A Thousand Years in the Making

Sometimes, no answer is the best answer. But silence also provokesmisunderstanding.

Back in the study, I stood and faced Mathew.

"Sit, sit," he said. When I didn't move he just shrugged his shoulders. "Do as you wish."

There was an awkward silence as we both looked at each other. I didn't mean to be rude, but I was in no mood to be told what to do.

"Anyway," he continued. "I would like an answer from you."

"For what?" I asked.

"Things are only going to get harder from here on out. There will be battles, shadow, and other unspeakable dangers. You must be willing to go all the way in order to save your fellow man. Even if it means giving your life."

My heart skipped in my chest. 'Die?! There is no way I am going to die!'

"If you are willing to put your life on the line, I am sure there is still hope for this planet. But-" Mathew paused. He seemed hesitant about something.

"What is it?" I asked. I had a bad feeling.

"Nothing..." he said after sometime. "My point is, will you help us?"

I thought for a minute. 'Am I really the only one who can do this? Will I ever go back home? Is this truly so dangerous that I won't come out alive?' There were too many questions and not enough answers. Then, I thought of Genji and the others. I thought of all the humans hiding in caves, fearing for their lives. My stomach got sick thinking that all the humans would soon be dead, but the shadow...I didn't want to face them again. Not like back at the school. I thought I had died back then. 'Is it really my choice to make? Do I have the right to deny sucha request?'

"Umm...I...would like to help," I said.

"Good. We have a deal then," said Mathew. He looked at me and then turned his head down toward the desk.

"I have a question."

Mathew looked up. "Yes," he answered.

"If everything started a thousand years ago, why haven't all the humans died by now?" I had been wondering about that since last night.

"Well, I don't really know. It is like how the women slowly began turning. The opposite happened to the men. They got healthier than ever. Most are around 150 years old and kickin'.Besides, the women didn't die out all at once. There were still some left even, oh,200 years ago, maybe. However,there is only a handful of men still alive, that have ever seen a woman."

"And Elves live even longer?"

"Yes, I myself am over 700 years old. The others are stilll very young, they are about 130. You'll have to ask them if you want it exact."

"Oh," so that is how it is. Not much of an answer, but it clarified some things. "Wait, there are no female elves, so how are they onlya hundred years old?"

"Ha ha ha, that is an interesting question. It is also one I can't answer. Even the elves don't know how that works. One second you have three elves, and the next day there are four. The extra doesn't know where he has been, or how he got here, but, there he is."

'That makes absolutely no sense!' I thought.

"All things aside, I have my answer, and so you may go," and with that I was dismissed. I walked out of the room and into the hall. There, leaning against one of the walls was Genji.

"You're done?" he asked.

"Yeah."

"What did he say?"

"He asked if I was willing to help," I spoke and started walking back down the hall.

"And are you?" he asked. I stopped and turned around. His face was completely serious.

"Yeah," I answered slowly.

I was about to turn away when one of the doors flew open. Seth and Eric fell flat on the floor.

"Eavesdropping I see," said Genji playfully.

"That isn't the point," said Seth. "The point is that she is coming with us!" Everyone began to laugh. Looking at them, I knew I had made the right decision. I may not know them very well, but I feel as if I already couldn't live without them.