Daylight breaks over what remains of Remure, through the pile of burnt wood and hollow out house frames. Residents gather in small groups for surveying and collecting materials for rebuilding. One of the homes still intact transforms into a temporary shelter for residents still suffering from injuries. Even with all the destruction, everyone breathes a sigh of relief that there were no fatalities only various injuries. Even the worker on the brink of death was saved due to Theresa’s life saving remedies. It didn’t last long. A dark cloud hung over Remure because of the dark revelations of reality that Raull had to make each resident face.

“Remure is supposed to be isolated?!” Axel couldn’t hide his surprise. Ryo remains quiet.  “What about the trading and interactions with other towns?”

“We just do it for bare minimum if its needed.” Finn answers.

Both men sit across from Finn in his kitchen. A few residents including Theresa stand close to the doorway. Several of the windows remain boarded up and there are large cracks between the floorboards and roof panels. Finn casts his gaze down at a book opened on the table. Inside, a large drawn ship rocks over the rough seas, around it small ships catch other waves. Small print creates endless paragraphs of text.

“To the world and maps we are an isolated town. However, the truth is we are a village.” Finn admits. He flips the pages of the book. “It seems that we can’t hide the truth forever.”

Axel tries to keep up with his words. “Wait wait…so everyone was lying this whole time? About what?” His agitation shows.

Ryo glances down at the book. Finn flips the page then stops. “I can’t tell you why, but there is a reason we deceived the world. However, that power that you, Ryo and the enemy Raull exhibited last night is one of those reasons.”

Axel stands up. “That’s another thing! What the hell was that? It was a cold wind, I could hear this whistling, never made the fact that its like I could read Ryo’s-“

“-my expressions?” Ryo finished his statement. Finn glances at him. “I could do it too. Only for a moment.”

“You don’t know what it is?” Axel asks Ryo.

“I would tell you if I did. It was like it came so…naturally.” Ryo glances down at his hand.

Finn crosses his fingers on the table. “I can’t tell you boys what you experienced. It’s not my place to. The only thing I can tell you is that fate has begin to set the world’s gears in motion and you both may play a pivot role in it.”

“Now you are just talking nonsense.” Axel scoffs. “What role? It’s not like the whole world’s in danger from just a little wind. Never mind the fact that one of us has no memories.”

“That surprised me too.” Finn nods. “To be able to tap into that power without remembering its source is quite a feat. Are you sure nothing else came to mind when you unleashed it?” He directs his question at Ryo.

“Nothing, only the need to fight.” Ryo responds.

Outside one of the builders comes rushing in. “Finn, we have a problem. There is no way enough materials to rebuild everything we lost from the attack. Maybe only about thirty percent would be covered by it.”

“Only thirty percent?!” Axel shoots up. “That won’t even cover the homes completely devastated. Where is everyone going to live?!”

Uneasiness fills the room, but Finn breaks it. “We knew this would happen. We have survived worst, and we can survive this too.” His confidence breaks whatever uneasiness the others were shaken by.

 “Oh, I know how about we ask the neighboring towns. We do trades with them all the time.” Axel smiles at them, however it’s returned with big frowns.

“We can’t do that. Even with a little bit of trade, thanks you the attack yesterday any contact with other places could put us in more danger. We must isolate ourselves.” Finn tries to explain.

His words fall on deaf ears. “We can’t do that! We need help or else people in Remure will suffer! I’m going to go see if I can secure something!” Axel leaves his seat before he can be stopped. Just outside he rushes past a few workers, disappearing into the woods.

Finn falls back into his seat. “He doesn’t understand. The moment he mentions this place they will surely kill him.” He places his hand over his forehead.

Ryo stands up. “Continue with your discussion, I will go after him.”

“You have my thanks, Ryo.” Finn bows to him.

“No need. If everything is connected to fate as you claimed it is…I’m willing to take a chance on it.”  Ryo exits from the house.

After he’s gone Theresa walks up to Finn. “Is it wise not to say anything else?”

Axel pushes his way through the lower branches into a clearing. Smoke rises in the distance from various houses in the next town over. Renew determination, he strolls across the field but stops a short distance away from a large boulder. On top, Ryo sits with his legs hanging over the side. Across his lap, a silver sword gleams under the sun. He slides off, landing onto the dirt in front of Axel. A deep pressure washes over him.

“You better not be here to stop me! Remure needs those supplies and I’m going to get them!” Axel snaps at Ryo. However, there is no response, only a deep stare in return. “Wait? You not going to say anything?” More silence. “Fine if you won’t move then I will just walk right through you!” He steps forward, but a bronze sword lands at his feet.

