🔥 The Path of Fire (Path of Light and Fire Book #1)(Completed) 🔥

Chapter 15: Loss

Sakima sat crossed legged in the grass, watching the Hruh-yite and the Yuan spar with each other. The padding under his armor itched and he smelled rank. Most days he would have a servant remove it and bathe him. He sat just far enough away to be proper, but not far enough to be offensive. It was not his smell that determined his actions, however.

He was more than capable of the task, but to wash with commoners would show weakness. There were enough rumors questioning his mettle.

They were helping him and he wanted to be courteous, so there was a fine line he needed to walk. He did not want to encourage a comradery that would not last. For his part, he did not bother to think of them by their names.

They were just outside the Juxe Forest and tomorrow they would save his mother. Then he could return home and retake his birthright. Even if everyone in the castle could not see his father's true form, his mother would. Love was a stronger magic than any Incomplete trick he had ever witnessed.

The way the older Rianna witch looked at the Yuan, wincing whenever the Hruh-yite hit him, made him smile. It was a beautiful thing to watch. Sakima's own relationship was past the stage of romantic pronouncements and drama. It was older and deeper, well into the days of finishing each other's sentences and companionable silences. Commoner or no, love he could respect.

That led to thoughts of HaHa, his beloved. He knew HaHa would be amiss at his sudden departure, but Sakima was sure he would not be gone long enough for it to matter.

The air rippled as the Yuan whipped fire at the Hruh-yite. Those powers he understood. Yua's hierarchy was based on the ability to wield fire. The Hruh-yite, however, confused him.

The blue-haired woman bobbed and weaved, shooting streams of water in retaliation. It was strange that she used water when her country was built on electric magic. If she were Durain, it would have made sense. The island nations were known for water manipulation. It was why they made such great fisherman and sailors.

Sakima shook his head. Incompletes never made sense. It's why Acadia did not depend on them as other nations did. They were too unpredictable and prone to delusions of grandeur.

Like calling themselves Seriens.

The Reincarnation of Yua has shown me more power of fire than this boy.

He would play the game, though. The Hruh-yite connections were essential in keeping his father safe. If talk of Guan and world-saving motivated the Yuan to help save his mother, so be it.

"Can I sit here?" the younger Rianna witch asked. She stood just in front of him, hands gripping the front of her brown dress. She smiled so wide it threatened to jump from her face.

I can humor her this once.

"Of course, my dear," Sakima said.

She sat down next to him, knees folded under her. "What will you do when we save your mother?"

"I will take her to my grandfather, Lord Eruis. With his army and the Hawk Spirit of Acadia behind us, we will reclaim the throne from this usurper."

She nodded. "And then you will join us and fulfill your Serien duty?"

Sakima smiled. The way this one asked was enough to consider the notion.

"Let us save my mother first," he said. "What is the point of saving the world if those close to you are lost?"

She frowned and blew a white lock of hair from her eyes. "I suppose that's true."

"Don't bother with this one, pup."