STAGE THIRTY-NINE: TO CELESTIA (END)

Early in the morning, just minutes before sunrise, Alyon packed his belongings, wore his coat and pulled the hood over his head. He found himself standing in front of Freyja"s door for a few minutes, unsure whether to tell her or not. But, he ended up going without even knocking.

But the moment he stepped out of the inn, Alyon heard Freyja call, behind him. "So, you are not even going to say goodbye?" She stepped out of the shadows, her arms crossed, and a smile on her face.

"Lenfiare, I didn"t know you watch people secretly." He said, turning to her. "I"m relieved to see that you"re looking better."

"Are you going back to Phrein?" She asked.

Alyon nodded. "Yes. Unfortunately, my current aura and equipment can only transport one person. I"m afraid I can"t drag other phreinians with me yet. You may have to deal with them soon." He warned. "By the way, you will be closing the dimensional hole created by Galun, won"t you? I wanted to help but, you know very well I can do that myself."

"Of course, I will. It"s my job as a celestial."

"And I hope you also know that there are more dimensional holes that are currently open. Maybe not as big as the one by Galun, but it can get worse if we don"t do anything."

"Yes, I know. In fact, I broke the rule myself when I traversed to this world. So, don"t worry, I"m not that strict today." She laughed. "But of course, we"re going to close that too. Especially that Afra"s with me now. More importantly, are you going to be alright Alyon?"

Alyon took a deep breath. "Of course not. After what I just did, I will be arrested by the royal guards as soon as I step into the Reini palace. Wish me the best of luck, Lenfiare."

"That"s the price of our decisions." Freyja said, walking towards him. "We may not have known each other long, but this, I can tell you. You"re so stubborn, I"m sure that punishment will be nothing against you."

"Aren"t you being too friendly, Lenfiare? Have you forgotten that I am a phreinian?" Alyon too, couldn"t help but laugh.

Freyja shook her head. "I don"t know how to thank you Alyon. Thank you for helping me dispel my rage towards phreinians. I may not be sure how long this will last, but as long as I can remember you, I won"t lose to the hatred in my heart quite easily."

"That"s not very rea.s.suring Lenfiare." Alyon chuckled. "But I must also thank you, and your friends. The truth is, I"ve gotten more than what I thought I"d get. I never knew a relationship like that, between humans and celestials could even exist."

"… and phreinians. Weird. But, hey, it worked out." She added.

"ALYON!" Freyja stretched her hand out to him, for a handshake. "Not as the Lenfiare, but as Freyja. Thanks. Really. Thank you very much." She smiled. Perplexed Alyon slowly reached for her hand, unsure of what to do. Then, Freyja took his for a handshake. It was a human gesture, not celestial, not phreinian. "This is how they greet in the human world." She explained.


"Thank you Lenf, Freyja." He squeezed her hand and shook it, awe in his eyes.

"No problem! Just make sure that we meet again one day."

"I have a feeling that we will."

Freyja watched Alyon leave. He"ll return to Galun"s hideout and thoroughly search for the dimensional gate he can use to return to Phrein. Alyon was much more concerned about his future, than what he showed Freyja. He killed his own brother, he avenged his mother and sister, and the punishment waiting for him may even cost his life. But, as Alyon looked up at the bright morning sun rising, he felt a newfound warmth in his heart. And curiously, it made him courageous. "Friends… huh?"

Freyja walked back to the inn, and found Alaric and Kirin standing in front of the door with their bags all packed.

"Alyon left so early, huh?" Alaric said with his usual smile. "Yeah, who"d think that Alyon is so shy?" Freyja joked. ���He"ll be going back to Phrein."

Kirin and Freyja"s eyes met. Then, Kirin smiled. "We have a long way to go too." He handed over Freyja"s backpack. "We should head out too."

Freyja took the backpack, and hugged it tight. She felt the warmth of the celestial medallion under her shirt, as if encouraging her to go on. "Kirin, I…" But before she could say anything more, Kirin handed her over one more thing. "Here. Alaric fixed it so it looks better than before." Kirin took Freyja"s left wrist, and tied Keon"s bracelet around it.

Freyja teared up, but quickly wiped tears off even before they could fall. She took a deep breath, and smiled. "Yeah, I should keep this."

Alaric and Kirin looked at each other and smiled.

Freyja took another deep breath. "Alright!" She shouted, full of energy. "Let"s go!" Alaric and Kirin energetically raised their fists, joining her. "Let"s go!"

THE END

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