? The Path of Fire (Path of Light and Fire Book #1)(Completed) ?

Chapter 1.2: The Hero Price

"It's not that father. It's...." He sighed, unable to find the words.

Aegis placed his hand on Sabin's shoulder, squeezing it slightly. "I can't promise that everyone will be waiting for you when you get back. However, I can promise you that what you are going to do is important. For the kingdom of Acadia, as well as the world." Aegis stopped suddenly as if he said too much.

Sabin clasped his father's shoulder in return, smiling weakly. He'd prepared his whole life for this. Why does this victory feel so hollow? It was one thing to have a goal, a purpose, but now faced with everything he would have to give up, he could only ask himself: Is it worth it?

He simply nodded to Aegis. "Guess I need to pack."

Aegis nodded and returned to the furnace, leaving Sabin to his task.

Sabin slowly packed his bag. A blanket, one set of extra clothes and his zen. He flung his pack over his shoulder, looking over his room. He'd lived here his whole life and now he was off to Schewa knows where. He took a deep breath, remembering the days he spent here with his father, running around and trying to be a blacksmith. I always found inventive ways to burn myself.

He could see his father hammering away, asking for more heat and sweating profusely. Sabin would press away at the coal blower, over and over again until his arms went numb. Sabin remembered when he was nine and Aegis was away meeting his old army buddies. He had thought himself enough of a blacksmith to fix Bitoh's hunting knife on his own. It was an effective throwing rock.

He returned to an empty forge, the coals cooled. First, he grabbed his jerkin off of its holder. As he eyes fell to the weapons, he knew instantly that lugging them all would be impossible. He grabbed his sword first, the same he'd used to beat Aegis yesterday. The bow I can use to hunt. And staff or spear? Staff.

He left his home and walked the paths of Toro, taking in the rice fields and wooden homes. I will miss the way it smells and the peaceful rustling of the streams. The sakura trees were mostly bare and the occasional pink petal fluttered past him. His ruminations were interrupted by a furious Kaita, stomping up to him with her eyes flaring.

"You're leaving?" She fumed. "How dare you leave without telling me?"

Sabin couldn't remember ever seeing Kaita so angry and it was kind of amusing, but he knew his laughter wouldn't help his predicament.

"My father told me that you were going with him to Rosera, but you're not coming back." She repeatedly thrust her finger into his chest. "When were you gonna tell me? When you were on the wagon?"

"I just found out myself." Sabin admitted. "Why are you so mad anyway? You knew I was going eventually."

"I didn't know you were serious about that military stuff." She grabbed a hold of Sabin, and he could feel all of her strength in the way she held him. "I don't want you to go."

"Don't worry. I promise I'll come back."

"That's what they all say."

"Who is they all?"

That earned him a fist in his ribs.

"I'm serious, Kaita," Sabin said, rubbing his side. "You'll see me again. Trust me."

"I'd better." She said definitively and looked anyway, determined not to cry anymore and feigning anger. "You should go then. My father's at the town gate waiting on you."

Sabin looked at her, seeing the frown on her face. He stepped back and kneeled before her. "My lady, I will return," he said in his most solemn voice, knowing it would make her smile. As he heard her stifle laughter, he turned and walked away. Better he did that before she saw him cry. Somehow he felt if he turned back now, he would definitely stay.

Sabin regained his composure as he walked to the town "gate". It was a makeshift path that connected the village to the main road. People called it the gate because it was the path that everyone used to enter and leave the village.

Okkai was there, checking something he had attached to the horse. Aegis had taught him how to ride, cobble and shoe a horse, but attaching a horse to a carriage was something Sabin was unfamiliar with.

"Aegis said you'd be coming to Rosera," Okkai calmly went about fixing straps and laces. "Throw your pack on the back Sabin. You can sit up front with me."

Sabin did as he was told, leaving out his jerkin, staff and sword. "Thanks for taking me along Okkai."

"For what you've done for Kaita, it's the least I can do." Okkai said.

"Son."

Sabin heard his father's deep voice and turned into a vice of a hug.

Aegis let Sabin go and tears streamed down his cheeks. They were a sharp contrast with the hardness in his face. "You remember everything I taught you."

"I will." Sabin wiped his own eyes, unsure of when the tears started.

"I should put on this jerkin before we go," Sabin said quickly, "Just in case we run into bandits. Can you help me? I always have trouble with the laces."

"Let me," Kaita's soft voice called.

Aegis stepped to the side, letting her have the task without comment.

Kaita's fingers moved swiftly along the laces, securing the armor without hurting Sabin as he normally did to himself. In her hand was a piece of white cloth with red flowers.

"What is that?" Sabin said curiously.

"This is from my Partnership gown," Kaita said calmly. "I'm giving this to you so that you don't forget your promise to me." She tied it into the hilt of his sword. "You have to bring this back to me. I cannot be partnered without a full dress."

Sabin wasn't sure if he could keep that promise. It could be years before he came back. Okkai and Yitta could decide that they could no longer wait for Sabin. There was no way that Kaita would grow old alone. He took the cloth, holding it in his hand. For a moment, he wondered if he could stay.

However, there was something pulling him towards Rosera. It was stronger now and it felt like that of his desire to be a general. It was a feeling of rightness, something that Sabin could not vocalize, but it was true all the same. His father was right; he needed to go.

Sabin looked into Kaita's eyes. "I'll do my best."

"I know," Kaita held his hands in hers. She rose on her tiptoes, kissing him lightly on the lips. She dropped his hands and took two steps back, waving for him to go.

Okkai must have been waiting for the end for as soon as Kaita motioned to him, Sabin heard him call out, "Ready when you are."

Sabin bowed deeply to Kaita, and nodded to his father. He then turned and went to Okkai, climbing on the front of the wagon to join him. He closed his eyes and took a long, deep breath, forcing himself not to look back. It's time for me to meet my destiny.