A Union of Hearts: Mercy & Justice: Chapter 1 – A War of Love against Love

*Concept art for Caleb and Kyla

Chapter 1 – A War of Love against Love

A loud noise wakes Kyla and me from our sleep.

“We’re under attack!” a servant says as they barrage into our room.

“Yeah, we know! Get everyone to safety!” I say.

Kyla and I dress in our armor and get our weapons before heading upstairs as fast as we can. Looking out the windows, we see that what look to be black and white cannon balls are hitting our castle and the surrounding city. One of these volleys tears open the wall in front of us giving us a convenient way out. We jump out of this hole and onto our dragons that materialize below us. My dragon fires volleys of crimson flame while Kyla’s dragon fires volleys of blue flame to intercept the ones coming at us and into the city.

On the ground, we can see black and white creatures without heads and have blades and shields for limbs some of which are no bigger than an infant and have blades for heads. All of these creatures come in the same way as volleys by flying over the wall and taking their shape when they hit the ground before moving to attack everyone in sight that isn’t like them. Kyla and I command our dragons to continue to intercept the incoming enemies while we go on the ground to attack the black and white creatures. Once our army and city’s guards get a hold of the situation, we go back in the air. Our citizens, the soldiers, and the guards cheer for us as we fly over them.

“I didn’t expect Absalom to make his move against us so early,” Kyla says.

“What else were you expecting from a man whose influence is quickly spreading throughout the world?” I ask.

“Some restraint so you don’t turn everyone against you?”

“Not Absalom. It’s not like him when he has his heart set on something, especially with his new family and conceited powers.”

Beyond the walls is a small army of black and white creatures and conceited people with heart shaped black holes in their chests. Our dragons rain down their fire on this army that creates a tornado of crimson and blue fire, and in minutes, this army is brought to its knees or reduced to ashes based on the mercy and justice of the Absolute. We bring back those that are still alive for questioning and are cheered for on the way back into the city. While we wait to hear the results of the interrogation, we help the citizens and guards clean up the mess the attackers made.

“Absalom has finally given us the reason we need to go after him ourselves,” I say.

“Still, it’s not like him to attack us like this,” Kyla says.

“He’s conceited, which means he’ll go from sin to sin and he’s no longer himself. That means he’ll be unpredictable from now on.”

“He is unpredictable but part of him must still be alive since he still lives. The Absolute doesn’t make anyone live forever in falsehood.”

“We can only hope,” we hear a man say from behind us.

A general from our army approaches us and we drop what we’re doing to bow to him, greet him, and then shake his hand.

“What did you hear from the prisoners?” I ask.

“They told me that Absalom ordered the attack on our home through his specters, those black and white creatures that you saw,” the general explains.

“I didn't know he could make so many with his conceited heart,” Kyla says.

“They are weaker than the ones that he used to make when he was himself and had his Heart Absolute ability. I've already talked to the other leaders in the city and we think it's time we launched our own assault against him.”

“It's about time that decision was made. When do Kyla and I leave?” I say.

“You leave after we make the decision official and receive a blessing from the archbishop. We still have to plan out how we're going to go about this attack. Your parents should have come back from their own missions with valuable information on the cities that have fallen under Absalom's influence, but they haven't yet. It's unlike them to be this late.”

“We'll go after them as well. The places they were investigating are on the way to Absalom's main city.”

“I wouldn't be too hasty about getting there. He did take over the entire city by himself after all.”

“We also haven't perfected our own Heart Absolute ability, so going up against a veteran like him and his army of specters is going to be dangerous even with the power of our dragons of mercy and justice,” Kyla adds.

“I'm not worried. If the situation gets sticky, we'll combine our dragons and hearts into one. That thing can destroy false gods.”

“It also takes a lot out of us to use, so we can't abuse that power.”

“Whatever you say.”

“She's right, Caleb. Absalom fought in many more battles than the both of you combined. Don't underestimate him just because he's conceited. You too may have your Heart Absolute ability and it may be one of the best out there but remember it doesn't make you perfect nor unbeatable.”

“Okay, I won't. You don't need to remind me of a lesson I already learned.”

After finishing helping the citizens clean up, we go back home to our castle to eat and prepare for our deployment. Our table is already set with our servants eating before us. It’s a rule that they do not wait for us if we’re late. Many of them are concerned about what happened and we fill them in.

“Well, get as much rest as you can before you head out,” one of our servants says.

“Yeah, and you better enjoy this breakfast that Cornelia helped make. She worked really hard on it like she always does,” her boyfriend says.

“It is but, it won’t cut time off her sentence so you can stop mentioning how hard she works,” I say.

Cornelia’s boyfriend hits me on the shoulder and then says, “Hey! She better get something extra for all the extra work she does for you!”

“It’s okay, Stallworth. Don’t worry about it,” Cornelia says.

It’s a tradition in our kingdom to allow repentant criminals to be our servants to serve out their sentence whereas before they became slaves for the rest of their lives. Cornelia is one of these criminals who was taking over parts of our kingdom, but she repented of her sins and gave herself up to us when we came for her. It also helped that we met previously and her friend picked up for her. Her boyfriend, Stallworth, isn’t a criminal at all and just came with her because she loves her. We allow this because of their love and the two serve us along with other servants who were once criminals and conceited.

Stallworth is still staring at me as if he’s trying to intimidate me into giving his girlfriend something extra as thanks for her efforts as if we haven’t done that and still do that today. The guy is younger and smaller than us, and yet, he has the presence and determination of a man twice his size. When he asked me to train him, I kept knocking him down and he kept getting up no matter how many times and how hard he got hit. If he has his Heart Absolute ability, his ability probably gives him resilience. He's also asked me how I proposed to Kyla so he can have an idea as to how to propose to Cornelia and even asked for extra work so he can earn a ring to give to her one day. I gave him one of the best rings we have in our jewelry collection. It's not like we wear all of them anyway.

He was astonished I did this and really should remember it not as extra thanks or payment for his work and the work of his girlfriend, but to remember that we do things out of kindness in the Kingdom of Simbiosi to replicate what the Absolute does for us. I wonder when he'll propose. It has been a month since Cornelia and Stallworth started their relationship, so it should be soon. Kyla and I were married after a month and a half of knowing each other. I'm sure that Kyla wants to see the two married. She still admires Stallworth for offering his freedom up so that he could be a servant in this castle with Cornelia. What I find most impressive about him is not his tenacity, but the crown of flowers that he made for Cornelia that she wears every day in addition to the colorful bracelets he also made. The flowers haven't rotted or changed and still smell fresh. Even though Cornelia isn't royalty like Kyla or me, she's allowed to wear her crown since the Absolute crowned her through Stallworth because of her conversion, and who are we to take away the crown of someone who rightfully deserves it? We might as well give up our own crowns if that's the case.

After breakfast, Kyla and I clean ourselves up before heading out. I wear a traditional crimson and black set of armor that has spikes on its shoulders and arms. In addition, I wear a helm that has spikes on it like the spiked crown of my dragon. Kyla wears her crown of gold and blue stones and a silky silver and light battle dress, which is decent protection and allows her to move swiftly in battle like a rose petal through the air. I've tried suggesting that she wear something like I do, but she always denies it since she prefers outfits that originate from her side of the kingdom. To be honest, I don't care what she wears because she looks beautiful in everything. Her captivating gold hair and gold and silver eyes never cease to capture my eyes. She says the same about my gold and black eyes and my crimson-colored shaved head.

