Chapter 21. The Raven Soars

"I've been away from everyone for a while haven't I?"

I thought in silence as my bonfire roared. I gazed into the dancing flames that were fueled by the bones of the serpents I came across since I had split off from the group.. I end my days the same as always, sitting alone in front of these roaring flames while reminiscing of a home that's been forever lost to me for years now. The quietness as been getting to me lately and I'm not sure why. It's been nearly a week now and yet, while I'm scared to be in their company....I do miss them. 

Avorion, I remembered when he was the first introduced as the leader of the King's Stride back when I was a bit younger. Upon my entree into the King's Royal Guard, I had my reservations about him since he was a foreigner. Quickly after being accepted into this illustrious group, I found out that my reservations were unfounded. since we more than capable of leading us. He's silent stoic, calculating and leading us where we should go next. His well of knowledge and charisma managed to keep us going when I'm sure we left hope behind us.

Meanwhile Alcides, that big knuckle head somehow always kept a smile on his face and always kept Avorion on his toes with his occasional antics. I missed that part of him when were traveling, I know we all could've used that side of him while we were traveling; especially on the worse days. I really wanted to try to help him get back to his old self, but going through what he did. I wouldn't have any idea how that feels nor where to begin trying to delve into that kind of conversation. Especially because I'm usually more reserved, and complimented by my poor ability to  relate to that kind of stuff. I was better off I didn't try, might've made it worse if anything. 

Then there's Jeremy, a friend of Avorion's and a womanizer at heart. Despite his bad tendency I to flirt more than he worked, even I had to admit that more someone that wasn't given any special training he was definitely a cut above the rest of his peers at the time. Yet despite promoted to second in command of the King's Hunting Team, he let his nasty tendency cost him his spot. I'm sure Avorion was given a side eye by his Majesty, due to Jeremy getting promoted thanks to the recommendation by Avorion himself. He squandering something that most would see as a great honor, what a waste.

Finally there was Navis, she was always the heart of us while we travelled. She was remarkably close to the Queen back when life made sense. Navis was renowned for being the second most powerful cyromancer, only being topped by the Queen herself. I'm sure she feels just as bad about our lives spinning out of control as the rest of us do. Yet despite her heart surely being broken, she wears a smile that warmed us up on the coldest nights. 

"I guess I missed then i thought huh?" 

 I took a seat and rested my back on the bigger skull of the serpentine creature Axelon killed upon our arrival to this country.

 "All but, the obvious exception of course."

 I took a deep breath and slowly exhaled as recalled our first encounter in these foreign lands.  Upon the serpent's emergence I had drawn my bow and had been ready to fire it. However the so called "Prince" being the reckless child he is threw caution aside and engaged alone. I watched from the back as he proceeded to conjured a long, thin needle of ice and threw it into that massive beast's head. I have to admit in all pettiness that it wound my own pride a tiny bit seeing I could've felled that thing faster if I wanted to, but forced by Avorion to withhold from the confrontation. Avorion said it was a "Learning experience" and that our would be Lord needed the exercise. After that, things went south really fast  and barely were able to defuse a really tense situation. I scoffed silently at the weakness being presented and realized that the fledgling lord we were sworn to may get us all killed. 

So, I made a call and chose to walk away from everyone in the name of preservation. I remember telling myself that day that. I only swore to serve the King out of something deep within my own soul that was lacking, I didn't sign up to follow my would be half brother. Why should I follow him when I am so much stronger? What sense does it make for the strong to stake their lives for the weak? My father was the pinnacle of strength, he was Hope for our people. Yet he excepts me to throw my life away for Axelon?! The pampered brat that received the finest training in all of Fortis Gelu. I reached for one of the smaller serpentine bones near by, feeling my frustration coming to a boil. Upon getting a hold of it, I immediately began squeezing it, slowly applying more of my palm strength to the bone. Upon applying my full grip strength to the smaller skeletal piece in my palm, it started to crack bit by bit before snapping into two smaller but broken pieces.

"I will never serve someone I hate no matter what our relation may be. May he be my blood or not, if he wants my service he'll have to make me bend the knee than."

My blood boiled with the thought of my would be Prince, however the day was long and my body was exhausted from scavenging.  I slowly grab my flask from my waist and take a small sip of water to appease but fully quench my thirst as to not completely drain my supply. I've been getting by thanks to the fact that the rocks inside the small cave I found and made my home get cool enough to collect plenty of moisture. I just set my flask underneath the rocks and by the time I get up, the moisture from the rock dripped into my container.  No matter how thirsty I get, I have to restrain myself from taking in every last drop if water within my container. It's like my fa...The King said " You'll never know when your luck is going to run out." 

I took in a deep breath and slowly exhaled has I got up from my spot by the bonfire and stretching a bit before going into the cave and set my flask down underneath the rocks as usual before going into my makeshift bed that I created from a combination of sand, leaves from the desert trees and some bones that I stuck into the ground at the foot of my bed to be used as a foot rest. Finally after this long day, I slowly dematerialize my armor upon sitting on my bed so that I can finally rest. Upon dematerialization, my long ginger hair comes down to rest on my back as I lay down in short sleeve shirt and green pants.

The next morning I abruptly woke up in a cold sweat, breathing heavily as i attempted to catch my breath. I felt as if I was being crushed by combination of three overwhelming presences. I've only ever felt this kind of immense pressure one other time and although the pressures are but a small facsimile of what I felt then, it was still incredibly taxing on me to where I could hardly draw breath. After some time struggling to get up, I attempt to summon my armor in hopes that it's special properties could relieve and shield me from some of the pressure . I kneel on the ground, finally able to draw breath and make my way outside where I saw three pillars of light piece their sky.  One was green and seemed to harbor a mixture of joy and sorrow within it's core, another pillar was red and contained a fiery malice that'll never satisfied and the last one was a pillar of blue light. It's presence seemed incredibly familiar, it cant be.."

"A-Avorion i-is that really him?!"

I felt a cold chill run up my spine that made me stop in my tracks, the aura he was giving off. I-it was like nothing I've ever seen till this moment. His aura was so overwhelming powerful, and yet so cold. Honestly, I didn't think that Avorion had it in him. Sure, he was able to be serious when the time called for it; but the level of sheer unrelenting hate released. It was as if he became someone different all together. I slowly breath as the other overwhelming presences that were around Avorion's further pushed against me. The combination of energies shared a faint resonance that when in harmony,  started to push against me. It was as if gravity it was pushing against my stride, making my stride turn into a struggling shuffle. Each step I took, became more of a struggle, as the closer I got, the harder it pushed against me. 

"U-ugh. Those other two massive auras near can't lead to anything good. I-I have to help Avorion! D-damn it!!"

I shouted in frustration has I heard the conflict begin. Each blow echoed for miles as I heard each thunderous strike made. Despite my frustrations about not being able to assist Avorion at the moment, the sound of the starting engagement awoken something I long thought dead within me. I felt my blood boil hot with excitement as I got goosebumps from the thought of a fight. While I grew closer, I'll be it not by much. I could feel every muscle fiber in my figure lit aflame, it was as if my body was metaphorically shedding itself of weakness and readying itself for whatever conflict I'll be taking part in upon my arrival.