"He is a beast!" The last thing Veti told Athena. "Following his return, the only thing he desired was…" The dead environment brought back to life with her eyes restored with a certain will. "Strength!"
A boy stood in front of Vestal in the dusk. His eyes have already experienced hate but Vestal was confused rather than to be motivated. "You were formerly Gladiator?!" The boy asked after a deep pause in the atmosphere and Vestal replies with composure knowing the boy was itching for an answer. "I was…" He placed a hand on his forehead and continued. "But it was long ago. I do not fight anymore…"
"I know!" The boy replied even before Vestal could complete his words. "I know and I won't demand a fight, but…" His gazes turn into something which even leads an old man like Vestal till to the chills! "To me! Teach Me how to fight!" Words dissolved into feelings and decided to leave the surrounding in noiseless moments... 'Papa perfectly knew the cause to accept his proposal, and yet…'
"No!" Vestal declined and swiftly as precisely leave for his torn house in that distance, which from Veti peeks at them. However, before reaching anywhere near to that house a yell comes forth. "Why!?" The boy asked with an eager tone but no words replied to him. 'But, stubborn him does not know when to give up…'
It was not that day but soon later when the sun was above as like never before, and rather give up into sheds of weakness the child yet stood before Vestal like he always has "I will fight and you will get the wealth!" The massive words he had spoken were enough to peek Vestal's attention once again. The boy came to know the dilemma family of two is facing and hit at the mark swiftly. "All I want is to be strong!" He wore a smile, which clearly announcing the fact if not to choose him but still, that nearly was not enough to challenge adults. Vestal reached the lad and calmly overlapped a hand onto his shoulder along with a gentle tone. "Wake me at five in the morning," a small smile embraced on his face but did not remain long after next sentence shook his soul. "However, use that bell!" Vestal pointed his index finger to a bell-tower in a far distance. The bell may look small from where they stand, but it was Paladin's Matin-Bell. A gigantic bell bound with a church which has not sounded in the past seven years after the priest's death. Back in time, it took more than three adults to ring that bell, so it would be impossible for a child to do it alone, and upon knowing that fact, Vestal veered around, leaving the calm and soft gales behind, he walked in tranquillity. 'And with that, papa won the debate. Or, at least what we thought…' She said. 'Days pass by and the bell stays mute, while he comes back with the black on his clothes!' Her tone changed a little. 'Although, it was irritating to wash his clothes every single day!' She then continued. 'But then, about more than half of the year later…'
A man woke before the dawn could arrive and gazed at night just before the orange glow. He was an aged seller of vegetables and this was the beginning of his day. He woke early for a recheck of the veggies and then left for his shop nearby while meeting the whole Paladins was his everyday life. After selling all, he returns and sleeps before even a complete night could take over. His feasts were short, and yet, he was excellent and healthy. Living this life for over thirty years, he never got bored of it, or, maybe got way too used to it, but today, for some reason, he decided to pray before this year ends and head for the church just next to his house. The church was closed for the past years, and yet it was clean till without a trace of dust. Stunned him, could think of nothing but the glory of one above all and so, he kneels before the one he believed. It was quite amusing for him to stay in that posture for over hours and did not realize the orange dawn was there. After his prayer, he gawks around and sees nothing but orange from the window above, meeting his eyes and wanting to make him stay longer, but thinking of his duty, this was very unfortunate and returns to the place where he belongs. However, then, the step before the gates of the church, all of the sudden, the bell above or the Matin-Bell rang. The first time it sounded, he was stunned and turned his view above. The second time it rang, the flow tears unleashed, and when the third time it echoed, the Paladins woke. The bell rang for fourth along with the fifth and sixth time and led everyone to a peaceful morning wake. Vestal was farthest from the bell and yet it was singing in his ears gently. His eyes opened, and he knew the one behind… 'The bell rang over and over, slowly and with a tone which still echoes in my ears, and it rang until he made them know; the dawn had come. Papa was no different, but rather than that, he feared, he feared he had awakened something far worse than he imagined!' She sighed and proceeded again. 'And then, days revolved into weeks, weeks converted into months and months in long years…' She took a breath to remember something and it was rather disappointed tone. 'His training was intense and if I recall correctly, because of that; they created a brawl which results in the wreckage of four shops in the market and the worst thing was; it wasn't the first or last time that happened…'
"Listen, boy, you have no talent!" Vestal let out with disappointment crawling in his eyes. They stood beneath the dark sky. Months had passed since the Martin-Bell sounded. The boy lay on grounds with hands like they were burned. Feet with all just cracked heels. His hairs were long and disorder while his breaths were tired. One glance could judge the activity behind. The boy who did not sleep or eat in the past two days might not have made that face but, he did. He still has the will! He still stood and gawked in Vestal's eyes. Just an eye contact with a child was not difficult but the one who stood before was chasing something even which Vestal did not know and that was the only thing he feared. Silence takes over in an unknown to words atmosphere. Vestal was perplexed, regardless of knowing what the boy wields in his core. 'He has something, Papa understands but still refuses to acknowledge…' After standing for minutes which looks like the long hours, Vestal just thought of abandoning the dignity he had held as a fighter and as a teacher. "You have it!" He said but was not sure if he was right while the boy's mind lifted from the depths of suffering. His sunflower eyes found a spark and in that split of a second; some words scattered throughout the feelings. "Listen, you only have one skill growling inside you…" The pupils maybe were vast upon hearing his only skill. "Hate!" He said. "You hate everything! Me, her, the whole world…" Veti was behind yet not close. "Use it as your strongest weapon!"
