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A cold morning, with the wind blowing, heralding the arrival of autumn. Shadows fell like tears from souls screaming in silence.
—How could this happen? Someone must explain why everyone else is alive, and my son is the only one dead! —cried a woman between sobs.
—I… —Kerl was interrupted by me, hearing his words with both fury and sorrow.
—You, of all people, should know! I should have died in his place! But he threw himself at those monsters with a smile… Your son is a hero. —I replied, staring at the ground, head bowed, eyes narrowed.
The woman broke into tears while a man, seemingly her husband, held her close, tears streaming down his own face.
—She doesn't mean any harm. It's just that he and our little Carmein were our greatest treasures… and now one of them is gone —said the man in a trembling voice.
—No... She's right. We should've been more cautious. Or at least I should've sent them back to the clan and asked for help... I was negligent, and I truly hope you can forgive me —Kerl muttered, barely above a whisper.
I ran out of the temple, leapt into the air, and began hopping from rooftop to rooftop until I reached a massive tree at the center. The sound of people's chatter reached my ears, and I focused on it to calm the anxiety that was starting to consume me.
—You're here again, Yeri. You shouldn't have left the temple like that. You're disrespecting the sacred farewell of the souls. This way, Kalesh can't find peace, and we're left to carry the burden… —said Aethen, his face empty of emotion.
—I know. It's just… I don't know what to do. I was about to do the same, and now I understand how noble that sacrifice is… but how it breaks the ones left behind —I replied, my gaze lost in the palace center.
The cold air brushed my face, but my mind was already far away. It traveled back to our training days. I remembered our first day training together, when Flumir, Darel and I were in the elders' hall.
—Haaa! —Flumir shouted as he launched a wide kick.
—Hum! —Darel grunted, flipping backwards to dodge and put some distance—. That was overkill, you blockhead! Your moves are still clumsy!
—What are you saying, idiot? I'm twenty times faster and stronger than before! Stop acting like you could beat me! —Flumir replied, frowning.
I watched them argue over anything. Even not wanting to fight made them fight. That's when Kalesh stepped in. He seemed used to calming down those two Lysae-fueled knuckleheads… all power, no brains.
—I think that's enough. Want to destroy something else, like always, to end this nonsense? —said Kalesh, his face filled with disappointment—. And you… you're here, so why haven't you said a word?
—Yeah, I remember that —Aethen said with a smile.
—That's when I answered…
—He can't. If he says something, he'll end up joining in and wrecking the whole hall with those two.
—What did you say, you little punk? —I replied through clenched teeth, raising a fist—. If you want to fight me, just say so! I'll kick that smelly butt of yours!
—Huh? Kick my butt? You still can't beat me… —Aethen replied with a small smile—. But that's what I mean. He's another blockhead just like those two.
Kalesh let out a quiet chuckle before saying:
—You're not wrong. Luckily, he knows himself well enough not to keep causing trouble.
As I remembered those words, my fingers unconsciously reached for the hilt of Kalesh's short sword, still strapped to my belt. It was easier to talk to his ghost than the living.
—Shouldn't you have handed over that sword? It should've been placed in his casket to… —Aethen started.
—Don't worry… They already added the celestial prayer accessory. This sword belongs to no one now… —I replied, staring at it with nostalgia.
—I see… Can I hold it?
—Sure…
I handed him the sword, and Aethen carefully unsheathed it, examining the blade.
—This sword doesn't look like the ones from the Air training temple… There's a symbol beneath the clan emblem —he noted curiously.
The symbol looked like a circle enclosing a leaf split in two.
—I've been thinking… Can I keep it? —he asked suddenly.
—Why do you want the sword? —I raised an eyebrow, a bit suspicious.
—I trained with Kalesh once, and I was impressed by how he used this sword. His movements were graceful, precise… I want to avenge him with this very weapon —he added, with a somber expression.
—Avenge him? Do you even know where that guy is? —I asked.
—I don't need to find him. I know we'll meet again… and when we do, I'll destroy him. I want your help, Yeroy. I want Kalesh to be avenged.
—Heh! You haven't changed, Aethen. Always vengeful and ruthless. I remember the first time we met… —I said, and my mind drifted to those childhood days.
I was eight, looking for some friends who had invited me to play near the clan's plaza, when some shouting caught my attention.
—Take that, weakling! —yelled a boy, throwing a ball of water formed with Lysae—. That's what you get for thinking you're strong without powers!
—But… I just wanted to play… —a young Aethen muttered, dressed in rags clearly from the mountain temple—. You're mean!
As soon as I saw the scene, I didn't hesitate. I launched myself at them.
—Haaa! —I shouted as I kicked one of the bullies—. Get lost, you bunch of cowards, or you'll have to fight me!
