Burning Soul

The dinner was fairly simple and nothing unexpected happened, except Milot being bolted again over some random joke that he failed to convey.

They had a pretty eventful journey and to be honest they weren’t at their best right now. Milot was still emotionally hurt, Theo, needless to say, was walking with a severed arm and Catherine was holding in a lot of secrets. Including the truth about her friend, Vivian.

They all needed some space and time to cool off but they didn’t have that luxury. The longest break they had since the doom’s day was the day after and it didn’t last any longer as they had to rush out soon.

Getting Magically healed doesn’t mean it’ll just heal up everything. In their case, it was evident, even though Theo showed no signs or to that matter everyone else, they were hiding their scars behind the smile.

To get some fresh air, Theo asked a way to the balcony and headed there alone while Catherine decided it was best for her to stay in the living room as Milot went to sleep.

As he opened the door, he felt a gust of cold air hit his face making his hair flow. He looked in distance and all he could see were trees and bushes.

It was a forest, after all, not just woods outside a castle or something. They were deep inside the forest and it was calmer than ever.

He took a few steps to get closer to the railing and lean over it. Relaxing his body, he let out a sigh and started thinking, ‘how did it all come to this?’

As he looked back at the journey, he could see a lot of good memories along with the times he felt scared as well.

For someone like him who loved adventure, it would have been just another adventure, but it was not.

He felt someone stand behind him but he was too engulfed in thoughts to even care. Maybe what others saw wasn’t the only thing hurting him.

Without even turning back he spoke, “One day, you just lose your house. Other days you lose your path and then afterwards you lose your sibling and a part of you!

And for some reason that you don’t know or understand. You fight to get better but never are quite there, just a burden.

No matter how miserable you feel, you can’t show it or you’ll be a bigger burden.

Burden,

This is not an adventure I asked for!” A tear slide past his reddened cheek.

He could break into tears at any moment now.

Amara stood right beside him, instead of comforting him or lending him a hand, she just stood there and said, “It’s life boy,

You don’t get what you ask or what you deserve.

It’s a game of losing and winning. Some days you win a lot and on some days you lose everything. Sometimes you keep winning or losing until you break apart and give up. That’s what life wants from you.

She finds it funny, seeing people in despair! Or maybe she likes testing her subjects. It’s up to you how to look at it.

I heard a lot about your journey and it’s not the easiest, to be honest.

But looking at it, it’s not worse right?”

Theo looked at her in confusion as he wiped his tears, “What do you mean?”

“I mean, you are alive, everyone is alive and well there’s still fire left in everyone!

Why do you feel responsible and for what?

You need to look at the part where nothing is really broken. In future you might not have anyone to comfort you, what will you do then? Cry?

Is that how you want things to go?

Think of it as a chance to grow and grow instead of just thinking where it went wrong!

And about losses, there is surely someone among us who can relate and you know that person won’t show it as well!” She then turned around and continued, “If you ask me, I don’t think Life loves playing around with her subjects, there’s always a way out of every situation.

Look for that!”

He turned around only to find she was gone already.

‘Away!

Maybe I need to get over with it, but…’ He still had uneasy thoughts. He continued enjoying the breeze.

“Do you think that will help?” Amara returned to the living room where Catherine was already waiting for her.

“I’m not sure, but a word of advise never goes un benefited right?” She replied,

“A sharp one!

So what is it that you wanted to talk about?” She sat down as the maid poured a cup of sweet tea for both of them.

“Do you know anything about a girl named Ersa? Also, if you built the barrier, do you have any idea about what’s going in far west?”

“Ersa,

Unfortunately, I’ve never heard the name nor do I have any knowledge of a person in your description.

And about the barrier, you should understand it’s like a shield, I’m not Dimitri who had absolute authority over the territory which would allow me to look in distances.” She then proceeded to take a sip,

“Then, how did you figure our whereabouts?” Cathy’s question made her take a pause,

“I studied magic from not just any mortal! My mother taught me various things, barrier analysis was one of them.

Do you think I didn’t study this one beforehand?

You can not only see what happens inside the barrier, but you also have the core that feeds power to that barrier as well!” As she spoke Amara had a confused look,

“How do you know that much?”

“The question is, why didn’t you do anything when you can see what happens in the barrier, It was surprising when we entered as it wasn’t the Sentinels whose gaze I felt first.

It was a spirit.

Do you still want to deny you can see things?” Cathy had caught her trick, “Ughh, I never thought anyone would figure it that easy,

It is true I can see things but believe me even I didn’t see that coming! What happened in the capital was totally unexpected, and as for why, I don’t know for sure but some sort of interference was placed.

Just like the one at the ruins.” She spoke out,

“Knowing the dangers you didn’t mention that earlier did you!

Whatever, now about the Wests?” She looked dead in her eyes while helping herself with the tea.

“Follow me, but promise me you won’t tell this to anyone.

I don’t want Milot suspecting me, he’s like my own kid to me.” She asked politely.

“Of course, I won’t as long as you are helping!

Also, I never mentioned you being suspicious, I just spoke whatever I felt. Leaving that aside, You shouldn’t mention whatever you see in the region.

I don’t want Theo to find out about Vivian or others, fair?” Figuring they were in the same shoes if they spoke up to others, Amara agreed to take her to her private chamber where the core source or the Seed of the barriers was, which also allowed her to see whatever happens inside the barrier.

As they both entered the chambers Catherine was able to have a look at the mechanism that was responsible for the barrier around Arnor.

It was not a small room and by the looks, it gave off a feeling of old basements in castles.

There was the mechanism itself, a huge orb that represented the barrier and was fed by mana through the magic arrays surrounding it. Aside from the orb, there was nothing that was of significance.

“So, this is where the seed of barrier is!” Catherine couldn’t help but admire the mechanism responsible for the Barrier.