Bitterly smiling, Coallar finally decided that it was time to stand up. But, already on his feet, he stood beside his throne while looking through that throne hall. And he once again bitterly smiled when he saw that there was nobody there… only loneliness and desolation were seen there, and this made the king feel them as knives deeply stabbed into his heart. That’s why he probably murmured eventually:

„A lonely king is a dead king in the end. And it seems that I lived this life for nothing, and… at least when Anaya’s ghost was here, I didn’t feel so lonely. Now instead I feel the coldness and the loneliness of this grotto so well, like a big pressure on my soul.”

„It’s because you lie under a curse, king Coallar,” the voice of the grotto told him. „And that curse had been pronounced by a grieving father who lost his beloved daughter because of your greed. That’s why you feel this bitter taste on your tongue and your soul is on fire as if you have a worm there that is all the time moving in your stomach. And, honestly, I think that being disappointed is better than being killed by all those souls you've trampled under your feet just to feel the power flowing in your veins.”

„And that disappointment… is it better than death?”

„Maybe there’s no difference for you, Coallar, but it can be like a breath of fresh air for others, for… when that disappointment is gone, hope comes again. Thus, they can stand up again and move further: with no regrets and without looking back to try to hurt those who have hurt them.”

„And with… without looking back to try to hurt those who have hurt them… do you mean my son Ahi?”

„Ahi isn’t the only one who suffered because of your madness, Coallar. Let’s not forget all those who left earth and entered Purgatorium because of you. Also, there are still plenty of souls on earth who you've disappointed. Namely those souls move further today leaving you behind them, and you… lonely and sad… will die between ruins without nobody by your side to close your eyes before going toward that World. This is what I consider as being the worst punishment for you, king.”

Coallar smiled, hearing her words: „punishment? I think you’re wrong, old witch of this grotto, for each of us, those living on this earth, pays here for sins made in another life. Even so, tell me: who are those others that are leaving me behind besides my son Ahi? Do you mean that young red fox?”

„No, Coallar, the wrong one is you because you can’t leave someone you don’t love behind you, and that child neither loves you nor she knows who you are in fact. And maybe it’s better this way, for she suffered a lot in this life without being aware of who her parents are or what is her purpose in this world. It'll be cruel for her to find out how she appeared in this world in fact. But not the same happens with the other fox, the old one, she is the one leaving you behind her, even if she doesn’t remember that you two have been tied by Fate in the past.”

„The old fox?” Asked Coallar, confused. „But… what ties me to her?”

The Grotto laughed: „are you sure you don’t know her, king? As far as I know, she’s someone you still love and a lot, even if you love her your way, with that cold, coal heart you have.”

These words made Coallar wince. „Anaya?” Then he looked to his left, where he heard that weird woman's voice, talking to him.

„That’s right. But she’s the wise part of Anaya's soul, the one who you’ve destroyed her life. Even so, her destiny was another one, besides giving you a child: to protect this world. That’s why she’s still alive: because this world needs her wisdom, even if she doesn’t remember what this world has taken from her in fact.”

Hearing this, Coallar took thoughts. Then, grabbing his hands at his back, he started to walk up and down in front of his throne, as he used to do when he was thoughtful. And, only after many minutes of thinking, he asked: „and… who has given that old fox a new chance to live? My son Ahi or Father Chaos?”

„And now you’re wrong, old king, for even if Chaos could do that, he isn’t aware that she’s living on earth. For him, that old fox is only one of many souls who live on this planet. Ahi… well, yes, he has been involved in this right from the beginning. But he doesn’t have the power to revive dead souls and you know that. Who gave Anaya a new chance to live was Gaea in fact, and she did this after having a long talk with the Titanide of Wisdom, Sophia, for she saw, in young Anaya’s palm, a long time ago, her real meaning in this world. Even so, to revive her, Gaea needed a new meaning for that woman. That’s why she looked for Ahi, for she knew that he took Anaya’s baby to take care of her. And, together, they helped mother and child to start a new life.”

This made Coallar suddenly stop. „What I don’t understand is why Ahi has never talked to me about this.”

„Because it was something you shouldn’t have known. More than this: if you had known about this, you would have done everything to destroy the balance from that old fox’s soul. That’s why you’ve been kept away from that child all this time.”

„And… this lie… did it serve for something?”

„A lie? Why do you think this is a lie, king?”

„Because… even though I always headed for ruin, I still loved my children. Even if I did this in my way. And… as I'd loved my sons, I would have been able to love that girl too.”

„Let’s not lie to us with sweet words, king Coallar,” the grotto told him this time in a stern voice. „You never loved anyone. That’s why you’re alone now. And… let’s be honest: you didn’t even love yourself, for if you had done this, you would have done everything to keep your family together. And, if we talk about this now, king Coal, tell me: has your stubbornness been useful for you in something or the fact that you always dreamt about the throne of the world?”

