Chapter 188: Were You Involved?

The news spread through both kingdoms within hours.

Leon Evercrest, the New Spire, had fallen on the battlefield.

At first, many people refused to believe it. The New Spire had died protecting humanity, and with that one announcement, countless hearts broke at the same time.

At the Evercrest branch house, the news came like thunder on a clear day.

Althea stood perfectly still with the report in her hands. Her fingers shook so badly that the paper rattled.

"No..." Her lips trembled. "No, this can’t be..."

Beside her, Drelan was reading the same words, and his face had gone blank. He couldn’t make himself believe them. Neither of them said anything for a long time.

Then Althea’s knees gave out.

She sank to the floor with the report pressed hard against her chest, and tears ran down her face. Drelan reached for her right away, but his own legs could hardly hold him up, and he dropped to his knees beside her.

"Leon..." Althea’s voice broke, and she held the paper tighter. "My boy..."

Drelan lowered his head. His shoulders shook but no words came out. He had lived through many hard times in his life, and none of them had been anything like this. He had always believed Leon would come back. No matter how dangerous the battlefield got, he had believed his son would somehow find his way home.

But this time Leon would never walk through their door again.

In the royal palace of the Calyndor Kingdom, Aurelia sat alone in her chambers, reading the latest news from the war.

Her fingers slowly tightened around the report.

"...No."

It was barely a whisper. She shook her head like she could make the words on the paper change.

"No... Leon..."

The paper trembled in her hands, and memories rushed into her mind all at once. His smile. His laugh. The way he always stood beside her. And the way he had finally walked away and left her behind.

She had always thought there would be another chance, another day when she could see him again and confess again in a better way.

Now there wasn’t.

A tear slipped down her cheek, and then another, and soon she couldn’t hold them back. She pressed a hand over her mouth to stop the sob rising in her throat.

"L... Leon..." Her voice cracked. "...Why?"

Nobody answered. There was only silence, and the awful thought that the person she had once loved might never come back.

Several hours later, as evening came over the kingdom, Leon’s funeral was held.

The ceremony was quiet and serious. Both kingdoms came to attend, because a Spire had fallen. Black clothes filled the hall and the air felt heavy with sadness. Friends, family, other Spires, and the soldiers who had fought under Leon’s command all came to say their last goodbye. Even people who had barely known him stood with their heads down, thinking of the young man who had risked his life to protect others.

He had been more than a Spire. He had been a brother, a son, a friend, and someone who gave courage to everyone who fought beside him.

Now all that was left of him were the memories.

Inside his room, Alden sat quietly on the edge of his bed in a black outfit. He was staring at a small photo frame in his hands.

The picture had been taken before they left for Apothesis. Alden, Leon and Legion stood together in it, and all three of them looked carefree, with no idea how hard the road ahead would be.

He ran his thumb slowly along the edge of the frame.

Legion had disappeared without a trace, and now Leon was dead. Two people who had once stood beside him were gone.

His eyes rested on Leon’s smiling face. Then, without him asking for it, Leon’s voice came back to him from somewhere in his memory.

"Every time I start drowning, you say exactly what I need to hear to make me want to stand back up."

Leon had looked at him with an honesty that Alden rarely saw in other people.

"I’ve never said this out loud before."

He had stopped there, a little embarrassed.

"You’re kind of my inspiration, man."

Alden’s fingers tightened around the frame.

"...Tch."

He lowered his head. A bitter smile crossed his face and disappeared just as fast. He stared at the photograph for a long time before he let out a quiet sigh.

’Leon is gone now...’

His eyes moved to Legion’s face.

’But where are you, Legion?’

He swallowed.

’Are you safe?’

For once, Alden had no answers. He had tried to believe that wherever Leon was, he was at least doing well, but now dread was setting in. He couldn’t bring Leon back, and he couldn’t even track him down. No matter how much he hated it, there were things in this world beyond his control.

A soft knock came at the door, and it opened before he could answer.

"Alden?"

He turned his head.

Seris stood in the doorway dressed in black. Her crimson eyes rested on him, and her usual calm face looked even quieter than normal.

Alden looked at her for a moment.

"...It’s you."

Seris stepped inside and closed the door softly behind her. She walked to the bed and stopped beside him.

"Are you alright?"

She reached out and put a hand on his shoulder, but Alden didn’t answer. His eyes went back to the photograph.

Seris watched him in silence for a few seconds. She could see the grief on his face even though he said nothing. She wanted to comfort him and tell him that he didn’t have to carry everything alone. But before she could find the words, Alden spoke first.

"By the way, Seris..." His voice was quiet. "Since you’re a vampire..."

He turned his eyes toward her.

"And a spy..."

Something shifted in Seris’s face.

"Did you know they were going to ambush in the central sector first?"

The room went still. Alden watched her closely and waited for an answer. An explanation. Anything at all.

But Seris said nothing. Instead she stepped closer, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pulled him into a gentle hug.

Alden didn’t move. He understood what her silence might mean.

He lowered his eyes.

"...I see."

He took her arms from around his neck as gently as he could and stepped away from her.

"Please, leave me alone for a while."

Seris froze, and her crimson eyes widened a little.

"Alden..."

He didn’t look at her. She stood there for several seconds, not sure what to say. Then slowly she lowered her hands.

"...Okay."

She turned toward the door, but just before she left she stopped and looked back at him.

"I almost forgot." Her voice was soft. "The funeral is going to start soon. You’re expected to be there in a few minutes."

Alden gave a small nod.

"Alright."

Seris stayed a moment longer, as if she wanted to say something more. In the end she simply opened the door and left.

Quiet settled over the room again. Alden stared at the closed door.

’Why was I angry at her?’

He frowned. Was it even anger? Or was he just upset with her, so upset that he couldn’t talk to her because he didn’t know what to say?

He leaned back and rubbed his forehead.

’Of course she wouldn’t tell me everything.’

His eyes hardened.

’She’s a vampire and a spy. I can’t afford to assume she’s on our side, not when she confessed as much herself.’

He looked down at the photograph in his hands.

’Even if she isn’t fighting, I can’t assume she had nothing to do with it.’

His grip tightened around the frame.

’From now on I have to be careful.’

He had trusted Seris. He still wanted to trust her. But after what happened to Leon, he couldn’t let his feelings get in the way of clear thinking.

’No more telling her anything important until all this is over.’

Alden slowly stood up. He looked at the photograph one last time and set it carefully on the bedside table. Leon and Legion smiled back at him from the frame.

He stood there without moving for a moment. Then he turned toward the door.

’...I guess I should go.’

He took a quiet breath, walked out of the room, and closed the door behind him.

__________

Author’s note:

Hello guys!

I hope you’re enjoying the story!

Sadly, you’ll be getting only ONE Chapter today.

That’s right, I’ve got some other work to take care of, so I’ll be scheduling only one Chapter for today.

Don’t worry, though! I’ll be back to my usual schedule of 2 Chapters per day starting tomorrow. XD

Also, I hope you guys still remember the offer I made for extra Privilege Chapters in exchange for meeting certain gift requirements ahem! There’s still half a month left, so don’t give up yet, guys! XD

Thanks for understanding, and happy reading!

Cyaa!