Celestial Saga: Exiled To Earth III 14 Stage Fourteen: A New Adventure

STAGE FOURTEEN: A NEW ADVENTURE

While the pirate s.h.i.+p was docked in the nearest harbor for emergency repairs, Keon isolated himself the entire day, doing nothing but stare at the clear blue sky while sitting on a green gra.s.s carpet. Strangely, he won't even show himself to Kirin, Alaric, or Freyja, who's been looking for him for quite some time now.

"Whose blood is that?" He could still remember as if it was just yesterday, the moment time he learned of Freyja's death. Back then, Kirin's eyes were dead and blank, with Freyja's most prized possession, the celestial's medallion, around Kirin's neck. "Freyja is..."

Exhausted and in disbelief, reinforcements from what's left of Ahrin's humungous army finally cornered them. Keon, could still remember looking back, over his shoulder, seeing the raging deep blue sea below the cliff he was cornered to. It was an easy choice. He jumped off to his death.

Was it worth it? Was it worth betraying his family? Losing his life? Killing the mentor, the only person who cared for him in the manor? "It should be, right?" And everything went dark from there.

And as soon as he woke up, he found himself in bandages, tended to by a bearded old man and his friend who called themselves 'pirates'.

"What's wrong Keon? You seem out of it." The old pirate's voice snapped him out of deep thoughts. He sat beside the young man with a laugh. "What are you hesitating for?"

Keon didn't answer. He didn't know what.

"You said you wanted to see someone again. You're talking about that young lady, aren't you? They are your friends, right?" The old man gently held Keon's shoulder, like a father comforting his child. "There's no need to be afraid of realizing a dream. You can always dream again. And again, one after another."

"You knew who I was after all, didn't you? That silver haired man is my elder brother too." Keon uttered, still looking straight at the sky.

"We are pirates. We didn't come from good backgrounds either, so why do you think we'll care about yours? Or anybody's?" He chuckled. "Your happiness doesn't lie here Keon. Go where your heart wants you to be. And don't be afraid."

Keon finally turned to face the old man. He smiled. "Thanks!"

~ o 0 o ~

Freyja, Kirin and Alaric decided to travel by land from that port town to the next city. Before they left, they had to give Keon and the entire crew one of the lengthiest explanations ever. Freyja explained about the dimensional barriers and why phreinians were able to traverse dimensions lately. Alaric explained the aura balance and his a.s.sessment of phreinian abilities so they can be ready for possible encounters in the future. The pirates were all taken aback with her revelations, but after witnessing for themselves what happened with the phreinian, they came to accept it right away.

A few days pa.s.sed and the s.h.i.+p was finally fixed. The pirates will set sail again, while Freyja's group will have to go their separate way. They said their goodbyes and the crew started boarding the s.h.i.+p while Keon stood there, watching as Freyja, Kirin, and Alaric started walking away from them.

Freyja stopped and looked back, looking at Keon who's standing still, eyes fixed onto them. She smiled.

"What are you standing there for?" Freyja grinned, stretching her hand out to Keon.

"What a pain in the a.s.s, come on, hurry up or we'll leave you!" Kirin scolded with his arms crossed, while Alaric nodded with a smile. "We have to hurry or we'll be late again."

"Can… I?" Keon felt his heart race, his face lit up, yet something is holding him back. As he watched them, he could remember the promise Freyja made when they were still kids. That they will travel together, away from the Aethelmaer manor.

"Of course!" Freyja exclaimed. "You, me, Kirin and Alaric! We will travel together and have lots of fun! We'll explore lots of things and…"

"And…?"

"After I return to Celestia, I'll take you there. Do you want to go?" A sad, contemplative, but hopeful smile on Freyja's face.

Kirin sighed, but smiled afterwards. So did Alaric, who gave a thumbs up. Keon squeezed his chest, enveloped by a warm sensation, remembering six years ago, when Freyja made the same promise.

The pirate s.h.i.+p raised its anchors as it started sailing away from the dock.

"Keon!" They called him, throwing a large rucksack full of his belongings to him. Catching it with ease, he gave his comrades a wide smile, waving them goodbye. It was the first time they all saw the young man with a smile on his face. They excitedly shouted their goodbyes, well-wishes, and grat.i.tude to their former comrade.

Freyja grabbed Keon's arm noticing the fairly large cut on his left arm. She called Aria and instantly healed his wound. "You shouldn't really leave open wounds like this Keon, they might get infected." She scolded, and Keon chuckled, "You're like an elder sister."

"It would be great if I could be your real big sister." She smiled sweetly at him. surprising both Alaric and Kirin. Especially Kirin, who's now beet red. "Are you indirectly proposing to Kirin?" Keon teased, a smirk on his face.

Realizing the implications of what she just said, Freyja turned beet red. "NO! I mean, it's not like that… it's not that I… I mean I…. ARGH!" Keon laughed before resting his arm around her shoulder. "It's okay big sis, you can nag all you want."

Freyja grinned "You're right!"

Kirin let out a soft smile, as soon as his and Keon's eyes met. "Keon…" He uttered, "welcome back." And surprisingly, instead of glaring and threatening his elder brother like what he usually did, Keon smiled back. "Of course."

~ o 0 o ~