We then go to the grand cathedral, which never ceases to amaze me, especially with its dual design that shows both sides of Simbiosi. Both sides of the cathedral have statues of serviles, who are angels and loyal servants of the Absolute. One side has these serviles holding books and shields while the serviles on the other side hold swords and scales. Further inside the cathedral are statues and paintings of heroes and depictions of historical and scriptural events. Our kingdom gathers and separates itself based on which side they’re from as the ceremony begins. Eventually, we go up to the altar where we kneel before the archbishop who holds out his hands over us.

“Prince Caleb and Princess Kyla, receive this blessing of the Absolute through me to aid you in your future battles not only in the physical sense but also the spiritual and moral. Deliver mercy to our enemies so that they may know the Absolute’s love, be saved, and be welcomed in the Land of the True. Deliver justice to our enemies so that they may know the Absolute’s love, shorten their sinful lives, and be condemned to the Land of the Forgotten. Whether mercy or justice, deliver the Absolute’s love to our enemies in all its forms either in charity or violence. This the Absolute commands and blesses you in doing this holy work. Bring them all to Divine Judgment, be pure of heart, and yourselves as you were made to be as you will be judged as all sinners are judged,” the archbishop says.

Kyla and I say together, “We accept our duty and give our lives to truth and love.”

The archbishop gives us our blessing and the ceremony ends. Once this is done, a mass is held and then we head out on our dragons to the cheers of our people that pray for our success. I kind of wish our friend who could teleport us around was here, but because of what Cornelia did to him, he’s still resting at home. Regardless, Kyla and I start our war against Absalom to bring an end to his corrupting influence and to save not only our parents and our kingdom but also the world at large.

My latest release is out today!

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Cornelia feels unappreciated and miserable working her day-to-day job as a community service worker. When so many people have amazing abilities such as summoning dragons and commanding nature, she has nothing. Her best friend, Eleazar, visits her, and she goes on a journey to find her Heart Absolute ability, and her true self by witnessing events that will reveal her unique life's purpose to her.

A True Heart's Test: Chapter 5 – Having Heart vs Being Heartless

Chapter 5 – Having Heart vs Being Heartless

The light from around us subsides as my eyes get used to it. Eleazar and I find ourselves on a mountain that seems like an elaborate marketplace with different kinds of vendors ranging from farmers to blacksmiths to butchers. For some reason, there are also helpers that travel on carts from place to place to help with whatever the vendor needs from cleaning their storefront or transporting their goods from one place to another on the mountain.

“What is this place?” I ask.

“This is an amazing place for you to start anew and make the most of your Heart Absolute ability,” Eleazar says.

“What are you talking about?”

“This mountain is a place many people gather such as community service workers to either get noticed or work in this center of trade in this region. Many people across this land come here for trade and the shelter that the people that live on this humongous mountain provide. I’ll tell your parents that you’re here and get what you need to start off strong here. I’m sure they’ll accept you when you get a recommendation from my office.”

It can’t be…

“No, no, no!”

Looking around, I find the blacksmith and run towards it.

“Where are you going? What’s wrong?” Eleazar says while following me.

“Shut up and stop following me! Stay away!”

Entering the blacksmith’s shop, I leap over the tables, grab a sword, and am about to fall on it until the blacksmith stops me along with his other workers in the shop. They try to tell me to stop and the reasons why I shouldn’t take my own life, but I don’t listen as I fight them off and try to keep stabbing myself. Eleazar enters the shop and is the one to take away the sword while the blacksmith and his workers restrain me.

“What’s wrong with you, Cornelia?” Eleazar asks me.

“Shut up! You don’t understand! I don’t want to live this life!” I say.

“Why not? It’s meaningful and honorable. It’s a life you’re meant to live. This is what you’ve been waiting for where you can truly become who you’re meant to be!”

“No, it isn’t! You don’t know me at all.”

“I’m your best friend. Of course I-”

“No, you aren’t! I hate you! I hate everything about you and you never shut up enough to realize it!”

Something in Eleazar’s expression seems to finally listen to me.

“…you don’t mean that.”

“I do! I hate you! I hate my parents, I hate all the people I’ve worked for, and I hate the Absolute for wasting my time! I can’t believe that it put me on this journey with you just for a reminder. I won’t believe it. I refuse to! If the Absolute won’t give me what’s due to me, then I’ll take it for myself.”

As I’m saying all of this, I haven’t noticed my body changing. My entire body is now naked and white with a large heart shaped hole in my chest with a black heart floating in the center. In addition, one of my arms and both of my legs are now black. The only thing that hasn’t changed as much is my one arm that has my bracelets on them and even this has changed with my middle finger being white and blade-like now. This appearance has scared away the blacksmith and his workers who have grabbed their nearby weapons and surround me.

“Cornelia, listen to me,” Eleazar says.

“No, you listen to me now,” I say while holding out my black arm.

Black energy emanates from my black arm and I can feel it touch the hearts of everyone around me. Through this new power of mine, I can feel their doubts, fears, and wants to do something else than what they are doing. Taking advantage of this, I bend their will to listen to me except for Eleazar who is resistant. The blacksmith and his workers are now behind me and face down Eleazar who is backing away and out of the shop.

“Cornelia…you have to stop,” he says with an arm out.

“Stop? I like this new ability of mine. It’s not exactly what I thought I wanted, but it meets my needs and I’m keeping it,” I say.

“You’re being conceited. You’re not being yourself. This power isn’t you.”

“And who are you to define that? I will define myself.”

“You can’t do that. Only the Absolute knows who you truly are.”

“I don’t care about the Absolute anymore. It never cared about me, to begin with.” I pick up Eleazar by the neck and squeeze his neck. “If you trust the Absolute so much, then surely you will be saved.”

I then throw Eleazar down the mountain seeing him violently hit the large rocks on the way down. Looks like the Absolute deemed you not worth saving. I don’t see his body now that it’s fallen far away and into some bushes and tall grass, but even if he ends up teleporting and coming back, I won’t mind killing him with my own hands. Everyone around me starts staring and getting their weapons, runs, or hides in fear. With my new ability, I take control of their hearts and find that my control can spread from person to person when they come into contact with one another and the more people under my control that surround a person, the easier it is to take control of their hearts. Many are now under my control with very few managing to get away since I sense their pain and take advantage of it. It makes sense because of the jobs they have and all the pain they go through and get little to no respect in return. My life’s goal has now been revealed to me.

“Together, we will free the world from the chains of hard labor and get our just rewards!” I say, “It is said that the Absolute knows you best, but who really knows you better than yourself? Is this fate of working till your death really the best? I don’t think so. We will spread the good news of being conceited as the better option and free people from the chains of the Absolute!”

