Greyashe chapter 379 is entitled "WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD!!"

Previous chapter 378: Villainy.

Next chapter 380: To hell with this world.

Summary page

-Short summary-

Azha's plan for Van unfurls before him, and the sudden hero finds himself just as suddenly in a position to say farewell to his family, friends, and safety...

-Long summary-

Bits of consciousness and memory ooze toward a dark and unfamiliar epicenter, like bits of watered down crumbs from food into a sink drain. The discombobulated sense of being that is associated with these faded memories asks itself what it's doing and where it's going as it continues it's self contained bewilderment in regards to still being alive. This shouldn't be happening, right? After all they had very clearly given up their "attachment" to the physical plane, and yet even though there is a sense of parts missing, the immaterial "body" that they had gained after that series of events is slowly cohering into something that's eerily "complete". Like a body sense of complete. It is when one of these gooey bits of memory congeals with itself that the consciousness realizes what it is, or was and this whole phenomenon becomes a shade more understandable. Oh right, they had been a deity of some sort. This kind of thing had happened before too hadn't it? So this is what that other person had gone through when it had happened to her...? Then there is only one explanation for what is occurring, but how could this be if there isn't another like themselves in the vicinity? It doesn't make sense, and moreover what would happen to this set of memories congealing together if they had found a new body to inhabit? The other time had resulted in this one's memories and personality remaining on the surface, and the other one's memories and personality taking a passive role, so for all intents and purposes this one would end up being an afterthought in the body of another, right? Truly it is cruel irony that they should be able to live on, but only barely as another's brief thoughts. Still, to function, to live again to see the world that this one had fought so hard and sacrificed so much for is a reward and not a punishment.

At long last the process completes with this one flowing into a vessel and being very still. Unsure of what to do now, the consciousness summons what little motor function it has and tries to feel out it's digits. To it's surprise it is able to do just that with very little issue, and it does so several times before realizing that this means it is in a body, and while it's memories are still flowing into it's new vessel, it has more or less retained it's status as the primary consciousness in it's new form.  It looks down upon it's naked body and notes that it seems taller and curvier than before? Of course those particular memories aren't quite here yet, but it's tactile sensations that lead this one to believe that this is the case. It then stares forward and sees three forms standing before it, apparently watching it come together and eventually become whole. One is a tall man, not quite elderly, but definitely not young. Another is a young woman who stands aloof with a perma-scowl on her face, and her arms crossed as if she doesn't want to be here, but was forced to. This one knows the truth however through it's own sense that she is probably the most relieved that this, (whatever it is) is happening and that this one is "alive". Last is another younger girl who's waving her hands excitably and saying things that the consciousness cannot quite process. It reaches out a hand instinctively, but is repelled by a small shock and the feeling of something hard. It is now that a memory of the tactile sensation of "glass" congeals with the consciousness and it realizes that it is in a glass tube, and that the three are trying to revive it. A sense of gratitude and confusion washes over the consciousness, as feelings like these do not require memories to function. It then tries to read the lips of the energetic girl who's saying something in hopes that maybe she's giving this one a clue of what is to occur next.

"Welcome back best friend!" is apparently what she seems to be saying.

Another memory congeals with the consciousness, and that sense of gratitude fades and is replaced with something else upon realizing who this person is.

Irritation --the sort that comes with a misunderstanding on someone else's end that one has tried unsuccessfully to clear up. This one sighs and mutters to itself that they aren't and never will be friends. 

Meanwhile in Dover tower, Van nonchalantly stretches his muscles and bends his body to shake off all of the time he had been in bed. Far be it for him to complain, but he thinks to himself that they could have gone over these things in the hospital rather than dragging him and everyone else to the tower to discuss it, but he's appreciative for the chance to get reacquainted with his body. He had some minor concerns that after his "transformation" that there would be issues with it, but from as far as he can tell he seems to be in good shape --maybe even better than he had been before this whole ordeal. The magic in his body is silent, but that only fills him with a sense of malease more than anything. Of course he can't make it talk to him, so his feelings are for the most part irrelevant. What he should focus on now is....

Dio glances over at Van and shakes his head disapprovingly. Van quirks an eyebrow and glances up at Azha upon her all important seat as the Kaiser mage, and for a moment the two simply regard each other before Van shrugs an arm and stands still. It's not so much that he dislikes the Kaiser mage or anything like that, but she seems to think that she can neatly wrap up this situation without his input which in turn annoys him greatly. That had been why he's rebelling in different small ways as a sign of deference to her power, but he realizes that she is only acting on the behest of the people, and that his situation is unique. The old, pacifistic boy within the demi God that he has become surfaces briefly and he feels sorry for her and decides he'll stop being a pain if only long enough to hear her out.

