CHAPTER 21, TO THE ONE WHO HAS LOST HIS WAY

"Then, what is the Star Gate in the end?" Neph asked.

"In a sense, it connects this place to the Aerial Isles, it also connects it to the other Gates that are opened at the moment. Basically, it connects this place to other places but it doesn't end with just connecting places, it goes beyond time and space and connects all the places in time and space with this Gate." I answered with the memories I recieved from Virgo. "The Star Gate must be destroyed, if not they'll end up freeing an ancient evil.

"How do you know?" Aqua asked.

"If they make a msitake they'll end up connecting the Gate to place between time and space distorting the natural order of the world. We have to hurry and find them and destroy that Gate." I told everyone.

"We will." Master said and placed her hand on my shoulder. "We must end our quest for the Aerial Isles, now we shall begin our mission to stop a danger to all time and space."

Just then some men were making a commobtion outside so I along with Yue, Aria, Storm and Neph went with Stella and Scarlet to the back and hid. Men suddenly came inside, then a man with blonde hair and a bushy beard with luxurious garments came inside. He demanded that we hand over the Summoner in our guild(me) and the Duke's daughter. The Master said we weren't here and he order the guards with him to search for us. This is bad, we'll be found at this rate. "Come, the Chameleon Familiar, Chamaeleon." I summoned him and he appeared.

"Mirage." He said and a light appeared and he hid himself by standing near the wall.

The men soon came into the room and began searching but we were nowhere to be seen thanks to Leon. Unfortunately, they abducted the members of the guild. "What do we do?" Storm asked me.

"What else? We're going to rescue our friends and stop what ever Shadow's Order is planning and free the Duke." I said with a smile. "But before that, do you have any idea where they might be held?"

"They might've been brought to the dungeon." Scarlet answered. "What shall we do?"

"We'll go and rescue everyone first, after that we'll confront the Duke." I answered her, but to do so, we'll have to find some way to enter the place without anyone noticing us.

"How do we get in exactly?" Aria asked me.

"Leon." I summoned him. "Now, we just need you to guide us there."

As Stella guided us through the streets towards the Duke's large mansion we saw a guard at the gate but she directed us to secret passage and we followed the path down. After countless twist and turns we arrived at room with countless prison cells. There were a few guards but I have a way to get through. It's already past midnight meaning I should be able to use that spell. "Come, Horologium." I summoned him and he appeared.

"How may I help?" He asked.

"Use the Time Freeze Spell." I told him and he did as I asked him. "Hurry, we only have ten minutes to get everyone out before the guards move again."

We rushed to everyone who had been locked behind bars, as happy as we were to meet i signaled them to keep it down and hurry up. Using the key I took from the guard we opened their cells and finally got everyone out. After everyone got out, we all hurried to the Duke's room in the mansion after I closed the summoning gate for Horologium. In the Duke's room we all entered and as we closed the door we saw the Duke talking to man. He's Shade from Shadow's Order! "Welcome, members of Azure Gems." The Duke said and we all were in shock. Leon's spell should still be active until I turned as saw that the spell was canceled.

"This room abs an anti illusion spell on it." He said with a grin and just then he dropped an orb and we all were brought to a different room.

A dark room, with only a few torches, twelve pillars stood holding nothing up, beyond them, a golden gate stood. In front of us, Shade stood before a pedestal. Don't tell, that Gate is the Star Gate. "Welcome, now then... you there, the boy with the Familiars. Give me their Mediums, unless you want the Duke to be beheaded." He smiles and I glared at him. Just then, large chains wrapped around everyone. A binding spell.

"Haru... don't give... it to him...!" Stella ordered me but everyone was suffering, I can hear their screams. What should I do!?

"Surrender! Give me the keys, you can't do anything!" He told me as he smiled. "Not that we have any need for them anymore though."

"What... are you going on about!" I screamed at him.

"We will use your magical power along with the life of the Duke to open the Gate." He smiled and came towards me. "The ceremony will begin and you and your friends will supply the Star Gate with the necessary magical power!"

"You... fiend!" Stella shouted at him and he slapped her.

He turned around and went up to a pedestal, then streams of light wrapped around us and they began draining the magical power of all of us. At this rate, they'll succeed and everything we've done will be for nought. If only, I could summon a Familiar... but my magical power is being drained to the point were I can't even focus. What are we... going to do?! If only... I was.. stronger... everyone... I'm sorry... I can't... do anything... at all. I'm... so weak... I don't deserve... the title of Hero... who am I to... say I'm... a Hero?

"You are you, my precious son." My mom's voice ringed in my head. "Never forget that, you are you."

"The Hero is only a title, you onlyneed to be you." Grandpa said.

"You must figure out yourself, what makes you you." Grandma said.

"A Hero is born when he finally realzies who he is." Dad said and I finally realized.

It's fine if I'm not strong enough, I'll grow stronger and be stronger. A Hero is someone who protects those by his side and those he loves, he stands for one and all even he has to take the fall. What matters most is whether or not I'm willing to stand up and fight.

"I won't let you succeed!" I said with a furious voice. "I'll portect those who are dear to me and those they hold dear! I won't let you open that Gate!"

Just then, I felt a power fill my body and just then the Gate suddenly shined a golden light and it enveloped me.