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Although Dyne tried to get up as early as possible the next
morning, Ghaleon and most of the Guild had already been awake
for quite some time. He walked into the Main Hall, where he
saw Ghaleon, Lemia, and the Guild officials working on the Magic
Amplifier.
"Good morning," Ghaleon said, not taking his eyes off his
work.
Dyne looked at the Magic Amplifier curiously. The Amplifier
was about four feet tall, square-shaped, and adorned with magical
symbols. Holes ran along its four sides to hold the energy crystals
that gave it power. On top of it was a small sphere with the
imprint of a hand.
"This is it, huh?"
"What were you expecting?" Ghaleon said, his voice not changing
tone.
"I dunno, but not this. Any way I can help?"
"We're fine for now, thanks."
Dyne's stomach grumbled.
"Why don't you get something to eat?" asked Ghaleon, smiling
slightly.
Dyne shook his head. "I'll stick around, if you don't mind.
Besides, I can't pig out while everyone else here is working
hard."
"Suit yourself," said Ghaleon, and he was once more absorbed
in his work.
Dyne went over to one of the Guild members who was apparently
on break. "Excuse me, sir. What exactly is this thing going
to do to help the ship? How does it work?"
"The Magic Amplifier was designed to either increase the power
or range of a spell. In this case, Lemia is going to use lightning
magic to destroy the rocks that are trapping the Airship, and
then use a wind spell to safely guide the ship out. A magic
portal is going to show her where the ship is, so she knows
where to direct the spell."
"What if the lightning accidentally hits the ship?"
"The ship, if it has enough power, automatically generates
a magic shield whenever an unexpected disaster arises. That
should protect it from any accidents."
Dyne looked again at the Magic Amplifier. "I didn't think
magic required machines to operate."
The Guild member laughed. "Magic is just energy. Although
spells harness that energy, in some cases, something else is
needed, like a wand or pendant. Think of the Amplifier as a
magic wand."
"It's finished," Ghaleon announced.
Lemia and Dyne came up to him. "It's all ready?" Lemia asked.
"I couldn't get it to full power, but it should have enough
to get the Airship to safety."
Lemia breathed a sigh of relief. "Then let's begin."
# # #
Lemia stepped up to the Amplifier and put her hand in the
imprint on the sphere. The crystals, activated by Lemia's magical
aura, began to glow, and the Amplifier turned itself on. Two
mages, on either side of her, cast a spell of vision. A portal
opened above the Amplifier, showing the Airship still trapped
in the gorge. They all tensed as they saw that all but one of
the lamps had been extinguished.
"They don't have much time left," Ghaleon muttered to Dyne.
"If this doesn't work, they'll have no chance."
"Will it work?" asked Dyne nervously.
"It did once before."
At last, Lemia began her spell. The sphere glowed as it absorbed
Lemia's magical energy, and it shot a beam of light straight
into the air. In the portal, she saw a cloud of magical energy
build over the airship. At last, she completed the spell. Bolts
of lightning shot down from the sky, blasting the rocks that
imprisoned the Airship into dust. She continued right away with
a wind spell, and the Airship slowly floated out of the gorge.
"We did it! It's free!" Lemia cried.
Cheers rang through the Main Hall as the Airship was on its
way towards Vane. Lemia released her hand from the Amplifier
and looked at Ghaleon and Dyne. They both smiled, proud of her
for what she had been able to do. She smiled back, and looked
at the portal again... and screamed in terror.
The last lamp had gone out, and the now-powerless ship was
starting to fall!
"Mother!" she cried.
"The Airship... it's going to crash into Vane!" another Guild
member cried out.
"Do something!" Dyne screamed to Ghaleon. "You have to save
them!"
"I can't! I don't have that kind of power! Not even the Amplifier
could help!"
"You have to try something!! Otherwise those people don't
have a prayer!!"
"Prayer..." Ghaleon whispered. "That's it! Dyne! Lemia! Give
me your hands!"
Lemia raced over to Ghaleon. Ghaleon took Dyne and Lemia's
right hands, and held them in his own hands. "What is it you
want right now, more than anything?" he cried. "Hope for it!
Pray for it!"
Mother, Lemia thought.
Lemia, thought Dyne.
Zain's legacy, thought Ghaleon.
Suddenly, Dyne felt strange. He felt this incredible power
rising up from within him, like nothing ha had ever felt before
in his life.
"Goddess Althena!" cried Ghaleon. "I call upon your holy power!
Heed and grant our prayers!"
The room exploded with light. Wave after wave of energy coursed
through Ghaleon, Lemia, and Dyne. The strain was incredible,
and Dyne wondered whether they'd be able to withstand so much
power. He could barely make out the image in the portal of the
Airship also being engulfed in energy, then vanishing.
