Ashborn Primordial

Chapter 148: The Hardest Farewell

You ready? Maiya asked, standing proudly in Virs doorway. It wasnt quite the look hed expected. In fact, it was just about the opposite. While training, Vir had thought of several ways of cheering up his best friend, though none of that seemed like itd be necessary.

I dunno if Ill ever be ready for this, Vir replied nervously.

While hed worked as fast as he could, hed only inscribed Parais simplified cycling technique onto the muscle groups on both legs. The arms hed have to do on the flight over.

But my bags packed. Picked up my new armor and Ive got all my supplies, so I guess Im as ready as Ill ever be. Say, why are you so happy?

Oh, youll see, Maiya replied with a smile, though Vir felt it was a bit forced. But not yet. Only when the time is right.

Vir shrugged. Cmon, Neel. Lets go.

Maiya lost her smile in an instant. Vir, um Maybe its best if you didnt?

You agreed to take care of him, right? He can ride with us to the wall.

Thats the thing. Ive been to the Wall. Fought along it for weeks. We patrol the walls diligently in Kinjal, but even then, Ash Beasts slip through. Some just appear on the other side without warning. Its not a safe place, Vir. Not for a bandy like Neel. Especially not if you get into a fight.

Thats true.

Dont worry! Ill return here for him right after I drop you off. Same with Bumpy. Ill bring them both back to Sonam. Theyll get the royal treatment, so dont worry about them.

Yknow, you were a lot sadder about me leaving before. What changed? Youre not planning on following me into the Ash, are you?

If I could, Id be jumping up and down with joy. No, its not that. Youll see, Maiya repeated, again with a sly smile. But for now, its probably for the best if you say your goodbyes to Neel.

Virs mind went blank. It hadnt really sunk in that he was about to leave his four-legged friend behind. Until now.

Dropping his bulging, oversized rucksack, he knelt and stroked Neel behind his ears.

You like that, boy, dont you?

Awooo! Neel said, rolling over to expose his belly.

Yknow, I normally wouldnt spoil you like this, he said, rubbing his friend's stomach. But Im afraid this might be the last chance I get. At least for a while. Im leaving, Neel.

The bandy couldnt understand his words, but he picked up on Virs tone. Righting himself, Neel began whimpering, as if asking what was wrong.

Look, I want you to be a good boy, alright? Maiyas Maiyas gonna take care of you. You like Maiya, dont you?

Awooo! Neel replied, hearing a familiar name.

Thats right. So dont cause any trouble for her. Im gonna be gone a while, but I promise Ill return. So you better protect her, okay?

Arooo?

Having freshly reapplied his makeup, Vir had done everything he could to hold back the tears, but as he hugged his best friend of many years, they rolled down his cheeks, anyway.

Im sorry, boy. I cant take you. I wish I could take you.

Neel whimpered again. His tail was flat on the ground, unmoving.

Wiping his tears and steeling his face, Vir picked up his rucksack and left. When Neel followed him, he nearly cried again, but Maiya squeezed his arm.

Dont worry. Hell be happy with me, she said softly. I promise.

With a nod, Vir locked the door behind him, meeting Neels pleading eyes one last time.

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Vir led the way with heavy steps, all excitement about his recent advancement gone without a trace.

If saying goodbye to Neel was this hard, then he stole a glance at his crimson-haired friend, but immediately purged the thought. Dwelling on separating with Maiya might very well break him.The hole in his heart Maiya had plugged might come undone.

Her timing had been impeccable, appearing right when hed lost Tiawhen he was at his lowest. Her mere presence had fixed everything. Their short time together had been so full of contentment. Of inner peace.

With each step, Vir second-guessed his decision. More than the Pagan Order, more than the dangers of the Ashen Realm, it was leaving Maiya that tore at him the most.

Will I ever see her again? How long will it be?

To survive years without her, when even a few months made his heart ache

Dont get so down, yeah? Maiya said, squeezing his hand. Youll see Neel again. Promise.

Vir forced a smile. Right.

Lord Reth, Disanna, and Zora waited for Vir at the Acira stables, discussing amongst themselves.

This is quite the sendoff, Vir said as he approached. Wasnt expecting the whole tribunal to show up.

Not every day one of our own ventures into the Ash. Let alone someone as valuable as you, Lord Reth said with a tight smile.

Youre committed, then? Disanna said.

I am. Youve been incredibly gracious. I dont know how to repay you for all youve done.

Repayment is neither required nor desired, friend. Youve done just as much for us.

I I need to know who I really am. I have to understand why I was brought to this realm as a child.

And I want to know more about this destiny Lord Janak spoke of, he thought. Not to mention dealing with the murderous voices in his head.

This is what you want, isnt it, Shardul, Ekanai? You better help me out in the Ash

The tribunal glanced at each other uncomfortably.

