Only Darkness Lies

Chapter 13

What should I do? This question occupied Elvira's mind for a long time. The journey she was on was sure to be difficult ahead and a life, together with Arson, was like a dreamy fantasy.

What if I tell him about my journey? Would he join me too? If he agrees then they could be together but if not, then she would have to walk alone, leaving Arson and her feelings for him behind.

She went to Arson's house the next morning determined to tell him about her journey and get his reply. The house was quite easy to find, thanks to his popularity in the village. But Elvira was dissapointed when she reached there because Arson wasn't home.

On her way back to the cottage she spotted Arson talking to someone in an alley. She could make out the figure of a women talking to him.

Elvira thought it would be best to not interrupt them and was about to leave when the women shouted "Hold on. You weren't listening to our conversations. Were you?" Arson looked in the direction of the intended recipient and was quite shocked to find Elvira standing there, mortified.

"I wasn't, you are mistaken." Elvira replied in a loud and clear voice but the women was far from accepting it and began to humiliate her. Arson remained quite, not even trying to stop the woman, even though it was clear that she couldn't have evesdropped their conversation from that distance.

After the women stopped her drivel, Elvira silently went away, without saying another word. She was hurt because of the humiliation she received but it was Arson's silence that hurt her more. She was confident that Arson would speak up for her but it was her expectation and the reality had shattered it.

On that afternoon, Arson came to Elvira to have a word with her, who he knew would be upset because of today's incident.
"I am sorry for today's incident. She probably wouldn't have listened to me but I should have spoken up."

Elvira could feel that he was sorry for his action.

"Did you want to tell me something this morning?" He asked in a calm voice.
"Would you accompany me to Tinpole and fight some bad guys beside me?"
Arson raised his eyebrows in disapproval as soon as Elvira asked the question. He was aware that Elvira wanted to go to Tinpole but 'fight some bad guys' didn't sound right to him. He wanted to know the whole reason for which Elvira was so determined to fight.

He asked her to expain the whole story to him and said that only after hearing her story, would he give his answer. Elvira narrated the whole story about her brother, his death and her burning desire to avenge her brother's murder.

After listening to her story, Arson couldn't help but feel that Elvira was walking on the wrong path. He tried to explain that revenge would only bring ruin to her in the long run. It would end the good relations she has, like the relation between them, but to no avail. Elvira was not going to turn back from her decision and was determined to avenge her brother's murder. This only meant that now their paths were different and as of now their paths didn't seem to be meeting anywhere in the near future.

Elvira told him that she was going to leave the village tomorrow morning and resume her journey to Tinpole, all alone.

Arson was dissapointed because his attempts to stop Elvira were unsuccessfull. There was nothing he could do that will change her decision. He saw in her, a potential soulmate but now it seemed to him that he was wrong, she was never meant to be with him. After knowing her motives, he could tell that they were more different than they were alike.

While returning home, the same women from morning approached him. "What's with the blank face?" She asked. "Nothing you need to be concerned about, Jisa." He replied and tried to go away but found himself unable to move.
"Don't you talk to me in that tone or I will make you pay." She warned him and then let him go.

Jisa was from a different village. She had moved in the village when she was a child, alone, without her parents. Her origin was unknown to most people.

Arson was afraid of her because though she considered him a friend, Jisa could be dangerous when she snaps. It was also the reason why he kept quiet before, in order to protect Elvira.  He silently went away, without daring to utter another word.