Everyone around me cheers and some of them even begin to look like me with heart shaped holes in their chest though they also grow black crowns on their head. They start gathering their weapons and horses as we mobilize for war and the spreading of our truth. When one of my supporters comes close to me with a shield, I take a better look at myself and see that one of my eyes is completely grey, I have black wings on my back, and parts of my hair have blackened and raised to form a pseudo crown. Yes, I think this look suits me. I grab a map and plot my army’s course to a nearby settlement where we can get more people. Once everyone is together, I fly to the front at the bottom of the mountain.

“Forward! I, Cornelia Queen of the Commoners, will lead us to victory. We will finally take what is rightfully ours!” I say to the cheers of my soldiers.

We mobilize and hit our first destination not long after. At the settlement, we take what we want and influence more people to join us even if they resist. Having so many hearts under my control feels unnatural and wonderful at the same time. Their pain is mine and mine is theirs. I feel what they do and we understand each other. When we’re ready with more turning conceited, we move to our next location. Since I’m feeling good, I pick a city not too far from here to go to since I want the Church to pay for its teachings.

Along the way to the city, we come across outposts and smaller settlements that we take control of and rest at when needed. With more people, the stronger I feel and the stronger they feel, the stronger I get. Our numbers grow and grow until I feel that taking the city will be easy even when I overlook it. This city looks like a lot of the other major cities with heart shaped designs on the major buildings and Churches. Surely, this will be a good place to be the home of my new kingdom. Once I take it, more people will become conceited and see that it’s superior to the Heart Absolute abilities. I have so many soldiers and supporters behind me that I choose to send all of them to the city at the same time to surround it from all angles before going into it.

The assault goes well until we reach the innermost walls of the city where my army fights against many who have Heart Absolute abilities. For the past day, those with Heart Absolute abilities can be overwhelmed with numbers, but this many can be a problem. It’s no real issue. There are more people in this city that are hiding that I can use to add to my forces. While doing this, I come across a young girl who walks out of the dark. She wears simple teal robes and brown boots.

“Have you come to challenge me or join my army?” I ask her.

“Neither because you will challenge a servile,” she says.

“You can summon serviles? How unique of you at such a young age to have a Heart Absolute ability like that. What makes you think one will come to save you when the Absolute has abandoned your city?”

“We are not abandoned. Face your own guardian servile.”

Time looks to be stopped all already me. I try to use my abilities, but nothing happens. My wings don’t even allow me to fly anymore.

“Cease your sin,” a voice says from behind me.

Turning around, I see a being made of equipment that I’ve used such as dusters, garden forks, and even dirty hands. Some of these objects also comprise its wings.

“Or what?” I say to it.

“You will be lost forever.”

“I will not! I’ll be remembered forever!”

With one of my black arms, I try influencing the servile only for it to shatter. After this, I try my legs and then my wings all of which shatter leaving me with nothing but my arm that still has my bracelets on them. Even with this, my attacks don’t affect the servile though I still try to fight it.

“This won’t accomplish anything,” the servile says.

“I don’t care! I’ll make something happen with my own will!” I say.

“Can you make the water feel dry? Can you make fire feel wet? Can you make the darkness brighten up the sun? You cannot do something that is false.”

“I got this power without the Absolute’s help. I can do anything I put my heart to!”

“You were only allowed your abilities because the Absolute allowed it and it is only an inverse of your Heart Absolute ability. Instead of being able to serve many, you now make others serve you.”

“That’s right because I deserve it after suffering so much in life. The only thing I was ever given for my efforts were these bracelets, which the Absolute had no part in.”

“False again. You were given those bracelets and allowed to keep them because it was one of the times you went out of your way to help someone without thinking about a reward. Look at how this arm of yours is the only thing that’s living. It’s supposed to remind you of the humility that’s truly you.”

“Don’t talk to me as if you know me better than myself.”

“Then think about others. You can feel their emotions and their pain. Do you think they’re happy like this? Don’t you feel the same dead chill that inhabits their bodies and yours?”

I do feel it. Focusing on it makes me feel it more intensely for some reason. A pain that goes beyond their want to be repaid for their efforts. I feel their hearts yearning for something else. They yearn to be true. It’s a feeling that their hearts have and mine.

“Okay, okay. I see your point. You have your victory over me. Finish me off and end my sinful life.”

“I am not your executioner. I am your guardian servile. My victory is achieved when the Absolute’s will is done. This includes your redemption and salvation.”

“I’m sorry then. I’m sorry for everything I’ve done. I’ve been so selfish that I didn’t realize of all the people I’ve hurt and the love I’ve shunned.”

“Rise then and become who you truly are, Cornelia.”

My appearance changes back to normal though it doesn’t seem to be as normal since my hair looks a lighter brown and I feel lighter too. My connection to the others has ceased and it gets quiet in the city after a few seconds. The girl who showed me my guardian servile gives me brown rags to clothe my nakedness and then hugs me.

“I know what it’s like to lose yourself. I’m glad that you came back to your senses,” the girl says.

“Thank you,” I say while holding back my tears, “I don’t know how to thank you.”

“You should leave before the guards come. Go back home. There should be horses you can use near the gates of the city.”

“Thank you again. I’ll try to repay you someday.”

“You don’t have to. Seeing you back to normal is enough for me now go.”

I hurry, find a horse, and use the map I have to go back home. It takes me half a day of traveling, but when I get back home early in the morning, I’m hesitant to approach my house and think about leaving. That is until I see them at the window before coming outside. They call out my name and I get off the horse and meekly walk to them with my head down expecting to be scolded. Instead, they embrace me while crying and saying how much they miss me.

“I’m sorry for wasting so much time. I had my Heart Absolute ability all along. Heh, it’s tacky I know. I’m sorry that I can’t be anything else than a community service worker,” I say.

“That’s fine! You always were a hard worker that had the admiration of the people who apricated your work,” my mother says.

“There’s no shame in your work, Cornelia. You only needed to put your heart into it, which is something that I always told you to do. Regardless, let’s get you inside and something to eat and you can tell us all about your adventures. Where’s Eleazar by the way?” my father says.

“Umm. That’s going to take a lot to explain.”

After going inside and eating a bit, I tell my parents everything that happened including what I did to Eleazar and what I did while conceited. Even though they are concerned, they are happy that I came to my senses and learned my lesson, which I’m surprised by.

“Next time you feel that no one is appreciating you, talk to us. We’re your parents and supposed to listen and care for you. I’m sorry we caused you so much grief,” my mother says.

“I’m sorry for doing the same to you,” I confess.

Speaking about confessions, I go to confession after eating and the priest has the same reaction my parents had and says similar things.

“You’re a good person, Cornelia. No matter what happens, remember the love of the Absolute, the love of your family, the love of the neighbors around you, and you’ll never lose yourself again,” the priest adds as advice after giving me my penance.

Despite this being advice that I know, past events have shown that I need to be constantly reminded of the basics, so I thank the priest for it. For the next couple of days, I try to appreciate them as best I can. I even dress differently by wearing lighter colors, wearing a brown dress, a white apron, and light brown boots. In addition, I also tie my hair up for a different look. To be honest, the change of thinking every day as a gift and recognizing the small, good things in life that the Absolute gives makes a big difference. Work is actually bearable now, I appreciate the compliments and little gifts that the people I work with give me, and I hardly feel bitter.

