Lightning Strikes Twice

Chapter 24: Struggle of Mind

"Luxia.. has Marsh? D-did I hear you right?"

The festival had ended only a couple minutes ago. We had gone back to the inn to talk in private. The sinking feeling of panic has not left me.

"I spotted her holding Marsh a moment too late. We couldn't catch up to them in time."

"Damn it.. DAMN IT!"

Xenith storms off out of the room. Celosia and I watch him with faces of concern. My sister looks back at me still with a face of worry.

"You said her building is about an hour or more walk from here, so can we-"

"And do what? We don't have our weapons. Powers alone is far from enough to take her on."

Celosia sighs, looking down. What do we do? What can we do? I look over to Kron who's being quiet and crying the entire time. I walk over to him and place a hand on his shoulder.

"Kron I.. I'm sorry I wasn't faster. But I promise you, it's not your fault."

"I know.. I know it's not my fault.."

His voice is quiet and weak with constant cracks in it. I put a tighter grip on his shoulder trying to comfort him.

"I just.. I don't want him to go through what I had to. The thought of someone else's blood being forced onto his hands. I don't want him to be burdened with the guilt of that."

"Kron, I understand what you're saying. And I understand how close you are to Marsh. But if we're to do anything, to save him, to keep him from that grim possibility. You've got to stop worrying about what may happen and focus on just getting him."

Kron looks to me with face filled confusion, fear, and tears.

"If you don't. You're only going to hold yourself back and risk Marsh's chances of coming back. I'm sorry for being so blunt, but it's the truth."

Kron looks forward in silence for a moment. He pulls up his shirt, wiping the tears from his eyes.

"Y-you're right. I'm sorry, I guess I was just caught up in my own fears. But.. is there anything at all we can do?"

"I.. I don't know. The best we can do is try to sleep tonight and do whatever we can to think of something tomorrow."

Kron lets out a heavy sigh before nodding. I turn to Celosia with a brow raised.

"I assume you're going to calm down Xenith?"

"Yeah.. don't worry, I know what I need to say."

I nod as she gets up and walks out the room and outside the inn.

---

As I head outside I look around. I spot Xenith. I walk over to him as I gently reach out for his hand and hold it.

"Are you alright Xenith?"

"My friend is in the hands of a purple eyed freak genius who has him at her beck and call again. All while I was having the time of my life. I feel awful."