Chapter 9-1: In the Shadows created by the Light (p1)

# Chapter 9 part 1 "In the Shadows Created by the Light (first part)"

"Sarah-sama" "Sarah-sama ..."
All the soldiers flocked to Sarah.
(note to -sama, It's used in addressing persons higher in rank than oneself. In this case it's not used to just formally or in respect to soldier's ranking but to hold Sarah in high regards as their saviour)

Wol's monologue
"Sarah-**sama** huh... To the tower's soldiers that were threatened and beaten by Chaos, those who were fulled with depair, they were saved by Sarah's speech and regained their hope. After the fight, everyone welcomed Sarah and right now she is the core person of this Tower of Hope. It's an annoying position filled with heavy responsibility but she's holding herself well. Now... What should I do?"

Sophie was still feeling down and reached out to Wol. As Wol saw her like that, he asked her to patrol the tower and area with him.

In order to prepare for the next battle to protect **Tower of Hope**, rankings were formed. The top to manage all people, Sarah. The counsellor and Sarah's guard, Meia. Masaris and people with good skills to be squad leaders and train their soldiers. Wol and Sophie to be commando unit. But with the state being calm right now, there were nothing for Wol and Sophie to do, only to just patrol around to pass the time.

There were nothing for Wol and Sophie to do around the tower as the weak monsters are defeated by the tower guards. So they decided to go out and hunt for the wounded monsters instead since wounded monsters tend to be more fierceful when they're desperate.

Sophie was bored as there were little things to do these days and asked Wol why he refused to become the defense squad leader. Wol just told her that he already got used to being bored, and with that upper position, just let the people with motivation to do it would be better. Sophie continued to ask why wouldn't Wol being by Sarah's side to protect her. Wol just replied that his sister isn't that weak to need him to always protect her.

Somehow both Wol and Sophie didn't like being inside the tower, it made them feel uneasy. They felt like that there were no place for them inside the tower.

They continued to hunt down monsters further from the tower and arrived at the roadside sign. When Wol arrived here, it was written "Tower of Returners" but now it changed to "Tower of Hope" because Sarah lit the fire of hope to all the soldier's heart. Sophie looked at the sign and sigh a little

"Originally this was Tower of Returners right?" asked Wol
"That's not really it ..."
"What is that answer?"
"It was originally Tower of Hope. Tower of Returners was something that we... no I selfishly changed it. So it just returns to what is was called before"
"Hope huh... The most perilous word in this world"
"Senpai? Does it remind you of some bad memory from the past?"
"yeah, something in the past"
"the past... Eh? Senpai remembers the event before the dark flood!?"
"No I have no idea of what happen it the past" (monotone)
"EHH! You're lying!! You're definitely LYING!!"

-- behind them was a small ball of light following them without being noticed --

"Patrolling? How's the area around?" asked one of the Keeper they met on their route.
"The biggest foe is the boredom" said Wol.
The Keeper said that what Wol felt was normal for strong people but it's good for the tower and then went on to talk about Sarah. Describing that since "Sarah-sama" came everything went smoothly, Wol as her brother might feel somewhat anxious but there was nothing to worry. Just looking at Sarah made everyone's heart warm and feel united. Sarah must have some talent for guiding people and made people feel at ease.

Sophie told Wol that before she came here, the progress didn't go this fast. They kept repairing the tower while the monsters kept on coming. Nothing really progress and everyday they all felt exhausted.

To summarize the detail so far. The one who made a progress and changed the way of Keepers from fighting till the end to keep living to go home was Sophie. Sophie told them that she would bring an end to the fight. Everyone stood up and fighted *but* Sophie fell to Chaos and hope was lost. At that same time Sarah came and relit the Light of Hope, so the center of the tower changed from Sophie to Sarah.

"Is there anything wrong senpai?"
"Nothing, we're really alike huh..."

To this tower, Wol and Sophie played only the support roles. It didn't matter much to Wol. But for Sophie getting ripped of heroine role to become just a supporting character, she probably felt something... Wol then asked Sophie,

"Didn't outsiders like us come to this tower made troubles for you?"
"If senpai and co didn't come here, I'd be done by Chaos. Senpai and Meia are very strong and Sarah is so reliable"
"Really?"
"You made everyone goes into a decent direction. I think that's a really good thing"
"Sophie also think like that?"
"... yes"
"Since there's nothing to worry about tower now, you should do something you want to do"
"What do you mean?"
"If you're trying to find a way back home, how about you go back to your journey to do that now?"
"That would be good I guess. Would senpai want to come with me? To our homeland! ...Eh ... "
"What's wrong?"
"My homeland is... where was it again...?"
"What? You already forgotten about it? Then you're not really want to go back huh?"
"... Maybe"
"I don't know when but somehow I felt that I want to try my best with everyone for the tower than going back home ..."
"In that case, let's find something only we can do for the tower then"

They encountered a new type of monster and managed to defeat them. Wol praised Sophie for being able to rationally assess the situations and able to determine its weakpoint, fitting a personel in commando unit.