Then the light disappeared, and the energy faded away.
Dyne struggled to rise. Lemia leaned against the wall, barely
able to stand. Ghaleon was also exhausted, but somehow remained
on his feet.
"The Airship," he said with a smile.
From the windows of the Main Hall, everyone could see the
Airship resting safely in the center of Vane. Although the balloon
was in tatters, the passenger section was undamaged. The doors
opened, and the Guildmistress of Vane and the other passengers
exited the Airship.
"Mother..." Lemia whispered. She rose from the floor, but
collapsed in Dyne's arms, crying tears of relief. Ghaleon went
over to her to comfort her.
"Shh," Ghaleon said soothingly. "She's okay. Everything is
going to be okay now."
"You did it, Lemia" Dyne added. "You should be proud. You
saved them all."
Lemia wiped her tears away. "I couldn't have done it without
you two. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Lemia stayed sheltered in Dyne's arms for several more minutes,
unable to move. Then he released her, and she was able to stand
on her own.
"And now," Ghaleon said with a warm smile, "I believe your
mother is waiting for you to welcome her back."
# # #
The reunion between Lemia and her mother was truly a heartwarming
one. Dyne and Ghaleon, not wanting to intrude on a private moment,
stayed by the entrance to the Magic Guild.
"What exactly was that spell you used to save the Airship?"
Dyne asked.
"It's called 'Prayer'. It's energized by the hopes and prayers
within a person's heart. But it takes a lot of magic power to
use it. Without both you and Lemia, it wouldn't have worked.
I told you that you would be able to play a major role this
morning." Ghaleon started to grin. "Finally taking an interest
in magic now, eh?"
Dyne returned the grin. "Maybe. Do you really think I could
learn it?"
Ghaleon laughed. "If I can save an Airship against all odds,
anything can happen."
A tall, elegant lady approached them. "I am Remilia Ausa,
the Guildmistress of Vane. I and my people owe you endless thanks
for your aid."
Ghaleon and Dyne kneeled. "It was your daughter who is the
true hero of this day," Ghaleon said. "Without her courage and
determination, all would have been lost."
Remilia motioned for them to rise, and smiled at her daughter,
who was now by her mother's side. "She will be a worthy heir
to the Magic Guild. There are very few people who could have
handled themselves so well under such circumstances."
Lemia blushed from their praise.
Remilia turned to Ghaleon. "My daughter tells me that you
are the one who built the Airship long ago. I apologize for
not taking better care of it."
Ghaleon merely shrugged. "It is a relic of the past that served
its purpose long ago."
Remilia smiled. "You're wrong. It is more than merely a symbol
of the past. It is a part of Vane and her history. It will be
put on display in the Magic Guild, always to remind the people
of Vane of their past, and to show them that Vane and her legacy
shall live on forever. Your brother Zain would be proud."
Tears began to swell in Ghaleon's eyes. "Thank you, Lady Ausa.
It feels good to be back. However, I still feel the call of
adventure, and the need to explore."
Remilia nodded. "Very well. Just remember, Ghaleon, that wherever
you go, you can always call Vane your home. So can you, Dyne,
if you wish."
Ghaleon smiled. "Thank you. I plan to return one day, and
it's nice to have a place to truly call home."
He took one last look around and dried his eyes. "I think
we'd better be off," he said to Dyne. "Mistress Remilia, Lemia,
it was a pleasure to meet you."
Lemia looked at them sadly. "Goodbye," she said, her voice
barely a whisper.
Dyne saw the look in her eyes. If only she could come with
us, he though to himself. But he said nothing out loud.
Remilia watched them as they walked towards the Fountain of
Transmission. She then looked at Lemia with a mischievous smile.
"Well, aren't you going to go after them?"
Lemia was stunned. "Me? B- but, mother, I'm needed here!"
Remilia laughed. "Oh, c'mon. I know you want to go with them.
And after today, you deserve it. Hurry, before they leave."
Lemia gave her mother a quick goodbye hug, and ran after Dyne
and Ghaleon as fast as she could. "Wait!" she cried.
The two of them paused and looked back towards her.
"Take me with you! Please!" she said as she caught up with
them.
Dyne and Ghaleon grinned at each other, as if they knew she
would ask all along.
"Okay by me," Dyne said. "Ghaleon?"
"Why not?" Ghaleon asked. "Besides, Dyne could use another
magic tutor."
"Yes! Thank you, thank you!" cried Lemia, giving Ghaleon and
Dyne a big hug apiece.
"Let's get going," Dyne said. "There's a whole world out there
waiting for us."
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7 Epilogue
Authors Notes
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