CHAPTER 31: Nothing Is Easy In Life

"What is it grandfather?" Saphira asked when she entered Asherton's office.

"Come here," he gestured for her to walk closer.

He then walked around his table and when she got close, he stretched both his arms and enveloped her in a silent tight hug.

This startled Saphira because this grandfather of hers was never the emotional one.

But this time she can feel through his hug that he was communicating with her.

"I'm sorry."

Two words and it was enough for her to know the reason he was being like this.

She hugged him back, "We can't really do anything about that grandfather. We are but the pitiful ones who had to experience everything."

"Still..."

He let her go and placed both his hands on her shoulders.

"I'm glad, you came back alive."

She can see all his emotions swimming in his red orange eyes.

The same eye color as the whole of Fiamma family.

"The Emperor told you?" she asked as they sat down for some tea.

"Yes, I rushed to find you only to find out that you were sent in the wrong place," he shrugged.

"Let me guess, you were almost taken into prison for treason?" she continued what he wants to say.

Asherton chuckled, "Good thing he was able to explain things to me. I guess I really couldn't blame him, your information was too overwhelming."

"I just thought I had to speak about it, even though it was already quite late during that time," she shakes her head with a heavy sigh.

It wasn't bad to speak about it.

Because no one from her group was aware of it and she just didn't like to speak about it, right now.

That now where she can freely speak her mind without any prejudice from the person in front of her, is refreshing for her mind.

"And all of us are grateful that you are able to know of it. We can prepare in advance," Asherton complimented her.

"So all of the heads knew of it?" she asked hearing his words.

Asherton nodded his head, "All of us were informed by the Emperor."

"And they believed the story?" she couldn't help but ask again.

"Who do you think we are?"

Asherton flicked a finger on her forehead when she asked this question.

"You guys are still wet behind your ears if you compare yourselves to our judgement," he added.

"But they were only my words," she still couldn't understand.

"Do you think we didn't notice the changes as well? It's just we didn't expect that it was actually connected to that," he replied.

She nodded her head, "It was unbelievable to me, whether it was back then or now."

He looked at her.

He can see through her eyes that she was still hurting.

But he can see as well that despite the pain she was having, her eyes weren't on the verge of tears or anything.

"Saphira," he started after staring straight in her eyes.

"Hmmm?" she smiled.

"After that time, for the past eight years, have you ever shed a tear?"

She was stunned by his question.

"Well, I don't think there are anything that would make me cry while staying away," she replied with confusion.

Asherton was seriously looking at her.

Her words were not the exact answer he wanted.

She evade the answer that she never cried for the past eight years.

Because even if it's small no one would be able to stop themselves from crying for eight long years.

And the way she answered vaguely means that she, instead of not crying was unable to cry.

He sighed, it seems that the trauma they thought of as simply being nightmares was actually something different.

"You didn't answer my question," he repeated.

Saphira drank the remaining of her tea before smiling at him.

"Grandfather, you have the answer with you already."

She took a deep breath, "Nothing is easy in life. That is what I learned the most for the past eight years. There are things we just couldn't control no matter how much we wanted to."

She remained smiling while her eyes were showing sadness, "It was not easy, nor will it become easier."

She raised her hand, "This hand was for the enemies. For it to kill those that threaten the safety of the people."

Then she went silent.

Asherton understood what she was trying to say.

No matter who, as long as it is someone that will threaten humanity, her hand will do its job.

It was her hand, because her heart will hurt and be in pain if she was to use it against the people who was close to her.

He nodded his head, "Each of us have our own burdens, sadly this Empire's burden was really too great."

She chuckeld bitterly, "We are its savior at the same time we can be its greatest enemy."

She was stunned when Asherton placed his hand on top of her head , patting her gently.

"You have indeed learned so much and matured a lot while being away."

She smiled genuinely at him.

"I'm sorry you have to overcome all those burden on your own. We didn't look into things before deciding that we left you on your own."

She shakes her head and enjoyed the pat he was giving her, "It may have been difficult at first but I feel warm knowing now that you all understand me. That is enough to think that all those hardships back then were really nothing."

"Sweet child, you are a wonderful one. We are lucky that you are born in this family. Always remember that no matter what happens, we will always believe whatever it is that you will say."

Her smile turned wider, "And I am lucky that you are my family. Because you all are here that I know I can keep going on."

She straightened her back after some thought, "How about the others? The parents? Were they aware."

He can see fear within her eyes.