Yla

Chapter 10: On the Grave

Yla, a bit dumbfounded by the question, pulled her hands away gently from his own, she then stepped back from him, she saw how his face saddened by her reaction, but before he could speak he beckoned him to walk with her once more. She really didn't know how to respond to him and she feared that if he finds out who she is, his intentions and treatment of her might change, but, she wanted to be honest with herself, she is the Protector of the Light of Fadia, and this is something the he must know and understand if he truly wants to court her. They walked past many of the houses until they arrived at the graveyard; much like the other parts of the village the graveyard was lit with lanterns, Ogami noticed that there were quite a number of people there too. Yla took a candle that was piled by the gates and walked into the graveyard. Ogami followed her closely, he didn’t understand why she led him there. Was she offended by the question that she will kill him? They stopped in front two headstones, and Yla lighted the candles. Ogami froze when he saw the names, “Nivek” , the first one read, and the second was “Adda”. Why did she bring him here?

“Ogami”, she began, “I want to tell you something about me.”

“Okay”, he swallowed hard, he steeled his resolve, what a pickle did he put himself into.

“Eight years ago a great tragedy happened in this place, it was caused by a man who sought great power for reasons no one ever knew. The power he wanted was the Light of Fadia”, Yla faced him, her eyes were clear and her gaze bore into his very soul.

“The man brought with him monsters and men, they ravaged the village in search for the Light of Fadia, they wanted to find it's protector,” Ogami’s chest felt like it was stabbed. 

“My mother was a seer and had warned the village that the attack will happen and because of that many of the women and children were spared and saved, my mother and my father fought their way to seek refuge, but the man and his minion didn't let them get away. He cornered them and prevented them from escaping, because he knew what my mother had with her”, Yla took a deep breath before continuing, “my mother was the Protector of the Light of Fadia, like her Mother before her and her father before her. The Light, was - is, this villages sacred treasure and family has protected it for many generations. On the day of that attack I saw how they pierced my parents with a sword, my father shielding my mother but it was of no use. The sword went clean through both of them.” Ogami swallowed hard, he never knew that she saw them get stabbed, his brother never knew, “the man stood over them, I didn't know why, but he just watched them bleed, he didn't even attempt to take the Light of Fadia.”

Yla may not know but Ogami knew why, his brother was in shock to see the love of his life dying.

“Even with my friends telling me not to go to them, I still ran to my parents and the man looked at me with his cold eyes at a distance and he and his monsters disappeared “,Yla fought back her tears, “I got to them too late, and my magic wasn't that strong back then, I couldn’t save them, my father died first, he died holding my hand, and soon after my mother joined him, her last wish was that I would smile for her. My Parents died in my arms and for the longest time I was distraught and was out of my mind, I felt alone."

"I am just one of those who lost someone they loved that day, many of the people you see here suffered the same fate. We had to continue. I brought you here because I wanted you to know who I am, what my story is."

Ogami stared at her, he knew who she actually was from the moment he saw those names on the graves, she was the person who bears what his brother seeks, just how twisted his fate could be? 

Yla had been a victim of his brother in ways that was unforgivable, it will prove dangerous for her if his brother finds out. But Agima was right after all, in their line of work those they love will become casualty. He surveyed her trying to seek the source from her but for some reason he couldn't feel as if a barrier had shielded her from scrying. Yla looked at him as if expecting him to say something, but he didn't trust his tongue. In his silence she spoke, “are your intentions still as they stand? Or have they changed?”

For a moment Ogami wanted to take back everything he said to her, not because of regret but rather, he feared that if they were connected his brother would find her and definitely her life would be in danger. But he assessed his own feelings, his attraction towards her was not superficial and she was not just a mere prize to be won. She is more than that, she is a person that he wants to know better, a person whom he feels that would accept him, she is special.

“What kind of a man would take back his words to a lady”, he said stepping closer to her, “you may not have a perfect childhood; I guess nobody really does, but you are one of a kind. Regardless of your tale, my intentions remain as they are, and this I pledge on the graves of your parents. My dearest nymph, would you allow me the honor of courting you?” He held out his palm towards her, gently she held it.

“Very well”, she smiled at him.

Ogami was so happy that he didn't know how to react and he hugged her so suddenly that Yla was surprised, this was the best night of his life so far. He had let go of Yla and she just couldn't stop laughing at him. Archeos came to find them, telling them that the festivities were far from over that everyone wanted to be with them. Yla bade her parents farewell and went with Archeos while Ogami told them to go ahead. He turned back to the headstones and went down on one knee.

“Lady Adda, Master Nivek, I didn't expect that these were the circumstances that I will be seeing you. I know what you must not be happy with the idea that I am courting your daughter. She takes so much after you Lady Adda, I apologize for the pain that my brother had caused, I cannot promise to protect her from him but I will try my best to keep her safe. I promise this on your grave.”

With his commitment Ogami stood left the graveyard, what he promised was something that went against his loyalties to his brother, he was afraid of the repercussions that it may bring and he fears that he is not yet ready to face them, after all it was a scary feat to fight the White King of the South.