it.” Releasing Alexander and wiping away her tears, as he turned around, Amelia smiled at him and said, “I’m sure you could make plenty of friends if that’s how you feel!” With a look of uncertainty, Alexander said, “I don’t know Amelia… My past, my mistakes, they weigh so heavily on me. I fear the world is better off without me. Besides, due to this curse of perpetual life, I’m doomed to solitude. No matter what I do, any friends I make will only leave me with the passage of time…” 

Smirking, Amelia simply said, “Is that all you’re worried about?” Taken aback, Alexander started to say, “I suppose it is, but-” Cutting him off, Amelia pointed at his chest and said, “Your true friends are always with you, right there in your heart. As for the mistakes you’ve made, I’d hardly say the world is better off without an amazing person like you.” Holding a hand over his chest a moment, Alexander tried to say, “But I-” Cutting him off again, Amelia sternly said, “No buts! We all make mistakes, that’s how we grow and learn. Sitting around dreaming about the past won’t accomplish anything. There comes a time when you have to get up and face reality.” Extending her hand, Amelia winked at him and said, “And the reality is that there’s a cute girl standing here waiting to show you that there’s still a place left for you in this world. Don’t you think it’s time you made your own happy ending?” Staring at her in awe, certain his face had turned red yet again, after a moment Alexander smiled and took her hand as he said, “You truly are amazing… Amelia…”