Page 15 of One Last Promise
“What are you trying to say then?”
“We’ve been at war with them since the dawn of time...”
“Yes, I’m aware.I don’t need a history lesson,” I interrupted, becoming a little irked.“Get to the point, Raiden!”
“Neither side has ever won since the dawn of time.Doesn’t that tell you something?”
“I’m going to throw this rock at you if you don’t make your point.”Philosophical Raiden wasn’t my favourite side of him.
He snorted, biting a piece of the cured meat in his hand.“We are equal in strength and power.If our race was superior, we would have won this war eons ago.”
His statement floored me.That was absolutely not true.Dylinweremore powerful.We were also more serene in every way imaginable.The Noxlin had gotten the better of us because they were ruthless, barbaric, and evil.Light would always prevail.Holy Ether had blessed us for that very purpose.
“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” I yawned, stretching out my arms.“You should leave the war planning to my father and Xavier.If you got involved, you’d be starting peace talks with the Noxlin,” I teased, eating the last of my food for the night.
“I’m a soldier, Alora.I simply follow orders.I have no desire to ever lead.”
“That’s probably a good thing with views such as yours.Although, you would give Xavier some serious competition when it comes to strength.”Raiden nodded slowly.I couldn’t read his eyes.
“Get some rest.It’s going to be an early start in the morning,” he muttered, scanning the land as he moved a little closer to me.“I’ll keep watch.You’ll be safe.”
In those words, he spoke the truth.It didn’t stop his words echoing in my mind as I slipped under, though.Noxlin and Dylinequals.
How ridiculous.
Chapter six
“Use your legs as leverage,” Raiden called from below me.The huge lava wall was never ending.We had been climbing for the last four hours, and my legs were burning in defiance.Gripping any part of the wall my hands could find, I willed my body to move.“You can do this, Alora.We’re almost there.”
We had small axes that we could fix into the lava stone if there was nothing to grab hold of.Raiden was a few metres below, telling me which direction to take.Free climbing had never been something I enjoyed, but I was grateful for my petite frame that had hardly any weight to it.
“Does this wall ever end?”I pleaded, looking down at him.
“Focus above.We’re almost there.I promise.”Using my axe, I chipped away at the stone, anchoring it before I used it to pull my body weight up further.
With my face practically pressed up against the rock, I could make out a red tinge within the formation.
