The Life I Gained From Dying

Chapter 29 - Attack On Himawari Part I

"Leave this place, before you get yourselves killed." Eliah's dad warned.

"Killed?" Jayson repeated quietly.

Jayson stepped forward from his group with his head held high, eyeing down Eliah's father.

"Bluejay..."

"...Is there a reason why you're threatening to kill my family?" Jayson asked in a stern tone.

"It's cause your kind has taken away so many of mine." The dad replied while also stepping forward. "You may be a bit too young to know boy, but the flame raids weren't as long ago as people make it seem. All those water continental people captured and killed and for what? Sport?"

"That's a sin Ignus will forever have to live with, but that history has nothing to do with me."

"It has everything to do with you!"

At this point Jayson and the man were right up in each other's faces, staring holes through one another. With tension flaring, Avery and the others became increasingly more worried with Sayu grabbing onto Nakayla.

"I was twelve years old, when I witnessed my father being beaten within an inch of his life by your people." The dad said. "My mom wailed and begged for them to stop and when they eventually did, they dragged him away, never to be seen again. Multiple families were viciously torn apart and traumatized without ever even knowing why. After they took my father, one of those guys came back to me and said 'When it's your time make sure you put up a better fight.' He said that with a grin... That's the kind of people you come from. That's the kind of blood that's in you all!"

"My blood!..."

Jayson stopped himself from shouting any further and recollected himself.

"My blood, is mine and mine alone." Jayson said calmly.

A shadow suddenly came over the entire congregation which pulled everyone's gaze with the exception of Jayson's to the sky above.

"Who's that?" The dad questioned looking back towards the townspeople.

"That, is me." Jayson said as he took a step back.

An enormous pool of water hovered over the settlement which was being controlled by none other than Jayson.

"I'm a descendant of both Ignus and Aestus lineages, but neither of them will define who I am or what I will be. That's a choice I'll make for myself."

"...What's your name kid?" The dad asked.

"Jayson Hillinger."

"...You're the kid that was born during the peace arrangement."

"Yeah..." Jayson answered as he returned the water back into their farms. "...All I want to do is bring about that peace I was supposedly going to represent. I have a message that I was entrusted to deliver to any of the Elders in Aestus."

"And you brought kids with you on this journey, knowing the type of attention you all would attract?"

"The safest place for them to be is next to me." Jayson exclaimed. "Please we just need a place to rest for a while. We intend to be gone by daybreak tomorrow."

Eliah's dad pondered about the situation whilst looking back at his fellow townspeople. He then looked over Jayson's shoulder towards Avery and the others, who were waiting nervously.

"...Elijah." The dad said as he extended his hand.

"Huh?"

"My name, it's Elijah Crowe. I'll arrange a place for you."