You may not like the answers you find, Zora rasped. To brave the Ash is to face death itself. The denizens of the Demon Realm would not have done so lightly.

Chances are high that you wont be welcomed there, Disanna said. Knowing this, you still wish to go? Knowing we will protect you?

I have to. Believe me, I understand how crazy this looks, but I have no desire to place your people in harms way for the consequences of my actions. The people hunting me have good reasons for doing so.

Very well. If youve made up your mind, we shall not dissuade you any further. You face what is likely the greatest challenge of your life. Yet no matter how deeply the skies darken, rememberyou will always have a home here. Friends who care about you. You are not alone.

I thank you. Truly.

Take this, Lord Reth said, giving Vir a small steel medallion. For when you return. Show this anywhere in Pagan Order lands and youll be treated as a guest of honor.

Vir took the medallion with a gracious nod.

And consider this a congratulatory gift for attaining the rank of Shadow within the Brotherhood, Reth continued, handing Vir a small bag of coin. While it may be dead weight in the Ash, it would be good to have some coin when you return.

Er, thanks, again, Vir replied, growing shy at the amount of support the Order had given him. You really didnt have to do any of this.

And you didnt have to save fifteen demons just days after you arrived here. We value our citizens. Especially those whove contributed to the cause.

Wed best get going, Maiya said gently. Want to get a full day of flying if we can. The journeys gonna take two days at a minimum. Id rather it not stretch to three.

Vir thought of a fitting farewell, but in the end, only managed a Till we meet again.

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May all the gods be with you, Reth replied.

It took an activation of Empower to hoist Virs rucksack onto Maiyas Kinjal royal Acira, though with his recent efficiency gain, he needed far less prana than before. The effect was similar to Haymis speed enhancementfrom running to jumping, every action came more easily. To the point where he felt superhuman.

The rucksack itself was an oversized one that stuck up past his head when worn. In it was a compass rose, a vast array of healing ointments, herbs, and salves, and as much dried food as he could fit, though the bulk of the weight was the water. Hed combed through all the tomes in the Orders library pertaining to the Ashen Realm, and hed grilled both Maiya and the librarian for information, but none of them knew of any water sources inside the Ash.

There had to be watereven Ash Beasts had to eat and drinkbut until he could locate one, hed be on his own. The large jugs he carried were his only lifeline until he did.

The number of hazards boggled him. Those who lived through the prana poisoning had to contend with the beasts. Even if you emerged victorious, without magic to heal you, your chances of survival were low. On top of all that, youd have to find food, water, and shelter to survive.

Parais cycling techniques may very well save Vir in there. That, and knowledge. Hed studied all the cataloged beasts mentioned in the Orders tomes, and had tentative countermeasures for them all, though most times, his strategy was just to run away with his superior mobility and Dance of the Shadow Demon.

Hold on tight! Maiya yelled, ordering her Acira to lift off. Higher and higher they soared under the morning light, and Vir gazed down nostalgically at Balindam, knowing fully well it was the last hed see of it for a long time.

Wind made conversation tedious, so while Vir wouldve loved to spend what time he had left chatting with Maiya, he instead focused on copying Parais technique to his arms. Benefiting from the experience of having done the tediousand painfulexercise on his legs, he found his arms to be less challenging. Not only were the blood pathways smaller, allowing him to more aggressively expand them without fearing injuries, but they werent too different from his legs. The hardest part was understanding which muscles were used and in what proportions.

That took experimentation, but if Maiya minded him throwing punches into the air, she didnt show it.

By the time the suns rays grew long in the sky and they flew over the beautiful waterways of Avi and crossed Daiya lake, hed done most of one arm. When they crossed the barren Bulwark mountains and put down on eastern Ranian lands, hed finished his right arm and had made good progress toward the other.

How long do we have to wait? Vir asked, stretching his legs and soaking in the fresh scent of the forest. It had been too long since hed stepped foot in one. At Brij, it was a rare week when he wasnt exploring the Godshollow.

Wonder if therell be forests in the Ashen Realm

Weve been flying all day. Well want to stay here overnight, Maiya said. Thats why I picked this forest. Easy access to firewood, and it keeps us hidden.

Good thinking.

Vir got to work fetching firewood while Maiya cleared the camp. Observing her, Vir couldnt help but be amazed at how far shed come from their foray with Rudvik nearly a year ago. Back then, shed been clueless, and somewhat spoiled, finding camping rough and icky.

Now? She looked like a veteran, calmly clearing vegetation with her bare hands, identifying the camp perimeter, and shoring up entrances where potential attackers might gain entry. In the middle, she assembled a fire ring and built a spit from which they could hang pots.

Thats some nice gear youve got there, Vir said, eyeing Maiyas fancy tent. It had metal poles that attached to each other and slid into stitched canvas inserts, forming a sturdy, lightweight frame that went up in minutes.

