XXII — Promise

The archer and the Lantern Children have started bonding closer among each other, swearing amongst themselves and to the world that they will help each other in times of need, and in times where they feel that others would need them.

In the dark, slow snowy, yet very frosty night, they sat around a bonfire and made a pact amongst each other: to guard and to protect, to help and to serve, not to let anyone fall, not to let anyone be harmed.

They promised to become the light like they had been called, Sam included, to those who wanted a guide in the shadow of the darkness, or those who wanted to partake in the light and pay forward to others who needed help. They promised each other to be the outward forces of nature, as the Great Mother had willed it, beacons of hope and truth, shimmering until the end of time itself.

“Even when things are hopeless”, Sam had added, mirroring his own journey as he paused, carrying the weight of what he had said onto the Lantern Children. “We must be strong, resilient. Our courage shall not waver. Our hope shall not extinguish. And even as we face The One who Delivers…”

Sam steadily inhaled as he finished what he wanted to promise with them.

“We will keep fighting until our very soul disintegrates into the ether.”

They looked at him, frowning not due to anger, serious not because he had said something terribly wrong, but nodding because they were determined to fight for what was right, to fight for the love of everyone, to fight for peace, to fight for truth and justice…

…even if fighting would cost them their lives.

As they all had gone to do whatever they needed to, Sam was left alone in the small bonfire, Ellen scooting up next to him on the bench as they watched the flames go up and down.

“You know,” Ellen started. “This fire reminds me of a Lantern Child. One of us.”

Sam nodded. He had been thinking of saying the same thing before Ellen had picked up on it. His face became wistful and looking for yearning, but also silently fierce and determined, himself knowing that this peace may not be the end of it all. In fact, someone whom he had done missions with before, would prove the very challenging opposition against them, more so than Byleck ever was, or what Vexia had been to their emotional compasses.

“This whole thing,” Ellen paused. She tried to find the words, only hesitating because she wanted them to feel special. Impactful. She looked at Sam the entire speech and she believed he seemed like someone who had gone through several wars. “Could get really scary sometimes.”

“I know.”

She placed her hand next to his, hers overlapping his and mixing her fingers amongst his. He didn’t turn away.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Something’s coming,” he finally admitted, knowing that it won’t ever be over and his journey appeared to have just started. “I have a feeling.”

“A feeling?”

“A feeling like… like what we just experienced was just the prelude. Something might come for us, and it will come to us in full blast.”

Ellen paused. Sam hadn’t been this serious in a short time. She knew he was normally serious, but he had let himself relax that, when suddenly became incredibly serious, he meant every single word he said. Something was definitely coming and Sam’s foreboding was not just of a horror story that was overblown, it genuinely felt like a threat was coming to them, impending doom that she hadn’t prepared for.

She didn’t even know if she was ready for it. She held his hand, and Sam felt her touch, himself realizing that this time he wouldn’t shoulder the burden by himself. He was prepared to let them be themselves, counting on their light as the lights around the town glistened like the bugs that flickered on their way to Melusina. It just felt slightly more magical.

“Whoever it may be,” Sam started, as he caressed the hand that laid on her, himself now firmly leading it to be grasped by him, as he gave people he perhaps thought were the only people that remained who would possibly break him down, and Ellen sat listening to him. “The empress, or General Gerwyn from the knights: anyone who wasn’t done with me. I just don’t want to lose anyone else anymore.”

Ellen pulled the hand that Sam had grasped tightly squeezing it as if she had already given her answer, herself locking eyes onto Sam as he turned, their gazes slowly mixing in electrifying signals that burned brighter than the flame, seemingly fanning it back up.

“Then you won’t have to face it alone anymore.”

“Do you really mean it?”

“Are you kidding me, Sam?” Ellen sat even closer, her face slowly getting closer to the proximity of Sam’s own. “You know we would do anything to help. Use our light, Sam.”

Sam nodded, realizing how obvious the answer was as he closed his eyes for a while, taking in the passion they had formed around the bonfire.

“Then, may I ask for your help?”

Ellen gestured, closing her eyes while still being close to Sam. She had reminded Sam of what she was before being orphaned: the young noble girl full of hope and brightness, accentuated only by the lit sky lanterns that filled the sky then, and will fill the sky for, Ellen had hoped, forever.

“You have our word, on behalf of us… the lighters.”

They rest their foreheads gently against each other.

As the fire burned brighter by the passion that had fanned it, Sam and Ellen both thought beyond what they had promised to the kids, both hoping that maybe, just maybe, they’d be able to weather any storm that would come their way.

The lights flickered in a sequence that didn’t feel random at all, as the nightly canvas was slowly placed with stars, four of which shone brighter than the rest and formed a collection: a constellation.

Something was abound, beyond the horizon.

And Sam was ready.