Chapter 18

During those times, it wholly hurts Muren to even leave his wife's side during such a plight. However, she insisted to him that he must do his responsibilities and reminded him not to worry about her.

"I shall recover in due time too, my dear," She painfully smiled. "Do what you must as the head of a powerful group and lead them to a rightful path. I shall join you too after this painful stage. You must not wait for me even if I utter such void promises."

"Are you sure you will be alright, my beloved?"

"Yes. I know for you have supplied my heart with the love I have always sought everywhere. I was left with no one until you came. Do not worry and lead at your heart's content."

Muren had resumed his activities for the secret organization and had been quite busy since then. He had led the plans and slowly collected the blueprints of the West villages. There were a lot of improvements after his return, thus his group prospering to the little hope that they struggled to search for.

On the other hand, Airen had to do the chores she must do during her husband's activities.

She had been quite a big help by supporting their mundane lives.

She had been cleaning the house, taking care of Coen, doing the laundry, and cooking them food.

Muren would often go home with a hungry stomach and did not have to worry about food.

Muren would be completely exhausted and icky with his robes and garments, but he did not have to worry about it either.

Airen would support her husband, while Muren would comfort his depressed wife at night.

He would, at rarest but sweetest times, bring home luxurious robes or accessories for his wife to cheer her up.

Airen would do her best to give out a grateful and happy expression, but she would eventually recede back to sadness.

It was all of no use, in the end.

His efforts would be drained again and again despite his heartfelt intentions.

Muren thought that this had been more painstakingly troublesome than any sickness that had come to them.

No nurses nor medical practices could possibly heal her lonely retreat to the darkness. It feels like it was slowly swallowing his wife into despair, chewing her with the teeth of bitterness and he could do nothing but watch.

It was almost as if he had been shackled motionless, unable to find the right answer to what he must do.

Feeling hopeless, Airen decided to help out in the secret organization since she had been originally part of it, anyway. She volunteered to be in charge of delivering items which are necessary parts of artilleries that are hidden beneath baskets of fruits and breads and wines.

The guards would usually let women such as her pass without checking their belongings, thus bringing her presence to a very useful bridge for transporting items.

Once, when she was about to return home, she passed by an orphanage house that was built to house the children who had lost their parents because of war.

It was guarded by soldiers from colonizers themselves and the children seemed to be taken care of by a priestess.

While looking from the distance, she had spotted a little, handsome boy who seemed a little younger than Coen.

She could not help but get enthralled until she had been in front of the gates that the guards had to ask for her identity.

She was a little bit hesitant, so she went away immediately, but still often gazed at the little boy she spotted. Somehow, she felt so drawn to that boy.

She continued her work and oftentimes gaze upon the boy from the orphanage whilst Coen, their child, had been slowly growing up into a capable young man.

When he had reached 10, Muren finally let their child join the training underground and opened his eyes to some brutal realities.

These include the harsh violence and the war he was born in.