Chapter 231 - The Boy faces his Burdens (1/2)

Rassa crashed through the orchards towards the lake, ignoring the pain as he tripped on roots and was whipped with low-hanging branches. He'd already had to wait until his parents had fallen asleep, he couldn't wait any longer. He had to see Surai. Surai would be able to fix this. Or at the very least, tell him what had gone wrong.

He burst through into the clearing where the lake was, looking towards the rock where he usually found Surai. Only she wasn't there.

”Surai!” called Rassa.

His voice echoed out over the lake. But only the sounds of the crickets and other animals and the slight breeze in the trees greeted him. Rassa called again.

”Surai!”

He spun in place, trying to see through the dark. His foot hit the cool water and soaked through his boots and clothes quickly. He took another step out, the water coming mid way up his shins as he turned and splashed towards the rock where she usually sat.

”Surai! This isn't the time to be like this. Something's happened! I need help, Surai!”

Rassa trudged around the rock, then on top of it as if he was trying to get a better view through the darkness. He hadn't felt so useless in years with this human vision.

”SURAI!”

But as the echoes of his call vanished into the distance, he let reality set in. She wasn't here. Right now, in this moment where he needed her to answer his questions, she wasn't here.

Rassa sat down on the rock, defeated as he stared out over the lake. What was it she'd warned him the last time he'd seen her?

”You're the only one in this illusion, Rassa, the consequences are yours to bare alone”.

Was this what she'd meant? Rassa doubted things would be so simple with Surai. After all she'd created such an elaborate illusion for him. An illusion. This was just an illusion.

”You have manifested light as your shield...if you can blow out the candle, I'll consider your decision made”.

He hadn't listened. Not really. If he had he would have hesitated at the consequences. Because even if he had blown that candle out that night, he'd never truly let his burdens be carried away. He'd taken it as his own escape. His own way out of the inevitable.