Kael washes the stench and Black guu of Evolvents from his armor after defeating another *swarm of Evolvants.
" Even their blood stinks horrible arghh.."
Raul gets off his battle suit and stands in front of Kael,
" I never saw them moving in this big swarms... This swarm felt incomplete compared to the one we fought when we came here.."
Kael narrows his eyebrows, lost in deep thought he replies,
" The Captain is investigating. We will know the reason soon."
Raul nods and starts cleaning his battle suit.
Today he was out on patrol to keep the barrier up. Kael walks through Haven Reach without the armor to find the kids he rescued during the attack of an emerging swarm of Evolvants. As he walks around he finds the kids, they hug him and plays around him in laughter. He notices that the kids got paints on them.
Muhit, a null boy with breathing aid and Raisa, a healthy girl dragged Kael with them and proudly showed him four budding rose in their small garden. Raisa speaks up in a happy tone,
"Kael look the flower we all planted together is blooming" Muhit and Noah was there planting more flower seeds.
Kael pats the head of Anastasia and Raisa and speaks in a really gentle and warm tone,
"It is because of all of your effort together made it possible. We would have died in the cabin that day if you didn't come to save us...."
Anastasia asks Kael in a worried tone,
"Aren't you scared out there?"
Kael kneels, puffing his chest with a grin,
"Every time, But I carry that fear so you don't have to. Don't worry I and the Delta Defense force will always protect you guys."
Noah looks at him and questions him curiously,
" What if the monsters come back ?"
Kael in a confidence tone replies to him, "They won't we made sure of it."
The kids hugged him and gave him a painting that they made together. A painting showing Kael fighting against the Evolvants and protecting them. Kael smiles at them and takes it.
" I'll cherish this art forever "
They kids and Kael spent time together planting plants, He told them stories about the battle fields on the frontline.
Days pass by and Kael is called back on the frontlines, before he leaves the kids clench tight on his hands not wanting to let him go,
"Do you really have to go ?"
"Yes, they need me in the frontlines."
The kids get sad hearing the news, they have none else beside him in this barren wastelands.
" I promise it, I will be back and I will always be here to protect you. So don't worry, okay?" Kael takes out the painting that they gifted him,
" … till then hold on to it for me"
"It is a promise then." The kids say it in a unison.
They smile and hold the painting closer to them and Kael takes his leave.
...............
The hazy eyes makes his heart heart heavier as Kael keeps dashing forward. The memories of parting with the kids flood his mind.
"Please, please be safe. Oh! God have mercy on them please protect them please." Kael tries to run faster and faster as tears start to gather at the corner of his eyes. Regret makes his breathing hard.
He slashes away all the Evolvants that was on his path towards Haven reach. Soon he stands in front of his desired destination, Havens Reach.
Everywhere is a mess, corpses are laying here and there. The shelters are burning in raging flames, smokes are covering the place. He is searching the kids he runs faster, he can't find them anywhere. Kael speaks in his communication device,
"REPORT PLEASE WHERE ARE THE CIVILIANS."
"….." there was no response from the other side.
Kael dashes toward the garden the kids and he made together. In his mind he keeps hoping for miracle as he kept praying and begging in every mean possible. As soon as he finds that small shelter beside the garden his heart aches. The flowers on the garden are no longer blooming cause miracles do not happen just because one wished with all hope they had. The flowered withered on the floor half burnt half bloody. The door of the shelter cabin is already broken. Kael walks inside of the room. Everything is dark and a strong smell of blood enters his nose. He walks inside still praying only to trip on something. As he looks down he finds the painting that the kids gave him. The painting was the same but dusty and blood was on it and something was holding it tightly.The remains of the withered flowers scattered on the ground.
Kael picks up the painting as tears run down from his eyes. His voice sounds like cracking and incomplete.
" I…. I am back. I am here…. I promised."
He falls on his knees hugging the picture, unable to fulfill A Promise They Made.