Chapter 70

Muren questioned himself after decades living with war and fighting among the men, "Am I really doing the right thing?" He thought about it. "I almost killed my children, emotionally abandoned my lover, and surrendered my life because of a misunderstanding."

Looking back, he felt that everything he had done so far was wrong.

That his erroneous life was miserable with just some intermittent consolations.

A gasp of air between restless beatings from the world he was born in.

And with a miserable conclusion, he had resolved to do what was on his mind.

He cried for one last time and finally resolved himself to one last act.

The next day, Toren could not identify if the sunlight was already available when he woke up. He checked on the cupboard and confirmed that his paintings were still there along with his materials.

He glanced around the room and examined himself as a ghost – everything was not a dream, after all.

Toren went up through the floors and decided to get some fresh air outside.

As soon as he was out of the pantry, he saw his mother Airen hurrying inside.

She wore the same face she had before when she intended to report about Muren's sudden visit request at Coen's prison cell. That worried, pained, and panicked expression.

She cried, almost losing her breath when she said, "Toren! Your father is dead! Muren had killed himself!"

The shocking announcement sucked some bits of sanity from the boy and withdrew his breath. He blinked a few times and each time he opened his eyes again, Airen's face with her watery eyes and worried expression would not vanish.

Muren committed suicide that night behind the camp.

He was discovered deceased in the morning by the rounding soldier checking up on each side of the location.

Muren's pulse was slashed by a sharp stone resulting in a painful, bloody corpse. By Airen's permission, the cadaver was set for cremation soon.

That day, Airen and Toren attended the mass and prayer meeting.

Airen made sure to light up two candles for both her and Toren's lament.

Toren sincerely prayed for his father, tearing up at the memories of their last meeting.

It was exactly when his father had finally accepted him and cleared him of the accusations after the years that went past, enduring the ordeal.

Meanwhile, at the dungeon, inside Coen's prison cell, his wails are heard echoing through the stone walls and metal bars.

His omniscience had flashed the sight of his father's death and the last memory they had wounded him the most.

It was when he was disowned and beaten up by a false inkling.

After all the moments of hardships and joy and reconciliations, he ended up losing the thread of truth. Coen could feel his heart bursting any moment as he bawled and sobbed loudly against the miserable wall that hindered him.

At night, the butler stayed with Toren in the En household after hearing the news of his father's death.

The butler was so sure that Toren would take it deep by the heart and got worried about it.

He served his master for a few hours until he was rested and comfortable at the care of an eased mind.