  Spring in Aedessa is nurturing. Everything and everyone finding a reason to live. I'm trying to find exactly that. This spring that our leader had been assassinated. We do not claim to be an idyllic world. For a hundred years war had ravaged our region.
But we promised never again. No more blood. No more darkness. "Nerissa. " "We can't leave. " I can't, I thought. I don't know the answers yet. "You can't, but we must. The elders, they know how to deal with war, but we who are not born into this don't. " "If all of us shall leave, who will take care of the village? " "You can't fight. " Yes, I can't, but is it reason enough to escape?
To leave my home, Ritthea, the fields, the creeks of which I can trace in the palm of my hand? Lev was gazing at the stars, and perhaps could already see the worlds he would travel to get far enough. "To leave is to live. Alive, we can go back. Fight after we learn how to. " I didn't reply. Already I felt that indeed I will go but I couldn't see myself returning. His warm hand caught mine.
"I know no place but Ritthea. The only reason I won't return is if I die. " Yes, he was right. Slowly we turned to descend one last time the sacred mountain of Aedessa where only a few months back Lev had lit my candle for the feast of Ellion Te. Light. Fire. May it burn still long after we leave. 
