The morning sun cast a golden glow over the soldier's camp. A gentle breeze fluttered through the banners, and the smell of freshly baked bread and wet grass mingled in the air. The battle had ended, and the long-awaited peace had finally arrived. The soldiers prepared to return to their homes after days of healing and rest.
Aaron stood near the wagons with a satchel slung over his shoulder. His bandaged side still ached from the stab wound, but his heart was light. Today, he would go home.
The new recruits gathered near Commander Silas, who addressed them one final time.
"You've all fought bravely," the commander said, his deep voice loud enough for the camp to hear. "Your names will be remembered. Some of you, will begin training as part of the Royal Army after a week's rest. You'll report to the barracks. Until then—go home, breathe, and remember what you fight for."
Aaron nodded, clutching the small pouch of coin he had received for his service. Nearby, Leo grinned, his back still stiff from the healing cut.
"Looks like we're official now," Leo said, nudging him. "Royal Army recruits.
Aaron smirked. "We'll see how long you last in actual training."
Leo rolled his eyes. "Please. I'll be leading the drills by the end of the month."
They laughed together before Leo's smile softened.
"Be safe, alright? And don't miss me too much. "
"I'll see you soon." Aaron said.
They clasped forearms, then Aaron turned and began the walk toward his village.
Aaron's steps quickened as he neared the village, his heart a mix of anticipation and trepidation. The road stretched ahead, familiar yet eerie, as if the very earth beneath him had absorbed the heaviness of the war. The faint scent of smoke lingered in the air, a distant reminder of the destruction that had ravaged his home. As he approached the village's edge, the sight of a few houses still smoldering struck him like a blow to the chest.
The blackened, charred frames of what had once been homes stood as silent witnesses to the violence that had befallen them. A few houses had not been salvaged, their wooden frames reduced to ashes, the windows shattered, and the walls crumbling. The smoke still curled upwards into the sky, faint but persistent, as though the village itself had not yet exhaled the grief of the attack. However, most of the village appeared to have been repaired—though the damage was still evident. The smell of fresh wood mixed with the lingering odor of smoke, and the sight of broken fences, toppled carts, and displaced objects told a tale of an upheaval that was only beginning to settle.
Aaron's heart sank. His mind raced with thoughts of what had happened here, but a part of him still hoped for the best. He'd heard from the soldiers about the devastating attacks, but the news had been distant, vague—until now.
His steps faltered when he reached the familiar corner of the village, where Aldric's house stood. The structure was still upright but battered. The roof was partially caved in, and the walls had been scarred by the fire, leaving only the faintest trace of the warmth it had once held. A large section of the wall had crumbled, leaving an open space where there had once been a strong, protective barrier. The front door hung crookedly on its hinges, the remnants of the wooden frame barely holding it together.
Panic surged through Aaron as he sprinted forward, his voice raw as he shouted, "Aldric! Aldric!"
The village was eerily quiet, too quiet. The only sound was the rush of his own breath. No response. No movement.
His heart pounded in his chest, and his stomach twisted in dread. His legs carried him faster, each step feeling heavier as the village faded into the background. When he reached the house, he felt as though his body were moving on instinct. He tried to push aside the terror that surged through him. Aldric had to be somewhere. This couldn't be happening.
Just as he approached the rubble, a villager came running up to him. The man's face was pale, a grim expression etched into every line.
"Aaron," the man said in a low, tense voice, his words sharp with sadness. "You have returned. "
Aaron's pulse quickened. "Where is he?" he demanded. "Where is Aldric?"
The villager swallowed hard. "You didn't hear the news? "Aldric didn't make it. He... he passed before the healer could get to him."
Aaron's world seemed to tilt on its axis. His body felt frozen as he stared at the man, disbelief and grief warring in his chest. Aldric—gone? No, it couldn't be. Aldric was too strong, too full of life to simply disappear like that.
"No!" Aaron shouted, stepping back as his mind struggled to catch up. "He can't be gone. He has to be here."
The villager lowered his gaze, his voice barely a whisper. "I'm sorry, lad. It happened quick… He was… trying to protect the village. I... I'm sorry."
Aaron staggered back, his chest tightening with the weight of the loss. The world around him seemed to blur as his thoughts spiraled out of control. How could this happen? How could he have left without saying goodbye? His breath hitched in his throat as the sharp sting of regret and grief overwhelmed him.
Before he could speak again, a familiar voice echoed from behind him. "Aaron?" Evelyn's voice, soft yet desperate, broke through his daze.
Aaron turned, his face pale, eyes wide with the agony of the moment. Evelyn stood at the edge of the path, her face drawn, her eyes filled with concern as they searched his face. Her gaze quickly darted to the wreckage of Aldric's home.
"Eve…" Aaron whispered, his voice catching in his throat as he took a slow step toward her. The air between them felt thick with the weight of everything that had happened.
She approached him, her face a mask of worry. "What's wrong?"He asked, his voice trembling.
"I…" She paused, struggling to find the words. "Aldric—he—he's dead, Aaron. Aldric's gone."
The words hung in the air, heavy and impossible, and Aaron's eyes widened in shock. He took a step back, shaking his head as though he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"No," he whispered, his hands trembling at his sides. "No, that can't be true."
But the look in Eve's eyes was all the confirmation he needed. His breath caught in his throat, and his chest tightened painfully. His eyes brimmed with tears, but he didn't allow them to fall.
Aaron's hands clenched into fists at his sides, his face twisted in pain as he struggled to control his emotions.
"I shouldn't have left," he muttered through gritted teeth, his voice shaking. "I didn't even get to say goodbye. I—I wasn't there when he needed me the most."
Evelyn stepped forward, reaching for his arm. "Aaron…" Her voice was soft but firm, and it cut through the storm raging inside him. "You couldn't have known. You did everything you could."
But Aaron pulled away, his face streaked with silent tears. He couldn't bear to hear those words, to let them soothe him. All he could feel was the guilt that gnawed at him, the weight of the goodbye he never got to say.
"I couldn't even protect him," Aaron murmured, his eyes distant, filled with sorrow. "I should have been here."
Evelyn reached out to him, her voice low. "Aaron, don't blame yourself. You did what you had to do. Aldric knew you loved him. He wouldn't want you to carry this burden."
Aaron shook his head, his breath uneven. "I don't know how to live with this, Eve. How am I supposed to—how am I supposed to move on when he's gone?" His voice cracked.
Evelyn hesitated for a moment, then stepped closer, her voice soft but resolute. "You don't have to move on right now, Aaron. You don't have to be strong. It's okay to grieve."
Aaron took a deep breath, his chest tight with emotion. He felt as though a weight had settled on him, heavier than any armor. His mind raced with memories of Aldric—of the friendship they'd shared, the bond they'd formed, and the way Aldric had always been there when he needed him most.
"I don't want to forget him," Aaron whispered. "I don't want to lose him."
"You won't," Evelyn said quietly, her hand gently resting on his arm. "He'll always be a part of you."
Aaron closed his eyes for a moment, the tears he had been holding back finally slipping down his cheeks. "I don't know if I can do this, Eve. I don't know how to keep going without him."
"I'll be here, Aaron. You're not alone."
For a long moment, they stood together, the weight of grief surrounding them both. In the silence, there was no need for more words, only the shared understanding that, in that moment, they were both broken but would somehow find a way to heal.