CHRONICLES OF AADYA

Episode Three

ALISDAIR.

It's stood four days since we commenced the journey to discover the bizarre young woman in my visions. Our speculation heeding the outside world helped to appease the feeling of loneliness throughout this journey so far. However, those tremendous experiences could not alleviate the uneasiness that arrows due to the dearth of certainty, and that acted like a thorn and tormented me.

We have made sure to evade unnecessary encounters with folks, keeping away from most realms and townlets, the only exception is to inquire about Alaston, which we have come to know is far away in the south. I've never reckoned how tough a journey could be, and now I'm living through it myself, I am delighted Bellamy had come along.

The blue haze of day began to lift as the gold color of the sunset colored the sky on our fourth day. We were a bit parched, and had been walking for miles in hunt of a river but never seem to locate one. Just as we were on the brink of being submissive to our failure, a miracle came to pass. We heard the rush of water from a reach. Eventually, we resolve to kick back near the river bank.

"Well, perhaps you answer to this. You are aware that you only embarked on this journey because of me" Bellamy let out. Knowing the kind of person he is, he rather stays starved than take the lead in a hunt, this side of him is what I've yet come to apprehend. He is sensitive, has a promising connection with words, a warrior, yet when it comes to hunting, he recants.

knowing where he was coming from, I returned "Looking at the river wouldn't make supper appear, or would it?" I asked reaching for my sack where I had dropped it off.

"It's much easier to hunt fish"

"That doesn't mean I've to do the entire work alone"

"Who said you have to do them alone? You only have to do the hunting, since a part of me chose a different choice"

"And what could that be?"

"Gathering some woods to make fire" That was fair, at least he wasn't being a turd like the previous days. I slowly nod, registering his words.

At length, I took out my hunting knife from my sack before turning, only to perceive Bellamy possessing a mocking expression. "Oh, wipe that silly grin off your face," I tell him and set out walking towards some tree branches.

"You know, I've made up my mind to enjoy this journey. It's been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy something if you make up your mind firmly that you will" I hear him say from behind. "Life is too short and the world is wide, dear brother" He chants.

"Sometimes I wonder what goes through your mind" I muttered, returning with the branch I had just cut off.

"Wind"

A snort escaped my nose. I can simply say I am truly grateful he is the one by my side on this journey, I do never ask for more. "Despite your behavior, you still not less humorous to be with," I told him and I meant it.

"And you are never this appealing" He threw back before grinning. "For a moment there you sounded different. Is that the side you were speaking about?" He chuckles giving me a knowing look.

"You're insane"

"I would rather have spontaneous" He winks at me and that led me to snort again. That's just Bellamy for you.

I sharpened the edge of the stick into a pointy tip and moved towards the river to hunt for fish.

"I doubt you would be able to catch a thing with your back arched like that"

"For god's sake Bellamy, you are scaring the fishes away with your loud talks, I beseech you to shush away" He stood looking at me with narrowed eyes, his hands resting on his waist and one of his legs sticking out more than the rest of his body "Please can you give me air, move away from the river at least or was all your nagging about food not serious?" I said getting slightly impatient with him, he let out a low groan and began moving away.

"I will leave you to that, brother," He told me, already in the distance.

Luck was on my side as I caught enough fish for supper, with that, I scampered up the stone making my way to the river bank where Bellamy was. Surprisingly he didn't cavil while setting the fire.

"I am indeed grateful to you, brother," I said to him sincerely, no matter how naggy he is, he was the only one who talked me into finding my true destiny, and he didn't back down. He followed me on this journey of uncertainty without asking me many questions. Bellamy is extremely tactful and has a deep understanding of people's situations, over the years and decades he has proven to be more than a brother to most of my household.

"Your fish is not properly roasted," he said while munching a stick of fish, totally ignoring my gratitude.

"No matter how undercooked it may seem, it will still be better than any you make," I said spiting him.

