Candi continued to train as she was accustomed to at the abandoned building of the old Stolly's warehouse. The sudden entry of rain into the atmosphere had her concerned - the sky continued to look foreboding and the temperature was still not as warm as she had hoped for.



As the rain persisted, so also did her confidence. She thought she could hear something rumbling in the distance. Even with her superpowers, she was not in the mood to test her luck against a thunderstorm. After just a few more centileg strokes, she'd decided she'd vanquished enough imaginary foes. She wasn't really feeling like a battle anyway - her heart ached for something else...her last chance, quite possibly, to see Donte alive!



The moment she had been dreading arrived—Donte's arrival! At last, she could get her long-standing and painful questions answered. He seemed almost unreal to her as he stood there.

But the minute she saw him, all she could think of was her own urge to cry. If ever femininity were to be described as a weakness, this was one time in which she had no need to feel ashamed of showing it.

Her Donte as available to her at last! What else need she fear?



Candi: (nervous) "Uh...hi. So...glad to meet again?"



Donte flew towards her, not saying a word. The look between the two of them was awkward, but they subtly already understood.

Donte: "I'm so sorry Candi..."

Candi: "Donte...I...will love you forever! I pray every night that you'll live! Regardless of what happens to me...I should hope that one day..."



Donte: "It's okay, Candi. You don't have to tell me! I knew I found someone special indeed, the minute I took you to my place! Believe me, darling; if there is any hope in me that you're alive when I get back, I will swear off all other women!"

Candi: "But...if I don't...will you understand? I want you more than anything else, but...I'm just so convinced this is the last time we'll ever get to feel each other's warmth and presence again!"



Her words tore at him. He had prior commitments, as Emeraldon, to go to Phaelon and fight. But he would have to leave the love of his life behind! How could he possibly do this?

Donte: "Candi...I...don't know how else to say this!"

Candi: "I'm listening..."

Donte: "I will get a break within three weeks. We will have established camp. The trip to Phaelon and the establishment of camp in the Turquellis region is probably one of the most dangerous parts of the quest.

If you don't hear from me within three months...then don't let me interfere with your life! Remember...I'm doing this for you! Right now, the Meethlites want to exterminate your whole family! I must provide the distraction...even if it kills me! It is the only way to see you become what you are meant to be!"



Candi (tearfully): "I...understand."



Donte: "Come here, my burdened beauty! I don't know why else you'd even come here tonight!"



Candi: "Because...I...cannot escape what I am meant to be. Or can I? Erin told me everything last night. I'm afraid it won't be long, if you die, that I'll be forced to take over your job. Awkward, huh?"

Donte: "I fear for you. Candi...your heart...is in too many places! Will you be able to pull off anything like you did the night we met, when you're soul is decimated by hardship?"



Candi: "I have noticed I'm not consistent. Adversity will either shape me or else I was not meant for it."

Donte: "You don't know what you really want. It is hard to make a right decision when you don't even know what the right decision is, or even when you don't know what you hope for. Be extremely careful if you are this conflicted later on. You are a Centhuen Prototype! Your biggest enemy, aside from maybe getting pregnant...will be distraction! Master that, and you'll be unstoppable!"

Candi: "Self-help nonsense! I can be stopped by a bus, silly! I doubt I'll ever have the strength to lift one of those!"



Donte: "You're smart then! Always know your limits...it will keep you alive...even when I can do so no longer."

Candi: "You seem so certain you're gonna die! Stop! I want you to live!"



Donte: "That's for God to decide. You need him too, Candi. He will always be there for you. I...cannot promise the same. You deserve so much better than I can give you! Comparatively, I am nothing!"

Candi: "And yet, you're so good at what you are! Such contradictions our lives are!"



Donte: "We'd best be leaving here soon. You will need time to heal. The full shock of my absence has not yet hit you; but when it does, you may need a dozen therapists to set you right! This place...its memories...are the last thing either of us needs right now."

Candi: "The high and mighty Donte...why do I feel like I'll never get over that?"

Donte: "Let me fly you down...I don't know if the stairs are really safe anymore."

Candi:(whispering) "I don't think they ever were..."



Inside, a part of her refused to let go. Another side urged her to let go, lest she become too scared to know life apart from the man who had come to mean everything to her.

Candi: "Forgive me, Donte...this may sound cowardly...
I love you, and as much as you're doing for me, I...want to do a favor for you! If you do die...I want you to have the honors of knowing your legacy will never die with you. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to assure that! If you would like all of me...tonight...before you leave...then..."



Donte: "No! Dearest, don't ever give that up! Hard as it is to believe, not even I am worth that! I would sooner die a complete vagabond than rob you of your honor!"

Candi:(astounded) "Then...I have truly found someone that I fear...I will never be able to replace!"

Donte: "But if life directs you that way...use your discretion! It is safer than acting merely out of raw fear."

Candi: "I will try."

Donte: "And know to Whom to look, if ever you do fail!"

Candi: "I will."



Donte: "And I must say...I love what you did with your hair!"

Candi: "Protection from the Meethlites. It was Miri's idea. She snooped and heard everything!"

Donte: "No matter. She'll probably try to teach herself to forget everything! Give it a few years; I'll be amazed if she still has enough living brain cells to recollect it all!"

Candi: "She is very smart, dear! Just...she doesn't always have the best morals, that's all."



At that point, neither of them cared to mince words or indulge thought. Candi felt dirty inside at her recent suggestion, but was content that the last moment she'd share with Donte was still beautiful and pure.

It was a time of subtle comparison. Was she meant to provide the example her sisters failed to for today's youth? Marina's example was neither pure nor honest. As for Miriam, the differences were becoming clearer. Donte was a man of few flaws, spiritually, having the occasional fits of depression. His biggest self-consciousness was the flaws of his body. Yet, he remained resolved in his convictions.

The biggest difference Candi could see developing between herself and Miriam lay in their reasons for allowing themselves to fall. Candi wished only to provide a departing present for someone who had only ever made a positive difference in her life. Candi realized her inadequacy, as nothing she could offer would ever be enough.



To the contrast, Miriam had disingenuously tried to use the sacrifice of her honor to save another from himself. Candi realized that Donte could not be saved by anything she did. His fate was now out of her hands. Perhaps she could do something for him in the future, but there was nothing for them now. Miriam, to the contrary, found out too late that she was in the same circumstance, and that her sacrifice meant nothing in saving Phil.

Candi continued to hold on to Donte, but she sighed under her breath, grateful that she had been saved from a major mistake; but also fearful that the same wayward spirit lived in her as did in her sisters, tempting her body and soul to repeat their paths of error.



Donte: (under breath) "I must leave now. I have no guarantee when or if I'll get back, but the group of Phaelites on their way leaves within a few minutes! Goodbye Candi..."

Candi: (fighting back tears) "Farewell then...and good luck...love of my life!"