On the way back they met Meia. She came to get Wol to do deliver a letter to the Moogle tribes, since she wanted them to come to the tower. Wol asked if he wasn't needed anymore for the tower because the job is so easy that anyone could do it. Meia told him that this was what Sarah wanted and that he should think of it as a present. She want Wol to just relax and take the day off from patrolling and hunting monsters.

Before Wol departed for the Moogle tribes, he asked Meia to look after Sarah.
"Sarah is now carrying everyone's **hope** on her. In Palamecia, the word hope is dangerous. I can't help but have a bad feeling about this. It might be connecting to the **story of hope** in the past and it might get Sarah invloved. I hate to say this but you too, Meia, be careful"
"You're right. You were played with by the word of hope many times. If in the off chance that something happens, I'll send Eco to call you back."
"Please do"
"Don't worry. Just relax"
"Ok, then I'll go"

Wol then asked whether Sophie wanted to go with him to deliver the letter. Sophie hurriedly agreed and then the two went off.

When they're about to enter the forest, the three companions of Sophie caught up to them. They said that once they heard Sophie was about to go off somewhere for a while they hurriedly got there to see her off. They really wanted to go with her but since they have guard duty so they can't go with her but still wanted to see her off. Sophie was touched with the three and finally cheered up. They told her to just take it easy and relax since she worked so hard since the four came to the tower.

As Wol thought to himself.
"Even if the story got changed, she got off the main role, but the companion she once had shared her laugh and memories with. Their feeling won't changed just because the world changes. So for Sophie, she still has a place she belongs. The only one who doesn't have a place he belong is only me..."

They had a small chat during the journey to where Moogle tribes are,
"Senpai, so you know where the Moogle tribes live?"
"Yeah, we went there before coming here to the tower"
"So questions! Do the Moogle really say 'Kupo' at every sentence?"
"The one we met only said 'Po', they said that they aren't Moogle but they became Mogle. Seems like even the Moogles also has situations of their own."
"So Senpai really went to multiple places... Maybe that's why you are so strong"
"Sophie also, ...you're on the strong side you know?"
"Why do I feel like you're looking down on me~~!"

After a while...

"Even though it's not so far from the tower, the scenary really changes! Are we close to the Moogle tribes now?"
"Not far but not that close, and there are monsters everywhere so it's really annoying"
"Then! Senpai just take is easy and I'll defeat all the monsters that's in our way!"
"huh, I'll take it easy then"
"Again! You're looking down on me again!"

After Sophie defeated some mobs along the way

"Hey hey Senpai? How was it? I'm quite good right?"
"Yeah, if somehow you become my enemy it would be quite a close match"
"Close match? If you're too careless then I'll take that chance and bam! you're on your knee and lost you know!"
"That'd never happen. In the end I'll definitely win"
"I knew it. You're really looking down on me!"

They got closer to the Moogle tribes and met black Moogles
"Senpai, are these Moogle? no I meant Mogle?"
"No, they are pseudo Mogle (Black Mogles)"
"Pseudo Mogles? I don't know what they're saying but I feel like they're taunting us."
"Just don't mind them, they are just mean and being contrary. They like teasing people"
"Mean and contrary? Also like teasing people? I feel like I know someone like that"

The black Mogles usd a curse on them and they were teleported to some other place. They fought some monsters and met the pseudo Mogle group who pranked them.

"Oi Senpai aside, why would you guys get in my way!"
"why... what do you mean me aside?"
"You see? you're the same as them being contrary and all"
...

"Senpai, I want to hear about your journey. What happen with your adventure?"
"It's nothing but annoying things. It's a boring story"
"I want to hear what hardship you went through. I just want to know how can I become more like you. All the goods and the bads I want to hear them all! Even if it's boring, please tell it from the start"
"Somewhere in Palamecia long long ago... well not that long. Once I woke up I was somewhere I didn't know and didn't have any memories about myself at all"
"That's just the story about the dark flood right? Everyone is like that"
"And what if it's something **before** that?"
"Eh.. Wait so senpai really remembers what happened before the dark flood... what the world in the past was like!?"
"It's a boring story. Still want to hear it?"
"Somethine like Warrior of Light and distorted story something like that!?"
"... wait, how did you know something like that?"
"Echo told me. Only a little bit though. She refused to tell me in details."
"Echo families huh... Fine I'll tell you what I can. No need to hide it from you anymore but do not tell anyone about this"
"Yes I won't! I promised! I swear! So please tell me senpai!!"

