Jason and Azumi had been walking for what seems like hours, following the mysterious man's instructions to head east towards the city.
Jason couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. The nightmare he had while unconscious lingered in his mind, and he couldn't help but wonder what it meant.
Scenarios began playing in his head...
In the dream, the village wasn't just burning—it was alive. The flames devoured everyone I loved. Their screams of terror echoed in my ears, then ghosts with hollow eyes rose from the corpses and chased. I tried to run, but as I did, my feet felt as if they were planted in the ground, as if it was pulling me down. When the ghosts touched my skin, I felt their cold presence, their torment and it burned.
Then suddenly, a voice came. The voice whispered in my ear, words I can not seem to ever forget, its voice grew louder until its words were deafening. "You still breathe on top of the lives you could not save. In truth, you never could."
Although it was a dream, my whole body trembled, no matter how tightly I squeeze my hands, I-i couldn't stop shivering.
Then Azumi suddenly turned around to see if Jason was keeping up with her pace...
"You're unusually quiet, "Azumi stated as she steadily looked at Jason, "Did something happen?"
Jason looked at Azumi and said, "No, nothing happened," he abruptly stoped while he tighten his fist, "I will be just fine."
Then thoughts came flooding his head, "Im too weak to do anything...I brag about becoming the strongest mystic this kingdom has ever seen and yet... I am nothing but a cursed, feeble child born without the ability to use Mystical abilities! WHY...Why did I have to survive, I don't deser-"
Azumi sharply turned with a swift kick to Jason's stomach, "You say you are doing just fine, if so then tell me, why you are trembling... Jason? I hate it when people pretend to be strong and yet they are not, quit putting on a tough guy act."
She sighed, speaking with a calm, gentle tone, "I'm sorry for what happened to your village and the people you love. Don't feel responsible for the things you couldn't do, but be proud for what you did do.
Azumi walked towards Jason and stretched her hand to help him stand up, "And that is... managing to save my life."
Jason's expression softened as tears ran down his face, "Thank you, Azumi... I needed that."
"Come on, let's get going." She boldly stated.
A few hours later...
After walking, they found themselves on a clear pathway that seemed to lead them directly towards the city.
After a while, Azumi spoke up with her voice as bold as ever. "By the way Jason... May I ask you something?"
Jason turned to her and said, "Yeah, what is it?"
Azumi asked with her voice low and serious, "Where are you going to go after this?"
Jason's expression changed as he was thinking about his response, gazing at a hill, "I...don't know."
"Don't you have relatives?" She asked once again.
He blatantly said, "It was always my mother and I, I don't know any other family members."
"What about your father?" She asked.
Jason expression changed, "My father? I don't remember much about him, he left for work when I was still a baby and was reported deceased shortly after."
"I am... Sorry to hear that," Her voice calm, she then asked herself questions , "First he was born Mysticless, then lost his father, and now his mother. Is this what life has in store for him? What else will be taken away from him?"
"I'd perhaps hoped for an escape, a brief mercy. But seems like there's no escaping what's left of this life." Jason muttered to himself.
"What are you going to do after all of this." The tone of her voice serious.
"What do you mean?" Jason asked.
"Your endeavours, what do you plan to do?"
Jason answered, his voice calm and his tone filled with energy, "Isn't it obvious," as he smirked, "I am gonna become the Archon."
Azumi's expression turned from serious to very annoyed, "You don't blatantly say out things like that."
Azumi sighed before asking the next question, "Why do you think this dream of yours will become a reality? You don't possess Mystica or any natural talent... so why bother?"
Jason's voice became firm and bold, "I was born without Mystica thats true, but that doesn't determine whether or not I become the Archon. When I was young I was always told about the Kingdom's first Archon and how he loved this Kingdom that he chose to sacrifice his own life in order to protect it. He demonstrated power that no one could ever demonstrate. I too wish to demonstrate that power, I want to prove to myself and everyone else, that a lowly commoner like me, who has no Mystical gifts can indeed become the Archon. And I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen."
"Hmm... I knew it that this guy was an idiot but not to this extent." Azumi thought to herself.
Azumi spoke up, "You really think you can make it happen?"
Jason looked at Azumi with his eyes as bold as ever, "Without a doubt."
"Then you can count on it... I will be there to see it through." As she was walking away.
Jason stood his expression still the same, "Oh, I forgot to mention... I may be powerless but I will do everything in my power to find out what happened to my village."
"He seems serious," She thought to herself.
"So let's get moving, we don't want to get there tomorrow do we?" As he began running looking at Azumi.
"That idiot... He should know better than to strain himself. No matter... But who gave him the head start?" Muttering to herself.
Meanwhile, a man watched from the shadows with intense silence at Azumi and at Jason, both oblivious about what is yet to unfold.