"What did you say?" Van asked in disbelief.
"It's as you have heard. The Tenth Generation Fluer is the first and only Le Fleur to be born directly of Fluer's blood." He stated. "Fluer once gifted her blood to a wounded mortal of this world. That mortal later passed on this blood."
"And over vast stretches of time. The blood was passed down. Till finally the blood awakened and became the Sacred Flower's vessel." He added. "That's what he is. A child who bears the blood of two different worlds. That of Mortal and Ancient."
"So, what does that have to do with what I saw?" I asked as I regained my composure.
"It makes you very special and unstable." He stated. "Because you have Ancient Blood within you, you are standing on the thin line between that world and this. A little mistake could make you go over the other side."
"So, that still doesn't explain what I just witnessed." I told him.
"You're body is half Ancient. That place is the boundary between worlds. Normal beings are not able to go there. However, since you share Fluer's blood it is only normal for you to be able to go there." He stated. "The bad thing is that you can't tell which side is which. One wrong move and you might not be able to come back to this side. Worse, you might end up seeing something you shouldn't."
"Like what?" I asked.
"The darkness that has swallowed many of our brothers." He answered. "Stop. Don't even think of it."
He stops me when I'm about to try it out. I don't trust him that much but I do trust Ragel and the others. Maybe they can tell me more than him.
"I see. You've met the others. The souls of the Ancient who became Chimeras." He says and I froze. "That little prayer you offer after you have defeated them is actually a purification. So that they can be cleansed of the darkness."
Before I can say anything he smiles and pats my head.
"Kindness is a trait Felicia too had. Young one, let not you heart stare at that side for too long." He stated. "I do not wish for one so young to be tainted by the shadows of our sins."
Before I can press him further he smiles, pats my head and walks back to his lantern.
"Should you need me, you know where to find me." He says and disappears before leaving one last piece of advise. "Share the burden do not shoulder it alone. For that was what brought Fluer to her own destruction. And that was our sin."
He disappears back into the lantern and I take it in my hand and hang it on my belt once more.
"So, care to tell us what Praesidium meant, Arata?" Andrew's cold voice asked from behind.
"Yeah. Yeah. I'll tell you." I sighed and sat back down. "Okay... Where do I begin?"
"How about at the very start?" Van asked.
"Okay. Let's start with the Isla Memorya. On the island where memories sleep, Fluer left the truth of this war behind. She entrusted the truth to the Le Fluers. Spriggan, the guardian of treasures watched over the island." I began. "There, on the island I learned of the truth which Spriggan had guarded for eons. About the Chimeras and Fluer."
"Go on." Licht stated.
"Fluer had an important role back during her time. She was tasked with making a choice. What kind of choice I don't know. But what I do know is that instead of choosing one over the other, she fled. She abandoned her duties and ended up with a fate worse than what one of the two options offered." I continued. "Her homeland was destroyed and her people we're cursed. A spell like no other was placed on her brothers, only Fluer and handful of other Ancients escaped unharmed."
"Now, this darkness chased Fluer across the vast cosmos till she landed on a distant world. In that world, she found life unlike any other. Resolved to protect it and correct her mistakes, Fluer faced her fallen brethren only to find them unrecognizable." I added. "The eons of running and chasing in the stars had turned their bodies into unrecognizable shapes. Fluer devastated by this, made a vow to stop them."
"However, she alone could not fight them and was soon severely weakened. As she saw her end draw near, she used her power to seal away all the Chimeras she could and entrusting her power to chosen people." I stated. "Her power was passed down from one individual to another till it fully awakened in a certain Brave. However, with the power's awakening so did the Chimeras. Thus, our war now stands."
"And what does this have to do with you?" Angie asked.
"After each battle, if a True Beast of Chimera is killed I have to end them. Fluer left behind one more power, the power to change the fate of her brothers and sisters. She had created a spell." I answered. "After each battle, I offered prayers to the Souls of the Ancients, hoping that they'll find rest and peace among their fallen brothers.'
"So that's the strange chant we hear each time you end a Chimera." Alexis stated.
"What happens to the Ancients that are killed?" Lina asks. "Are they truly saved?"
"I can only say that I think they are. Fluer's magic which she left to the Fluers was meant as an offering to the wary and weak." I stated. "She made it with the purpose of saving them. So for that purpose which she gave her everything, we Fluer's must also offer all the help we can give."
"So, anything else you're hiding, Arata?" Will asked and I smiled. "Well? Are you hiding more things?"
I'm hesitant to share the information of the Bonds of Fluer. I can't bring myself to tell them but I can't keep lying to them either. I want to tell but it's not yet time.