The Dawn Of Abnega

Chapter 8

Ellio

      Aurora wakes with the dawn every morning. There is a rooster at the barn that crows with the sunrise everyday, but the sound of his call is faint around the village homes. Aurora does not need the rooster though, and is out of bed and moving as if she has important business to attend to. She doesn't. Not this early anyways. The only reason I know that is because I have been trying to wake up just as early and start my day with her. I can't quite keep up with her after morning though.

After waking up at the crack of Dawn, Aurora goes for a run around the village. She runs along the cliff, through the streets leading through her village, and up the mountain to check on the elderly. I knew this in the beginning, but Aurora keeps a very close eye on her village and everyone in it. She uses every opportunity to be a trustworthy and reliable leader. And she does it while having fun too. I've seen her run with a smile on her face when her neighbors dogs chase excitedly after her. She also smiles at the mothers and fathers that get up early to begin their daily chores.

I start the fire in front of the house and sit by it as Aurora runs. I promised her I would join her on her runs one day, but I am not quite used to my new schedule yet. Aurora insisted she didn't mind me staying behind because her early morning runs give her some time alone with her thoughts. Considering that makes me feel less guilty about relaxing by the fire. Aurora has a lot on her shoulders and has for years. I'm sure she has a lot of things going on in her head that she must put first every morning.

Aurora eventually joins me by the fire after her run and I happily begin making breakfast. We usually sit in silence out here by the fire, and I kind of like it. The silence allows me to appreciate the safety I've found after losing my old home, if it ever was home at all. I also enjoy admiring Aurora as she closes her eyes and bathes in the warm, golden rays that pour over her dark skin like melted butter. She is truly the most beautiful creation I have ever seen.

And she finds me desirable. She even kissed me on the cheek a few days back.

I never expected that.

I want to address these intimate things with Aurora, but I bite my tongue every time I get the urge. I don't quite understand how to insert the possibility of sexual intercourse into casual conversation. Aurora managed to tease me with it so effortlessly. She danced around the subject, saying suggestive things that made my heart race and my ears turn red. It has been all I can think about. Being intimate with Aurora sounds like something I could only make my reality with a wish from a genie. But she is willing, clearly, and that makes me all the more desperate.

Watching Aurora sharpen her blade as our tea boils over the fire doesn't scare those lewd thoughts away. When I first arrived here, it probably would have, but I have seen more weaponry in my last few weeks here than ever before. Aurora and her blade do not scare me. In fact, I find it beautiful how tentative she is with the blade. She nurtures it as she does everything, with tender diligence.

"You have been teaching people how to fight for years now, haven't you?" I ask Aurora. Glancing up from her blade, Aurora nods. "Where did you learn?"

"My eldest brother taught me," Aurora says, returning her attention to her sharpened blade. "He was training to be a knight when I was a kid. I was very small compared to him so we didn't really fight. Most of my training was just for fun. The little that I learned came in handy though, even at that age."

"How so? Who did you have to fight?"

My question makes Aurora pause and she stares at her blade in silence. I suddenly worry if I've asked the wrong question and feel panic set in as I think of a way to back my way out of this conversation. Aurora sheathes her sword and answers my questions before I can take it back though.