Five years had passed since that day at the abandoned Tavern.
"Where are we going, Henry?"
"You'll see. It's very special."
The Kathar smiled as he held his adopted child's hand, leading her down a long, decorative path, away from the gang and into the forest. Flowers were blooming on the sides, some even sprouting from between the cracks on the ancient cobblestone road. Trees hovered above them, their leaves rustling peacefully in the summer wind. The path would take them on a hike to the top of a mountain, where they'd finally reach their destination, a cliff with a beautiful view of Essalonia's vast forests, rivers and mountains. The sun was just setting, its rays luminating a bright pink shade across the sky. And in front of them, at the edge of the cliff, was a tombstone, lying there, unbothered and untouched since it had been set there all those years ago.
"This here was someone very special to me," Henry said, kneeling down next to the grave. "She saved me from living a life full of trouble."
The child sat next to him as they spoke, listening closely. She was completely drawn in.
"But, when she passed away, I felt hopeless. I didn't know what to do, I was really sad. Until you came along."
"Aww, you're so nice!" She tilted her head and gave a nice, warm smile, showing off her crooked teeth. "What's her name?"
Henry sighed and plucked a flower from the ground, placing it next to the stone. "Autumn. Hey, speaking of which, you still don't have a name. I've been calling you kid this whole time, kiddo! Let's pick one out for you, you're old enough." He only refused to name her until now out of respect for her parents, expecting Marcus to come back one day, but that day never came. It was probably for the best though, it would have caused a huge stir in the gang if her father came back.
"I think… I think I should be called Awesome Person!" The kid raised a fist with pride.
Henry couldn't help but chuckle, going to pat her head. "I think that name's great, but maybe it should be a little shorter?"
"Hm… I dunno. You pick a name!"
The world stopped for a moment, Henry's memories coming back again. "You… You're hopeless, you know that, Henry...?" The words echoed in his mind one last time… He looked to his child and said, very seriously, "Hope. How's that?"
"I love that name!"
"Right. Hope it is then!"
Hope and Henry sat down in the field, next to Autumn's grave, and watched the sun as it fell, giving off it's last, glorious beams of light for the day.
In his mind, the Kathar finally knew peace. He always had a dark, cynical view on the world and life itself, and his mind was twisted into the hands of the Void, but… Being with his kid, his Hope, giving her the positive, innocent outlook he never had, it brought him joy.
"Where are we going, Henry?"
"You'll see. It's very special."
The Kathar smiled as he held his adopted child's hand, leading her down a long, decorative path, away from the gang and into the forest. Flowers were blooming on the sides, some even sprouting from between the cracks on the ancient cobblestone road. Trees hovered above them, their leaves rustling peacefully in the summer wind. The path would take them on a hike to the top of a mountain, where they'd finally reach their destination, a cliff with a beautiful view of Essalonia's vast forests, rivers and mountains. The sun was just setting, its rays luminating a bright pink shade across the sky. And in front of them, at the edge of the cliff, was a tombstone, lying there, unbothered and untouched since it had been set there all those years ago.
"This here was someone very special to me," Henry said, kneeling down next to the grave. "She saved me from living a life full of trouble."
The child sat next to him as they spoke, listening closely. She was completely drawn in.
"But, when she passed away, I felt hopeless. I didn't know what to do, I was really sad. Until you came along."
"Aww, you're so nice!" She tilted her head and gave a nice, warm smile, showing off her crooked teeth. "What's her name?"
Henry sighed and plucked a flower from the ground, placing it next to the stone. "Autumn. Hey, speaking of which, you still don't have a name. I've been calling you kid this whole time, kiddo! Let's pick one out for you, you're old enough." He only refused to name her until now out of respect for her parents, expecting Marcus to come back one day, but that day never came. It was probably for the best though, it would have caused a huge stir in the gang if her father came back.
"I think… I think I should be called Awesome Person!" The kid raised a fist with pride.
Henry couldn't help but chuckle, going to pat her head. "I think that name's great, but maybe it should be a little shorter?"
"Hm… I dunno. You pick a name!"
The world stopped for a moment, Henry's memories coming back again. "You… You're hopeless, you know that, Henry...?" The words echoed in his mind one last time… He looked to his child and said, very seriously, "Hope. How's that?"
"I love that name!"
"Right. Hope it is then!"
Hope and Henry sat down in the field, next to Autumn's grave, and watched the sun as it fell, giving off it's last, glorious beams of light for the day.
In his mind, the Kathar finally knew peace. He always had a dark, cynical view on the world and life itself, and his mind was twisted into the hands of the Void, but… Being with his kid, his Hope, giving her the positive, innocent outlook he never had, it brought him joy.
