Chapter 30: Sage

We did it!! We made it to chapter 30. We're in the end game now, folks! I'm so proud to have made it to this point and I want to thank you all for sticking with me and this story. It means so much to me.

Anyway, let's get into this! Drink it in, savor it, you'll understand why eventually.

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"Your turn." He says after a moment.

"Truth or dare?" I ask him, kneading his soft hair with my fingers.

"Hm…truth." He replies.

"Out of everything in the world, what is one thing you wish you could be doing right now." I say after a moment of thought. He's silent for a long time, staring upwards at the never-ending white expanse we find ourselves in. I sigh in content, making his head jump in its spot on my stomach.

"I mean there's people I wish you could meet. Does that count? I wish I could be introducing you to some amazing individuals up there in Kismed's land. They would love you. Of course you can't go up there yet, so you can't. Unless…" He falls silent again, his face scrunching up in thought.

"You know, I kinda feel bad for Enid. No one ever talks about her. Cato and Kismed are really the ones to ever get mentioned. Everyone says you either go to the realm of Cato or Kismed, or end up in Cato's Land, but you never stop to realize that a hearty percent of the population go to Enid. And it's not even a bad thing either. It just means you've neither been bad or good, and I think that's valid. You just spend your life in mediocrity, which I feel is much better than enternal slavery and punishment. Of course joining you and the stars is the wanted choice but I don't see why everyone thinks Enid is such a bad goddess. I mean she's the one that stopped the dispute between Kismed and Cato and split up the afterlife, so really she's the one to thank for stopping an all out war that would most definitely kill off all of humanity-"

"Wait. Maybe you can leave." He says suddenly, cutting me off.

"What?"

"I mean I've never heard that you can't leave this place." He sits up, moving to stand. I follow after him.

"Let me get this straight, we've been sitting here for days, possibly multiple weeks, waiting for something to happen and you never thought to tell me that there was a possibility I could just…leave?"

"Well in my defense no one's ever done it to my knowledge!"

"And you didn't think to check?" I say, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Why am I not surprised?"

"Ok, look. Let's just try it now, ok?"

"Ok. How do we do that?"

"Well I've never really thought about how I go from place to place. I just kinda…think it into existence."

"Ok, so we'll do that." I hold back an annoyed sigh and stare at him.

"Are you thinking?" He asks.

"Wh- Lance of course I'm thinking but I don't know what I'm supposed to be thinking of!"

"Oh, right. How about just picture my house." He says.

"…I don't know what your house looks like." I place my hands on my hips and stare at him blankly.

"Oh uh yeah you don't do, you? Here, let's try this. I'll pop back up there and then you just picture me, and we'll see if you can just come to me instead. Ok? Alright see you in a bit." He says with a smile.

"Wait Lance-" before I can get anything more out a great, defeating noise is blasted, making me wince and cover my ears, the sound so intense I feel dizzy and the world goes upside-down. A sinking feeling grows in my chest, and I squeeze my eyes shut, the sensation of falling overcoming my whole body despite the fact I feel my feet rooted to the ground. Then, as quickly as it started, it ended.

I hesitantly open my eyes, uncovering my ears slowly. I scan the vast whiteness yet not a trace of the man that was once there is shown. He is nowhere to be found.

"Lance?" I try, my voice seeming to carry on forever in the new found emptiness.  "Lance, are you there?" My voice breaks and I try to compose myself again. What did he say again? Just…think the place into existence?

With a shaky breath I close my eyes once more, filling my mind with Lance and only Lance. His cheeky smirk that makes my stomach flip, that unique mix of an American and Irish accent, the way he occasionally slips old Irish words into his speech. The dusting of freckles on the bridge of his nose, his soft hair and those brilliant gray eyes. His innocent child-like mischievousness and the way he seems to light up any room he enters.

Suddenly, that bursting, horrible noise erupts into the silence once more. My hands whip to my ears to cover them and that sickening feeling washes over me again. It's just as horrible as the first time. But yet again, just as fast as it bursts into existence, it's gone.

