Chapter 8

The girl walked past the guards and entered the village. The pale pink, blue and yellow stone slabs actually looked very battered, but were still beautiful. The village had a manageable market square, about ten stalls, which were lined up in a row on the left as soon as you entered the village square, on the right there was a small restaurant and some small wooden houses in both directions. If you looked straight ahead, the last part of the beach of light caught your eye, which was separated from the village square by a wide, small wall of different colored pale stones, on which a few people were sitting. Through a few steps you could get to the beach. As it was already evening, the fishermen returned with their boats and tied the means of transport to posts on a small wooden walkway so that they would not be driven away. It smelled of fresh fish and salt. Cheyenne was about to go to the markets when she saw Glaczio. In front of him stood a pretty, slender woman with brown hair, who looked at him reproachfully. She was about the same age as the healer. The girl didn’t care at all what he was doing, but in order to get to the market stalls, she would have to walk past him and she wanted to avoid that. So she stopped and stroked Adocaz a bit. She hoped that Glaczio and his acquaintance would soon go somewhere else and waited. She didn’t have to concentrate much to hear what the two were saying. The woman seemed to be extremely angry. “Why did you just run away without saying a single word?! I was sick with worry. I waited so long for you back then and you just didn’t come… Did you stand me up?” Glaczio took the woman’s hands and looked into her eyes, but she turned away, blushed and let him stroke her hair. She shook her head and let out an angry whisper. “This number doesn’t work for me anymore, so please finally listen to me like this … with your beautiful eyes… and tell me the truth. You don’t look like you’ve had any difficulties, so what was going on? It’s true, isn’t it? You really stood me up…” The healer, whose wound on his face had now completely disappeared, gave an answer to his acquaintance. “I would never stand you up, my beautiful butterfly. How do you come up with something like that? I had something to do and had to leave as soon as possible. Unfortunately I didn’t have time to let you know… I’m so sorry, please forgive me. It won’t happen again, I promise. I would never stand you up, there’s only you in my life… You know that, my breathtaking beauty… If you don’t have anything planned later, would you spend your time with me? I missed you so much. We could go to the beach… and listen to the waves…” Glaczio had meanwhile taken the woman in his arms and seemed to know exactly what he had to do to convince her. Although she didn’t look completely happy yet, it seemed to be enough for her, because she let him have his way and enjoyed the hug.

Cheyenne didn’t know how to behave. On the one hand, she really had to hold back not to laugh, because Glaczio had sucked up so enormously and talked so much nonsense that it was just funny. Because the girl knew exactly that every word was a lie and that almost made her feel nauseous. She felt sorry for the poor woman, who probably didn’t even know that he was making such a fool of her. The healer had spoken to her quite convincingly, but Cheyenne had seen with her own eyes how he had flirted with the girl in Saraley and she had experienced it herself, as had Sasha. However, she would not interfere. Pff, because this woman there is his only love, such nonsense. How can you lie so coldly? Maybe it’s because of his element, but… doesn’t he even have a guilty conscience?

Cheyenne apparently stared at the woman in Glaczio’s arms the whole time, apparently with a look she didn’t like, and she broke away from the young man. “Tell me, do you know this girl? She’s been staring over here the whole time…” The healer turned his head a bit and looked at the girl out of the corner of his eye, immediately squinting his visible eye and turning back to his acquaintance. “Why should I know her? Maybe she’s confusing me with someone, or it’s her hobby staring at people. Strange, isn’t it? Ah, you surely want to know something about my trip. I can tell you one thing right now, I’ve met a lot of strange people, the girl there is nothing yet. So, let’s go for a walk…” Cheyenne just couldn’t help but put on a stunned look, roll her eyes and shake her head. But the woman saw her behavior and it was apparently enough for her to realize that Glaczio had lied. “So you don’t know her, huh? But I think she looks like she knows you pretty well! I knew something was wrong here, you must have moved me back then and… You must have had something with her, admit it! You cheated on me, you fucking bastard!” Ah, just the idea that I could have had something with him is terrible… How does this woman come up with such a thing? Oh dear, I think this thought will haunt me for a long time, until my dreams… Even more nightmares than before… Cheyenne shuddered. The woman pushed Glaczio away from her, wanted to slap him in the face, but then changed her mind and ran away. Oh… Not good…  The healer turned around and the girl was already afraid that he would throw some mean things at her head again, but he held back and didn’t say anything at all. But then he decided to do it after all. “Hey, I’m really proud of you, thank you very much. Well, do you have what you wanted now? If you intended to spoil the rest of the day even more, then you’ve achieved your goal, congratulations. Are you happy now?” Cheyenne couldn’t look at him anymore, she hated him, but it hadn’t been her intention to spoil his mood. She didn’t really care what he did and she should actually be happy, after all, the woman had understood what an idiot Glaczio was and such a rubdown would be fine for him, but the girl hadn’t done herself any favors, because she was now plagued by a guilty conscience. Adocaz growled at the healer again until he sighed and went to the beach.

