Violet

The Return

From the distance, the wilderness extended far, far away, like it can go for eternity. The sun shines its rays to the dying world, while the clouds float silently in the sky. The wind whispers stories unheard, passing along words that has long been unsaid as it makes my hair dance. 

With the weight of my arms on the silver railings, I lean forward, wanting to fly, wanting to get away. Standing on the 30th floor balcony of the Guild tends to do that to people, I guess. Makes them want to get away from this place--go somewhere new, somewhere different. 

I let out a sigh. 

Whatever happened to everything? Nothing makes sense anymore. My friends--gone. My escape--gone. It's times like these that I just want to invent a time machine. I will do anything to go back to the days when everything is perfect. 

But some things are just impossible, no matter what. 

"Fancy meeting you here," a man's voice say from behind me. 

I turn to look and find Seth, smiling, as he makes his way to the railings, just beside me, and puts his arms on top of them. For a while, he gazes at the view, maybe feeling the wind on his face, too, then averts his green eyes on me. 

"What's up?" 

"You know the answer to that question," I say as I stare back at the wilderness. 

"Oh, yeah. The meeting earlier..." he trails off. 

I reply nothing. What else is there to say, anyway? 

For a few seconds, no words escape both our lips. There's just the sun, the clouds, the wilderness, the breeze, and the peace. 

"I don't know what I did wrong," I open up. I feel Seth's eyes on me now. "Jet and Aidan suddenly forgot I'm their friend. Fayne hates me for no reason at all--or at least, a reason I don't know. And... And I get left out of a mission that I have been looking forward to in a long time. Whatever sin did I do?"  

It takes a moment before Seth replies. "The mission is dangerous, Arche. It's not just a typical raid. Somehow, I am thankful you are not part of it, because I know that you'll be safe." 

"You don't get it, Seth." 

"It's even more dangerous than the devastating atta--" 

"That's not it, Seth!" I nearly cry out. I turn to face him, my arms no longer on the railings but making gestures. "Besides the fact that I have been yearning to experience what's beyond our marsh, have it not ever crossed your mind that every time you're out there, I am left here waiting and worrying whether you'll return safe?"

Seth opens his mouth to reply but I cut him off. "And now, you're sent off on an extremely dangerous mission. What do you think will that do to me?

"It's better if I am with you, so that I can protect you guys when it comes to that. Besides, am I not one of the best fighters here?" 

"Everyone know that you're a candidate in being a member of the Thirteen after you graduate the Sentinel. Yes, you are one of the jewels of this Guild, Arche," Seth replies calmly without even looking at me.

"Then why, Seth?"

This times he turns to me. He puts his hands on both of my shoulders, looks me in the eyes and says, "Honestly, Arche, I--"

A voice screams of pain and agony from out of nowhere.

"What was that?" I say as I look at the door that leads back inside the Guild, where the sound seems to be from. 

"More like, who was that?" Seth has already has his hands down. He makes small steps towards the door, while I stay glued to where I am standing. 

The scream comes again. 

Then I realize something. That voice... It is so familiar. That deep, rich and a little rough voice.

I hit me, then. 

"Aidan!" There is no time to think. I rush past Seth, through the door that automatically opens as soon as it detects a presence, and finally inside the Guild. I hear Seth scream my name, telling me to wait, but I mind him no longer. 

Aidan is in danger. 

Inside, the corridors are empty and a bit dark. That's because this part of the Guild is generally empty, except for the balcony. I run through the corridors, trusting my instincts. I hear Aidan scream again, and I follow the voice, hopefully leading me to him, 

"Aidan, where are you?" I call out to the dim corridors. I am answered with another cry. 

Crap. I turn right, hearing nothing but my footsteps and Aidan's cries, then another right. Hope I'm not too late. Aidan, please be okay. I turn left, then finally a right, and spot Aidan. 

He is crouching on the floor, with his back leaning against a wall. Both his hands are on his head, holding it like he wants to grab his brains. His eyes stare at the floor, hidden from behind his hands and golden hair. He keeps on groaning, and letting out cries of pain. 

I kneel in front of him, and put both my hands on his. I can feel the sweat in his hair and his trembling hands. Oh, Aidan. What's is happening to you?

"Aidan? Aid, are you okay?" The moment the words escape my lips, I instantly feel stupid. "Talk to me, Aid." 

But Aidan gives no reply, just yelping in pain. 

"What's happening to him?" Seth asks from behind my back. So he has followed me, after all. Of course he will. I look back at him, and he has this weird expression in his face; it's like a cross between dread and shock. 

"Get help, Seth!" I cry out to him, but he stays still, frozen from where he's standing. 

Then almost miraculously, Aidan becomes silent. I turn my attention back to him. He stops shaking too, and his body slowly relaxes. His hands withdraws from clutching his head and are making their way to his side. 

"Aid?" I say calmly despite the agitated pounding of my heart. 

Then ever so slowly, Aidan lifts his head and looks me in the eye. From that moment on, I know that something changed in Aidan. His eyes are no longer cold and cruel like it is in the past four years. They are kind and tranquil--the eyes of the Aidan I have known since childhood. 

"Arche?" he speaks. 

And it is then that I can say for sure that Aidan is back.