The Life I Gained From Dying

Chapter 19 - Embers of War

"If you don't mind, I'd like to ask you a few things." Elder Aira said to Aaron.

"This might be the person N told me to open up to once I woke up." Aaron thought. "I don't know how much I should trust that guy, but if he really can see the future then maybe I should consider his advice."

"You're one of the Elders right?" Aaron asked as he walked over to the entrance.

"That is correct. My name is Maleah Aira."

"Okay Ms. Aira, was there something else you wanted to know from me?" Aaron questioned.

"A few things actually, how close are you with Kaden?"

"...I've known him since we were kids. Our moms were friends in the past and we were born only one year apart from each other, so it was only natural that we became close."

"We're you two still close when... you both died?"

"Yeah, we actually both got killed together, I think. That's actually a pretty morbid thing to say." Aaron replied with a chuckle. "He's changed through the years and I feel like I'm the only one who fully understands him and the way he thinks."

"Is that so?"

"Kaden has a bit of a rough past, and it heavily influences who he is now, although he would never admit that. He procrastinated a lot and always took the easiest route out of any situation. I think he's scared of failure more than anything else."

"You're quite an honest person aren't you?" Aira asked.

"...You seem trustworthy. How did Kaden end up here?"

"We found him inside of a cave near the summit of one of the surrounding mountains. Unlike you, Kaden made it to this world by chance. It was a natural occurrence that we nor him had any say in. In your case, you were summoned here by her."

They both looked over to Via who was still fast asleep.

"It seems she's taken quite a liking to you in the short time you've been together." Aira stated.

"She desperately needs someone by her side. Her mom, dad and older brother all died, leaving her all alone in that forest. Using the lake of Lazarus was just a final desperate attempt to cling onto the only thing she finds comfort in. Family."

"You came to that conclusionon on your own?"

"It's clear to see, even in the short time I've spent with her. I promised her that I'd never leave her alone, of course that was before I knew there was a problem with me being here. So before I leave, I would like to ask Kaden to watch over her for me."

"Hmm. Honest and kind..." She said as her eyes wandered over to some rustling bushes. "Give me just a second Aaron, I actually very much enjoy conversing with you."

"Um, okay."

After sealing the doorway once again, Elder Aira began to casually walk back down the path she arrived on.

"...Now, who's watching?"

"She's leaving already?" Kumori thought as she secretly spied on Elder Aira. "What even is this place? It's kind of far from everything else... hmm?"

Kumori peeked over her shoulder and found a rather large sphere of water that was being gathered from the ground behind her.

"Huh?"

Before she could've reacted, the water blasted her through the bushes and into the open just before Elder Aira.

"Owww!!!" Kumori exclaimed as she slowly pushed herself up onto her hands and knees.