Jack slept through the night. No dreams interrupting his slumber. Yet a fading sensation residing on his mind.
The group joined each other, Thorn already woken up near the horse. His voice strong and steady.
"Good morning."
Indra nodded, her eyes still slightly sleepy. Jack bowed slightly. Thorn speaking once again.
"I left some jerky I brought with me inside, eat it on the way."
Kyle spoke, yawning. His silver armor now shining in the day. His hilt still peeking from his back.
"Thank you, Thorn, you're the best."
All of them sat behind, eating pieces of the hard jerky meat. Jack was now sitting next to Kyle. In the further front of the carriage. The horse began galloping slowly towards the mountain. Jack stared curiously at Kyle, who was still inspecting those armor shards.
Kyle spoke, still analyzing it closely.
"What?"
Jack blinked twice, slightly nervous.
"Oh, nothing it's just… Your sword, you don't really use it."
Kyle smirked.
"Oh."
"This?"
He grabbed the hilt, wrapping it in his hand.
Jack nodded.
Kyle let out a small sigh with a faint smile. Taking out the sword, revealing nothing but an empty sheath. He didn't use a sword because there was none… The hilt held nothing at the other side.
Jack's eyes stood wide.
Kyle let out a faint laugh.
"Surprised?"
"I guess, after some time being our helper you didn't really see it…"
Kyle stared at the empty hilt now in front of him.
"I never used a sword…"
"It's just…"
Kyle grabbed it tighter, his hazel eyes piercing with determination.
"It's the only way people really see me as a member here."
"Only when I wear this expensive armor. And hold a weapon they claim worthy, is when the people respect me."
Jack stared at the silver armor in shock.
Kyle kept speaking, placing the empty hilt back in its sheath.
"You know, Val, after being with them."
Kyle stared at the group—Phes sleeping still now inside, her raven-black hair spread in the wooden carriage, Indra reading her book, her gray eyes profound and calm. And Thorn diligently riding the horse with his back straight.
"Sometimes you feel… less."
Jack stared, confused. His hands inside his crossed legs.
"But aren't you their leader?"
Kyle nodded.
"And I have to work harder than any of them because of it."
"No lineage, even though my father comes from a blessed blood."
"Everyone here still worked strongly to get proficient, don't get me wrong…"
"But people like us…"
He stared at Jack with a smile.
"We have to find our way around things."
Jack stood still, his mind entering thought.
Around things?
Kyle sighed, placing the shards he was investigating back in their bag.
He spoke once again in a more relaxed manner.
"Phes… she has her family further east."
Jack stared at the fire-bound woman resting calmly.
"Thorn, he has a son."
"Maya, has her mother back in our city."
"And I…"
Kyle finally placed the last shard back inside, tying the bag with a small rope.
"Have them."
"You too have to know what you are fighting for, Val."
Jack stared at the floor of the carriage, shaking slightly with each step of the horse.
Know what I'm fighting for…
It's for them obviously…
For…
Who?
Jack scratched his head slightly. Kyle laughed.
"Don't worry, there's no reason to hu—"
Suddenly a strong blast was heard in the distance, making the ground shudder. The horse halted.
Everyone began getting out of the carriage, hurriedly. Thorn was already down from the horse with his shield on his side. Next to the mountain high above, a cloud of smoke reached the sky. Phes' eyes shone in red.
Jack turned around toward Kyle, who was staring warily at the cloud of smoke.
"Could it be the mist again?"
Kyle gritted his teeth.
"That isn't the mist…"
"Someone might've arrived before us."
"Thorn, tie the horse down quickly. The path towards there is too rough."
"Everyone else prepare and grab everything you need."
Everyone nodded and headed toward the cloud of smoke.
Everyone sprinted, Jack falling a bit behind the rest. The terrain turned from dirt to stones, making it harder to traverse. They were near under the mountain. Only dead roots and trees filled the environment. The atmosphere grew heavier.
A chill ran down his spine as they finally reached the source of the smoke.
A carriage was lying, torn apart and broken. Flames raised high from the wood. Dismembered bodies lied in the surroundings. Everyone stopped, staring at the scene.
Kyle was now ahead, scanning the area.
