She looked inside a tavern and saw only drunkards. Some playing games and some acting foolishly.
Four towns and no sign of him. Ugh, does this person even exist? She thought as she continued walking down a street. People passed her by, some looking at her as they walked. She continued looking in any building she saw, whether it was a tavern, inn, or even a simple box. No sign. She kicked the ground and decided to try the next town. She asked one of the guards at the south gate where the next town was.
"It’s on this way," the guard said and pointed in the direction past the gate. When she learned how long it would take, the girl moaned.
"Two weeks. Why is every town here so far away?!" she said, frustrated. She then considered leaving this world, effectively leaving the one she was sent to retrieve alone. She shook her head as she sighed and thanked the guard.
"I’d be careful ma’am. Thieves roam about this road," the guard said with a smile. The girl thanked him again and walked off in the direction she was pointed.
A week after she had retrieved the directions, the girl sat in the cold darkness, hugging her arms around her legs. She wanted food and warmth. Rain poured down on her head and she groaned, annoyed.
I can’t believe it! I walked around four towns and a barren road and still no sign of this guy! Where’s a sign when you need — she thought, but stopped when she saw a faint light. At first she thought it was her eyes playing tricks but looked again and saw the light, faint but very real.
Common sense said that a light meant fire, fire meant warmth. It also meant food.
She ran to the light and was standing at the mouth of a cave. She cautiously walked inside and was met by a small fire. Her eyes fell from it to the food cooking above it, staring hungrily. She grabbed the fowl that was cooking, and likely cooked, and began eating it.
"Enjoying the food?" a voice asked and she looked around, startled.
"W-who’s there," the girl asked as she clutched the food. No answer came so she continued eating.
She then felt like someone was staring at her and looked around. She noticed a pair of dark green eyes and almost became startled again.
"Hello?" she asked as she looked at the eyes. She was again met with no reply so she took a firm branch and stuck it in the fire and raised it. The light showed a face connected to the eyes, the features young. An estimate of age, if possible, was seventeen. The face was framed by blond hair that ended at his shoulders. His mouth was in a scowl.
"Do you talk?" the girl asked then remembered that he had asked if she enjoyed the food, so he obviously did but said little.
Well, atleast this is him. Now how do I get him to come with me?
"Go with you where?" the boy asked with a raised eyebrow. The girl had failed to notice that beside him laid a sword—a claymore-- and his right hand was on the hilt. Not wanting hostility, she explained.
"I’m part of a group of…beings like you that were exiled from this one group. I was sent here to—"
"The name of the group was Organization XIII, yes?" the boy interrupted.
"Yeah, but how did you know?" the girl asked. She wondered how he knew the name. Did he hear stories of it?
"I have a…gift. I can use my mind to hear thoughts, but I am curious to what else I can do," the boy replied.
"If you don’t mind me asking, what’s your name?" the girl asked.
"State yours first." The boy looked at her sternly.
"Xana. Now what’s yours?"
"Right now that doesn’t matter," the boy said matter-of-factly.
"So, will you come with me?" the girl asked.
"No," the boy replied. "I see no reason to do so for any reason, ergo you have wasted your time, Xana."
My dream never said he’d be so stubborn or rude. I hope he doesn’t get the idea to use that sword on me. Xana thought.
"If you keep thinking such ignorant and annoying thoughts, I may consider it," the boy said as his hand clenched around the hilt.
"Look, if you come with me then you can learn everything you want to know about your gift." Xana said with a hopeful smile.
"I can do that myself," the boy replied in an annoyed tone. He clearly didn’t want this girl to speak with him, and since his threat didn’t work then he would devise ways to get rid of her.
Xana meanwhile thought of how to get this unknown boy to come with her. She looked around for any sign or indication of interest and her eyes rested on the weapon in his hand.
"Uhh…do you like fighting?" she asked, emphasizing the word fighting. She saw his eyebrow raise questioningly.
"I enjoy testing myself. Why?" the boy asked, this question had intrigued him.
"Well…if you come with me then I promise that you’ll be able to test yourself against strong opponents." Xana said, her face hopefully not portraying the image that she was lying. She saw the boy’s face grimace and thought that he read that she was lying.
"Oh?" the boy asked and thought as he stared at the ceiling. He then looked at Xana.
"Well?" Xana asked.
"Very well, I shall come," the boy replied.
Phew. Xana thought but nearly fell back when she saw the boy’s sword pointed at her.
"I am going to hold you to your word. Keep it," he said as he sheathed the claymore after sharpening it.
"I get the feeling you’re not just coming for that reason." Xana mused.
"You are correct. Since you want to know, I’m bored with this world. There’s nothing here for me," the boy said as he eyed the corridor Xana had made.
"It’s safe." Xana said and remembered that the boy never said his name. "Hey, what is your name. You never said it."
The boy thought for the span of a minute then turned to her.
"I suppose, according to your rules, my name is Xodyc," he said and followed her.