Snowflake: Frozen Child

THREE years later in Aeonria...

"It's been approximately three year since I started repairing this ship." Haji said while looking at his completed and improved spaceship.

"I'm already 19. Don't you know that, Hope?" Haji said while smiling at the three year old aeoni. The Janix could still remember how fragile Hope was when he was still a baby. Hope was the aeoni saved by Jhavu three years ago. Haji gave him his name.

"Kromi!" (Cool) the little aeoni cheered as he pulled Haji's cape. Haji was wearing Zakir's cape all the time. Having that cape wrapping around him made him feel safe and comfortable. It was as if Zakir has been sending him a friendly embrace. Everytime it rained, Haji could still remember Jhavu's face. Agya became more loyal towards guarding the throne without a king than sticking around Haji. Aeonria became a free city and Umbra still haven't found its new king. Haji rejected the offer of taking over the throne. No one has the courage to sit on the throne before Haji. Umbra became a kingdom without a king. But Haji would never leave Aeonria without having a new king. So he called the city for his big announcement.

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"People of Aeonria! Today, I founded the new king of this land. With all my blessings and favor, I represent the rightful one." Haji announced, his voice was the only sound that could be heard at the moment. Agya's contrasted wings spreaded in the air as he started to flock them. He went behind Haji and stood in front of the aeonis.

"The new king, Agya!" Haji declared. Different reactions plastered on the citizens' faces. Some of them clearly wanted to ask "Why an egori?" but Haji continued to talk.

"The most suitable candidate for this throne is Agya. Egoris who were sealed on the forbidden land were unpredictable. Ever since from the beginning, they only obeyed Zakir. They bring danger. But Agya learned to deal with aeonis and became a part of them. Agya has the ability to protect the whole city against the enemy." Haji announced. None of the aeonis went against Haji's decision. They all knew that Haji knew what he was doing. They knew that the janix would leave them when the right time comes. And they knew Haji would never let them get hurt in the future. They respected Haji and his decisions.

"WELCOME! KING AGYA!" the aeonis hailed and accepted Agya as their new king. Agya spreaded his wings and breathed fire in the air. It looked beautiful as the fire created a colorful strokes in the dark sky. The kingdom once again celebrated the glory.

"Hey Hope! Come here!" the janix called the small aeoni and patted it's head with his hands still under his cape.

"Take care of your mother" Haji said as he gestured his head towards Jhavu's widowed wife. The aeoni nodded his head obediently and smiled.

Haji thought, "Yes, just like that. Smile as long as you are alive."

"Janix, were you happy?" Hope asked which made the janix froze and looked at the innocent aeoni.

"Of course I am!" Haji said.

"Then why are you leaving?" Hope asked curiously. As Haji thought, "Kids really do say what they are thinking"

"That's because, someone is waiting for me." Haji answered, eyes filled with hope. Hope opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something but decided not to voice it out.

"Come on, what is it that's been bothering you? Huh, little pal?" Haji said while smiling, he knew that hope wanted to say something.

"What if..." Hope paused as he hesitated to say the words or not, "...what if they're not waiting for you anymore? Can't you just stay?"

Haji's smile suddenly faded as he heard Hope's hurtful but true words.

"Hmm, what makes you think that they're no longer waiting for me?" Haji said with a forced smile.

"No it's not, That's not what I mean, well maybe yes but, forget about it!" the little aeoni took back his words and bowed his head as if regretting to ask such questions. Haji smiled and ducked in front of hope.

"Listen to me, little buddy. I made a promise-"

"To that someone?"

"No, to myself"

"What promise?"

"That whatever happens, I'll be by that person's side forever. If I'll be able to to that, there's nothing more important in my life than to spend the rest of it staying at that person's side." Haji said while smiling.

"You know what they call it?" Haji asked as if he was asking Hope with wondering eyes.

"It's called Verion" the janix said with a smile.

