"I told you we would meet again"
I never thought I'd hear this voice again.
Yet.
She stood right in front of me.
Her smile faded. "I hope you haven't forgotten me."
She sighed.
"Well not everyone keeps their memory of this pla—"
I pulled her into a hug.
"I never forgot you. You were always in my mind."
She held me tight, and cried.
"Still a crybaby." I said. "Some things never change, haha."
"Shut it." She muttered, her voice softer now.
We sat under the Soul Tree. Her head rested on my shoulder.
She looked the same. White hair. Blue eyes. Scales.
But now, she has a tail.
"Since when did you have a tail?" I asked.
She laughed. "I always did. I just hid it when I first met you."
Her gaze shifted.
"There's no much time for—"
"But, I just got here." I interrupted.
"I know, but you have to listen to me carefully." she said.
"O-Ok…"
She sat up.
"I told you before. I'm the Dragon of Nymirel and the nexus of Aqualis."
"Yeah." I replied. "You also mentioned being imprisoned... here."
"Hmm." She nodded.
"But you never told me why."
"Good." She smiled. "You remember."
She rested against the trunk of the tree.
"I am imprisoned here because I was considered a danger to the peace of Caramien." She said.
"Danger? How?"
"I once almost destroyed the entirety of Caramien because I was foolish and stupid enough to believe a simple lie." She answered.
"What lie would make you almost destroy Caramien?" I asked.
She shook her head. "I can't t-tell you…"
I sighed.
"Again?"
She didn't respond.
I exhaled.
"It's fine." I said, "So why'd you call me here?"
She snuggled up to me.
"Becasue I can, hehe."
A pause.
"Also…"
A smirk tugged at her lips.
"You got really close to Eimira in such a short amount of time.."
My face flushed.
"Don't tell me…"
She squealed.
"Yeah, I saw everything."
I covered my face, hiding my embarrassment.
"Someone else did too."
Peeked through a gap between my fingers.
"Who?"
"I couldn't tell…" she replied.
"Well, it's expected between you both. You've chased each other for centuries—" She murmured.
"What'd you say?" I blinked.
"It's nothing."
She chuckled nervously.
"Make sure you spend plenty of time with her, alright?"
I nodded.
She rested her head on my shoulder.
"Time's almost up."
"What? But I just got here…"
"Time flows differently here."
I clenched my fist. "That's annoying."
"I know. But you need to return to her…"
A pause.
"To Eimira."
Tears rolled down her eyes.
"I failed… but she can't." She said. "You mustn't either."
"What are you saying?"
She gritted her teeth.
"Screw it!"
She held my hand.Face down.
"Before you go… have you heard of Writers?"
"No… maybe… I don't know. I think."
Her tone changed.
"They are rare… and they see everything."
The air shifted.
Vines began creeping down the tree.
"Me keeping quiet, gives her more time to prepare. I won't sit still." She muttered.
"Who?"
The ground began to tremble.
"Listen closely, Zandren…"
She grabbed my shoulders.
"Writers see everything, that's why they are hunted and killed."
"What are you saying, Nyseria?"
The vines wrapped around her ankles, pulling her.
Her leg lifted off the ground, but she held on to me.
"Wait—" she yelled.
She spoke faster.
"One of the great Writers escaped, and is still alive…"
"When the time comes, he'll find you." she said."And that time is when you are strong."
"I don't care what happens to me anymore. So please don't try to find me."
The vines wrapped around her arms. Pulling them off me.
Nyseria grunted.
"Sorry we had to depart this way."
"Nyseria, why's this happening?"
She chuckled. "I've overstepped my boundaries… I guess."
"W-Wait—"
I stretched out my hand.
She didn't reach out.
"That hand should be for Eimira… not me."
I lunged forward to reach her, but something grabbed my leg, pulling me away.
"I'm closer than you think…"
"Goodbye, Zandren."
Then.
A voice.
"Foolish wench."
"All she had to do was stay quiet."
----
My eyes shot open.
The Soul Tree stood before me, and the spirit orbs floating around were faint and red.
The reality of what just happened dawned on me.
"What happened to her?
"More importantly, who was that?"
Voices echoed around me.
"Zandren… can you hear me?"
Eimira.
My vision cleared slowly.
Everyone stood around me.
I chuckled nervously. "Uh… Hey guys"
"Dude.. what happened to you?"
I turned.
Feona.
"...you were out for like three days."
"Three…?"
I stared blankly at my hands.
"But we were supposed to leave yes—"
"Yesterday, yes." Ryona interrupted.
"Was it the voices?" She asked.
I nodded."Yeah. I guess."
Aurivelle rushed over, hugging me.
"Zandren… you were silent for a long time."
She cried.
I chuckled softly, patting her.
"I just went on a uh… spiritual journey, hehe." I said. "I'm fine now."
Zyron stepped forward.
"Who did you meet?" He asked.
"Oh uh…"
Tried to come up with something.
"I was told to keep it to myself… sorry." I told him.
He nodded.
"That's fine."
He turned to Eimira.
"Since it's still early, you guys can depart in an hour or two."
"Yes." Eimira nodded, her eyes still focused on me.
"Alright."
He signaled to Feona and Ryona.
"Come. Let's give them some space." he muttered.