--- after a while ---

"Ehh!!! Senpai and Sarah aren't real siblings?"
"Dark flood made people lose their memories, many things happended and it became like this"

Wol wondered why Echo families told Sophie about events before the dark flood. He thought that Echo families probably had some sort of goals in mind but since Sophie is a good listener Wol decided to tell his side of story to her more. After telling someone about the fake siblings part to Sophie, Wol felt relieved. He hadn't thought that speaking this to someone would lighter his emotional burden.

"hmm so you and Sarah are not real siblings... someone I can easily believe that. Senpai and Sarah don't look similar and the atmosphere around you feels completely different."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Sarah is like erm a noble and senpai is like ..."
"A mean person?"
"I wouldn't go that far! You're just a blunt and contrary person that's all!"
"Now you said it."

---

"The truth about you guys not aren't a real siblings, does Sarah know about this?"
"She doesn't know which made it complicated. Sophie don't tell anyone okay? This is our secret"
"I understand. Senpai also... has a lot of things going on huh. If you feel like talking, feel free to talk to me!"
"You only want to know right?"
"You see through me!"

---

Finally they met the pseudo-Mogles boss and defeated it. When the boss was about to disperse.

"I think they are trying to tell this to you this senpai,
You! Aren't you the one who bully us and being mean to us?
You contrary person. Prepare yourself you you !!"
"What an irresponsible thing to say, even if they really said that I have no reason to forgive them."
"Well they didn't do anything to us. Just a little prank to slow us down I think"

---

"Senpai, after we arrive at the Mogles home what'll you do after that?"
"If they want me to escort them to the tower I will"
"And after that? Go back to being commando unit? Or do you have anything else you want to do?"
"Can't think of one"
"Isn't there anyone you miss?"
"It's not that I don't have anyone like that in mind, since we parted I made you wait this long, do you resent me? I want to confirm that"
"Wah that face! It doesn't suit you senpai!"
"What about you then Sophie?"
"I feel I have a person like that..."
"Can't remember?..."
"yeah..."
"Well, if that person remembers Sophie it should work out fine"
"I hope so..."
"Well for me... if I ever meet that person again I'm sure it'll definitely be more troubles waiting for me"

---

Following after them since the beginning of their trip, Echo,
"I've never thought the two of them would be together. That guy completely got swept into Sophie's flow. Well for them at least I don't have to worry even if they have to face monsters"
"What are you doing?" (Suddenly popped up Eco asking Echo)
"Wahh!? What are you doing here?"
"My role was to only bring Sarah-sama to the tower. Since my mission is over I don't have anything to do. And the higher ups don't tell me anything so for now I'm thinking about following these two..."
"I see..."
"So what about you? Why sneaking like this? Just go and greet them like 'Hey long time no see!' or 'How are you!?' something like that?"
"I can't do that. I don't have the face to show to him. He thought he finally stopped what Palamecia was doing but in the end he failed. I don't want to involve him any further than this..."
"You're more than delicate than I thought. You're both not being honest with yourself"
"I'm not at his level though!"
"Are you sure?"

---

Sophie and Wol encounterd a big group of monsters and the monsters kept spawning in their way. Echo and Eco who saw the situations then had this conversation.

"Isn't the number too many?" said Echo
"Is this also the will(doing) of our clan?" said Eco
"I wonder. But with story unfolding like this we can't stop it and I can't predict what's gonna happen from this point... Anyway we need to keep following them. You go back to the tower and ask for backup. These two are strong but I have a bad feeling about this"
"You can rely on me for that!"
"Please be safe"

Then Eco disappered and went back to the tower to ask for help.

---

After the two took down multiple groups of monsters, standing before them is a masked man in black robe.

"Well well, you made it here. Any guess to who I am?" asked the masked man
"I don't know who you are, so you must be some small fries?" answered Wol
"haha, you spoke something good. haha haha haha... As expected from the great contrary person, you don't hold anything back when you speak, good good"
"Thank... you"
"Senpai...?"
"Sophie be careful, he's a strong opponenet"
"Please, I'm not that strong. I'm just someone who can only destroy a peaceful village. If I remember correctly, that village was Omega village?"
"Omega? That's senpai's..."
"Don't go Sophie, don't let him provoke you"
"But senpai, that's your ..."
"Now let me hear that in details"
"Good, I'll tell you in full details. About how I killed those boony village's vigilantes!"

They fought, but the fight was easy for Wol. He defeated the masked man. The robe dispersed and the man behind it was Graff.

"As I thought, you're Graff!"

Graff called out to Sophie
"Sophie... Sophie!"
"Eh... Do you know me?"
"What did I do? What have I done? Please forgive me, Sophie... I tried to hurt my beloved sister who I've been searching for this whole time"
"Wait... sister... me? I don't know, I can't recall it but you're my... brother?"

As Graff walking up to Sophie trying to hug her sister after a long awaited reunion.
He suddenly stabbed her. His expression changed from the sad looking to evil.

Wol rushed to Sophie's side...

=== end of part ===