Fly Until You See The Light

Valley (1) - Chapter 9

''Sometimes you have to make others talk too, right?''

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Isan places her small leather bag on the snow-capped rock of the highest mountain of the Village of Dreams.

She tries once again to remember the name of that Child of the Light she had saved that day, the day she set foot in the place that was going to be her home and shelter until the end of the time.

It sounds strange or even crazy, but she would like to see that kid again. She knows well that something was wrong with him. He had those black eyes with those white pupils that dilated and enlarged according to inexplicable logic; he had dark gray skin, and that color is known to indicate Sprits... Or Elders... Oh, and he was so silent and spoke little, but he had thanked Isan with all his heart when she had saved him from a certain death.

Also on that date, known as a kind of rebirth for the girl Isan had been, she met her best friends and companions in adventures: the Sky Guards, or so they were called... But they were also a bunch of idiots who joked all the time. In short, they are them, they have never changed; they had and still have names by which the Skykids know them: Running Wayfarer, Mindful Miner, Warrior of Love and Seed of Hope, but for her they are just Raito, Michio, Senshi and Saki.

Raito was the most similar to the Child. He doesn't talk much, but he's still nice and, also, the shortest of the whole group. Even Isan is taller than him and he's obviously bigger than her of age. Michio is the one with the biggest heart, even thought they do not feel much seen by the Children of the Light. Despite that, they're Isan's favorite Spirit! Senshi has always been like a sister and best friend to Isan. She was the one who introduced her to the new task of Guard, and she has always been close to her - much more than the others -. And, last one, Saki: well, also known as "unluckiest but most loved Spirit". He is the one who hates the most seeing kids relive his memory...

«Good morning, Guard... We're sorry to bother you, but we have some news!» a voice calls her from behind her back and interrupts her thoughts about her faithful companions.

«Mona, you know that you can call me familiar. The name Isan is fine» the seventeen-year-old says before turning and gasping. In front of her is not only a sudden change in Mona's look, but also a Villager, a newbie and... Sentinekka!

«Little cousin!» she exclaims, excited. She runs to hug the little girl, who returns affectionately, and immediately overwhelms her with questions as she has always asked her every time she sees her, without taking into account the time that has passed.

«You already reached this part of the whole Kingdom?! Oh, how good and smart you are! I knew you would be phenomenal on the trip! How are you? Are you enjoying the adventure?».

Sen' laughs and responds:«Yes, thank you, I'm fine and yes again!». She refers to the questions, all put in order. Isan hugs Sentinekka very tightly once again, she can even kill her from how tightly she is holding her.

Yet, Sentinekka's best friend is not there. They must have separated, she supposes. Anything is possible when you start a journey.

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«So?» Isan asks in a gentle voice. «Who is that little man who is there with you?». She talks about her traveling companion.

Sentinekka smiles, invites Orlando to come closer and, while he shyly reaches her, answers her cousin's question:«This boy is called Orlando, I met him in the Hidden Forest. I was with another friend of mine who was my guide, but he's not here now. He had to leave, but I'll see him again in a year. Symphony will also come in a year. We had to separate because she and that friend of mine didn't get along...».

She's still sorry. Symphony is nice, and Ojtaro too. Why did they hate each other? How is that possible? They were so similar...

«I understand. It's nice to meet you, Orlando» the Sky Guard shakes her hand in a friendly way. Then she continues:«These things can happen, there are a lot of people always wandering between realms. But don't feel bad, okay? You'll see them both again, they will never leave you! They are your friends!». She stops for a short pause and adds:«Sentinekka, are you planning to come after them or they will do it?».

«They will come! I can't wait already!».

Isan and Sentinekka are somewhat similar. They both always have messy hair, and they also have the same expression when they smile. When you look either one in the eye, you always feel welcome and so loved! This quality is spectacular, hard to find in someone, and Orlando can't be happier about it. He feels like he has found a new family, new friends.

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Author's Note: the names of the Aurora's Spirits - Raito, Michio, Senshi and Saki - are from a Tumblr user that accepted to let me use the names they created!