Chapter 42

We reached the city of Xa the next day. Even though we had walked through the dense jungle for several days, I still wasn’t prepared for what appeared in front of us as we came closer. At first, all I could see was a tall wall made of vines, and it was only as we came closer that I noticed the moss-covered rocks sticking out from it and realised it was a stone wall.

Mai took us through a huge gate, and we entered onto a wider street. People stood gathered in the shade of ancient trees lining the road, watching us with curiosity as we passed. No one spoke, and I suspected they already knew about the fate of Aki’s father. I glanced at Aki walking by her aunt’s side, staring at the ground.

I sighed and turned back to the road. Even now, when I knew what to look for, it was difficult to tell what was built and what had simply grown into place. Every building was covered in thick climbing vines, and only sometimes could I spot the stones that the structures were built from. Mai continued down the street, and some people left the trees and followed us in the distance. They glanced at me, and I heard someone whisper. I sighed. So they knew about me as well…

We followed the path until Mai halted at the entrance to a circle of ancient trees. I could see a statue of Goddess carved into an ancient tree standing in the middle, and only once I looked closer, did I realise it was two statues, standing back to back: Goddess with her shield protecting the world, and Goddess as I had seen her on the mural in Akka, wearing simple clothes and looking ahead.

A woman the same age as Mai stepped out and halted before us. Her arms and legs were covered in colourful tattoos, and I assumed she was a priestess. She peered at me for a moment before turning to Aki.

“Come”, she said softly, holding out her hand to her.

Aki hesitated, but then took it, and they walked over to one of the trees forming the circle. The woman began to sing quietly. I couldn’t hear the words, but I saw that they brought tears to Aki’s eyes. She unfastened the heavy necklace at her neck and placed it at the roots.

We watched in silence until the woman gestured for us to come closer.

“You were Eno’s friends?”, she asked as we halted before her.

Uruk nodded.

“Don’t carry the burden of his death, remember him for what he brought into your life.”

She stepped back, leaving us alone. The others sat down by the tree, and I could them crying silently. I didn’t know what to do until Selene reached out to me, and I sat down next to her. I watched the necklace on the ground. Had it belonged to him…? Not having a family worthy to be called by my name had saved me so far from needing to say goodbye to those who passed away. At least Aki had someone who cared about her, and he must have been a decent person.

I saw the people who had followed us coming into the circle and sitting down quietly around us. I wondered if they were her family coming to say goodbye. Despite the sadness that filled the air, I smiled through the tears, seeing Aki surrounded by all these people. At least she would not be alone and would be supported on her path, no matter how difficult it was.

Aki got up and came over to us, and Mai and another woman joined us. Aki leaned her head on the woman’s shoulder, sobbing, and I realised it must be her mother. The woman turned to us.

“Be our guests, friends. No one blames you for what happened.”

“Thank you, Kei.”

Karim bowed his head.

“You should rest, you've come a long way”, Mai added.

“Yes, stay with us”, Kei said and got up, holding Aki in her arms.

They led us back to the main street and into one of those plant-covered buildings I had seen as we passed. They gestured for us to sit and then offered us food and water. It seemed that they all lived here, sharing the space with their relatives.

Aki sat quietly between her mother and her aunt. I wished I could do something for her. I knew that just reciting a prayer as I normally did would be useless, but I hated feeling so helpless. What would Goddess have done…? I glanced at my friends, but they were deep in a discussion with a couple of older warriors. I got up and walked over to Aki, and she looked at me with eyes glistening from tears. I knelt down by her side and took her hands in mine.

“I will never replace him, but… I will always be here for you.” I whispered.

She sobbed and threw her arms around me.

“T-thank you… ”, she whispered between the sobs, and I whispered,

I made my choices

and paid the price.

I don’t regret

walking this path.

She untangled herself from me and looked me in the eyes.

“I will follow you, Rina. I made my choice, too.”

“Aki..”, her mother whispered, putting her hand on her.

Aki turned to her.

“If Father was here, he would have followed her… Just like Karim, Uruk and Selene. Just like those who followed her a long time ago…”

Kei looked at her daughter with a mix of fear, pride and sadness on her face and hesitated for a few moments before she nodded.

“Yes, he would…”

I blinked. I had just wanted to help her feel better. What had I done…? Follow me… How did I mess up something without realising it?

Kei leaned over and gave me a hug.

“Take care of her, my lady”, she whispered.

She let go of me and only then did I realise that the room had gone silent and everyone was looking at me