The skies still rumbled with a low, menacing growl as they reappeared back in Bastominad, a foreboding echo that mirrored the tension enveloping them. Soldiers, immersed in their daily routines, froze mid-action. The clang of a dropped sword echoed in the sudden silence, and expressions shifted from confusion to shock at the abrupt return of Tamiron, Sevidon, and Aderon. The air was thick with anticipation, the camp’s usual bustle muted by the trio’s sudden reappearance.

Tamiron then turned towards Aderon, whom his fists were clenched tight, his knuckles white against the darkening sky, who stood as unmoving as stone.

“Where the hell have you lot been?!” Kaira’s voice cut through the ambient noise like a blade, her eyes blazing with a mix of anger and relief as she stormed towards them. Her fury was a palpable force, momentarily quelled by the sight of the returning group.

“Do you have any idea the chaos you caused when you just disappeared right in front of the entire army?! And for almost two days as well,”

Kaira’s fury momentarily quelled as she scanned the group, her brow furrowing with concern. “Where’s Everess?”

His eyes darted around as he searched for any sign of Everess, but she was nowhere to be found. But at that moment, he knew his focus should be elsewhere. His focus shifted back to Aderon, who was his main worry at that point. His voice was a mix of urgency and concern. “Aderon,” he called, attempting to penetrate the shell of stillness that surrounded his comrade.

Aderon’s gaze remained distant, his body a statue of unyielding resolve. “Go ahead and address the High Army. We will leave as soon as possible,” he stated, his voice flat and emotionless, a stark contrast to the chaotic energy swirling around them. The emptiness in his tone hinted at deeper battles waging within his mind.

His frustration simmered just beneath the surface, but before he could react, Sevidon stepped forward, his voice filled with urgency. “Aderon, you have to disobey your father. This is not right, you know that. Too much hangs in the balance,” he argued, his words imbued with a sense of desperation.

Aderon’s eyes remained unfocused, his body a pillar of stubborn resolve. Sevidon’s patience frayed. “At least have some self-respect! Your father has never shown you any!”

In a flash, Aderon’s composure shattered. His left hook connected with Sevidon’s face, sending him staggering back. The force of the blow echoed in the stunned silence that followed.

“You talk of respect when none of you have ever given me any!” Aderon shouted, his voice raw with pain and pent-up anger. His eyes blazed with a fury that had been long suppressed, a storm that now broke free.

Kaira watched in stunned silence, her earlier anger dissipating into concern as she observed the fracture within their group.

Shocked, he took a step back, his own emotions a turbulent mix of frustration and understanding as he tried to restrain Aderon.

Sevidon, regaining his balance, wiped a trickle of blood from his lip, his eyes reflecting a mix of shock and hurt.

Aderon’s chest heaved with the intensity of his outburst, his fists still clenched at his sides. Above them, the sky’s rumbling mirrored the tempest raging within Aderon, both forces seemingly on the brink of uncontrollable fury. Nature itself seemed to echo his inner turmoil, each thunderclap a testament to his long-suppressed rage.

Silence settled over them like a heavy shroud, each of them caught in the gravity of the moment. The camp around them seemed to fade, leaving only the raw, unfiltered emotions that pulsed between them.

“None of you gave me an ounce of respect! Even when my title warrants it!” Aderon bellowed, his voice reverberating through the camp. His anger was not just directed at Sevidon, who still reeled from the punch, but at everyone within earshot. His gaze swept over the assembled soldiers, each word a lash of his pent-up frustration and hurt.

“I did everything I had to. I did everything I could to do something good. And do you know who gave me the respect I deserve? This person whom I despised since meeting him the first time!” He pointed at him, leaving him stunned by the revelation. “And you dare tell me to have some self-respect? You, Ravaen, and you,” he said, pointing towards Kaira, “tried to disrespect me!"

