It was past midnight when we arrived at the Mansion. There was only one light visible from within the great house, coming from the guard's room at the front doors. We walked in and were greeted with a puzzled look from a newly awakened Bindo. "Fifth One, Kayne, what are you doing back here?" he asked, sleepily. Rune explained that he was going to give Chaz Elsydeon, and was met with a horrified look from the aging man. "You certainly can't give that to a child like him!" he cried out. Chaz didn't like that "child" comment too much, but refrained from giving the old man a stern talking to when Rune took him aside. He led him, along with the rest of us, once again to Lutz's room. With a flick of his fingers against the hands of the Heroine's statue, the wall suddenly sunk back, revealing a passageway. He motioned for Chaz to come forward and then said softly, "Go Chaz, go meet with Elsydeon."
As Chaz was meeting with his destiny, I snuck away to peek in on the children. As I walked down the chilly halls, I came across a pair of Araliya's tiny silk slippers. I know it sounds funny, but I actually missed picking up after the kids, so I took the small slippers and carried them with me. When I reached her room, I placed the slippers on her wardrobe and moved closer to her bed. Careful not to wake her, I gently covered her with the blankets she had tossed away. I then kissed her softly on the cheek and exited the room, looking back one last time at her, tears coming to my eyes.
As I approached Joaquin's room, I could see that there were lights on through the crack underneath the door. I decided, with much pain in my heart, not to go see him. If he were awake, it would make things very difficult, and I didn't want to distress him…or myself. I whispered, "Goodnight Joaquin," as I passed the room. As I rounded the corner to make my way back to Lutz's room, I ran smack into Rune.
"Well, hello there!" he said, as he embraced me tightly. "Kids asleep?" I told him that Araliya was asleep, but I thought Joaquin was still awake, and decided not to go in and see him. I could tell how badly he wanted to see the children, but he refrained and instead said, "We had better get going. Chaz has Elsydeon, and we need to go back to Ryrkos once more." He took my small hand in his large one and we headed off to the front doors.
The brilliance of Elsydeon caught my eye as we encountered the party at the entryway. It glistened with lustrous radiance, gleaming in the soft light of the torches on the walls. I had not seen the ancient saber since it had been hidden away here in the Esper Mansion, hundreds of years ago. Looking at it made me feel ancient myself, although I knew it had been around long before I had. I sensed the change in Chaz, I knew he had met with the spirits. He seemed stronger now, more aware of his destiny. We bid farewell to Bindo and left the Mansion once again.
The flight to Rykros seemed to take mere seconds that time. We were headed to the Anger Tower, for what reason only Rune knew. As we approached the complex, made of translucent purple crystal, I sensed the terrible wrath radiating from inside. I then realized, in that instant, just why we were here, and just what Chaz had to do.
We climbed the grand staircase to the apex of the Tower. Once at the top, we entered a large room, with large transparent crystalline windows overlooking the eerie but at the same time beautiful horizon of the planet. Rune motioned for Chaz to enter a circle, carved in the floor. I clutched Rune's hand tightly, and the whole party held their breath, not knowing exactly what was going to happen. A small breeze began to blow within the room, although its source could not be determined. As Chaz stood there, sword drawn on Rune's instruction, a figure appeared before him. It was a woman, wearing a red tunic and wielding two polished Slashers in her hands. Chaz realized in an instant what his duty was to be no matter how much pain it would cause him.
