Chapter XLV: The Thirteenth Watcher (Cont. IX)
“Listen, and all shall be explained. Baen has tried to destroy all existence. We knew he would. Thus we set about all these circumstances. Adelia was let in to Maximure and trained for her purpose. Each of you were united together to stand as the nine. Each of you served your purpose well, and each of you have yet another purpose to serve.”
“What are you talking about?”
Adelia stepped forward, “Existence shall continue, but even now danger looms for the balance has not yet been restored, the Six are all dead.”
“Yet they knew that they had to sacrifice themselves and put the balance in jeopardy, so that you all would be rewarded for your heroism….” Maximus stepped forward.
“What do you mean?” Blackheart glanced back and forth, “Get to the point already…I thought we won.”
“Yes. You have destroyed Baen and existence shall continue, God shall remain infallible, and all is well. But life shall not be perfect without the balance of the Six. And thus when we selected each of the original nine heroes, you were given a purpose. Blackheart, you have served yours. You were the driving force that kept Adelia fighting on. You were the love that she had to feel to complete her and prepare her for what was ahead. West, Laura, and Thyrus, however, have not truly served their full purpose.”
“What the hell is he talking about?” West moved his eyes towards Thyrus, looking to the scientist for the answer.
Thyrus seemed to be contemplating, while only his head could really move. “It seems we, as in those encompassed by the light, are to become replacements for three of the six.”
Blackheart glanced back at Maximus who nodded, “Very astute, good wizard. You see, each of you possess a skill the quality of one of the six. West, you are strong and wise in the art of war, you have long served your nation, and now you get to serve all planes, for you shall become the new servant of War. You shall be the one that all turn to in need of help and you shall be the one who comes to aid of all those seeking aid in times of great battle.”
“I suppose I don’t get to say no?”
Maximus smiled, “I can see in your heart that you want this.”
“Just checking my options you know,” West said. Suddenly his eyebrows arched, “I can still smoke can’t I?”
“Yes,” Maximus said laughing.
“Then I accept.” And with a flash of red, West landed on the ground and checked himself over, “Nothing much has changed.”
“For you are already a warrior by nature, and serve Azurat well. You may return to your life as it is, for you uphold your purpose within your very role,” Maximus continued.
“Well, that’s a nice little perk.” West patted himself over again, discovering his last cigarette. Laughing with victory, he lit it and took a deep puff and sighed the smoke out slowly.
“You Thyrus are a wizard, though you rarely perform the magical arts which you have studied. Nevertheless, your mind is great and your potential still better. That is why you have been chosen to serve as the protector of Magic. All you must remember is you must study harder the arts and forms of magic so that you understand and can wield them.”
“No problem…..I’ve got a good collection I can dig out at home, I just haven’t gotten around to it with the building of my machines and all….”
“Yes, yes,” Maximus said with a laugh. He snapped his fingers and Thyrus too was returned.
West glanced over at him, puffing on his cigarette, “You’d think we’d get uniforms….”
“So that everyone can pick us out as the six who keep the balance just in case they want to perhaps destroy the world?” Thyrus glared at West.
West gasped, “Why I think that’s the first wise crack I’ve ever heard you say, Thyrus.”
“Sorry.”
“It’s all right, I quite like it. Try harder next time you lout, cuz you’re no good at it.”
“Ah.”
“And as for you, Ms. Ryhart…”
“Wait,” Thyrus began, “What about the other three?”
Maximus turned and looked at Thyrus, “Well I suppose I could discuss them then?”
“Don’t mind me, I don’t mind floating,” Laura said with good-humored impatience.
Maximus smirked as he continued to address the rest, “You see, each of you heroes were picked to serve a purpose, some served more than one of course. As is the case with Gobudo and Eza. For Gobudo sacrificed himself so that you would reach Cion Sky, but he did not die for nothing. He instead shall spend his time in the paradise of his mind until one day when the servant of death is needed, for he gave up life to save you all. Eza too sacrificed her life, but to do so, she brought about a chance for you to save life itself. It is for this reason that she has been selected as the servant of Life. She spent her life shaping other’s lives and even in death, shaped lives. She too shall exist within the paradise of her own desire until the day she is called forth again.”