Chapter 5

After every hare was in the mountain, Orlando took a head count. Then, he noticed that a certain someone was missing.

"Where's Auma?"

Auma, daughter of Orlando, had set out to meet the figure, ignoring the endless babble that came out of her father's mouth. Recently, she'd had a fight with him, and she went out to release some of her anger, when she noticed the figure. She walked up to it, and when she and the figure were barely two steps away, the figure spoke in a slight whispering tone.

"Who are you?"

Auma, oblivious as to who she was talking to, replied.

"I am Auma, daughter of Lord Orlando the Axe. And may I ask who you are?"

He did not speak. Auma could now see that this being was not woodlander, nor was it vermin, lizard or bird.

Or fish.

It was something completely different.

"It is probably a boy, by his voice," thought Auma. "So, can I ask what you are?"

The boy stood silent, and then replied.

"I am darkness, and that is all I will ever be, for I cannot feel any emotion. I am hollow."

Now Auma was confused. What did he mean? She dropped the question from her mind.

"So, you mind telling me what you're doing here?

"No one cares."

"Hello, I care! Now tell me!" she snapped. Her voice was now somewhat roaring.

"It is none of your business, maiden."

"Well then, you must have some name..." she said in a disarming voice.

"I don't want my current name, so do me a favor and christen me as another," he replied.

"What? Um..." now, she couldn't possibly be more confused or startled than she was. "Okay, I guess I will."

"Then so be it. I will drop my cursed name and be what you call me."

Auma blinked. He was dead serious.

"Then I'll call you...Ertho? No, that sounds weird. Umm..." She took a few seconds to think of what she thought was a suiting name, and then spoke. "Blake!"

"Then I am now Blake. Thank you."

He walked past her by a few steps, and then spoke again.

"I am certain our paths will cross again."

"Yeah...okay, I guess."

Then she turned to see a sword that had lodged itself in his back. It looked familiar somehow, but she had no time to remember.

"What happened to you? Why is there a sword in your back?"

The boy glanced over his shoulder and finally took notice of the weapon that had been protruding from his back.

"Amazing. I didn't even notice." With one sharp move, he thrust the sword from his back and stuck it in the ground.

Then, Auma saw the most surprising aspect of Blake. Instead of blood, a black, rolling mist drifted from where the sword had been pulled. She also noticed the sword, once again. It looked exactly like the sword of Martin the Warrior, but with different colors. It now consisted of a purple hilt, a yellow jewel embedded in the blade, and the blade itself was completely black. She drew the blade from the ground and then waved to Blake.

"Well, once again, good bye!"

Blake simply nodded.

And then, in a gust of wind, he was no longer there.