*
For a while they walked in silence. Kingston at first had asked Maloch what plants and creatures he had used in the remedies, listening attentively as the re-mech listed them and gave instructions on how to mix them properly. The old man had brought out a pocket notebook from the recesses of his coat and had quickly scribbled down the details in a neat, conservative style.
From the looks of it, the notebook had seen better days, perhaps decades, as its margin had almost completely peeled off and its pages were filled with stains and home-made bookmarks. It was the result of years spent in exile, and it contained everything Kingston felt important for staying healthy and alive in such an inhospitable world.
However, at the back of the book, almost completely tucked away from view, was a folded up letter. Using a built-in handwriting recognition program, Maloch deduced that Kingston had not written it, and, if he was to be any judge, it appeared to have been written by a woman. The second last line caught his attention, saying, “With Endless Love, from...”
It was unusual in that the “o” from “love” had been replaced by a small stylized heart. Obviously it had been sent by someone who cared for Kingston, but Maloch was unable to see the name of the sender. Kingston looked up from his writing and, noticing the re-mech's stare, said, “Oh, that? It's just a remnant from a time that's long past. Don't worry about it.”
The hermit soon pocketed the notebook, content with his new herbal information. He appeared to think for a bit, before saying, “Maloch, I see you as my friend and I hope you see me as one too. So, us being friends, I think that you have the right to know something about my past, something that I feel that you should know about me.”
Maloch remained silent, unsure of how to respond. He could tell that the old man would rather not divulge his past, but he was unwilling to stop him either. Meanwhile, Kingston carried on unabated, “Maloch, many, many years ago, I fought in a series of large scale conflicts called the South Wars. Do you know of them?”
“I do.” Maloch kept his thoughts neutral, just in case Kingston had suddenly learnt how to read minds.
“Then, you probably know that humans and re-mech fought side by side during those battles, right?”
“I am aware of that fact, yes.”
“Well... when I was younger... I wasn't as level-headed as I am now and, it was a do or die situation in those nightmarish days. What I'm trying to say is that, through my actions, I caused many of your kind to suffer, and dozens were destroyed... as my enemies, and as my saviours. There... I will understand if you don't want to associate with someone like me...”
Maloch looked at Kingston's hunched over form, a lifetime’s worth of guilt clearly etched into his wrinkled face.
“When I was... younger, I too fought in the South Wars. I too fought alongside humans. And I too watched many of them, both comrades and enemies, fall because of my actions. There is no need for guilt or apologies. We are both children of war.”
Kingston came to a dead stop, a look of unmistakable relief spreading across his face. “I... I had my suspicions, after seeing that emblem on your shoulder. Tell me, did you ever hear of the Battle of Taille à Tille?”
“The Battle of Taille à Tille. Location: The city of Taille à Tille and surrounding countryside. Total fighting time: Five days. Total number of casualties: One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Humans, Four Thousand Five Hundred Re-mechs. Major factions: The Northern Alliance, The Five Nation Army, and the city-guard of Taille à Tille. Based on what little memories I have and my geographical location at the time, there is a high chance that I took part in the battle.”
“I see. I wonder what side you fought for, not that it really matters any more, but just the thought that we could have met on that battlefield sends chills down my spine. Ha-ha, I wonder who would have won? I was quite the scrapping bloke when I was younger you know!” When Kingston saw Maloch’s look of confusion, he added, “I’m only kidding, I'm sure that fate wouldn't have been that cruel.”
For a moment Kingston seemed to ponder his own words, before continuing in a quieter voice, “Well, I'm sure that fate wouldn't be that cruel to me so many times at once... eh?”
A sudden coughing fit broke the ensuing silence and brought back the reality of Kingston's recently recovered state. He fell to his knees, his body protesting at having to work so hard just after receiving treatment. He knelt there in obvious pain for several minutes, and all Maloch could do was watch. Soon, the fit passed, and Kingston was back to his usual self.
Awakening Page 99