worthy of accepting, and yet I felt her acceptance and a hint of joy that I'd one day reach a level like hers, when I could walk alongside her.
"I'm a few years ahead of you," she answered my unspoken thoughts. "I've been through the years of being a student and learned from the experiences that threatened to strip everything away from me. When we meet face to face, you'll be able to lift your head up and walk alongside me. Not as a mere comrade, but as a friend as well. You and the others you witnessed in the reflections of space and time. All we need to do is wait for our times to align, and that's when the real war will begin."
She released my cheeks and took a step back to view me from head to toe.
"Looks like my time is up," she declared, and her body began to twinkle as her essence began to fade. "I will watch from afar, like a guardian waiting for their disciples to return to them. Do not fear any error of judgment. I'll come to your aid if need be but remember: two trials of darkness. If you fall into their clutches, allow it to consume you. Let it be an energy source and not an enemy force that will control you. The knights designated to keep you safe will prevail, and even with threatening failure, they will overcome and shine like never before."
She was gone before I knew it, orbs of silver and teal floating up into the wondrous sky.
I was left on the top of the building, looking over the twinkling city below as the multiple landmarks of their own unique creation continued to show their dazzling designs and mesmerizing glamor.
A hand landed on my shoulder, heavy exhales floating through the cool air. I blinked a few times before I slowly looked over to see Jax, hunched over with his other hand on his right knee while he caught his breath.
His hair was down, which must have meant he'd been sleeping, and I wondered what time it was and how I even got here.
What just happened?
Jax lifted his head up to look at my blank expression, and we stared at one another for a long while before he waved his hand in front of my face.
"Brianne?"
I blinked again at the slow movement of his hand, but I suddenly felt tired as my eyes began to grow heavy. I wasn't sure how I reached this point in time. It was like the whole journey was slipping away into a deeper part of myself for safekeeping.
All I wanted to do was snuggle back against the warm bodies in my bed and sleep the night away after the many drinks we'd had earlier.
Jax pouted his lips before he corrected his posture as he rose up. He moved to stand in front of me before he cupped my cheeks and lifted my head up to meet his analyzing gaze.
"Brianne. Are you sleepwalking?"
"I like cookies," I mumbled, which made no sense whatsoever, but gave me the opportunity to stare back into his eyes.
"You're half asleep aren't you?" he whispered but pulled me into his warm embrace. "You haven't scared me like that in a while," he muttered into my flesh.
"Jax," I said his name and hugged him, feeling safe in his arms as I enjoyed his warmth. He was in shorts and a tank top, leaving me a little curious as to what I'd walked out in.
"I love you," I muttered like it was all that mattered, and he held me tighter before he leaned back to look into my eyes.
"I love you, too," he said with immense emotion. "Just don't go spell traveling to the very top of the highest tower in the world."
"I was bad?" I asked with a sad pout.
"Nah." He kissed the top of my nose before he moved to stand by my side. "I think you subconsciously wanted to enjoy this grand sight before us."
The view of the thousands of buildings and cars below did make this moment extra special, and I felt more relieved because I wasn't in trouble.
He lowered us to sit down, and he seemed to have made a blanket to wrap around me. I curled up against him as he held me tightly in his arms, the two of us watching the gifted view.
Whatever brought me to this very place surely had a purpose in mind, but that was long forgotten as I embraced this