“Have you heard the news?” Ira asks me.

“Which ones?”

“They finally reached Araneum.”

“Oh? Have they now?” Only took them two years…

“Apparently Zarri made quite the impression on their King.”

“Good for her.” I mumble.

“Geez, woman, could you be any more indifferent?”

I drop the feather. “What exactly do you except me to say here?” I stare at the man. “I’ve never been there. I don’t know anything. I can’t even decide if I should be happy for her or concerned. I let her go. What else can I do for her from over here? Tell me, please.” I keep staring at Ira. I’m not kidding. I seriously don’t know what to do…

“Be happy for her. She’s learning more about the world this way. The knowledge and experience she gathers out there, might just benefit our people one day too.”

“Might. Ira. Or it might not. If she chooses to never come back. And why would she! She’s been miserable for twenty years while she was stuck here!” I cover my face again.

“Suddenly you have places to be?” Ira mocks me. I glare at him.

“Am I not allowed to have a life?”

“No. Your life ended when she was born.” He tells me flat out. “Now you can only wait for her to give you your life back once she decides how she wants to live hers.”

“What exactly is she doing now, then, huh?”

“She’s looking for it. She’s a lost soul. She needs to find herself before she can do anything.”

“And what am I supposed to do in the meantime?” I rest my cheek on my knuckles.

“Be happy for her.” Ira tells me and slithers away into the shadows. I sigh.

    “This sucks! My arms are about to fall off!” She jumps down from the bar. “Haven’t we covered all of this already?”

“Lairy.” She throws me a look. “Fighting isn't easy. You need to keep increasing your stamina and strength to perform better. If you want to fight, you can’t stop building your body. Now, it doesn’t mean you need to bulk up, but you do need to stay in shape. Especially as you grow more. You need to keep up with your own body before you can keep up with them.” I pet her on the head.

“I hate this...”

“So did I. I still do.”

“Oh please. Spare me.” She mutters. I chuckle.

“I see Zarri's foul habits rubbed off on you.”

“I miss them...”

“Me too.” I crouch down. Laira hugs my neck. “Wanna take a break and try again?”

“‘Kay.”

“Okay. Do as many as you can and leave it at that. Do the same amount tomorrow too. Repeat till you can do this easily. Add three pull ups more to that. Repeat. Take your time, Lairy. No need to rush.”

“If you say so.” She lets go and tries again. I barely remember my fighting days at this point... An assassin turned babysitter... Am I supposed to take this as a promotion or a demotion? I smile to myself. The Great Shadowkill my ass... Well. On the other hand... Maybe it's not so bad to have a legacy... Even if it's skills and knowledge that I have to offer only... Laira's arms give out and she falls. I catch her.

“Thanks, Ira.”

“No problem.” I set her down. “I think you had enough for today. Take tomorrow off if you want. You still have lessons with Devona.”

“I already learned what I could from the books... There isn't much to do these days... It's the practice I'm bad at...”

“What kind is that?”

“Surgery... I can’t cut... Miss Devona said I need to get used to the knife first before I can practice with my Vines. She said it would make it easier for me later…”

“What is it about that that you’re most uncomfortable with?”

“Pressing the knife into the skin... It feels so cold and scary...”

“You won’t get anywhere far as a healer this way...” I tell her and add. “Sorry, Lairy.”

She shakes her head. “I know. I just...”

“Are you afraid of blood?”

“No. Just the knife...”

“I see.” I take a moment. “Well, I'm sure we can figure something out.”

    “How’s Laira, by the way?”

“How unusual for you to avoid the subject.”

“I’m not avoiding anything. I’m her guardian – I’m interested in her training.”

“She's struggling. She's not cut out for fighting.”

“Good.”

“I said she's struggling.” I lean in closer. “I didn’t say she's not good at it.” Devona looks at me this time. “She's not cut out for it because she doesn’t like killing or the idea of hurting someone. She struggles with it. She pushes herself to overcome it, but she can’t hide it completely. Not from me.”

“I see. That explains it...”

I wait a moment. “Care to elaborate?” I lean against the desk with my lower back.

“She was struggling when practicing surgery, so, I had her work on her Mixology instead, and yet lately she has been more focused on surgery... I figured it was because it's been what? Five years now since she's been studying with me. I figured she simply got over her fears as she’s gotten a bit older, but I guess your training has made an impact on her instead.” She pauses. “What are you training her with right now?”

“Her Vines. I'm not giving her any weapons, yet. Although if this works - her Vines will be her weapon.” Devona looks at me again. With a hint of horror this time.

