Blazing Regalia

Chapter IX: Bounded

Lua enters the dimly lit tent after a short leave to check up on Xon, It is midnight of the next day.

Lua: "Are you sure you're okay?"

Xon: "Yeah, walking and talking is the only thing I can do right now. Anything else and I'll fall over."

Lua: "Listen, Xon, I'm sorry, I really am, for leaving you.. I was so scared and confused.."

Xon: "I know, and I can't say "I" forgive you, but I'll still trust you."

Lua: "But why? Aren't you afraid I'll do it again?"

Xon: "No, It seems like you are."

Lua: "...I don't know anything.."

Xon: "It's because you aren't human, right?"

Lua: "So it told you?.. Yeah, I'm not a human, I'm a Lua."

Xon: "A Lua? Isn't that your name?"

Lua: "Not my name, but a "title". It's what the people named my race, but for as long as I've known, I'm the only one that exists."

Xon: "So you're alone, just like me."

Lua: "That's why I don't want to leave you, I don't want you to leave me. I don't want to be alone again."

A silence follows.

Lua parts her hair to reveal two short, black antennae.

Lua: "These antennae are the only physical features that separates me from you."

Xon: "My journey is going to get much more serious and dangerous from now on, are you sure it's me you want to travel with?"

Lua nods her head in agreement.

Xon grins briefly.

Xon: "Well, that's perfect."

Xon: "But on another note, how long was it since you last saw me in Khemeia?"

Lua: "When you gave me the scarf? That was about a week ago. Why?"

Xon: "After you left, I immediately coughed up blood and passed out, then I woke up outside the camp."

Lua: "You passed out for a week?! Why do you pass out so much?"

Xon: "It's not like I can control it, but regardless, something strange is happening to me, and I have a feeling my father is the reason for it."

Xon: "I have to go back to Khemeia to ask how I got to the camp in the first place."

Lua: "But you can barely walk, doesn't it hurt you to even talk?"

Xon: "Yeah it may seem stupid, but I need these answers as soon as possible."

Lua: "No, you need to recover first. We aren't going anywhere."

Xon attempts to sit up, but Lua pushes him back down, his body aches more.

Xon: "Your lucky I'm such a nice guy."

Lua: "What? Nice enough to not kill yourself with those injuries?"

They share a brief laugh before Xon relaxes.

Xon: "Fine, I'll stay until I recover."

Lua: "Thank you."