"Yre, retreat! I repeat, RETREAT!"
One tap in her right temple and the line is off. Disconnected from the Source.
"Yre, leave! Or else, both of us will die here!"
"NO! If we die now, then we die here together!"
With the last ounce of her power and breath, Nia sent Yre back to their camp.
"Thank you, Yre...."
____________________________________
Camp Aseb
"You are suspended, Yre! We almost lost you!"
The Source ordered, reprimanding one of the Warriors. It was one of the rare instances that He loses his cool.
"And it's okay to lose Nia?!"
Yre retorted back, almost hysterical. Still grieving for the death of her only friend.
The Source sighed, a bit calmer now.
"You know how this works, Yre. You have lived many lifetimes and you served many realms here in the Middle. Nia is eternal, we all are. She will take another form if she still chooses to serve..."
"I know that but we belong to the same race, my Lord! So I also know that we will never meet again in another lifetimes, that this is the only one we have! And I've done it again, my Lord, leave a Warrior in the midst of a battle. I don't understand why I can't change that!"
Yre wept in front of everyone. They all bowed their heads, a weeping Warrior is a rare sight. They know what they signed up for. Their life is not even about a matter of survival, it is a life of everyday battle against the evil forces that managed to infest the majority of the realms in the Middle.
The Source tapped her head, Yre felt a bit of comfort but the pain of grief was taking a hold of her.
"Your past lifetimes are taking a toll on you, child. You've been serving for eight consecutive lifetimes already, without rest. I will send you to Camp Pita so you can recuperate and reflect. Rest!"
With a snap of His finger, Yre is sent to Camp Pita where wounded Warriors are sent to recover. This is her first time here, the camp looks like a paradise indeed with so many trees and flowers. It reminds her of Earth, also a realm in the Middle heavily infested by evil forces.
Camp Pita
"Blessings, Warrior Yre! I am Aer, in charge of your stay here in Camp Pita. Welcome!"
The man is an Elder here but a relatively young soul. An Earthling of race, this is his third lifetime.
Yre bowed as a sign of respect.
"Thank you, Healer Aer. I appreciate your hospitality but you don't need to bother yourself with me. I will just rest here for a day or two then I will return to Aseb. I would like to spend my days here alone and in silence."
Aer smiled, he has kind chinky eyes.
"The Source specifically instructed me to accompany you here for a month. He wants me to tell you that you are not joining the next missions just yet, Yre. He reiterated that he is dead serious this time so you can forget any attempts of disobedience."
Yre winced but heaved a long sigh.
"Alright, looks like you are stuck with me Aer. I look forward to your care."
To Yre's surprise, Aer embraced her.
"You are finally here, my soulmate. Why do you have to be such a hard headed Warrior?"
Yre almost pushed him away but then she remembered that violence is strictly prohibited in Pita. She just let him. She's surprised that not only does Pita looks like a place on Earth, it also starts to feel like one now.
"Soulmate? What do you mean?"
"I also know your race, you are a Lightworker. If your gift is knowing the lifetime count, ours Earthling is knowing who our soulmate is, the sole one if I may. Well, at least while we are in other realms aside from our home, Earth."
Yre is shocked. She never met a soulmate before!
"Yeah, Earth is a paradise of innocence, a blissful world as they say since we have to forget everything before spending a lifetime there. But I am still confused, I also know the concept of soulmates but I never got to meet one. I was a soldier when I lived on Earth, and died there early. I was a shaman in another so I never got to have a lifetime partner thing while I was there."
Aer smiled at her and her heart leaped. In many lifetimes she lived, she never felt such strong emotion that she almost felt stupid. Or maybe she is just vulnerable right now because of grief.
"You'll know now, we will Yre. I am blessed that I got to meet you this early. Or maybe, just in time!"
Aer's smile reached his eyes, it was wider as if hitting a jackpot. Yre winced again.
Time? Fuck Time!
Yre silently thought, pain forming in her temple and feeling like Pita will not be the place of silence and solitude for her.
