Achromo plucked the spring flower that was indigenous to the region of and around Elna, which had a strange beauty to it and a luminosity that they could have only witnessed last night. Yarik had not seen much of these flowers and was quite curious. He was much more lively than the other day, which he had justified as lack of sleep.
"Shouldn't we not pluck this flower?" he questioned.
"Spring is about to come to an end." answered Achromo in a sluggish voice as he had just woken up. "These flowers. I am going to take some with me. These have their benefits, medically. They are strong herbs and they will not be of any utility if spring gets over, so I assume there is no use saving them. I am going to use this one I plucked as well. They will be harvested for sale and household in a couple of days."
He brought the flower closer to himself which was of a beautiful orange shade, one nice enough to suit a pretty cabin. Yarik considered such at least.
"I wish I could stay till the end of spring." Achromo said to himself in a low voice.
Tough he was not supposed to, Yarik heard this statement and felt quite the pity for Achromo. He did not have a clue, but sure did understand how pleasant it might have been to live in here. Achromo sensed this expression on his face.
"They make quite good tea as well." replied Achromo, "Would you like to try some."
"My pleasure." came the reply.
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It was the time for departure.
Achromo did not particularly keen on his idea, neither was he happy to do such. He was interested to visit the Capital, much more interested in getting to know more about his father. however, he was not so happy to get involved in it in any way or get a role in this subject. He had, just not, started to gain interest in it. Anyway, it was still a high chance that he would get involved. He would be happy to but still had mixed opinion.
They arranged the chariots, they had only brought two of the royal chariots and King Felix wanted his friend to travel in one. Even tough after many rejections from the 5-star officer, who had been put as the incharge and head of security for this travel of the King. He had been insisting this.
"I suggest that Rey and Lara travel with me." he told his guard, "And with that, Achromo can travel with the prince. That seems like a relatively good idea."
"I cannot allow this." he said lightly to the King, "As the head of security, I am obliged to take care of you. We cannot let strangers in with you, at least when we have not inspected or investigated them thoroughly; of which we have not got time to do. I sincerely can't allow this. My apologies, my King."
"You are the more recent of the Knights, aren't you?" he said, not yet indicating a question but a nod replied, still bowed. "Then I assume you are not aware of who he might be. They are trusted individual. You don't know the history of this and you should not questioned. Don't worry this shall be explained."
The guard still hesitated a bit and opened his mouth to speak something.
"Take this as an order." he commanded passing by him, approaching the chariot. "Question no further. Nothing will happen."- then he looked towards Rey- "At least not when he is with us. Arrange the chariot. Navigate the way and start immediately."
"My King." he kneeled, obeying even when he was still hesitant.
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It started out, thus, the way to the capital. Achromo was quite sad to leave the town but figured it was a choice that had to be made. He could not simply continue to live on without his father. Besides all this, he was exited for this. An innocent smile lit his face as they started the way to the destination.
It was a really fair noon, when he had just bid a farewell to Lyra and Vincent along with all the other friends who had came up with them. It grew nearly emotional. Achromo remembered Lyra sheading a tear for this event, tough it was not much for her attitude. He remembered Vincent telling him "I would have cried, but I am quite the man." and giving in that usual fox's smile. The rest was not much to be remembered. A last glimpse at the house he had now lived his lifetime in, faded as he left.
The horses ran faster, pulling the chariot along with them. As the speed increased, the soft spring winds came by and the smell of that occasional spring breeze carried the sent of the river nearby. He recognized the forest that he had known for a long time as their 'hideout'. There was a decent sized tree which had names carved upon them with text that read,
'Achromo, Vincent, Lyra.
We are never going down,
The stars are always in our favor.'
Will you remember us?, he recalled a boy, a friend, asking him this question.
As if I can ever forget. he answered to himself.
The wind blew again, and this time it cooled him down. He almost savored this breeze as it struck him from a open window. He was quite now moving into a drowsy state, but he refused to fall asleep. A bird flew by supported by the wind and flapped his wings then with the corner that was left in sight, he saw the bird flying the opposite direction, opposing the winds. It was quite admired.