Everything seems to be getting better for me until soldiers from the Kingdom of Simbiosi come strolling into town with Caleb and Kyla leading them. Oh yeah. I probably wasn’t going to get away with what I did because I said I was sorry and did penance. I hear them calling my name and present myself to them without resisting arrest.

“For your sentence, you will be serving as a house cleaner for our castle for ten years,” Kyla says.

“Really?” I ask in surprise expecting something worse.

“Shush. Do you know how hard it was to lessen your sentence? It’s thanks to us knowing you plus your boyfriend’s help that you’re getting off easy,” Caleb says.

“Boyfriend?” A face I thought I would never see again comes out of the crowd of soldiers on horseback. It’s Eleazar! He’s all banged up, one of his arms is broken, and his face is scarred, but he’s alive! “Eleazar! I’m…I’m sorry for what I did to you and-”

“I know you’re sorry, and don’t worry about it. I’m just glad you’re back to being truly yourself,” he says with a smile.

I’m about to be put in a prison cart before I hear my name being called out. Turning around, I see the boy who made me the bracelets I wear every day.

“What? You have another boyfriend?” Caleb says.

“Oh, shut up. This is the boy that made these bracelets for me. Can I talk to him before I go?” I ask.

“Sure thing,” Kyla says.

Going to the boy, I see him holding a crown made of flowers in his hands.

He’s shy to talk to me at first until he holds up the crown and says, “I’ve wanted to give this to you for a while, but was never brave enough to do so and since you’re going away for a while, I thought I’d give it you now.”

“Thank you so much. I love it just like my bracelets.”

I bend my head down and the boy puts the crown of flowers on my head. Since his head is close, I give him a kiss on the forehead as thanks, which makes his face turn red.

“Umm. Thank you too.” Before I go, I hear the boy running after me again. “Excuse me! Can I go with her? I’ll serve my own sentence as long as I get to be with her.”

“You haven’t done anything wrong,” Caleb says.

The boy runs up to Eleazar and hits him in his injured arm, which I can’t help but laugh at.

“There! I assaulted someone. That deserves some kind of punishment.”

“Okay, okay! Get inside the cart with your girlfriend.”

“I wish you were that bold,” Kyla says to Caleb.

“When am I not?!”

When he’s let in the cart, I give the boy a hug and another kiss to which he blushes again. He says goodbye to his parents who are somewhat upset, to say the least at him. Honestly, I didn’t expect my life to be this way and what I wanted, but it is. I guess the Absolute really does know people better than they know themselves. I’m truly happy for the first time in a while and smile and look out at the sun as I await a bright future.

 

The End

A True Heart's Test: Chapter 4 – Amazing Things in Plain Sight

Chapter 4 – Amazing Things in Plain Sight

Rushing through the portal, I find myself in a strange place. It’s not a beautiful forest or a grand city. It’s just a simple farm town similar to the one I’m from. We’re standing in someone’s backyard where their horses, cows, and chickens are eating and going about their daily business.

“What is this?” I ask.

“A backyard,” Eleazar says with a sarcastic smile.

Okay, that’s it.

“Ow! Why did you slap the back of my head for?”

“Because.”

Once the portal behind us closes, the animals start freaking out for whatever reason.

“What a way to start the morning,” a girl about my age says as she exits the backdoor, “Hey! You two better clean up this mess you made or I will chase you down and make you pay!”

Eleazar and I help her calm down the animals and put them back in their proper places out of a sense of obligation. I’d rather not start any trouble in this town before we find whoever we’re supposed to.

“Now, what are you two doing here? Explain yourselves before I call the guards,” the girl asks.

“My best friend, Cornelia, here is on a quest to find her Heart Absolute ability and this is the final destination where she’s meant to witness something to help her. My name is Eleazar and it’s nice to meet you. What’s your name?”

“It doesn’t matter. Go on your quest and-”

“Miquita! Be kind to these strangers. Don’t you see that the young man is a noble?” a woman inside the house says.

“So what?”

“So, invite them in and let them eat breakfast with us.”

“Okay, mother. Come in.”

We take the offer even though we just ate breakfast and when Miquita’s mother offers us something, we ask for water and she gives us milk. After which, Eleazar explains to her why we’re here. Miquita seems to cringe at hearing this as if she’s bothered by the reasoning behind my quest. To be honest, I’d be jealous too if I were in her position.

“That’s great! Miquita here hasn’t found her Heart Absolute ability either, but hopefully, she will someday.”

“I hope so too so I can get out of this place. I’m tired of constantly doing farm work,” Miquita comments.

“Farm work is humble, honest, and worthy of praise,” Eleazar says.

“Sure.”

“Heh, I think I know why we’re here. Is it okay if we help you today?”

“Knock yourselves out.”

Help her? Nothing about helping her sounds like the start of our previous adventures. Why is Eleazar looking at me as if he knows something I don’t?

“What?” I say.

“Oh, nothing. You’ll see why we’re here soon enough.”

“I hope so.”

Eleazar gets changed into casual farm worker clothes that remind me of how he looked back when we were younger. For the whole day, we go from farm to farm helping people with their needs similar to what I do back home, which I hate. It’s easy to get around thanks to Eleazar’s portals, but it still sucks. Why are we meant to do this? What am I meant to learn? This feels like a waste of time. Maybe I’ll meet someone along the way who I’m actually meant to follow.

A little after noon, we eat lunch at one of the farms we work at. Eleazar is having fun chatting it up with the farmers inside so Miquita and I step outside since we aren’t part of the conversation. While we’re outside, she gives me a strange look that I catch before she can turn her head.

“What is it?” I ask.

“Nothing,” she says.

“I know you looked at me.”

“…That best friend of yours is annoying me. Can you tell him to stop being so positive and cheerful all the time?”

“Trust me, I’ve tried, but he never stops. Oh, and he’s not my best friend. He just visits and bothers me from time and time, and this’ll be my last time seeing him after I get my Heart Absolute ability.”

“Heh, so you feel the same way I do about him. It must be nice being given this journey by the Absolute.”

“It has its ups-and-downs. Still, even after witnessing so many big events, I don’t completely understand what I’m supposed to learn.”

“Even so, I wish I could go on an adventure like you. A girl like me probably won’t see the world outside of this town for my entire life just like the other farmers and I don’t think I’ll ever get my Heart Absolute ability. All my efforts and prayers are for nothing as far as I’m concerned.”

“I felt that way and still do to an extent.”

“Tomorrow is my birthday. My parents invited everyone in the town that I’ve worked with, but I don’t think anyone will come. These people don’t really care about me. I’m just another farmer that does the job averagely well. I’ll…I’m planning something that will either make my Heart Absolute ability or change my life for the better.”

“How are those two things mutually exclusive?”

“Because…because I’m going to try to kill myself tomorrow.”

“What?”

“I can’t live like this anymore! You don’t understand how hard it is living like this with people that don’t appreciate you and people our age being put on pedestals because of their efforts or because they have their Heart Absolute ability.”

“I understand completely as a community service worker who lives in pretty much the exact same situation.”

“Community service worker? Heh, between that and that guy I understand why the Absolute had mercy on you and put you on your adventure. So, you must understand why I want to do what I’m going to do. If I try to kill myself, my Heart Absolute ability may kick in just like some of the stories I’ve heard. If I do end up dying, then at least I’ll be free from this miserable life.” Dang it. I don’t feel like I could talk her out of this. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For being here. It’s good to know that there’s at least one person who is like me in this world.”

