"...It's so dark."
"Wak..."
"Huh? Is someone speaking?"
"Yo... wa... up?"
"I don't understand. Where even am I. Oh yeah, didn't I die?"
"WAKE UP!"
Kaden sprung up from the bed he was laying in as he woke up with a jolt. He frantically inspected his own body while hyperventilating uncontrollably. He calmed down after just a few seconds, but remained dazed and confused for a little while after. He attempted to exit the bed, slowly and carefully pulling himself to his feet and then collapsing shortly after becoming dizzy.
"What is this?" He groaned.
The door of the room he was occupying swung open a few minutes after he collapsed, and Mai came walking in promptly after.
"Kaden?!" She exclaimed as she rushed over to help him. "What happened here, and how long have you been awake?"
"...Where am I?"
"We're back in Aestus, this is the same room in my residence you stayed in before." Mai explained.
"What do you mean, who are you?"
"Huh?"
"Follow me stranger, if you try anything I'll execute you myself."
"Say mister, are you a bad guy?"
"I intend to make use of your unique abilities."
"Why don't you just do everyone a favor and just stay dead."
Kaden clinched the hair on his own head with both hands and began to wince in pain as memories began to flood back into his mind.
"Kaden, are you alright?" Mai asked.
"...No."
"Here, you should stay in bed and rest." Mai suggested as she helped him back onto the bed. "I'll be right back, so don't you leave this bed. Rest and take it easy."
Without a moment to waste, Mai left the room and left the door wide open.
"...Maira."
"..."
Kaden fell unconscious once again, but this time it was only for a short while. About five minutes passed before he began to regain consciousness. Blurry outlines of people and muffled voices traded broken sentences back and forth which Kaden couldn't make out.
"I'm certain that he was awake when I first came in here." Mai stated.
"This isn't any time to be getting caught up in your confusion." Elder Mildred replied.
"But I-"
"Enough of this, we're pressed for time."
"Hold on now sister, something must of happened for her to approach us in the frantic matter in which she did." Elder Aira exclaimed.
"Of course you're going to favor your granddaughter once again." Mildred responded.
"This has nothing to do with her being my granddaughter."
"You're all too loud." Kaden said in a raspy voice.
"..."
"Kaden, are you... feeling alright?" Aira questioned.
"Yeah, I feel great. Don't I look great?" He responded in a monotone manner.
"But you told me you weren't alright when I came in before." Mai stated.
"I was just confused a bit before, but I'm fine now." Kaden explained as he rolled on his side away from them.
Mai and Elder Aira traded concerned glances at one another while Elder Mildred didn't display any reaction.
"What is the last thing you remember Kaden?" Aira asked.
"...The gate." He replied hesitantly.
"Yes. If it's okay with you, can you tell us what you experienced?"
"Nah, I'm good. I'd appreciate it if you leave me alone."
"...Alright then, we'll return in a few hours to check on you."
Aira and Mildred respectfully left the room leaving Mai contemplating whether she should stay beside him or not.
"Are you really fine?"
"I said what I said." He replied.
"...Well you were unconscious for two whole weeks following the trial."
"Two weeks?" He muttered softly.
"During that time your heart rate was dangerously low and you weren't showing any signs of waking up. The Elders came to the conclusion that you failed the trial, but this was unprecedented. If there's something-"
"Mai... please, leave me alone for now."
Her worried expression slowly faded as she fought to compose herself. After a few seconds she left the room and closed the door behind her, leaving Kaden to his solitude. Mai walked downstairs and found Elder Aira waiting on her.
"Elder Mildred..?"
"She went to go inform the others about Kaden's awakening." Aira responded.
"Okay, I promised Kumo and Ria that I'd train with them. So I-I'll be back." Mai said as she abruptly left their home.
"...She's disappointed." Elder Aira thought.
.....
2 Weeks Ago
"Oh! Jay I can see it!"
"Be a little more quiet Sayu, the others are still sleeping." Jayson replied.
"Sorry, but I can see the island."
