CHRONICLES OF AADYA

Episode Twenty-two

ALISDAIR

All sorts of emotions waved through me as I gazed back at the actual maiden that had induced me to venture on this journey, the maiden I know not much about yet still managed to be the sole reason for my existence. Her molten-red hair was one I can tell apart from every other red-haired maiden. ‘She is indeed something’ I pondered. Her crescent-shaped eyebrows inclined slightly as our eyes met again, she made a move toward us, apparently to Gunnar before the younger launched at her.

Her arms snaked tightly around the boy in a wholesome embrace. She shuffles his hair roughly as she ran those fingers through them, occasionally lifting the boy's head to examine his face, though maybe pushing to make certain he was real. Her eyes kept lingering all over his face as she held his head up, "H-how?..." I'm not entirely certain the boy heard her word despite they were clasped together since the word was more of a wave from her gapped lips.

She goes on to bury his face into her neck, the hug was stronger than anything I've ever witnessed, as if holding him wasn't quite enough, she had to feel every ounce that he was pressed into every ounce that is her. In that moment of watching them close, I was awake somehow, more alive than I have been in so very long. She raised her face a little and our eyes met again, her eyes were so different, softer than I knew eyes could be. In that gaze, I was drawn closer, they wove my soul in a way that is forever bonded.

"How? What lead you to me?" That raspy voice became the base of my delighted self, for it feels so solid and real. The kind that anchors your soul for a single moment in time. Gunnar turned, taking a fleeting look at me before refocusing on her.

"Him” He simply answered back and she turned her gaze at me then at Bellamy. I could sense her wanting to raise another question, however, somehow she held them back.

"Thank You" She spoke. My flesh moved on its own accord causing my forehead to furrow and my brows drew together, perhaps her utterances took me unexpectedly that they wavered my emotions and somehow I managed to give a genuine nod in response to her gratitude.

"Thou it is likely that you all smell from your days of travel, perhaps it's time you should wash up" The ageing sorcerer unleashes, piercing through the series of our invisible thoughts. With those final words, everyone starts to depart, and yet I kept observing as Aadya's attention was constantly refocused on me as she walks a few stretches from me and Bellamy. Her hair flowed flawlessly down her back resting against her cream lace garment that bounded terrifically around her narrow waist and stretched to her feet.

Gunnar had taken off to be with Aadya since we switched to some new set of clothing, "How do you feel, brother?"

I thought for a bit and simply exhale when I couldn't arise with something. I wasn't certain of how I was reckoned to discern after laying my eyes on her, the uncertainty hunts me. "Is something amiss?"

"On the contrary, things haven't been dire so I assume all is well"

"And how do you feel regarding this coven, do you tend to stay here with her?"

"I presumed we would be heading back to Irpinia soon. I just have to make her go with us, at the least away from the fellow, she seems rather close to him"

"Why do you seem to think about the fellow? You're not envious, are you?

"I don't see there's anything to be envious of"

"You don't actually mean that"

"Yes, I do. You ought to return to your mate and I can't approve of you making that journey alone and neither would she be left her also" I spoke though his gaze was one of a person that believed otherwise. "I ought to speak with her to learn how vastly she knows of me. It is blatant she might have figured out due to the manner she had responded in the hall"

"Certainly, she came off aghast. Though it might be of a distinct explanation, you still need to speak to her. She is your fate" He said and laid back on the mattress across from mine. The room had two mattresses each positioned against the stone wall and had a large window facing east. "Just be quick, brother" he let out and shut down his eyes.

"You should move around the castle if worn on from boredom, you might come across one that would conceivably keep you company as Gunnar appear not obtainable"

"How is that fair?"

"I'm not sure fairness comes into it. You never know it might be fun" I told him, raising from the mattress.

As soon as I walked out of the room, I started to outline her scent, it was late already and through the large windows that stretched through the hallways was no sign of the moon outside, however, the hallways had sufficient flame from the wood torch against the walls. I was a bit near when the scent of another irritates me, it was that of the fellow from the hall, yet to know what he's called.

