"Jvb, Nero's down there, please don't follow me - I want to do this on my own."
I soared down with Ascolan to the village and implored him to keep distance and convince the soldiers to stay back, I didn't want anyone to take part in what was coming now.
No, not this time, Nero - there will be no fight. Not if I can help it...
He was taken by surprise as I crept up to him, because he concentrated on the soldiers, blood and murder in his eyes, preparing his claws to rip them apart. Ascolan had taken his position next to the soldiers. I knew, they would listen him.
Nero spotted me and swirled around, leapt at me viciously and in the first moment I felt wardrums strumming softly in my veins, then it stopped abruptly. Yes, this time I had to take a different path - he attacked - I dodged - I turned - I ducked, always on the lookout for a certain weak spot, the amulet was burning again - I flinched it off my neck and held it dangling in my hand. I was not going to run away this time - not anymore, if he wanted to hit me - fine...
Very softly and slowly an extended single note rose out of my crystal heart shard... [color:"#a0a0ff"]The soft Tune of Hope... a whisper... a gentle breeze... a tiny spark... in search for support... Aided by the Sound of Searching... cry of an eagle calling his mate... a laugh of mutual understanding, of respect... fighting side by side... keeping another company at the crackling campfire... friendly banter... wordless understanding... peace... calmness.... trust... where are you, old friend?[/color]
I saw the demon - my old friend - the invisible bond that tied him to his master - the inner chasm, where once his heart has been. Now was the right moment!
The amulet swayed from side to side, amplitudes grew - it was so easy... I just... had...... to........ let ............ GO! The amulet literally flew towards him, hit his chest, the tiny claw within the crystal opened its fist and the pyramid - Nero's heart essence - assimilated with the demon's body.
The bond between the races is gone forever
The bond between individuals is still alive...
Some bonds, Mortal, come by own free choice - they do not gag and bond... they aid and support - why are you reluctant to learn this?
These memory shreds hit me like lightning: It had never really been my task to save this world, just to inform about the danger it was in! The inlanders, they were the ones to do it or not! Not me, I was only a catalyst - and my duty bonds were over. It was their Age of Steel and Blood, not mine.
Nero sank to the ground, unconscious. I smiled as I watched - I had done the right thing, his body shivered, writhed and transformed, claws formed to fingers, face slowly took up familiar features again. I rushed up to him, bent down and wanted to place the amulet carefully in his lifeless hand:
"Remember the ally que..." I whispered and then stopped. "No, don't remember, choose yourself what you wish to do, choose your own fate and destiny, old friend... Farewell!"
I flung the amulet high into the air, it painted a light blue streak on its way, flashed and... who knows, where it landed? I leapt up and ran towards Ascolan - mounted him and felt my last bond fading... Everything else now, his fate - the fate of this world - the fate of the group and new ones to join - was not more my fate. They had the same right to choose as I did, the same freedom to choose their paths of murder, killing innocents and guilty or preserving life.... Choice at own free will.[/i]
"Ascolan, lead the way... to my freedom!" To my free choice, to my old self - the way I was, leaving back to what I have changed here... going to where I want - to bonds that aid and support...
With a loud screech the proud griffin took off and I felt all weight fall off as we rose. We took the way to the sun - soared past Jvb: Choose your own fate, FireDragon, farewell!... towards the bright flash... Ascolan and I charged into it - with a roll of thunder a huge blast of blinding light lit the world around us and I was FREE!