Cheyenne now looked at the stalls, she desperately needed a distraction. Some offered food, mainly fish, but she was also able to discover vegetables and some fruit. The girl liked the souvenir stalls best, there were beautiful shells and pearls in many colors, also necklaces and other jewelry. Another dealer offered wooden figures that looked incredibly real and enchanting. Cheyenne knew she couldn’t buy any of this, but she still enjoyed the sight of all these beautiful things and forgot her worries for a while.

When she had looked through all the stalls, the chromastars in the sky had already become paler and it would be light for about an hour, then the dark night would dawn. The girl now wanted to wait for Sasha. She hoped that her friend had been successful and could sell the horses for good money. Adocaz and his owner walked side by side to the wide, colorful stone wall. There were no more people sitting on it, except for one person. Glaczio… Cheyenne had nothing left to lose, so she decided to just ask him now. She wanted to know why he had changed so much from one second to the next, towards her. She didn’t care how he would react now, maybe it was the last time she saw him anyway. She took a deep breath in and out, then the girl walked up to him accompanied by the fairy wolf. The healer didn’t say anything, just raised his head a little and stared at the sea. Cheyenne closed her eyes for a moment to collect herself, then opened them again and resolutely asked him the last question before they parted ways forever. This time she would demand an answer and not leave again, as she did last time. She wanted to know only one reason, nothing more. “Glaczio… I’ll leave right away if you answer a single question. If you refuse, I’ll stop here and… um… Talk to you until it annoys you and… spoils your day even more, get it? The only thing I want to know is… Why did you change so much towards me from one second to the next, what did I do to you? I just want to hear one reason, then you’ll be rid of me forever and ever, I promise you. Please… Tell me why…”

The healer sighed long and deep. Then he spoke to Cheyenne in a calm voice. “Sit down…”  The girl was surprised, but she did what he had asked her to do. Adocaz lay down behind his owner and growled every now and then. After she had sat down next to him at a distance of about half a meter, she looked at Glaczio expectantly. He was still staring at the sea, but then he began to speak. It was the first time since the escape from Saraley that he spoke normally to Cheyenne again. “So you really want to know, chosen one, huh? As you wish… Where do I start… One reason why I have changed my behavior towards you so much? Hm… There are several. If I tell you my reasons, you won’t understand them at first and I’m sure you want to know the rest… Well, then I can tell you the whole truth right away, it doesn’t matter if you know it or not, our paths will part tomorrow morning anyway… So, it started in Saraley, didn’t it? When the knights played so badly with me. You saved me and even had compassion for me, even though you always find me so nerve-killing… It’s amazing how kind you are… Basically, I have no problem with pity, unless it comes from the chosen one of darkness, whose birth is to blame for the death of my family.  I know it’s not your fault that you were born… but that you can’t help it, I had completely forgotten at that moment… The knights reminded me of my past, which I had repressed. When you were worried about me, wanted to talk to me, wanted to help me so that I would feel better… I just couldn’t help it… You, the chosen one of the darkness, have compassion on me, her greatest enemy, whom she had since her birth and three years before that. I couldn’t let you be so kind to your mortal enemy…  I know I hurt you the whole time, which was not easy for me at times, but I hope you were able to use the pain to your advantage and gain strength of soul… Then everything would have a good side… I hope you’re more careful now and don’t trust everyone right away… You know… a chosen one must be strong and wise. If you stay the way you are… naïve and fearful… Then I guarantee that your life will be a short one. I know what you want to say now. You don’t want to be the chosen one of the darkness and are looking for a way to avoid your duties that is beneficial to all of us. But there is no such thing for you, believe me. Either you accept your fate and walk on the path predestined for you, or you withdraw from your purpose in life and choose the freedom to determine your own life, like me. But if you choose the latter, the world will come to an end. Unless… you find a way to save the world while following your destiny but still making free choices. But I’m afraid that to go down this path you need a very strong soul, which you don’t have at the moment… However, I firmly believe that your soul will grow over time, become stronger and one day be in full bloom… We are destined to be mortal enemies, neither of us can do anything about it, but I am still forever on your side because I have not accepted my fate. I didn’t want to be complicit if the world came to an end, because I also want to go on living. My whole family paid with their lives for this decision, but I just