The ride home had been filled with an oppressive silence. Even the jostling of the wagon seemed muted somehow. Her Destiny seemed to be an uncomfortable weight that had settled between her and her father. After half the trip had passed in awkward silence, she finally mustered the nerve to ask her father a question.
“Dad…” she hesitated for a moment before continuing on. “Why did Mason bring up Ethan?”
Edith couldn’t remember much about her eldest brother. She was barely five years old when he had revealed his Destiny and been taken away. He also had received Dungeon Subjugation Force as his Destiny, and like so many others he never returned from the training area. She couldn’t recall a time when her parents were more distraught than when he didn’t come home.
The question hung in the air between them with a nearly physical tension. Her father took a deep cleansing breath before addressing the question.
“Ethan was apparently thriving in the training grounds. It wasn’t that violence came naturally to him as much as protecting others did,” her Father explained. “He was a natural leader and had even formed a small group to help others in the grounds. Towards the end they decided to attempt a higher level dungeon to finish things off. It ended up being too much for the others to handle.” She watched as tears began to well up in her father’s eyes. “Ethan held off the monsters so the rest of them could make a run for the exit….” He choked back the tears as he pressed on with the story. “Mason’s son was one of the people he saved that day. He gave his life to save some people he had only just met.” Her father sobbed out as his tears began to flow freely.
Edith reached out for her father’s hand attempting to bring him some comfort. He clasped at her hand and begged through his tears. “Please come home dearie, my heart can’t take losing a second child. Promise you’ll come home.” He sobbed out.
“I… I promise Dad. I’ll do whatever it takes to come home safely.” She said, fighting the tears welling in her own eyes. The wagon had stopped and they sat there holding each other, their wails of sorrow ringing through the deafening silence.
The rest of the trip home passed in the returned silence. Edith saw Thyrion on the horizon in front of the setting sun. Her father’s eyes were still red and puffy though hers were not much better. She was now beginning to fret over how her mother would react to the news.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
“It’s already late so just head to bed when we reach home.” Her father told her after seeing the worry on her face. “I’ll tell your mother and we’ll face it together in the morning.”
“Thank you dad” Edith responded quietly. She had already reached her emotional limit for the day and couldn’t have dealt with breaking the news to her mother at this point. As they pulled into Thyrion proper the familiar sight was a balm to her weary soul. They made their way through the modest town’s center heading for the family inn and cozy home nestled on the border of Thyrion.
“Head in through the back and get to sleep.” Her father instructed. “Your mother should be finishing the final call for meal time in the kitchens. I’ll find her and break the news. Sleep well Edee.”
Mumbling a quiet acknowledgement, Edith hopped off the wagon and made her way to her bed inside the house. Despite her worries, the emotional toll finally found a use and she soon found herself in a deep, dreamless sleep.
***
Edith awoke early the next morning with a renewed sense of determination. With the shock of her Destiny beginning to pass, she had decided to face it head on. She knew she couldn’t run from it. The only option was to embrace it and face what came head on. Even with the resolution to embrace her Destiny, she found herself heading out for her morning run. She hoped that the familiar action would help calm her frayed nerves. As she set out towards the Town’s center, she took in her surroundings with new eyes. The small weathered homes that dotted the city. The packed earth roads that had seen countless travelers. The dilapidated bell tower they never rang quite right anymore. It was these small things that made up her home. A day from now she will be taken away, potentially never seeing her home again. She slowed down as she reached the town center. She looked at the weathered bricks that made the only patch of paved road in the whole town, though no one dared to walk on them. She looked at each of the small stone bricks, a name engraved on each one. Arton Von, Elisa Winter, David Turner just to read off a few. She knelt down to the ones toward the end of the line. It had a familiar name on it. Ethan Donner. People whose Destinies led them to the same road she was now set upon. Would her name join those that had been added after her brother? Would she only be remembered as a name on a brick in a small town? She clenched her fists, an unexpected rage filling her as she thought of becoming one more sacrifice to pave the way forward for others.
“Not if I can help it.” She proclaimed determination in her eyes. She turned from the memorial square to head home, an unseen ferocity in her steps.