“The Temple pt 2.”

We walk up the stairs in silence, although the rest of us walk ahead at an even pace. Dain falls behind.

And I begin to spiral in my head.

Is Dain cruel? Or just caught up in his feelings the same way I was when I made the same decision that ticked him off.

As much as I hate how it makes me feel, I’m the odd one out; I’m still finding my footing, and instead of accepting that, I tried to force myself into a spot beside the rest of them, and I hurt people in the process.

I glance back at him, grasping his aching hands, the light from above gleaming against his crimson armor.

Is Dain dramatic, or is he just the only one who was honest, albeit harsh enough to acknowledge my glaring flaws and Jorvain’s perceived favoritism for me?

I mean, not even I know what he sees in me, so how can I call Dain cruel without even extending him an ounce of the compassion I wanted for myself? Maybe if I can try to understand him, I’ll understand who he is as a hero, what that is in his eyes.

I fall behind, slowing down until I’m at his side. A newfound determination wells in my chest.

“Let’s talk.”

I ask sternly.

“No.”

He answers bluntly.

“Roba?”

Maelis says, turning back, glancing between the two of us.

“It’s okay, we’re figuring things out!”

I shout back at them

“You guys go ahead and keep walking; we’re right behind you.”

They hesitate, but turn back around, carrying on up the next flight of stairs.

“We aren’t figuring anything out, so I suggest you catch up.”

He states bluntly.

“Nope, this is my natural pace.”

I answer.

“Then I’ll speed up.”

He huffs, picking up speed; I match his pace.

“There’s nothing to talk about!”

He spits

“You know that’s not true!”

I retort, holding my ground.

“What is there for you to say? That you're sorry? That everything was an accident?”

He mocks

“No. That’s not what I’m trying to say, because I know that’s not what you wanna hear, and I don’t blame you. But I can’t apologize properly if you don’t tell me why you’re so angry.”

I say, reaching out to grab his shoulder as he picks up speed—but he smacks it away.

“I’m not angry, I’m repulsed. By you and how you carry yourself, you reek of self-loathing and weakness, and to be frank, I don’t think you're fit for this party, Roba Reman. I really don’t, and I don’t want you here.”

He sneers cruelly.

My gaze falters

“That’s not fair!”

“Sure it isn’t. I think we’re done here.”

He says sternly, walking ahead.

“You won’t even let me prove myself!”

I shout, my brows furrowed with frustration.

“You did, and you failed, so maybe you should try again with Jorvain. Maybe he’ll give you a treat and call you a good boy.”

He shouts back, trudging up the stairs.

I clench my fist, lowering my head.

I tried, I tried, and he still had to make a mockery out of me! What am I supposed to do when he clearly hates me? If it were really just for my mistakes, maybe I could apologize and move past it, but he thinks I’m weak… pathetic. And he won’t change his mind…

But how is that fair…how?!

I grit my teeth and catch up to the ground, till we’re all together, walking up the last flight of stairs.

Is this it... is this my place, an outsider? Always a few steps behind the rest…not a real member of a team, not a real hero, just me.

“This is the last flight.”

Emrys says with an exhausted huff.

“Finally!”

Maelis exclaims.

“Let’s hurry to the top.”

Jorvain says quietly.

“Wait!”

I shout, shooting forward as Maelis's foot presses down—on a pressure point.

The stairs rotate and switch over into a smooth surface, as a panel from overhead opens—a boulder dropping forth—slamming into my hands as I shove them out of the way.

I let out a cry of pain, struggling to hold my stance, gritting my teeth, doing everything I can to fight through the throbbing pain in my arms.

“Roba!”

Maelis shouts

“There was a pressure point...”

Emrys mutters in disbelief.

Jorvain rushes to my aid, pressing his side against the boulder, straining with all his might—

“Jorvain, let me.”

Dain says, stepping forth, taking Jorvain's spot, pushing against the boulder.

“But...”

“We need to talk.”

Dain says, taking off his helmet and handing it to Jorvain. My eyes widen.

“Come on, we’re gonna push this thing out of that opening.”

He says, glancing at me with his stern eyes.

I nod.

And we begin trudging up the smooth surface, pushing the boulder along with us.

“Dain...please, I wanna understand your outlook, make it make sense! If you…if you think I’m so unfit to be a hero, then tell me! Tell me what makes you a hero!”

I shout, shutting my eyes with passion.

“You wanna know what makes me a hero? What a true hero is in my eyes? Here it is. To be a hero isn’t about being smart, attractive, rich, or talented...I’m none of those things, never could be.”

He ends softly, looking down.

“But what I could be was brave and strong and compassionate, with an understanding of why this world and people who were like the past me need heros. And that's all it took. But someone like you, who does heroic acts for show and praise, I don’t understand or respect. And if you can’t understand that, you’re just proving my point, and you shouldn’t be on this team.”

