Ascension - (Alarian Warriors)

Still standing in the hallway he smiled, watching her run was slightly amusing. He’d caught the expression on her face and knew he hadn’t scared her. That was something else. Something he’d never seen her do before. He sighed wondering how things would progress now. Only time would tell. He turned and was about to head out only to be stopped by a very angry looking elf.

“Vincent! A word?” That was Kirra’s voice Aveyon knew it well.

Aveyon stayed where she was and listened while the elf spoke. Her intent wasn’t to eavesdrop but as words were spoken, she couldn’t pull herself away.

Vincent swallowed the lump that had suddenly formed in his throat, having seen the irritated Kirra. Her arms were folded over her chest, and she was scowling at him. If there was one thing, he had learnt over all his visits to Elendor, it was that you don’t get on the bad side of the Priestess. By the looks of it, he’d done just that.

“Yes?” He managed to squeak out.

Aveyon bit her bottom lip, stopping a laugh from escaping as she found his fear amusing.

“If anyone else had spoken to the Princess like that, they would have been put to death.” She hissed.

He remained silent as she scolded him.

Aveyon tilted her head; did he speak to her differently? She didn’t see it. Sure, he joked with her and was more blunt then others but he had never once called her by her name. Maybe the Priestess didn’t like how casual he was with her, but she did.

“You have no right! Why are you not pleading with her to return with you! You will push her away at this rate!” She continued clearly furious with him.

Oh, that. Aveyon thought dryly as she rolled her eyes. She’d just said it a moment ago, no one else understood like Vincent did, this would be a natural, normal reaction if the mass of people behind her found it. She didn’t feel panicked in regard to Kirra knowing, the Priestess had proved that she could hold her tongue and have sense enough to know that this would cause a panic. She really should walk away, but her feet felt heavy, like they were glued to the ground.

She heard him audibly sigh. His attitude easily reflected her thoughts.

“By the gods, I don’t know what she sees in you. YOU are the only one that can help her. But you are going about it all wrong. You’re not even trying!” She strode over to him.

Raising her hand, she poked at his forehead rather aggressively as she continued. “You, idiotic man child! You need to show her that life is worth living, tell her that you want her to live! For crying out loud tell her that you want her!”

“It’s her choice, I won’t take that away from her! I won’t, not after everything else she’s had taken.” He stood firm, meeting her fierce tone with his own.

“You have got to be kidding me!” She seemed to almost growl. “You would sit by and watch her throw her life away!? And yours for that matter! Did you forget that if she dies you do too!” She was almost yelling.

Aveyon cringed as pain ripped through her. She was all too aware of that fact. But to hear it out loud, he was going to die because of her own selfish wish... it actually hurt.

“I couldn’t give a shit about my own life. But if you think I can honestly do that? Just watch her throw her life away? You think it doesn’t break my heart to see her like this!?” She could feel his anger flare as he spoke. “I want more than anything, to come back with her alive! But for heaven’s sake Kirra, she needs to make that choice herself!”

“Why! WHY! Damn it! Why can’t you just save her like any other normal person would?” Kirra clenched her fists. “I can’t even look at you right now!” She spun on her heels and left him dumbfounded in the center of the hallway.

Aveyon stood with her hands clasped over her mouth as she tried to stop herself from making any sound. She had an overwhelming urge to tell Kirra to mind her own business and leave Vincent alone. But she also wanted to hear what he had to say. He was different with her, he understood her, unlike the others.

Her cheeks felt wet, her hand lifting up to dap the tears that were streaming down her face. She was crying? The realization of the fact that she didn’t want him to die, overwhelming. But to hear him say he didn’t care, that her death was more meaningful then his very life. It stirred something deep within her, emotions she had wanted to keep locked away.

Regret, not for knowing him, not for caring for him but for tiring his life to hers, she shouldn’t have done it. But she also couldn’t imagine her time on earth, her journey to this point without him by her side... She needed him.

She heard Vincent’s footsteps behind her, snapping her back to reality and out of her own mind, she darted off to their room. There’s no way Vincent wouldn’t know that she was there, but she couldn’t let him see her like this. Not yet, she needed to calm down, to sort through her own feelings before she was ready to talk it out.

The next morning, Aveyon yawned sleepily as she tried to wake herself up. She hadn’t slept well at all during the night. She was conflicted with her own emotions, starting to be pulled one way while her mind sent her in another direction entirely. Vincent’s comments echoing through her head certainly didn’t help matters, how did he see her? And how exactly did she feel about him? What about the comment that Kirra made about him wanting her, then what happened before the meeting. She felt more unstable then when she had gotten out of the cage, and for what? Over a boy! She was far too old for this.