"Sage?" A voice asks. Lance!

"Wait! Wait, wait, wait stop!" I freeze, in the process of turning to face him. I can hear him just out of my line of sight. I stare forwards, my eyebrows raised in surprise.

"Ok, before you see this, I want to explain myself real quick because if i don't you're going to turn around and freak and I wont get the chance. I figured since you can't leave this place, I thought I'd try to bring the people down here instead of you up there. And uh…it worked. So just keep in mind that there's another person down here, ok?"

"Um...alright?" I say hesitantly, confusion written on my face. "Can I move now?" I ask after a moment.

"Oh! Yeah, yeah, you can turn around now. You're good." I blink a few times before fully turning to face him. He stands there, hands in pockets, and takes a small step to the side to reveal his guest.

There's a young woman standing there, maybe 18 or 19. She's short, standing at his shoulders, with long slender legs and a petite body. She wears a baggy hoodie with the words "I slay everyday" in big bold letters and a pair of dark ripped jeans.

I can't help but notice the similarities between the two. The way her long dark hair is the same shade as Lance's. How her jaw is set and how she stands. There are some differences though, like how her eyes hold more blue in the irises than his, how freckles litter her entire body and how her skin is a few shades darker.

I squint my eyes, her face tickling the back of my brain. I tilt my head as I sort through my memories, trying desperately to figure out why she looks to dang familiar…

"Kira?" The revelation shocks me so much I'm left speechless, staring at this girl I haven't seen in years. A smile breaks out on her face and she rushes forward, jumping into my arms.

I react out of instinct and squeeze her tight, my eyes still wide and disbelieving. After a moment I pull away and hold her at arm's length. She's smiling ear to ear, and holds my hands with hers.

"It's me!" She says, her voice taking on the same accent I'm so familiar with from her brother.

"I-it really is you!" I take her in, my eyes exploring every new feature and every place she's changed. "You're all grown up."

She lunges forward to hug me again and I squeeze her so tight I'm sure she couldn't breath for a few seconds. I glance up to see Lance turn his head away for a second, a hand flashing up to his cheek quickly before he turns back to us. I can't help but melt a little at his attempt to hide his tears. We part once more.

"You're an adult!" I say with a smile. "The last time I saw you, you were a feisty little thirteen year old girl."

"Ha! And last time I saw you, you were my age." She says with a teasing smile.

"Correction, I was two years older." I can't seem to control how hard I'm smiling. I can't stop.

"Oh, come on! That's just being petty." She laughs. "You're talking about me, but look at you! You look amazing, girl! That hair growth, too! Looks fantastic. And that physique! You still got them muscles."

"Oh, now you're flattering me." I pause again, taking her in. "I feel like I've missed you growing up. You were just a little kid when you disappeared, just beginning to learn how to multiply. Then I saw you when you were thirteen but that was only for a few hours before…well you know what. And now, here you are! A grown woman!"

"You sound like my dad." She offers a taunting smile.

"Weren't you too young to have any memories of him? I remember Lance telling me that." I glance up at him, over her shoulder. His eyes wander up, and he turns his head, acting as if he's distracted by nothing. I huff in annoyance.

"Oh, he didn't tell you?" Kira asks, her brows furrowed. She looks over her shoulder to see her brother looking very interested in the white nothingness surrounding us.

"Knowing him, no, he didn't tell me whatever he was supposed to." I roll my eyes at the same time she does, making us both laugh.

"Men." She huffs.

"Men." I agree with a shrug.

"Go on then, lover boy, tell her." She walks back to him, flicking his arm. He jumps, looking offended.

"Did you just call me lover boy?" He asks.

"Yes, lover boy, I did. Now tell her before I do." She crosses her arms and gives him a look.

"Ugh, fine. I wanted to save this for a little later-"

"Goddesses help me, tell her right now or else I will." She moves her hands to her hips, looking exasperated. I simply stand there confused.

