Chapter 91: Punishments and Rewards

Morning came quietly on Darveim.

The forest that had been the site of the battle was almost devoid of sound, except for the occasional trickle of the smoke coming from the ruined Duskryn estate, where the smell of burning wood lingered in the air.

The battle was over.

The monsters fled into the deep parts of the forest, Morvain was destroyed, and the survivors spent the past few hours tending to the wounded and collecting the fallen ones. However, there were consequences to the survival of the attack on the monsters.

Within the surviving hall of the Duskryn estate, the important members of the territory gathered.

Vaeron sat at the head of the room. Sylvara stood beside him. Kaelith stayed close to his mother and Nira stood slightly away. Edris was brought into the center of the hall, where he was still wounded. His armor had been removed, leaving his torn clothes, and his hands were bound. Several dark elf soldiers stood around him.

These were some of the same soldiers who had fought beside him. Some were wounded. Some had lost friends. None of them looked at Edris with hatred. That somehow made the situation worse. Edris did not seem concerned. He knew there was no point. Vaeron stared him down for a few seconds.

"Edris." Edris raised his head. "You betrayed Darveim."

Vaeron said. Edris lowered his head. "Yes, I did."

He replied.

"You gave out the patrol routes of our territory."

Edris nodded. "You intentionally lured monsters towards our settlements!"

Edris closed his eyes and sighed heavily.

"Yes."

He replied. The room went silent. Kaelith’s hands clenched. Even knowing why Edris had done it was not a relief. Too many had died. Too many homes were in ruins. Too many people were left without anyone to return to. Vaeron leaned back slightly.

"You also fired an arrow at this estate!"

Edris looked up at him.

He looked toward the broken wall visible through the damaged section of the hall. "I remember." Vaeron stood.

"That arrow pointed out the weakness of this territory leading to the injury our soldiers. It broke through our defenses. It helped turn this estate into a battlefield."

Edris said nothing.

"I did."

"You helped an Arch Demon to attack your own people!"

Edris didn’t reply.

Vaeron continued. "Do you know how many people died because of your decisions?" Edris swallowed. "No." "Twenty-seven soldiers." Edris’s face tightened. "Thirty-one more were seriously wounded." His breathing became heavier.

"Several families lost their homes. Some will never see their loved ones again." Vaeron’ expression darkened. "You will not get away with it simply because you regret what you did."

"I understand."

Vaeron stepped closer. "You wanted to save your son." Edris’s expression immediately changed. "You were afraid he would die."

"I was." Edris replied. "You were desperate." Edris lowered his head. "I thought I had run out of choices." Vaeron stared at him. "You hadn’t." Edris looked up. "You had a lord who had trusted you for years. You had soldiers who would have helped you. You had people who considered you one of their own." Vaeron’s voice shook slightly. "You had me."

Edris’s eyes filled with tears. "I know."

"But you never came." Vaeron spoke lowly.

Edris looked away. "I was ashamed." Vaeron turned toward the soldiers. "You were willing to sacrifice everyone here for one person." Edris’s voice broke. "My son was the only family I had left." Vaeron looked back at him. "I understand why you wanted to save him." He paused. "I will never understand why you believed you had to destroy everyone else to do it." Edris lowered his head. "I was wrong." Kaelith suddenly stepped forward. "Captain." Edris looked at him. Kaelith’s eyes were sad. "You trained me."

Edris said nothing. "You taught me how to hold a sword." Kaelith’s voice trembled.

"You told me a soldier’s duty was to protect the people behind him." He clenched his fists. "And then you became the reason they needed protection." Edris looked away. "My mother almost died." Kaelith took another step. "My father almost died." His voice cracked. "Nira almost died." Nira remained silent. Kaelith stared at Edris. "You almost destroyed our home." Edris’s shoulders lowered. "I know." Kaelith wiped his eyes. "Was your son worth all of that?"

Edris looked at him. "My son was worth everything to me." He paused. "But no." His voice became quieter. "He was never worth what I did to all of you." Kaelith looked away. Nira looked over at Edris, remembering his last charge at Morvain, the arrow, the dead soldiers and the burning settlements, and the frightened expression on Kaelith’s face. It was not something she was ready to forgive yet.

Vaeron turned to Edris. "Your military rank is permanently revoked. Your weapons, armor, military property, and authority are confiscated." Edris nodded.

"You will never serve in the military again. You will never command soldiers, handle military intelligence, or hold a position of political authority." Edris accepted each sentence without protest. Then Vaeron continued. "You are sentenced to life imprisonment." Several soldiers shifted. Edris remained still. But Vaeron was not finished. "You will not spend your sentence sitting inside a cell."

Edris slowly raised his head. "Every place damaged because of your betrayal will be rebuilt." Vaeron’s eyes remained fixed on him. "You will help rebuild them." Edris stared at him. "You will clear the rubble and repair the walls. You will wake every morning knowing exactly why you are there." Edris’s eyes filled with tears. "I accept." Vaeron leaned back. "Do not mistake this for forgiveness." Edris closed his eyes. "I know." Sylvara finally spoke.

