Chapter 14
I woke up not remembering anything, I looked up from my bed and didn't know where I was. I couldn't even remember what my name was. Curiously I saw a raven sitting on the window sill and the moment I laid eyes on him I relaxed I didn't know why I just knew that I was safe. I then realized that there was a weight hanging onto me, when I looked down, I saw a girl her legs and arms wrapped around me like an octopus.
Suddenly I remembered that her name was Pera the only person that matters to me, and then the rest of the memories came rushing back. The tears also returned but this time more subdued, as if my mind had could not allow me to shed anymore in fear of ripping apart the stitches that had sewn my mind and soul back together. I felt fragile but with Pera around me and Murtok on the window sill I felt safe, I didn't know how long it would take me to heal, but I knew that I needed to continue moving forward so that what I saw happen could be lessened. I knew that I could not stop the war, so I choose to join it to protect those precious to me and save as many lives as I could for the damnation that loomed in their future.
After I finished collecting my thoughts, Pera started to stir feeling something change. Her beautiful eyes gazed at me hazily as if she was seeing a dream. Then she remembered everything that happened and hugged me crying.
Seeing my confused expression, I looked up at Murtok and asked him mentally, "what happened? Why is Pera like this?"
He answered me in a voice of a concerned parent, "you have been asleep for more than three days… she has not once left your side after you fell unconscious."
I felt that he had more to say so I kept waiting until he continued his voice growing even more concerned, "what happened to you? I felt everything that you felt, all the pain and grief, but I couldn't see what happened… It was as if your mind was closed to me and I could only feel whatever was leaking out of it. I don't want to be locked out like that ever again, so you better tell me."
Instead of telling him anything, I opened my mind and showed him my memory, I felt him become somber, but not because of my memories but something else. He felt my curiosity so I he spoke again, "this should not have happened." I answered him with a mental shrug meaning as if anything I do makes sense.
He continued growing even more serious, "you know the seal on me," hearing my confirmation he added, "what I can say is very limited but what you just did loosened it up a bit so I can say a bit more now… I was sent to keep you safe, that is my mission and purpose in this world."
I caught on to way he said world and its implications couldn't be clearer. I wanted to ask him but just as the thought of asking him emerged in my mind the seal began to tighten, so I tried to ask him about who sent him but the same thing happened. So I could only forgot about this now and store them in the back of my mind to discuss later after the seal allows us to.
Seeing as I had finished thinking he said, "the seal should not have been loosened until a very significant event happened that I can say with confidence is years away at the least and decades at the best… But when you saw these visions your powers over death grew and the seal loosened. And I don't know if this is a good thing or not."
I wanted to answer him, demand more answers, but I knew that I was not possible, and he was just informing me to keep me in the loop about what is happening to us. Just I realized that he said that my powers grew. So I looked inwards and what I saw shocked me, where once there was a single door now there a double door the same size as those used in barns.
As all of this happened in our minds it barely took a minute for everything to be exchanged between us, and I returned my attention back to Pera. She was just starting to calm down, so I hugged her tighter to reassure her, that I was awake.
When she calmed down enough to speak, she shakily said, "what happened, you were asleep for three days *sob* I thought I lost you to *sob* you are okay now right?"
When I saw how hurt and afraid, she was for me I wished I would not have to tell her about the hell that is coming but I couldn't as she must be prepared as she has already been conscripted.
So, I told her, I told her about the war that is coming, the deaths on the horizons and the options we have in front of us. I asked her, "what do you want to do? You are already conscripted, we could leave and run away together to another country, or we could flee to another city, or even stay hidden and dodge the conscription while staying here."
"I don't want to leave this is the first place we both called home after all the tragedies we each went through. I also don't want to abandon our friends that we made here. So, I want to ask you what is going to happen? I know you know more than you telling me so tell me."
I couldn't refuse her so I told her the truth, "the most likely thing to happen is that we would lose the war and everyone dies both in the army and the city."
"But if we joined, would you not be able to tell them what to do to have the least number of deaths."
"I could do that but the person in charge would have to believe us in the first place and I don't see anyone listening to a pair of teenager orphans on military tactics and strategies."
"Then what about this, we go down to visit Vos, he told you that he knew people in the noble district and if he knows who would be in charge and can tell him to listen to us, we will join the war. If not, we will tell everyone we know and start our journey early."
I agreed with her that this is the best possible option so I told her that I agreed with her. But I didn't want to go down now not with my mind already fragile I knew that I couldn't handle the ghosts in my current state. So, after telling her that I proposed, "since we can't go down today what about we have a day just for us. Visit all the places that we want and have a fun day before everything comes crashing down around us."
She agreed, and since it was already noon, we had a small breakfast and headed out. We first visited the market and bought a few things that we needed. Then we visited a jewelry shop as it is Pera's favorite thing to browse but never buys as she feels it is a waste, but this time behind her back I bought a small wooden hair pin carved with flowers and adorned with small amethyst gems that matched her natural hair color.
After we finished shopping and looking around, we went to a fancy restaurant that we had wanted to visit in the past but never had the time or the extra money to spend, but with a potential deadline hanging above our heads we splurged a little extra for the luxury.
After that we went on to the church to pray to our Keepers' and the Holy Father. Then after we left, we went on a hike on some of the small hills that surround the city, we spent the rest of the day walking around talking about anything that came to mind, or even staying silent beside each other enjoying the other's presence.
A little before the sun set, we found a spot that we liked and set up a picnic blanket and a spread of food. We ate and talked laughing all the time, the atmosphere was filled with joy and calm, with the hope of surviving the upcoming war and returning to our normal happy lives.
After we finished eating, I said, "I got you a gift," looking at her expectant expression I chuckled as I pulled the hairpin I got her from the jewelry shop I continued, "I know how much you to love to look at jewelry, but you never buy any so I thought you would like this. I think it would look lovely with your normal hair, but alas I can only wait until we start our journey to see how beautiful it would look at you when you wear it properly."
She gasped and hugged me, then took the hair pin from my hands and mediately used it to hold her hair together, "thank you so much, it is absolutely beautiful."
We spent a while more like that in silence, and then started to prepare our bed rolls to sleep here under the starts for the night when suddenly Pera said, "I want to sleep with you tonight." Turning away from me to hide her blushing face.
"Sure, we can do whatever you want, Murtok is watching over us in case anything happens."
As we got settled in next to each other, burying her face in my chest she said in a small sincere voice, "you know Kath that I was an only child but to me you are my brother, I don't care about blood or anything you are the most important person in my life. So, whatever happens after tomorrow we go through it together, and you never leave me ok. Promise me?"
In a sincere tone that matched hers' I answered, "I promise. But you forget something Pera. To me you are my only and most important family, so whatever happens I will never let you leave so don't ever think about leaving me without me knowing and following behind you like a lost puppy. So whatever happens tomorrow and that days that follow it we go through them together." With that I tightened my hold around her waist and held her closer to me.
We stayed silent under the stars thinking about the changes that tomorrow will bring and the next day that could be as peaceful as the today, and we both vowed in our hearts that no matter the trials we face we will go through them together in order to reach a day that can be peaceful again.
That is how we spent our last peaceful day before the storm arrived.