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Chapter 51: No Place Like Home

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Ishikawa

After his brief visit to Khalina Island, Aiden imagined his mother being taller, more built, longer hair; she was just the opposite. She wore a proud smile in the photo, her jet black hair twisted down to her small shoulders. He stared at the old photo, at the only picture of his mother he had ever laid eyes on, flipping it over every once and a while to re-read the name delicately written on the back; Eden.

Her picture was all that his father brought with him to Nihon and for whatever reason, Ahmya held on to it. How could his father betray his mother for Ahmya? Did he really love her as Ahmya claimed? Zaki was at least a year younger than him. How could he have moved on with another woman so quickly after Eden died? I could never do that.

He placed the photo in his cloak and stood erect as Yamato approached him. It was the first time he had seen the man without a weapon dangling from his belt. “I know you must be eager to return home, Aiden, so I won’t keep you long. I’m curious about the evil force that changed Ahmya. What are the chances of it returning to Nihon?”

“Until it’s defeated at the source, there’s nothing stopping it right now.”

“I see. And where’s the source?”

“A long way from here. I’m going to do all I can to eradicate it, though.”

“We’d be eager to assist, should you need our aid.”

“Thanks, but you’ll probably be needed here.” In case I fail.

“Aiden!” Asia called, briskly leaving Nezuma’s side. She ran up to the young man, eyes sparkling with admiration, and hopped to a stop. “Everyone says you’re leaving. Are you?”

“Yeah, I have things to settle back home.”

“But I’ll miss you! Do you really have to go?”

Aiden took the child’s hand and placed a rune in it. “I want you to hold on to this, and use it whenever someone needs healing, okay?”

“I will!”

“Great. You might want to keep an eye on Ino’s little guy. He looks like the type to fall and scrape his knees a lot.”

Asia frowned. “He doesn’t want to be my friend. He says I talk too much.”

“Oh no. Are you two already having a spat?”

“I don’t like him!” she said, folding her arms.

“You say that now, but the next time I see you, you two will be married with more babies than you can carry.”

“Are you going to be gone a long time, Aiden?” she asked with a dreadful and disappointed sigh.

“Who knows?” Aiden shrugged. “Anyway, I’d better leave before Ino gets here and suffocates me with one of his hugs.”

“We look forward to the next time our paths cross, young Aiden,” Yamato said, bowing respectably. “May fortune and good luck be with you.”

“See you again, Aiden!” Asia waved. “Thank you!”

Aiden lowered his head and teleported from sight in an instant. If he stayed there any longer Asia would have him shedding tears, something he hadn’t done since he thought Quinn died. He swore to himself that he would never cry again after that.

Khalm

It was one of those towns where everyone knew everyone's name, and if they didn't know their name, faces were easily recognizable. That's why certain talkative townsfolk raised curious eyebrows when new faces arrived. Armed with swords and shields with bodies ready to use them, a small group of women caused a stir when they recently moved into Khalm, guarding both entrances as if the town was under siege.

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Bearing no flag nor insignia, the warrior women walked the roads day and night as if on patrol, briefly and politely interacting with citizens when prompted but never answering their questions. "Still no sign of him, Amara?" one of the women asked as she approached another carefully watching Laul's store from afar.

Amara shook her head. "Maybe he's not coming back here, Leah."

"He'll be here," Leah replied, confidently.

"I don't know. If the amalgamate was done, wouldn't that cloud be over the entire world by now?"

"Do you doubt the elder's last request, Amara?" the woman asked.

"Yeah, I kinda do," said Amara, daring to share her honest opinion.

"I'm glad I'm not the only one," Leah said, her shoulders and voice less tense. "I guess I'm hoping she was wrong, more than anything. I really don't like our chances against Damnation. Don't tell the Sergeant I agreed with you, or else she'll have me doing push-ups until I dropped dead."

"I wouldn't dream of it."

The skies over Khalm were clear as well; he hadn’t expected that. Thankfully Damnation’s influence hadn’t choked his hometown, at least not yet. Laul’s store was first on a shortlist of places Aiden wanted to see again, and perhaps for the last time.

