Echoes of Cain
Now it's time we stop surviving and start living.
The mountains breathed mist into the valley as the last fires died behind them. Only ashes of the past were left behind.
They camped beneath a sleeping pine, not far from the city that once held teir chain. It was quiet. Not the kind of silence born from fear-but from peace. Few girls hummed a peaceful song harmonizing together. It was the kind of peace that fills your chest and makes you realize how heavy it used to be. They were all hoping this moment was not a daydream. While a few petals of flower fled lead by the wind.
Asir sat by the stream, bare feet in the water, holding a folded piece of cloth in his lap. His sister's ribbon.
He hadn't let go of it until now.
Mei approached quietly; her own white hair braided loosely down her back.
« She'd be proud, » she said, kneeling beside him.
« She was always proud. Even when she knew it'd be me who lived »
They sat together for a moment. No more plans, no more codes.
« I had a dream last night, » Mei whispered.
« We all were dancing. Alone this time. Not to distract or deceive. Just …dancing »
Asir smiled, eyes shining. « We are free now…all of us » for the last part he held tight on his sister's ribbon.
« she's free now » He whispered only for him to hear.
Cain leaned against a tree nearby, arms crossed, watching Asir with a look halfway between pride and heartbreak. His small and feminine features originated from his clan, they were well known for their beauty, both men and women. So it was quite easy for Asir to live as his twin siter.
He waited until Asir returned to the camp before speaking.
« I brought something, » he said, holding up a neatly folded bundle.
Asir raised a brow.
« Clothes, » Cain said, a faint smile tugging at his mouth. « For you. Not her. »
Asir took them slowly- dark trousers, a fitted tunic in charcoal blue to match his eyes. And what made Asir heart stop was the heavy grey armor that Cain was handing him.
His eyes glistened with pure joy. It was his.
« You'll need it, » Cain added with hesitation, as if he wasn't sure, « if you're going to follow me. »
Asir looked up from his treasure. « Follow you ? »
Cain shrugged. « There's a man. A soldier. Black armor. He was at the edge of the boarder wars. I need to find him. »
« And you're chasing him ? »
« No, more like our lives are liked… or our deaths… something like that … » he was lost in his own thoughts.
Asir didn't hesitate no understanding what he meant. « Then i'll follow you. »
Cain met his eyes, softer now. « Even if there's no throne at the end of the road ? »
« There's you, » Asir said.
Cain turned away, ears burning, but the grin stayed on his face.
They stayed sometimes together after a while Asir wore his new clothes and showed them proudly to the girls. Kais and Roshan made fun of him. Mocking that he was cuter as a girl calling him princess.
The breeze tugged at his long white hair.
« I should cut it, » he muttered. « It's always in the way »
Cain stepped behind him. « No. »
Asir blinked. « Why ? »
Cain reached out for the white ribbon tied around Asir neck-His sister's- gently gathering the hair between his fingers. « Your clan wore it long. Warriors. You are one of them… »
« Thank you »
Cain laughed softly humming as to say « no worries », he tied the hair back into a high ponytail.
The campfire crackled as Kais roasted something that might have been rabbit. Roshan had rigged a kettle over the flames and was very serious while listening Mei explaining the philosophy of tea to him. He kept interrupting her just to make her stop and glare at him.
Hua was carving a flute while singing some ancestral songs from their clan. Lian was teaching Kais to braid her hair-very badly.
Everyone was smiling.
Asir sat next to Cain, brushing his shoulder.
This is strange » he said.
« What is ? »
« This feeling. Like I'm not planning death anymore. Just brealfast. »
Cain tilted his head. « You'll get used to it. »
« Do you think we'll find peace ? »
Cain looked around the fire. At Kais, now teasing Lian. At Roshan, handing Mei a steaming cup with too much care. The rest of the girls laugh freely and sing next to Hua.
Then at Asir.
« We already did ».
He couldn't supress the itch on his chest.
The curse of the moon is still glowing faintly.