Spirits were still high and the joyful cacophony of people celebrating a successful games evening at the Inn made the air feel more alive than it has been in months.
Lucy and I had found our way to one of the quieter gathering spots in the village. "Tell me why you think the Fates are but one Fate?" Lucy asks me then sips from her tea. I muse for a second before answering, she really behaves more akin to royalty than some innkeeper's daughter.
I sit back in my chair and cross my arms further delaying then finally just reply. "I did say I am a mage, and as you yourself know, there are some with very unique abilities." I pause to think, I am not sure how I describe it. I should be able to just explain but the more I want to say the words the more it seems unreal.
"Ok, so you Lucy, are a mage and your unique ability is to speak to Fate. The Fate. Over the years you have let people continue their belief in whichever fates they may believe in. I however know who she is." I quickly ramble the words and finish the last now leaning forward on the table so as to impress the knowledge without sharing anything beyond that.
Lucy places her cup down and smirks at me from opposite the table. "I asked how." She calmly recites.
I get up from my chair, unable to leave but there is a need to break free. I move the chair out of my way and just pace before the table. "Urrgh. I just do," my voice grumbles. "Do you know why the demons have come? Do you know why so few mages remain to fight against the onslaught from nature, beast and man?"
In a moment her almost pale complexion goes red, it is rather cute I think. "Sit down and speak man!" Lucy scolds me.
I sit down.
She asks again, "Now tell me in simple terms how do you know who the fate is?" then slams her hand to the table.
Sighing deeply, I close my eyes and think of her face. "She is my wife," I answer then take my chair and resign myself to it.
"Your ability is to speak to whoever holds the power that is the fate of men. Mine is to control the flow of nature. Her power as you know is the greatest of all." It seems so vast a difference I could not imagine any of these newborn mages to understand. Lucy seems to have immediately understood.
With an added growl to her voice, she retorts, "You realise you just wasted an hour of my life when you could just have said that right?"
Sheepishly I smirk, "Sorry, I have not had much human interaction for decades now. Everything sounds fine in my head, it becomes a lot harder when I need to say it." I indicate the time for an interim and raise my hand to wave for service.
After we received fresh beverages, a bit stronger than tea I continue explaining in a more relaxed fashion.
"Yes, I control the flow of nature, and that is how over all these years I have learnt there is a new connection. Before there was never a connection to the outer realms but since one of us has been chosen to go there. I think nature is inherently linked and by removing her from this realm it had to reconnect," I gesture to the air to indicate the division of realms. It may not be accurate but it is the simplest.
Lucy is smiling through it all, as though she has won something. "That makes perfect sense." She says seeming a bit more excited than I would have thought.
"What do you want to ask Fate?" She finally asks the next question, and then leans forward on the table pressing her palms to it in anticipation of the answer.
"Come home," I reply simply.
"Just come home?" Lucy tilts her head as she asks confused. "Why?"
"She needs to come home because that is the best fate for all. A new fate was born and the longer Clarise holds on to her power the more the darkness will find its way through the cracks." Repeating my final statement to myself again, I wish I knew if just asking her will be enough. I found her though, my Clarise. I promise I won't let her go.