"A response to Ambrose's words doesn't mean you have to take everything the fella voices out. You can choose your own path" I hear him propose, not certain of his motive of straining to prevent her from uncovering her path.

"Need not worry, Cian. I have a destiny to uphold, and I solely desire to protect them, I'm not ceding, not now things had cropped up a bit clear..."

Not wanting to invade, I spun around and began to retreat from the corner I stood, today wasn't my day, was it? It turned out that I've somehow come to loathe wizards which I think is probably the stupidest thing I've reached to attain here.

I walked upon a young fella in the hallway "Point me to a patio" I requested. I bet I needed a quiet place to reflect.

"It's down the alley to the left" I nodded to his response and commenced instantly, heading for a narrow stairway until the pure wind embraced my flesh. The flame from the distance homes brought me to concede how spaced the village stood. I have indeed come far in apprehending my fate, if this was just the beginning, then I fear what's yet to come.

"I've been searching for you. Can't seem to find Bellamy also" Gunnar's voice suddenly came from the shadow behind, cutting me off my thoughts, though I never looked back at him. "Is something the matter?" He ask taking a step forward and unhurriedly he walked up to me.

With a peek at him, I lifted my face heavenward, gazing at the moonless sky. "No, Gunnar. All is well, tip-top. Just need a bit more time. As for now, I can't do much of anything, really"

"Are you nervous?"

"What?" I glance down at him trying to read the meaning of his words.

"Are you nervous to meet my sister, Aadya? You have yet gone to meet her" He clarified.

He might have thought so, though that wasn't the case, it wasn't about being nervous, I do say I feel a bit relaxed for the first time. It was only that a dissimilar cause was stopping me and not to be bucked up as a dire one, I had to defer. "I don't get nervous"

"Really? I thought everyone get nervous"

"Had you so little faith in me?" I raised a brow at him. "I might have just little strength in me at the moment"

"You probably need rest. And food and perhaps a bit more rest, and then you'll be back at full strength. By then you may need to talk with the old sorcerer to learn better what he knows because I've no idea what he said earlier and then you should meet my sister" He uttered simply.

"You're indeed an ally, but sorcerers speak in riddles. They will never tell you what you want to know, only things you should never know" I told him before my eyes trained down at the warlock who just emerged, the fellow with Aadya. And then he walked his way to the back of the castle. The balcony was more of a perch and from a perch, one can see many things.

"Perhaps just this once you could ask" The young boy suggested, regardless, I was more engaged in figuring out why the warlock was out.

"My sister desired to learn how I came to know you"

"So?" I asked once the warlock was off view.

"Well..." He let out, more like he was thinking of his response "... I did tell her some things. But need not worry, I never spoke of what you are, like... Why you were also scouring to find her"

"You really are something, Gunnar. Most people would reveal everything they had come to know" I disclosed, altering my initial position.

"Alisdair" The younger suddenly and silently called. There was this thing about the way he had called my name. He wasn't one to call me by my name that often especially not when we stood just a step away. I hummed as I turned to look at his slightly bummed-out expression. "You recall the nightmare I once told you about?"

I thought for a bit and then nodded "What about it?"

"I'm afraid it occurred here. When we first arrived in that village, I thought something was strange and then I began to understand why the place seemed familiar. And now I've come to realize it was the place from my nightmare. A field of warriors, and Aadya burning" He stopped, his gaze fixed on the direction of the village. He never said a word after that and neither did I, and the words of the sorcerer surfaced.

"I won't let her die" My heart aches as those words left my lips "I promise" a smile tugged its way onto his lips though it was feeble.

Instantly I turned as an aura wildly familiar pulled nearer before she materialized from the dim passageway. “May I offer my gratitude for watching over Gunnar throughout the journey..." She stopped midway and that was when Gunner also veered around to the sudden words. "... I'd hope you accept my sincere appreciation"