End of Volume 2

As Master lay upon the bed, the weight of memories pressed heavily upon him, and the tears silently made their way out of his eyes. Each tear was an unspoken lament for what had been lost. The events that happened at the coast flooded back to him with agonizing clarity. In the quiet of this room, he was transported back to the battlefield, where the echoes of conflict still rang in his ears and the face of his friend Henry haunted his thoughts. It felt as though the wounds of that day were as fresh as if they had all occurred just yesterday.

"And that's how I abandoned my friend to die on the coast," said Master.

The heavy silence hung between us, stretching out like an endless expanse. My eyes were filled with tears as well. I raised my face, and my gaze met with that of Queen Silvy, who was listening with stern silence and no emotion but a slight empathetic look.

"Henry was like a guiding light to me. I followed his back everywhere, but as he was gone, the dream of exploring Murk also vanished from my eyesight. I don't see any reason to pursue anything further. I just made sure to take care of the temple, which was very dear to him and even to me," said the master.

I took out the handkerchief from my pocket and went ahead and wiped his tears.

"Hmm, we understand," I said.

"Thank you, Eleanor," replied Master, letting out a heavy sigh.

"You don't have to thank me. I did not do anything."

"I don't know what I would've done if I were to lose you as well."

"I won't die so easily." I said, smiling my way through just to reassure him.

"That's it, Silvy. That's all that happened." I said.

Click* Queen shuts open her hand fan and waves at herself.

"I see," replied Silvy.

"And it wasn't me who took down the enemy squad at the coast. I am not a hero. It was Henry who fought with them all just so we could escape with the information."

"I understand," said Silvy. "But that won't change the end story, though."

"What do you mean?" 

"I mean, you were regarded as a hero because you came back alive with important intelligence. The thing that happened at the coast was part of your story, and it should be kept with you only."

"....."

"Revealing all this to the public after so much time will only cause conflict because we hide true information, and I would rather not see that," said Silvy.

"B-but.."

"Hmm, that's right." I said, agreeing with what Queen Silvy said.

The queen is right. The general public doesn't like truth that comes out late and in a different form. Suddenly, their hero, Marthanda, will turn out to be false.

I can see in Master's eyes that he doesn't like how it's going and how his friend's name is never taken.

As we delved into the life of Henry Alves, my mind wandered and stumbled upon a name that we all regard as our enemy and the person who is responsible for Master's current condition —Son of Henry Alves, River Alves.

"And..." I said, looking down and thinking over it properly, if I should ask about him or not, as I don't want to make Master remember any more horrible events.

"What is it?" asked Master.

"She wants to ask about River Alves," said Silvy, glancing at me.

My goodness, am I so easy to read? And she is giving me scary looks.

"Well, yeah, I mea-n it's okay. We can talk about it later." I said, stumbling upon my words as I felt embarrassed for some reason.

"It's okay, Eleanor. Sigh* I don't mind," said Master.

"I see.."

"River is a son of Henry; I took him as my apprentice with other students," said Master.

"..."

"But I couldn't foresee his grudge against me. I didn't know that his motive was to kill me."

"Hmm, he didn't show any sign of murder intent or do anything wrong to anyone before he came to you," said Silvy.

"Yes, I accepted him and took care of him, especially in Henry's place, thinking I might be able to make up a little bit for it. I somewhat sensed his intention at times while training with him, but I didn't care any less as I was okay to be killed by him," said Master.

"No, Master, you shouldn't say things like that." I said.

"The only thing I couldn't perceive was that on the path to ruining me, he'd kill other students as well. Huff* Huff*, how am I supposed to face myself now?" said Master, holding his arm around his eyes. I guess he doesn't want to show his emotions any further.

"I cannot forgive River for doing that to my students, but he was a bright child. Because of me, he suffered and has to go down that path."

"Master....." I mumbled.

"Please, let me die already."

As Master lay down there, lost in the depths of self-hatred, Queen and I both found ourselves at a loss for words to console him any further, realising that perhaps the solace we sought to offer was inadequate. With a silent exchange, we both quietly came out of his room, leaving Master to grapple with his emotions in solitude for a while longer.

Standing at the railing on the top of the building, the sun is setting behind the horizon as I embrace the quiet moment between me and Marie after I told her everything that happened with Master and his life.

"I see..." said Marie.

I didn't say anything further; I was just lost in the abyss of silence. My heart feels heavy after hearing all that.

"Are you okay, Elea?" asked Marie.

"Hmm, I am," I said.

"No, you are not."

Obviously, anyone can look at my face now and say that at a glance.

"Talk to me; what's going on in your mind?" asked Marie.

"....."

"Are you worried that River might attack your master anytime?"

"That's there, but I don't know; I feel lost since the time I heard his story." I said.

"And what made you feel that way?"

"What if someday I have to make a decision between choosing you or the important information that could risk the entire kingdom? What will I do?" I said.

The wind arises, and our hairs sway with the flow of it.

"What would you do, Marie?" I asked, glaciing over my arm at her.

"What do you mean?"

"Who would you choose? Between me and the life of the entire kingdom."

Marie folds her arms, closes her eyes, looks above, tries to dwell over it for a little more, and answers.

"It's not even a question for me," said Marie. "

"I know right, obviously we have to choose Kingdo-" 

"I'll choose you."

As soon as I was about to answer the normal statement, Marie cut it short with her unexpected answer.

"Huhh? What?" I expressed.

"I mean it," said Marie, with seriousness in her eyes.

"You are saying this because we are in a different kingdom." I brushed her off while continuing my view of the sunset.

"Nope, it's not that. I will take the same decision in Ashura Kingdom as well."

"..."

I looked towards her with curiosity to know the reason behind such an answer.

"But why?"

"It's simple; I can't imagine a world without you."

"...."

"After we both are alive, we can decide how to take care of the enemy later. It doesn't matter how strong they are; we'll win for sure, but are they abandoning you? That's not going to happen. I would rather put myself—"

Thup*

Before she could finish her sentence, in which I knew she would talk about sacrificing herself, my body acted on instinct, propelling itself forward to envelop her in a tight embrace.

"Stop," I said.

"..."

"Don't say anything further." I said.

"Hmm, I won't."

Marie's words struck a chord within me, shattering the illusion of my own rationality. What kind of thinking had possessed me? As self-condemnation came to my conscience, I reached out to her, rubbing her back in an attempt to offer comfort.

"Thank you, Marie," I said.

"Hmm, anytime," she replied, smiling with satisfaction on my chest.

"By the way, Elea..."

"Yes?"

"Your Boobs...."

"They feel great?"

"Ehh, how do you know?" Marie said, flustered, as she wasn't expecting me to play along.

"You think only you can say unexpected things?" I said, laughing.

"Let's go now." I said, pulling myself away.

"No, I want to stay like this for a little bit more," said Marie, pulling me to her again.

"Oye, what are you doing?"

"Hugging you."

"Anyone can come here at the roof top."

"No one comes here."

"Come On..."

Sigh*, and with that, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden hue over the kingdom of Aetheria, another chapter in our lives came to a close. Yet, the truth and our goal are still very far from us. We'll face the future with unwavering determination, and no matter what, we'll get there for sure.

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Volume 2: 'Trainings, Rituals and the Man from Keral' has been concluded.

From the next chapter onwards, new volume will start.

Volume 3: The Grand Tournament of Aetheria