„No, it was of no avail,” replied Coallar bitterly. „And you’re right: I’ve always chosen destruction instead of creation, just as I’ve always chosen betrayal instead of wisdom. Even so, I still think that wisdom is a way to destroy ourselves. Only… the result is different: instead of physical death we have disappointment.”

„And you’re again wrong, king, for disappointment isn’t a punishment, but a new chance to stand up. You instead are too stubborn to understand its real meaning. But you’ll understand it: in the last moments before your death.”

And, hearing this, Coallar sighed, feeling great pressure on his chest. That’s why he bowed his head and, at a slow step, he headed toward the right side of the grotto, where there was the door toward the outside world.

In front of the door instead, which had an impressive stone vault, Coallar stopped and sadly looked at it. And, in those moments of great sadness for him, he saw young Anaya running out of that grotto, just as it had happened many years ago. But… the fact that she didn’t even look back when she left that grotto hurt the king so much because he always thought that she felt sorrow for leaving him alone there. At that moment instead, when he finally could see the truth, he understood that he had always lied to himself.

That’s why he turned his back to that door and headed left. And, with the remaining power, he „melted” a door in the grotto’s left wall. Then he advanced on that corridor that was behind that wall: at a slow step and with his head bowed. But, advancing through that tunnel, Coallar was so amazed to see his memories reflected on those walls: he saw the moment when he met the twins Kaerlleikans and Upprisinn on Mount Eldur Fjall, the moments of hot love he spent with Tenebre in the River Maranam, Island’s birth, the moment he tried to kill his son, and even the moment when Anaya ran out of his grotto.

That’s why the king asked himself, confused: „what’s going on? Why do I see my memories here? Why now?” But he didn’t hear any answer from the grotto. Only a harsh pain pierced his stomach. And he, feeling that pain so well, touched his chest, trying to chase it away. But he couldn’t. He only felt that pain more and more powerful till he spat blood. Only then Coallar remembered the wound made by old Aman, Anaya’s father, when he stabbed him, years ago. The king, however, thought that that wound healed, even though he was still feeling the venom flowing through his veins. But he had been wrong and what he feared the most was happening at that moment: he was about to be killed by humans.

„It can’t be,” the king murmured, afraid. „I’ve knelt humans in front of me and I’m also knelt by humans eventually. And this was because I dreamt about the love of a young Virgin. What a lie, Coallar. What a lie, for… you chose death and curse then, only to have her in your arms when she didn’t want it.” Then, bitterly smiling, he bowed his head even more and kept advancing at a slow step because of the pain felt in his stomach.

But… he felt something weird in his chest after this: he regretted his past deeds. But it was too late for regrets, just as it was too late to break that curse. That’s why he told himself eventually: „Coallar, stop feeling sorrow for yourself. Better… accept what you’ve done and choose a glorious death now if you’ve lived a dog life.”

And the last part of the sentence, Coallar hissed it with hatred through his teeth, for he remembered that he did a lot of things for others in the past. At least he was lying to himself this way just to feel better. Also, he felt that he couldn’t understand Tenebre and why she decided to leave him eventually and chose madness instead of love: to release Eris thinking that she could release Mannar too this way.

But, even though Coallar knew that Tenebre’s madness had no limits and that serving Eris she wouldn’t have been able to release Mannar, he decided not to do anything for this. He didn’t even try to warn her about her sure failure, even though he would have been more than able to do this. He chose to punish her for her betrayal this way. And, cleaning his lips of blood, when he felt that the pain was gone, Coallar rushed toward the depths of that grotto to finally do what he was planning for so long.

***

King Coallar’s grotto was really impressive. Yet, it was hidden by the humans’glance, for nobody had been ever able to see or knew that not only the tunnel that was leading from the entrance to Coallar’s throne hall and that throne hall were part of his kingdom. Coallar instead knew this, just as he knew every corner of his kingdom that was built on 66 levels toward the depths of the earth.

Yet, those levels were weird, for they weren’t formed only from a single room, just as it was Coallar’s throne hall, or they were formed from many rooms. They were seen as a big rounded room with a lot of halls in its walls. And each of those halls was big enough, having a big wild boar sleeping inside of it. Also, the position in which those animals were sleeping was weird too… as if they were snakes.

But, even though those animals’eyes weren’t seen at that moment, it was clear that namely one of them had attacked Bestla and Samaya when they came to Coallar’s grotto, and also one of them attacked Ahi and his companion later because Ahi was right calling them pets… they were formed by Coallar to protected him of unwelcome guests. And there weren’t only a few wild boars there, but thousands, created from a single exemplar by Coallar’s dark power. That’s why they were easily controlled by him and were doing everything that that crazy king could demand them to do. But when Coallar’s power wasn’t controlling them anymore, they looked like any normal beast… just as that wild Boar had been seen by Anaya when she killed him in front of the grotto.