couldn’t submit to my destiny. That’s why I was with you, protected you and helped you wherever I could. Not only because you’re the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen, but also because you’re so important to the preservation of the world. Oh, by the way… You’re not a disgrace, little angel, you’re just quite extraordinary and amazingly kind for a chosen one. It’s not your fault that the truth has been kept hidden from you and no one has ever prepared you for your life. That’s why it’s not true that I find you disappointing, on the contrary. Your soul has a great potential for strength, because you have already experienced and participated in so much, seen so much horror, of course you were sometimes on the verge of giving up everything, but your character has never changed and that, my sweetie, is really remarkable. I’m really sorry, but I had to treat you this way to prepare you for life out there. I knew that our paths would separate in the near future when you met Sasha. So I acted in the interest of all of us. You should now know how to deal better with your pity for enemies, no longer blindly trust everyone and also question someone, your thinking skills have also been promoted, as I have observed and saying goodbye is now easier for us in this way. I really wish you all the luck in the world and when the day has come when Light Knights and Shadow Servants fight each other in a final battle to the death, I will stand on your side, finally conquer my fate and thus seal my freedom… Forgive me for wasting your time on unnecessary talk. You’ve already received your answer. My reasons may not seem sensible enough for my behavior in your eyes, but they are enough for me. Despite all this, traveling with you was nice, apart from who you are. I’m sorry that everything has turned out this way, but it’s only for your good.” Glaczio finished his speech and wanted to get up, but Cheyenne stopped him. She had a hunch and wanted to know if she was right. Birth-related mortal enemies… Could it really be?  “Please wait a minute. Thank you for telling me all this, but what you’re saying doesn’t really make sense to me unless… Glaczio… You are the… Chosen one of light, aren’t you?”

The healer lowered his head and sighed, then he looked deep into the blood-red eyes of the girl with his ice-blue eyes. He turned away again and spoke to her, in a low voice. “I… I used to be. In the meantime, it’s just a title that will probably haunt me for the rest of my life, but I haven’t fulfilled my meaning and purpose as the chosen one for a long time.. When I found out what the knights were up to, I began to no longer accept my fate and turned more and more against the Light Knighthood. But it wasn’t until a year ago that I was finally able to tear myself away from them. But the price was high… Hehe, I’ve already bored you enough with my stories, so I don’t have to tell you my eternally long life story, little doll.” Cheyenne could hardly believe what she had just learned. The whole time she had been on the road with the Chosen One of Light and hadn’t noticed it. That’s why our enemies all knew him, because he used to be on their side… Since he no longer wanted to help them destroy the world and seems to have somehow moved away from them, they now think he is a traitor and want to kill him. It’s really hard for me to believe that someone like him should be the chosen one, but on the other hand, I’m not exactly a prime example. Unlike me, he can at least fight and assert himself, but the flirting and some other behaviors somehow don’t quite fit this divine appearance. But maybe he’s doing it because he doesn’t want to be the chosen one, maybe that’s why he’s changed so much in the last year, as Sasha told me. He was much worse off than I was when his job was to destroy the world we all live in… And now I also see why he behaved so meanly towards me… But basically, we share the same fate, because we are both running away from our responsibility. Only that it is justified with him, unlike me…  The girl didn’t know what to think about first. But she wanted to hear his story first anyway, maybe some questions would explain themselves. Her anger and hatred for him slowly dissipated, but she wouldn’t be able to put her trust in him again after everything he’d done. Nevertheless, she hoped that he would tell her his life if she asked him very kindly. “You don’t bore me, on the contrary. I’d love to hear your life story… Please tell me…  Why didn’t you tell me who you really are earlier?” Glaczio sighed and began to tell Cheyenne everything she wanted to know about himself, just as the girl had once done with the healer when they had first met in Mediasilva. “Would you have believed me if I had said I was the chosen one of the light? Or would you have thought it was another lie? Even if you had felt it to be true, you would have been intimidated by it, would have immediately taken me for an enemy and sent me away as soon as Sasha and I had told you our suspicion and the meaning of it. I couldn’t tell you… Well, if you really want to know what has happened in my cursed life so far, I’ll warn you right away; It’s not a pretty story, just like yours. So… I was born three years before you, as you know. Even though I can’t