What am I going to do? Eleazar’s positivity will probably make her want to kill herself more and I can’t exactly argue with her without affirming her views. Perhaps the real person I’m supposed to follow will come to save her tomorrow? Tonight, Eleazar and I stay over at Miquita’s house and sleep in the guest rooms. Unfortunately, I have to deal with Eleazar’s snoring, which doesn’t help me go to sleep when thoughts of Miquita’s potential suicide attempt are already keeping me up. I spend the time I have awake praying that she doesn’t do anything drastic or that her attempt fails at least.

Early in the morning, I wake up as soon as the rooster crows and try to find Miquita. I find her outside putting a noose around her neck and a rope around a wooden beam. Running outside, I try to find words to say, but just end up saying nothing except for her name.

“Hey. I’m glad that you’re here at least,” Miquita says.

“Hold on,” I say.

“It’s going to be okay. Let’s see how those ungrateful people react when they see me hanging. Who am I kidding? They probably won’t care for long. Still, here’s hoping I get my Heart Absolute ability, but I don’t have much hope in it.”

Before I can run up to Miquita to stop her, people come out of her home and her mom calls out to her. Everyone that’s here seems to be concerned about Miquita. They’re all people we met yesterday and have presents in their hands. Seeing everyone makes Miquita take the noose off her neck and walk toward us. She’s speechless and looks like she’s about to cry as her parents embrace and berate her at the same time with tears in their eyes as well.

“I thought you didn’t love me because I didn’t have any unique abilities like the others and because I’m working a dead end job,” Miquita says.

“Honey, we still care about you despite that. Everyone here cares about you. You’ve touched their hearts with all your dedication and hard work. If anything, that’s your amazing ability.”

People start coming forward presenting gifts to Miquita along with their testimony of her hard work and how much they appreciate her despite her being just another farmer. One of the people that give her a gift and their appreciation is a young man that’s about our age. He gives her a crown that he made from the flowers on his farm and basically confesses his love for her. All this puts a smile on Miquita’s face and seems to change her not too dissimilar to the others that I’ve met with Heart Absolute ability. Miquita’s parents hug me and thank me for saving her to which I can’t say much since I didn’t really do anything except stall her for a second.

Of course, because of this, I have to stay for Miquita’s birthday celebration, and when everything is over, I’m left speechless to see nothing else happening. No one special comes and nothing spectacular really happens. While sitting on Miquita’s porch waiting for something, anything else to happen, Eleazar sits next to me.

“You did something great today,” he says.

“I didn’t do anything special.”

“You may think that, but it’s you have to give yourself credit for saving Miquita.”

“Whatever. I’m still waiting for the reason we came here.”

“What are you talking about? We already accomplished it.”

“I have no clue what you’re talking about. I haven’t learned anything new. What was I supposed to learn exactly? That sometimes we already have everything we need around us?”

“Exactly.”

I can feel my heart stop for a second as soon as Eleazar said that. His smile fills me with such hatred for him that crushing his head passes my mind for a second.

“No, no! Take me somewhere else!”

“There’s no point in it. I might as well take you home. I’m sure your parents are worried about you-”

“No, they’re not! They don’t care about me!”

“Miquita thought the same and looked at what happened with her.”

“I’m different though. Take me back to your advisor and ask him if there’s anything else we need to do.”

“Let me see if the Absolute will let me.”

A portal opens up and brings us to the office with Adivino at the front desk like he was before.

“Ah! Eleazar and Cornelia! How did your adventures go?” he asks.

“Tell me there’s something else I have to do. Tell me I missed something,” I say.

“For what reason?”

“I don’t have my Heart Absolute ability. Nothing has changed about me and I haven’t learned anything.”

Adivino looks confused and then at Eleazar who shrugs.

“Okay. If you’ve gone through everything you were supposed to, this shouldn’t take too long.”

I pace around waiting and thinking about what I could’ve possibly missed for a short while before Adivino comes back to confirm that there’s nothing more that I need to do and I already have everything I need. This upsets me to no end and I almost scream out loud.

“See? I was right,” Eleazar says.

“Shut up!” I snap at him.

“Hey, calm down. It’s okay to accept things the way they are.”

“I refuse to accept that I went on that adventure for nothing!”

“You didn’t go on it for nothing. We learned about what being conceited does to a person and how the Absolute can save the conceited through an unlikely person with Lionel. From Caleb and Kyla, we learned that having a Heart Absolute ability doesn’t instantly make your life better, happy, or make you perfect. Finally, with Miquita, we learned that a person’s Heart Absolute ability doesn’t have to be something grand or magical, it isn’t always obvious, and that even the simplest Heart Absolute abilities are greatly appreciated and needed all the same.”

What Eleazar says hurts my ears to hear them because I realized the same things but didn’t want to accept them. Still…still…there could be a chance.

“Take me somewhere else.”

“I can’t take you anywhere the Absolute doesn’t want me to. If the Absolute wants you to go home, you’ll go home.”

“But if I’m supposed to go somewhere else, we’ll go somewhere else. Prove me wrong that I’m meant to go home.”

“Okay.”

Eleazar opens a portal to a place that blinds me with its light. Hopefully, this isn’t home. Come on! Prove me right! This can’t be the end of my journey!

A True Heart's Test: Chapter 3 – Law Enforcement vs Assault

Chapter 3 – Law  Enforcement vs Assault

Our portal takes us to the entrance of a grand cathedral decorated with statues of serviles or angels. The statues of serviles on one side wear robes and hold a book in one hand and a shield in the other while the statues on the other side are wearing armor and hold swords in one hand and a weighing scale in the other hand. Two big crowds of people are gathering at the cathedral all of which seem to be nobility judging by their outfits. One group of these people almost seem to be wearing a type of light armor that’s colored crimson and black while the other one is dressed more elegantly in lighter colors of white, gold, and shades of light blue.

“Oh! I’m so glad that we managed to get here!” Eleazar says as he grabs my hand and hurries us into the cathedral.

“Why? Do you know what’s going on?” I ask.

“Two friends of mine are going to be crowned today. Let’s hurry!”

I guess it shouldn’t surprise me that Eleazar got invited to this wedding since he’s done much for many nobles and Church leadership. The guards recognize Eleazar, don’t bother checking to see if we have an invitation like they do with the rest of the guests, and bring us to a special balcony to get a good view of what’s happening. Eventually, the ceremony begins and I follow Eleazar and everyone’s conduct so I can do what I’m supposed to and not stick out more than I already do. During the ceremony, I hear the names of Eleazar’s two friends that this ceremony is for, Prince Caleb and Princess Kyla.

Prince Caleb wears a suit of spiky crimson and black armor. In contrast, Princess Kyla wears a silky dress light blue and white dress. Both are crowned by an archbishop who blesses them and then hovers his hands over them.

“Prince Caleb and Princess Kyla, I charge you with protecting our home, the Kingdom of Simbiosi. Through your unity and the power of your hearts, you will serve the Absolute, truth and love itself, and do what’s best for your neighbors, your family, and strangers alike. Such will be your responsibility until your death,” the archbishop says.