„Here are my children!” Murmured Coallar proudly while moving in a circle in front of those holes inside of which the wild boars were sleeping. „And they won’t ever betray me. Just as others had betrayed me. And… you are my pride for sure, my dears,” the king kept pampering them, as though controlled by madness.

Suddenly he stopped in front of one hole which seemed bigger than the others. And, as if something caught his glance, Coallar looked at the sleeping animal for a while. Then, feeling his heart madly beating in his chest, he closed his eyes and raised his hands at 90 degrees, with the palms facing the sky. Thus, focusing, Coallar managed to form currents of black air above his palms, currents that formed a portal later between him and the sleeping animal. After that, Coallar opened his eyes when he felt that the Portal was ready and, deeply breathing in, he passed through it.

Thus, he got to a twilling world, one surrounded by darkness. Yet, it didn’t last long, for Coallar managed to illuminate it with burning coals that were floating everywhere around him. This way, when there was light all around there, Coallar looked in front and saw the wild boar sleeping at his feet. This made him grin with pleasure because he saw the animal so submissive.

„Just as it should be,” Coallar hissed through his teeth, almost in a whisper. After that, he squatted next to the animal and touched the top of the boar’s head. Thus he managed to send a kind of energetic impulse to the animal’s brain, and when that impulse touched the frontal zone, numerous light currents, like flashes of lightning, crossed each millimeter of the animal’s body. And those currents managed to make the blood madly flow through the boar’s veins, and when the blood got back to the brain, the animal opened his eyes.

But those eyes weren’t normal, but red, like the color of the flames or like those burning coals that were floating around. He, however, didn’t move from his place till Coallar didn’t demand him to do that. Thus, at the king’s command, the boar stood up and started to breathe with fire while his right rear leg was continuously hitting the ground, throwing sparkles all around.

Yet, the moment Coallar wanted to demand him destroy something, that twilling world vanished, and the king was thrown against a wall. Thus, after hitting the wall first, then the floor, he felt a big pain in his chest and spat blood again. That’s why he angrily murmured while cleaning his lips again, trying to stand up: „and still… this isn’t fair.”

„For who?” The grotto asked him. Yet, even though she tried to seem calm, anger was felt when she asked that question.

„For me, of course,” replied Coallar, still fighting with the pain to be able to stand up. Yet, when he was finally on his feet, he looked at his children again and saw them sleeping. And that boar from the twilling world was also asleep. Only after that, the king said: „and it’s not fair for them too, for… I worked a lot to create them, to protect them, to make them love me… but now… I must leave them behind me.”

This made the grotto laugh: „you’re talking as if they are really your children.”

„They are my children,” Coallar replied confidently. „That’s why I feel sorrow for them that they’ll suffer after my death. And… because of this… I consider it fair for them to be destroyed by me. Otherwise, once my power is gone, they’ll be free again. Thus, unprotected, they’ll be hunted and killed by humans. Something I can’t allow.”

„And? What will you win by killing them?” The grotto asked. And, asking this question, a gnashing of teeth has been heard.

But, even though she wanted Coallar not to feel her anger, the king still felt it. That’s why he looked to the left, where the voice was heard from. And, still seeing nobody there, Coallar said: „maybe I won’t win anything by killing them. But at least I know they won’t suffer when I’m not here anymore.”

Then, stretching his hands to the side, Coallar closed his eyes and mumbled unintelligible words. Yet, it looked like the words of a spell because, shortly after this, a lot of swords appeared all around that room and on each of the 66 levels in fact. And… those swords weren’t chaotically floating in the air, but each was with its top pointing toward a wild sleeping boar. But not this had been impressive but the fact that they started to burn so suddenly: the blades and the handles, and thousands of burning coals started to float all around as though they were in Cosmos surrounded by stars.

Opening his eyes and seeing his masterpiece, Coallar has been delirious. That’s why he closed his eyes again, laid his head back, stretched his hands to the side, and let a loud „ah, a real pleasure” out of his throat. And, when he opened his eyes again, he saw, on the ceiling of the grotto, an upside-down pyre. That’s why he murmured: „you’re still there, my real source of power.” After that, he straightened his back and cunningly smiled.

But he became really attentive when he heard the voice of the grotto: „did someone ever tell you that you’re cruel, king Coallar?”

„Yeah,” he drily replied. „Not only once. And you take care to remind me of this every single day.”

„As if you aren’t aware of this,” the grotto reproachfully told him. „Yet, I can’t understand how you can kill your children instead of allowing them to fulfill their real meaning on earth.”

„The real meaning?” Coallar madly shouted. „They’ll suffer more without me.”