—And me! —added Darlon, who had been looking for me.
—Yeah, I remember that… —Aethen said with a nostalgic smile—. You were already the same impulsive blockhead. Facing seven kids for someone you didn't even know…
—Ha! As if hundreds of them could take me down… —I replied with a wide grin, more out of pride than actual memory.
—Still, they beat us up… You, Darlon, and me. —Aethen chuckled softly, closing his eyes—. But even then, you said the same thing you say now…
—I know —I said, raising my gaze, remembering it like it was yesterday.
"We need to get back at those stinkers. I have an idea. I know where they hang out every day… We can throw fish at them!" said little Aethen, frowning with a wicked grin.
—But where are we going to get fish? —asked Darlon, rubbing a small bruise.
—I know a place where they dump heads and guts. We can fill several buckets and dump them over them. They'll stink like they truly are —Aethen added, with a determination that honestly scared me a little.
And we did it. Days later, we gathered the stinkiest heads we could find, waited for the bullies to group up and… splash! We dumped the buckets on them. Glorious. Of course, the masters punished us by making us stand with buckets half-full of water lifted to our shoulders.
It hurt. But it was worth it.
—Maybe you were always like this, Aethen… —I murmured with a faint smile—. It's just that now the buckets you throw are filled with power.
—Yeroy! I finally found you… Oh, Aethen, looks like you've been here a while… Why did you run off like that? We were all worried… —said Keia, gripping her pants tightly.
—Sorry, I just needed some fresh air… but I'm better now. I'll go back and give my ceremonial offering. Aethen helped me understand what I must do —I said with a voice full of resolve.
—You can keep the sword. I think you represent that shared wish we all have —I told Aethen, offering a small smile.
—Of course, my friend… —Aethen replied.
Back at the temple, Kalesh's mother was still crying, but upon seeing me, her tears began to slow. I looked at her with determination.
—I'm sorry for earlier, ma'am… I promise I'll become the greatest Master this clan has ever seen. I won't waste the opportunity Kalesh gave me —I said, frowning, as tears escaped my eyes.
Then I approached the table where Larias flowers were stacked, their large, curved petals with reddish bases and white and yellow lines. Since ancient times, these flowers are used in the soul release ceremony. Burning them breaks the chains that bind the soul to this world, giving it peace. It's a way to say: everything will be okay.
As the flower burned, I turned and walked toward the exit. Just as I crossed the threshold, a familiar voice stopped me.
—What do you plan to do now? —asked Darlon, firmly.
Turning around, I saw him with Darel, Flumir, and Ylwen. All wore ceremonial robes, still heavy with sorrow.
—I'm going to train. I'm going to master the technique Master Kerl taught us… and I'll become stronger. I won't let anyone else die… You're my most valuable companions, and together, we'll reach the top —I said, clenching my fists with determination.
—I'll go with you. —said Keia, stepping forward—. I want to grow stronger too. You can't carry this alone and leave us behind.
We walked together toward one of the training fields. Suddenly, Keia grabbed my hand and stopped me.
—Yeroy… I couldn't sleep last night —she murmured, avoiding my gaze—. I kept thinking about all of us, about what happened… I realized we were taking everything too lightly.
She paused. Her voice trembled.
—And I took you lightly too. My feelings… —her cheeks suddenly turned red, but she didn't look away from the ground.
—Keia… —I said, but she cut me off.
—I like you! Yeroy… Spending time with you made me realize it… I like you. —she blurted out, but her voice faded with every word.
The silence and the look of shock on my face were impossible to hide.
"What the hell…?" I thought, caught between shock and the sudden heat in my cheeks.
—B-but I… —I started to stammer, but she didn't let me finish.
—I'm not asking for an answer. If you reject me, I'll punch you in the face. —she frowned, though her face was completely red.
—Just… I just want you to know. I want to support you, to be strong by your side. So don't leave me behind, okay?
Keia let go of my hand after saying that, though her gaze remained locked with mine. I stood there for a few seconds, as if time itself had stopped.
—Alright, let's go… —I said simply, and we started walking toward the training field.
When we arrived, I saw the others were already gathered. Darlon was holding a long branch like an improvised spear, Flumir was rotating his wrists in circles, Darel had his eyes closed in meditation, and Ylwen… she was just watching us with a serene smile, as if she already knew what we were all thinking.
Aethen arrived a moment later, arms crossed, wearing that usual judging expression… but this time, he looked more human, more present. He looked at each of us, then spoke:
—So… are we going to become legends, or what?
Laughter blended with the afternoon wind. And for the first time since everything that happened, I felt that… we were ready for something big. Maybe not today, or tomorrow… but someday.
And when that day comes… I, Yeroy, will be standing at the top with them. With all of them.