"Yeah just a little while longer. Why didn't you catch some sleep Sayu?"
"Because, I wanna see the outside. This is my first adventure." Sayu stated with a large smile.
"I'm glad you think of it that way." Jayson replied.
Twenty minutes passed by before they arrived at the dock of Isla Fundido.
"There's no people." Sayu pointed out.
"Everyone may still be asleep, it's just the break of dawn after all. Wake up the others for me Sayu."
"Okay! Nakayla, Tanner, Shaedon, Mano, Camie! Wake up!"
Sayu then proceeded to jump up and down continuously to rock the boat back and forth, until one by one they all woke up.
"Mmm, alright. Alright." Camie replied.
"Just a little longer pleaseee." Mano said.
"The waves felt like someone was rocking me to sleep." Nakayla stated.
"Everyone wake up!" Sayu repeated once more. "We're at Jay's home."
"Yhup." Jayson replied as he jumped out of the boat and tied it to a pillar on the dock.
"Is this really your home Jay?" Tanner questioned.
"I was actually born in the city, but I spent the first seven years of my life out here, so I like to think of this place as home."
"If you left this place at seven, then that means you haven't been here for nine years." Nakayla concluded.
"That's correct. C'mon, there's someone specific we're looking for."
The sun crept it's way over the horizon, painting the sky in a beautiful array of colors ranging from red and orange on one side, to indigo and violet on the next. Jayson and the kids strolled through the waterfront town for about three minutes before encountering an old lady sitting on her front patio.
"Mrs. Tabby, good morning. " Jayson said greeting the lady.
"Excuse me..? Who're you?"
"It's Jayson Mrs. Tabby. It's been a while."
"...The mixed boy..." She said.
The kids all looked at each other out of confusion, before Mrs. Tabby began to smile and laugh slightly.
"So you've returned after all these years mixed boy."
"Yeah, but only for a short while. I was actually looking for Avery."
"Oh, why, she still lives over by the hot springs."
"Yeah, I figured as much. Thank you Mrs. Tabby." Jayson responded as he walked away in the direction of the hot springs.
The kids followed behind him as Mrs. Tabby waved goodbye with a warm smile still sitting on her face. The hot springs were a short trek up the path which curved its way up and around a nearby hill. Along the way they were noticed by others living on the island, but didn't engage anyone else in a conversation.
"They all just stare at us." Nakayla stated.
"Not much people live here." Jayson replied. "Everyone knows everyone who lives here, so they probably are trying to figure out what are we doing here."
It wasn't much longer until they arrived at the hot springs. A well kept wooden building sat at the very end of the road on the northern side of the hill. Wild roosters which roamed the area crowed and freely wandered around, as stray seagulls soared overhead, echoing their cries throughout the hills on the island.
"You guys can sit and wait for me on that bench over there." Jayson told the kids. "I promised to be quick."
Jayson walked up to the front door of the building and lightly knocked five times. On the final knock the door creaked open slightly, prompting Jayson to carefully push the door open just enough for him to glance inside.
"Hello? Avery?"
With no response, Jayson slid himself through the door without opening it fully and silently crept through the building. A familiar scent of cinnamon tea lingered in the air as Jayson quietly investigated the foyer of this seemingly empty building.
"Didn't Mrs. Tabby said she still lives up here?" Jayson questioned as he stood in the middle of the foyer.
"I need to stop leaving that door open, too many strays been coming in here as of late." A female said from the balcony above Jayson.
"If you heard me calling why didn't you reply? Avery."
"Ouuu look who's finally trying to speak up to me. Years in the city really does change a person."
"While you haven't changed at all by the looks of things." Jayson replied.
Avery is eight years older than Jayson, which would make her twenty-four years old currently. She has long unkempt blonde hair, and unique scarlet brown eyes.
"It's nice to see you Jay."
"Likewise." Jayson replied after finally displaying a slight grin.
"..."
They moved their conversation over to the kitchen where Avery prepared two cups of cinnamon tea for them.
