Child of the Brave
9. Mission Part 2: Olan Durai's Vision

In the middle of the dead and dark night he heard the sound of scampering feet near his tent. A breeze brushed against the flap and that got him up on his feet, blankets twisted around his legs, rooting him to the earth. His bones creaked as he moved like a night stalker out into the opening.

The sentry by the fire was sound asleep. His post lost to a world of bright dreams without King Delita's rule and burning villages to haunt him. He faded into the brisk night, carefree and content not realizing that probably someone had entered camp.

Bones creaking, he turned from the sentry and followed the wind to the edge of camp, digging his feet into the damp soil from the spring rain. Everything was uphill for a while until he reached the top. He closed his eyes.

Galloping horses banging against the marble floors, loud calls to "arm all men," Murmurs of chants invading his consciousness, clattering swords against swords and swords to the floor, and deafening whistles of pistols. Wet, cold sweat clinging in the gaps between his fingers, his armor drenched, heart beating against his breast, and his horse failing beneath him. He looked up and there he was, Delita, his hair in disarray and his sword at his feet. Delita looked back at him with his lips moving to the shape of a name… The vision died, and Olan was thrown back to reality.

He spun on his heels and saw a shadow of a man on a chocobo. His cloak fluttered in the wind. Olan squinted, but still could not quite make out the face of the man. Only the gleam and spin of gold hair suggested that he was the hero…

"Olan!"

Olan spun the other way and saw a young man returning from his mission. He also had the gleam and spin of gold hair, except his lacked the ghostly and web-like white. He was real and tangible, wearing a gallant smile that beamed 'mission accomplished.' To boot his accomplishment, he had his two companions to show off, one male and one female. One on his right arm and the other on his left arm. They were his sword and his shield.

"Star gazing? Let's get back to camp and show Eliza and Joseph around," Aster said.

Aster jauntily led the way.

Trailing them, Olan thought about the vision and how telling Aster would bring hope to the boy.

But it would be a year before they had enough people to face their nemesis. The nemesis that would soon meet defeat.

End Chapter 9

A.N. 2 more chapters to go and maybe an epilogue. Finally, I think I know how to end this without dragging it too much. Stay tuned!