Chapter 19

Ron slowly got up and decided to leave the room. He knew what he truly wanted to do. He swore to himself to find a way of solving the problem. Even if he couldn't receive answers, seeing Faye in such a state was good enough reason to abandon his initial task.

"Wait! Don't go!" Faye pleaded. 

"I've hurt you enough. I deserve your hatred. I shall keep my distance so that..."

"I don't want to be alone!"

The purple-eyed male stopped in his tracks and turned around. He found the weather wielder holding him by his cape's hood, while keeping her other hand in a fist.

"Here. Take a look at it." she offered, showing her necklace.

The young man studied the jewel and had a moment of realisation. He hadn't told Faye about his necklace. She had the sun, while he had the moon. 

"I have a hunch you know the story of the moon who wanted to meet the sun." Ron blurted out.

"Yes, I do. My brother used to say it every night before I went to bed." Faye smiled, reminiscing those peaceful times.

"I remember the day when Ally came home and told me this story. She was so enthusiastic to share it with me. The end stuck with me ever since. The moon had been touched by the light she was so determined to find."

As Ron was saying this, he revealed the moon pendant he was wearing. Faye gasped at its sight.

"How is it possible?" she shouted. 

"These are connected. I'm not sure how, but they seem to be the key to this entire mystery."

"When I was praying in the dungeon, my pendant suddenly glowed."

"So did mine." Ron added. "Whenever you were in danger, my pendant would become hot. I got a pretty bad burn when Seth tried to kill you."

Faye's hand involuntarily reached his chest and Ron froze. His rapid pulse under her fingers reminded her that they were both alive. The weather wielder smiled at the assassin's reaction. She looked at the two pendants one more time and giggled.

"I realised that I just recreated the story's finale." she said joyfully.

"You sure are... Oh my... I can't." Ron said while attempting to sidestep. "What am I going to do with you?"

"You killed my brother." Faye declared in an angry tone.

Her abrupt change took Ron by surprise.

"Do you regret what you've done?"

"I'll repeat myself. I'm ready to receive my punishment, but before this happens, I want to help you defeat the Moon's Wolves and return to your friends."

"None of us is qualified to make the antidote for Edra. The conditions are tooo strict and it seems like an impossible task. I wonder what kind of sick joke is this."

Faye bowed her head in defeat and exhaled in distress. 

"Hold on!" she exclaimed. "How did you know what plants to gather for the antidote?"

"Medical knowledge." Ron answered. "I heard about the condition from your teammate... Wait a second..."

"What is it?"

"FAYE ROSALEEN LIAN, YOU ARE A GENIUS!" the male praised the wielder. He picked her up in bridal style and did a few pirouettes.

"You idiot, you almost gave me heart attack!" Faye complained and punched his shoulder.

"You solved the riddle. The greatest power in the world is love."

"We don't meet the requirements for making the antidote. I might have solved it, but it's still useless."

"I wish with all my heart we could prepare it." Ron confessed.

The teenagers felt their pendants getting warmer and warmer. Alarmed by this, they took off their necklaces, but the two pendants united and emanated a strong light. Ron sheltered Faye with his cape and covered his face with the hood. When it dissipated, they stared in shock at a small bottle sitting next to the jewels on the floor.

"It can't be..." Faye marveled as she took it. "You did it! I have the antidote! Edra can finally be cured."

Faye jumped into Ron's arms and laughed. The assassin embraced her and resumed his pirouettes. He imagined the eclipse which took place in the story. The girl's happiness was like the sun rays. It was too powerful to forget. Then, he recalled his promise from all those years. I will meet you again and I promise I will make you smile again. He finally kept it. 

"So these pendants have the power to grant wishes." Faye intervened.

"I wish Nyx's army would diminish by the time he planned to fight your team. Only he should face them."

The pendants glowed again.

"Are you that determined to help us?" Faye questioned him.

"I have to make things right. It was my fault, all ofi t. Now it's time I paid the price for my actions."

"You didn't kill me or my friends. You wished for our success and you managed to create the antidote. I can't believe that a friend would throw me in the hands of the enemies. Moreover, an enemy fights for me to go home safely."

Silence.

"I wish we could go together. You want to change, I can see you efforts. I want to give you the chance to redeem." Faye confessed.

"There is one more wish I want to make."

Ron cupped her face and contemplated her. He knew he would never get the chance to see Faye again, the one who brought light to him. 

"You are the moon that shines in the darkest hours. Never forget this." she reminded him.

"Why couldn't I have the chance to meet you in a different way? Maybe I could've made you happier and offered you the peace you deserve."

He closed his eyes and kissed her forehead. He longed to prolong that moment, but it would be impossible even for the magic gems.

"It's been almost half a year since I've brought you here. I know my sins..."

"I forgive you. Please, stop. You've paid more than you should've."

"I think I'm in love with you and that terrifies me to death. This would mean you're doom."

"You scare me, but I can't keep running away from fears."

Their faces drew closer and closer until their lips met. They hugged each other as if trying to piece together each shard of themselves broken by a life that seeked their pain to much.

"It hurts me to think it's never going to work." Faye admitted, resting her forehead onto his. "Sooner or later, we have to let go of each other."

"At least, I got to know the light and its freedom."

"And I got to know darkness and to see beyong it."

"Faye, I have one more wish. Will you hear me?"

"Go ahead."

"Find happiness. Save this land and keep your head high. Nobody is strong enough to destroy you because you can't be."

Faye couldn't control her emotions any longer and burst into tears.

"Thank you for coming into my life, even if it was for a short time. You taught me true loyalty and humanity." 

"There has to be a way to make everything end well for everyone!" she lamented.

"You have to go back to Filaria and prepare for Nyx's attack. After you defeat him, we shall meet again."

"My brother said the exact same things! He bade me farewell and died. My parents did the same. I don't want this scenario the third time!"

"It will be different."

"Until we meet again, I promise to listen to your advice."

Ron grabbed the sun necklace and handed it to Faye.

"I wish you would return to Filaria with the antidote."

The two gems glowed once again and Faye disappeared along with the small bottle. Ron sighed in relief. He was sure she would be safe. He glanced once again at the moon pendant and brought it to his lips.

"It seems like I had a good idea to check on you before I head to Filaria." an ominous voice said sarcastically.

Before he could react, Ron felt a sharp blade in his back. 

"You know I hate traitors." Nyx uttered. "You let her escape and now you will pay. You really didn't learn from your sister's experience."

The man slammed Ron to the ground and destroyed his moon pendant, which was still in his hand.

"Let's see how your scrawny friend will make her wishes come true."

The purple-eyed teenager didn't look at his boss. His breath was ragged and his hands were becoming colder. He knew it was the end. As he was left in the room, Ron witnessed the faint glow of the moon. He remembered his final moments with Faye, her light and kindness. 

"Thank you, Faye, for everything."

His whispers died in the silence. The pendant's glow was the next to share the same fate. He took his last breath, thinking about the one who saved him just before his death. His eyes closed, never to see another light ever again.