Chapter 2: A Visit from an Old Friend

The sun was high in the sky when, in the distance, I noticed a figure approaching along the dirt path. His steps were firm, steady, and although the blinding light made it hard to make out his features from afar, there was something about his gait that felt familiar.

I was working in the field, as usual, with Clara and Lucas playing nearby. They were running through the garden, picking wildflowers and chasing small insects. My heart filled with peace as I watched them enjoy their carefree childhood, as it should be. But my eyes couldn’t stray from that figure coming closer.

As he neared, his face became clearer, and an involuntary smile crossed my lips. The man walking towards us was none other than Darius, my old battle companion.

It had been a long time since I had last seen him. I remembered that after I retired, Darius chose to continue down the martial path. While I had opted for peace, he had chosen to keep fighting in the chaos the Empire sought to control. But here he was, with that same unshakable expression and serious gaze that had defined him since we were young.

“Darius!” I shouted, unable to contain my joy at the reunion.

Clara and Lucas stopped their play and ran over to me, curious about the unknown man approaching.

“Who is he, Dad?” Clara asked, always the bolder of the two.

“An old friend,” I replied, kneeling down to her height. “Someone I haven’t seen in a long time.”

Darius finally reached us and gave me a slight, but genuine, smile.

“Well, Hasar,” he said, using my name the way only the closest friends did. “I see you’ve finally achieved what you always wanted.”

“And you? Still wandering the world, I see,” I responded with a grin. “You haven’t changed much.”

We embraced briefly, like brothers reuniting after a long journey. Although his presence was more imposing than mine, and his body reflected years of training and combat, deep down he was still the same Darius I had known during my soldiering days.

“And who are these little ones?” he asked, glancing at Clara and Lucas with a mix of curiosity and warmth.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

“These are my children,” I said, pointing to Clara first. “This is Clara, and that’s Lucas.”

Clara took a step forward, studying Darius intently as if trying to figure him out.

“Are you a warrior like my dad?” she asked with those curious eyes that so often reminded me of myself as a child.

Darius chuckled softly, a rare sound from him but not unpleasant.

“Your dad and I fought together in the past,” he said, crouching down to her level. “But now he has put his weapons aside, while I still walk that path. Though I can tell you, your father was one of the best.”

“Dad fought?” Lucas, who had been quiet up until then, looked up at me, surprised.

“Yes,” I said, feeling a bit uneasy about discussing my violent past with my children, “but that was a long time ago.”

Darius stood back up and gave me a knowing look.

“It’s good they get to grow up far from all that,” he said quietly. “Not everyone is so lucky.”

I nodded, fully aware of the truth in his words. I knew the world outside our little farm wasn’t as peaceful, but for a moment, I wanted to believe that this corner of the world could stay that way forever.

I invited Darius to stay with us for the afternoon. Elena, ever the gracious host, prepared a simple but delicious meal. We sat beneath the shade of a tree, enjoying the fresh air as the children continued to run around us, laughing.

“How long has it been since you left the service?” Darius asked as he bit into a piece of bread.

“Ten years,” I replied after a moment of reflection. “It feels like yesterday, but at the same time, it feels like another lifetime.”

Darius nodded, as if he understood exactly what I meant.

“A lot has happened since then.” His words seemed to carry more weight than he was willing to admit, but I didn’t press him. He seemed relaxed, though I knew Darius well enough to sense that beneath that calm exterior, there was always something more.

The rest of the afternoon passed in conversation, reminiscing about old times, the battles we fought, but also the camaraderie we shared in our youth. The children, always listening attentively, were fascinated, as if they were hearing stories of heroes, though we both knew those stories were far darker than they seemed.

The sun began to dip toward the horizon, painting the sky in golden and orange hues, reminding me of the day I had first seen Darius again after so long. The cool air and the silence between us wrapped around us as we watched the children play in the garden. For a moment, everything seemed perfect, as if time had paused in that sunset.

Darius, for his part, looked at peace, though his eyes, as they gazed at the setting sun, held the gaze of someone who had seen far more than he was willing to share.

“You should stay for a few days,” I finally said. “Nothing exciting happens around here, but maybe that’s what you need.”

He looked at me, and for a brief moment, I thought I saw a shadow of doubt cross his face, but then he smiled.

“Maybe I will,” he replied. “Maybe I will.”