Around him are his friends from Greyashe -- Nancy, Nick, and Mr. Sikes, his friends from his journey; Kani, Guy, Candle, and Anu the previous fall Goddess, his parents Colin and Anna Rose, Azha's guard Delaney and Aicha, and Delaney's siblings; Willard and Aithne, Lazaro and Roysé, the two remaning Kaiser mage select; Libitina and Reid, and the rising stars of the GMAGY academy who are also Van's acquaintances; Cayden, Iselia, and Frieda who had been invited as a fellow farseer. In short, an all star cast had gathered to hear the Kaiser mages' plan of action. 

Azha nods and thanks everyone for coming while giving a cursory look at Van who realizes she had purposely invited these select individuals on his behalf. Left up to her, the following conversation would have been between the two of them. The farseer simpers down again knowing now that Azha acts like one in power because she is one who is in power. He had wisely decided not to reveal the actual deal he had made with the magic in his body, because he thought she'd use that against him in some way if she knew. Although the truth is that Van can't actually use his immense power for anything other than sustaining his already lost life, the fear that he could be a present threat to others is more than enough to deter them from action.

To his surprise Azha starts off her speech with those exact words, except the part about knowing that Van is in essence harmless. The farseer marvels at this for a moment before sobering up and making a few mental notes of his own. Whatever she's going to decree isn't going to make his already complex life any easier.

Azha continues --the state of affairs with the ongoing magic bashing is dire, just as she feared it would be, she states as she paces like one who is the leader of a nation would be expected to. She had a concern that opening a pandora's box and causing a paradigm shift to people's lives suddenly like this would result in violence and more tragedy. Butcher had sought to take the magic people know and use it to subjugate them, and now Van had somehow managed to take the magic that people know and...well, keep it from them. Now those who had been subjugated by magicians are lashing out, and magicians who formerly would use their powers to protect themselves no longer can. Even with her forces working to mitigate the riots, the problem is only growing as time goes by and would eventually cross an event horizon where there would be no way to stop it. As such, there would have to be a return to normalcy of sorts for the people, a focus on something else that would draw their ire away from magic and agape or the lack of it. Sadly, saving the world had instead only doomed it in a different way --at the hands of it's very own people. After talking with Van in the hospital, Azha had come to a conclusion, and whipped up a admittedly haphazard solution, that she hopes can be built upon as more time is added to their bottom line.

The group who had listened silently to the Kaiser mage clamor amongst themselves in hushed whispers which Azha allows for a moment before raising her hand and asking for silence. They had all been brought here because in various ways they had met and become involved with the person who is at the center of this situation, one Van Rayleigh. As such she felt that they should know the "truth" at the center of her plan should it be obscured to others. What she plans to instigate is a "huge lie" that will involve Van's current state, and the need for people to have something to focus their complex feelings toward. The irony while tragic is in a way almost too delicious to pass up.

Van will become the new villain of the world.

The silence to her statement is deafening, which the Kaiser mage seems to have expected as she continues speaking without a hitch. Leah (who is also aware of this plan) will send out information to this effect: "Van Rayleigh was in cahoots with Butcher, the madman who caused the recall. The two had a falling out and Van betrayed his partner, killed him, and took his abilities for himself. The Kaiser mage select had managed to apprehend him, but he was able to use his overwhelming power to escape and is now on the lam. He is highly dangerous, and should not be approached by laymen --rather any sightings should be reported to the Kaiser mage, who are in hot pursuit of the criminal."

She inclines her head over to Van and asks "How's that?"

Cayden is the first to speak up, and angrily asks how she could possibly think that this is the right thing to do? In essence she's making him a fugitive, and even if she is to warn people not to approach him, with tempers flaring as they are, they'll do just that anyway! It's literally Van versus the world! If they don't kill him, his life will be a living nightmare until he's caught and brought back!

Colin replies to the youth in a calm voice: Azha has no intention of keeping him imprisoned even if he is caught does she? If he does get jailed somehow, she'll just use her power to secretly have him released and the cycle begins all over again. Cayden begins to object again, but Delaney cuts in and asks Azha what their role is to be in this whole plan of hers? Clearly she didn't just bring them together just to wish him a fond farewell. Azha regards him with a tiny, sad smile and replies that they are to be her eyes and ears. If he is to end up getting captured somewhere out of her reach, then they would have to assist her in "breaking him out", without getting caught themselves. They are her cabinet after all. Of course they can decline, as she cannot force them to do anything they don't want to, but the help would be much appreciated. She is also not asking them to put their lives on hold, and that they are free to move or stay in the capital as long as they like. However if they can just keep one eye out for the farseer whenever and wherever they can then...