“Don’t give me that look. I’m working on containing her. You said it yourself - her practical skills are improving. If my idea works - she'll be fine.”

“If being the key word here.” Devona stares at me for a moment longer.

“She's not stupid. She misses them, she wants to go with them, but she knows she can’t. She's too weak and useless. She's giving it her all because she wants to leave here too.”

“Which makes me oh-so-nervous even more.”

“Kids leave their nests eventually.”

“Don’t remind me.” Devona stops scribbling. “Have you heard anything from them?”

“You mean if Crile said anything that we should be worried about?” She flinches. I smile. “No. She's perfectly fine and happy. She seems to enjoy her freedom to the fullest.”

“Good.” And the Queen goes back to her scribbles. I can’t resist and lean in again.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“You can admit you miss her, you know. You're only human.”

“Isn’t that what got me in trouble with you the first few times?”

“Breaking down and admit one’s weakness are two different things.” I tell her quietly and leave.

    “Did you hear!” Laira comes running to me. “They found dragons! I’ve never seen one!” It's been four years now since they left.

“Yes, I heard. Crile told me a few days ago.” I smile at the girl.

“I wish I could be there!” She pouts.

“Well, keep your training up like that and you just might.” I pat her head again.

“Fine... What is it today?”

“This.” I give her the knives. She picks one up.

“What's with the weird shape?”

“I figured they would suit you better. If you don’t want to use your Vines for battle, then you can use this. I made them to fit you.” I show her the "belt." “That doesn’t mean you have to use them. Try them out and see how you like them. I won’t get mad if they don’t feel right for you, ok?” I tell Laira just in case.

“Ok. I'll try.” She seems focused. Good enough. “How do I put this on?” And she immediately gets lost.

“Here.” I take it from her and strap her in. "You can use these here to adjust the tightness."

“It looks kinda bulky.”

“I’m working on that. This is just a rough draft for you to test. If you chose to work with them, we might need to come up with a whole new type of gear for you.”

“Cool!” She smiles. Such a bright smile for someone covered in knives.

“Anyhow, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Give it a spin.”

“Ok!” She drops into a stance. “How do I do that?” I let out a laugh.

“The same way you've been practicing your Vines.”

“Oh!” She straightens out and gets the knives out.

    “Is she insane!” I pace around the Hall. “Of all the IDIOTIC THINGS!!” Eight… Eight years she’s been gone…

“It's her life. Let her be.”

“She WON’T HAVE A LIFE IF SHE GOES THROUGH WITH IT!!!” The Palace rings from my hysteria...

“Have faith in her.”

“SPARE ME!!! IT'S NOT YOUR FLESH AND BLOOD GOING TO HER DEATH!!”

“I LOVE HER JUST AS MUCH AS YOU DO!!” Ira flares up. “I LOVE ALL OF THEM AS MY OWN!! I AM HURTING JUST AS MUCH AS YOU ARE, SO SAVE ME THE SINGLE MOTHER ACT!!” His rage seeps out of him. “Laira's hurting too, you know! You're not the only victim here! All three of them decided to join the Rebirth! You can’t single her out...” He keeps his glare on me... Sometimes I forget that he raised them too...

“Is this a bad time?” A voice reaches us. I turn.

“Oh. Never for the two of you.” I approach the couple. “I take it you heard?”

Sharden and Ella nod. “Yes.”

I lower my head to them. “I am soo, soo, soooo sorry for having my idiot daughter drag your girl into such a mess... And after everything Amana has done for her...”

“Our daughter is as stubborn as any Cornutese.” Sharden says. “It doesn’t surprise me...”

“We simply couldn’t sit at home anymore...” Ella darts her eyes around...

“Neither can I, as you can tell.” I smile briefly.

“If you like you can stay here. Perhaps it would be easier for all of us to wait this out together.” Ira steps forward.

“Oh, I...”

“It's no trouble.” I agree. “It's not much, but feel free to stick around. Heavens know I will go insane if I keep this bottled up.” I try to joke. “Least feel free to stop by whenever.”

“Thank you.” Ella takes my hands into hers. “I feel better knowing I am not the only one upset with my child.” She tries to giggle too.

“Tell me about it...” Sharden mumbles. I laugh a little there.

    Crile returns to us about a year after the great tragedy of the Rebirth. I am still not able to breathe right... Ira has lost half his weight too... Sharden and Ella have been in mourning, and nobody has seen them since the day we got the news... I stare at the shadow of the man in front of me that is the remnants of Crile Shadowkill...

