"So, how have you been?" I asked as we exited the castle.
"Decent, although I was worried about my son. Zeke, was it?" He answered.
"Yeah, Ezekiel or Zeke for short. And I never really understood why you did that, not that I'm complaining."
"It was necessary."
"Necessary?"
"The only way I could return to our dimension was through a relatively unstable dimension rift, and it is dangerous enough for fully grown Marchosias', I was not going to risk his life. And I knew he was in good hands." He justified himself.
"By entrusting him to a four year old?" I shot back.
Noctis stops and looks at me straight in the eye, "We both know you were no four year old Fayden."
"What do you mean?" I asked skeptically.
Does he know?
But how?
"I meant your soul's age." He said, making me widen my eyes.
It took me a few seconds to accept that he knew.
"What else do you know?" I asked in a monotone voice.
"That is about all."
"I see..."
And we continue walking.
Makes sense.
There is no way he would have entrusted Zeke to me had he known about my past.
Knowing about my past...
"Say Noctis." I start, "Should I tell my parents about my reincarnation?"
"I don't think I should play a role in that decision." He tried to slip away.
I chuckle mirthlessly, "Yeah I guess you shouldn't, but I will still ask for your counsel."
He glances at me, "Very well, if you must insist." He stops and turns towards me, "Listen to what your heart tells you." He pointed a finger at my chest.
"What my heart tells me, huh?" I mutter as we get back on track.
After a few more seconds I make my decision.
________________________________________________________________________________
As we exit the castle I ask Noctis if we could make a detour to Xyrus Academy.
I want to let our friends know that we will be gone for a while.
He finds my reason acceptable and grabs my shoulder as we enter a non existent shadow.
Friends...
No, don't think about him, don't think about him!
Shit!
I hastily wipe away my tears.
I can't break down, not anymore.
I harden my facial features as we 'ascend' out of the shadows in Xyrus Academy.
I can sense a lot of mana cores still nearby, and that includes a lot of familiar ones.
I go to Owen and Brandon first, who coincidentally were conversing together.
"I dunno man, he might very well be dead at this point." I hear Owens voice, tinged with a dose of sadness.
"Well he is standing right in front of you." I spoke.
"Fayden?!"
Both of them stand up immediately.
"In the flesh." I smirk at their reaction.
"Wha-How-?" He stutters.
I interrupt by raising an arm, "We don't have much time, just know that I will likely be gone for a few years to train with my benefactor."
"Your benefactor?" Brandon speaks.
As if on cue Noctis comes out into the light.
"Him, he has agreed to train me for what is to come."
"What do you mean?" Owen asked.
"War is coming, and we need to be ready for it. I'd get stronger if I were you." I say as I start to move towards where most of the DC were, what's left of them that is.
"War?! what-"
"Until next time, Owen, Brandon." I wave before disappearing.
_______________________________________________________________________________
I appear in the DC meeting room, which was still being repaired.
And there were three people inside.
Claire, Curtis and Kathyln were talking about something.
"Sup guys," I announce, "Miss me?"
As they turn towards me, I notice the tear stained look on Kathyln's face.
"Fayden!" Claire exclaims.
"Yep, that's me." I replied.
"You're alive?" Came Kathyln's soft voice.
"This feels awfully nostalgic." I mumble.
Immediately a small figure runs into me, and I am shell shocked upon who it is.
"Uhhh princess?"
She doesn't reply, only tightening her grip.
I look at Curtis and Claire for elaboration, but they are as shocked as me.
Even Noctis raises an eyebrow at the display.
I hear her mumble something.
"Sorry?"
"I thought you died..."
"Apparently having a benefactor such as him has it's benefits." I spoke.
She let go and looked up to me, "Benefactor?"
"Yeah, him." I point my thumb backwards, and her eyes widen at the man behind me.
She immediately bowed, "I thank you-"
But Noctis interfered, "Please, you don't need to thank me. After all what kind of benefactors would we be if we let our champion be executed?"
"Champion?" Curtis spoke.
"Yep, as of this day I am no longer a Dicathian. I am now the Ambassador of the Marchosias, a race of Deities." I announce.
"Deities?" Claire asked, confused.
But Curtis and Kathyln weren't, judging from the momentary flash of surprise on their faces which soon turned to acceptance.
Makes sense they were told about Deities, although it looked like they didn't believe it completely.
"Anyways, I came here to say my goodbyes." I try to get this along with it.
"To say goodbye? Where are you going?" Curtis spoke.
"I'm goin- Wait that's a good question. Where am I going?" I turn towards Noctis in the end of my sentence.
"We are going to my home, the dimension of the Marchosias, Losvilion." He replied in a somewhat dramatic manner.
"Yeah, there. Wherever it is." I spoke.
"How long will you be gone?" I heard Kathyln ask.
I share a glance with Noctis, "A few years at the very least."
"A few years..." She trailed off.
I turn towards Noctis, "Wait, can't I visit once in a while?"
He shook his head, "No, the way one reaches Losvilion is not normal. We pass through into a completely different dimension, and doing it too much, especially for a lesser, will be harmful to your body. Besides, it is not exactly easy to open such a rift."
"I see...then it seems like we won't see each other for the next few years." I swept my gaze across the three of them, although it stayed over Kathyln for just a bit longer.
"And what of Arthur?" Claire asked.
"He is in a similar predicament. The other continent has mages stronger than even Lances, and the Asuras of Epheotus have agreed to train him, because we will need all the help we can." I answered.
"You talk as if this new continent is a threat to us." Curtis enquired.
I ponder on that for a bit.
Do I tell them?
Ah well, they will know about it sooner or later, "I spoke like that because they are a threat to us. They have already killed a Lance."
A collective gasp is heard from the three of them.
"A Lance?! But how?" Claire asked.
"As I said, they have mages who are stronger than the Lances." I explained.
"How do you even know about something like that?" Curtis spoke up.
I smile ruefully at him, "What do you think we found down there under the Widow's Crypt?"
Claire had a look of pure disbelief on her face, while Curtis and Kathyln had faces of grim acceptance.
"So that's why you were in a bad mood after coming back..." Claire mutters.
"Actually, I wasn't much different after the crypt. It's the attack that affected me the most."
"Speaking of the attack, what was that? Your beast will?" Curtis asked.
I shake my head, "No, that was the first time I saw that form. I think I went into that state due to my emotional turmoil, especially rage."
"And that is a state you shall not be entering again, not until you master your powers." Noctis added.
I roll my eyes, "I'm well aware of that, I have already been warned of that."
"Warned?"
"I'll explain later, we're on the clock here." I turn towards the other three in the room, "So, yeah. I guess this is goodbye for now."
"Agreed, we must hurry." Noctis spoke.
"Yeah, so uh, see ya guys." I begin moving away, "Let's go Noctis."
He nods and we descend into the everlasting darkness of the shadows.