AERIS LEGACY
Chapter Four
Aeros × Encounter × Airis
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In the darkening distance, he saw the welcoming orange glow of a fire.
Inching closer, Aeros saw a figure sitting by the fire, and the outline of a small tent.
He decided to talk to whomever it was.
Aeros approached.
I'm warning you, I'm armed!"
"Just a tired traveler." Someone answered. "I mean no harm."
"Step into the light where I can see you."
The footsteps came closer and the first thing Airis saw were a pair of glowing green eyes. As the person fully appeared in the
firelight, she recognized him as the guy from Kalm who had asked for directions.
"I saw the fire, and was sort of curious." The person said.
Airis nodded slightly. "If you come in peace, I guess you can sit down."
He obliged. "So." Airis asked him, "What's your name, where do you come from, and why do you keep following me?"
"My name is Aeros. I'm a First Class SOLDIER and I decided to leave for a while to see the world. It's purely coincidence
that you're going in the same direction."
"Well... I'm Airis. That spelled A-I-R-I-S. Also from Shinra, but I'm no SOLDIER. I was raised by the Turks. I left to find
my real parents."
"How are you going to do that?"
"Dunno. Haven't thought about it." Airis stared into the fire, wondering how she could've skipped that.
Aeros was silent for a minute. Then he said, "I really don't have anything else to do, so if you don't mind, I'd like to help you
search."
They were both silent. "Serious?" Airis asked him.
"Serious." More silence.
"Do...do you have parents?"
Aeros started. "I..."
"You don't have to answer if you don't want to."
"I don't know..." Aeros finally said.
Airis raised a brow.
"I've been in SOLDIER for as long as I can remember..."
There was a long uncomfortable silence. Airis broke it by rummaging around in her bag. "Want something to eat?"
"No thanks." Aeros said. "I have stuff here." He gestured to his own rucksack.
"'kay then."
Airis got up to go to her tent. "I trust you have your own tent?"
"Yeah."
She shook a finger in his direction. "If I catch you in mine, you're really gonna get it."
"Don't worry."
