"Hopeful When Im With You, Lost When Im Without You"— Aria
The Night Before The Final Battle, Jason Sits At A Tree Looking Off Into The Distance!!!
Jason(Sighing): …
Jason Then Suddenly Turns Around, And See's Aria Approaching Him… With A Smile On Her Face…
Aria(Smiling, Sitting Next To Jason): Looking At The Moon Again?
Jason(Slightly Smiling, Nodding): Yeah… It Helps Me Take My Mind Off Things.
Jason Glances At Aria And Blushes, While She Looks Up At The Moon… Her Eyes Glistening…
Jason(Softly): Oh Yeah… Thank You For Helping Kaida With Her Training, I Really Appreciate It.
Aria(Softly): You Don't Have To Thank Me… If It's For A Friend, Of Course I'll Help.
Jason(Looking At The Moon): So… How're You Doing?
Aria(Curious, Yet Smiling): What Do You Mean?
Jason(Looking At Aria): I Realized That I Don't Really Ask You Enough How You're Doing… So I've Been Wondering-
Aria Looks Over To Jason, And Smiles As She Lets Out A Soft Chuckle.
Aria(Chuckling, Yet Smiling): You're Pretty Awkward Ya Know? But… I Have Been Thinking A Lot, About Everything.
Jason(Nervous, Blushing): If It's Alright With You… Can You Tell Me More About What You're Thinking?
Aria Directs Her Eyes To Jason… The Two Lock Eyes, As She Leans Over To Him, And Leans Against His Side, Resting Her Head On His Chest.
*Badump… *Badump.
Aria(Chuckling Softly, Eyes Closed): Your Heart's Pounding… What're You Nervous About?
Jason(Blush Intensifying, Looking To The Side): I- I'm Not Nervous.
Aria Lets Out A Sigh… And Then Stands Up.
Aria(Curious, Looking Back At Jason While Holding Out Her Hand): I'll Tell You If You Walk With Me?
Jason Smiles, As He Grabs Her Hand And The Two Begin Walking Slowly.
They Walk Near A Fountain Of Water, As Jason Puts Some In His Hands… As Aria Pulls Back A Strand Of Her Hair And Drinks The Water.
Aria(Licking Lips, Smiling): Didn't Know You Were Such A Gentleman.
Jason(Shaking Head): Me Neither.
Jason And Aria Continue To Walk, As They Stand Over Some Railing, Over The Ocean As They Look Up At The Moon And Stars…
Aria(Thoughtful, Smiling): I Have Been Thinking About, Everyone Back At Home… Miss Mel, Master Jay. And Even Kai. I Really Miss Them.
Jason(Nodding, Looking At The Ocean): Yeah Me Too… Do You Think There's A Way To Restore Their Memories Back To The Way They Were?
Aria(Shrugging, Hopeful): I Dunno… My Mother's Looking For Adira Right Now, But Hopefully If We Can Beat Her. Everyone's Memories Will Return, And We Can Get Everyone To Trust You Again.
Aria(Softly, Curious): Can I Tell You Something?
Jason(Nodding, Looking Over To Aria): Of Course.
Aria Continues To Look At The Moon…
Aria(Voice Below A Whisper): Yesterday… When I Was Walking Around In The Flame Faction's Village… A Little Girl, Didn't Even Look Older Than Ten Years Old Asked Me "Are You A Sorcerer, Miss"?
Aria(Voice Shaking Slightly): She Looked So Innocent… And She Asked Me, If The World Will Ever Return Back To The Way It Was Before Malum And Deimos Were Revived… And She Told Me That She's Always So Scared To Go To Sleep At Night, Not Knowing If She'll Even Survive The Next Day… Wondering What Would Happen If The Demons Get To Her.
Jason's Gaze Softens… As He Looks At The Ocean.
Aria(Hands Shaking Slightly, Eyes Watering): I- I Couldn't Give Her The Response She Was Hoping For… Because, Sometimes Even I'm Unsure If That'll Be The Case. She Almost Started Crying, But I Kept Her Mind Off It And Spent A Little Time With Her… And She Said, She Wish She Was Brave And Strong Like Me.
Aria(Hands Shaking Slightly, Eyes Watering): When She Said That… I, I Cried To Myself A Little When I Left. A Child So Young, Shouldn't Have To Be Living In Fear Of Dying Every Waking Moment. And- It Frustrates Me, Because Even With All This Power I Have. I Can't Take Away Everyone's Pain And Fears, And Tell Them, That Everything'll Be Okay.
Aria Then Sits Down On The Ground, And Buries Her Face In Her Knees… As Jason Sits Down Right Next To Her, And Hugs Her.
Jason(Softly, Embracing Aria): Do You Know Why We Push Ourselves Everyday Aria? It's Because We've Dedicated Ourselves To Protecting Those Who Can't Defend Themselves… You're Not Some Almighty Being, Who Can Save Everyone…
Jason(Softly, Yet Firm): It Frustrates Me As Well… Knowing I Can't Save Everyone, And That Right Now Someone Else Is Out There Dying And I'm Sitting Here. Alive… But, There's Nothing We Can Do About It… Other Than Save The Ones We Can. And Just Like You Said "Rely On Our Friends To Help Us In Our Times Of Need"… I Know That Might Not Be The Best Thing To Hear Right Now, But-
Aria(Hugging Jason Back, Sobbing): No… You're Right, It's Just… I Hate Seeing People Sad, Or Scared. It Makes My Heart Hurt. And Sometimes, I Think I'm Lying To Myself… Saying To Myself That Everything Will Be Fine, One Day.
Jason(Curious, Recalling): Do You Remember The Promise I Made You, Aria?
Aria(Eyes Slightly Widened, Nodding): Yeah?
Jason(Smiling): I Promised To Tell You What I Was Going To Say To You That Night… When The Time Is Right. And I Still Intend To.
Jason Pulls Back A Little As He Pulls A Photo Locket From Underneath His Cloak… With Aria's Picture On It.
Aria(Surprised, Shocked): You Still Have That?
Jason(Nodding): Of Course I Do… During My Two Years Of Training, When I Was Away. Every time I Looked At It, And Thought Of You. It Helped Me Get Through My Training, And Filled Me With Hope.
Aria(Smiling, Wiping Tears Off Her Face): You Think You're So Smooth.
Jason Helps Aria Up, As He And She Laugh And Look At The Moon.
To Be Continued, In Chapter Seventy Five…