"Your son survived because of the medicine you were promised." Edris nodded. Sylvara’ expression softened. "That does not excuse what you did, but explains why you made your choice." Edris looked up at her. "Thank you."

Sylvara shook her head. "Do not thank me. Your punishment still stands." Edris nodded.

Vaeron gestured to the guards. "Take him away." The soldiers gathered around Edris, who was silenced before he left. "Before I leave I have one request." Vaeron looked at him. "What is it?"

"My son."

Edris struggled to keep his voice steady.

"Please don’t let him suffer because of what I did." Vaeron’s expression softened slightly.

"Your son is innocent." Edris’s eyes trembled. "He will be given food, shelter, medicine, and protection." A tear rolled down Edris’s cheek. "You don’t deserve that kindness." Edris lowered his head. "I know."

"But your son does." Edris closed his eyes.

"Thank you." He was taken away. Nira watched him leave through the doorway and felt conflicted, feeling her hatred for what he did still burn.

But now she could not see Edris as the traitor who attacked them, because he had made his horrible choice for the sake of his son, who had destroyed the lives of others.

There was no right or wrong in what he had done. Vaeron looked over at Nira. "Now we discuss the other side of this." Nira blinked.

"The other side?"

She asked in shock. "Rewards." Nira immediately shook her head. "I don’t need a reward." Kaelith laughed lightly. "You should wait until you hear what is is before refusing." Nira looked at him. "You sound suspiciously interested."

"I was wondering if I can steal it."

"Kaelith." Sylvara gave him a warning look.

He smiled. "I was joking." Vaeron almost smiled, but his expression quickly became serious again. "Nira, what you accomplished during the attack saved this territory." Nira looked away. "Everyone fought." "You defeated Morvain." "I had the spirits." "But you still had to fight." Nira stayed quiet.

Vaeron continued. "You woke up a power that had been dormant in you for years."

Nira instinctively looked at the translucent wings behind her, which were still slightly visible. The spirits hovered around her.

"I still don’t fully understand." "You will have time to learn." Vaeron stood. "As Lord of Darveim, I recognize you as a Spirit Elf and acknowledge your new status."

Nira looked up at him. "You don’t need to do that." "I’m your father." Vaeron’ voice softened. "But today I am also your lord." Nira smiled faintly. Vaeron continued. "You will be given access to the resources of this territory to train your spirit abilities." Nira’s eyes widened a little. "All of them?" "All that can be safely provided." Sylvara nodded.

"I will also help you to understand how your healing and defensive magic interact with your spirit power." Kaelith raised his hand.

Everyone looked to him. Kaelith lowered his hand. "Just wondering." Nira laughed. Vaeron shook his head. "You will continue your sword and fire magic training." Kaelith sighed. "I knew it." "You wanted to become stronger. Then train." Kaelith straightened.

"Yes, Father."

Vaeron turned towards the gathered soldiers and healers. "The people who fought in the attack will be compensated.". Several soldiers exchanged surprised glances. Those who had lost weapons would be given replacements, those who had lost homes would be assisted in rebuilding them, the wounded would all get treatment, and the families of the deceased would be supported by the territory.

No soldier who had defended Darveim would be forgotten. Nira listened quietly as Vaeron spoke, and realized that a reward did not always come in the form of medals or titles. Sometimes it was just promises that those that survived would not be abandoned. Nira looked around the damaged hall, which was nothing like the home she remembered, but the people were already rebuilding it, clearing debris, treating the wounded and putting out the remaining fires.

Darveim was pushing forward. Vaeron looked back towards Nira. "There is one more thing." Nira looked at him. "What?" "You will need to eventually leave." Nira’s expression changed. "Leave?" Vaeron nodded. "You have told me about Tanaka."

Nira’s cheeks warmed slightly. "He is my friend." Kaelith immediately grinned. "Your friend?" Nira glared at him. "Don’t start."

Kaelith raised his both hands. "I didn’t say anything." Vaeron shook his head. "You have unfinished business beyond Darveim."

Nira looked over towards the window, where the large forest was beyond the estate.

Somewhere beyond the forest was Eldoris, and beyond that was Tanaka. She had promised him she would find him, and had not forgotten. Nira looked at the dagger on her waist. "I will return." Vaeron studied her.

"I know." Sylvara approached her and gently placed her hand on Nira’s shoulder. "Before you leave, you need to still recover." Nira nodded. "I know." "And learn what your new power can do." Nira smiled. "I will." The spirits around her fluttered happily. The room suddenly felt lighter, after the battle and the loss of so many had taken much from Darveim, the lives were lost and homes were in ruins.

But people still stood, and they had begun to rebuild. Nira looked towards the sky through the broken ceiling. Her spirit wings glimmered faintly. She had awakened a new power. Her homeland had survived. Edris had been punished and those that fought had been rewarded, but somewhere beyond the forest, another part of her life was waiting.

Tanaka.

Nira smiled.

"I’ll see you soon."