“What’s the difference with this time?” Maven said curtly. “Whatever I did, no matter how hard I tried, things won’t change, right? I wanted to help you just to repay your kindness, Reyl, no less, no more. So, after it’s done, it’s better that I, the bothersome girl just... well, go away!”
Sophia retorted, “You are not bothersome at all, Mave! Thanks to your timely action, you have saved Reyl, us and probably the whole world. You have prevented Frei Val’shka’s resuscitation. So, come back with us to our home in Lu Vazr.” The redhead then extended her hand with a sincere smile.
Maven paused for a while. Then she shook Sophia’s hand softly and smiled. “All right then, I’ll go with all of you to Lu Vazr.’
Reyl then glanced regretfully towards Bangor. “By the way, do you want to go with us, mister?”
The dwarf shook his head. “I’m all alone now, apparently, but I already considered Joklfrey as my home as I know it like the back of my hand. Besides, I have an important business that will absorb my entire attention to this area.” He stared meaningfully towards Sophia and Declan.
Maven frowned, trying to figure out the meaning of Bangor’s stare.
Declan then shouted, “Well, what are we waiting for? Let us all go home!”
==oOo==
Maven and her friends’ long journey home from Zaburyvostok was somewhat uneventful. The most dangerous things they stumbled upon were wendigos.
Along the way, Maven’s thought flew upon her plan to write down her life story and adventures. She even barely talked to Reyl, Declan and Sophia, except maybe when fighting monsters.
Now, four months after her departure from the Crystal Palace, Maven wrote ‘THE END’ on the book she just finished writing. She then flipped the pages on her book, wondering how thick her work was.
Right at the point of her taking vengeance towards the Viperwolves, Maven fell in her thoughts. What if Calhoun didn’t kill her parents? Would Maven take revenge towards Theana and Calhoun? Would she keep on being a thief or even be as corrupt, brutal and cruel as the other gang members? Maybe she would delve in the comfort of life like a nobleperson, piling up mounts of treasures.
Maybe.
Theana could’ve been a better mother than Maven’s natural mother.
Maybe.
Maybe Maven would be a cold-blooded murderer like Calhoun.
Maybe and that might be extremely intriguing.
Was dwelling in a lovers’ house filled with awkwardness the best choice?
Maybe not.
Maven just realized, the best result she earned until now was the time to finish her book. After that, she would leave the book to Reyl, Sophia and Declan and leave for more adventures, alone.
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There were so many questions lingering in her mind.
One of them was a suspicion that the Viperwolves’ ambush on her parents was not a coincidence. Maybe it had something to do with the family from her mother’s side, the Bouvignons in Redne.
Suddenly Reyl came into Maven’s room and shouted, “Mave, this is bad! Declan and Sophia have left the house, bringing their private things!”
Maven was thunderstruck, almost tongue-tied. “W-what? I-is that true?”
Reyl quickly nodded, then handed Maven an enveloped letter. “Sophia left this in her room.” It was unopened.
“Let’s read it together.” Maven opened the envelope and read the letter.
To Reyl and Maven,
Sorry we left without saying good-bye.
You must be wondering, why I leave my own house? That’s because I have a very good reason to do it. In Zaburyvostok, I got an idea, how about we mine the abundant magic crystal deposit in the Crystal Palace? With Declan’s extensive knowledge about magic crystals and Bangor’s familiarity with the Crystal Palace and the area around it, this is a golden opportunity I won’t miss for the world. So I, Declan and Bangor secretly made an arrangement to meet again in Zaburyvostok after our preparations in Lu Vazr complete.
Sorry, we didn’t invite both of you because I know you prefer to live modestly in the more civilized parts of the world than in the lonely, snowy forest with only wendigos, beasts and monsters to interact with.
I leave this house and all the furnitures in it to you two. Please keep it clean and intact until we return one day. That’s if we ever plan to return. So good-bye, my good friends. By Vadis’ will, one day we will meet again.
* Sophia and Declan
Reyl snorted. “Well, that’s so ‘generous’ of them, now we know their true colors. There is an abundant treasure trove and they won’t share it with us.”
Maven’s eyes widened instead. “Sophie... She went away with Declan. Does that mean they are...?”
“I don’t know and I don’t want to make assumptions,” said Reyl. “We’ll see. The most important thing now, what will we do next? Any plans?”
“W-we?” Maven was flabbergasted. “I don’t know. The only thing in my mind lately was to finish the book I’m writing now. Let’s think about the plans later, okay?”
“Oh, okay.” Reyl shrugged. His eyes then stumbled on the words ‘THE END’ on Maven’s book. “Wow, you actually finished it, Mave.”
“Well, sort of.” The girl blushed.
“Wait. Is that piece of poetry... the next part of your song, ‘Flight of the Sparrow’?”
“Yes, it’s the title of the book too. Actually, I just finished writing the closing verses of the song. My adventures and tales might continue, but that’s for another book,” said Maven.
“Go on and sing it.”
“Very well, then.”
Maven looked around the room and took a deep breath. And then she began to sing with her melodious voice.
> With firm resolve, I decide my goal
>
> To fly back to my home tree
>
> Even cloud, win and rain assist me
>
> Until I seize my nest back from that crow
>
>
>
> Then, why this lingering hollowness?
>
> I wish to visit that occupied tree for just once
>
> I did that once, only to find
>
> The tree has withered, who knows why
>
>
>
> Without reward, I struggled
>
> So that the tree won’t fall
>
> Apparently infested by a fierce pest
>
> Though difficult, I fought and prevailed
>
>
>
> Now I shall build a new nest
>
> Since the old owner has left the tree
>
> Until when, for how long, I would not know
>
> Under this shelter, I flap my wings.
>
>
>
> Fly high
>
> Fly free like the wind
>
>
>
> Fly high
>
> Fly free like the wind