41. Endless Void of Regret (part 2)

Beforelong, we headed to the Steelbird together in silence. During our path, there were a lot of people watching as I left the scene, including the four who also came from the academy with me. Nyssa and Jonah waved their hands at me as I boarded the Steelbird, but Lily was just folding her hands. Eric is enjoying his breakfast, so it seems he didn't really care.

The Steelbird hatch was closed, and we were airborne after only a minute. Our flight to Fiordall began right away, and Frisena used this chance to have a talk to me.

"The academy has been on lock down. All the students and teachers were moved elsewhere, and the headmaster's secretary has been appointed as the new headmaster by the council of teachers and Mayor Jansen." Frisena explained to me the situation with the academy from the co-pilot seat, and I was only laying down on the passenger seat while listening.

"Did the headmaster appear... at all?" I asked, but Frisena shook her head.

"No. We placed cameras all over the academy as well as his office, just in case he suddenly decided to make an appearance. Once he does appear, we'll alert everyone." Frisena said while taking out a screen device, and she showed the screen to the back so that I could see it from here.

"I see… How are the students?" I asked in consideration to the poor children of the academy who got kicked out of the academy, and Frisena frowned upon remembering.

"Most of them… refused to go home. They said that their homes were very far, and it might take days for them to reach it. Some others, especially from the dark republic, complained that they have no home to go to, so we put all those children to a comfortable place that I own." Frisena sounded quite annoyed when she said it, and I remembered something the late vice headmaster once told me.

"Your new military place?"

"Yeah… the military group wasn't even formed yet. All I got was the names of who can join and the building for the base. And now, the building has been occupied as a replacement for the academy classes." Frisena said with utter annoyance, and I can only imagine the students sleeping in the barracks while having a class in a shooting range arena.

"Hopefully, they will have no problems continuing the academy business there while we deal with the headmaster." I said while thinking deeply, and Frisena turned her concerned face to me.

"Are you certain he will appear only once? What will happen if he ends up taking over the entire academy?"

"Then, we'll just fight him for it. Unlike before, we now know what we're facing. I won't lose like last time." I said with a firm confidence that I've built within me for the past few days, and Frisena just nodded in understanding.

She toyed around with her screen device, and she came across a certain information that reminded her. She turned back to me with the screen.

"Speaking of which, I know this is still very early. But, what do you think about joining my military group as one of the important figures?" Frisena said to me with a grin while showing her screen, and I saw the military group's logo from the screen.

Seeing such an invitation, I only felt that it's something I'm naturally going to do anyway. 

"Sure. Why not?"

"You're not particularly excited about it?"

"Not really. At this moment, the only thing that excites me is going back to the destroyed city." I said exactly how I feel, and Frisena let out a sigh.

"I understand your feelings. However, you of all people knew exactly what happened. I'm not telling you to let her go, but you should at least understand the only possibility that could've occurred." Frisena said to me quite carefully, and I know she is just like everyone else.

"I know. I understand. Even then, my head can't think about anything else."

"If you say so…" Frisena ended up surrendering, and she continued toying with her screen device.

I was left alone on the passenger seat again, thinking about what is the right thing for me to do. While I am concerning myself with finding Felicia's remains, her killer is still out there. If my worries are true, then the battle is still far from over. If anything, we have just uncovered an even bigger danger to the world than the dark republic.

The apocalypse…

"Frisena." I called out to her from the passenger seat, and she turned her confused gaze to me.

"This military group of yours… what is the purpose?" I asked while thinking deeply, and Frisena tried to think for herself.

"Well, it is a private military group. It's something like a mercenary guild, but much more independent and bigger. Of course, we're still lacking in manpower at the moment, but I'm planning on pulling some soldiers from Valkaria and the earth nation.

As for our goal, we're going to deal with mitigating conflicts between countries, or other situations that might occur in the future that cannot be solved by the countries for political reasons." Frisena explained her insight about her future military group, and I seem to like that idea.