"How many nights do you think we have till we reach Alaston?" he inquired changing the topic again. I believe he was just surprised and didn't know how to respond to my appreciation. I don't recall ever thanking Bellamy in the past or the other way around, which perhaps is the reason he finds it hard to reply. We have been supporting each other in numerous patterns but this was broadly distinct and challenging, I just needed him to know I was grateful for his sacrifice.

"Not very certain, but I think in three nights or two if we go faster" ...

AADYA.

It's only a matter of time before they will eventually execute me. The clergyman came forward, his face sheltered with disgust.

"She is as the witch told in the tale!" He roared from his guts. He took another step forward before motioning at me. "We fear woman, who tempt... who seduce... and who challenge. We fear a woman who does not obey, who rises, who question. This woman you see here, Aadya Evandro, is a friend of the devil. She has dinned with the devil. She has used her devil's gift... to enchant men and kill her master. She has seduced a poor, innocent man to her bed chamber with her charms, where she sacrificed him to the devil. She!... has come for the heart of men and would stop at nothing in accomplishing her mission which is to destroy!"

My eyes travel through the crowd of people nodding in understanding to his words. None has the slightest evidence of doubt. Most avoid eye contact with me like I am a monster. I wished I was the monster they think I am. I wish I had enough poison for the whole of them. I won't gladly give my life to watch them all swallow it.

"We must take judgment! she must be burnt down, if not she would awaken the riot of the gods and even terrorize the land, so she must be burnt down to ashes, today!" The clergyman declared with an air of authority.

"Yes!! Burn her down!" A voice came from the crowd and the rest of the crowd followed.

"Burn her down!!"

"Burn her down!"

"Please. Don't kill me" I let out a weak cry for mercy, enough to be heard but my cries and plea were ignored.

"Therefore... by virtue of the memorandum, I sentence you, Aadya Evandro to burn here and in hell" He declares.

"BURN!" The crowd shouted and I saw my own life coming to an end, an end I never chose myself.

"Please wait! Please have mercy! My Lord..."

"This was your own doing witch! This is not your place. You shouldn't be here, but don't worry, you shall burn everlasting by your maker's side"

"Burn her!"

The clergyman gestures at one of the guards holding a wooden torch. The young man took a few steps forward and then light-up the wooden stick before proceeding to the woodpiles around me. It was a scary sight to behold. Regardless of how I had consoled myself, the new image of me burning is immensely terrifying even to me. He placed the wooden torch which already had its flame on the dried woods around me and the fire began to grow.

ALISDAIR

I jerked up and my eyes immediately snapped open, panting, covered in a cold sweat, and my heart frantically pounding against its rib cage.

"If you could refrain from scaring the life out of me, I might be better able to converse" Bellamy blurts but once he noticed I was rapidly packing he quickly joined.

"What's the matter?" His voice was laced with concern. "Would you mind calming down and explaining-"

"Bellamy, we need to hurry before it's too late. There's no time for an explanation now" I inform grabbing my sack.

"Yes, I have taken notice of that"

Without any more words, I hastily dashed into the woods and Bellamy immediately followed. I have never been scared like this before, a young woman I am yet to meet in person, only seen in my dreams, yet I feel this strong connection towards her. I could feel my heart falling on me, it was a gut-wrenching feeling, my mind was all over the place and impetuous. I have come this close yet so away from grasping what my visions were all about, I can't let go now nor ever from knowing who she is. "Please let her live" I let out desperately to the gods.

"I plead to whoever, or whatever this connection may be, to let her live, grant me a chance, save her from these trials and tribulations for me. I know you are listening to me, whatever you are, whoever you are that made me see her in my dreams, I beseech you to come to her aid until I can get to her, do not foreseek me when I need you the most, allow us to meet each other and understand the reasons for this strange connection" I kept voicing out desperately in my mind as we both continue to move expeditiously through the forest.

I felt the gods were punishing me for not embarking on this journey on time, and I realize now, how much these truly meant to me.