remember that time so well, it was probably the most beautiful of my whole life. I come from a wealthy family of doctors who had the best pharmacy with a healing practice, which existed in Excidoma Magna until a year ago. The entire Knighthood of Light had relied on my parents. In these three years, I was almost idolized and revered as the chosen one, every wish was fulfilled, as far as I remember, and I was happy for a long time. But I was much further along in my development than all the other children of that age, so I was considered a child prodigy, which doesn’t really seem so strange in a chosen one. Shortly before my third birthday, they subjected me to experiments because of this… Well, the researchers hadn’t thought it through well and didn’t pay enough attention when my body reacted differently than planned. This inattentiveness error led to the fact that I have had an enormous hypotemperature since that day, as you have already noticed in Mediasilva. Fortunately, my element would be ice even without this fact, hehe…  Since I am the chosen one of the ‘light’ and therefore I was on the side of the knights of the ‘light’, they naturally experimented mainly on my reaction to light. At that time, this white glow was still completely new and unknown, because since the Yin-Yang age, the research of the knights had not yielded any useful results on it, but about eighteen years ago the breakthrough came.  Unfortunately, I still remember exactly what they did to me back then… A few researchers led me into a dark chamber and then exposed me to an enormous amount of light. The white, cold light has attacked my lumenium structure and changed it in such a way that my body no longer stores heat, but somehow I can still live. I guess that’s what you call luck… But it also has a good side; Through this experiment, my healing ability has improved and I have been able to transmute and control Lumenium much more easily since then. I can even summon it in its nonphysical form as minimally altered magic and attack enemies with light spells as if it were normal elemental magic. This is similar to your slightly modified black Umbraurore Magic, which allows you to cast seemingly darkness spells. We live up to our titles, hehe. Light and darkness… When this terrible experiment ended, I ran away and wandered through the city for a whole night, distraught. My body emitted white light for eight hours after this experiment… I thought I was going to die at the time… Little children and their fantasies, huh? But that night… I can remember something else, only blurred, but still. I think I saw you as a baby in your mother’s arms. Your eyes, your hairline… Not everyone looks like you, you know? I helped your mother flee from the knights, if I remember correctly. But it only helped you, because I saw with my own eyes how they beheaded your mother.” Cheyenne caught her breath. Glaczio’s life was already enormously difficult when he was so young, what was still to come? In contrast to his, hers had been easy so far. But one thing confused her. “Wait a minute, you… saw my mother when she was beheaded? But she died at my birth and was not killed.” But the healer had an explanation. “Maybe you were only told that because the truth would have been too cruel for you back then, as a small child… Your grandparents probably just wanted to protect you…” Cheyenne nodded, because the reason sounded plausible and Glaczio continued. “In any case, my life changed enormously from that day on. When it came to a chosen one, everyone, except my family, began to doubt me. You were rumored to have a crystal, unlike me… Don’t you think this is an extremely base motive? After all, the gods, if they exist, are also different. Maybe the goddess only gave you your crystal as a piece of jewelry because you’re a girl, or to make you stand out from me. At that time, the knights had doubted me, but had not yet cast me out or anything like that, because Atropax always said, ‘The time of Glaczio’s need will come and then you will all be glad that we have him on our side. Don’t forget, he was given to us and we can certainly still use him well’.  Oh yes, that’s why I know him, by the way. He is the leader among the rulers, so to speak, and has therefore made it his special task to train me. He was like a second father to me back then. The other rulers have also taught me what they know, but in the meantime some of them are dead and have been replaced by new ones. After that, only Kommandant Atropax and General Agamemnon trained me. When I was six years old, I met Sasha and my parents helped her at my request. We were the best of friends back then. But the knights have interfered and promised her a ‘home’ if she lets experiments be done on her. She was young and naïve and accepted because my parents advised her to do so at the threat of the knights. But I’m not going to tell you about her, she’ll have to do it herself, as I’ve already told you once, forgive me… Well, back to the topic. The older I got, the more I learned and one day when I read research reports in the library, I found out that the way of the knights was probably going to destroy the world and I rebelled against them. But because I already knew all their secrets at that time, it was too risky to let me go. I could have approached the Shadow Servants and told them all the plans, so they threatened me a bit and played with Sasha’s life here and there to keep me in check. I didn’t want her to get hurt any more and I complied… When I was eighteen, I met a girl… We fell in love, got engaged at the insistence of the knights and celebrated our wedding a short time later, which we would have done sooner or later anyway, even without their demand. It seemed strange to me that they married us at that young age and after such a short time of getting to know each other, but it was in their and my interest, so we let it happen.  