TBC: Chapter Sixty

Gyan sat with his back pressed against a wet boulder, where it rested on a ledge of a mountain near Order headquarters. The ledge, which served as the entrance to a small cave, was partially hidden by a large waterfall.

Mist from the blanket of water that fell fast and steady from above his head, sprayed out around him. He stared at the back edge of the stream and shivered as the surrounding breeze ruffled his hair. The mist had soaked his clothes completely though, but he didn't care. The cold stabbing at his skin blended well with his mood. Besides, the ledge seemed to be the only place where he could reduce the painful tension lingering in his heart. The roar of the falls helped to drown out his sorrow somehow.

Although there had been no recent activity from Mordán, all kingdoms across the planet were busy, preparing for his next move. The team was supposed to journey to Yevani soon for Aderes's memorial, but Gyan didn't want to go. He hated the thought of having to explain what happened to anyone, especially his parents.

Over a week had passed since Aderes's death, and he was overly tired of the knot that formed in his throat each time he glanced at his roommate's empty bed. Aderes's bed had always remained neat even when Aderes had used it as if he was only ever there as a temporary guest rather than a resident.

Avoiding their room as much as possible, Gyan had taken to dozing in one of the common room recliners when he was too exhausted to avoid sleep any longer. He often woke to find his teammates asleep near him at different times. His heart swelled at the overwhelming love and support that exuded between the warriors since Aderes's death.

The only memory that soothed him in the past several days was when he opened his eyes to find Jalena next to him in another recliner. She had pushed the chair over to him and had fallen asleep with her hand in his. Reassurance had flooded through him as he witnessed the steady, deep rhythm of her breath and the soft glow around her face. He had laced his fingers through hers and brought her hand to his lips before falling back into the first non-restless sleep he had experienced in months.

"Shanlo," his thoughts returned to the present as the word bounced off the edges of his mind, like a rubber ball that had no intention of stopping and rolling down a specific path. Thoughts of Jalena caused the word to echo in his head for some reason ever since the little girl in the park at Aikon had called him that name. He still hadn't figured out its meaning. He was certain that the gold light he had seen in the Grey Forest had been Affera. He made a mental note to ask Malik if he knew anything about it when he saw him next.

He exhaled slowly, attempting to suppress the urge to get up and go to Jalena. He unintentionally was becoming obsessed with the idea of protecting her in his own opinion. It was beginning to irritate him. If he didn't practice extreme control of his thoughts and urges about her, the feeling of wanting to be near her became almost too much for him to bear, especially in light of recent circumstances.

Gyan sighed and ran a hand through his wet hair as his thoughts drifted back to his best friend. As Aderes requested, Gyan had found and read Aderes's notebooks, which were filled with stories about his childhood and warrior training. He had written all of it for Lesiana, so she would know about what had happened from the time she had been taken by Mordán. The kind and prideful words that Aderes had written about Gyan took his breath away as he read his friend's memoir.

Gyan swallowed hard as angry tears filled his eyes. He forced his focus on the falling waters in front of him.

A cascade of blonde curls suddenly dropped in front of his view. Gyan looked up into Lesiana's upside-down face.

She smiled. "Found you." She grabbed the edge of the flat rock above him and leaned further over to get a better view of the cave.

Gyan quickly wiped his face and held up his hands instinctively. "Careful. It's slick."

"So, this is your hiding place," she said as she scanned the ledge. "Nice." She briefly disappeared from Gyan's view again as she turned to lower herself down, feet first.

Gyan sighed and pushed himself up to his knees. He held her ankles as she slid onto the ledge. Lesiana dusted off her hands and smiled at Gyan who returned it half-heartedly.

"I like your place," she said. She stuck her hand into the waterfall and pulled it back immediately. "It's freezing," she laughed.

"Yeah."

She faced Gyan and crossed her legs beneath her.

"How did you find me?"

"I have excellent tracking skills," she said slyly, her gray eyes twinkling.

Aderes's eyes.

Gyan nodded and looked away.

"Not really." She laughed. "Aderes told me where to find you."

Gyan's gaze quickly returned to hers. "What do you mean?"

"He talks to me all the time in my mind," she said simply. She glanced at Gyan's neck, where a blue glow still lingered around his Lumsigne. She reached over and brushed her thumb along the marking. "He told me that you will hear him too, when the glow disappears."

Gyan stiffened, and Lesiana dropped her hand.

Gyan pressed his fingers into his eyes and took a deep breath. "Let's take a walk."

Lesiana's eyes brightened. "Yes."

He pulled himself up to the top rock and helped Lesiana climb back up. The two walked along the top of the mountain in silence for several moments.

"You know, he told me that you are his best friend."

"Yes," he replied, avoiding her gaze. "Listen, Lesiana, I don't want to talk about—"

Lesiana stepped into Gyan's path and turned to face him. "Don't let it change you, Gyan!" she interrupted. "That's what he says to tell you. To—to not let it change your heart or what you believe in." Her eyes filled with tears. "That's what I came to say to you."

Gyan stared at her, studying her face carefully as Lesiana blinked her tears away. He sighed and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You're just like him, you know—same stubborn, adventurous spirit. I called him Master Rebel."

She laughed lightly as more tears spilled down her face. She wiped a hand across her cheek. "He says you're supposed to give me some notebooks."

"Yes." Gyan slipped his arm the rest of the way around her shoulders. "Come on, I'm freezing. Let's find the staircase that Sorda said leads down the mountain. Then we will get some food."

"I want you to teach me to fight, Gyan," Lesiana said as they reached the top of the stairs.

Gyan gave a surprised laugh. "What? No way."

"Yes, Gyan."

"No."

"Please, Gyan." Lesiana turned and stopped abruptly in front of him again.

"Lesi—" He chuckled as he side-stepped quickly to keep from falling into her.

She clasped her hands together before her and widened her eyes. "You have to. I'm supposed to fight for the Order. It's my duty now."

Gyan stopped as laughter filled him. He grabbed his ribs. A light feeling fluttered through his body, lifting the heavy veil that had clouded his heart for days. "Did Aderes tell you that too?" he asked, still smiling.

Lesiana smiled slyly.

With Lesiana near him, he couldn't help but be reminded of how Aderes behaved when they were younger—happy and eagerly searching for the next adventure. A memory of his childhood flashed through his mind—Aderes walking beside him through the forest, his smile wide—sweat dripping from his untamed white hair.

Gyan looked at the shores of the Green Sea lapping in the distance as he savored the memory. A peaceful feeling began to nudge at the corners of his heart. He sighed and turned back to Lesiana's smiling face.

"See, you want to teach me. I can tell."

Gyan's grin widened. "No."

"It's a great idea, Gyan."

"No."

She jumped down several steps ahead of him. "Your mouth says no, but your heart says yes!" She placed her palms under her cheeks and batted her eyes.

Gyan shook his head as another chuckle escaped him.

She lifted her arm as if she was grasping a sword and lunged. "You shall be my master teacher, and I will be a warrior like none other!"

As the two continued their descent on the stairs, Lesiana argued reasons why she was to be the newest member of the light warrior team.

Gyan smiled from behind her the entire way as she chattered nonstop. The coldness that ran through him earlier subsided as a warm sensation, buffering the chill of the surrounding air, expanded from his chest to his neck, as the blue light beneath his Lumsigne dimmed in its glow.