Laylania (Completed)

Chapter 11

After the large celebration about my first fight, we relaxed around a huge bonfire and I'm pretty sure I passed out from exhaustion at the dinner table. The last thing I remember was Dao and Cleite trying to get me up and move me to Cleite's tent so I could lay in my 'bed'.

I woke up and I saw that Cleite wasn't in the tent. I could hear people talking outside and the sound of crashing. Getting up from my bed, I walked outside and saw that everyone was taking down tents and packing things up. I found Cleite helping Dao take down a tent.

"Hey what's happening?" I asked them as I walked up to them.

Cleite turned around and answered, "We're packing up!"

"Getting everything down so we can travel to the next stop," Dao added.

"Ahh. Oh, by the way, what time is it?" I asked.

Cleite thought and then said, "Around eleven".

"Eleven?!"

"Yeah. We all let you sleep in late since you exhausted yourself yesterday," Dao explained.

"So what I am supposed to do?" I asked frantically as I saw that everyone was doing something.

Cleite replied, "How should I know? Ask Rida that!"

"Yeah! I'm sure he'll know what you can do," Dao added.

"Thanks!" I said as I ran off to find Rida.

I ran and ducked under a pole that Wudao was carrying easily over her shoulder. I then gawked at Kuma pulling the lion cage to a large wagon. The lion inside the cage looked perfectly fine in it's moving cage.

I shook my head and thought to myself, You need to find Rida! Stop gawking like a country bumpkin!

I finally found Rida with Gadalka and together they were deciding which village they would go to next They looked like they were both in deep thought and Rida was pointing to a village north of here on the map on the table.

"Um," I said awkwardly and they both looked up at me.

"Oh Kasai, you're awake, morning," Rida greeted me.

"I hope you had a nice rest," Gadalka said.

I replied, "I did thanks. Um, Rida?"

"Hm?"

"What can I do to help pack up?" I asked.

Rida looked up at the sky lost in thought. He then looked at me and said, "Nothing this time".

I looked at him  like he was insane, "A-Are you sure?"

Rida nodded his head and elaborated, "Yes. This is the last time you will probably see this village. So you might as well say good bye to the people here".

"Who would I need to say good bye to?" I asked since no one here really liked my being here.

"Your sister maybe? She is your sister after all," Gadalka answered.

I shuffled my feet and said, "I'm not sure what I'd say".

"Would you rather leave without saying anything to her?" Gadalka asked me with a kind expression.

I thought about it for a while, still shuffling my feet.

Do I want to say good bye to her?

Well at the moment I don't, but would there be a time that I would regret not saying good bye?

I sighed. I'd rather say good bye than not ever have the opportunity to later.

I looked at Rida and said, "I'll go say good bye to her then".

"Good! Be back by midday! We leave when the sun is at it's highest!" Rida said with a smile.

I turned around and walked towards my village, probably for the last time. As I was walking, I passed Cleite and Dao. Waving to them I said, "My job is to say good bye to my sister!"

Cleite stuck her tongue out at me and said, "Lucky! Your job is so easy!"

I looked at what they were doing and saw that they were rolling up one of the tents.  I laughed and said, "Have fun doing work!"

I waved them good bye and continued on my way. As I walked down the old lanes to my village, I kicked a small rock as I pondered what my life would be like now. I was sure it'd be filled with adventure and fun because I'd be with my friends.

No not friends.

Family.

Yes, Laylania was my family now.

Somehow before I knew it, I was outside my old hut. If it was possible, the old thing was in worse repair than it was a week ago. I straightened my shoulders and opened the door.

I walked into the small hut, hoping and dreading seeing Akuheki here. To my relief she was no where to be seen. I turned around to leave and I saw that Akuheki was in the door way.

We just stared at each other. She was wearing a simple worn out brown dress, something similar to what I normally wore. I looked down at my red tunic with jeans and black boots.

"Hey," I said, breaking the silence.

She narrowed her eyes and said, "What are you doing here freak?"

I didn't even flinch at the insult. I continued smoothly, "I only came here because I needed to tell you something before I leave".

She sneered at me, "Now you're that you're out of my life, I can finally get to better places without you being in my way! I could care less if you left! I don't need you! So keep whatever you wanted to say to yourself! I don't want to hear it!"

I shook my head and brushed past her out the door. Without a backwards glance I said, "Good bye, Akuheki".

Akuheki was speechless and just stood there.

As I walked away, i thought to myself, No Akuheki, it's not you that doesn't need me, it's me who doesn't need you.

This time when I walked through the village, the people in their houses and shops looked at me as I walked by. Some sneered at me, some threw rocks, some looked like they were happy I was leaving.

I just smiled at them all and waved good bye to them.

I have no need to stay here anymore.

This place would not shackle me down anymore.

I was finally free.

Free to be myself.

And it felt amazing.