Believing in Myself

I'm writing more and talking less... so it seems. I'm just glad I get the month off to write and think my ideas over.


Chapter 16


"Is it... worth it?"

Beras leaned against a stone wall. He looked to the other only person in the room, the one called Atrois. He ran a hand through his hair and smiled.

"What do you think Beras?"

Beras pulled away from the wall and walked into the center of the room, standing right by Atrois. He shook his head a bit and stared at the two orbs. He saw the blue one they recovered so long ago, and the more recently obtained red one. The fires inside burned brightly, unaware of thier uses.

"We started with seven... and it's down to only three of us. We have made many sacrifices to come this far. Just for these two orbs. And while we may be close to getting what we are after... I can't help but wonder what more we are going to go through."

"Your so worrisome. As long as my brother is running things, we can't lose. Just one more and we will rule! No one will be able to stop us!"

Beras faced Atrois and stared at him. He looked back to the orbs. "Even still..."

"You don't believe that foolish woman, do you? Predicting our downfall?"

"It was not a prediction for our downfall. But it was the reason we began to kill off the Destined."

"So then what are you worried about?"

Beras did not answer this immediately. "What she said... means that there is someone out there who can stop us. But we have no clue who it is."

"So you believe. But you must wonder... even though we can expect such things to happen, no one has yet shown the power to stop us. It might even be false, the whole thing. So there is no reason to worry."

"I'm not ready to accept that. Even if it can be false... it does not mean that it is certain."

Atrois placed a hand on Beras' shoulder. "Fear not. My brother would not have begun this, if he did not believe we could finish it."

Atrois looked to Beras, a smile on his face. Beras looked back to him, looking indifferent. He walked away, black into the darkness. Atrois looked back to the orbs. "So close... And then... we will rule!"

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He couldn't contain the smile in his face.

John was staring at the gate to a new town, a town bustling with activity. People hurried by, passing stalls selling various things. Some held foods of all kinds, from fruits and meats to some strange plants that John had never seen before. Another stall had various cloths and clothing for sale. Still another claimed to have rings and amulets, and other jewelry said to hold some kind of magical properties.

While John found all this exciting, Jessica found it all overlydone, and completely unneccessary. They did not need supplies or more clothing, and she highly doubted that the artifacts really had some magic sealed away in them. Even if they did, it would be better for them to just keep it themselves... and more importantly, they already knew magic. Well, some magic.

"Wow, this place is really nice."

"Hello!"

The two turned to see a man walking over to them. He had a smile on his face.

"Welcome! You must be travelers. New in town?"

Jessica nodded. "Yes. We are just passing through..."

"Welcome to Aseli. Town of merchants and travelers. We get many people visiting here for our goods and supplies that come through. People come from all over then, to see what we have to offer. Ah, but I'm getting ahead of myself. Tell me, what are your names?"

"My name is John Aaron."

"You can call me Jessica."

"Aaron huh... Well, what brings you two here?"

"Well, we are journeying to my father's hometown," John began, "and we hope to learn some kind of secret about him that will help me understand more about my family's past."

"How nice. Oh where are my manners? People call me Resas. Anyway, allow me to show you around."

John and Jessica followed Resas, as he showed them around the marketplace. He continued to point out things that would, he hoped, interest them, although he never took the time to look back and see if they were truely paying attention. John was looking around, trying to take everything in all at once, when...

BAM! Someone had crashed into him.

"Damnit! Sorry! I'm in a big rush!"

John caught sight of a man with blonde hair, wearing a dark blue vest and black pants. His red boots, that had looked like they were new, now were covered in dust and dirt. John got up and brushed himself off, while the man ran off, apparently late for something.

"Some people... anyway, where was I..."

Resas continued his walk and talk about the town, while John followed. Jessica lagged behind, looking back to where the man had run off to, but he had vanished from sight rather quickly. Still hiding her doubt, she turned and walked away.

From behind a nearby building, the man from before smiled to himself. His eyes were closed and he chuckled outloud.

"So... that is the Destined that Beras could not kill... interesting. Still... I don't see what makes him so special. Complete fool..."

He moved away from his hiding spot and vanished into the shadows.

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"Finally..."

Jessica had sighed in relief. Resas had left them nearby an inn.

"Oh come on, he was nice. Besides, he showed us the town, it's nice here."

"Still..." She was unsure if she should tell him, the feeling that she got. It was as if someone had placed an echoing darkness around the town. How long had she felt this now? Since... She pushed it away. Perhaps she was thinking too much about it. She wondered if maybe she was even imagining things...

"Uh-oh..."

Jessica was snapped out of her thought's by, what she felt was, yet another problem caused by John's lack of planning. "What now?"

"I just remembered... we don't have any money. We can't pay for this..."

"Don't you ever think things through?"

"Excuse me."

The two looked to a man, who had just come out of the inn. "You wouldn't happen to be named John Aaron, would you?"

"Umm... yes."

"Right right... you match the description... Mr. Aaron, we have your room ready."

"Room?"

"Yes. It was booked two days ago, room for two, you and your companion there. I assume she is named Jessica?"

"Yes, that's my name."

"Good. If you'll follow me..."

John and Jessica looked to each other, completely bewildered. They followed him inside, past the number of people who were busy doing who knew what. He lead them into a hallway and down the path until they reached the last room on the right.

"Enjoy your stay."

The man walked away without another word or explanation. John and Jessica immediately spoke.

"Did you-?"

"Are you sure-?"

They both stopped and looked to the door.

"Someone... knew we were coming here."

"I wonder..." John steadied himself, bracing for what he thought was on the other side. He'd have to be quick, lightning fast to dodge the rush of blade... He opened the door to a rather large room. A large bed was set in a corner of the room, and laid on it was a nightshirt and sweats for John and a nightgown for Jessica, apparently made of silk. A door to another room stood on the oter end of the room, and a writing desk was placed in the middle of the room.

"Not here..."

Jessica didn't have to ask what he meant by that. John walked over to the door and opened it, peeking his head inside. He shook it and closed it again. "Nothing." He placed his pack on the table and started to remove the books inside. He laid them out on the table, stacking them as he did so.

"What does it mean?"

"I don't know. But I still don't trust him."

She turned away and looked around the room. Everything seemed normal enough... nothing out of the ordinary was here. Well, nothing was ordinary about the two of them traveling anyway... after all, how often do magic users and former angels travel around?

"Maybe. But we have to be thankful for his help."

John said nothing to it. As far as he was concerned, he and that man had a score to settle, and no amount of 'helping' would ever change that.