'That day, I saw somewhat a sparkle blooming within his yellow eyes. It was the moment, I felt ease for the first time as if, my heart was below the field of Sunflowers and the sun was smirking upon me. It was as if…' She did not know how to express that unique emotion and assumed to not go further but just to stay voiceless. After minutes, she speaks again. 'It was the last day of him being weak and first of gaining new growth. In the long ten years eventually, reaching a point of attaining to stand as a beast!' She said that and then, took a deep breath along with a drink of water. Athena sat still opposite patiently and heard all her saying while Veti was rather happy to talk with someone as her and wanted more but did not know what. "Thank you for listening to all my bragging, but after talking with you, for some reason, my heart feels at ease…" Athena yet did not say a word but listen and finally made Veti realize the fact, she might not be interested! "I-I am sorry!" Veti said and raised a cup of water towards her. She yet was mum but then, risen hand so could accept it. She gently took a sip while softly setting her golden hair strand behind the ears, and it was simply beautiful, which let the old man behind the curtains slipped out with blush and he was not the only one amazed. Veti quietly watched, as well with a little bit of jealousy but mostly in admiration. They stared for a span but soon realized after her gulp was below her throat and spun their sights. She then says. "I will remember this!" And these were the only words Athena scattered upon her arrival. The phrase was short, yet, was enough to make some of Veti uncertainties clear and later hearing that, Vestal smiled…
She left for the graveyard at Southern Paladin. Veti stood beside her father as saw Athena leaving. She was still unknown to the right behind her conclusion. "Will this be it?" She asked her father, unfamiliar to answer, but thinking back to something from long ago, Vestal now knows the answer of he once worried so intensely. "No!" He said. "This might be just a beginning!" He was good as extraordinary at this point. "Do you truly think she can keep up with him?" She asked as heads for the flowers shop in a distance with Vestal behind her. "Well, slaves can not kill their master. That will be a true crime and disrespecting of the law. But, I doubt, he even tries to think about it!" He yet again embraced by a tiny smile. "And besides, she might be best for him." He imagined her once again and remembered something. "Yes, I have no doubt, she, as well have it…" Veti did not understand the meaning hidden behind his mysterious words. "What?!" She asked and he glanced with utter confidence, but that massage was special for his daughter...
Athena spun her sights to him and in that portion of time, a figure collided into Hatim. His turban fell, revealing his long hairs along with his Dagger which brings down forth with him on knees. The man who struck offered his arm. Hatim rolls his head to him and after two men sights meet, an utter confusion was created. The terror squeezed in Cleo's eyes upon knowing the figure in that distance while Hatim was rather shocked and confused. Yet, this was not the time to waste on thinking but to take action! And so, he pulled tablecloth of a stall which scattered the goods in the air, making some sightless and at that moment the environment became slow. It was just a second or two but seems to be an eternity for the two far from each other. He blinked quietly and Athena merely glared falling beneath the options but something was also there. Hatim speaks calmly. "...!" His lips moved, scattered only a single word in the sky. Despite the distance, it was heard by her, and in just that moment she learns what is the importance behind. She clutches her grip on Cleo's stomach and reaches for Zera but! That foolish girl did not prefer to be one. She runs towards Hatim with the might she never possessed before. The length between them became larger and wider. Zera runs to Hatim while Athena takes Cleo further way along, just then, he screams her name out. "Zera!!!" They went for different paths...
This might be the result of one's choice, but they did not regret it. Or at least that should be the outcome.