38 Loss and Hope (1/2)
'Find them.' Leo woke with a start. That had clearly been Will's voice. It was just as clear as it was when he heard it at the Java Joint. Before he opened his eyes, he saw two rows of cottages lining a street. It was too dark to make out for sure but he thought he saw fields on either side as well.
Sitting up in his sleeping bag, Leo stretched for a moment. The spot he took to sleep was undoubtedly where Will slept when he lived in the small area. The tree seemed like the right place to lay a sleeping bag.
Slowly, Leo began to put on the old tan farmers clothing Bianca had found in the cottage. They had already stored their clothes within their bags the night before so as to not forget. Lastly he took off his glasses. Something he had never had the ability to do before. His aura sharpened his senses including sight. For the past few weeks, he only kept them on as a sense of normalcy in the chaos he had been thrown into. There's no such thing as normal anymore. He thought as he stared at the spectacles. With a sigh, he put them in his pack.
Looking at the cottage, Leo wondered just how long Bianca was planning to sleep. The sky was just starting to lighten up as he got out of his sleeping bag and went for his friends room.
”Time to wake up.” Leo said as he knocked on the door. ”We are leaving in a few hours.”
Almost as if she wasn't even asleep, Bianca rose from the bed and went outside. She was already dressed in the plain tan rags.
The two of them sat down outside as Leo took out a frying pan with a pack of eggs from his bag and summoned a flame. His concentration was enough to keep the fire above the earth as he heated up the pan. Bianca produced butter, bread, a few plates and utensils from her own bag.
Making breakfast, they didn't say much as the scrambled eggs were being cooked. Maya summoned a flame and toasted a few slices of bread to go with their meal.
When the food was served, Leo chuckled. ”An upgrade from jerky I suppose.” he said with a smile. He could almost see the drooling expression Will would have had if they were along for the ride in his first travel through the land.
The two of them ate mostly in silence as the sun slowly rose. When their meal was finished, Maya took the dishes to the well to wash while Leo packed up camp.
Within an hour, Leo and Bianca stared at the cottage. They left it the same way they found it. The only thing that showed they were ever there was the plain rags they wore.
In moments, Leo turned to Bianca. His ring began to shimmer in silver flame as he summoned his sword.
The two of them agreed on a routine before they left. Whenever they could train, they would for at least an hour.
Bianca looked at her own ring. She had gotten so used to fighting alongside Leo against Will in their sparring sessions, it seemed wrong when she looked up to see Leo's sword in his hand facing her.
As she looked at the sword, she thought of Will's. Her companions blade wasn't so different from her boyfriends. It had the same silver blade and guard with gold wiring the hilt in intricate patterns, almost like a spider web. The only difference was the silver aura surrounding Leo.
When Will relied on his weapon, Bianca noticed the emotion he alway had. He was always desperate or angry, his aura reflecting his intentions. The crimson gold he emitted always seemed to cry out to burn his enemies.
Bianca looked at the silver aura surrounding Leo. There was no emotion surrounding him or the blade, it was like the weapon was just as cold and calculating as the owner. Whenever he drew the weapon, it seemed as if Leo always lost his playfulness.
Shaking herself from her thoughts, Bianca activated her ring. Crimson flames engulfed her as she prepared herself. The games wrapped around her as if to become armor. The more she used it, the more it felt as if she were wearing it instead of the flames only surrounding her.
Will's words rang in her ear. She was to defend him as if armor. That was part of her vow, what have her the lineage weapon. Standing in a cloak of flame, she couldn't help but feel defenseless for him.
The two of them sparred for only half an hour. The awkwardness of Leo only attacking Bianca felt off. The two were used to attacking like a sword and shield, not as separate entities.
Finishing with nothing truly eventful, the two friends allowed their weapons to be stored back in their rings before heading down the trail once again.
The wagon marks veered of in the direction they had to take, the opposite way of which they came. With bags in hand, the two friends set off once again within the wood line of the road.
Within an hour, Leo spotted the first patrol. There were only two of them on horses. In crimson breastplates With gold boots, gauntlets and helmets, they looked like a mockery of Will's aura.
”What are they thinking?” one of the knights asked as they rode past. ”Killing so many, What exactly are we supposed to be protecting?”
”We don't get paid to ask questions.” the other said. ”Besides, it was only the elderly.”
Bianca could hear a sigh coming from the other knight. ”I remember the days when nobody had to die.”
”Those kids did have an odd look to them though.” the other guard mentioned. ”It was determination, not mourning. It didn't suit the occasion If you know what I mean.”
If he wasn't wearing a helmet, Bianca could almost picture the disappointment that must have been shown in his eyes.
With a nod of his head, Leo moved further into the woods to avoid detection. The two of them used their aura to mask any noises as they made their way past.
A few hundred feet out of the area, Leo and Bianca moved closer to the road once more. The dense trees seemed to be thinning out.
Within another few hours, the woods disappeared from view making way for crops. With their cover all but gone, Leo and Bianca moved back to the road.
In the distance, Leo could make out a few buildings coming up. As they got closer, the image Will left in his mind played out in front of him. ”We found them.” he said quietly to himself.
Though they were at the edge of town, Leo could almost feel the other auras awaken.