DECISIONS

As the final result was announced, Aelia dropped to the floor on her knees. She was breathing hard and had to take both hands to her head due to a severe headache.

Inai and Fennel entered the training dome running, to see if she was alright. It was nothing serious, but soon enough they noticed that the two training orbs that had collided to end the combat, smashed each other so hard that they were completely cracked at their collision points. Even though it wasn’t in any way lethal or even dangerous, events like these could cause a guardian to suffer from forced disconnections, which could be extremely uncomfortable or even painful to their minds.

Aelia stood up with the help from Inai and Fennel, as Lord Ataoro helped the royal knight Lex to stand up as well, since he was grabbing the right side of his ribcage firmly with his hand, in mild pain.

“Sir Lex!” Called Aelia worried. “Are you alright?”

“You might have damaged a rib or two.” He said now with his typical neutral face, but sweating. “But don’t worry, it’s part of my job. I can take it… I might need some days to rest though.”

“I’m really sorry sir.”

“Don’t be sorry. You passed, and pulled off something I hadn’t seen after decades of training guardians.”

Lord Ataoro let go of Lex as he noticed he could now stand on his own.

“Aelia. Fennel.” He said. “I have no idea of what you’ve been doing this past week. But the results are beyond my expectations.”

Fennel and Aelia smiled in relief. Elia who was slowly walking into the dome, didn’t smile, but seemed to be at peace. Inai on the other hand, seemed to be emotional, barely holding a straight face.

“You might have gone overboard with the last hit, Aelia, but making use of your weakness to develop a whole new fighting style, is admirable, to say the least.” Lord Ataoro continued. “Being skillful is not only based on amplifying your capacities, but making good use of those you already have. You two did an outstanding job at figuring that out.”

“Thank you, Lord.” Said Aelia

“Thanks Sir.” Said Fennel. “However, the fighting method used by Lady Aelia, was completely her idea.”

“You did help me figure out a strategy to use it though.” Replied Aelia, making sure Fennel had credit where it was due.

Lord Ataoro was happy at what he had seen, and was ready for the following steps.

“You win, kids.” He recognized. “Now, as Aelia requested, I’ll listen to what Fennel has to say.”

Fennel proceeded to explain his reasoning behind Aelia’s lack of motivation. He revealed that he had met with her in the haven, and as soon as he started calling by her name, without her honorific, her whole attitude brightened up. She was curious about the outside world and was fascinated by even the smallest details he told her.

These few interactions with Aelia made him realize that Aelia craved to discover the world outside the palace, and after her unfortunate interaction with Lord Ataoro during his demonstration, and after talking with her as she recovered, he noticed how her lack of motivation came from the frustration of protecting unknown faceless people, and a city she couldn’t even travel through herself.

If this was the case, giving Aelia a chance to leave the palace if she worked hard enough to improve, as a reward for getting stronger, could both push her to improve before the audience, and allow her to discover the outside world to learn if she truly wanted to protect Rossmaria out of her own free will.

He said he researched - without giving Inai away - that the rules for training guardians were flexible as long as they improved their results, if these changes were approved by the king.

Making use of this, they could take advantage of the audience with King Lenno, and propose a training system where Aelia could leave the palace to visit the city, since they had just proven it to be an effective motivation for her.

Everyone listened carefully, without interrupting, until Fennel finished. Lord Ataoro seemed concerned about this request. And asked Elia what she thought.

“Fennel did clearly disobey my orders. But I can’t deny the results. So it’s fine by me.” Said Elia with a cold and relaxed tone.

“I have two issues with what you said, Fennel.” Commenced Lord Ataoro. “First of all, even though Aelia did show evident progress as you just stated, it doesn’t prove that she has the correct instinct to be a guardian.”

Fennel was somehow expecting this reaction.

“Letting her out will only open up the chance that she might care about the kingdom of Rossmaria, but it’s not a certainty.”

“If I may, sir. It’s still a possibility that should be worthy of pursuing.” He responded immediately.

“I agree to that.” He stated. “It’s far better to have a chance than to assume her to be completely useless as a guardian.” He sat down on the floor and crossed his arms with a somber expression. “I’ll do what you say and propose it during the audience with King Lenno.”