"In my world, we call it 'Affection'. I was not obligue to to protect that person nor to make that person happy. I dedicated and devoted myself towards that person willingly. Someday when you grow up, you'll understand what I mean." Haji said.

"Now, go back to your mother." Haji said as if he was shoving the little aeoni away.

Haji's departure would be the day after tomorrow. The kingdom prepared for the celebration. Many Aeonis wished that the janix should just stay. But they could never sacrifice Haji's happiness for their own sake. Haji prepared everything he needed, the life supplies, emergency systems and his own self. Three years was quite a long story to tell for Jhay. He was so excited to go home.

*

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*

DEPARTURE time...

"I'm already 19, Jhay is already 21. I would ask her to marry me after a several years. We will finish our studies and have jobs. We will have children and we can live staying by each other's side forever." Haji said happily while getting inside his ship. He couldn't stop smiling as he sat in the chair. Haji's ship was located on top of the highest stone mountain in Aeonria. It looked like a peak and the aeonis were cheering loudly from below the huge stone. They were having a feast and large native musical instruments were being played. Aeonis were dancing gracefully as the janix looked at them for the last time. Haji smiled as he said, "I will miss these selfless creations."

Haji thought and closed his eyes, "Lavin, please guide me towards my home."

Haji took his one last glance towards the city.

"Farewell Zakir. Farewell Jhavu. Farewell father. Lurkia, I'm never going to forget you. Farewell my beloved Aeonis. Farewell Umbra. Farewell Antos to Aeonria. Farewell my beloved city, Aeonria." Haji said with a happy yet a heavy heart. He sighed and thought, "I never expected it to be this painful."

"FREEDOM FOR AEONRIA!" Haji shouted as the aeonis followed his words.

"FREEDOM FOR AEONRIA!" the aeonis shouted repeatedly and raised their long hands. A very deafening roar echoed throughout the place as Agya flocked his wings. He was flying in front of Haji's ship and stared at the janix's eyes. It was as if the egori was asking the janix if that was his final decision. Haji smiled and nodded at Agya.

"LOCATION READY. SYSTEMS READY FOR DEPARTURE. STATE THE COMMAND, CAPTAIN" the system spoke as Haji activated the controllers.

"TAKE ME BACK TO EARTH. AUTOPILOT ACTIVATE." Haji commanded and the system automatically followed his command. With a lightning speed, the ship departed. Agya followed the spaceship with his full-speed but was not able to catch up. The ship named LHK-1921 by Haji became a part of Aeonria's history. L stands for Lurkia, his loyalty and respect. H stands for Haji, his courage and bravery. K stands for Kradus, his father and nothing more. 19 stands for Haji's age and 21 stands for Jhay's.

Agya was left flying on the air as he watched a small spark in the dark sky. That was probably Haji's ship.

*

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*

"CAPTAIN, A STRONG FORCE HAS BEEN DETECTED FROM 9 MILLION LIGHT-YEARS AHEAD. STATE YOUR COMMAND, USE ALTERNATIVE ROUTE OR PROCEED." the system warned Haji.

"Examine the possible results on either options" Haji stated.

"CALCULATING AND ANALYZING DATA..." the system spoke and only took 30 seconds to respond immediately.

"ALTERNATIVE ROUTE MAY RESULT TO DELAYED ARRIVAL, APPROXIMATELY FIVE YEARS ACCORDING TO EARTH'S LUNAR CALENDAR." the system replied.

"and the other?" Haji asked as he hissed, the first option obviously was unpleasant.

"TWO GALAXIES ARE COLLIDING IN SPACE. FROM YOUR PLANET, THE COLLISION WAS PREDICTED TO HAPPEN FOR THE NEXT 8 BILLION YEARS. BUT WITH THE SYSTEM ANALYSIS, IT IS HAPPENING" the system replied.

"Lavin" Haji said. He knew that Lavin did something to make the universe change its momentum. Whether he wanted to believe it or not, Lavin already changed the universe.

"Let all Gods change the present. I want to be selfish this time." Haji said as if he was talking to the system like a person who could understand.

