Dust: AET - From the Ashes - Chapter 27

From the Ashes

Chapter 27

Haley was delighted to leave the forge. From her rambling, he hadn’t left Archer’s Pass for a really long time. Dust tried to share her happiness, but had a hard time doing so. His stomach was twisting in his gut. It wasn’t like last time when he’d rushed to fight General Gaius. When he’d first found out who he was, he knew it was what he had to do, and he went without question, without fear. He didn’t even think about it, really. All he knew was that it was the right thing to do, and he was the only one who could do it. He ran to Gaius on instinct, without so much of a second thought. His thoughts only came when he was laying on the rocks, lava rushing around him. He wondered if he’d made the right choice, and whether this would solve the Moonblood’s problems. He thought about Fidget and Ginger, and all the friends he’d made while on the journey, and in one last hope, he prayed for their happiness. He thanked them for being in his life. And finally, he wished he could be with them once again, to have a future in Felana and live as Dust, saviour of the Moonbloods. If not that, then just Dust. It was all he really wished for. Could he have it if he survived the fight with Steam? Or would another element destroy him once more as the fire spirit had? The questions made him feel even more scared and uncertain. Could he go through with this?

“Dust?” Ginger looked at him curiously, her brow creased slightly with worry.

“I’m alright,” he said, staring at the horizon in the distance. “No, that’s a lie,” he mumbled.

“Do you want to take a break?” She asked.

“I just don’t know what’s going to happen after this,” Dust told her.

“Right now,” Nix said, getting into the conversation, “we need to worry about defeating Steam. What comes after can wait.”

Dust nodded slowly.

“And remember, we’re here for you,” Haley said, reaching out and grabbing his hand and giving it a rough squeeze before letting it go again.

“Thanks,” he half whispered, his hand tingling slightly.

“We’ll get through this,” Nix said, smiling confidently.

“Yeah,” Dust said. “We will, won’t we?”

...

“Honestly, Fidget, I’m starting to question your motives,” Fenrei said, watching her eat an entire pile of cherries by herself. Her face was already stained with juice, and the pile of pits was growing steadily.

“I have no motives,” Fidget muttered, stuffing another cherry into her mouth.

“This Steam guy...remind me again of what he’s like.”

“He wants to kill Dust,” Fidget said, spitting the pit out.

“Didn’t you say you fought him before?”

“Of course we did,” Fidget said. “He had Nynia on his side, and the two of them almost killed us.”

“I see,” Fenrei grabbed a cherry from beside Fidget and sat down beside her, beginning to eat it. “Sounds like a formidable foe.”

“Of course he is. He’s just like Dust, with the whole two souls an all. Fuse and Gaius were really powerful people when they were alive.”

“Hmm...” Fenrei spat out the pit. “It’s kind of strange how he hasn’t come get you yet. Do you think he’s planning on fighting Steam alone?”

“Of course not! I’m sure he just...got lost...that’s all...”

“Are you sure about that?”

“No! I mean...” She trailed off, squishing a cherry in her paw as it clenched slightly.

“Gosh, considering he was one of your greatest friends, it almost seems unlikely that he would go fight Steam alone, I mean, he’s clearly outmatched...”

Fidget didn’t respond.

“I hope he’s doing alright.” Fenrei said thoughtfully. “I can only hope Ahrah’s looking after him, but there’s so little a sword can do. Yes, at times the Blades of Elysium are capable of protecting their masters in moments of dire need, but sometimes, help comes during times you don’t really need it. Times when you could really use the help before it’s too late to fight back.”

Fidget stood up and took to the sky.

“Where are you going?” Fenrei asked.

“To wash my face!” Fidget yelled back.

Fenrei chuckled, watching her go. He smiled to himself and grabbed a cherry, popping it into his mouth.

...

When the sun began to set that day, Dust pulled off his boots and rolled up his pants before wading into a river. He scooped out a fish with his bare hands, making Haley burst out laughing when the creature’s tail smacked him in the face.

“Oh stop...” Dust mumbled, wiping his cheek.

Ginger giggled. “Get those fish, Dust. I’m hungry.”

Dust pointed to the water, an annoyed expression on his face. “Then get in here and catch one yourself!”

Ginger laughed and much to his surprise, kicked her shoes off and jumped into the river. Almost immediately she launched a volley of water at Dust, soaking him from head to foot.

“HEY!” He cried, splashing her back, grinning at the sound of her squeal.

Haley yanked off her boots and leapt in with a whoop.

“You’re scaring the fish!” Nix laughed, joining them.

“So are you!” Ginger laughed, soaking him.

They splashed around in the river until the sun had really started to go down. After that, they focused on herding fish over to Dust who then proceeded to scoop them out of the water and throw them on shore where they were put out of their misery by Nix with a stick. Luckily by the time it really started to get dark, they had their dinner cooking over a warm fire. They were shivering around it, their teeth chattering as the wind blew cruelly over their wet bodies.

“That was fun,” Ginger giggled.

Dust laughed. “It was. I can’t remember the last time I could do something like that.”

“Probably when you were still Jin,” Ginger said, smiling slightly. “He and I always used to jump in rivers and lakes and play in the water in the summer.”

“Aww! How cute!” Haley said, smiling brightly. “I wish Matti and I could’ve done things like that, but he doesn’t like water.”

“Why not?” Nix asked.

Haley shrugged. “I think he nearly drowned in the bathtub once. That’s what my dad says at least. Not sure if it’s true or not.”

“Does he ever speak by the way?” Ginger asked. “Out of all the times I’ve been there, he hasn’t said a word.”

“Lots of grumbling though,” Dust mumbled, making Ginger laugh.

“That’s just the way Matti is. He doesn’t speak much.” Haley explained.

