The desert is not a long and winding road, it is an excruciating journey of burning exhaustion.  But we didn’t have a choice; the direct portal towards Ammospolis has been cut off and we had to take the nearest one which is from a small oasis town.

The haze is heavy.  There isn’t anything to be seen within miles, save the constant mirage of our destination confusing it be nearer than it really is, distorting reality.  Yet no matter how far we walked, it remained there, stuck in the horizon.

But the distance and the heat never seemed to bother Aegis at all.  Her eyes remained at the mirage, no matter how unreal it is.  It became a thoughtless challenge to her.  That she will get there no matter what it takes.  Her perseverance, her determination is admirable.  Makes me jealous of him.

She has been quiet the whole time.  She must be pondering about Dread.  I’m wondering about him too.  What is so great about him that made him so important to her?  If only I could feel half of that care and devotion, I could be the happiest man alive.  If only…

But that’s far from happening.  Much like that mirage from a distance.  Dread must have been strong, persistent, humorous… nothing that I am.  I can keep on heading forward just to be with her.  But at the end of the day, where she is going is towards him… and away from me.  Ironic, isn’t it?

Maybe I should’ve followed Gaz’s advice about this ill-fated journey.  But I never realized how excruciating it would be until today when I found out that I really like her.  Harder, now that she is going to see someone else.  Can fate be any crueler?

But fate did brought us together after all.  How you would think about it is just a matter of perspective.  Nevertheless, destiny aside, what will happen next is completely up to me.  And not even Dread nor Bastion or Gaz can change that.

So my mind is made.  I’ll follow her wherever she go, no matter where it might lead.  And become her hero whenever she is in distress, no matter what it takes.  Much like how she is now…

“Hey, princess!  Take it easy.”

“No one has ever called me that.”

She wiped away that worried look on her face and smiled.  How could anyone resist that?

Eon
3rd day of the 7th moon, First Generation (G.T.)
Miles away from Hudria, the Desert Oasis