The Disciples: Book 1: The Birth of Valor

Chapter 18: Boot Camp

After they settled down and made a camp, they sat around the fire . It was one of those sleepless nights, so they all stayed awake.
Mason at cross legged, with Amaranth sitting on his lap, her arms locked around him.
Deus lay on his stomach, propped up in his elbows, the jester laying on her back on top of his, her head hanging upside down over his shoulder.
Agito sat with his legs crossed, his armor remove to expose a muscular build, rivaling that of Deus, who was purely muscle.
Elise sat on her knees, sitting back on her heels. She stared into the fire with an emotionless facial expression, her pale hands resting on her knees.
Seraph sat next to her, one long, tan leg stretched out and her chin resting atop her other knee, which was drawn in tight to her chest. She sat closer to Elise than she normally would with anyone.
Last but not least, Rize sat next to Agito, eyes closed, mediating silently.
They started talking, about nothing important at first.
Mason eventually spoke up, "Hey Agito... What's your story? I never really got around to asking." He said to the paladin, smiling.
"Not really much interest in my story." He chuckled.
"Come on! Please tell us!" Ash said smiling.
They all wanted to hear it, even Elise nodded.
"Fine, fine." He laughed and sighed quietly as he started explaining.
A flashback began to form in his mind.

A young blonde boy was sitting at a kitchen table eating breakfast with his mother and father.
The woman was smiling, she had dark brown hair and solid brown eyes.
The young boy looked like a mirror image of his father, who sat beside him. Both of them with bright blonde hair and stone gray hazel eyes. The man sat quietly, reading a newspaper, while the boy was eating silently.
"Would either of my men like some more?" The woman came up behind him and put her arms around them.
The man smiled, "I'm fine dear, thank you." He said lovingly.
She kissed his cheek and looked at her son, "And what about you Agito?" She ruffled his hair.
"Yes please momma." The boy said respectfully.

The image disappeared and another came into view.
It was of an older Agito, around 15 years old, becoming more like his father each day.
A girl was beside him. She had tan skin and auburn-brown hair. Her hand was in his, her body leaning into him. Her face wasn't visible but it was obvious she was beautiful.
"No matter what happens, I'll be here for you. I promise." Agito said to her, kissing the top of her head.
Another image appeared. It was a grassy field, and Agito wore a formal black suit.
He kneeled by a recently made casket, tears streamed down his face.
A man out his hand on Agito's shoulder.
It was his father.
The young paladin hugged his father and cried.
"I promised her dad. I said I'd always be there. The one night I wasn't she... She..." He stopped, not able to say what his father already knew.
His father embraced him, "I know you loved her. Just don't blame yourself. She wouldn't want you to."
Agito nodded and placed his hand on the casket.
The girl he loved had taken her life and he hadn't been able to talk her out of it.
He looked at the photograph on the casket which caused him to start crying again.

A more of age Agito came next.
He bore the armor of his country, Xanadu. He was next to another man, by the name of Malik, who had became his closest friend since basic training.
They ran through the dark and the pouring rain, drenched to the bone. They had been sent in a secret operation, attempting to catch a highly dangerous criminal.
Malik whispered loudly, "Breaching, breaching!" He kicked a door in and it seemed like time froze at that moment.
That's when the shockwave hit Agito.
An eruption of flames came through the doorway, and an ear splitting explosion was heard through the night.
Agito had been pushed backwards by his friend, landing on his back.
Malik landed on top of him. He flipped his friend over on his back to find the worst.
Rain fell from overhead, soaking Agito and his best friend.
He had completely lost 2 close friends within a matter of years.
Blood was smeared across the face of Malik, rain causing it to run off his face.
Agito looked into the black sky and let out a yell, getting drowned out by thunder.
Tears stained his face while blood stained his hands.
That night, more than just a friend had left him. He had lost a brother.

They all sat quietly. Tears welled in the paladin's eyes, and Ash was bawling at that point.
No one really knew what to say.