The Burden of Destiny | Sequel to The Aura Within

06 | Familiar Aura

"Your precious queen can't save you now! She'll know what it's like to watch her citizens suffer before meeting the same fate as the king of Sinnoh!"

Hope couldn't believe what she heard back there. Her home region had been conquered? Then that must mean King Zachary had been dethroned by force, most likely through execution. That would mean the attack on her village was only the beginning of a larger purpose.

A sudden spark of pain on her back caused Hope to bite her lip and pinched her eyes shut. After the attack on Heiwa Town, the Rota Knights were dispatched to help the local knights assess the damages. General Hayes, who happened to be there as well, was very insistent of Thorin's and Nicholas's presence at the castle for an explanation of what had happened. Those two were rushed into the conference room while the castle's medics treated the wounded young adults.

Out of the three, Hope suffered the most. Luckily for her, none of her injuries were life-threatening. The cuts and scrapes she got during her confrontation with the enemy and his Mismagius were treatable with some basic first-aid treatment. Her more serious injuries were her back and bruised shoulder, but even that was treatable with strong medicinal oil. The nurse that treated her prefaced that she may experience some soreness until the oil started taking effect.

Hope felt like an idiot for freezing up the way she did. She could've been killed had that strange Riolu not attacked at that moment. All of this could have been minimalized if she hadn't been so vulnerable.

A dry chuckle left her lips. Haku had always told her why it was crucial that she found a Pokémon partner right away, and after going through what she did in Heiwa Town, perhaps he was right all along.

Speaking of the black-haired young man, he couldn't help but eye Hope with worry. When he found her running out of the forest, he noticed something was off about her. Her eyes looked the same as they did when they first met: tired and despondent. It made him wonder what exactly happened in that forest for her to relapse in such a manner.

Haku stood up from his cot and walked over to the one Hope occupied. He took a seat on the stool next to her cot. Her unreadable expression concerned him.

"How are you feeling?" he asked softly.

"Fine," she answered without looking at him. "My back isn't bothering me as much. My shoulder, on the other hand, feels heavy."

"That's not what I meant." He shook his head. "Hope... Something happened to you in that forest. What's going on?"

Hope released a shaky breath before mustering up the courage to look at her adoptive brother. He knew when she wasn't being honest. It was a blessing as it was a curse. Nothing could go unnoticed by his keen eyes.

"The people who attacked Heiwa Town... I've seen them before," she revealed. "They were the same ones that attacked my village. It didn't occur to me until I recognized their uniform. For a moment, I thought I was reliving that same day four years later."

Her hands that rested on her lap balled up into fists. "I found out that the entire region of Sinnoh had been conquered by their leader."

Sinnoh? Conquered? Haku's eyes widened in shock. That's impossible! But if Hope heard it herself, then what will become of Kanto now that they're here?

He couldn't help but feel sympathy for Hope. Not only had she lost her home to those horrible people, but they returned once more to do it again. The universe had a sick sense of humor for making her relive such horrific events.

"I already lost everything once," Hope stammered quietly. "I... I don't want to go through that again."

"Hey, don't say that." Haku places his hand over hers, making her look up at him with sad, teary eyes. "My father and the other officials will figure something out. Whoever these people are will regret picking a fight against this region. You won't lose your home again, okay?"