Believing in Myself

Thank you Falcon for the Review! And now, onward to the next chapter!


Chapter 8


"Alright! That was great!"

Jessica was smiling at John who was also smiling. He had just managed to douse the targets that he just set ablaze. More importantly he could do it without getting tired now. This to both of them was a major improvement.

"Well, thanks. I try my best."

Of course, if she only knew the half of it… John thought to himself smiling.

They both walked inside, where Jessica prepared something to eat.

"Say Jessica… I wanted to ask you. Can angels come to earth at any time?"

"Well… yes and no. Yes we can come down whenever we want. But we can't come down to change anything that would otherwise disrupt the natural flow of things. I was given special permission to come to you, so…"

"What about the dead… can they come back too?"

"No. Human souls are different then angels."

"But how?"

"Human souls had to have had a body beforehand to exist, correct? Because of this, they have a mark upon them of living a life on earth. As such they are not allowed to go back, unless under special circumstances."

"What do you mean, 'special circumstances'?"

"That's not for you to know. Why do you ask about this though, anyway?"

John looked outside. "I wanted… to see my parents again."

Jessica was saddened. "I'm afraid, there is no way. Unless you die to see them again, souls can't return to earth. And no magic, no matter how powerful, can resurrect the dead."

John knew this answer would come. Or rather, knew that, no matter how hard he might try, his parents could not return. He believed in his heart when Jessica came, and it grew into something more the longer she stayed, that maybe she could help him see his parents one last time. But his last dying hope had been that somehow through his own magic, he could at least talk to his parents.

However, this didn't sadden him so much as a new thought in his head, one that he believed would face next. Once he was finished and could carry out on his own, what would become of Jessica? Surely she would go back to heaven… but would he ever see her again? When the time for goodbye arrived, would he really just let it happen? She had grown on him so much in the last weeks…

Jessica looked to him and sighed. "Come on, let’s get back to training."

John stood up and walked outside. He was determined to make the most of her stay here.

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John lay awake in his bed that night. For some reason he just couldn't sleep. It was as though something inside him was forcing him to stay awake. He got up out of bed and looked around. Moving to the front of his house, John looked out to the emptiness of the village. All was calm and quiet this night.

Looking around John felt like there was something more to this. A low growl to his right confirmed it.

"Who's there!? Show yourself!"

When nothing appeared he walked over to the spot. Looking around he heard it again, further away. He ran chasing whatever it was until a scream was heard behind him back at the house. He ran that way in time to see a man with dark hair coming out of the house, carrying Jessica over his shoulder.

"Who the hell are you!?" The man merely stared at him and started to walk away. "Answer me damn you!"

John rushed forward but the man jumped and gave a swift kick that knocked him backwards. Suddenly the man raised his hand that wasn't supporting the weight he carried. It glowed red and a fireball shot out. John dove out of the way, but the blast set his home on fire. John looked stunned at the fire then back to the man. He saw eyes that he only had seen once in a dream. Blue eyes that pierced into one's soul.

"You are John Aaron, correct?"

"How do… you know my name!?"

The man closed his eyes and turned around. "If you want to see her again, come to the tower south of here. I will be waiting for your arrival, son of Dias." With that he ran off with inhuman speed toward the tower.

"Wait! How do you know my father's name!? Get back here!" John tried to give chase but soon a wolf like creature appeared blocking his path. It looked as though parts of its body were on fire, although the flames seemed to do no damage to it. It bared fangs and bound at John.

Without thinking, John raised his hand and shouted "Water!" A ball of cool water shot out and struck the wolf. It was stunned but not yet gone. Once again it bounded out, attempting to bite John. He dove quickly out of the way and the wolf skidded a bit, but soon regained the momentum to strike again. However, another water spell ended the battle, as the wolf disappeared into nothingness.

John looked to the fire that was over his house. He knew no magic he possessed now could help him, but rather he decided to let it burn. The room full of spells would be fine, and he could always build another house. But now he had another thing to do. He had to help Jessica. He didn't know how that man had subdued her, but he had to be powerful to do it.

Turning his back on the flames, he made his way southward and hopefully, to the answers of questions that burned in his mind as the fire burned his home.