Chereads / Xerxes by Micheal_Achonye / Chapter 26 - Stars in the nightsky

Chapter 26 - Stars in the nightsky

"Hey, back to earth human or god or whatever you are," she clicked her fingers at me bringing me to life.

"Oh," I sighed softly. This was the third time I had spaced out. Not a good way to complete the perfect day.

I had told her my history, from my time as a part of the Klax clan to the constant wars which occurred in Capalu to my journey with my father, Petra and my teammates. I told her everything about me, keeping away the part about my father being the god of darkness as well as anything relating to my family as gods. Didn't want her to freak out just incase she had met him during her travels as an adventurer.

In turn, I had learnt alot about her. She was the daughter of a drunkard who only cared about trying to reunite his family and trying to take down her uncle who was evil, seemed similar to my story. Family squabbles were crazy when uncles were the villains in the story.

"I need some air," she said softly as she got up, brushing her behind.

I watched her walk into the darkness leaving me with the dragon at the bonfire. We had been together on the island for almost a week and we were getting to know each other as the days went by. We hunted together, ate together, trained together, we practically lived together like island mates. I had explored the island with her as my guide, she was the only being living on it until I dropped in.

We had called a truce when I healed the green beast as I would help her on her quest to win against her uncle and she would in turn help me get to my father as well as help me end the war. It was a win-win situation, after all she had powers beyond my comprehension and with her strength we would have the upper hand.

During my stay on the island, we had sparred and I had gotten stronger. She learned how to use her powers in other resourceful ways as I taught her the healing process Petra had endowed me with.

Standing at the bank of the water with folded arms while letting her feet soak in the wet sand, she looked beautiful. Her hair flowed in the wind with the silk clothing she had on moving in sync. I couldn't help but gaze. Gilgamesh nudged me with his nose intending for me to join her.

"I don't know what to say to her," I whispered to the green beast to which it nudged me even further.

"Fine," I said standing up. "I'll go."

Walking over to her with my hands on my butt, I came up from behind dropping a hand on her naked shoulder.

"Hey," I breathed out. "Whatcha thinking about?"

She chuckled at my accent, "Who talks like that?"

I chuckled back, "There's a lady in my team, she talks funny like she's from the south."

"You mean Indigo, the one you said likes to drink," she said sitting on the sand.

"Yeah, that one," I answered joining her. I looked back to see the green beast already asleep with its nose close to the fire.

It looked peaceful here I thought. I could stay here forever and never look for anybody, forget about my family, world wars and just stay here.

"I'm sorry I kept spacing out," I apologized. "I kept thinking of how different things were on this island when compared to the chaos out there."

Her face lit up under the night sky which was covered with countless stars smiling down on us.

"I understand," she smiled ahead. "I came here to escape my family too. I needed the peace, the tranquility, I needed it."

Putting my hand on hers, I felt her pulse rise.

"Kenzie," I called.

She looked at me with a smile on her face, "You're about to ask me what it means."

I nodded like a child waiting for a surprise to roll out.

"If you must know, it means fair one or good looking depends on the language it's translated from."

"I've never heard it before. A strange name I must say."

"It was a common name in my mother's hometown. What about you? I've never heard of Xerxes before, I mean Ahaseurus yes, but never a Xerxes."

"It's pretty much the same meaning with Ahaseurus. Ruler over heroes, warrior, it also depends on the language which translates it."

A night bird flew across with its wings lighting up the sky.

"Tomorrow we set out in search of my family," she withdrew her hand from mine while cracking her knuckles. "We'll need to draw out our battle plans."

"Yeah, we've stayed here for a long time anyway," I responded in a low tone.

She gave me a smile before standing to her feet, "I'll be turning in now. Sleep well."

"You too."

It was hard watching her walk away. I had the urge to run up to her and embrace her, to tell her that it would be alright, that she would be okay. But I knew it was not in my place to do so. No matter how I felt for her, I was an accidental friend and nothing more. We were both driven by family feuds and wars, we both had ambitions. I had been in so many friendships and relationships just like her and they had all been shattered by the reality of life not lasting more than a year while some had been snuffed out in less than a few days.

She had snuggled up with the dragon and was fast asleep. Putting my head in my hands I wondered what my father was doing right now. Was he looking for me or-- He wouldn't do such, there were other important things. He had to stop his brother from causing more chaos in the world as well as take his place as King to repair the damage which had occurred during these years.

"DO NOT OVERWHELM YOURSELF BOY," Callipso sighed. "THE ANSWERS YOU SEEK SHALL SURFACE IN THE MORNING."

Looking back up at the night sky, I followed the trail of stars to the horizon as the sea merged with the sky at that point. It was beautiful. This island was full of wonders and it never seized to amaze me.

The sand prickled my back as I laid on it. The stars started to get dim with nature taking its course.

"I wonder what would happen tomorrow," I whispered before falling into an abyss of emptiness, feeling nothing and seeing nothing.