"Um, a-alright, yeah um I will. Sure." Is he nervous? Since when does Lance Griffin get nervous? "You know what? It's better if I show you. I'll be back, Sage."

"No! Wait don't-" that horrible sound deafens me before I finish my sentence, causing me to scrunch my eyes shut and cover my ears. That awful sensation overcomes me and makes me feel like I need to vomit. Though, like before, it stops fairly quickly. I stand there, hands on my ears for a few moments, and right as I'm about to uncover them the sound erupts into being yet again. This time I really do feel like hurling but luckily the sensation fades away before I do.

After the sound ceases I stand there and don't move for many moments, expecting it to start up again. But it doesn't.

"Uh…Sage?" Lance's voice comes a little to my left. I sigh in relief.

"You really have no idea how horrible doing that teleport thingy is for the person not-" I freeze when I see him.

Lance stands there, shifting his weight uncomfortably and rubbing his neck, and Kira stands a little behind him, her arms crossed and a small smirk on her face. But there's a third man, standing to Lance's right. He's tall, a little shorter than Lance. His hair is graying, with only a few strands of his old dark pigmented hair showing through, with a long but neatly trimmed beard to go with it. His eyes are dark yet warm, deep and complex, surrounded by smile lines etched deep into his skin that no doubt make him look older than he actually is. His skin tone is tanned, similar to Kira's and it is completely clear. He wears a dark shirt with an embroidered owl on it, glasses tucked in the breast pocket.

"Um…hello?" I offer when he doesn't say anything.

"Afternoon, lass. Or evening. Or morning. This place doesn't have time, does it?" His voice is deep and coated in a thick Irish accent.

"No, it doesn't. Who are you?" I look at him cautiously, trying not to give into my defensive instincts. I want to draw my sword and demand his name, but seeing as I don't have my sword and this man is obviously dead, that might not be the best move.

"Isn't it obvious?" He says, gesturing dramatically to Lance and Kira. Lance mumbles something I can't hear and Kira just laughs.

"Um…no?" I take a small step back, my hand automatically drifting towards my belt despite the fact there's nothing there.

"My goodness, son, she isn't exactly the sharpest tool in the workshop, is she?" He turns to Lance.

"Dad!" He exclaims, throwing his hands up.

That's when it hits me. I have seen him before. Once, many years ago on the wallpaper on Lance's old phone. We were just kids then, and he was younger, less wrinkled, no gray hair, no beard, but it definitely is him. It has to be.

"Mr. Griffin?" I ask, my eyes wide. He smiles.

"There we go! I'll admit that we don't exactly look alike anymore, do we? I don't blame her, really." He says to his kids, but when met with only stares he shrugs and turns back to me. "Pleasure to meet you, Sage. I've heard much about you." He offers a hand out. I make a few strides to meet him and take his hand, grasping it in a shake.

His hand is warm and rough, with a strong grip. After our shake I take a step back, shaking my head to clear it.

"Wait, but you're-"

"Dead? Yes. Yes I am." He smiles so hard it's obvious how he got those smile lines.

"But you- you died- you didn't…you didn't die here. You died there." I make wild hand gestures as I try to make sense of this.

"Well, it turns out that my dad came here, when he was our age. Apparently he helped the king before Tempus through some hairy situations and helped him stay in power. What was his name again?" Lance explains. He looks to his dad for an answer.

"King Otto." Me and him speak at the same time. Mr. Griffin breaks out into another smile and Lance glances back at me in slight surprise.

"Yeah, him. Anyway, Dad was some big hero but instead of staying like you did, he found a way back and well he had us." He gestures to himself and Kira. "So when he died the goddesses wanted to honor him and brought him here."

"And they thought to carry on the legacy by bringing the kiddos here as well. It was only a coincidence my son fell so hard for ya." Mr. Griffin finished, throwing an arm around Lance's shoulders. He rolls his eyes, trying to hide the embraced blush creeping up on his cheeks.