They left.
Only Eimira remained.
"Hey…"
"Stop." she snapped.
I froze.
She looked up. Tears filled her eyes.
"Three days, Zandren."
My head hung."I'm sorry."
"Where were you?" She asked.
I hesitated.
She touched me softly.
"Zandren, where?"
"... Nyseria." I sighed. "She was the one who called me over."
"Cel'Nyseria?" She asked.
"Yes…"
"Oh…"
She moved closer. "What did you both talk about?"
"We didn't talk for too long." I replied "but she told me one thing—"
Eimira looked at me.
"She told me to get stronger." I said. "But I'm not sure if I can."
Eimira held my face.
A smile.
"You are strong, Zandren. I know it."
"Thanks." I said, "With you as my teacher, I'm sure I'm going to be strong enough."
Our eyes met.
"Enough to protect you…"
"Protect me?"
I nodded.
She pouted."Now I'm mad at you again."
"Why…?"
"You promised not to do things like this again… just for you to do it the next day."
I laughed.
She turned away.
"Hmph!"
"I'm sorry."
"I'm just glad you're fine." She said.
Silence.
We stared at eachother.
Then.
"Zandren…"
"Yes?"
"I Lo-Love you."
"Wh-what?"
"I love you, Zandren."
Her face turned red.
"Who knows if you'd randomly just disappear again" she said. "But longer this time…"
I placed my hand on her face.
"I'm not going anywhere."
She chuckled, softly. "I don't believe you, hehe."
"I love you too, Eimira."
A smile crept on my face.
She grinned.
"You love me… I love you… So, does that make us lovers?"
I laughed.
"Where'd you learn how to grin like that?" I said, "You look like Feona."
She nudged me.
"Stop."
We both laughed.
"So, where are we going again?" I asked.
"The Academy," she answered. "A place where Bearers and Holders, even Soldiers are modelled to perfection for the betterment of Terraka's defence."
"Oh.." I clapped. "Will I be some kind of apprentice under you there?"
She chuckled. "No, I've enrolled you."
I blinked.
"What? How?"
"It's a secret, hehe.."
I pulled her closer.
"Tell me."
She giggled. "I just talked to my Father about it."
"What an abuse of privilege." I muttered.
She stood."Let's get prepared to leave."
She stretched out her hand.
"Ok—" I grabbed them.
"But first… I need to use the washroom." I said, "Remember?… Three days."
"Yeah… you should go since we'll be on the road for a long time." She said. "we'll be outside, waiting."
"Before you go…"
I stopped her.
"Mind showing me where the washroom is?"
She giggled. "Sure."
—-
The sound of water echoed through the washroom. Dried my hands and pushed the door open.
"You should really be closing the curtains."
I froze.
The voice came from my side.
"Nice to meet you…"
A young man stepped forward, with his hand stretched out.
"I am Arcis."
"So this is him…"
He stood level with me, broad-shouldered, with short reddish brown hair. Though, his eyes were covered with a blindfold.
I shook his hand.
"Hi. I'm Zandren."
He smiled.
"Yeah. I heard a lot about you from Eimira."
I chuckled nervously. "Oh, you did?"
"Yeah…"
Silence.
"You must be wondering how I knew about the uh… curtain issue."
I nodded.
"Hmm?"
He tilted his head.
"Oh sorry." I said, "I kinda forgot about the blindfold."
He laughed. "That's fine."
"And I swear, I'm not a creep." He bowed. "My intention wasn't to disrupt your moment."
"I just happened to trip on my night walk."
"What?"
He lifted his blindfold. His eyes were blank.
Black. Void.
"It's bad. I know…"
I covered my mouth.
"What happened?"
"Well…" he said, "I was unfortunate to be born a Writer."
"Two-eyed Writer." He added. "It's forbidden for the Royal family to be a Writer."
"So—"
"So my eyes were taken..."
Silence.
"I spent most of my life sharpening my other senses. So it doesn't really matter."
"Sadly," he said, "I can't see how handsome my little cousin's lover is."
I blinked.
"You know about us?"
He laughed.
"Who do you think pushed her to do it? I got your back."
We both laughed.
"So you all are off to the Academy right?" He asked.
"Yeah, we are."
"That's good."
He turned.
"Well."
He grabbed his walking stick.
"Don't let me delay you further. Let's go"
I nodded, offering to help him walk.
He laughed, and declined.
"I'm fine." He said, "I'll even lead the way."
-----
Trees swayed in a gentle breeze. Children laughed. Voices carried across the little village. Villagers moved through their routines. Talking. Trading. Living.
On a distant hill, two figures watched.
"So, what do you think?" the woman asked, her voice cold.
"Really energetic children… they'll do." the man replied.
Silence.
"Shall we begin the purge then?" He asked.
"No…" the woman shook her head. "Fifteen is almost ready—"
"So?"
"So. Let's wait." she snapped. "We shouldn't rush this"
"Bu—"
"No my love." She held the man. "Rushing only delays things."
"Ok, Seraveth." He nodded. "I trust you."
She smirked. "Happy that you do, Devorakh."
They leaned in and kissed.
She faced the distant village.
"Enjoy your time now." she whispered. "Soon, your laughs will become tears."
"It's necessary. Sadly."
…