“You don’t take one more step until you defeat me.” Ryo says.

“Are you out of your mind!? Enough of this foolishness!” Axel proceeds with the next step but is cut short by a blade to his throat.

“It’s not foolish. One more step and this blade goes into your throat.” Ryo’s stare darkens.

Unable to tell the accuracy of the threat, Ryo slowly reaches down to secure his blade. A bubbling frustration builds inside him. Without warning, he lunges at Ryo swing downwards in wild swipes. Like a dual dance, Axel’s swipes were dodged by elegant evasive patterns Ryo picked up on. Left. Down. Up. Left. Right. And repeat. It was the same thing with the battle against Raull. Finally, Ryo could understand why Axel struggled and now its clear that he was only one battle away from death.

Still recovering from the battle before, Axel’s movements stagnate the move he tries to land direct hits. Ryo makes his move and unleashes a barrage of similar swipes back at him. Axel realizes the pattern but can’t keep up with the attacks. Each defection draws out energy putting him at a greater disadvantage. Frustration melts into a pure rage. Not from being beaten but from this powerless feeling of being unable to do anything. It shows clearly in Axel’s eyes. Ryo brings his sword downward, severing Axel’s bronze sword in two. It shoots outwards in two different directions, each section disappearing into the grass. Devastating defeat brings Axel to his knees.

“I told you. If you can’t defeat me. You aren’t going anywhere.” Ryo speaks over him, down to him.

Inside, the reservoir on Axel’s feelings breaks. “An outside like you wouldn’t understand! It was me who brought this onto their lives! Everything that happened was because of me! What was I supposed to do? Nothing!? I need to do something! Anything!?” Unleash anger pieces each of his words. Nothing only attacking Ryo in front of him but also attacking himself. “I’m a useless person, who couldn’t even protect the one place close to a home! What good am I!? Huh!?”  His anger turns into rambling.

Ryo stares at Axel, then hoists him up with his collar, high enough to put him on his tiptoes. “I need to do something! Anything!”

Slap!

Ryo hits him across the cheek. A red mark pulses in pain, shutting him up. Heat rises from the impact, and he brings his hand up to his face.

“I think that’s enough. Listening to yourself.” He drops him on the ground. A stunned Axel looks up at him.

“I think I know what your problem is.” Ryo points his sword at him. “Look I may not have my memories but there are feelings I’m finding deep down. The feeling of fighting and surviving. Just by looking at Remure, I can feel the same thing from there. It doesn’t just fall all on your shoulders. Didn’t Finn raise you like his son? Why don’t you put more faith and trust in him.”  Ryo lectures him.

“I…” Axel looks at his hands.

“You need to cool your head and look at the big picture. There is a reason Remure is isolated. Why good would it be to go to another town? You would just put them in more danger. You need to think things through.” Ryo’s sword lower to his side.

Everything he says makes sense. The town wouldn’t help him. Not if Remure truly wanted to remain in isolation. That powerless feeling fades from the pit of his stomach. Haaaaaa. Hooooo. Haaaaa. Hooooo. Axel breathes in and out to calm himself. The rage that clouded him dispersed. He stands up, dusting himself off.

“Nice lecture.” Axel snaps back at Ryo.

“Well, someone needed to knock you down a peg.” Ryo retorts.

Their conversation is interrupted by someone from Remure. A man comes out of the bushes trying to catch his breath.

Ryo and Axel return to Remure to see everyone gathered near the foundation. Finn makes his way through the crowd, stepping in front of them. He holds up an envelope for Axel to take.

“You will need this to secure the supplies. Its for an acquaintance of mind currently staying in Milonite City.” Finn explains.

“Milonite City?” Ryo asks.

“Yep, it’s part of the mainland, a city just outside of the Kingdom of Lunestra. He deals with trades and has helped Remure in the past. This letter explains everything.”

Axel takes it but confusion reflects in his eyes. “I’m glad that there is a solution, but we still have a problem.” He motions his hands like waves. “Do you plan on having us swim across the ocean?”

Finn laughs. “Of course, not boy. There is one last thing I need to give you.”

“And what is it?” Axel asks.

Finn hesitates for a moment but continues. “It is the last gift left to you by your father.” He strolls off back into his home. A murmur rises over the crowd. Ryo looks to Axel for a response. However, Axel freezes in his tracks and it feels like the very blood in his veins turned to ice.