To A Thief - Chapter 45: Mom and Dad(Continued)

A Chapter by Jobyn

Continued.

-Continued-

"Stiff," Sekai began, but without turning to him. He merely scanned the building that had hardly changed over the years save for the dust and the barred doors. "This is where you were born... and where your mother passed away giving birth to you."

Stiff's eyes widened as he looked at the run-down outpost. "I... I was born here?"

"Yes," Sekai confirmed. "This is where your father, Aiden, was on his way to before he mysteriously vanished..."

"This place..." Stiff thought aloud, walking up to the boarded up building and running his hands along the hastily built architecture. He didn't exactly know why. But his heart felt as though it were beginning to ache. Why did the war have to happen?

Why did his parents have to get dragged into it?

Why was his mother forced to settle in such a location?

Why?

He continued to run his hand silently along the building's outer walls, remaining silent. He just couldn't grasp the concept of his life. For what purpose did his parents allow him to live?

It didn't make any sense!

As his hand ran along an old and dusted window that he couldn't see through anymore, he felt the tip of his boot kick something up off the dirt that had been lying there. It was a shining object that glinted in the sun as he reached for it to pick it up. Upon doing so, a small chain that was attached to it tore through the dirt to reveal that it was in fact some sort of pendant.

Examining it closely, Stiff could see that it was a silver fang. Like that of a dragon's, or wyvern.

Sekai glanced at Stiff as he saw him pick something up and soon after that, his face was full of bewilderment when he realized what it was. "Where did you get that!?"

"Near the window... in the dirt," Stiff answered silently. "Why?"

"That's Aiden's!" Sekai exclaimed, hurrying over to him and taking the silver fang in his hand to look at. "Your father cherished this pendant immensely; the symbol of the Dragon Knight," he explained as he rotated it in his fingers. "It is meant to symbolize their souls. Ah! Here, look at this," he said, pointing at the flat top of the fang and giving it back.

The surface of the pendant looked as if it had something engraved on it, but then carved over with scribbles definitely made by hand. But instead- under the scribbles... was the name Stiff. Also carved by hand, likely with a pointed weapon.

Sekai turned away, walking off towards the edge of the small island. "Aiden," he thought to himself. "You were here, weren't you? ...You really did witness your son's birth. Did you come here simply to die...?"

Stiff felt his breathing growing heavy as he looked down at the pendant. A birth day gift from his father. He felt a strong piercing in his chest, followed by an overwhelming wave of longing. It was bad enough to bring him down on his knees, looking down at his name on the pendant that had been lying here for so many years. Did his father know he'd come here one day?

Mom...

Dad...

Am I going to die in this place too...?

His tears fell on the soil that could very well be his father's death bed. Perhaps... Dragon Knights simply vanish when they die, becoming one with the world.

Lion knelt down behind Stiff and placed her hands on his shoulders, pressing her forehead to his back.

"Stiff... your life has been hard, hasn't it? And yet, even in such a state... you continue to fight back the darkness," she thought to herself. "It's no wonder I... like you so much."

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In memory of Aiden and Serena

844 CR. E - 864 CR. E

"-Always reach for the skies."

Continued in Chapter 46: Ruler of the Skies

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