Frost and Darkness

Chapter seven; Wings of Hope

"How am I able to see you?" I try to direct the conversation back to Jack. He looks at me, wondering where I am going with this. "I mean, spirits are astral, so..." Jack thinks for a moment and replies slowly. "I'm not sure about that either." I get up to find some bowls for the soup. "Usually only children can see me because only they believe." He continues. "Believe..." It sounds harsher than I intended. "What?" Jack frowns. "What does it mean?" Now he smiles again. "Well... Only children believe in 'myths'." With the last word he smirks. Probably because I called him that at our meeting. "Santa, the Easter bunny, the tooth fairy, Sandman and I are all – what you call – myths." I take a deep spoon and fill the two bowls. "And only children can see us, because only children believe in myths." I offer him one and set mine beside me. "Still doesn't explain why I can see you..." I say and eat my rabbit leg. "Maybe because you're that old too?" I shrug and rip a piece of flesh off the bones with my teeth. "Maybe." I reply. "And don't call me old." Jack chuckles. "Eat that, before it's turning cold." Jack nods and starts eating. "It's really good." I look up and shrug. "It's alright." I sit close to the kettle. I like the warmth. "But I'm out of seasoning." I add. I should really consider gathering herbs along with hunting... "Well, I think you're a good cook." Jack says. "You should try to get a job with that." I shake my head. "I don't like to be around people." I stir the soup. "You're with me." Jack reminds me and I look up. "You know me." I pause. "Well.. You know about me." Jack snickers and we eat the rest of dinner in silence.

Jack stays with me for most of the evening and it's weird, but I like the company. We talk a lot, but never too personal from my side. We mostly talk about our adventures over time and how we managed to hold out for so long. I keep answering vaguely, but so does Jack. He tells me that he survived mostly because he is invisible to anyone but children, so he doesn't really have something to look out for. I tell him I survived mostly because of my military training, even though it's outdated 400 years. Still, it saved me multiple times. Also, I'm fast and I have good aim. Saved me a couple of times as well. We also talk about Okami. I tell him about how I saved her when she was a pup and how she never left my side afterward. Around midnight Jack leaves and Okami and I go to sleep. I don't have nightmares, which is nice for a change.

In the morning I remind myself that I should at least go to that Kayden guy and decide if I like his offer. I dress myself and eat my breakfast. Okami tilts her head and growls questioning. "I'm gonna go into town." I explain. She only acts like this because I'm not following my routine. "It's okay, Okami." I ease her. I gear up and leave the house. Okami follows. Right before entering the outskirts I pull my hood over my head.

"He said it's in the back of the city, right?" I ask Okami and she huffs. "Right." I agree and we head in south-east direction. Nothing interesting happens and we make it to the building pretty much unnoticed. I look at the archway and read 'Wings of Hope' . "Interesting name." I state. The gardens are beautiful. There's a lot of grass and all kinds of flowers. All are surrounded by low bushes. Between the flower patches run multiple paths and along them are several benches. Okami and I enter the gardens and as we walk further I can see more of the building. It is made of a pretty yellow-brown stone and built in an L kind of shape. It has several levels and a few towers. The walls have lots of windows and in the middle of the southern wall is a façade that reads the same name as the archway. On both sides of the façade stone wings are crafted and on either side of the great doors under the guild's name are the building's insignia flags. The mark is shaped like a teardrop in what looks like a weighing scale. Above the rooftop you can see the hills that surround Magnolia. In front of the building is a large fountain with a statue of a young girl on top. I have no idea what to make of that, but I'm sure it has a reason. The western wall is filled with doors leading to tables and chairs. I assume it's a café. Right now it's not really packed, but I think it's because it's still early.