Aelia, Fennel, Inai, and even Lex seemed to lighten up as if wanting to celebrate.

“However.” Interrupted Lord Ataoro. “My second issue, is that I will have to terminate your bond to the royal palace, Fennel.”

The world seemed to freeze for a moment, as everyone stood silent waiting for Lord Ataoro to explain himself.

“S-Sir. May I ask why?” Asked Fennel nervously, as if his whole body had turned cold from those words.

“You disobeyed clear orders from your superior, visited prohibited zones within the palace, strongly influenced one of Rossmaria’s guardians, and put the whole nation at risk with your actions.” He said. “Should I say anything else?”

Aelia’s sight had turned from a happy smile of success, to unyielding frustration, and even rage. Before she could throw herself into the conversation, Lex spoke up.

“Lord Ataoro. Even if what you said is true, doesn’t the end result demonstrate Fennel was right on his actions?” Observed Lex trying to defend the young researcher.

“What Fennel made was a gamble.” Firmly declared Lord Ataoro, as he stood up once again. “If he hadn’t succeeded, he would have wasted fifteen years of royal resources, dedicated to train Aelia, by interfering with the process that we had built for her.” He continued. “Having luck doesn’t excuse him from gambling with the future of the kingdom.”

No one could say a word after this statement.

“I thank you for your service, Fennel. And I will keep my promise.” Said Lord Ataoro as he began to walk away. “But we won’t need you anymore. Good luck.”

Aelia’s eyes began to glow in fury, and the orbs that were scattered across the dome began to raise and lighten up. But Inai quickly interfered by shaking Aelia, making her realize what she was about to do.

Since Lord Ataoro was looking away, no one could notice he was smiling after noticing the young guardian’s reaction.

“Any complaints, Aelia?” He said as he slightly turned his head to look back at the guardian.

“I can’t allow this.” Said Aelia with an unstable voice. “Fennel put his heart and soul into this.” She said as she started to walk towards Lord Ataoro, even though Inai was trying to stop her. ”He risked everything just so I could remain as a guardian...” She stopped and gave it a second thought. “No. He did so I could have a better life than the hell you’ve been putting me throughout my entire life.”

Lord Ataoro changed his expression, and turned to look at the furious guardian face to face, straight into her burning eyes.

“I won’t allow you to break the dreams of the only person who has really fought for my sake. Knowing well he would get nothing out of it.”

“Oh, so what will you do?” Inquired Lord Ataoro. “How far are you planning to go in order to protect him?”

Aelia looked towards the ground in frustration, knowing she had no chance to win in a fight, nor to change anything inside the palace by herself.

“I don’t care anymore about what happens to me. I’ll quit as a guardian if you don’t change your mind.” She stated with a dead, angry look in her eyes.

As soon as she spoke, Fennel joined in, touching Aelia’s shoulder to catch her attention. Aelia looked towards her side in fury, only to see Fennel looking at her with a grateful, but broken smile. She knew what he meant to say without the need of any words. It was a lost fight, and it wasn’t worth losing anything else. Her whole body language changed, from tense fury to quiet resignation.

Aelia clenched her fists, and was shaking in impotence.

“I understand, Lord Ataoro.” Said Fennel loud and clear, still hinting sadness within his words. “I’ll leave the palace right away.” He said as he made a bow towards Lord Ataoro, Miss Elia, and everyone else. “Thanks for everything.”

Lord Ataoro smiled at the teenager, and nodded in approval.

“I know you’ll find your way in life, kid. You’re good, bold and smart.” He said with an uncommon warm tone in his words. “And by the way, I just obtained the remaining piece of evidence I needed for the audience tomorrow.”

Everyone wondered what he meant with that.

“Aelia has an amazing drive to protect others, once she forms a bond with them. Now I don’t have any doubts.” Stated Lord Ataoro. “I’m certain your work and sacrifices won’t be in vain, Fennel.” He said. “And as for you, Aelia. We’ll find a way to make things better from now on.”

Lord Ataoro, Elia and Fennel left the dome, while Lex and Inai stayed trying to comfort Lady Aelia. However, even though she wasn’t frozen. She was completely lost in her thoughts. For her, the battle wasn’t over yet.