8 An Oath Sworn, A Promise Made

"MISTER!!!!!" Sky exclaimed as he crawled backwards as far as he could.

"I prefer Kronos, but that'll work for now!" He smiled.

Sky stared in awe, the man's hair was shorter and he was dressed differently, even his face looked different, instead of the long jaw and nose he had seven years ago his face a lot rounder and less long, more normal looking, if there ever was a normal face. But his smile hadn't changed, it still gave off the same gentle warmth.

Vena stared at the two in shock. "Sky told me that he was saved by two men, but I never would've imagined it was you, father." She said as she covered her mouth.

"Now that you know it was me, you'll also have an idea of why we were there?" He said, suddenly there was a shift in the mood.

Sky turned around and handed Kronos a cracked ceramic cup full of a hot, green liquid. "Here Mister, some Elder Tea, though it's a bit watered down." Sky said. "Also here's some bread." He grabbed a loaf from the basket and cut it into slices and placed them in a cracked ceramic plate in front of Kronos.

Vena shifted uncomfortably. "It's time, isn't it..." She asked.

Kronos nodded slowly while taking a sip of the watered tea.

Vena turned and looked towards her son. "Sky, pack your things… you're going with Father." She said.

Sky turned to look at her, there was a fierce look of determination in her eyes. "Mama, I'm not leaving you!" He said, mirroring her determination.

"Sky, you're special, this is your destiny, you're destined to become someone great!" She continued.

"NO! I don't want to be someone special." He said as he moved towards his mother and grabbed her hand. "I have to take care of you!"

"Whether you like it or not, you are someone special!" She insisted.

Sky remembered someone in the past having said the same words to him. Anger grew inside him. He hated it, the idea that he had to do something because he was special, that he couldn't decide his life because of some prewritten destiny. He hated it.

"If that's why you're holding yourself back then don't." Kronos said as he finished the bread. "We have some of the best healers, not only that but we have people who can take care of your mother..."

"Father I couldn't impose on you like that!" Vena quickly turned to him.

"Can they heal Mama?" Sky asked, swiveling his head towards Kronos.

"Given enough time, yes." He said, there was a strange glow in his eyes.

The two stared at each other, before finally Kronos broke the silence.

"Let's make a deal, you come with us and help us in our endeavor, and we'll heal your mother." Kronos said.

Vena quickly turned her head towards Sky. "No, Sky, don't agree to it!" She warned.

"Deal!" He said definitely.

"Let's swear on the Styx." Kronos said.

"Swear on sticks?" Sky echoed.

"Not on sticks, the River Styx, it's what you call a binding agreement so that if any one of us doesn't live up to our side of the deal then… let's say bad things will happen." He concluded.

"I swear on the River Styx to go with you and help you guys." Sky said without skipping a heartbeat.

"I swear on the River Styx that we'll heal your mother." Kronos said.

The two shook hands as the sky rumbled above their heads.

"Oh no, what did you do Sky?" Vena buried her head in her hands.

Kronos turned around and placed the cup and plates in the kitchen. "Well then, start packing." He said.

"Where are we going?" Sky asked.

"The Nightmare Woods." He said with a smile.