Flames of Ashes

Chapter Two. Verdict.

"The waves wash away the dirt. Danger awaits when there is nothing to be washed"~Oceania.
***
Emptiness. That was what was left in my heart. Then deep inside my bones, betrayal stung more than injuries on my body.

Dead. They were dead, all of them. I had cried and begged the gods to help me but they turned their backs on me. I couldn't feel anything anymore. There was nothing left to feel when the reason for my breathing was also dead.

No one close to me had ever died, so I never understood it. As a child, my sister told me that when people died their souls journeyed to Chervia to meet Davikon, the god of death. I had always been curious about Chervia and I was sure that today was when I'd see it.

I sat on the bench outside the council house where the verdict on my fate would be decided. I hoped I die, so I could join my friends in the Chervia. My friends. My family. I just felt so detached from reality.

My head was lowered and I didn't notice anyone walking up to me. I felt a presence hovering over me and I looked up to see my Wyn, Eomer. He wore his usual blue robe and a long twisted rope with tassels at the tips tied around his waist.

Unlike most Wyns who liked to keep their hair short, his flowed down to his shoulders with grey strands that did nothing to emphasize the oceans of wisdom he had accumulated over the years. Despite being old in years, he was still handsome.

"My child," He called out.
I stood up and met his calm brown eyes.

"Xarian, it must have been so hard on you. I pray that Athika gives you her courage and Pearla is most graceful to bestow upon you her peace"

My eyes hardened at the mention of the very gods I cried upon, yet they rendered my pleas unworthy. I did not want anything from them.

"Shedding tears would ease your pain. You've also suffered like everyone else."

I hadn't shed a tear since that day and I would do no such thing as shedding useless tears that wouldn't bring them back. There was no point. Drakon. Mazikeen. Arthur. They were all gone.

Most importantly, they didn't need the tears of someone who was also going to die. We would all be reunited, soon. I just nodded offhandedly.

He must have seen my resigned look because he uttered with so much conviction, "You will not die Xarian-Jarda"

"Do not think me a child that does not understand the workings of the law. I am thirteen, High Wyn Eomer. I am thirteen. I am of the betrothal age. 4 years from now, I could get married"

He held my shoulders with both hands. We were almost the same height.
"I do not think you a child. You are one of the brightest and wisest students I have ever taught. You will not die. The council decided to spare your life"

"What? How is that even possible?" My eyes widened in shock.

"It was an accident Xarian. You also lost people"

I touched my necklace to give me strength. How was I to leave without them? I had always felt loneliness tugging at my heart, but now I was going to be alone. I was better off dead.

"I promised you Xarian, I wasn't going to let
anything happen to you" He hugged me.
A shame. It was. Letting me live was already breaking him breaking his promise.
***
It had been days since Flame Day, 10 days to be exact. Meetings upon meetings were being held.

It felt as if I was reliving those memories again. I was seated on the bench outside the council house, head lowered waiting for someone to deliver my fate. However I didn't feel empty, I felt unease and a wave of fear threatening to swallow me whole. I also felt aware of everything happening around me.
I knew when my Wyn came out of the council house. I even counted how many steps he took before he reached where I was sitting. 14 steps.