Right? A far cry from that stupid tarp we used in the desert on our way to Saran, isnt it? Maiya said with a nostalgic smile. Her hands were black with dirt, but she didnt seem to mind one bit.

Youve really come a long way, Vir whispered to himself.

T-thanks, Maiya said, blushing.

Vir grew hot, and he was saved only by his face paint. He hadnt intended for her to hear.

Kinjal trains its handmaidens in wilderness survival, she said, her voice stiff.

O-oh? Vir asked, staring at some nearby dirt as if it was the most interesting thing in the world.

Y-yeah. Wasnt my first choice, but we werent exactly given one. Hah!

Vir opted to go without a fire in the end. The risk of detection was too great on the off-chance they were followed. Luckily, with Ranis temperate climate, it was hardly necessary.

Instead, Maiya lit up a Magic Candle orb, which they sat in front of, huddled up next to each other. The orb softly illuminated the immediate area, making for a cozy, comfortable setting.

This is the last time well get to chat like this, isnt it? Maiya whispered into Virs ear, leaning against him, but there was something different this time. Almost as if she was desperate to be close to him.

Im coming back, Maiya.

I Maiyas words caught in her throat, and she clutched Vir just a little tighter.

You think Im gonna die in there, dont you?

Her silence said it all, even without the tears that welled up in her eyes.

Vir faltered.

Its not easy for me, either, Maiya, he said. But I have reasons to believe Ill survive.

Because Lord Janak said so?

Him and Shardul and Ekanai, Vir said. They wouldnt all be urging me to step right into my death. Plus, I have Ash prana, so whatever benefits Ash Beasts get, Ill get too. Its not as hopeless as it looks.

Vir bit his lip. Even to his ears, his words felt forced. As if he was trying to convince himself. He was. Maiya already knew all of this, after all. They'd discussed it.

Maiya clutched him even tighter.

Dont go? she whispered. Her eyes went wide, and it was obvious she hadn't intended Vir to hear. Sorry, I didn't mean I want to support you, Vir. I truly do.

Tell me, Maiya.

Its your wish, she said, averting her eyes. You need this.

Tell me, Vir repeated.

She paused, clearly unsure whether to continue. Vir gave her time, allowing the silence to continue.

Youll be alone in there, she said at last, pulling away to look into his eyes. Youll be alone, and I wont even know if youre alive.

Her voice was laden with panic.

I just have this feeling, Vir, she said.

Vir knew she was trying to keep her emotions in control. For him. She didnt want him to worry.

I feel like Ill never see you again, she said, sounding very small.

The tears now fell freely down her face, and when she looked Vir in the eyes, he saw terror. And anguish.

Her words made him freeze. Was he making the right decision? This was the Ash, after all. Who could say what would happen to him in there, even with Janaks assurances?

Dad, mom not you, too, she said, her head drooping. Her tears dripped onto the ground. Just not you.

The voice in the back of his head grew louder. The one that told him he wasnt ready. That he was reckless. Just wait a little. Just a little longer, it said.

Can you wait? Just a little longer? Maiya asked, wiping away her tears. Do you have to go now?

Theyll find us, he murmured halfheartedly.

Well deal with it, she said, grabbing his hand. Together.

Vir stared into her eyes. There was an earnest hope there. He found his resolve crumbling. It was desperate of him.

Would be good to train a bit more before heading in, he said. Theyd only just reunited. Maybe he didnt have to leave so soon.

Maiya nodded vigorously. If they do find you, you can always leave. Right? Youll still be stronger.

Vir let out a long breath, feeling the weight of a mountain come off his shoulders.

I never did know how to say no to you, huh? he said, chuckling.

Instead of the smug grin hed expected, he saw something else. Something hed never seen before. Longing.

Maiya looked up at him, placing her hands gently on his chest. Dont leave me?

Vir found himself transfixed, unable to break away from her hazel eyes. His heart roared in his chest. Something about her captivated him. Mesmerized him, and slowly, their faces drew closer, compelled by an irresistible force.

He panicked. Every instinct told him to pull away but he didnt. There was something right about this. Something he couldnt explainbut he felt it. Deep inside.

This was what hed so desperately sought. A place to belong. To be loved. Hed been so blind. Shed been right here, all along. Right in front of him.

They drew close and Vir felt her warmth. His thoughts went blank.

Then their lips touched, and fire blazed through his body, blowing away the nights chill.

It was that simple, after all

His arms wrapped around Maiya, and he held the kiss.

The knots in his stomach untangled, replaced by a sense of calm and inner peace. It was a warm, fuzzy sensation that told him everything would be alright.

And, holding each other in their arms, they fell blissfully into the land of slumber, where calm seas and white shores awaited.