"Ciri, can I come in, please?"
"Mmh… come in," she answered weakly.
I opened the door and found Ciri sitting on her bed, her arms wrapped around her knees, her head bowed. Her soft sobs broke the silence of the room. Slowly, I approached and sat down next to her.
"Ciri… would you mind if we talked for a bit?" I murmured.
She didn't respond, so I tried again.
"Are you crying… for me?"
"Of course I'm crying for you, idiot," she replied, lifting her eyes to meet mine. Her face was streaked with tears, her nose slightly red. Seeing her like this, I took out a handkerchief and gently wiped her face.
"You know, Ciri… it's okay to be scared. Even I'm scared," I admitted, trying a small smile to reassure her.
"Then… then don't go! You don't have to go to the battlefield. You could stay here with me," she said, her voice breaking with desperation.
I placed a hand on her head and gave her a small smile. "Unfortunately, I can't. I have responsibilities."
"But… how is going to battle part of our promise?" she asked, frowning, confused.
"Because it's to protect you. That's our promise, right?" I replied softly.
"NO! Our promise was to face obstacles together."
I nodded slowly, understanding her distress. "I know… but this time, I'll be the one fighting on the front line. One day, you'll fight by my side too. But for now, you have to stay here, safe."
She was silent for a moment, her gaze drifting into the distance. "Aiden, do you remember the day you told me you'd always be there for me? I want to believe you. But this time… this time, promise me you'll really come back."
I looked at her gently. "I promise. Besides, the queen has placed me in the commander's division. I'm well protected. Don't worry about me."
"But… what if something happens… if I lose you…" she murmured, tears filling her eyes again.
I took a deep breath, struggling with my own emotions. "Ciri, instead of trying to stop me, could you support me? I need your encouragement… you're my strength."
After a pause, she nodded. "Mmh… alright."
"Come here," I said, pulling her into my arms. She rested her head on my shoulder, her sobs slowly subsiding. After a long silence, she whispered in a soft voice:
"Promise me… you won't die."
"I promise," I replied, though the weight of that promise pressed heavily on me.
She looked at me, searching for truth, for certainty in my eyes. "I believe you, but… only if you kiss me on the forehead," she said shyly.
Surprised by her request, I couldn't help but smile. I leaned over and kissed her forehead, giving her a reassuring smile.
"Sleep well, my princess."
She closed her eyes, and I stayed by her side until I heard the deep breaths that signaled she had finally fallen asleep. I rose silently, casting one last glance at the one I had sworn to protect, then left the room.
As I closed her door, a strange sensation overcame me. A thought struck me, harsh and sudden: what if this was the last time? My heart tightened, but I pushed the thought aside. Still, the weight of this premonition remained anchored in my soul.
On my way back to my quarters, I stopped at one of my favorite spots, a corner of the courtyard where the stars were visible, unobstructed.
It really hasn't changed, huh? I murmured, looking up at the star-filled sky.
I sat down and lay back, letting my gaze drift over the stars. Ciri… I want to seem strong for you, but I can't help… My words faded into the night as silent tears rolled down my cheeks.
I'm scared, Ciri. Scared of dying, scared of losing you, scared of losing everything I am. I closed my eyes, and memories of my family flooded my mind, fragments of moments from my time in the hospital, far from them. In the oppressive silence of those endless nights, I sometimes thought I could hear an echo of the past – my mother's soft voice singing me a lullaby over the phone, my father's warm laugh trying to give me courage. These memories, like distant whispers, seemed to want to remind me who I was, even if fear threatened to erase everything, to take it all from me.
"Mom, Dad… I miss you so much."
Loneliness gripped me as I lay there, curled up under the starlight, until a deep, familiar voice broke the silence.
"Are you afraid?"
Surprised, I sat up and saw a man dressed in black, his face hidden, but his rough voice carried a strange authority.
"So, are you afraid, kid?"
"Who are you?" I asked, wary but strangely drawn to this stranger.
"My identity doesn't matter. I asked you a question."
For reasons I couldn't explain, I felt like I could trust him. I took a deep breath, then replied:
"Yes, I'm afraid. Afraid of dying, afraid of losing those I have to protect… afraid of losing myself."
He nodded, a flicker of understanding passing through his gaze. "You're right to be afraid. Fear… it's a powerful emotion. It can make you do things you'll regret. But it can also give you strength, remind you of what truly matters."
His words resonated within me, like an echo of my own anxieties. "Have you… have you ever felt that kind of fear?"
He looked at me, and in the faint light of the moon, I saw his eyes – slit like a cat's, sharp, almost otherworldly.
"Yes. Every danger brought that fear back. But I overcame it, and it's that fear that made me stronger. Because it taught me to live without regret."
He stood up, his silhouette blending into the darkness. "It's time for me to go. It was a pleasure to meet you, Aiden."
I remained frozen, still shocked by his presence, as I murmured faintly, watching him disappear.
"Eyes… like a cat."
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The mysterious figure moved away, melting into the forest shadows, silent as a specter. As he looked back at the castle one last time, a fleeting smile crossed his face.
"He is… interesting," he murmured. "Strangely, I feel the same connection with him that I feel with Ciri, as if fate had intertwined us."
His eyes turned toward the moon, bright and solitary in the sky, and his thoughts whispered a silent vow: I hope fate will reunite us, dear Aiden. I want to understand why I feel this way.
Without a sound, the black-clad figure vanished into the woods, leaving only a trace of mystery behind.
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The time of destiny had come. In a place unseen by human eyes, the threads of fate intertwined, ready to unleash a hidden energy. The black thread shone with a fierce light, as if calling for a powerful force to reveal its true nature. And as the stars and moon watched over the night sky, the bonds forged between souls strengthened this thread, giving it the resilience to face the inevitable.