After this, a normal mass is held. Being a noble restricts your life choices more than being a peasant like me. If I ran off and had a plan as to where, my parents and my boss can do really do nothing about it. It’s not illegal for a nobody like me to run away since I’m so replaceable. On the other hand, if a noble runs away, their families send their personal forces or the authorities to get them. It’s illegal, in most cases, for a noble to leave their given job because of their importance and they face harsh jail sentences once someone is available to replace them. There are even stories made about these kinds of nobles. One story I remember is about a princess who sought Our Lady of Sorrows to become holy.

Huh? Oh, the mass is over. I got too distracted in my thoughts to really pay attention to it. Anyways, Eleazar and I go to the celebration for the prince and princess and get to talk to them.

Eleazar hugs both of them and says, “I’m so glad that I made it to your ceremony.”

“We’re glad too,” Kyla says.

“It’s good to see you, so is this your girlfriend that you always talk about?” Caleb asks.

“I’m not his girlfriend! What are you telling people?!” I say to Eleazar.

“Nothing! I didn’t say that.”

“I’m just joking. He does always talk about you so I assume you were. My apologies.”

He should stop talking about me to everyone he meets. I’m already sick of it.

“So, why did the Absolute bring you here?” Kyla asks.

“Cornelia is supposed to witness certain events so that she can unlock her heart’s Absolute ability.”

“I’m hoping to get it soon so I can leave the life I currently live.”

“What kind of ability are you hoping to get?” Caleb asks.

“Something great, something amazing like transforming things, making things manifest, and stuff like that you know. An ability that stories are made of.”

“I get it. Having an amazing Heart Absolute ability is a blessing. We should know since we have one of the best as we can summon dragons,” Kyla says.

“I summon a better dragon though. It’s a red and black dragon that’s the embodiment of justice,” Caleb says.

“It’s not a better dragon. It’s just a complimentary dragon to mine, which is a light blue and white dragon that’s the embodiment of mercy.”

“Those do sound amazing. I definitely want something like that.”

“It’s great to have, but you also bear an even greater responsibility to use it well. Believe it or not, I sometimes feel jealous for community service workers like you, so I could live a simple, humble, and quiet life.”

“I don’t feel that way, most of the time anyway. The only time I do is when I want to be left alone, not have so much responsibility hanging over my head, and people bothering me with things I already know.”

“You might actually get an ability that will help you in your current job. That’s what happens with most people and what happened with us. Our dragons help us deal mercy and justice just like we do on a daily basis.”

“I hope not. I’ll lose my mind if that’s the case.”

It better not happen. I don’t want one of those “you had your special power this whole time” sort of cases. I will go insane if it does. Both Eleazar and Kyla tell me about the honors of community service that I roll my eyes at.

“Our maids and butlers hold some of the highest honors in our family and are invited to our many dinners and celebrations. When they fall sick or are dying, they are given the best service we can offer and their families are compensated after their deaths,” Kyla explains.

Blah, blah, blah, I don't care. I don't even care if Kyla and Caleb offer me the chance to clean their castles and take care of their families. All I want is out of this job. For the rest of the celebration, I stay quiet and enjoy whatever kinds of exquisite foods they serve except for the healthier stuff.

“You have to eventually eat your greens and healthy foods,” Eleazar tells me.

With a mouth full of chicken and beef, I say, “Whatever.”

Back home, I eat enough mediocre foods and force myself to eat my greens and fruits. I'm going to enjoy all the meat I can while I'm here.

“She has the right idea,” Caleb says with his thumbs up towards me.

Kyla shakes her head in response. After dinner, people start to dance. Knowing what's going to happen, I try to get up and use going to the bathroom as an excuse to skip out on dancing, but Eleazar already knows I'm lying and drags me to the dance floor to dance with him, which embarrasses me to no end. Kyla drags Caleb to the dance floor to dance with us and he feels the same way I do. Eventually, the dancing ends, we have dessert, and the party ends. Caleb and Kyla allow us to rest in their castle which has a similar design to the cathedral we were at. Apparently, this place is usually used as a meeting place for both sides of the kingdom and the home of the newly appointed prince and princess who are meant to oversee both sides of it.

What doesn't surprise me is that Caleb and Kyla are married. On the other hand, what does surprise me is how they got this castle and their new responsibility. Their families had to raise up a single heir who would find someone on the other side of the kingdom to fall in love with. Assuming this happened, the couples would compete for the position Caleb and Kyla have now. The rest of the details are lost to me as I passively listen to them talk to Eleazar who probably already knows this. Well, at least they give me another reason not to feel jealous about nobles.

Tonight, Eleazar and I are given one of the guest rooms to sleep in, which is meant to fit around twenty or so people. I sleep on the other side of the room because I don’t want to be bothered as much by Eleazar’s snoring. When we used to have sleepovers, he would snore and keep me up for an hour before I fell asleep. At first, I thought it was funny until it quickly got old and annoying. In the morning, the castle’s servants wake us up and give us new clothes. Eleazar is given a clean pair of his uniform while I am given the same clothes that the servants are wearing. This pair of clothes is colored light blue and crimson with designs of golden flowers on them. Since these clothes are nicer than what I have, I wear them.

The servants then bring us to the luxurious dinner table that looks like it’s meant to fit at least fifty people. Here, the servants are eating with Kyla and Caleb and the table is filled with many kinds of breakfast meals such as plates full of pancakes and plates that have breakfast sandwiches with a side serving of potatoes. We are given seats by Kyla and Caleb who ask us how our rest was and how is the service here.

“The service is great and I slept well, at least until Cornelia started her snoring like she usually does,” Eleazar says.

“I do not snore,” I say.

“To be honest, I miss it. She did it all the time when we had sleepovers and I find it cute.”

“Shut up.”

“I know how you feel. Caleb does it all the time too,” Kyla says.

“Shut up. I do not snore,” Caleb argues.

“Anyways, what do you think you'll be doing to help Cornelia find her Heart Absolute ability today?”

“I thought we keep following you since you already have yours and we were brought to you by the Absolute.”

“You won't be able to do that today since Caleb and I are already tasked with taking down the Kingdom of the Universale.”

“That is unless you can handle the danger,” Caleb adds.

“Why are you going after them?” I ask.

“They're heretics who have openly attacked and rebelled against our Church.”

“Still, why attack them? I've heard that their kingdom accepts people of all beliefs.”

“That's exactly the problem,” Caleb says, “They accept the conceited and all that is false thinking that what's true or not doesn't matter as long as you appear to be a good person. Truth and lies cannot coexist, especially in a society where the good of humanity means something different to different people. Love of one thing always leads to hatred of the opposite.”

I've heard of Caleb and Kyla's Kingdom of Simbiosi always going to war with defectors and supposed heretical kingdoms.

“Why not try to convince them to change? Why go to war?”

“War is what we're good at when people refuse to give us what is rightfully due. It's the reality of this world. Kingdoms and people are constantly at war for what's God of their hearts and only those who fight for the Absolute will have the final victory. Don't worry about the casualties. Our dragons will rightly judge the Universale, spare the innocent, and execute the guilty.”