She wanted to see him as much as she did Emerald these days, and they shared a room together! He’d seemed upset after last night’s outburst with Kirra; he hadn’t come back to the room after the incident. She could feel his rage and anger, something that he rarely felt. She was a little concerned about him, but it wasn’t the first time he had spent all night out, normally training though. Shaking her head frantically she rolled over, only to groan as a soft knock sounded at the door. It was time to get up already.

“Princess, breakfast is ready.” A voice called from the other side, it was one of the elf attendants for the inn.

Rolling herself out of bed, she dressed in her usual attire and half heartily made her way downstairs, then outside to the already busy streets. She headed for the large dining hall they had set up to feed most of the clans. With so many visitors in the city now, most everyone dined in the large hall at different times of the day.

Everyone in her time slot had already gathered, Aveyon was the last to enter like usual. She much preferred the comfort of the bed over the early rises. The difference today was that the air was tense, no one spoke. Toying with her meal, Aveyon wasn’t sure if she should say something. Normally the hall was buzzing with voices, but today people just glanced at Vincent and Kirra. Had there been more arguments after the fact?

Having had enough Aveyon slammed her utensils on the table. The action turning all eyes toward her. She shoved her chair back and stood up abruptly. Lifting her head, she glared over at Kirra and Vincent.

“You two.” She began, her voice was soft, calm, and oddly soothing. “You need to work this out, a feud between two people that is leaving poison in the air is not acceptable. Sort it out!” She concluded with a stern demand. Spinning around she headed for the door and made her exit, pastry in mouth. She headed for the training grounds as per her regular schedule.

Kirra sighed; she waved her hand for the room to be cleared. As Vincent stood to leave, she snarled. “Are you an idiot? Sit your ass down!”

He sat back down carefully; he knew what was coming.

“I have every right to kick you out of this place, you being here is because I allow it.” Her voice had venom behind it.

“You let me stay because it’s what the Princess wants.” He softly added.

She glared at him before adding. “She heard every word.”

“I’m aware-”

“And still, you do nothing! You sicken me!” She spat cutting him off.

“What do you expect me to do? We are at war, personal matters do no-.”

“Liar! LIAR!” She slammed her fist against the table. “Your-” Her own words were cut off as her bottom lip quivered, she was losing her composure. “She’s going to-”

She couldn’t finish that sentence, but Vincent knew what she meant. He placed his hand over her fist and looked at her with a soft gaze, sorrow in his eyes. “Kirra, she’s different, the woman that came here months ago has completely changed.”

“Then why! Why will you not save her?” As the last words left her lips, tears escaped the corners of her eyes.

“Then let me ask you why you won’t save her! In that moment when she steps into the river of souls, pull her out.” Vincent was careful with his tone, though this conversation was clearly rubbing him the wrong way.

Kirra turned her head away. “She’d never forgive me, she loves you, she would forgive you.”

Vincent shook his head. “Your wrong, it’s not about forgiveness, it’s about choice.”

Kirra growled and glared at him with reddened eyes.

“We can’t force her to change her mind.” He could feel the elf trying to get a hold of her emotions. “As you said yesterday, we can show her that life is worth living. Believe me, I’m trying. But, perhaps you can show her that there is a place to return to?” He added.

“She is the last remaining Alarian Princess, we have lost so many already, if we lose her too...” She managed to express.

So many lives had been lost to this war already, Vincent knew Kirra couldn’t understand why Aveyon didn’t want to return after the task was complete. But he did, rather than trying to make her understand we tried a different approach.

“Kirra, if we save her from herself, she will forever be stuck in that dark place that she can’t escape from. If she crawls her way out now, and chooses life, she must do so herself, for her own sanity. We can help her see that life is worth living yes, but we can’t force her.” He explained before he smiled sadly, they certainly feud like siblings. “Look, why not initiate her? Give her a place to call home. She cares more then you know, she might just surprise you.”

Thinking on the idea for a time, Kirra seemed to return to herself. She started slapping her cheeks a few times with her hands before she glared at him again.

“Speak a word of this weakness to anyone and I will have your head.” With that she rose and walked away. She had plans to attend to, plans that would hopefully help Aveyon feel more like one of them.

Vincent sat at the table for a moment shaking his head before leaving to make his own preparations for the day. Does that really count as them working it out? He wasn’t sure. It felt more like conspiring together than working anything out between them.