Van smirks and says that this won't be necessary. He doesn't intend on getting caught, and if he does he'll manage to figure something out on his own. Azha and Dio both shoot him angry glares, but Van's expression --especially his eyes filled with determination sobers them up. Kani asks how long they'll have to keep this up? Surely she doesn't mean to have this continue forever does she? Azha sighs and relents that she really doesn't know --hence her saying that this is a haphazard and rough solution to the problem. Will people forget about Van and get used to a world without magic in a year? Two years? Ten? who can tell? Maybe they'll hold a grudge against him forever. Of course she doesn't know the extent of Van's abilities and how they augment his physical appearance and functions, so perhaps he might outlive the grudge and everyone else. She says this last part as she gives him a side long glance, and Van quickly figures that she's still trying to get an idea of what it is he's become. In all honesty he hadn't thought about that aspect of his new magic filled existence. Would he really live forever? Ostensibly, he would have to in order to keep the promise he had made....

Anna Rose is next in asking if they'd be able to assist Van in any other way? She asks this, though her expression subtly hints that she already knows the answer to this question. Azha blows out air thoughtfully, and says that she has no problem with anyone giving him shelter as long as they can do so without being caught. She doesn't want to be in the situation of having to explain why they aren't being severely punished for harboring a fugitive after all. Also, while she hates to do this, they would have to act quickly as the situation is only getting worse. If they thought they'd be able to spend an evening with the farseer before he's off on his "trip", that unfortunately is not the case. Leah is circulating the info as they speak, and Van would have to step on stage in his new starring role as the world's villain soon. She hasn't even informed her guards as they have to be kept in the dark to ensure this whole act is convincing. As such, Van will probably find it "challenging" to escape from here, however she believes he can do it. Or well, he has to so her beliefs are irrelevant. 

The shock is evident on everyone's faces, but they keep their comments to themselves as Van is lead by Dio past everyone to a semi-secret exit. Van glances back at his friends and family and asks them not to worry. He knows it'll be hard, but they're all strong individuals that he has admired in various ways during their time together. Truly he is overjoyed to have been in their care throughout his journey, and despite the result of his battle with Butcher, he would do it all again if he could save them once more. With that, he is taken away by Dio, and everyone is left behind with their thoughts and pity toward the boy who had tried so hard just to lose so much.

Dio points him down a corridor, and informs him that guards are all over the outside, and by now have been put on high alert. It's not likely he'll be able to leave without a confrontation, so he should keep that in mind, as well as the notion that these guys are just doing their job, so he shouldn't harm them too badly if he can avoid it. Van surprises Dio by shaking his hand and thanking him for the help. He also thanks him for being Claire's friend, as he could tell she really trusted him and believed in his ability to save everyone. Dio coughs to avoid Van seeing his face turning red, and asks quickly if she was happy when she...well...Van replies that she went out on her own terms, and that he should know how that would make her feel. Dio processes this for a moment, and grins. The farseer offers him a bow, and then races down the hallway to an exit leading out of the side of the building several feet above the ground. Van leaps and lands in a garden, slowly slipping slide long trees and bushes, spying an exit to the garden, and quickly dashing toward it. Unfortunately for him, he hears a shout; two guards have seen him. He drops all notion of secrecy and runs away as fast as he can, but the guards are joined by two more of their comrades who in the lack of their magic abilities have apparently been training with rifles, and fire upon the new public enemy number one with no hesitation. The bullets fly and nick Van in the arm and shoulder, and it is now that he learns that he is still very susceptible to pain. His eyes begin to water up, and while at first he tries to fight the tears, they come and he allows them. To think that only a few weeks ago this world which was on the brink of collapse is now robust enough to gather it's people and have them fend off a threat --even if it is him. To think that he would stand on center stage of a world in progress, a world in the process of change and rebirth....

It truly is a Wonderful World....!!

The farseer wipes his eyes and notices a gully. He leaps down and gives the guards in pursuit his best menacing, and villainous glare before turning and running deeper into a forest set aflame by sunset. Before long he is in a grassy field, alone, but he does not reduce his speed or look back. This is his new life in this wonderful world of opportunity, and he won't allow regret to sully the decisions he has made.