Savior of the Heart

”Dialogue ” / Thought / [Internal]

”Now, now, Aaron, Valene, settle down…hmm, do you want to hear a story? Once upon a time, in another world different from ours, seven Kingdoms were created by the infamous Celestial Queen Maiden named Lin Amaroza and her legendary trusted seven warriors. It is said that these warriors belonged to the race of the wolves, swans, phoenix, tiger, lion, snake, and foxes. That means they look like us, but instead of our ears, they have wolf ears, wings, or fluffy tails. Each contained a different appearance, but the Queens warriors were more than her subjects. The seven warriors were the Queens close friends she considered family. ”

”When the Queen and her warriors finished fighting their battles against their enemies, the Queen gave each warrior a land to establish their kingdom so their people could roam free. Things were going great for each warrior because they could finally claim their territory for their people. That is until one night, the Queen summoned her warriors together to say her goodbyes because her end was nearing. The warriors cried and mourned for their Queen because their best friend would no longer be with them. So, they celebrated the night away until dawn. Then, the Queen decided to return to her home, but…the Queen never made it home. Moments later, it was announced that the Queen was ambushed and killed. When the seven warriors heard the news, they received a lot of hate from their people because many witnesses say that they saw one of the warriors escape when they came near the carriage. ”

”Mommy! Mommy! Does that mean her friends betrayed the Queen? ”

”How did they know it was one of the warriors auntie Violet? ”

”You two are just so curious, aren you? ” she adorably squeezes their cheeks and explains, ”the people all knew that the warriors have a number engraved on their body that binds them to the Queen. When people approached the carriage where her body was crawling out, many say they saw the warriors arm with a number. When the warriors heard of their ridiculous claim, they denied all accusations until the warriors each began to suspect one another and question what they each did at the rise of dawn. The seven warriors were heartbroken by the death of their best friend, their Queen, that their friendships slowly broke because they could no longer trust each other. They doubted each others intentions when the Heavens announced the Queens last words. ”

”What were they, mommy? ”

”…The Queen placed a curse on the Kingdoms that as long as the traitor is still alive, then the lands will surely perish at the face of incoming calamity. ”

”…auntie Violet, what does that mean? ”

Violet realizes she is telling a story to two five-year-olds who probably aren well advanced in their vocabulary when she giggles.

***

13 years later.

”Ive often heard that my last name is unique. I am Aaron Xelad. My mother passed away when I was born, leaving my old man to raise me. But I wasn completely alone because we lived together with my dads best friend. I call her auntie Violet, but shes my dads childhood friend who was also a single parent raising a child. Her name is Valene Xina. Coincidentally, we
e also childhood friends. Weve learned to depend on each other like siblings because we share one common past. My dad and her mother passed away one sunny day, we were both in the back seat, and our parents were for once going to take us out to enjoy the amusement park together, like a family. But we never made it, a car crashed into us, and the next thing I found out was our parents passed away protecting us…Argh! ” Aaron crumples the paper underneath his elbows and throws it across the living room, his won work! Why must I expose my personal life to a college only for them to decide whether I am suitable to be accepted? Whatever, this is bull…I don know why I even listened to my counselor in the first place. Huh! Applying to colleges and wasting my time writing these dumb essays when I could be working another shift and earning money.

Aaron is in his senior year in high school, and graduation is no more than a few months away. He is currently working on writing his personal statement and other essays for scholarships to get into colleges. In his frustration, Aaron can think of opening his safe of what hes gone through in life when he lies on the sofa of his living room, reflecting on the cause of his exhaustion.

”Ahh… ” he feels a bit more relaxed laying on the sofa when he closes his eyes to think, There is an order in the world thats become a stressful heavy routine of not only mine but every single person alive. Sleep, go to school for 8 hours, work, go home and do homework, eat, and then sleep…its all repetitive, and yet I don know what to do with my life. Hah! It hasn been that long since I turned 18, tch! Im already tired of living. Its lonely. I sometimes get lost in the black and white of this world….

”Aaron~! Are you sleeping? ” Valenes sunshine blonde hair falls like curtains beside Aarons face.

Valene, my childhood friend. Shes the only one I can rely on…sometimes Aaron annoyingly flicks her forehead.

”Ouch! ” she quickly moves away, massaging her temples from Aarons flick, and whines, ”whyd you do that for Aaron? ”

Aaron couldn help but laugh as he sat up, ”you asked for it. By the way, ” he suspiciously squints, ”are you not wearing your contacts, Valene? ”

His tone made Valene flinch when she stuttered, ”U-Um, yes…? ” She notices Aarons glare when she sighs, ”I don like wearing them at home. Its exhausting~! You
e lucky you have grey eyes, Aaron. At least you don gotta wear contacts, ” she whines.

”Fine, fine, ” Aaron says, its not as if you asked to be born with rare red eyes. But, because of that, Valene has no choice but to wear brown contacts to prevent unwanted attention.

”Hmm? What is this? ” Valene stares at the crumpled paper that Aaron threw earlier, ”…is this yours, Aaron? ”

”Throw it away…. ” his complexion darkened, ”its not important. ”

Sensing his change in tone, made her cautiously place the paper on the dinner table, ”Are you going to work tomorrow? ”

”I managed to get the day off. ” His spirits lifted once the topic changed, ”do you know what you want to do for your 18th birthday tomorrow? ”

Valene was overcome with glee when she heard Aaron mention celebrating her birthday together, ”can you pick me up after school tomorrow? ”

”Thats it? I always pick you up after school, Valene. ”

”Y-Yeah but this time we can go out to like the arcade near the pier! And afterward, I want us to have dinner in a nice restaurant nearby! ”

Aaron didn understand the big deal about going out to celebrate but seeing Valene jumping with excitement was a rare sight he was willing to sacrifice his own comfort for a day to please her wishes.

But on the other hand, looking past Valene, he noticed the paper he crumpled on the table when he bit his lower lip, hats right, I should give up trying to get into college and continue working to support Valenes dream of one day becoming a lawyer. Shes got a far better chance at becoming a lawyer than I do wasting my old mans fortune as a would-be undecided student in college… he internally sighs with a nod of his head.

***

A pure voice emanates from the dark hollow space ”Gatekeepers who connect the two worlds, come thy forth, Alna, and Owen. ”

”Yes, your holiness. ” The two gatekeepers obediently kneel before the nothingness of the sky.

”Before you are two items embossed with the soul of a warrior that has chosen their vessel to summon into the other world. Gatekeeper Alna, and Owen, pick up the item. Your task is to deliver them to Aaron Xelad and Valene Xina. ”

”Your holiness, may I ask, is that all you wish of us to do? ”

”My instructions are clear. I will allow those two a chance to escape their destiny if they give their item to a human they love born in this world. ”

”Love? Your holiness? ” gatekeeper Owen kindly inquires.

”Yes, if they fail to do so, then at the stroke of midnight tomorrow, Aaron and Valene will no longer reside in this world. ”

The ominous voice sent shivers down the gatekeepers spine when they bowed their heads to the ground and replied in unison, ”We will follow the order of your holiness. ”

Once the gatekeepers disappeared, the holiness realizes that it mightve misspoken, ”Hmm, gift the item to someone they love…is there a downside to this? ”