As if demanding it of him, Clyde would gladly answer Nadeline. [b]“You sure are bossy, aren’t you?”[/b] Clyde said laughing, though he did notice Savayna chuckle his remark. [b]“Rumor has it that all of the espers each, on their own choosing, grant an extra bit of power to whoever controls them. Or rather, who has beaten them in battle and they deem worthy of their strength. The rumor has it that King Raithwall had three Espers — Belias, The Gagas, Famfrit, The Darkening Cloud, and Hashmaal, Bringer of Order.”[/b] Clyde said, [b]“Hashmaal has already chosen Wesley, as the Sword of Order is proof of that. “[/b] Clyde said.

As Wesley listening to his uncle, he couldn’t help but wonder what exactly the espers endgame was for doing that? If they truly were doing it for a reason, then Wesley wanted to know what that reason was. He knew that Hashmaal told him about the Sword of Order and he even gave him the Lion Seal. Wesley just didn’t know what it all really meant. As Wesley thought about that, Savayna was a little shocked and angry. She has an esper of her own, but she hasn’t gotten any additional confrontation from Mateus aside the initial acknowledgement that she got from him when she beat him back at the Stilshrine of Miriam. [b]“So, just wait a damn minute. If the Espers are the ones who choose their owners/masters/whatever, then how come I haven’t gotten any notice of this?”[/b] Savayna said as she lifted her right forearm and the glyph of Mateus flashed.

Clyde smiled and chuckled. [b]“Maybe Mateus doesn’t think you’re ready.”[/b] He said rubbing his neck.[b] “I don’t know. I’m only speaking of the rumor.”[/b] Clyde said sighing and then he looked to Nadeline. [b]“That clear enough for ya, princess?”[/b]

-----

As one of the little lights became deep red, Jaakuna heard Aloa speak about the second step of tackling his solitude. Oh this was something that Jaakuna not only didn’t want to think about, but he didn’t think would come up so soon. Him leaving all of his friends and Emiri to go soul-searching was something he felt he needed to do. When he heard Aloa explain what he needed to tackle, he realized that was everything he didn’t remember. He thought that if he went on it alone, it would be for the best. Everything that Jaakuna thought was the right thing to do actually was the wrong way to go about it.

[b]“I thought it was the right thing, with me leaving them and doing it on my own. I just thought that if I left them out of it, if I just didn’t include them in it, then perhaps it would all just be better.” [/b]Jaakuna knew that he was wrong. He needed his friends, his family, and he needed Emiri. He didn’t know it at the time, but when he is forced to sit down and think of all the wrong choices he made because he thought were the right ones, Jaakuna was able to evaluate the decisions he made in his life. 

As he looked at Aloa, he smiled. Jaakuna wasn’t necessarily smiling at her, but rather smiling at the fact that he was wrong and it took him this long to realize it. No, he’s not just thinking about this day and how he left everyone. No, he definitely wasn’t thinking about that, but rather, Jaakuna was smiling as he thought about three years ago and leaving Savayna and his brother. Sure, when he left, it was out of fear that he thought he killed his father, but perhaps it was just Jaakuna wanting to be alone. It didn’t help that the airship that he chose to take was one he could be alone in. It took him three years on the run to gain companions. It was first Emiri, but then Nadeline came along. It made Jaakuna happy to have friends aboard his ship. It seemed even better that Wesley and Savayna also came along. Everything that happened even opened up forgiveness from Jaakuna to Grant and vice-versa. Yes, Jaakuna remembered that he became stronger and happier when he had friends he could surround himself with and a woman he could cherish and protect.

[b]“I understand now.”[/b] Jaakuna said. [b]“Being alone only causes grief and shame and it is with those two things that darkness crawls in. My bonds are my strength. I realize that now.”[/b] Jaakuna said smiling to himself.