The Burden of Destiny | Sequel to The Aura Within

40 | An Oath To You

When Hope's vision returned, she was greeted with nothing but all white. She would've been scared, but the ambiance felt soothing. Every ounce of pain she felt moments before she slipped into unconsciousness was gone. Her senses had returned, much to relief. Was this what it was like when you die?

"You've done it!"

Hope whirled her head around upon hearing Soul's familiar voice. She noticed how her predecessor looked different than what she remembered. Soul's blonde hair was down and she wore a plain white dress. What really caught Hope's attention was the way Soul's sincere smile seemed to have brightened. It must've been contagious too, for Hope found herself beginning to grin.

"Yeah, I did." Hope nodded. "What happens now?"

Rather than answering, Soul stepped aside. Hope's eyes slowly grew wide as a gasp escaped her lips. The person who stood behind Soul walked toward Hope. All she could do was process the face that resembled her own.

"Father..." Hope mumbled in disbelief.

"I figured you two had some unfinished business together," Soul commented. "He also has some important news to tell you. I'll leave you two to it."

With that, Soul walked away from the two. Her figure disappeared the moment Hope blinked, leaving only herself and her father by themselves. Hope's blue eyes traveled back to Jasper. She still couldn't quite believe her very eyes. Jasper looked exactly as she remembered him. The only difference was that sincere smile on his lips.

She couldn't remember the last time he smiled like that.

"I-I'm sorry." Hope laughed awkwardly. "I'm at a loss for words."

Jasper chuckled. "Do you find this strange?"

"Actually, no," Hope answered honestly. "It's nice seeing you again."

I just wish it hadn't been in limbo. Hope's lips tugged into a frown. Especially now that I know what happened.

There was a brief pause between the two. Neither didn't know what to say. Both knew that their relationship with each other had taken a bad turn not long after the Solaceon Village massacre. Was now the time to make amends before she could cross over completely? Was this what Soul meant by unfinished business?

"I shouldn't have kept secrets from you," Jasper began, snapping Hope out of her train of thought. "The power of aura can be cruel to aura guardians like us. Our decisions will always affect us in the future. Had I just been honest from the very beginning, had I not ran away like a coward--"

"Father, stop," Hope interrupted. "You did it to keep us safe. I shouldn't have been so damn nosey back then. I'm supposed to trust you, yet I doubted you. What kind of daughter does that?"

"You had every right to be suspicious of me," Jasper assured. "Maybe if I had done things differently, your mother and brother..." He took a deep breath as his eyes glossed with tears. "Hope, it's my fault you had to give up your aura. I practically killed you--"

Before he could say anymore, Hope tackled her father into a tight hug. Jasper's eyes widened while Hope wrapped her arms around him. She couldn't bear hearing him blame himself for all that had happened. She hated that this was something he carried with him since he died almost five years ago. He suffered just as much, if not more, than she had. Screw making amends! All she wanted was for her father to be at peace.

"That's enough out of you," Hope spoke with a crack in her voice. "You call yourself a coward, yet no coward would've done the things you did back then. I know you saved people during your time as a mercenary. You also saved many others when you were still an aura guardian. Father, you're not a coward. You're a hero."