Chapter 5 : Eli's Despair.

In Green Arbor, the days dragged with an aching slowness for Eli since Ava and Talon's departure. He found himself retracing paths they had once walked together, each spot where Ava had laughed or shared her stories echoing with memories that tugged at his heartstrings. Eli's days at the market were filled with routine tasks, but even his work at his stall, surrounded by customers and fellow villagers, did little to distract him from his worries about Ava. Her last words, urging him not to wait, haunted him, yet hope stubbornly lingered.

Eli was now part of the newly formed Arbor Defense Force (ADF), a role that gave him a sense of purpose. He had spent hours patrolling the streets and training alongside the other militia members, but even in those moments, his thoughts often drifted back to Ava. After all, it had been Ava who had helped to train him, who had shown him how to defend their home.

On this particular afternoon, the market was alive with the usual chatter and bustle, but for Eli, the vibrant energy only highlighted the hollow ache inside him. He stood behind his stall, mechanically arranging goods, his mind far away. The smiles of passing villagers were warm, but they seemed to fade as soon as they reached him, as though they too were unsure of how to console him.

A few regulars, like Mrs. Halford, an elderly woman who always bought bread and herbs, paused longer than usual. “Keep your head up, Eli,” she said softly, her hand briefly resting on his. “They’ll be back. You’ll see.”

He managed a tight smile, nodding his thanks. “I hope so.”

Others, like the young baker’s apprentice, offered a quiet nod or simply passed by with a glance of shared sorrow. Even though they didn’t say much, Eli could feel the weight of their support. They knew the pain of waiting, of hoping, in a world where those who left for battle often didn’t return.

By late afternoon, the weight of the day bore down on him harder than usual. The ache of uncertainty gnawed at him, each moment without word from Ava stretching his heart thinner. As the market cleared out, Eli found himself sitting on his porch, seated with a glass untouched before him. He stared blankly at the worn wooden porch, his mind replaying every moment he had shared with Ava—every smile, every word.

A stray tear escaped, and he quickly wiped it away, embarrassed by the rawness of his emotions. “Come on, Eli,” he muttered to himself. “You’ve got to stay strong. For her.”

But doubt lingered, creeping into his thoughts like a dark fog. His mind circled, whispering fears that Ava may never return, that he hadn’t said enough, hadn’t done enough. For a moment, he felt selfish for wanting her back, knowing that Talon was out there too, fighting for his life. “As long as Talon is with her, she could be safe,” Eli whispered, holding onto the one shred of hope he had left.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Miko had noticed Eli’s absence from the usual tavern gathering that night. Concerned, Jess decided to pay him a visit. She found him sitting on the porch of his small home, his shoulders slumped, eyes distant, lost in thought.

"Eli," Jess called softly as she approached. Her voice carried a gentle concern, and Eli blinked, returning from the fog of his thoughts.

"Hey, Jess," Eli replied, his voice hoarse as if he hadn’t spoken much that day.

Jess took a seat beside him, her eyes searching his face. "You weren’t at the tavern tonight. I thought I’d come check on you."

Eli shrugged, giving a half-hearted smile. "Yeah, I’ve just been... busy with the stall. The ADF too. Just trying to keep going, you know?"

Jess nodded, but she wasn’t fooled. She had seen that look before—the one of someone barely holding it together. "How are you really, Eli? You don’t have to put up a front with me."

Eli let out a deep breath, his fingers tracing patterns in the wood of the porch. "I don’t know, Jess. I’m doing everything I can—working the stall, helping with the ADF... but none of it’s helping. None of it’s enough. It’s like... I’m going through the motions, but I’m not really here."

His voice cracked slightly, and he quickly wiped his eyes. "Every day, I’m either training recruits or selling goods, and all I can think about is her. Everything I do reminds me of her. She was the one who made me believe I could do this, that I could actually make a difference. Now, she’s gone, and I didn’t even get to tell her how much she means to me."

Jess placed a hand on his shoulder, her voice filled with empathy. "Eli, I know how hard this is. Believe me, I do. But you don’t know for sure that she’s gone. There’s still hope."

Eli shook his head, frustration and helplessness mingling in his voice. "Hope? It’s been days, Jess. Days. And I keep thinking... what if Talon’s gone too? What if neither of them are coming back? What then?"

Jess was silent for a moment, letting his words sink in. She understood the fear, the endless uncertainty that came with loving someone who lived on the front lines. "I’ve asked myself that question more times than I can count. Every time Miko goes on a mission, I wonder if he’ll come back. But Eli, Ava is strong. And Talon... he’ll protect her. They’re out there, and they’re doing everything they can to survive."

Eli’s hands trembled as he spoke. "I just... I should’ve asked her to stay, Jess. I should’ve told her that I needed her here. And now... I’m stuck wondering if she’ll ever come back."

Jess leaned in, wrapping her arm around him in a supportive embrace. "You did what you could, Eli. Ava knows how much she means to you, even if you didn’t say it. And you have to trust that she’s out there fighting to come back to you."

They sat there in the quiet for a long time, the sounds of Green Arbor’s evening settling around them. The stars above twinkled faintly, offering a small solace in the stillness of the night.

"I don’t know how to keep going," Eli whispered after a long pause. "Everything I do feels pointless without her."

Jess squeezed his shoulder gently. "You keep going because that’s what Ava would want. She’d want you to keep doing your work, to keep fighting for Green Arbor. That’s why she’s out there doing her job, Eli. She’s fighting for all of us, fighting to keep threats away from Green Arbor."

Eli swallowed hard, his eyes brimming with unshed tears. "I just... I hope she knows how much I care. How much I want her to come back."

"She knows, Eli. And when she comes back, you’ll get the chance to tell her everything."

As they sat together, the weight of their conversation hung in the air, but Jess’s words gave Eli something to hold on to—a fragile hope, but hope nonetheless. And for now, that was enough to keep him going.