Peace In Desperation's Hour

Chapter 9

After about a few minutes of floating down the river, away from the Hakai Army, Aaron and I spotted some vines hanging from the cliff. We reached up and pulled ourselves up and we climbed from the river to the grassy cliff. When I made it to the top, I laid down and we looked up at the sky; it was dark, and we wouldn't be able to return to the base. "We can't get back to base tonight." Aaron said. "We'll have to find a place to sleep for tonight."

I nodded and started to think. Then I remembered. "I think I saw a cave on this side of the river a few minutes ago. Maybe we can stay there." I suggested.

"Okay. That will probably be best." Aaron said, helping me up to my feet. Together, we walked in the direction of the cave. I shivered as I walked, because I was wet and the weather was cold. Suddenly, Aaron wrapped his soaked arm around me. "Once we get there, I'll start a fire and we can dry up and stay warm." He said. "For now, this is the best I can do."

"Okay." I said, smiling. "Thank you."

When we got there, Aaron picked up a few leaves from the nearby trees and we picked up a few sticks and fallen branches. Aaron started the fire and eventually we had a normal sized fire and the heat was already started to warm us up. I had placed my wet rapier to the side and let it dry; after which, Aaron and I sat beside each other and I pulled my knees to my chest. "You okay Jewel?" I heard Aaron ask.

I looked over at him and smiled. "Yeah. I'm just fine."

"Okay, I was just wondering." He said. Then I thought about that phrase. I was just wondering. Now that I think about it, I wonder what Aaron's story was. I told him mine, but what is his? "Hey Aaron?" I questioned.

"Yeah?" he asked back.

"I was wondering, if you could tell me your story." I said, looking at him. He looks over at me with blank eyes. "Why ask that?" he says, somewhat nervous.

"Well, I told you my story, but I want to hear yours." I said.

He then looked at fire and smiled. "I guess that makes sense." He said.

"Well, I guess it should start from the beginning. I'm a rogue. I ran away from my home because I was practically invisible to my family. Sneaking out wasn't an easy task, but I managed to get out. I went through a few towns in Ophania, where I met Zack and Lora in their town, as well as Rikuto and Rostella in theirs. I arrived in Pencalia a few days before the attack, and I brought before the King and Queen, who pardoned me for looking rather suspicious upon entering the city. There, I met the princess, and Sage. Saphra had convinced her parents to let me work in the stables, which I did until the attack.

"The day of the attack, I had helped Sage get the Princess to safety, and they escaped, then I ran into the town to hopefully save a life or two from the flames the Hakai's emperor. That's when I found you. I saved you and took you to safety, where I reunited with everybody else."

I listened carefully, and I felt sorry for him. His family literally thought that she was nothing but a mere shadow, so he left. That is where he and I are different. My parents had died during the epidemic that happened about ten years ago. It killed about a third of the population as well as my parents. I have lived in a nice little orphanage, where I had met Tamiko. During my stay in the orphanage, I had requested that I not be adopted, in fear that I will never be as loved as much as my parents have, which they respected my decision, until they had closed down. I had been helping around town, and I was living in an old abandoned apartment, until the attack.

"Aaron, I'm sorry to hear that you had gone through that." I said, with a saddened voice.

"Don't be sorry. I'm glad I ran away from my family. The only person in my family who loved me truly was my mother, but she died, and that's when my family started to ignore me." He said. "Besides, if I haven't left, I don't think I would've been able to meet all of my friends, including you."