Hate 2

13 Years Ago, Reilaea Kingdom...

Ever since what happened that night in Aran's room, there has only been the same train of thought stuck in his mind.

'Why do people have to die fighting for the sake of the things they cared about? What's wrong with turning back to live and fight a battle you can win another day? Is accepting defeat and weakness a sin?"

Though it brought him confusion and the urge to have them answered like a curious child he was, Aran decided to keep it all to himself and remain silent as he continued accompanying his father with his neverending visit to the families of those who died fighting with the Anino.

But a week after...

"I think it'd be better for you to stay here. Protect your Ina (mother) while I'm gone, okay?"

"...Father."

Unbeknownst to Aran, their visit and sharing their condolences were just an excuse for Renel to do something else. Renel was trying to track down the Anino's movements. Considering that the Anino is an Intelligent and might change the way how it does its things, Renel did it behind the shadows with a select few soldiers.

After a week, Renel's acts bore fruit in regards to the survivors of every Anino attack who would later suicide which they believed was caused by the mental scar inflicted on them during the attack.

Renel started suspecting something when he heard that a survivor of an Anino attack killed his friend before killing himself. They all thought the suicides were caused by the deep mental scars of what happened to them, so they decided to have relatives or those who know the survivors be with them as a precaution in case they commit suicide.

Renel was starting to believe they are getting closer to the Anino, hence he decided not to bring Aran as it might get dangerous soon. And not long after that, Renel and Amaya received news of the Anino who attacked the village of Karna the day before the news arrived.

"One of the patrollers in Karna who encountered the Anino survived."

Renel thought it was the moment they are waiting for to finally disposed of the Anino. Then, a few days later...

"I'm not gonna let that thing escape again. I must go now, Amaya."

"Take care, Renel."

"You, too."

A warm embrace, their lips intertwined, tears ran down Amaya's cheeks as if it was the last time they'll see each other again. They both knew the danger of confronting the Anino and had accepted that Renel may not return once it is all over. Amaya and Renel thought it'd be best not to let Aran know everything right away. However...

"I'll be heading out."

"Don't!"

"Aran?!"

Ever since he stopped accompanying Renel, the same thought from last night had been creeping his mind out. He couldn't chase away the thought that his father might encounter the Anino and not return like the others. Though he managed not to let tears flow from his eyes, the thought has been causing pain in his heart ever so silently.

"Don't go, Ama!!" He shouted, a pool of salty liquid is visible from the corner of his eyes. "Stay here with me and Ina!"

Without them knowing, Aran was eavesdropping on everything and learned what his father was doing. And after hearing that Renel was about to set off to Karna to finally end the terror that is the Anino, Aran couldn't just stay in hiding.

"There are people out there who are willing to fight the Anino despite knowing they couldn't win and that's why everyone ends up dead, so why do you have to go out there yourself?! Fighting a battle you know you couldn't win is stupid! If they all want to die so badly, then just let them be!"

Amaya was about to approach her son in anger after hearing what he said when she saw Renel gesturing at her, telling her to remain still. Amaya followed what Renel was trying to tell her and remained still whilst watching him approach Aran and punch him in the face.

"Ack!"

A stinging pain coursed through his face while he was on the concrete surface. He looked up and saw the furious glare of Renel.

"How dare you say such words! We did not raise you to be like that, Aran!"

Aran felt it. His punch hit really hard that all he could do was cry the pain out.

Watching his son bawl out made Renel realize the mistake which resulted in Aran blurting such disrespectful words out. Renel wanted Aran to learn a lot of things during the time he and Aran were visiting wakes. He wanted Aran to learn the reality that people die no matter the time or the consequences, to show sympathy and respect to those who had passed, and to learn to value the things that are important to him and cherish them for as long as he lives.

'I'm sure he managed to learn all those things. However, he also learned the reality that doing things for the sake of those that are important to them always requires a price, and sometimes that price is our very own lives. It's my fault. I should have thought him more properly instead of doing other things on the sidelines. Forgive me, Amaya, Aran.'

Sadly, Aran had no way of knowing what was inside Renel's mind. That he regretted focusing more on tracking down the Anino rather than paying more attention to his son. That, and the heart-wrenching feeling that's telling him today was the last day he'll get to talk to his son.

'I know I made a mistake, but before I say my goodbye, even if you can't accept it right away, let me tell you one more thing, my Anak. (Son/Daughter)' Said Renel in his thoughts as his facial expression mellowed. "Listen to me, Aran."

Aran tried to hold his tears as he looked up one more time to face Renel.

"Those people who fought and died, even the ones who joined just for the gold reward, they did it because they cared about the peace of the kingdom, their family, and everything else that are important to them."

Aran wiped his tears as he responded:

"But why? Why do people have to die fighting for the sake of the things they cared about?! Tell me!" Aran threw a punch at Renel and he received it, willingly. "What's wrong with turning back to live and fight a battle you can win another day?! Is accepting defeat and weakness a sin?!"

Aran tried to punch his father one more time. But Renel caught his fist this time, Aran was left struggling to push through.

"You already know the answer, don't you?"

As much as it caused pain in his heart to admit it, Aran indeed knew the answer.

Aran retracted his fist rather slowly and said:

"I love my father and mother, I would do anything for the both of you! But..." He held his own hand next to his chest as if trying to keep his heart from exploding. "...I don't want to die. I want to be with you two forever!"

Right as he said that, Renel broke into a burst of hearty laughter, Aran looked at him in utter bewilderment. Right then, Amaya caught Aran off guard as she sat beside him and brought her son into a warm embrace.

"Me, too. I want to be with you and your Ama, Aran. I don't want to die just like you and those who had died fighting the Anino either."

"Huh? They don't want to die?"

"I don't want to die too, you know." Renel sat on the other side next to Aran. "If it's at all possible, I'd like to be with you two forever. And Reilaea, too, of course."

"Then why?" He asked in a grumpy manner, pouting his mouth. "Why do you have to go?"

That question got Renel silent for a while as he pondered about it. Why did Renel need to go despite his desire to be with them forever? Why do people have to die for the things that are precious to them?

"That's..." He looked straight into Aran's eyes and then said, "... Because you, Amaya, and Reilaea are more important to me than my own life."

Aran averted his gaze and leaned his head down, looking defeated and sad. At that point, Aran already knew there was no way for him to stop his father from going.

Seeing the melancholic expression on Aran's face, Renel parted a message to Aran before he left for Karna. His last words to his son.

"I know it's hard to accept such a cruel reality, but I'm sure you'll understand in time. You have to. Because whether you like it or not, there will come a time when it's the only option you have to protect the things that are important to you. Aran, be strong. If it's for the sake of the things you cared about, then be strong enough to sacrifice everything else for it, even your own life. I will always be by your side. I love you, Aran. Goodbye."

The day after that, news that both Amaya and Aran didn't want to hear but were forced to accept it, had arrived.

Renel died just as a certain five adventurers arrived at the scene. After that, a lot of things happened. But that didn't matter at this point. More than anything, Renel's final words have been etched in Aran's mind.

Sitting lonely and quietly in a garden outside the royal castle, Aran felt what his father said was true. There'll come a time when the only thing he could do was to throw his life away to protect the things that are important to him. But like Renel also said, it is hard to accept such a cruel reality, especially for Aran. It might take Aran all the time in the world before he could accept it.

Aran looked up into the sky painted in a shade of blue and asked himself in his mind:

'Is it wrong to be selfless? Is it wrong to be selfish? I don't know. I don't know what is right or what is wrong. I don't even know if I'm either or both. But, if there is one thing I know, it's that I will forever hate selfless and selfish people, my father, and I.'