“And the grumbling?”

“Not too sure about that.”

“Well at least he’s not like Cassius,” Nix muttered.

“Oh?” Haley raised an eyebrow.

“You know, the typical don’t-say-anything-ever-until-you’re-completely-ticked-off kind of thing.”

“Well Matti’s not like that, that’s for sure,” Haley said thoughtfully. “I don’t actually think I’ve seen Matti really upset before. He doesn’t say anything. Ever.”

Ginger poked at the fish with a stick, checking how done it was. “I guess it can be pretty hard when someone doesn’t show much emotion.” She set the stick down. “Of course, everyone I knew always showed lots of emotion. Especially Jin. If he was happy, sad, angry, anything really, you knew it.”

“What about Fuse?” Dust couldn’t help but ask.

“I think Fuse just liked to smile,” Ginger said, scratching her chin. “He was always doing his best to laugh and smile, but on most days it just seemed...forced. Now that I’m thinking about it, he must’ve been going through such a hard time, being hunted and all. He didn’t want anyone who cared about him to worry.”

“I’m so sorry,” Dust whispered. “He was a completely different person at Denham Village.”

“I know. And I understand that. You did what you had to do, Dust.”

He nodded slowly.

“I just hope that after we defeat Steam, he can rest at peace again,” she sighed. “Fuse of all people deserves it. Instead he’s living in a body with his mortal enemy.”

“So is Jin,” Dust reminded.

“Yeah but Jin...Jin has a way of affecting people. You said it yourself a while ago. Cassius felt actual regret the day he died. Jin caused it. Right now, their souls are either fighting, or becoming sort of friends.”

“They were fighting,” he said, remembering hearing the voices of both Jin and Cassius trying to influence his decisions while on his first journey. “But I don’t hear them as much now.”

“Well nobody can fight forever,” Haley said. “It’s not good for you.”

Dust nodded.

“Fuse won’t be able to stop. Neither will Gaius.” Ahrah said suddenly, getting into the conversation. “Indeed Jin has an effect on people, but he was also a pacifist, am I right, Ginger?”

“He never picked up a weapon until that day,” she replied, sighing softly. “He never wanted to. But he still did it, and he saw that battle through to the end.” She sniffed, wiping her eyes. Haley put a hand on her shoulder for comfort.

“And if Jin indeed managed to make Cassius feel remorse that day, perhaps his soul will convince him that fighting is not the answer. Perhaps, indeed, they will be friends.”

Dust stared at the ground, sensing both of them inside him. Could they be? Was it possible?

“Unfortunately for Fuse and Gaius, they have always held a hatred for each other. That hatred will last a very long time,” Ahrah added.

“So we have to save them then,” Dust said.

“It would be best for both of their souls.”

“Well I don’t care about Gaius,” Ginger said, poking the fish again and starting to take them off the fire. “He can rot in hell for all I care. I just want Fuse to know peace.”

“And I hope such a wish shall come true, Ginger.” Ahrah said, his voice making it sound like he was smiling. If a sword could even smile.

“Now let’s eat! I’m starving!” Nix said suddenly, taking his fish from Ginger.

The laughter filled the campsite as Nix took a massive bite out of his fillet. He frowned in confusion when he noticed the mirth. In the end, he couldn’t help but join in.

...

Nobody took watch that night. They figured the full night’s sleep was more important than watching for monsters. There hadn’t been many as of late anyway.

Dust wasn’t sure if he could sleep, but he tried anyway, forcing tomorrows coming battle out of his mind. Eventually sleep came, but it was far from restful. Odd images floated around his mind as he slept, colourless and unidentifiable. The few times he actually saw things, there was Steam, Fidget, Ginger, and many people he’d seen over the time he’d been alive. Mixed up were things he’d never seen before. If he’d woken up during these images, he probably would’ve thought the visions were parts of Jin’s and Cassius’s memories.

Waking up was harder than falling asleep. The dream kept pulling him in no matter how many times he opened his eyes. When he finally did, his mind was clear and calm as a lake on a windless day.
Ginger, Nix and Haley were silent, their expressions serious, unlike last night when they’d joked and laughed the night away. Today was the day.

They ate breakfast in silence. Dust was too afraid to say anything out of fear his heart would leap out of his throat and disappear. He could feel it pounding harder than ever, his ears throbbing with the adrenaline rushing through him.

They set off in silence, the sound of their footsteps the only thing telling them they were getting closer and closer to their destination. The capital emerged on the horizon before the sun had reached its peak. They weren’t surprised to see guards positioned right outside the front gates. What did surprise them however, was that the gates were barred shut, not allowing anyone in or out.

“Halt!” One of the guard shouted as they approached the city walls. “State your name and purpose!”

Instinct took over at that moment. Dust gave the guard his harshest stare and met the guard’s eyes.

“I don’t believe I have any need to,” he half growled, watching the guard cower slightly. “Open the gate.”

“M-My apologies...Forgive me, Cassius, you may enter,” he held a shaking arm out towards the gate.

Dust stepped towards the gate, but was stopped by the other guard.

“W-Wait, who are those people with you?”

“They are none of your concern,” Dust merely said. “Now get out of my way.”

The guard shifted nervously out of the way, allowing them to pass. When the door slammed shut behind them, everyone stared at him in shock.

“That was brilliant, Dust!” Nix said, his mouth half open.

“What made you think to do that?” Ginger asked.

“I don’t know,” he said honestly. “I...just did it.”

“Well either they’re dumb, or Cassius left such an impact on them that they completely forgot he was dead.” Nix said. “Either way, I’m not complaining.”

“Let’s just go before they realize they made a mistake,” Dust reminded, heading into the city.