He entered the building through the mount’s stable and settled his gaze on a familiar face, one he hadn’t seen in too long. With a gentle hand, Aiden brushed the animal’s dark hair as it stood in its stable chewing fresh hay while paying the young man no mind. “How are you doing Hassan? Do you remember me?”

"Who's that in there? I have a hatchet and I know how to use it," said Laul as he entered the stable from his store. “Aiden?” came Laul’s surprised voice. He stood in the doorway, staring at the young man as if for the first time. “It is you!”

“Mister Laul, how are you?”

“Better, much better now that I’ve seen you again with my own eyes!” Laul held him at arm’s length as he looked the young man over. “I can’t believe how much taller you are now! Jaff was right.”

“You’ve...heard from Jaff?”

Laul’s smile quickly dissolved. “I shouldn’t have mentioned him.”

“What is it? Is he okay?”

“You sound concerned for your uncle,” Laul said, puzzled.

“Is Jaff all right, Mister Laul?”

“Come with me, Aiden.”

The merchant led Aiden to a small house, the only place town where people go to have their wounds tended or worse. It was the same red shingled building Laul took Aiden to after Hassan threw him off his saddle during the young man’s first attempt to ride him. He ended up with a broken leg that had to be set here by a medicine man from Nabiil.

Even though he was only six, memories of that day stuck with Aiden because he overheard the medicine man telling a mother of three that her youngest child had just died. He had fallen into the lake and drowned; only a thin sheet divided their rooms.

Aiden anxiously ran ahead of Laul and entered the red shingled house. He spotted Jaff on his left lying in bed, his upper chest wrapped in blood-soaked bandages. “He crashed through the store as a falcon,” Laul said. “When he changed back I saw his wound and rushed him here. He didn’t say what happened. I...thought you might have done it.”

“No, I...I wouldn’t..” Aiden said, his focus fixed on the man he swore he hated. But as Jaff lay motionless before him, the anger he once held for the man was long gone.

“The medicine man did all he could, but he couldn’t fix the damage done to his internal organs. He said they were burnt beyond repair.” Laul placed his hand on Aiden’s shoulder. I’m glad you’re here, though, to see him before...”

“Jaff’s not going to die,” Aiden interrupted. He rested his hands on the bloody bandages and healed his mortal wound. They waited and watched as Jaff’s eyes slowly opened. He clutched his chest and jumped up as if his life was threatened.

Aiden grabbed his hand. “Jaff, it’s okay. Noone’s going to hurt you.”

“Aiden?” Jaff said, exhaling and focusing his eyes on his nephew. “It is you!”

“I’m here too,” Laul added. “You’re lucky Aiden came back when he did. I had a spot picked out for your burial.”

Jaff looked over his upper body for something that was no longer there. “Am I in Khalm? When did I --?”

“That was a nasty wound you had,” Laul said. “Who did you try to mug?”

“No one,” Jaff replied firmly, put off by Laul’s attempt at humor. “Aiden, how long have you been here?”

“A little while. Jaff, I..I’m sorry for threatening to kill you before. I was mad then, but I get it now. I know how hopeless you must have felt.”

“Don’t, Aiden, I was wrong for what I did to you. Don’t apologize.”

Aiden lowered his gaze and sat next to his uncle. “You weren’t wrong. I saw it, all the horrible things Damnation would have me do if I let it. I won’t let that happen.”

“No,” Jaff said, pulling Aiden in for a loving hug. “We’re not going to let it happen. We’ll battle that demonic rune together.”

“I need to get back to my store,” Laul said, dabbing his eyes dry with his sleeve. “You two are going to have me sobbing like a woman!”

Amara ducked behind the wall, remaining out of sight as Laul walked away. "He is here," Leah said, keeping her voice low. "I'm going to tell the Sergeant."

"He looks normal doesn't he?" Amara said. "I don't think they've merged yet."

"But the stars.."

"I know about the stars and Misheal's visions, but would Damnation be wasting time with Aiden's uncle if they were one? And, if they haven't merged then we still have a chance to carry out the elder's plan before they do."

"You can try," said a voice. Leah blanched at the sight of Aiden standing before them, catching the women off guard. "But, I guarantee I won't make it easy for you."