V.O.I.D.

Chapter 3

Diana was unpacking their luggage while her son is sleeping. She's thinking of talking to Arthur and reconcile with him for the sake of their son. She knew that she shouldn't make a fuss over a minor argument.

Then she suddenly heard someone knocking on the door and when she opened it, Lea's face greeted her with a smile.

"Can we talk?" Lea said.

"About what?"

"Anything, I just want to have a chat with you."

Diana looked at her sleeping son and then glanced back at Lea. "Okay."

Diana gently closed the door, making sure that Vincent wouldn't wake up. The two ladies go out for a walk in the garden at the back of the camp. They relaxed and walked in a steady rhythm while talking to each other, absorbing the temporary peaceful environment.

"So what do you like to talk about?" Diana said while looking at a newly bloomed red spider lily.

"I'm sorry for the mess that we created. We shouldn't have invited Vincent to go with us. We're to blame for why the commander got mad."

"No, it's not your fault. I am the one who gave permission to the three of you to bring Vincent. Besides, I have said something I shouldn't have to Arthur that made him angry." Diana smiled at Lea trying to lift the guilt that her friend was feeling. "Don't worry too much about us. I know that Arthur and I can fix this."

Lea smiled too at Diana and then hugged her. "Thank you."

Diana patted Lea's back and then smiled towards the sky. "There's no need for that. Lea, actually . . . there's a favor that I would like to ask from you."

"What is it?'

Diana softly whispered her message to Lea's ear while petals of red spider lily danced around them along with the wind coming from the west.

. . .

Lea looked for Arthur around the camp but she couldn't find him. Then she saw Roger and Sky washing their uniform covered with mud stains. There was an extra uniform that they are washing, — Arthur's. Noticing this, Lea had decided to ask them.

"Why are you washing your uniforms and also Arthur's uniform?"

"It's a long story," Sky said.

"We lost in rock, paper, scissors game, what part of that is long?" Roger said to Sky.

"I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about how we got our uniforms all muddy."

"Oh yes, he was right, it's a long story. I got tired suddenly just by thinking about it."

"So where's Arthur?" Lea said to them.

"Probably in the cliff nearby. He said he wanted to get some fresh air and a nice view."

"Okay, thanks."

Lea immediately looked for Arthur and saw him staring at the sky while standing near the cliff.

"The world is being a little too rough on us, am I right commander?" Lea said as she approached Arthur.

"What's that? Don't be too formal to me, Lea. Just call me by my name," Arthur said trying to dodge the question. He smiled at her, however, it's a sad one.

"Okay, but only when there's nobody around or when we are together with our friends only," Lea said then tried to bring up her question again. "About my question, what do you think?"

"Well for me, I think the world was being a bit rough on both espers and normals, not just us." Arthur looked back at Lea. "I wish that there will be no wars anymore after this one."