For a moment, I’m silent, taking in his words.

“Wow.”

I laugh, which makes his brows furrow.

“Of course that’s funny to you.”

He grumbles, looking away.

“It’s not.”

I say seriously.

“I just…well, it looks like I was even wrong about you too…much like Jorvain, you’re still more of a hero than I’ll ever be.”

I say somberly, looking down.

He’s silent for a moment, and I don’t expect a reply but—

“Ugh, I don’t get you, and I’m not sure I’ll change my mind about you either…but here's a word of advice: don’t claim to want to be something you’re yet to understand. Someone once told me, to become someone new, you must first understand the person you're leaving behind.”

Who am I leaving behind?

“What does that—

“Hey! We’re helping! No more waiting around.”

Jorvain shouts, trudging up after us.

“That’s right!”

Maelis says with a huff, struggling to even reach us.

Emrys pushes them forward with their backside

“Right behind you!”

She shouts

“It’s up to you to figure out what it means.”

Dain finishes as the rest of them join in.

***

Soon, we reach the top, leave the temple, and walk onto the grass, back in the forest.

“We made it.”

Jorvain says with a sigh, placing his hand on his hip.

“Everyone.”

I squeak.

No response.

“Everyone, there’s something I really need to say. I’m begging you to listen.”

I say again, louder this time.

They all turn around to face me.

I take a deep breath.

“I’m sorry. What I did wasn’t… something you do on accident; it was selfish, and it was wrong. I’m sorry. I’m really, really sorry. I know right now I’m…a liability, that I don’t contribute anything valuable to this team, that…that none of you want me here, but Jorvain—

“Roba...”

Maelis says quietly, their voice full of sympathy.

“No, it’s true, and that’s okay, I get it now, I kept telling myself…that it wasn’t fair, but if not fair, then understandable, I have to earn my place, I have to give you all a reason to recognize my value as i’m sure you all did before...but all I ask, even if I don’t deserve it anymore, i’m begging you all just to give me a chance.”

I hold my head high, clenching my fist.

“I think we can do that much.”

Emrys says gently

“It won’t do us any good to resent one another, will it?”

“I guess we’re all just arriving at the conclusion I already came to. Of course, we’ve gotta give you a chance, but if you pull something like what you did earlier ever again, that’s a different story.”

Maelis says with a compassionate smirk.

“For what it’s worth, I don’t think you need to give us a reason to recognize your value, as you put it. But I'm willing to wait, not for you to prove something to us, but to yourself.”

Jorvain says with a sweet smile, looking me in the eyes.

And now, we’re all looking at Dain.

“I don’t have the right to accept your apology without giving one of my own… I scolded you for your heroics, yet behaved like a villain back in the temple. I’m… I’m really sorry—Maelis, Emrys, Jorvain, and…especially you, Roba. I really hurt you, and it wasn’t an accident, and that’s messed up. I really don’t know what got into me. Regardless of how I feel about you, I’m not someone who…wants to hurt others. Not anymore.”

He finishes quietly, looking down at the helmet he holds in his hands.

“Hey, thank you for apologizing, and although I don’t love the way you went about it, thank you for being honest about how you felt about me and giving me advice... I’m gonna give it a lot of thought.”

I say softly.

“I forgive you, Dain, just promise you’ll stop pushing people away when you get caught up in your feelings. We’re here for you too.”

Emrys adds with a small smile.

“I understood your frustration, Dain, and I knew how you were feeling, but I brushed you off. That wasn’t right. I’m sorry too. I’ve got a long way to go as a leader... humans are such sensitive creatures, aren’t they ".

Jorvain says, rubbing the bottom of his chin in thought.

“Hell is that supposed to mean?”

Dain barks, feigning offense.

“Just a thought, but of course I forgive you, buddy; you're my shield; swords are no good without you.”

Jorvain finishes with a wink, which makes Dain blush, which makes my eyes widen.

“Oh, come on! You too, Dain? Why’s Jorvain always making everyone go red like tomatoes!”

Maelis whines.

“I did not!”

Dain says sheepishly, embarrassingly putting his helmet back on his head.

“Hmph, well if you want me to accept your apology, you’ve gotta carry me till we reach our next stop andd, and you’ve gotta do it with your helmet off so I can see your handsome face!”

Maelis says with a cheeky grin, placing their hands on their hips, proud of their childish request.

“Fine.”

Dain says with a huff, taking off his helmet, a flushed pout on his face.

“Your ears are red.”

Maelis teases.

“Shut it already! I have pale skin!”

He barks defensively, turning his head away.

Which makes everyone laugh.

I smile, relieved to get all the weight off my chest, or at least most of it...but there’s still something I need to understand. And that’s whether I’m a hero or not, and to understand that, I gotta understand myself.

End.