"So things really aren't looking good in the capital." Avery stated.
"Yeah, Kajar was somehow able to persuade most of Ignus' military forces onto his side. They prevented people from leaving by attacking the areas around the exits first, then they closed in more and more everyday. Whoever retaliated was attacked without mercy."
"That sounds... intense."
"Yeah, intense."
"So how did you get out?" Avery questioned.
"Long story and I don't really have time to waste right now. I was told to deliver this to Aestus as fast as I can." Jayson said as he flashed the lighter for Avery to see.
"A lighter?"
"It's probably a message. I can sense fire essence inside of it."
"Oh so you came to me because you need help getting to the water continent." Avery figured.
"Well yes, but that's not all. There's some kids outside that fleed with me from Ignus. I was wondering if there was someplace they can stay here?"
"I can possibly arrange something if I asked around for a bit, but is that alright?"
"Of course it would be." Jayson replied.
"I don't think you're understanding my question. Jay, is it true what happened to your mother?"
"...That's irrelevant right now."
"What do you mean irrelevant?! Jay you-"
CRASH!
Jayson and Avery turn their attention to the sound of something falling just outside of where they were sitting in the kitchen. Jayson calmly got up from his seat and went to investigate the noise. Before he reached the door, he noticed a shadow fleeing from the doorway. He peered around the corner and found Sayu running towards the door they entered through.
"Sayu." Jayson called out.
"No! You don't see me!" She replied as she ran outside.
"...She seems lively." Avery said as she sipped her tea.
"Very much so. C'mon." Jayson said as he walked after Sayu.
The two followed Sayu outside where she was whispering to the other kids by the bench Jayson told them to wait by.
"Alright guys, here's what's going to happen." Jayson announced. "This is my friend Avery, she grew up on this island and her family raised me when I lived here. She'll help you guys get accustomed to living here."
"What about you?" Shaedon questioned.
"...Well there's still something I have to take care of. Once I've completed my mission I'll come back here."
"No!" Sayu shouted as she ran to Jayson and hugged his legs. "Don't leave us!"
"Listen Sayu, I have to go, because there's a lot of people that are counting on me." Jayson explained.
"Then bring us with you!"
"I-"
"We're tired of being abandoned." Nakayla stated. "We were all orphaned from a young age, so all we ever wish for is a family, and this is the closest we've all gotten to that. Not just each other, but you and Mother Merina too."
"We don't want to be separated from anyone else." Tanner added.
As he looked around at the gloomy faces of the six kids, Jayson found himself reminiscing on the despair he felt from never having any form of interaction with his mother even though she was never far away. A pain which originally made him volunteer at the orphanage where he met the ones standing in front of him now.
"Avery, how long would the journey to the water continent be?" Jayson asked.
"Two weeks to get there by boat, and possibly another three weeks to reach Aestus on foot."
"We won't be a hindrance." Tanner stated.
"Yeah, we'll do whatever you need us to do to help out." Camie added.
"Please just let us come with you." Mano repeated.
Jayson looked over his shoulder at Avery who was smiling and waiting for his decision.
"...You guys come inside." Jayson said as he patted Sayu's head. "Let's figure out how we're doing this."
Sayu smiled as she hugged Jayson even tighter, while the others smiled and looked at Jayson with visible relief on their faces.
"I guess I don't have to worry about you as much as I first thought." Avery stated. "You're strong, but a person is much stronger when they have people they want to protect."
"I don't remember you being wise in the slightest." Jayson replied.
"Maybe I shouldn't help you out after all."
"I'd appreciate it if you do though." He said with a smile.
"...Fine, everyone inside. Let's go."
With the sun steadily rising over Isla Fundido, shining over the beginning of a new day. Trouble began to arise within the shadows of Ignus' walls.
"He was the last person we could've allowed to get out." An unknown man stated. "Nix, if it's the last thing you do, you will bring Jayson Hillinger back to me."
"Alive?"
"Of course alive. Now go."
"Yes Commander Kajar."