"Wait a minute. You're the Black Gryphon?" I say, running a hand through my hair.

"The one and only."

"I've read so many tales about you and studied you in so many texts but I never thought you were…"

"Your boyfriend's dad?" He asks with a cheeky smile. I watch with a small bit of satisfaction as Lance's eyes go wide at the word "boyfriend".

"No, no I didn't." A small smile shows itself and I let out a breath. "This is a lot to take in." I say under my breath.

"I know," Lance takes a step toward me, concern written on his face. "I wanted to give you a cooling off period after meeting Kira but someone didn't let me-" He turns to his sister before getting talked over by his dad.

"So…Queen of Eladea, I see?" He walks towards me, hands in his pockets. I glance behind him to see Lance and Kira beginning a heated sibling argument.

"Um… New Eladea actually. Eladea was officially split less than a year ago." I answer. Why am I nervous? Stop being nervous!

"Ah, I see. Was there a war or did it just kinda happen?"

"There was a war. A very short one, at that. It only lasted ten months but it was incredibly tolling on my people." I answer with as much confidence as I can.

"So you lost the war, and let Eladea get split in what? Six parts? And now your smaller kingdom has been overtaken by a much tinier and weaker kingdom than yours. And you've been poisoned by said kingdom's prince and condemned to an agonizingly slow death?" His once warm and welcoming eyes are now cold and hostile. I feel as if he's towering over me as all the confidence drains from me. I glance back over his shoulder to see Lance giving Kira a noogie.

"Um- w-well i mean yes but if you put it that way-"

"And you've left Otto's kingdom with no home, a prince off in the middle of nowhere, and constant attacks by patrols and enemy knights?" I feel myself shrink back even more.

"I-I um I was uh- I-"

"Well honestly that's perfectly understandable. I mean you've kept the kingdom out of harm's way for the better part of six years. That's impressive! The war was bound to happen at some point, and honestly that prince was one hell of a good manipulator. Not to seem weird or anything but I've been observing ya every once and awhile just to see how you're doing." His eyes suddenly open back up to normal and he throws me a carefree smile, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"Wh-what?" I blink in surprise.

"I think you've been doing a splendid job. Otto thinks so too, actually. Though I don't see him much, he's up there, alright! Yup he thinks you're doing wonderfully at ruling the kingdom. I remember back in my day everyone thought Otto was doing a terrible job but as soon as I stepped in as this mysterious dark haired man that's acting as his bodyguard suddenly he was the perfect king. Oh I remember the pranks I used to play on the court…ah but enough about me. Point is, you're a delightful Queen. Even without a dark figure with an anonymous identity being your bodyguard."

"I- thank you?" I glance up to see Lance quickly making his way over.

"What did he say to you? Whatever it was, don't take it to heart. He loves intimidating people." He says, making a show of taking his dad's hand off my shoulder and replacing it with his own.

"We were just having a little chat, is all. See, I heard about ya predicament. Lance told me that you have the choice to just give in or continue trying to live. What've ya decided?" I take hold of Lance's hand, mulling it over in my head.

I could just stay here, with them. I could have a sister, a father, Lance. I could be happy. And if I stay, maybe Lance and Kira won't reincarnate. I'll have him forever. I won't ever have to worry about losing him again.

But on the other hand, I can't leave Liam. Or Ren, or V or Myshica or Terrona. I can't just abandon them. They're my family as much as these three are.

Kira trots over and throws her arms around my neck, slumping up against me. "So?" She asks. "Comon! I'm curious!"

"I….I don't know."

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Word count: 3390

Sooooooo how was it? What'd you think? Thoughts on Kira? Dad? The whole Otto thingy? Sages decision~
I love to hear em!!!

So um…that may or may not have been the last specifically Sance chapter you're going to get. And by that i mean a whole chapter in Sages point of view where the whole thing is just Sance fluff. That's the last full chapter at least. Hope you soaked it all in

Anywayyyyysss, cya next weeeeekkk!!