Flames licked the dark night sky, embers dancing up and camouflaging themselves into the star light that twinkled overhead. It would have been beautiful, Gedeon thought. If only his thoughts weren’t constantly plagued by nightmares. It had been the same one. As always.

Pain grew in his hands as his fingernails met palms; what did it mean? Who was the woman and why did she always want to kill him? And that name: Abaddon-- why was it so familiar to him?

Gedeon picked up a pebble from the nearby ground and threw it into the flames. He wanted to see some sort of reaction or explosion but all that he was met with were the consuming flames and the unyielding pebble. Annoying. He gave a glance around camp. Two patched up tents and backpacks.

“Did you have the dream again?” A head poked out of one of the tents. Camilla. She was a Yelven; a beast people hailing from the mountainous country of Ikkiertok. Their peoples were marked by wide flat faces, vicious fangs, and the occasional pair of horns. And of course their utter strength, which Gedeon had always secretly harbored envy for. It had only taken an army of 300 Yelven to conquer the country of Gisul during the Hundred Twenty Cycle war. Impressive.

But right now he didn’t want to think of how impressive Camilla and her people were. Gedeon just wanted to be alone.

“No.”

It wasn’t very convincing; he knew it and Camilla knew it, so maybe that's why she kept pushing on despite Gedeon’s obvious annoyance.

“It’s just that you only stay up late when you have the dream. You know. Like you’re doing now.” An awkward smile made its way onto her worn face. 

If Gedeon were a more caring person he might have been grateful that a person double his age were trying to connect and understand him; it would be the first time. 

But Gedeon was not caring. He, as he had been told by others, was a cruel young man who only cared about his own gain. It was true. Probably. “I had the dream. Now stop pushing for it.”

Silence engulfed the both of them as Gedeon turned his head towards the fire. The next time he looked over towards Camilla she had moved to sit beside him, reflections of red and yellows dancing in the reflection of her ebony hair and eyes. “Tomorrow we’ll finally reach Duda. The great and mighty Land of Treasures.”

It was almost immediate that Gedeon’s mood was lifted into high spirits, and he had to keep himself from smiling even the tiniest bit. Finally they would make it. After weeks of journeying Gedeon would reach Duda.

“And your friend, Camilla?”

A playful smile broached her lips as she looked over at Gedeon slyly, “If I didn’t know any better I’d say you were excited.”

“Will your friend be there?” Gedeon went back to his defensive stance. Arms crossed and scowl on his face. Camilla sighed, “Yes, Gedeon. Muirin will be there. And if anyone will know about Abaddon, Muirin will.”

Gedeon wanted to snap at the woman to not speak that name, but for once he bit his tongue. She was his only hope to figure out this whole Abaddon mess and he didn’t wish to lose any leads he could find. Comfort was given at the thought of finally discovering the identity of Abaddon and why people, both in his dreams and out, kept insisting Gedeon had killed hundreds.

Finally he would be able to clear his name of any charges and return to his apprenticeship. Gedeon deeply missed his master Aquillo. Meeting Muirin would be the first step in returning to his familiar life before Vinda Castle’s Ball happened.

“Let’s get some sleep.”

“Alright.”

Even though his body moved to his tent, Gedeon knew full well that he would get no sleep. He was excited, but he was also scared. Scared of the truth. Because even though he didn’t want to entertain the thought of being a murderer-- it was still a thought. Clear and precise like a rock dropping in still water. 

Gods was he scared.