Nevan aligned the nail on a wooden plank. With a single finger, Elnor hammered the nail into the board. Their new home was finally finished. After they had left Sutra two months ago, they had hired a ship to take them to Kali. It was not as developed as Ronan, but it was the farthest country from Ronan, and well away from the conflict. They had pretended to be farmers. Well, secretly very wealthy farmers, especially by Kali’s standards, looking for better luck in distant lands.
“It’s finally done,” Nevan said, looking at the complete flooring of their house. It was not as big as Elnor’s old estate, but it was home.
“It’s done,” Elnor said and gave Nevan a kiss on the cheek. “Now,” Elnor continued. “The children are at school, and Mrs.Sari is busy in the market.”
“I like it where you’re going with this,” Nevan gave Elnor a cheeky smile.
Nevan lifted her onto his lap, looking deep into her eyes. His eyes were glistening, Elnor noticed. They always glistened nowadays, and she loved every moment of it.
“I love you,” Nevan said, tucking a lock of Elnor’s hair behind her ear.
“And I love you.” Elnor pushed her lips against his, kissing him passionately. She continued to kiss him as he lifted her and carried her into their bedroom.
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After their lips parted, for a reason Elnor could not point out, she decided to smile at him, this time lovingly. Nevan paused when he saw her smile. He returned the loving smile, and the two just stared at each other, comfortable in the silence. This kind of life was not what Elnor thought she would have and not what she thought she deserved. But she was glad that she had it. She was happy. Then she kissed the man she loved again and knew that she would never let go of him.
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Nevan lay on the bed. It was night now, and everyone was asleep. Elnor was also asleep, her head resting on his chest. He focused on her breathing, and it calmed him just knowing that she was there.
“Everything okay?” Elnor muttered sleepily.
This may not be the future Nevan had wanted, and definitely not what he would wish for. But he was content. He was happy. He closed his eyes. “Everything is perfect.”
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Fate watched the two lovers angrily. This life was not what Fate had planned for them. If their lives had continued the way they should be, the man’s hatred and desire for revenge would have had won over. The moment the man found the noble thief's identity, he would kidnap the woman’s sister and poison the child in front of the woman. Having nothing else to live for, the woman would kill herself the same night. The poison was a fake, however. The man was not so callous that he would hurt an innocent child, quite the opposite in actuality. The man would pity the child and adopt her into his family. The child would grow to enjoy the life of a wealthy family, enjoying the riches that House Prima offered.
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Fate looked back at the current life of the man and the woman. If Fate had a face, it would show a scowl. Nirvana had always changed things from time to time. Why can Nirvana not just allow bitter endings to happen for the sake of bitter endings? Even after Nirvana’s child had abandoned them willingly, Nirvana still looked after him- changing the storyline just enough to completely alter what Fate had written. Fate did not know what Nirvana was, nor did Fate know of Nirvana’s intentions. Fate was forced to let the issue go, for even Fate was powerless against Nirvana.
Fate decided to turn its attention towards where it was not powerless. It searched through the planet, looking for The Garuda. What Fate had written for this world was for it to descend into chaos- for the people to be slaughtered and forced to extinction. The Garuda should have been wiser and fell in line like the rest of this world’s gods. But The Garuda was stubborn as always and refused to bow down. The Garuda was the only god of this world who decided to rebel against Fate- to fight for its people. The Garuda was currently hiding somewhere in that world, wasting away, and Fate swore to find the god. Fate vowed to punish The Garuda and make an example out of it. No gods should dare to defy Fate’s will.
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Five years later
“Sasha, come back here!” Nevan shouted at the sheep, chasing after it with a shear. The sheep’s wool had grown too thick and needed to be removed.
“Come here, Sasha,” Elnor said outside their home. Sasha immediately ran to Elnor, and Elnor rubbed the sheep’s head.
“I give up,” Nevan said, walking towards Elnor. “You are better than me at this.”
Elnor laughed and sat down on the porch bench. “Give me that,” she took the shear off of Nevan and began to shear the sheep. He sat down on the floor next to Elnor.
Nevan stared at Elnor’s pregnant belly. “Are you sure you don’t need to rest?” He asked, tilting his head backward to look up at Elnor.
“Nevan, do I have to remind you that I’m a master augmenter. And a powerful one at that,” Elnor retaliated.
“I know, I know,” Nevan said. “I just wanted to make sure you’re fine.”
“Stop worrying,” Elnor waved a hand. “Come here,” she continued, bringing Nevan’s ears to her belly. “Can you feel it?”
Nevan was not sure what he was supposed to feel. But then he thought he felt a thud. “She’s kicking,” Nevan muttered in surprise. He looked up at Elnor. She was smiling at him, and he smiled back.
“Or he,” Hua said, appearing on the front porch alongside Safia. They both carried buckets of fresh milk in each hand. “I want a nephew.”
Nevan turned to face Hua. ‘She had grown a lot recently,’ he realized. She was probably almost as tall as he was, and he was sure she would be taller by the time she finished growing. Maybe even taller than Elnor.
“I agree with Hua,” Safia said, carefully placing the buckets of milk on the floor. “We have enough girls in this household.”
“Okay, okay,” Nevan muttered. “The gender doesn’t matter anyway. As long as the baby is safe.” He looked back up at Elnor. “And so is the mother.”
“Okay, we’re leaving,” Hua said and left with Safia into the house. Neither girls wanted to see what might happen next.
Elnor smiled at Nevan as the two girls left them. “Come here,” she said, putting down the shear and letting Sasha run away.
Nevan climbed onto the bench and sat next to Elnor. She held his hands. “I’ll be fine,” she reassured him before kissing his lips.
And the woman was right; she would be fine. In fact, both of them would be fine. They would grow old together, watching their kids grow and leave in search of their own lives. Neither would ever have to live without the other. And as if Fate had willed it, they both would die together on their bed at the same time, peacefully in each others’ arms.