Closed to Jake
2 Weeks earlier

Amari woke to the sun shining on her face, she grimaced and sat up as she rubbed her tired eyes. “Shit…” she mumbled, she felt as though she hadn’t slept. “Jake, are you awake?” She turned to see an empty room. He had left, without a note and without a word.

“Ah.”

Amari wasn’t sure how to describe what she felt at that moment, she was frustrated that he had up and left her, but there was something else… a feeling that itched at the back of her mind, one that tugged at her heart. Jake had been so ecstatic and happy to see her, and she had so quickly snuffed that out. Was she too harsh on him?

Amari pushed herself out of bed and busied herself, preparing to leave. No doubt he had gone on to obtain the Crystal Sword without her, not that it mattered to Amari. Despite her own personal agenda she wasn’t about to go back on her word and take it for herself. “Good for you Jake.” She muttered bitterly as she left the inn.

It was no doubt for the best, Amari was unsure if he could handle the reality of her world. What would realistically happen if she were to bring him to the Crimson Hand? It wasn’t like he’d go without harm, sure, she could place him under her care and he’d be physically safe, but mentally? Amari had her doubts.

Then, there was the matter of how he left. If he really cared, wouldn’t he have at least left her a note? Not even a ‘hey I’m doing this on my own.’ Amari’s face soured as she wandered through the busy streets of Ettimere. It was most definitely for the best, she was foolish to think that such a person as her would bring anyone any form of joy.



Present Time

Two weeks had passed since Amari had left Ettemire, she was nearing the border of the two nations, soon she’d cross over into Salvic territory, and soon after that, she’d be back within the inner sanctum. Back home.

Rather than pay to be escorted by horse drawn carriage Amari took the opportunity to walk it, she needed the exercise and the time alone to think. Lately things had been getting to her, things that she would normally just brush off. She was getting overly emotional and attached to people, but was that such a bad thing? That’s what had her so torn, a part of her felt she shouldn’t be growing attached or letting her emotions get in the way, the other yearned for that contact, those relationships.

Amari sat in a small cafe in a small town she didn’t care to recall the name of. The afternoon sun shone through the large, open windows and the faint smell of freshly baked bread wafted through the quaint establishment. Amari was the only customer sitting at a small table of many, a steaming cup of milky tea resting in front of her. Her hands gripped the sides tightly, soaking up the warmth as though in fear she’d never feel something like it ever again.

She stared at her warbled reflection; red hair, emerald eyes and face clear of the cracked black lines of corruption. Amari knew that’s why she was feeling so vulnerable at this stage, because of all the ‘good’ she had done in Ettimere, because she didn’t go against the nature of her soul, it was thriving. It meant the entirety of her being had the ability to do so… the thing was… Amari wasn’t sure if she liked it or not.

Am I that far gone, that I am conditioned to believe that I shouldn’t have such feelings?