Chapter One
Think of Me
A six-year-old boy sat on a low branch, only a few feet off the ground, looking up lazily at the cotton white wisps of clouds floating above on the warm summer day. A child's lullaby being sung softly down beneath him by another child, a young girl his age.
"Come dance, sparrow
Sing me good morning,
Rise up, sun
Like the arch of the sky,
Living river
Turn the light to diamonds,
When I look
In my true love's eyes."
She sang softly, but he could hear her perfectly. Like a bell in the distance, chiming every hour of the day within the Terra.
"Like a child feels
Watching a rainbow,
Like a bird feels
The first time it flies…"
He saw a skimmer soar through the sky, a Sky Knight returning from another day's patrol. He couldn't wait to become a Sky Knight himself.
"I feel magic
Stirring within me,
When I look
In my true love's eyes."
He looked down at the girl; all he could see was the top of her head and the skirt of her dress that spread out like an upside down pink flower. A small, infant creature was curled up in her lap as she stroked its soft blue fur. Large, round eyes were closed as it slept.
"Young as any spring…
His eyes almost seem…"
Today was his last day in his home Terra before becoming a Sky Knight-in-training at the academy. It would possibly be years before he would be able to return home as a full-fledged Sky Knight.
"In the bumps and hollows,
The sunlight and the shadows…
He kissed her as those…
Bluebells blows…"
A soft, warm breeze brushed past them, rustling his short red hair and her soft blonde hair. The ribbons in her hair lightly dancing in the soft breeze with strands of her golden hair.
"As his lips met her breath…
He went sweetly to death…
At the roots
Of those bluebells
Is where he is laid."
For a children's lullaby, this song had a sad ending. A story of a Sky Knight who died for a woman he was forbidden to love. A sad tale, and a fair moral, but still, sad all the same.
"Princess Livi," the boy began, leaning forward on the low branch he sat on until he was lying on his stomach. The girl looked up with soft violet eyes. "Will you forget about me when I go away to become a Sky Knight?"
The little girl shook her head with a sweet smile on her face. "How can I ever forget you, Aerrow?" she asked, "The academy is only on the other side of Atmosia, so I'll be able to visit you and big brother." Aerrow grinned, a grin that reached his large green eyes, making them crease and sparkle. His grin then closed into a smile as his eyes softened, and he laid his head to rest on his arms while his legs dangled underneath him.
"Will you sing me another song, Princess Livi?" Aerrow asked.
The young princess turned to look back down at the sleeping creature on her lap and took in a soft breath.
"Think of me,
Think of me fondly
When we've said good-bye…
Remember me,
Once in awhile
Please, promise me you'll try…
When you've find
That once again you've longed
To take thy heart back and be free,
If you ever find a moment,
Spare a thought for me…"
Her singing was what he wanted to hear and remember before leaving. This was enough for him. It gave him the strength to bear with leaving his home Terra.
"We've never said our love was ever green
Or as unchanging as the sea,
But if you find a moment
Stop and think of me…
Think of all the things we shouldn't see,
Don't think about the ways things might have been…
Think of me,
Think of me waking
Silent and resigned,
Imagine me,
Trying too hard to put you from my mind,
Reap all those days
Uphold to all those times,
Think of the things we'll never do,
There'll never be a day when I won't think of you."
Yes. Hearing her singing before he leaves would make it much easier. Because he will come back, and hear her sing for him again, when he's a Sky Knight.
Aerrow stared up at his cabin ceiling, having woken up from the ship bucking in some strong turbulent that he was yet to be aware about. All in all, he dreamt of home. His home. Atmosia, the capital of Atmos. Last time he was there was to register him and his squadron as the new Sky Hawks.
Back then, he was closer to home than he intended to be. Back then, he had planned to go see her after accomplishing what he had promised he'd do. But he didn't.
He rested his left arm over his eyes, and sighed heavily.
It's been a long time since I've dreamt of home…Of that day. And now…I'm returning home for real. He thought, rolling onto his side to face the door. His co-pilot, Radarr, was staring at him from his bedside.
"Radarr," Aerrow breathed as he sat up on his cot. "What's the matter, are we already there?"
Radarr looked up with a grin, his tail wagging, which was rare since Radarr hardly ever wagged his tail for anything. Aerrow smiled, patting his co-pilot's head.
"That's right, we're returning home to Atmosia." he said. At that, Radarr gave a squeaky roar of excitement, jumping onto Aerrow's cot. "We might see some faces we haven't seen since we left."
Radarr's excitement outshined Aerrow's as the strange creature leapt off the cot and hurried out of the room. It was strange, because Aerrow had a hollow feeling about returning home. He wasn't ready yet to see his family, his old friends, not even the little girl he used to play tag with in the orchards. Because he didn't want his squad to find out what will happen when they reach the Royal Capital of Atmosia.
"Flowers fade,
The fruits of summers fade
They have their seasons and so do we
But please promise me that sometimes
You will think of me…"
Aerrow leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. He rubbed his forehead, trying to push his worries away. I can't help but remember…that…