„Or maybe they’ll have a better future without you. You can't know that, Coallar, for you've only seen a fragment of that future. Nothing more.”

„A fragment which convinced me that this world would burn in flames, Nikkari. The same flames that are burning me inside right now, for the same venom, that kills me, slowly but surely, will also kill this world eventually, for this venom is the one that can be found only in humans’heart. And also humans will destroy this world eventually.”

„And… don’t you do the same in the end?” Nikkari asked in mockery. „Destroying your masterpiece, with your own hands, instead of leaving it as a testimony of your passing through life, is cruelty and venom, Coallar.”

„At least this venom is like my love for them - pure.”

„Do you think so?”

„Of course, for… Gaea is right in saying that a father’s love can have many forms and that even death can be a form of love.”

„What if you are wrong?”

„Impossible!”

„But I think you’re wrong. That’s why you are so stubborn while trying to defend your „rightfulness.” And you do this only not to accept your defeat.”

„What I think is that the wrong one is you, Nikkari!”

„Why do you think so?”

„Just… something I feel.”

Nikkari laughed. „What if what you feel isn’t more than a product of your madness? The delirium before death?”

„No, it isn’t,” replied Coallar confidently. „It can’t be as you say, for… it’s impossible for me to have been wrong all this time because…”

Mad, he suddenly looked to his left and saw the real Nikkari, the Spirit of that grotto, the one who’d been talking to him all that time. And, seeing her, Coallar felt confused, for Nikkari looked exactly like young Anaya because Nikkari, just like Parca, had the power to show up in front of someone how that person wanted to see her.

„You… you’re here!” Murmured Coallar madly. „But… why? I thought you were only an illusion. One of those white ghosts, mad ghosts, that are always dancing in front of me.”

Nikkari bitterly smiled hearing him talking to her like that: „that’s why I said that you’d always been wrong, old king, for… you’d been only a fool that formed the destiny of the world from pieces of a future seen in flames. And, as you don’t give me any other choice, it seems that I’ll also be forced to destroy my masterpiece with my own hands.”

„To destroy your masterpiece?” Mumbled Coallar. „What masterpiece?”

„You, for… you are my son, Coallar. You’ve been my pride. But your madness made me feel sorrow for giving you birth, to a monster that is ready to kill his own children. That’s why to stop you from destroying others and to allow this world to live forever even after your death, I’ll end your lordship today, Coallar.”

„But… wait! How can it be that you are my mother? I… I never had a mother. I just…,” kept Coallar mumbling really mad while looking to the left and to the right looking for someone’s help.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Nikkari, however, kept staring at him because she wasn’t lying to him. She was really the one who gave birth to Coallar, having him with the Titan Tetapas. But, because that union had been something she didn’t want, she preferred not to tell Coallar that she was his mother. She only took care of him till he had been able to take care of himself. After that, she only watched him from the shadows, something that he hadn’t ever been aware of.

„And… even though you don’t believe my words, Coallar, I’m still your mother. The one who has always watched you from the shadows, who has believed that it can be light in your heart. But it seems that I’ve been wrong because it can’t be light in the heart of a snake’s son… there can be only venom.”

Then, suddenly, she vanished. That’s why Coallar madly shouted: „but… no, wait! Where did you go? Answer my question! What snake? What…” And he froze the moment he saw Nikkari once again, standing right below that upside-down pyre. „No, no, wait, don’t do this!” He shouted again. But even though he wanted this, he couldn’t move from his place.

He could only turn his head to the left and to the right. Thus he saw his children, the wild boars, surrounded by a kind of curtain made from transparent air that was hardening and kept those animals in a kind of transparent box, but safe. And, seeing this, Coallar looked at Nikkari again and saw her powerfully shining, while, from her palms, positioned one in front of the other, right in front of her chest, a few millimeters from each other, fire currents, like thunderlights, exiting, forming a kind of sphere, like a yarn ball, made from multiple threads on fire.

That’s why Coallar smiled: he finally understood what she was doing. And, watching that yarn ball, he said: „yet, Nikkari, death isn’t as frightening as some of us think she is. It’s really pleasant to look at it even though you know that you’ll be history very soon. Even so, I’m still glad that you are who’ll kill me eventually, the one who has always witnessed my suffering. But… may I ask you a last favor? Before dying?”

„Which one?” She said with pain. But she also kindly looked at him, even though she knew that Coallar didn’t deserve her love.

„Nothing for me, don’t worry. Only… take care of my children, for they’ve been everything to me. That’s why I ask you, the one who has seen my madness, to watch their steps while wandering this world. And, if there’s still a future after this, take care of them to be alright. All of them. As for the rest… I wish for nothing more.” After that, Coallar closed his eyes and, with his palms facing the sky, he made those swords turn their tops toward him. He even brought the swords from the other levels there and made them surround him, a hint that he gave up on his madness to kill his children. Or… maybe he just understood that he had no other choice?!

