Keith (Kim's)

## Keith

**Goodbye is Always Hard**

**Keith:** Today marks a new chapter in my life. I told Rena to meet me by the old cathedral by noon. I came a little bit early to get one last look over the kingdom. It was a perfect day. The sky was almost clear from clouds and the wind was consistent with a cooling breeze. I pushed the idea of being up in the mountains for a year out of my head in that very moment. Only because the thought of how cold it is going to be scares me. The weather might be the hardest part about this journey, so I am slowly mentally preparing myself for what is to come.

I slowly breathed in the fresh air through my nose and exhaled out my mouth. I closed my eyes and tried to clear my mind. I focused the chirping of the morning birds down in the valley. There was no sense in worrying now, what good would that do.

My moment of peace did not last long. “Well, well, well, fancy meeting you here little brother.” Said a familiar voice. My eyes shot opened as I searched for where the voice had come from. Just as I remembered, it was my older sister. “Jeez, relax, I just heard from a little bird that you were leaving this retched kingdom to go study with the snow monks. I guess it is true, considering I can see your little knapsack. Filled with prized processions I assume.” She said as she moved closer to me.

You probably would not have guessed we were siblings judging on appearance. The only feature we shared is our royal blue hair. Her brilliant blue hair was pulled back into two large loops that resembled the outline of half of a butterfly’s wing. Her tan skin almost seemed to shimmer in the sun, while my fair skin slowly burns to a light red color. She has developed quite a reputation as being one of the best assassins in the kingdom. Her favorite weapon being the large ring with spikes around it to help the large ring tear into the victims. It was silver, but you can see the metal was stained with blood from numerous victims.

“What do you want? Are you here to steal from me again? To kill me? To humiliate me?” I shouted angrily at her.

“I would never hurt you on purpose little brother, you should know that? Besides what good is revenge when the other person is dead and I do not think you have anything that would be of value to me right now. I simply wanted to see my lucky baby brother before he leaves. Who knows when I will see you next?” She said as she leaned on her weapon and rested her head on her hand.

“I am sorry… I am sorry for giving you that scar over your eye. It has made you stronger, but I know it has caused you great pain too. Looking at it probability gives you awful flash backs, and I am sorry that I hurt you. I would never mean to hurt you on purpose and it was an accident that I wish I could take back.” I looked down ashamed.

“Do you honestly think I care about that? She asked.

“Then what… what did I do to you? Our futures were set; I did not choose this life. It was my destiny.” I responded.

“YOU… you were the last of my family, they killed everyone we ever loved. They took mother and father from us, and YOU went against their wishes and went under the kings arm like a frighten puppy. They hit the jackpot with such a fool. No one in our family would have wanted this.

“That might be true but the only reason I agreed to their terms were to spear your life. The last life of my family. They did not want to believe me, but I was very convincing… they finally agreed and I was scared that they would go back on their word, and kill you later. But here we are and they have been true to their word ever since.”

“False, you have too much faith in them. You have been completely brainwashed. I didn’t get this strong or build this reputation over night. I fought battles for my life almost every night, while you were being tucked into your soft silk bed.” She spat back.

She was angry, but for reasons I can understand. Nothing will ever be the same between us.