"Indra."
Indra, petrified with her eyes wide, woke up at his words.
"Yes…"
She raised her wand, calling forth a small cloud with light water dropping below, just enough to turn it off. Kyle gave the first step, the rest followed hesitantly. There was no living being in sight.
Jack's mind resounded.
What could have done this?
Jack stepped through the rocky path finally, his boots pressing against the moist land once again. Blood splattered everywhere. Beneath him, faint traces of it led forward—still fresh.
Kyle inspected the area. In the middle there was a body pierced by a spear. A woman with blonde hair and beautiful blue eyes now wide and hollow. Her body slender, pierced through the middle. Blood still tearing down her lips.
Everyone surrounded the body, staring in awe. Jack approached slowly behind Thorn, only now looking at the woman.
His whole body shivered. His breath accelerated suddenly. His heart ached.
Her soft smile gone. Her laugh now not to be heard by anyone else. Her warmth, as if it never even existed…
As Kyle was about to inspect it, right behind him Jack gasped.
He was on his knees on the floor, his hand pressing his heart. Tears began falling from his wide eyes.
Jack spoke, stuttering.
"Why—"
Kyle stared, thrown aback by his reaction as his face began turning pale. He spoke to Val.
"Do—you know her, Val?"
His tears began falling on the ground.
His mind puzzling.
What is this…
Why don't I remember her na—
He gasped for air once again, tears still flowing on his face.
Kyle worriedly looked at Indra.
"Indra, take him away please!"
"If he does know her… I don't want him seeing her anymore."
Indra nodded, grabbing Jack from the shoulders, taking him away. Jack still cried uncontrollably.
Unbeknownst to anyone, right before hitting the floor, his tears began turning into ice.
Jack and Indra moved back to the rocky ground with Jack.
She spoke in a soft, nervous voice.
"Come here…"
She sat on a big rock, placing Jack next to her.
She made him rest his head on her legs as his tears began to fade.
Her hand caressed his hair gently as he wiped off his tears, finally beginning to compose himself… or at least gain some of his consciousness back. His mind entering thought again.
I remember…
Why!
Indra interrupted his thoughts, speaking warmly.
"It's okay…"
"I don't know who she was…"
"We will find who did this, Val."
Suddenly his eyes grew heavy as she kept comforting him in her lap.
Her name—
I can't seem to remember it…
Her name is…
His mind rested. His eyes closed. Each caress Indra made put him in deeper sleep.
Suddenly his eyes were struck with a blinding light, dimming into the sun on a horizon.
Grass grew tall, reaching his knees. Right next to him, a laugh echoed in the environment, cheerful and soft. Her hair was being blown by the wind, blonde and lustrous. The sun reflected in her blue eyes.
His mind echoed:
That's right…
She's always been here with me.
He reached out for her hand, her already reaching as well. They began walking slowly across the tall grass. Around them the environment lively, birds flying high. She was wearing a white, lightly transparent dress. Her slender figure shown by the shadows. A smile found its way on his lips. His cheeks red.
"I missed Y—"
Suddenly she stopped walking, her hand gripping him even tighter. She let go of his hand. He trembled slightly.
"What's wron—"
She turned her head toward him. Her tone not matching with her personality. Her eyes suddenly became sharp. As the light of the sun dimmed, she spoke, her shadows growing deeper. Her eyes losing their light.
"Why did you leave?"
He shook, his eyes wide. His hand trembling.
"Why, Winter Val?"
The next second the surroundings changed—her eyes hollow and blood dripping out of her mouth. A long spear going through her chest. Her voice, somber and unpleasant, resounded again.
"You left me…"
"YOU DID THIS TO ME!"
Jack woke up suddenly, shocked by the dream, letting out a small gasp. His hand still trembling. He rose hurriedly, and then a warm voice echoed behind him.
"Are you okay?"
Concentrate, what's your name!
He turned around, looking at the woman who was sparing him a warm smile with her hands placed on top of each other.
He caught his breath.
He suddenly slapped both of his cheeks with his hands. Answering Indra in a confident yet cold voice.
"Yes."
Val…
That's right, my name is Val.
Winter Val.