Yet, even if she asked herself the question: „what’s in my son’s soul right now?” Nikkari still decided not to give up. And, the moment the yarn ball of fire from between her palms had the size of a volleyball, it set her on fire. Then, the pyre, from above her, also made its flames increase in volume and a curtain of flame surrounded her very soon. But she wasn’t screaming or in pain, just as her body wasn’t hurt by that fire. She only stared at her son, with sadness in her eyes, seeing him surrounded by swords, and murmured: „Goodbye, Coallar! I hope you’ll have a better life next time.”

After that, snapping her fingers, Nikkari sent those swords toward Coallar. But the moment the swords were about to touch his body, the burning coals from around him started to burn in flames and the sound of swords hitting each other had been heard around, cutting those coals into two. But this didn’t save Coallar. Per contra: it simply made that grotto explode in the end.

Then… total silence has been heard around. And, even though sparks were seen here and there, that place looked abandoned. Till the moment a moan had been heard in the distance, that chased that silence away. And, in the end, the eyes of a wild boar, sparkling in the darkness, had been seen… the eyes of the wild boar Coallar, which was staying in the same place Nikkari had stood before.

***

The explosion of Nikkari grotto had been really impressive, seen from far away like the lava of a volcano that erupted. And, the fact that that explosion hadn’t been seen only by those positioned closer to the grotto, but also far-far in the distance, meant that Fate tried to show everybody that she was ready to destroy everybody who was trying to stay against her this way.

„Yet… I don’t understand why,” murmured Mayar, confused. „Why had Coallar to die?”

„Because it was necessary. That’s all,” she heard Life’s voice to her left.

Looking over there, Mayar still couldn't see her. But even so, she insisted on hearing an answer: „why so?”

„Just to give this world a new chance, Mayar, for… it was the time for Coallar to end his life on earth. At least his body, for his power and energy is still here. On earth, I mean.”

„Even so, as far as I know, the energy and the power of a Mago like Coallar can’t exist without a body. Thus, one of his heirs must have it, right?”

„No, Mayar, you’re wrong this time, for that energy and his power will be used to form a new destiny.” The answer, however, made Mayar frown, for she really couldn’t understand a big deal after such words. Even so, she kept silent while staring behind Vāḻkkai, whose transparent body she was seeing in front of her, heading toward the depths of the forest. And, at a slow step, even though she had a lot of questions in her head, Mayar followed her. Anyway, there wasn’t too much to do in the end.

***

Six months after Nikkari grotto’s explosion, Dike and his fellows finally got to the edge of Rophion Forest. Thus, arriving there, they deeply breathed in the fresh air of the places they knew as „home” and smiled, for there had been a long time of being away from that place, suffering for not hearing its sweet melody.

„Even so, even if the path till here has been difficult, we’re finally here. Home!” Said Fenrir, happy.

„Of course, son, for nowhere is better than home!” Replied Dike proudly, resting his arms on his children’s shoulders, who were also happily smiling.

Only Calmac unhappily growled: „and this already seems an exaggeration to me, for… how the hell to be happy to get at the edge of a forest? It’s like any other forest in the end. And… It also seems shameless to me to loudly say „we’re home” when you’ve taken others from their home and you’ve brought them here, on to the path of death. Don’t you also think so?” He asked the ghoul that was to his left.

That one, however, only showed his teeth to Calmac, a hint that he had crossed the line. After that, he moved away from Calmac, who kept mumbling sweet words about his fellow. But Calmac kept silent when he saw Kalimērā’s reproachful glance, who was not that far from the ghoul and had heard everything he said. However, Calmac wasn’t afraid of her, but of the baby, she was carrying on her back like the African women used to carry their babies. Even so, he turned her back on them, and kept growling through his teeth: „and it’s my fault again.” After that, he hid behind other ghouls.

But even if Calmac’s behavior was something unpleasant to see, it wasn’t something new, but something others were used to already, for it started after he had met Laṟṟa in that strange forest. However, Calmac didn’t seem aware of that or of the fact that he was fulfilling the role of the Apple of Discord, for everything he was doing was meant to hurt others or provoke others to fight. That’s why there were often fights and arguments between the members of the group and not only between the ghouls. Even so, even if the Titans understood who was guilty of that, they preferred not to pay too much attention to this, just not to make it worse.

However, they always kept an eye on Calmac, for they knew that he was capable of everything in the end and they didn’t want to be taken by surprise. And, while carefully analyzing him, they found out that not only the ghoul was strange, but also some of Island's soldiers. But… they couldn’t find out the reason why they were acting so.

In the end, still staring at Calmac, the Titans winced when they heard Fenrir happily saying to Sephir: „let’s go! I’ll show you my home today!” After that, he grabbed her hand and dragged her toward the woods, not paying attention to the innocent jokes of the others related to his „dare.”