The sun shone very brightly, but it was an idle weather. Not too hot, nor too cold. It felt good to feel such a feeling somehow. It seemed so pleasant and calm, and it so much soothed his soul. Then he realized a sweat trickling his throat and drew his head out of the curtains and calmed down even further. The calm was so great, that he could not think of anything other than compliments for such weather.
Then, they arrived at a river which was filled with some memories as well. It flowed with a very happy flow, flowing with a rush of memories, flowing reflecting the likewise sun, flowing, flowing and flowing like his veins with every beat of his heart. It flowed year long, not being that far from the village. This became a resting or even a meeting or picnic spot for them. The water was clean to drink. It was so clear that you could view the stones under the brilliantly clear water, with an transparent efficiency. The river waved at his departure, which he mistook for a smile; or maybe, it was actually a smile, just maybe.
It was spring, naturally leaves showered on them as their chariots raced trough the place and with that he felt the wind once again starting to flow the direction they were headed at. With this, their speed increased and the weather felt even colder with this increase, enough to drive a shiver down his spine. It still felt quite good to him, these flowing wind of the joyous spring. There was a good mood building up in his body, one that was happy as a hawk.
"I can't tell." Yarik scanned his face, of the Achromo who sat without any emotion lighting up his face brightly, his eyes closed as he was seated on without any feeling on his face. HE savored the weather and he felt the climate.
"What are you talking about?" he questioned.
His voice flattered a little, he had not talked in a while. It came of as slightly harsh and deep. And then he cleared his throat.
"Your face I mean." he replied, "Are you happy or sad? What a vague expression you give off."
"I don't know what you are talking about?" He maintained the same emotion and expression that he was giving out. "This is nothing."
"That is the thing." he replied almost immediately, stressing the words. "It is nothing and that is not good. What exactly are you feeling."
"What am I feeling?" Achromo went in a short daze, "I honestly have no idea. It almost feels empty. Empty..."- then he held his chest -"But somehow, I am quite used to it. The emptiness, I mean. I am now used to this feeling that is within me and I am coming to take a understanding of it. Ask me no further what it is. It is neither joy nor sorrow; there is no light for me to seek, nor is it dim; I don't see far off in the mist, but it is just soo clear; neither at ease, nor agony: but I am used to it. The emptiness fills my heart."
No reply came from the other side. Instead of questioning any further, he just leaned back onto his seat and took a few deep breath. Yarik did no feel like continuing, and Achromo appreciated the silence.
-----------------
It had now been a while, the speed had accelerated over the passing time. On the way, he remembered all of those memories he shared with Elna. There was a lot he had to say, but he was driven mute by all what was happening. They had finally reached the outskirts of the town, now. Emerging from the forest that had covered Elna.
"Here we are." declared Yarik, spreading his arms attracting the attention of the drowsy Achromo, "This is where Elna comes to an end."
"It does." came an bland answer.
"Come on." Yarik tried to encourage him, "Don't you feel it? We are at the edge of the very place you called home. Whatever it may be- you won't be here for long. All of this was you're and you shall own it, my friend. You are the one of Elna. Do not forget that. Won't you take time for the memories to strike in?"
"The memories, huh?" he thought about it for a while, "I have already felt all of it. Now, I can finally leave."
And then he forced a smile to rise on his face.
As they rode further, time seemed to be sped for him. As he remembered all of this once again, the memories were starting to get covered into mist. He felt a strange emotion, and he had one memory that he could not get his head around. He thought about it, something, he did not know what, but he thought and thought and thought... Nothing came to him after even this. He grasped his head in his palm and then covered his ears.
'I cannot remember.' he chanted to himself.
Then he calmed down as he looked out. His heartbeat slowed down. Slowly, he was starting to get it all. As he did, Elna faded in his sight.
"Farewell" he whispered to himself.