72 Reunion (1/2)

Will

”There's another reason why I've come for you.” Jonathan confessed as he rustled Will's hair. ”I wasn't the only one who noticed you missing from your room.”

”The king wishes to see me?” Will wasn't surprised. He was wondering how long it would be until he was summoned. ”I suppose it has been a while since we last spoke.”

Before turning to leave, Will noticed Maya hanging out in the background. Even though she tried to hide it, he knew she wanted to speak with him.

Will tapped his dad on the shoulder lightly. ”Hey dad, I need a little time alone with Maya before we set off to see the king.” he said as his dad had just started walking. Will saw understanding in Jonathan's eyes as he winked.

”Don't take too long.” He said as he continued walking towards the castle gates. ”I'll wait for you at the throne room.” With that, he left the group of wielders and went back into the city.

Will watched Jonathan disappear into the city gates before turning back to Maya. ”Hey, so how's your year been?” He said with a joking smile on his face. He waited for an answer for a while, yet instead of responding, Maya threw herself on him.

”Don't you ever do something so stupid again!” She yelled as she convulsed into tears on his shoulder. ”You have no idea how worried we all were!” She let out the anguish she was feeling for the past year.

Will pat her slowly on the back as she tried to regain her composure. Her breathing came in long racks of sobs. ”I know, Maya.” He comforted her. ”I was here the whole time.” He felt her breathing slow slightly. She looked up at him with a tear stricken face. Her eyes held a questioning look. ”You have been at my bedside every night. For the first few months, you didn't even leave my side.”

”How could you know that?” Maya asked as she calmed slightly.

”I am glad you stopped wearing that dress.” He said with a small smile. ”Even if it is just for while you are training. We really do have to expand your wardrobe.” he brushed a curl of brown hair out of her eye.

Maya sighed slightly, finally regaining control over her emotions. She let Will wipe the tears from her eyes. ”You promised you would do that.” She pointed out, as if she were waiting for the right time to bring it up. ”You have a promise to keep, William Ragnos.” She teased.

Though her words were playful, Will knew she had been waiting a long time for him to make good on his promise. To her, he wasn't just buying her clothes, he was giving her a new identity. One without all of the pain and darkness she had to endure for so long.

”After this audience with the king, we will make good on that promise.” Will vowed as he took Maya's fragile hand in his own. ”We will take off to my world and have a little break.”

Will's promise was like a breath of fresh air to Maya. After all the time that had passed, she was more than ready to shed the skin of the corrupt wielder and finally be with him. ”Maybe before that, you should check out Ember.” She said with a smile. ”Leo has been working diligently over the past year to ensure your plans for the city happen.”

Even where they stood, Will could make out an outline of a city in the distance. Though he knew Leo had been working on the project, he hadn't had enough time to visit the new community while he was in a coma.

”If you wish that to be our next stop, we can check it out before we leave.” Will looked from the distant skyline back to the city in front of him. ”But for now, my father needs to be updated on the events that are to come.”

Will took the hand that was in his own and started walking with Maya towards Ebonhart. He had much he had to discuss with his father, most of it he knew the king would not approve of. Though he didn't look forward to the outcome, he knew what he had to do.

”Hey,” Will heard Jake approach from behind. ”Wait up.” Will turned to meet his brother. ”You just get back, and the only thing you do is spar with me?” He sounded genuinely saddened.

”Sorry man.” Will said as he let go of Maya's hand and embraced Jake. ”So much is happening right now, it's hard to know what exactly to do first.

Jake withdrew from the embrace first, he had a smile plastered on his lips. ”I just wanted to thank you for what you did for me.” He became serious. ”Without you, I wouldn't even be here.” He remembered Will taking his consciousness into his own body when Aremesis tried to banish him. ”I will make it up to you.” He vowed as he turned back to the sparring group.

”It seems he's grown a bit.” Will whispered to Maya as he took her hand once more. He of course knew of Jake's agreement with Aremesis. Ragnos himself had formed the union between the god and wielder of darkness. He knew the battle which was about to take place was not one which could be taken lightly.

Maya nodded as he watched Will's brother, who was now getting the sparring groups paired off to start training once more. ”Something happened to him after you left.” She said simply. ”He's taken on much more responsibilities with the crusade.”

Will knew much of what Maya was talking about. He had seen his brother working alongside Leo most days over in Ember. Though, he didn't know much of what was happening in the city, he knew that they were gone for most days, only coming back to spar with the rest of the wielders.

He had also seen Jake with Michael, sorting out payment for the many workers along with Roland who brought the valuable resources to the city for construction. Most nights that Leo returned, Will accompanied him in his astral form while his best friend buried himself in blueprints.

Will noticed that he hadn't seen either Leo or Bianca since getting back, he questioned Maya as they walked towards the gate.

”Leo is in New York heading the New York Crusade.” She said with a smile. ”He finished Ember a few months ago and said he was bored. So far as I know, he set up an embassy at Michael's manor for a group of wielders. Roy and Bianca are there as well.”