Only Ūḻal melancholically murmured, seeing the love of the young wolf: „Oh, this youth! Don’t you think, Titan?” Then she looked to her right, at Island, who was frowning while staring at her. But she didn’t care about his „upset,” and kept flirting: „I meant… if we had had more time for passion then, maybe you wouldn’t have had this bitter face right now.” But this sounded more like a mockery than a flirt.

Island, however, preferred not to bother to answer her. He only reproachfully shook his head and headed toward Dike, who was staring at the forest. That’s why Ūḻal made a wry face behind him, something that could mean: „well, you can ignore me if you want, but I still know what I say.” But she screamed blue murder eventually when Boor grabbed her arm and tried to drag her toward the forest: „carefully, man! You aren’t forcing a bull to follow you right now. I’m a poor human being,” she murmured the last part of the sentence in a sweet voice. „A very weak one… actually.”

„And I’m a fire dragon!” Told her Boor, feisty. But instead of releasing her arm or at least the rope that was wrapped around her wrists, he squeezed her arm even more and forced her to follow him, without paying attention to her lament that „he hurt her.” And Boor wasn’t bothered by her „pain” because he knew all her tricks well and also because she managed to cheat on him once, telling him that she wanted to sleep well that night. But, after being released, when she thought that everybody was asleep, she tried to escape. And then, Boor could catch her only with Fenrir’s help, who was able to smell the Titanide wherever she was.

And, as he could lose her that night because if she had entered a river or lake, they wouldn’t have been ever able to catch her again, Boor decided not to allow her to cheat on him ever again. Well, being afraid was something real because if Ūḻal had managed to enter the water then, she would have been able to take another form and then… catch her if you can.

But Ūḻal’s lament seemed impressive to others, who were staring behind her and Boor, not understanding why she was crying and why Boor was so mean to her. And the same question Nathaniel was asking himself while staring at the Titanide, who was trying to impress Dike, asking him for some mercy.

He winced eventually when Samaya touched his right arm and told him: „let’s go too! This place is really impressive. Thus… I have the chance to show you my home, whose real beauty can’t be compared with anything else in this world.” After that, she ran toward the forest, convinced that the young man would follow her soon.

That’s why Nathaniel smiled while watching her. But, when he felt something burning the skin of the back of his head, he looked to his right and saw Yellen, frowning. And namely the way she was looking at him made the young man ask her, confused: „what’s your problem with me?”

„You better ask what problems I don’t have with you,” the girl hissed through her teeth, „for… or you go to ask the girl’s hand or you forget about your love forever. And… stop fooling around while you're so beautifully smiling, for you only allow others to gossip. And… this is something I won’t allow… gossip about a girl… because of you.”

„Gossip? What kind of gossip?” Nathaniel stuttered.

His answer made Yellen reproachfully shake her head in the end. Then, while going away from him, she furiously mumbled: „this one for sure doesn’t see further than his nose.”

„And now… what did I do wrong?” He shouted behind his sister. But he winced, in the end, feeling Arion’s palm on his shoulder. „Will you scold me too?”

„No,” replied Arion innocently. „There are others more than capable of scolding you. I only want to give you some advice.”

„Advice? What kind of advice?”

„Don’t waste your time, brother, or you’ll lose the girl. And… about that gossip: it’s something real, for if you think that kissing the girl and holding her hand is something secret, then you’re really stupid, for… we all know about this. Only you and Samaya are really innocent, thinking that nobody has seen you while doing this.” After that, winking, Arion moved away from him.

Behind him, Nathaniel cooked his nose, for he really disliked that everybody knew about his and Samaya’s secret. But he decided to leave it for later when he saw Samaya waiting for him at the edge of the forest. That’s why he rushed to catch up with her, not paying attention to the others’smile.

***

Charmed, while looking around, at that green light that was surrounding them and that seemed to spring from above, Sephir murmured eventually: „it’s really beautiful here. Especially these lights that seem to be fireflies.” She winced, however, when she heard a beautiful melody around. „And this… what’s this, Fenrir?” She asked him.

„The music from home,” replied Fenrir, while also staring around, charmed.

„The music from home?” She asked him, confused.

„Yes. And this music is something born from this forest’s energy, Sephir. Also… this music is heard only when its real master comes home.”

„Are you talking about master Dike?”

„Of course, for only when father comes home the trees sing.”

„And it seems to me that you’ve heard this music before.”

„And you’re right again. Actually, the first time I heard it had been when my father was on the Northern Lands to meet uncle Island. My mother was still alive then,” and Fenrir suddenly became sad.

Sephir, however, feeling the melancholy taking over him, touched his face with both palms and forced him to watch her. „And then? How many times have you heard this music again?”

