Knights of Lore

Chapter 4 - Akio Stoneheart(edited)

Akio Stoneheart sat on Kariah-Belle's bed.

Along with Mae Lu, the two had a girls' night out to celebrate their making it this far so fast.

After the new arrivals had entered the school, the Headmaster and King Vermilion guided them to the Headmaster's office. They haven't been seen since. King Vermilion was ruler of Vyrmm and a great Divine Knight. He often helped the school with affairs and organized events. He was stern yet kind.

Kariah-Belle had told Akio about the vision she had after locking eyes with the Knight from earlier. Neither of them knew what to make of it.

"The weirdest thing about it..." Kariah started almost to herself, breaking the short silence that befell them. "I'd swear I know him."

"Do you?" Akio asked, tilting her head a bit.

"Not from a can of paint. I've never seen him in my life. Well, not in person that is."

"You sure? He looks enough like you to be your brother," Akio asked, which earned her a blank stare from Kariah.

"I'm quite sure, Io," Kariah confirmed with a nod. "I was told I was the only one found alive that day."

"It seems like the only thing we can do now is ask him tomorrow."

Akio stood. She was quite curious herself. She wanted answers as much as her friend. She wondered if he too experienced a vision the same as Kariah.

The young woman stretched and yawned. The sun had set only a few hours ago, and with three training sessions in one day, she had to admit she was pretty exhausted.

"We'll see him during the evaluations," Akio said as she moved to leave her friend's room. She looked back at Kariah-Belle and gave a reassuring half-smile. "Try not to think about it too much. Rest for now."

Her friend nodded understandingly. With that, Akio turned right and went down the hall to her own room. Closing the door behind her, she climbed into her bed. Her mind kept drifting to the visions Kariah had spoken about.

Were they of the past or future? It was hard to tell with so little to go on.

She forced a frown. Akio knew she'd have trouble sleeping tonight, but she just couldn't stop thinking about her friend's dilemma. It was just like Akio to ponder over things like this. The young woman had a curious nature, which piqued her curiosity a whole lot.

Half an hour passed before Akio got out of bed. She grabbed her Holopad from her study desk. She exited her room and headed back to Kariah-Belle's. She'd suspected her best friend hadn't fallen asleep. Once she entered the room, Kariah-Belle looked up from her Holopad.

"Can't sleep?" Kariah asked.

Akio shook her head. "That vision of yours is baffling. Maybe if we put our heads together and use our Holopads, we can at least find a clue."

"Agreed," Kariah-Belle responded with a grin and squealed like a little girl who had gotten a new gadget. "Sleepover!" she added as she moved over in her bed, making way for her.

"We live just down the hall from each other."

"I know that," Kariah stated. "It's more fun when you're close by."

She knew exactly how her friend was feeling. The two of them were like sisters and had a bond Akio hadn't experienced since her blood sister was murdered before her eyes.

That bond showed most on the battlefield. Oftentimes, the two didn't even need a Nurolink to know what the others were thinking. It was kind of uncanny. Despite Akio's inability to properly display emotions, Kariah could tell what she was feeling almost instantaneously.