Awakening

by Hayden Pearton

  *

  While Alza had been fighting her other self, and Barsch and Maloch had been facing against the lighting king, Kingston was experiencing a rare moment of peace. He had been having a rather pleasant chat with Lad, who had turned out to be a rather amiable vision.

  “So then I get exiled... and spend almost four decades as a hermit? Don't I get lonely?”

  “Well... The first decade... I did occasionally get lonely, but it got better after that. Plus, I've always valued my solitude, and it did give me time to finish reading all of my books.”

  Lad came to a stop, a look of confusion plastered across his youthful face. He had spent the last half-hour listening to stories from the real Kingston, of what would happen in the war, and of the tragedy afterwards, ending in his exile.

  “Books? Whose books?”

  “Our father left us a great many things, remember? When we return from the war, we go back to our old house and find the books, along with this.” Kingston was holding the Solar Staff in his outstretched hand, it's surface pitted and scratched by decades of wear and tear, but still usable. Lad briefly examined it's worn surface, a look of approval in his unburdened eyes.

  “Not bad. So besides reading, what else do I do? You know, to pass the time?”

  Kingston had difficulty answering at first, as his memories of his exile had a tendency to mix together, creating a unified memory of mediocrity. It had become an almost daily routine: wake up, make breakfast, read, practice chess, tend to the garden, make lunch, read, search for supper, make supper, read and then sleep a dreamless sleep, all to be repeated the next day.

  “I... We should talk about something else. My exile is something I would rather not go into.”

  “Ah! My bad. I’m sorry.”

  “Don't worry about it. So, have you been keeping up with your studies?”

  Lad had begun walking again, though he was slower than before. He seemed to mirror Kingston's gait, slowing down when Kingston was tired and speeding up when he regained his strength. They had been walking for almost an hour, with no sign of the others, or an exit. Mercifully, the cold had lessened, almost as if it had been taken away by someone. Lighting still danced in the skies, but the bolts were infrequent, and haphazardly placed. Both of these facts worried Kingston, but there was nothing he could do in his current state.

  “I have been trying, but on the front-lines, when you never know when the enemy will attack, it's kind of hard to study.”

  “I see. Well, I wouldn't worry too much about it. We have some pretty good years after the war. Starting a family, studying with a very important man, being called upon to save the world, it was all fun in its own way.”

  “Really? I do all of that? Wow, who would have thought. So, this family, where are they now?”

  Kingston stopped, as the memories came rushing back. He happened to glance up at the surrounding crystals, and caught a glimpse of his tortured expression. With a heavy heart, he said, “They... they aren't with us anymore. Things happened, things that were mostly my fault, and they were taken from me. All because of my guilt... and my sin. However, even though they are no longer with me, I still want to see them... to see what they have become. One day, I hope to be able to embrace them both with open arms, while I beg for their forgiveness.”

  Lad stared in stunned silence, before finally speaking, “Don't despair Kingston! I'm sure that one day you will find redemption, and your family will be there to see it. So carry on, without losing your stride, until that day comes.”

  When Kingston looked up, his animated reflection was gone, an echo of his last words the only remainder of his brief existence. There were tears in the old man's eyes, but they were tears of hope. With a smile on his weathered face and strength in his body, he continued forward, as lighting continued to spear the earth.