„Only once: when I met Baradar for the first time.”

„But… you’ve just said that this music is heard only when master Dike returns home,” said Sephir, confused.

„And this is true. Actually, when I met Baradar, it coincided with the time Samaya and Mayar fought in the Glade of Shadows and she slept for a long time. Namely then my father, after the Council of the Elders of my tribe, took Samaya on his back and headed North. There he met with Queen Inlan Diar. And, together, they brought Samaya back to her senses with the help of the Stream of Power.”

„Hm, this is already something I haven't known.”

„Neither I, to be more precise,” replied Fenrir smiling, and this made Sephir stare at him, confused. „I… found out this from Arion. Much later after that event. Maybe he felt that it was approaching the time to come here again and that's why he told me about this. Who knows?!”

„Even so, Fenrir, you came to the Palace a few months after what happened in the Glade of Shadows. At least this is what I remember. Then, why do you say that Master Dike and Samaya have been to the Palace before this?”

„I never said that, Sephir. I only said that they’d been on the Mount of Fear, not at the Palace. They actually saw the Stream of Power then. But that Stream isn’t located in Icy Palace.”

„And… how do you know where the Stream of Power is? Did you see it?”

„No, of course not. I’ve only heard, from Arion, that only two people know where that Stream is located: your grandfather Island, and queen Inlan Diar.”

„And you’re right, for as far as I remember they’ve told us that it’s better for others not to know where the Stream is, for… those who know this want power.”

„Something that actually doesn't surprise me,” the man replied. After that, he sat down on the aerial root of a secular tree, sticking his back on the tree’s trunk and closing his eyes.

And that innocence, seen on the man’s face, who suddenly became a child in the adult’s skin, made Sephir smile. After that, she approached him, and, sitting on his lap, she sweetly kissed him. „You know,” she told her husband, „it’s so pleasant to feel how life’s energy flows through your veins. It’s like that Power, taken from that Stream.”

Her words made Fenrir smile. Then, wrapping his arms around her waist, he stuck his forehead to hers, and both stood like this for a few moments. After that, he said: „actually… it’s because I’ve missed this place a lot because only here I can fully fill myself with energy.”

Sephir laughed hearing him talking like that. And, watching him, she found him really calm and charming, washed by that green, holy light. „It’s because you’re a child while being here again, Fenrir. It’s because you’re home.”

„And you’re right,” the man replied without opening his eyes. „And with you by my side, I really feel that I’m home.” After that, he stuck his forehead to her chest and deeply breathed in her perfume because, saying to her that he felt at home, he meant… in her arms.

***

Slowly walking on a large lane, with secular trees on both sides, Nathaniel looked around, charmed. And, also seeing that green light and the fireflies, and more… hearing that beautiful melody, he asked: „yet, Samaya, what place is this?”

The young she-wolf, however, didn’t answer right away. She only stopped, closed her eyes, and deeply breathed in that place’s perfume. Then, watching the man, she cheerfully told him: „This lane is known as the Path toward the River of Sins. Actually, it's a place that I’ve walked onto so many times before. When I was only a child. And… this green light… Well, this is the pure energy born in the heart of Rophion Forest. Just like this piece of music, which you hear right now. It’s the music of „welcome home.”

That’s why the man laughed: „and I thought that it was because of you,” he joked. „Yet, it’s only because of the magic of this place.”

„Well, even if you've said this like a joke, there’s still truth in your words,” something that made Nathaniel squint at her, thinking that she was making fun of him. The girl instead, at all bothered by his glance, said: „it’s the energy I’ve missed so much, Nathaniel, for, only here, I think I can find really beautiful places - my home.”

„Well, it’s understandable… your longing,” replied the man, melancholic. „Eventually, you’ve been forced to stay away from this place for so long.”

„More than 13 years, actually. Even so, the fact that I’ve almost forgotten how this place looks, it’s… shameful.” Then, melancholically smiling, she looked around.

She winced, however, when he approached her and, touching her chin, he made her look into his eyes. But, more than this, she’s been amazed by his words: „it isn’t shameful, Samaya. I mean to forget things. It’s shameful when you ignore them.”

„Do I ignore them? What do you mean?

„I didn’t mean that you ignore those things, but the world, generally, for… we generally prefer to pretend that we’ve forgotten things only to be sure that we won’t regret the evil done to others, just to live ourselves better. That’s why it hurts me… to see that we destroy nature and its power, only to demonstrate to others that we are even more powerful than it is.” After that, he held her hand and, at a slow step, they kept advancing onto that lane, side by side. „Even so, I’m sure that nature will fight against us eventually. And then… yes… many of those who believe that they are powerful will fall, and she, nature, will be the master of all this again.”

„I agree with you. But… it’s still strange.”

„What exactly?”

