HOPE
They had just finished setting up the camp with the sun nearly setting over the river giving the glossy water a sort of tinge of colour that showed the depth. It was a fair time when the trees were ready to turn warm and the warmth of the sun dimming down for winter. A brisk chill swept in through the camp allowing for most that could to bundle themselves up as they awaited for the dinner of the day to be prepared. That is, if the two tasked with the job could agree on what to make.
Watching a few meters away from the two was Martel, bundled up in her own blanket sat upon a log with Noishe to keep her company. The Protozoan laying near her in a light slumber with his head gently placed upon his paws. His tail wrapped tightly near his body and his ears lightly twitching during his dreams. The sight made a small smile come upon her weary face before her attention was caught by Yuan yelling at Kratos over how infuriating the human was. She couldn't help but giggle, her mind quickly slipping into thought.
It was only after a few minutes of watching did her thoughts break with the sound of soft footsteps and someone new joining her. Mithos hands working to open Martel's blanket to slip in as well to share his own warmth as he gave his sister an adoring smile, only to stop and see the expression differ from her usual cheerful self.
"What's wrong, Martel?" Mithos asked with concern, the healer merely provided a smile to her little brother before answering in an upbeat reassuring tone.
"It's nothing, Mithos. Just a little thinking." She replied, yet the concerned expression never left the young half-elf's face. Assuming that his sister was lying and there really was something bothering her. Quickly becoming embarrassed and holding her hands up to shake along with her head, she attempted to reassure Mithos once more. "R-Really! There's nothing wrong, just...thinking about things."
"What kind of things?" Mithos questioned, as he caught his sister's gaze looking towards Yuan and Kratos again. Martel blinked for a moment as he heard his tone and sheepishly smiled towards him,
"Y-You're not looking at their butts are you!?" Mithos accused, and quickly caused Martel's face to turn red in embarrassment.
"SSHHH! NO..." She quickly lowered her voice. "O-Of course not, I wasn't thinking anything of the sort, Mithos." She sighed out. "Honestly..."
"Just making sure." Mithos said warily, eyeing the two. He knew that Kratos would never do something that could potentially take Martel in that direction, but he didn't trust Yuan. He was far too flirtatious for Mithos' own liking.
"I was thinking of how they give me hope."
"H-Huh?" Mithos shot a confused look at Martel, seeing the peacefull look on his face. Unsure of how his own sister could say something like that. "Those two idiots?"
Martel gave Mithos a look, slightly amused by how Mithos so gracefully commented on the two. The blonde continued in his attempts to at least cover for Kratos. Calling his teacher as something like that at least needed some amendment. "I-I mean, I can understand Kratos. He's strong and pretty reliable, but Yuan? The guy is a walking disaster..."
"Yes, they're silly. Two opposite people from different sides of the world, but doesn't it just give you hope knowing that even with such people like that they can get along?" Martel commented, both looking to find Yuan making a snide remark towards Kratos who merely shrugged the comment off and continued his duties of stirring the pot of liquid.
Mithos gave a slightly disbelieving look towards Martel, whom in return put a hand to her mouth and giggled. "Well, for the most part. At least they've come together for a goal to stop exactly what they started out as."
"Well yeah, I guess it is a big step from fighting each other on the battlefield. I think I remember Yuan commenting about that." Mithos replied, his eyes looking back to see the two finally compromising and not bickering any longer. After a while, it hit him. Exactly what Martel was meaning, and a small smile came to his face. That realization of hope.
"If they can get along, who is to say that the two nations can't?" She lightly said with a small forced smile before slowly glancing down with a sober expression. "Yet, I can't help but feel uneasy on the thought that we might not succeed despite it. Seeing those two help me to remember, but sometimes..."
"Don't worry!" Mithos quickly interjected, his hand coming up in a fisted motion as he gazed at Martel with such strong conviction. The sound of her little brother's voice making her head to snap up and stare at Mithos. " We can do it, Martel. We just gotta believe! And as long as we believe in our cause, we just have to keep trying. As long as we try and believe, we can do it. I'm sure of it."
Staring at Mithos for the longest time, a weepy smile spread across her face as Mithos' words hit deep within her heart. That's it. She just needed to believe, and as long as they kept trying. Who is to say they can't succeed? Even when things were at their worst, they just need to keep believing. For at the bottom, you can only rise.
Looking towards their hope, all their convictions and promises returned back even stronger. They will succeed. There is not room for doubt. For they will die trying.