He's not lying or exaggerating. There are always people fighting in this world for something they highly value. I still don't like that Caleb and Kyla will have to go after the Universale. I've heard they're such nice people and have Heart Absolute abilities. What does it matter if they're slightly wrong about their beliefs?

“Whatever the reason for this war is, Cornelia and I can join you. We already put ourselves in danger before coming here to witness a great man obtain his Heart Absolute ability and change someone else's heart in the process. If we're not meant to be there, the Absolute will let me make a portal to get us out of there,” Eleazar says.

“Okay. Stay behind us and out of danger as much as you can,” Kyla says.

“Or maybe they or at least Cornelia should be in more danger. It is the way that a lot of people get their ability. It's how we got it when we risked our lives to save each other and almost died in the process,” Caleb mentions.

“That's true, but I don't think she'll have to go through the same thing. She doesn't have the same responsibilities as us.”

“You don't know that. She may obtain some kind of amazing ability in battle.”

“You think that because you think of everything in terms of battles.”

“That's right because life is one constant battle against vices and our enemies.”

Again, Caleb is right and I hope he's correct about me getting an amazing ability in the coming battle. When we head out, I ride with Caleb while Eleazar rides with Kyla since the dragons can't really handle more than two people on them and Kyla doesn't mind me riding with Caleb who I like more. Eleazar creates a portal for us and we go through it to instantly get to where we need to be. We find ourselves a fair distance away from a city with large city walls and many castles within it, which makes it look like a city controlled by kings. The city is surrounded by damaged farmlands that look more like a forgotten warzone than anything resembling a quiet farm town. Further from the warzone are luscious fields that show the beauty that the warzone probably was.

While we fly to the city, I notice that we aren’t being fired upon, so I say to Caleb, “They aren’t attacking us. Maybe they want peace?”

“We do too, but they refuse it. If they aren’t going to fire the first shot, then we will,” Caleb says.

His and Kyla’s dragons start firing a barrage of red and blue fireballs respectively at the city that damage the walls, castles, and churches. This is when the inhabitants of the city send fireballs of their own at us and leads to us firing at them while advancing and dodging their counterattacks. We spin, roll, and fly in all kinds of ways to dodge the attacks, which also make me feel sick. As we fly over the city walls, the barrage stops.

“We wish to negotiate terms of surrender,” someone says from the balcony of one of the castles.

This person seems to be a noble because of their clothing though they are not too well dressed and there’s no sign of them being conceited. They don’t have a crown or any black shaped hole in their chest that would show regardless of their clothes. Caleb’s dragon bathes this person in its red fire that overwhelms their person to their knees but doesn’t burn them. In fact, their clothes don’t even burn off.

“See? I have submitted myself to your fire and have come out unscathed. It proves my innocence. Now, if you will, please meet us on the ground to talk. We don’t want to continue this war.”

Caleb and Kyla look at each other.

“Okay, we’ll do it,” Kyla says.

We land on the ground where we meet many others who look like the noble all of which are modestly dressed. Again, Caleb's dragon breathes fire on these people and again they are unaffected by it, but everything around them, on the other hand, catches fire and is put out by the people around us.

“Do you not yet see that we are innocent?” one of the people asks.

“It appears to be so. Prove it with your formal surrender and what penance you will do to pay for your crimes against the Church and Simbiosi,” Caleb says.

“We have done nothing wrong.”

“Oh yeah? That battlefield outside of your walls and the many you have injured say otherwise.”

“We were defending ourselves!”

“I don't believe heretics who preach against the Church and make us look like liars.”

“We don't believe you are liars. We just think you're mistaken.”

“Enough! Clearly, you don't want to surrender or repent of your sins. If my dragon won't burn you, then perhaps Kyla's will." Caleb motions to Kyla and she reluctantly nods back and her dragon breathes its fire on the people in front of us leading to the same result. "Huh? A bunch of fireproof fellas, aren't you?”

“We aren't! We know that those flames burn the guilty and no suit of armor is strong enough to resist it.”

“Then it's some kind of conceited magic.”

“Look at us. We wear no crowns or clothe ourselves in kingly clothes. In fact, our hearts have their Absolute ability.”

“Prove it.”

Two people step up from the group and two dragons manifest beside them that appear to be just like the dragons Caleb and Kyla have. They are surprised by this and speak to each other in whispers that I can't hear. I'm just as concerned as they are. It's not common for those on the side of the Absolute to fight each other, but when it does, it historically ends in stalemates, and many innocent people dead. It could also be that the Universale are actually faking their Heart Absolute abilities and their innocence through some kind of conceited ability though I don't think this is the case.

“Forget it. We came here to punish your rebellion and since you aren't going to surrender, then you will die,” Caleb says as he takes out his spear and shield from his back.

He and his dragon charge at the two who have dragons. In response, they have their dragons breathe their fire on him and his. As Kyla moves to aid Caleb with her hammers and dragon, we get to cover. The other two dragons manage to push back Kyla, Caleb, and their dragons and even singe them with their fire. Undeterred by this, Kyla and Caleb fight on and manage to get in close to their enemies. Even the dragons fight together, though it seems like no side is winning.

“We should do something,” I say.

“Like what? I'm trying to make a portal but can't.”

“No, don't make a portal. Maybe my Heart Absolute ability will kick in soon.”

Come on! Here's another chance for me to do something and it's still not coming out! Am I supposed to be learning something from this? If so, I don't see what it is just like the other time. Eventually, Kyla and Caleb are pushed back and seem to be on the edge of defeat. They get on their dragons and try to fight their enemies this way, which causes their enemies to do the same. This results in both sides taking flight and having them fight with their dragons in the sky. Some of the buildings are hit as a result of them exchanging fire blasts and debris fall down to where we are. The guards of the city protect us and the civilians before getting us to smaller buildings that they've made into shelters for fights like this, but it doesn’t last long as both Caleb’s and Kyla’s dragons crash with them on it into the shelter.

Everyone in the shelter who isn’t injured scatters while Eleazar and I pick ourselves up to check on Caleb and Kyla who are pretty banged up. Caleb’s spikey armor is heavily damaged with the spikes missing, his left shoulder piece broken, and many places on his armor are damaged and burned. Meanwhile, Kyla’s light armor which was once as white as snow is now dirtied and ruined with no trace of light blue or white left in it.

“Caleb! Kyla! Are you alright?” Eleazar says.

“Yeah, I’m fine enough to fight,” Caleb says as he struggles to hold his spear and broken shield.

“No, you’re not. We should find a place to hide and then plan out our next attack,” Kyla says.

“Eleazar. Let the Absolute decide through your portals.”

“I’ve been trying to make them. Maybe now they’ll work.”

A portal does end up appearing in front of us that we all go into. It puts us somewhere in an empty abandoned church that’s in a not too crowded part of the city. Both Caleb’s and Kyla’s dragons disappear in a flash of light as they sit down to rest. Caleb punches the floor.

“What wrong?” Kyla asks.

“I thought we would easily win! We have our Heart Absolute abilities after all and we serve the truth, right? So, why didn’t we win like we did the other times? What did we do wrong?” Caleb says.

“I don’t know. This church that the Absolute brought us to may have an answer.”