„The lack of magic, of the specimens, and even of humans. For example, it’ll be hard for me to know that the Titans, Life, or even Father Chaos don't exist anymore. Or… that Yggdrasil is gone.”

„Maybe you’re right to think this way. But… I still think that even though they’ll vanish someday, something else will exist in their place. We’re talking now about the Balance of the World. That’s why I don’t think that something will completely vanish. It will just have another form, meaning, or even name.”

„Like?”

„Like…,” replied Nathaniel thoughtfully. „Let’s talk about Titans, for example: if they vanish, humans will invent something in their place, for humans need faith and to know that someone protects them from the sky. That’s why other Titans will appear. Or maybe Gods, like God Boor. But those Gods, I think, will be closer to nature than those we know.”

„I don’t know, Nathaniel, maybe you’re right. But… still: it’ll be weird for me. And, honestly, I don’t even want to think about this.”

„Why?” Nathaniel asked in amazement, stopping and watching her.

„Because there are so many other things to think about instead of wasting my time with questions about what will be if. And…”

Suddenly she kept silent, feeling the man’s lips touching hers as if sealing those words inside her. And Nathaniel kissed her only not to allow her to immerse in sad thoughts because he disliked seeing her thoughtful. Also, that kiss was a testimony and a confession of his love, for he preferred it instead of gloomy thoughts and sadness.

But, to his great surprise, Samaya didn’t run this time feeling his kiss. On the contrary: she stuck to his chest, wrapped her arms around his body, and fully enjoyed that kiss. Then, after a short while, she opened her eyes and looked at the man’s face, and she considered him really handsome. That’s why she smiled and said: „and, after the kiss, it’s time for a little bit of magic.”

Nathaniel, however, looked at her, confused: „Magic? Like?”

„Well… let’s just say that I remembered our first kiss.”

Nathaniel smiled. That’s why she squinted at him. And he, seeing that she was about to get angry, rushed to justify his smile: „I just… still can’t believe that you mistook my care with an intention to kiss you then.”

„I just…,” replied Samaya, confused, „mistook your kiss with the one of a deer.”

It was Nathaniel’s time to watch her, confused. But, seeing her intending to move away from him, he grabbed her left wrist and pulled her to his chest. After that, wrapping his arms around her body, he told her with love: „And I’m glad that I’ve been who kissed you then and not a deer. And… I lied saying that I disliked it then, for…,” he chortled instead feeling her fingers tickling him. That’s why he told her while moving in place: „stop it!”

„Why? It’s funnier this way!” After that, she took two steps back and cunningly looked at him.

This made him really attentive. „What are you planning this time?” Nathaniel asked her while trying to approach her.

„What do I plan?” She told him in a playful voice. „Just… catch me if you can!” And she ran toward the river as fast as she could.

Her joy made Nathaniel feel so well. Then, seeing that she was so far away from him, he ran after her, for… that talk: it’s better to fully live love while being young, for love is only a wild free horse, than regret it while being an old man already, for freedom and pleasure, that you feel in your chest while holding the one you love in your arms, can’t be compared with anything else, not even with the power you have while staying on the world’s throne.

***

Sneaking beside the trees, Parca approached the edge of the woods more and more. Then she stopped when she could clearly see the place where Nathaniel and Samaya were playing with the water. But, even if she clearly saw them laughing and enjoying life, the Titanide grinned, for their pleasure was something she disliked.

That’s why she murmured eventually: „well, my dears, enjoy life while you still can do this. In the River of Sins. But… It'll come the day when you embrace disappointment in the end. And then, yes, I will have the whole power in my hands for sure.” After that, she started to slowly laugh, happy that she managed to bring the Rophions back home, to the place where the Prophecy should take place, as Parca thought.

Then, when she considered this convenient, she turned her back to that place and headed toward the depths of the forest. But, while leaving that place, she decided to be invisible. That’s why she put the hood on. But, instead of vanishing, she became transparent, as it always happened to her in that forest, even if Parca wasn’t aware of that or why this happened there.

Also, she wasn’t aware that she wasn’t alone there, spying on the two lovers. She only left that place without watching back, for if she had done this, she would have seen Yellen for sure, who was in a tree, spying on her.

And, the moment Parca wasn’t seen anymore, Yellen allowed Accu to unreel from around her right hand and wrap around a thick branch later. After that, when she was sure that she wouldn't fall, she simply jumped off that branch. And she fell very slowly while holding Accu in her hand. Then, when her soles touched the soil, she looked toward the river and saw the two lovers still playing with the water. That’s why she said:

„Still, Parca, you’re so wrong thinking that your plan was successful. Why? Because Life has other plans and they are so different from yours. But… you have permission to keep dreaming for a while. Thus the disappointment will be also bigger.” After that, putting the hood on, Yellen moved in the same direction Parca had gone, Eastward, where the Camp of the Rophions was.