Part 22 (2/2)
”The decision has already been made. You shall be delivered to the south and we shall continue with our task unhindered by your idiocy,” Ether informed her.
”No. Myranda wouldn't do that,” she said.
”It was not the human's decision,” Ether explained.
”Well if it was you then I don't have to listen. You're mean,” she said, crossing her arms.
”Were I to have my way you would be festering in the bottom of that ruined fort. Lain is the one who deems this journey necessary,” Ether said.
Ivy looked to the culprit. Lain's cold gaze stared back.
”Why? Did I do something wrong?” she demanded, tears welling up again.
”Something wrong? You are a menace! You . . . ” Ether began.
”Quiet! I know what you think! Now I want to know what he thinks,” she demanded.
”Very well. Hear it from the mouth of Lain. The message is the same,” Ether stated.
She locked eyes with Lain. After a long silence, he spoke.
”You are a danger to yourself. I will not allow you to die,” Lain answered.
”But I . . . I,” Ivy stuttered. ”I'll be careful! I'll stay hidden! I'll do whatever you say. Don't make me go!”
”I will not humor you, I will not coddle you. I will not be kind. What must be done shall be done,” Lain stated.
With that he turned suddenly to the mountains. A breath of wind had carried the scent of a long overdue meal, and with a burst of his startling speed, he was off after it. With teary eyes, Ivy watched him go. She then turned to Myranda, running to her like a scolded child. As Myranda comforted her, Ether cast a judgmental gaze over the scene. Her face bore a vague expression of contemplation, peppered with a dash of revulsion. Myranda prayed that she would have the wisdom and decency to hold her tongue until Ivy had recovered somewhat. It came as no surprise when those prayers went unanswered.
”Explain,” she demanded.
”Ether, please, just give her some time,” Myranda begged.
”No. You. Explain this. Why does this creature have such an effect on the two of you. She is undoubtedly a source of tremendous mystic might, able even to inflict her emotions on others, but you behave with the same foolishness even when the effect is absent,” Ether said.
”I don't expect you to understand this, Ether, but people need each other. We need to care about others, and we need others to care about us. Lain has fought it for most of his life, but now that he has finally found one of his own, he can't deny it anymore. He needs her. We need her. And she needs us,” Myranda said.
”Mmm. It is actually quite fascinating. You see, the true reason for such feelings, as well as why they are nearly exclusive to mortals, is really quite simple. Love between a male and a female is merely a means to ensure the propagation of bloodlines, and love for others is at best a means to ensure that the brood persists. Creatures slightly lower than humans and the like devote the whole of their existence to these tasks. For creatures that have just enough intelligence to become distracted, nature must fool them into maintaining their kind. To know that you cannot explain this need, but value it deeply, speaks volumes of its fundamental nature,” Ether said.
Myranda and Ivy shot her the same stern look. Ivy then turned to Myranda.
”Do you really mean that? You need me?” Ivy asked.
”The world needs you, Ivy. You are a very important creature,” Myranda said.
Ivy sniffled. ”The whole world? No. How?”
”You are Chosen,” Myranda said.
”I know. They said it a lot when I was there, and you and Ether argued about it when you found me. What does it mean?” Ivy asked.
”It means that you, Lain, Ether, myself, and one more person are the only ones who can stop the people who started the war,” Myranda explained.
”The teachers?” she asked.
Myranda nodded.
”I can't stop them. I don't think you can either. There are a lot of them, and they can do things that no one should be able to do,” Ivy said with a shudder.
”Well we have to try, because if we don't, no one will,” Myranda explained.
”But if that is true, then why does Lain want me to go away, and why doesn't Ether like me at all?” Ivy asked.
”Lain is worried that, if you die, then he will be the last of his kind. Ether . . . Ether thinks that there are others better suited to the task than you,” Myranda said.
The shape s.h.i.+fter's face became visibly more stern at the gently worded explanation. For the moment, at least, she kept silent. For a time Ivy too was silent. She looked defeated, confused, and frightened.
”Where will I go? Who will take care of me?” she asked.
”Well . . . If you go to the south, Lain claims to have friends there,” she said.
”No! No friends. You said Ether was a friend and she hates me. He was supposed to be a friend and he wants me to go away,” she said, shaking her head.
”The only other place is a place called Entwell. It is a wonderful place, and there are wonderful people there. You will certainly be safe, but it is difficult to get there. It is a long trip through a dangerous cave. And once you are there, it will not be easy to leave,” Myranda said.
She knew that telling Ivy this would hardly help things, but she could not bear to lie to her. It was instantly clear that the concept of trudging through a cave did not appeal to her.
”You have to talk to him. You have to make him let me stay. I don't trust his friends, and I don't want to go in any cave,” Ivy said, fairly begging.
”Listen to her. She must have been well trained. She plays this part perfectly,” Ether said.
”What are you talking about?” Ivy said angrily.
”Ether, don't,” Myranda warned.
”You are an agent of the enemy. You can do no good to that end if you are not nearby. So you beg to stay. This softhearted and softer minded girl feels for you, but I am not so blind,” she said.
”I am NOT one of them! I TOLD you I am NOT ONE OF THEM!” Ivy raged, stamping toward Ether and pointing an angry finger in her face.
Her anger had surged suddenly. The stir of feelings swirling inside of her turned eagerly to it. Anything that she could lock onto was preferable to the terrible uncertainty.
”Ether, no! What is wrong with you!? Are you trying to make it happen again? Are you trying to get us killed?” Myranda scolded, her own anger doubled by Ivy's.
Ivy turned to Myranda, a shocked, hurt look on her face.
”You . . . you think I would kill you? I would never . . . I could never . . . ” she said.
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