“I think that it shows us that we were right. This place used to be dedicated to the Absolute judging from the torn artworks and broken statues. What are we missing?”

“Maybe we’re meant to think that the church isn’t right about everything and a change in thinking may be in order. This church is abandoned after all,” I suggest.

“How could you suggest that? We’re fighting against an enemy whose beliefs contradict a need for truth since they accept all beliefs without care if those beliefs contradict one another, if they’re based in historical and theological fact, and if they’re reasonable.”

“Maybe the Absolute is trying to show us that you’re missing a part of the truth,” Eleazar suggests.

“How so?” Kyla asks.

“This church does have signs of the worship of the Absolute present, but most of it is gone or torn down. Just like it, Caleb is talking all about your victories rather than the victories that the Absolute gave you. It is because of the Absolute that you have these abilities and they don’t always guarantee you victory. Think about it like the job of an artist, writer, or any other job. You aren't perfect at the job, to begin with, and even when you're good at it, there's always room for improvement. I mean we aren't perfect people in our personalities either and we need the daily help of the Absolute to become who we're meant to be.”

“He's got a point,” Caleb admits, “I do always resort to violence first and then ask questions later, but I do it because I want to protect the ones I love and establish peace as quickly as I can.”

“Peace is hard fought and won. It's a lesson I struggle to learn too since my family and I try to negotiate and covert our enemies sometimes to no avail. A firm, correcting, and loving hand is required in those cases.”

“And when there's a chance of conversion and possibility to lessen the bloodshed, we have to restrain ourselves.”

Something about Caleb and Kyla changes. It's like what happened to Lionel, but different though I just like before, I can't tell what it is. The two of them summon their dragons and allow us to ride with them to the primary castle in the center of the city. Here, we approach the main gate and its many guards that defend it. Okay, what are you two going to do now?

“Prince Caleb and Princess Kyla of the Kingdom of Simbiosi, have you finally come to negotiate terms of peace?” a guard says.

Many more guards gather around us, the nobles in the castle gather at the windows and the other two who could summon dragons appear and guard the gate. Caleb and Kyla look at each other and then hold each other's hands. Now, something's really different about them. I can feel it and it looks like everyone around us can too judging from their reactions.

“We have come to bring both mercy and justice,” Caleb and Kyla say in unison, “Both are part of a whole as we are with the Absolute and each other. The two are made into one flesh. Mercy and justice are nothing more than the Judgment of the Absolute.”

Both of their dragons combine into a singular massive dragon. It's colored crimson, light blue, white, and black, has eight arms, four wings, and has other aspects of the dragons that make it up such as spiky horns and shield-like wings. The dragon roars before firing a blast of gold and black fire into the sky. A few seconds pass before the sky darkens and fire begins to rain from the sky. This fire homes in onto people and burns them with its flames. It exposes some as being conceited such as the two guards who had dragons under their control.

The dragon then breathes its fire into the ground to expose a large creature beneath it that begins to rise from the ground. This causes massive damage to the city and buildings to collapse. What's even stranger about all this is that certain people are caught by the black tendrils of whatever is beneath here and sucked into it. Eleazar and I struggle to keep our balance until he's able to make us a portal and get us out of the city. His portal brings us far away from the city, but still close enough to see what's going on.

What’s before us now is even more insane than everything that’s going on. A black mass of faces and mini arms rises from the ground and levitates through some unknown means. Caleb and Kyla’s new dragon flies around this massive being and I can hardly see them on it.

In an echoing mass of male and female voices, the being says, “You have your Absolute, your truth and we have ours. This is its manifestation as a result of our unification and all our hearts combined. This is our True Absolute. Make peace with our god now or face its judgment.”

Caleb’s and Kyla’s voices ring out as one as well and respond, “There are no multiple truths. Only one. Let the Absolute’s judgment come upon you to deliver both mercy and justice.”

Both Caleb and Kyla’s dragon fly around the being breathing fire around it to destroy it as its many faces and arms lung out to try to stop them. I feel so small compared to everything around me as if I shrunk to the size of an ant. I’ve heard of people using their Heart Absolute abilities together as one to make a new power, but I didn’t imagine it would be like this. It makes me think about what my Heart Absolute ability will look like and what I’m supposed to learn from this. Maybe it’s that I should remember that the Absolute is the source of my Heart Absolute ability and I won’t be perfect even with it? The first part of it goes without saying since the ability is called a Heart Absolute ability after all, but the second part is harder to find relevant.

So what if I won’t be instantly perfect? I’ll have my Heart Absolute ability, my life will change for the better, and things will progressively get better from there. I imagine that I’ll be like Caleb and Kyla. Right now, they’ve just finished off the being that is crumbling to the ground in burning pieces. They’ve gone from achievement to achievement with probably more in the future. Eleazar cheers for their victory and I put my hand in his face so he doesn’t hug me in excitement.

“Aren’t you happy for them?” Eleazar asks.

“Sure. Just portal them and us out of here. They probably want to go home and celebrate their victory,” I say.

After agreeing with me, we meet up with Caleb and Kyla and portal back home to find everyone overjoyed at the news of our victory. It is then that their dragon becomes two separate dragons again, which doesn’t bother them too much since they’ll probably be able to use it again. A victory celebration like the one we were at the other day is held the next day and Eleazar and I attend it or rather Eleazar forces me to attend it since he doesn’t want to portal us out to our next destination. At the celebration, much praise is said for Caleb and Kyla who are allowed to speak after they receive their gifts from the nobles of Simbiosi and Church leaders.

“Our victory may have been won, but we still have a long road ahead,” Kyla says as she starts off her speech, “The world is a violent place. Having mercy on criminals and sinners is the preferred option to deal with these people since we are all flawed, but sometimes justice must be satiated.”

“But even then, justice is mercy because it stops a person from ruining themselves further and makes them see the error of their ways. Every sin and evil deed is supposed to be rewarded with the soul’s death and bodily death, and yet, hardly anyone is struck down where they stand immediately after they sin. No matter how much we improve and get strong, we still have room for improvement and it’s in that space that the Absolute continues to inspire us and mold us into who we are meant to become.”

Caleb and Kyla then say with one voice, “Through the trials and hardships of life, we will overcome our faults. Together with our hearts beating as one, we will become truly ourselves and establish peace in the world through mercy and justice.”

Their speech receives the applause of everyone in the hall. The celebration goes on for the entire night and exhausts me to the point where I don't feel like I have the strength to continue for the next day. I wish Eleazar didn't make me dance so much and try all the food. Stupid idiot. Eventually, after breakfast the next day, we say our goodbyes and leave.

"You're in a rush," Eleazar says.

"Yes, I am. Now, make a portal," I say.

"Didn't you enjoy your time here?"

"Eleazar, please, the next place we are going to will give me the last piece of the puzzle that I need to obtain my heart's Absolute ability. Can we hurry up?!"

"Okay, okay. Someone didn't get enough sleep."

If he wasn't my only way to get where I need to go, I'd punch him in the face. I'm surprised that I haven't done it after so many years. Finally, he makes a portal that I immediately go through. Now, I'll get the last thing I need to unlock my Heart Absolute ability, and then I'll truly become who I'm meant to be and start a new and better life.