If I had known… what I did to her with it… I wouldn’t have allowed myself to fall in love with her… Because one day, a year ago, the king wanted me to use my healing powers because of a tiny scratch on his hand that you couldn’t see properly. I refused and said I’d rather save my strength for the people who were really badly off, but the knights didn’t like that. There was a heated discussion and the king told me that I only had my wife at the time because he paid her father. It would have been pure coincidence that she had fallen in love with me and she would only be reserved for me to pass on my ‘divine genes’ so that they would not be lost in case something happened to me and I died. That was enough for me, I got angry and I told the king my opinion properly, but that was a big mistake. At the same time, unfortunately, the most liberating thing I’ve ever done… The knights attacked me and we fought for a long time before I was able to escape with serious injuries. They just stalled me, as I had to realize, because when I ran home to tell my parents what I had done… the whole house was on fire and it smelled of burnt human flesh. In front of the front door I saw two knights injuring my beloved wife and then throwing her into the flames. Her cry when she was burned miserably alive I will never forget in my whole life. My mother, father, sister and wife… My whole family was killed because of a single ill-considered act on my part. And in the most cruel way. I couldn’t help them anymore, I couldn’t do anything to undo my mistake…  I didn’t know what to do or where to go. Then I remembered Sasha and I wanted to see if at least she was okay. But the knights had also played badly with her and I couldn’t stand the situation anymore and fled the capital… You already know the rest, I roamed the country chasing girls, partly to distract me, until we met and I traveled around with you.”

Cheyenne was speechless and overwhelmed. What she had experienced had been only half as bad as Glaczio’s past. He seemed to have had everything he could have ever wanted, and because of a single mistake his whole life had been ruined. My gosh… What he went through is terrible… What would have happened if he wasn’t the chosen one? Then he certainly wouldn’t have had such a fulfilled life, but on the other hand, not so many horrible things would have happened. He even had a wife… I can’t imagine that with him… He’s actually the totally unfaithful guy. Hm… Maybe he only became like that after this terrible event, that would also agree with Sasha’s statement. Well, after such a traumatic experience you probably just change… It must be terrible for him to know that his whole family was killed in agony because of him… But he has caught himself afterwards, wants to go on living, has not given up hope for a better future and certainly wants to take revenge on the knights… Glaczio and Sasha are so strong… Why can’t I be like the two of them?  Cheyenne noticed that the healer’s eyes were getting a little watery, but no tears were shed. He just stared out at the wide sea with a blank stare. Glaczio’s story had made the girl so sad that her eyes also watered. She remembered something he had said before and reproached herself. Then she said what she thought. “I… I’m so sorry for everything… If it hadn’t been for me, your family would still be alive… You’re right… Now I understand even better why you were so mean to me… You must hate me for what I did to you… But… I didn’t want that and…” The healer interrupted Cheyenne and looked at her. His gaze was now strong and brave. “Angel, stop reproaching yourself immediately, okay? I regret what I said before. It’s not your fault that you were born a chosen one and the knights got wind of it. Besides, it was my mistake, which is why my family is no longer with us. If I had thought better, not acted so selfishly and had been more considerate of them, none of this would have happened… But still, I always tried to blame you for it, because then it was easier for me to cope with and suppress. You were just my scapegoat, forgive me for that… And now I’ve made another mistake… I had the opportunity to accompany you on your journey, to protect you so that you arrive safely, to observe you so that you don’t make the same mistakes as I did and to take revenge on the damn Knighthood of Light… I lost the chance through my own fault… I really hope that nothing happens to you and that you don’t do as many stupid things as I do…” Glaczio sighed and turned away. He jumped from the small wall and his legs landed gently in the fine sand. The healer walked towards the sea, that was probably the farewell.