"WHAT IS YOUR COMMAND, CAPTAIN?" the system spoke.

"Proceed with caution" Haji stated.

"ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CAPTAIN. THE USUAL ROUTE IS TOO RISKY. THERE WERE POSSIBILITIES THAT THE COLLISION WILL NOT AFFECT THE SHIP PHYSICALLY BUT THE TIME MIGHT BE AFFECTED." the system warned.

"I appreciate your consideration but I'll stick with the same command. Plus, I have a guardian." Haji said with a smile as he believed that Lavin was with him through the whole journey.

"COMMAND ACCEPTED, CAPTAIN" the system replied. Even if Haji didn't notice, the ship was moving at a constant speed like that of a light.

*

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*

"System, How has long has it been?" Haji asked the system as he took his meal.

"APPROXIMATELY FIVE DAYS IN ACCORD WITH YOUR PLANET'S LUNAR CALENDAR" the system replied.

"Oh, I see" Haji said and sighed. He wrapped his cape around his body as he took a nap.

"System, alarm me once any danger is detected." Haji said as he closed his eyes.

"COMMAND ACCEPTED" the system replied.

*

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*

"Hey Ji! How many children do you want to have after you get married?" Haji remembered Jhay's question back then.

"It depends on you!" Haji said mischievously that led Jhay to give him a smack on the head.

"Don't be silly! I'm being serious here!" Jhay said while trying to hide her blushing face.

"So am I. I'm being serious too. How about you?" Haji said seriously without taking his eyes of the lady.

"I want two children, a prince and a princess" Jhay said shyly. Haji admired that side of Jhay. That part of her where she could act all shy and conscious. Jhay used to be a perfectionist and a quiet person. Haji was so happy he met her. He felt as if the universe intended to conspire for the two of them to meet.

"I'm coming home, Jhay"

*

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*

"WE HAVE ARRIVED, CAPTAIN" the system spoke as Haji slowly opened his eyes. A light greeted his n.a.k.e.d eye as he tilted to his side.

"System, update our current location." Haji said half awake.

"MULTIPLE IDENTIFIED SPECIES SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE CAPTAIN, AFFIRMATIVE. WATER, AFFIRMATIVE. TECHNOLOGY, AFFIRMATIVE. ARTIFICIAL SATELLITES, AFFIRMATIVE. CAPTAIN, WE HAVE ARRIVED AT YOUR DESTINATION." the system explained which made Haji's heart beats faster. He made it.

"System, repeat that again!" Haji said with excitement, tears started running down his face.

"SYSTEM ANALYZING, WE ARE ON EARTH"

"Really?!" Haji asked with excitement.

"AFFIRMATIVE"

"Then, what country are we in?!" Haji asked without letting his smile fade away.

"THE PHILIPPINES" the system replied. Haji could not believe it. He thought he was still dreaming. He bowed his head and cried. He never wiped his tears away, he let all his tears dripped down his cape.

"I made it" Haji cried. He was sobbing like a child.

"This is not a dream." Haji said as if he was convincing himself to face reality.

"All my hardsh.i.p.s and efforts. Finally, I'm finally home" Haji said while crying.

"CONGRATULATIONS CAPTAIN" the system replied.

"I'm going to see her again. I can finally propose to her." Haji said while crying.

"WAITING FOR YOUR NEXT COMMAND, CAPTAIN" the system spoke as Haji went outside the ship. The unfamiliar wind c.a.r.e.s.sed his b.a.r.e face. It was cold, luckily Zakir's cape was reliable. Haji knew he looked strange with his outfit. But that wasn't his biggest concern at the time.

"Operation, CAMOUFLAGE" Haji stated with a smile.

"COMMAND ACCEPTED" the system replied. The spaceship automatically matched with its surroundings as if it wasn't there. Haji chuckled as how invisible his spaceship had become.

"Great, just wait for my next command" Haji said and left.

"AFFIRMATIVE" the system replied and automatically shut down.