“I failed. I failed them both... I don't even know where she is... Emerald and Storm are gone too... I...” I gaze softly upon the boy... Is this how he's lived this past year? I step down and walk over closer to Crile. His eyes are dead. There's not even a glimmer of life left in there...

“Sweet child...” I put my arms around the boy and hold him gently... Why is it so painful to see him like this? Suddenly my pain seems so meager... Right... How could I forget... She is to him what you, my dear, are to me... I know this feeling... I know this look... I know the torture that life is without your mate next to you... And yet I have no words to offer to ease his pain...

    “You PATHETIC EXCUSE FOR A MAN!!!” I ram my foot right in the kid's gut and send him flying. I tried to hold back. I did. I tried not to blame him... I did...

“HOW COULD YOU HAVE LET THIS HAPPEN!!!” I hammer in another round house to the ribs.

“I TRUSTED you!!” I land an axe kick next, right between the shoulders. Crile flops face down into dirt. “I believed in YOU!!” He tries to get up, spitting blood.

“I ASKED YOU IF YOU COULD HANDLE IT!!” I grab the kid, pick him up and smash him against the stone wall. “YOU promised me you’d LOOK AFTER HER!!!” I roar in his face.

“I DID!! I NEVER LEFT HER SIDE!! I WAS THERE FOR HER EVERY STEP OF THE WAY!!” Crile finally pushes me off himself. “I DIDN’T!! I WOULD HAVE NEVER!! I...” He chokes. “I thought it was her...” He whispers. “She was her... The scent, the feeling... I... I...” Something isn't right...

“What happened?”

He doesn’t answer.

“Crile. What really happened?”

His shoulders twitch. “Like you care. Weren’t you going to kill me just now?”

“Idiot. Just because I wanna kick your ass, doesn’t mean I stopped caring for you like my son.”

“Son... Yeah... Right...” He sneers at me.

“Huh?”

“Isn’t she your only Treasure?” He mocks me.

“She's a national Treasure. You are my Treasure. Now stop being a bastard and tell me what really happened.”

“What does it matter...”

“It matters if you didn’t mess up because you’re just a plain idiot. Now spill before I change my mind and spill you instead. I’m not a patient person. In case you forgot.”

The kid slides down to the ground and starts talking. I listen to him carefully. Analyzing every detail... Eventually he chokes up on his own tears again... I sit down next to him and rest his head on my shoulder.

“It wasn't your fault...” I tell the boy.

“I could have talked her out of it... I should have made Star stay behind...”

“You did what you had to... The three of you had a better chance if you stuck together...”

“Star's dead because we stuck together...”

“But she isn’t...”

“How do you know? Nobody’s seen or heard from her in over a year…”

“I don’t know. I choose to believe it.” I tell the kid.

“Why?”

“Because it's better than the alternative...” I answer. “Give me your Stone.”

“Huh?”

“Numb the shoulder and dig it out. I wanna talk to her.”

“Why don’t you ask the Priestess for it?”

“She won’t answer that one.”

“Oh and mine she will?” Crile takes his shirt off, applies the spell and stabs himself into the shoulder.

“It's buried in her body. If she hasn’t thrown it away by now, it's a good chance she keeps listening...” Crile places the bloody Lector Stone into my palm.

“Make it quick. I don’t want to cut the close.”

“I can help with that.” I take the knife and stick it into the wound.

“SON OF A!!” He cries out. I clench the Stone.

“Gorgeous. It's me. I don't know if you're hearing this, but if you are, I want you to know - I am here for you. I know you’re hurting right now. It's ok. Take your time. I'll wait. No matter how long it takes. I'll be right here, waiting to see you again. I'm always on your side, Gorgeous.” I look up at the sky.

“I will always welcome you with open arms. I will always love you, Cuteness. No matter how much time passes.” I haven’t called her that since she was little... I take the blade out of the boy and place the Stone back underneath the skin. I take a vial next and get turned down.

“Leave it. I won’t bleed out.”

“Suit yourself.” I put the potion back.

“What did you tell her?”

“The truth.”

Crile stays silent for a full minute. “Which is?” He rolls his hands around.

“That I will always be here for her and will love her even in death.”

“Right…” Crile whispers as his head sinks between his arms.

“You’ll tell her the same each night too, if you’re smart.”

“She never answers… What’s the point?”

“Did you suddenly stop loving her?”

The kid takes too long to answer.

“Well?” I nudge him.

“No.”

“Then get off your ass and stay in shape. You’ll need your strength once she comes back.” I stand up first and offer the boy my hand.

“Why don’t you take your own advice there? You look worse than hell.” He takes it and gets up too.

“Smartass.” I ruff his hair up. Be well, Gorgeous…