But after everything Cheyenne had learned now, she couldn’t let it end that way. He regrets all his mistakes, you can tell… He just wants a chance for revenge and a future… It’s really bothering him right now that he treated me so meanly, I feel that… But… Even though I feel sorry for him, I can’t forget what happened… Would he really be loyal to one side? I just can’t trust him yet, he’s too changeable… I believe his story, but what if it’s all just a big trap? If the knights and he are just fooling me to trick me… Glaczio can lie so well that I would trust him to do the same… On the other hand, I believe that everything he had just said was real… Oh, I guess I should… only give a single, tiny second chance… That’s the least I can do for him…

Cheyenne also jumped off the stone wall and ran after the healer, closely followed by Adocaz. She stopped behind Glaczio and tried to suppress her trembling. The girl thought briefly about her choice of words, then made him an offer in a determined voice. “Glaczio, listen. I can’t forget what you did, but I’d feel really bad if I didn’t give you one last chance. You want to take revenge and fight for a future, if I understood correctly. Besides, to put it in your words, you’re too useful when it comes to protecting and defending me. I suggest that you continue to accompany me if you wish. Under one condition: Should you ever lie to me again, or be as mean to me as yesterday and today and so on… you have to leave for good. This is now… I’m in earnest. So, what do you say?” The healer turned to Cheyenne and looked at her incredulously, but still sternly. Then he sighed and averted his gaze. “No, little angel… Your good-naturedness is a blessing, but only if you use it correctly. What you’re doing right now is very stupid… Have you forgotten yet? We are birth-related, natural mortal enemies… Hehe… I would only continue with you if you didn’t know who I am… But I’ve already told you. Hm. Besides, if you show up with me at the Shadow Servants, you’ll be immediately doubted, I guarantee you. It pains me to decline your offer, believe me, but it’s for the good of all of us. It’s bad enough that we’ve already spent so much time together, doll…” The healer turned around again and the wind blew through his long, beautiful hair. Then Cheyenne remembered what he had said before. “So we are no longer allowed to travel together just because of our fates? I thought you wanted to escape your destiny and have your freedom. You want to make your own decisions and not let the past catch up with you, if I understood correctly. You didn’t want to accept your fate and go your own way. Then you can certainly overlook the fact that we are enemies from birth due to our predetermined fate and you can break away from it by your own decision… The freedom… to determine your own life and to go your own way… But… if you don’t want to, that’s your business, so… I only made you this offer so that I wouldn’t feel bad later. Fair enough… So this is where we part ways. Thank you for everything. Farewell.” The girl was about to turn around and leave when Glaczio turned back to her. Cheyenne stopped and waited to see what he wanted to say. His gaze spoke volumes and she knew that she had chosen exactly the right words. Revelation and knowledge could be read in his eyes as if they had been written there. The healer found his voice again and expressed his thanks. “Cheyenne LeBlesse, chosen one of darkness, you are not only my little angel, but truly a gift from heaven. Thank you. I almost let myself be led back to the old path of damnation, but you have just helped me to stay on the path of freedom. I will never understand how one can be so kind, but I appreciate it very much. You’re the first to give me a chance since then… I hereby swear that I will make good use of it and protect you, little angel. Even if I have to give my life for it. It is a great honor for me to fight at your side and I accept your offer with great pleasure.” At the last sentence, Glaczio had started to grin and bowed. Cheyenne had to smile, she hadn’t expected such a formal speech. The healer seemed very happy that this opportunity was made possible for him and she herself was also happy, because the girl now felt much better than before. She just hoped that she had made the right decision and wouldn’t regret it later. Now I just have to teach Sasha… When will she actually come? Hopefully nothing happened…