Chapter 5

A cold breeze blew on his face, with a fresh fragrance of nature that brought warmth into the cold heart of the boy. Akki marveled at the pleasant scent that made him speechless. The clear full moonlight, reflecting from the sky, illuminated everything, from non-living beings to living beings, extending from each of their shadows under the nocturnal sky.

“Attractive, huh?” Ramic said, standing near the driver’s seat with a grin. The scene surprised Akki out of his skin. Even though he was a person who knew well about his surroundings, a great discovery of his past, nightly scenery was something he never took notice of ere, and it could ease the wrath of a boiling heart.

Can nights make us feel at peace?

Can it cure us of the silent pain within us?

These thoughts swam in Akki’s head as he observed in silence.

“Let’s go.” His friend shut the door and traversed the road to the other side. He stood on a hill, and under it lay a river, its gentle gurgling accompanying nature. Akki shut the door, locking the car with an automatic locking system.

“Why are we here, Ramic?”

Weren’t they going home to rest?

If so, then why rest in the countryside?

What was the occasion?

What was he planning?

To obtain his answers, Akki could easily read his friend’s mind. However, he had his reasons. If he’d learned the answers himself, he wouldn’t be able to hear it from his friend’s voice. Hearing him speak in delight and enthusiasm made this youth’s day shine like a star. Secondly, Akki respected him more than a friend. Using his ability would make him disrespectful to his friend’s choices.

On the other hand, Ramic was all that was left for Akki.

As he approached Ramic, the gentle air and the beauty of nature expelled his worries. The cold night and moonlight made Akki feel a strange relief from his sorrow that grew within him rooted in the memories of his past. Every step and breath of his, the second he remained silent, memories flooded his sight and thoughts, tearing his heartstrings asunder. He could never complain about it.

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But they didn’t hurt him anymore.

It was the first time that happened to him.

Akki arrived behind Ramic and climbed down the hill. “You know when you need to have a peaceful conversation, you need a peaceful surrounding, right?” He sat on the hill and patted the soft grass twice to his side.

This offer took the Red-coated youth aback. Just by his words and gesture, he realized this wouldn’t be a normal conversation. Taking it smoothly, Akki ambled down the hill and sat beside him.

The two young boys viewed the clear blue river as their hair ran with the chilly wind. Rounded pebbles and floating sand littered the stream, bubbling with turquoise water. It seemed to be the land of mighty mountains, tall trees, surging streams, and flowery forest far from the river—viewing beyond the lands as far as the eye could see. As the wind blew, Ramic broke the silence.

“Akki.”

“Yes?”

“The reason why I brought you here, away from all the noise and crowd, stamps of humans and horns of engines is because I want to learn more about you, closer than I’ve ever known you before.”

“Huh?”

Akki turned to him, shocked.

Ramic explained his inner will of speech that he was willing to know and acknowledge himself more about his only friend, Akki. As you may know the saying:

Some forms of beauty drain the dark spirit within us.

Nature helps alleviate mentality and always mirrors the beauty of truth.

“You do understand me well, even if I don’t give out details, which is why I humbly ask you to tell me all about yourself—your whole past, your teenage and childhood life. I want to know you more than I knew before Akki.” Ramic smiled.

Akki laughed as noble as a gentleman and lowered his hat on hearing this. He smiled. “As you wish, my friend. I guess this place and time is the right moment for it. You surely have the knack for finding places, my friend.”

The moon hid behind the clouds as it was its turn to hide, and the cloud should seek it. The crisp air blew under his red hat, weaving his silky short brown hairs as his dark blue eyes with the contrast of sky blue and indigo gazed at the river.

“I will tell you who I am, what I was, and how I stopped here. And above all, why am I the abandoned one…”

Ramic nodded and turned straight to let his friend open the pages of memories in confidence without watching him. It was the moment when Akki began to repeat the ocean of his past that he never wished to speak out. One could almost see deep imprints on his shoulders as if a heavy boulder rested on them, weighing him down. The lingering sadness and depression on his lips crafted words to hide his feelings as he tried hard to hold back the emotions so evident on his face. As for Ramic, he wasn’t disturbed by it, but as for Akki, a feeling from his deep scar began to heat his memories.

“My name is Akki Hero…”