Because her military group is independent, she will have no relation to any country. As such, using the group for political purposes will be very easy compared to commanding an army owned by a country. It's also useful to help out a country in distress, because the said country doesn't have to owe anything to the helpers.

There have been cases where countries end up getting worse events after being assisted by other countries. Such a thing will not happen when the one helping isn't from any country and only wants monetary profit.

"For example, the situation with the dark republic. Because of them, the earth nation now owes Fiordall, Valkaria, and Ellennoire city for all the aid they've given. And in the future, any one of those countries will have power over the earth nation, and there will be nothing that the earth nation can do."

"Isn't that your plan with marrying the crown prince of the earth nation?" I pointed out the fact that Frisena is trying to not say, and she cleared her throat loudly.

"What I'm saying is… there will be no political problems if a country asks us for help." Frisena simplified her explanation, and I understood it completely.

"Then, what about stopping the apocalypse?" I suddenly asked, and Frisena only looked confused.

"… What?"

"Nothing. I guess that's a bit too far to ask." I said in a hurry so Frisena didn't ask for more, and yet she looked like she had a lot of questions.

The trip continued, and I decided to just take a rest before arriving at Fiordall. About seven hours into the flight, Frisena stepped off at Ellen because this is where she is supposed to be, to keep an eye out on the academy. She and I bade farewell to each other before the pilot took me to Fiordall.

The flight to Fiordall is about five hours long, which could've been faster had we went straight from the dark republic to Fiordall. As soon as we arrived, a huge army was waiting for me in the front yard, and it seemed like Frisena had already notified the king about when my arrival was going to be.

Reju is probably not gonna be here. Frisena said that the students of the academy are staying at her military base, so he is probably there just wondering what exactly is happening with the world. 

On the other hand, our other family members will be here. I'm not particularly excited to see them, because I still don't know how to explain Felicia's situation to them.

And stepping out of the Steelbird after we landed, everyone was right there waiting for me by the entrance.

My stepmother, stepfather, and my younger step sister who is eleven years old. And seeing them watching me with concern made me lose my mind.

Why… did I even come here?

In the first place, they aren't my family. Why should I be here?

They all looked so sad upon seeing me. I should not have come here, after all.

Just why should I bother them--

"Nathan!!" From the door, a woman rushed straight at me while lifting her dress.

Her long red dress looked like it was difficult for her to run, and yet she did her best to push herself after seeing me. I just got down from the Steelbird, and she immediately started running the moment she saw my face.

Ah… was my condition that bad?

Beforelong, the lady of the kingdom arrived right in front of me. Her hands looked like she wanted to hug me right away, but her eyes are watching me with despair after seeing how I look at the moment. She stopped herself from wanting to hug me, because she is blaming herself too much for how I currently look.

"Nathan…!!" My stepmother said my name as buckets of tears flowed out of her eyes, and I just took the step forward. 

I didn't even care about how I smelled, and I just wrapped my hands around her body. She ends up allowing herself to hug me, and I can feel her powerful arms crushing my body with the hug.

"I'm sorry…!! I'm sorry that you had to go through all of that!!!" My stepmother, whom I've only known for seven years, said with deep regrets after finding out what I experienced.

I felt very bad for her because she always cared so much for me, and I realized that this love of hers is also a double edged blade. Because now, she is hurting so much after seeing me.

"I'm back... mother." I said while patting her in the back, and I can feel her crying is getting harsher.

I turned my tired gaze to the two people approaching me, and I saw their faces. My stepfather, the king of Fiordall, is only watching silently as I hugged my stepmother with his usual stern eyes. Next to him, Elicia, my younger step sister and Rejulus's biological sister, is also holding back her tears after seeing me.

Everyone truly cared for me, and I felt bad for showing them such a sight. However, there is nothing I can do, as I already find it difficult for me to form a smile at them.

Finding out that their child has arrived home broken like this… I cannot imagine the pain they are feeling right now.