The Soul of Aoora [EDITING]

The boastful king

They were in the elven city (name). They had been walking for three days already. The hot sun was drenching them and they were in desperate need of weapons for defense against the ghosts. Unfortunately, Di'alora wasn't the best place to look for weapons. It was a peaceful country that hadn't had wars for thousends of years. Even the places that actually had weapons were only for collectors or sold as artefacts at ridiculous prices.
-Well I can pay that, Saka aimed.
-How are you gonna do that, young boy? the seller asked. A middle aged woman with white hair in a ponytail and one side shaved.
-I'm a prince so...
She got closer to him with a sharp blade.
-Cash? Or ear tips.
The prince backed away.
-You know what, we're just gonna go...

***

-So what do we do now? Adri asked.
-Well, it looks like there's only one thing we can do.
-A third breakfast!
-No. We're gonna go see the king. We'll tell him we're on a royal mission assigned by the queen of On'svalor and we should be provided with weapons.
-Ha ha. Good luck with that, Tharia said. I told you, the guy is an ass. He's bot gonna give us shit.
-We can try, little Al suggested.
-Sincerely, he can't be a worse king than I'd be, Saka reckognised.
-If there had been an election between you and him, I'd chose you.
Saka stood there for a moment.
-Why?
-Because honestly, Saka, you care. You wouldn't abandon your people in the hardest times. And you'd be kind to them.
-But I don't know anything about ruling a country. What if I do something wrong?
-You...worry about not making mistakes. That's because you care about that and you're taking it seriously. Our king has a hard time doing that, Adri added shily.
-And you're incredibilly smart, little Al said. I hadn't known you for long but I realise that people usually fail to see that in you.
Alwenn just looked at him in worry.
-Guys, I...I don't know what to say...Thanks? But I don't find myself in your words. Like seriously, imagine a country ruled by me. It would be a complete chaos.
Alwenn was walking quietly in front of them. Then couldn't take it anymore and turmed around.
-Stop saying those things about yourself! Do you even hear what you're saying? Leaders that suck the power out of their people and let them starve just because they want it solely for them should worry about such things. But you? Saka, you get happy when you blow a dandelion. People would kill to have you as their king.
The prince threw down whatever he was holding and ran away. The group looked at him surprised.
-What did I say? Alwenn asked confused.
-Maybe you hit a sensitive spot, Adri repiled. You should go see what's wrong.

Alwenn found Saka in a little meadow under a crying tree. He was hugging his knees with the back sprijinit de trunchi.
-Hey...
-Hey.
-Are you okay? Well, obviously you're not but.
-It's nothing.
They stood there in silence for a moment. Then Saka spoke:
-The stuff that I go through is not as important/big as the stuff that you went through. You lost your parents in an act of bravery. I got cursed by accident and I'm scared of hurting people.
-This isn't how problems work, Alwenn told him. Don't think that your problems aren't valid enough just because someone has it worse. You could also go saying that someone has it better anyway.
-But I'm just being annoying right now.
-Who told you that?
-I just know it.
Alwenn took his shoulders and looked him in the eye.
-Listen. Say someone is drowning in an ocean. And someone is drowning in a children's pool. Neither of them know how to swim. Who has it worse?
Saka looked to the side to think. Then looked back at him.
-Neither.
-Exactly. They are both drowning. You can't compare them. And whether you're drowning in an ocean or in a kiddy pool, you're still drowning. So tell me what's wrong.
Saka took a moment before looking at him, teary eyed:

-I'm a monster.

Alwenn opened his mouth to say something but a voice intrerrupted them.
-What you're saying is far from the truth, a male voice said.
-Who said that?
The boys looked around, seeing only purple leaves surrounding them as a curtain.
-I am the (soulmate) tree. Under my leaves, souls cry together and laugh together.
They were confused. The tree was speaking to them. And none of them had ever heard of speaking trees before.
-Are you really the tree? Alwenn asked.
-Well, yes. The all seeing soulmate tree of Di'alora. If you want to ask a question, please do so.
-Uh...how's your day? Did you wash your leaves? Saka asked.
A cackle was heard.
-Sadly today, your tears washed them, my dear prince. But luckily, your twin soul came here to wipe them away.
-My twin...soul? Saka asked.
-Yes, your twin soul indeed.
The two looked at eachother. Saka's eyes were still teary. He put his hand through his messy long black hair, letting his forehead be revealed. He looked at the side not knowing what to do or say while Alwenn was studying him for the first time. His slim body, his long fingers, his silky smooth hair.
-Put both of your hands on my trunk now to form a lifelong connection with yout soulmate. [:)))]
The two followed the instructions given by the tree.
-Wow. I never thought we'd touch a tree together. I'm honoured, the prince stated.
-Well, you know what they say: "Live long enough and you'll see everything", Alwenn said.
-Now close your eyes and let your souls bind together as one again.
The two did so. Alwenn breathed in and breathed out, as he always does to shake off any anxiety he has. He was highly confused about the situation he was in but decided to follow along. He didn't wanna piss off or disrespect a Soulmate Tree. Even though he didn't believe much in such things.
-Now open your eyes.
When Alwenn did so, only a few inches were separating him and Saka. They looked at eachother again, their hearts beating at a faster pace.
-I...
Alwenn dared to break the silence when they heard a sneeze. They turned around. Only to find the rest of the team right behind the tree.
-You guys okay? Tharia asked.
-The tree just talked! Saka said amazed. Come listen!
Saka let the tree speak but they heard nothing in return.
-But it spoke just a second ago! he said confused.
-Speaking trees only do so when it's needed or when they want to tell a message that thay believe should be heard, Adri explained.
-Heard that, Alwenn? We're soulmates!, Saka said with excitement,...Alwenn?
He was leaving the place.
-Let's go see the king.