Darsidian Myths, A Promise Heard

Chapter 22

It was late night, late enough that crickets could be heard chirping outside. Jayden was lying in bed, unable to rest once again. He didn't want to sleep; if he did his father's dream would reappear. He was weary of it, horrified by how realistic it could be. He no longer wanted to wake up covered in sweat. He didn't want to see any more people die.

As he lay on his side he couldn't help but think of all the things he lost at his village. More than once he had sat up in the middle of the night, hardly believing everything he knew was gone. He cringed at the thought of people like Thomas and William being dead. He didn't care if they were annoying; it would make him happy to see them still alive. He would be glad if anyone survived that horrible night.

Bardir said he helped a family escape. If so, who were they? Did they manage to avoid the ogres after Bardir left them? Jayden wished he knew who they were, or if they were still alive. He liked to believe they survived that terrible night and traveled to a nearby village in Vark but he just didn't know if it was possible.

He knew it was selfish, but he hoped it was Lucas, Marilyn, and Erika. He even hoped Sage and her family survived. He wanted to believe that more than anything, because if they didn't escape, that would only mean they were dead.

He hated himself for not having the nerve to spend more time with Sage. All those years in his village and he never had the courage to truly get to know her. He would never forget her beautiful brown eyes. The memory of them was both a curse and a blessing. The emotion that coursed from them was amazing, yet the haunting memory that followed them was a curse. He would never forget her for as long as he lived. Because of Elincia he would never see Sage again. He wished he would have one more chance to do something as simple as talk to her, but something that innocent would never be allowed.

An agonizing feeling plagued his chest as he continued to think about friends and family lost. He couldn't bear the thought of his friends being dead, especially Erika. How could someone so young die? She was just a child.

He squeezed his hands into fists as his anger grew. "I promise," he said to himself coldly, "no matter what happens I will make Elincia suffer. I swear on my life!"

If everyone he cared about was dead that meant he had only two reasons to live; his brother, and vengeance. Besides avenging those that died his brother was the last thing in his life he truly cared about. Those two goals were the only reasons he obtained Vesper in the first place. Combined together, those ambitions allowed him to survive the days one at a time. The more Jayden thought about the things he lost the angrier he became. Everything was Elincia's fault. Because of her he nearly lost everything. She killed everyone he knew just to get to him and his brother. If anyone deserved to die it was her. He knew it was wrong but he wished he was the one to take her life. He couldn't help but think this way, he hated her so much. Never in his life had he despised anyone or anything so greatly, it even surpassed his hatred toward the ogres, but he couldn't be angry with them anymore, not after finding out their past. Now his hatred was aimed solely at Elincia. If he had a chance to avenge those that died he would do it; everyone she victimized deserved that much.

Jayden turned on his side and saw his father's sword leaning against the wall. He paused and stared blankly at the blade for a moment as memories of the past filled his mind.

He remembered sparring with his father, but it wasn't the training he was recollecting. It was his father's words during one particular lesson that caused the memory to resurface. He recalled being defeated by his father repeatedly during one of their sessions. Tired of being beaten, he reacted angrily by charging at his father in an attempt to avenge the damage done. However his effort failed, his recklessness only served in acquiring more injuries.

"Why did I beat you?" his father had said.

"You're stronger and faster than me," Jayden claimed as he lay beaten on the ground.

Gabe shook his head. "Nonsense, the only reason I won is because you let your anger get the best of you. You were so focused on avenging your wounds you lost all of your concentration and skill. Never forget that hatred and emotion is an easy way to give your opponent victory. Revenge is selfish and the opposite of justice. The dead don't care for such petty things, they care only about those left alive. Now get back up, we aren't done with your training yet."

At the time Jayden didn't think much of the lesson, but things were different now. His breathing began to slow as the memory gradually calmed him down. A feeling of guilt soon came over him when he realized how disappointed his father would be right now. He rolled onto his back and tried to push his bitter feelings away. But as hard as he tried, his guilt was only strong enough to repel his hatred for the remainder of night.