The Light That Shines From Above

Chapter 31

My cowardly avoidance dragged on for three days. In those days I was able to really think about it. Ikzo promised to stay out of my mind so I freely went over my decision a million times over. Each time I concluded I did want this. Now I had to express it. Every time I thought I had the courage to voice my decision I was reminded of the severity of it and the possible denial. Those thoughts made me close my mouth quicker than anything.

Ikzo offered to take me to another spot on Occolla the thought I'd like and I agreed. I think he thought it would give me more time to process, that if I was out walking about I wouldn't let my mind drive me crazy in the estate. I know it worked in the past. When we'd go out and do something my mind did calm some, I didn't think that would work this time.

"Careful." He muttered, his left hand holding mine but the right one was reaching out towards my waist to catch me if I started to fall.

I eyed my footing as I walked on the ledge of the crater. It was probably a foot wide which didn't give me much room for mistakes. Ikzo was behind me, letting me lead the way back the way we came.

This area of the planet was practically on the opposite side of Occolla than the city. It consisted of a field of craters that Ikzo said were formed hundreds of years ago. They created canyon like patterns in the earth though not as deep. They pressed against each other so the rim I was walking on lined two of them, both sides dropping on either side of me. At the bottom of the holes were pools of water along with ecosystems similar to forests. They were smaller, almost reminded me of a terrarium when comparing the structure. Tiny forests in the palm of a large bowl like shape.

"So you find all these places by what? Exploring or were you told about them?" I kept up our light conversation from earlier.

"Both." He responded, "Most of them here on Occolla I found when I was younger, usually with friends. Most of the places I found through my own exploration aren't on this planet."

I hummed in acknowledgment. As we reached a larger patch of flattened rock his hand dropped from mind so I could turn towards him. I could tell he didn't want to but we weren't alone. He wanted to be careful around the others just in case.

"I'm assuming you did stupid stuff." I half joked.

He raised his eyebrow, "And what is that assumption based off of?" He pretended to be offended.

"That most people do stupid things when they're young." I said obviously, "Like when I was ten I thought I could surf by myself. I took the board out to the ocean and attempted to teach myself how to use it. I nearly knocked myself out and downed."

I laughed at the memory. I walked so confidently into the water with the leg strap dragging the ground behind me. Walking out with a busted lip and brushed eye was a totally different feeling.

He stared at me in disbelief, "You could have died."

I shrugged on shoulder, "It wasn't something I considered at ten. But like I said, people do stupid stuff when they're young." Or old. Age didn't seem to make the number of stupid things I did dwindle.

His laugh was breathy, incredulous, "Well I haven't done anything to nearly kill me." He sent me a pointed look. I assumed that meant for that story plus my original plan, "but yeah going to the locations with friends we did crazy stuff. For instance, the first crater I took you too in the forest, we used to dive into that."

That was something I hadn't done. Cliff dive I guess would be the closest thing to it. I'd heard about people doing it however by that age I was more focused on my mother.

I pursed my lips, looking into the crater in front of me that was close to the size of the one in the forest. It was pretty far.

"Kinda far no?" I glanced back to him.