I stand there in complete silence.
I have no words nor thoughts.
Just the feeling of pent-up tension and pain releasing.
I had no idea how much my heart yearned to see him again.
Standing in front of me with that cocky smile.
"Long time no see, eh? How have things been, Griffin?"
Dillon crosses his arms and leans against a nearby tree.
"I really missed you, Griffin… In fact, you were all I could think about…"
Then, he clears his throat and chuckles nervously.
"But not in a weird way! I promise! I just… I just need to tell you something that I thought you weren't ready to hear back at the camp… but I think you'd understand it now… though I won't do it if you don't want—"
"Please! Tell me!"
I interrupt him, my whole body trembling just to hear his message.
Then, Dillon smiles, chuckling.
"All right, all right. I'll tell you…"
Dillon sighs, then looks me in the eye.
"I'm not a human."
Then, he quickly adds:
"But that doesn't mean I'm a monster! It just means… I'm a… er… force of nature in human form."
I lean against a tree to support my weight because my legs start feeling like jelly.
"You're… what?"
Dillon sighs, then turns around to leave.
"Look, I know it's a lot to take in, so I'll leave and give you some time to—"
I interrupt him again.
"No! Tell me more!… please…"
I beg for him to continue.
"Alright… So, as I was saying, I'm a force of nature in human form. I am fate specifically. I have many forms, and everyone sees me at least once. I may take the form of a stranger, a peer, etc., and I guide people towards my future for them. Their destiny. And you…"
"What about me?"
I fidget with the handle of my dagger in anticipation.
"You are destined to become a hero. The hero of this world. The hero who brings purpose to lives."
I stand speechless.
"But then again, many people fail to fulfill their destiny; they don't get some special power that guarantees them success. Nobody does."
Dillon takes a deep breath and looks around the forest.
"Though, it's not impossible. You very well might save this world from chaos and disarray, which it will plunge into in about 10,000 years or so due to constant wars, but that isn't for me to control; it's entirely up to you. I do not force people on the path I pave for them; I merely guide them to it."
I start to feel lightheaded…
"Hey, are you alright? Oh no… hey! Don't faint again! I've seen you do it so many times that if you do it again, it will become a recurring gag!"
I stumble over my feet, but suddenly, Dillon slaps me, and I snap out of my trance.
"Phew, that was close. Sorry about that, we just don't want you to faint and hit your head."
Surprisingly, it didn't even hurt that bad…
"Ugh, I really shouldn't have told you this, but… I think you'll be able to handle it. Anyways, I'll get going now. Fate can't be everywhere all at once. See ya."
I interrupt him once again.
but not with words.
I pull him into a tight embrace and refuse to let go.
"You may be fate… but as long as you take this form, you will always be Dillon to me."
Dillon chuckles and pats my back.
"Heh, heh, I guess I'll be Dillon then."
For a minute, we remain in each other's arms, filled with the feeling of two old friends meeting again.
"Unfortunately, I do have to leave now, but I will be watching over you. And I can guarantee that."
I wipe a tear from my eye.
"O-okay, just give me your blessings or whatever."
Dillon smiles.
"I can guarantee that too."
Soon, Dillon dissolves into shiny blue particles, which fly away into the wind.
I stare up at the sky, watching him return to the heavens.
but I feel a strange feeling, but not a bad one.
It was the warm sensation of fate itself watching over me.