“Aderon, enough,” He said as he caught off Aderon, before he could say something even worse as he attempted to calm him. He then looked at everyone, who was watching everything as it transpired. “Go to your respective posts. We will convene later tonight.” Kaira helped Sevidon stand up, her eyes wide with concern. Tamiron’s gaze swept over the gathered soldiers, his voice turning stern. “That is an order.” The echo of his command reverberated, and everyone dispersed.

From a distance, He saw Glaivel with Princes Wraponreth and Aresa, their curiosity piqued by the commotion. He only nodded at them before heading straight to his quarters, his steps heavy with the weight of the evening’s events.

“I am not to be disturbed,” he instructed the guards outside before entering. Inside, he found Everess sitting calmly, sipping matrik from his goblet. He looked at her as her eyes still remained void of emotion, her eyes in deep purple with a pattern that he only noticed now. He then took a deep breath as he removed his armor and placing it carefully on its stand.

From there, he glanced at his Iron Gauntlets. His main weapon, the heirloom of the Lluch. He quickly thought if he had worn this during the attack, would have it made any difference? He sighed as he moved on and Grabbed another goblet as he poured himself a generous amount of mathrik and drank it in one go.

Everess remained silent, her eyes following his every move. He then dunked his iron hands in a large bowl of water, freshening up before drying himself. He then sat across from Everess, his bare, scarred chest revealed. They stared at each other, the unspoken tension thick in the air.

“Your body is full of scars,” Everess observed, her voice soft but steady.

He glanced down at his own body, the marks of countless battles etched into his skin. “Just because I’m fully armored doesn’t mean scars won’t appear every now and then,” he replied, noticing the glistening in her eyes.

“Wounds tend to worsen if untreated properly,” he added, his voice steady. “Scars give it away if they were treated right or not.”

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

He glanced at Everess, who seemed to understand his words. Her eyes met his, and for a moment, there was a silent acknowledgment of the shared history between them.

“We are all grown up now, Tamiron. You can tell it to me straight,” she said, turning her gaze to the fireplace where the flames crackled and danced.

“You know what I’m trying to say,” he replied, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “And I know you like to talk in riddles. There’s a reason I speak like you from time to time.”

“Those were the days,” Everess said, smiling at the memory as she laughed for a bit.

He chuckled, her laughter a rare sound that filled the room with warmth. “Those were the days indeed.”

He then stood up and grabbed his evening long shirt, pulling it over his head. The nights in Shardon were notoriously cold, and the chill seeped into his bones, yet he still chose what gives him the most comfort - at least for him.

“The nights are cold here in Shardon, and yet you wear that thin clothing?” Everess mentioned a teasing note in her voice.

“I’ve always liked this. It’s comfortable,” he said, chuckling as he sat back down.

“But those are sleepwear,” Everess pointed out, her smile widening.

“And no one ever noticed if I’m wearing them all day,” he said, and they both laughed, the sound echoing softly in the dimly lit room.

Their laughter died down after a few moments, replaced by the quiet crackling of the fire and the gentle sips of their matrik. The silence was comfortable, a testament to their long-standing friendship.

“Do you remember the time we snuck out to see the moonrise over the plains?” he suddenly asked, a nostalgic smile spreading across his face.

Everess laughed softly, a genuine, warm sound. “How could I forget? We almost got caught by the guards, and you managed to convince them you are nothing but a star-eyed luminox.”

“Hey, in my defense, I make a pretty convincing luminox sound,” he added and Everess tried to contain her laughter. “We were always getting into trouble,” he continued, shaking his head. “But those nights under the stars, those were the best."

Everess nodded, her eyes distant with memory. “Yes, they were. It felt like the world was ours, even if just for a moment.”

He leaned back, a wistful smile playing on his lips as he let the memories wash over him. “Remember the time we climbed the old oak tree by the cliff bend? You got stuck about halfway up, and I had to scramble up to help you down.” His chuckle was soft, filled with the warmth of shared history.

Everess grinned. “I was so scared, but you made it seem so easy. We were invincible back then.”

“All that magic of yours, and an oak tree can tie you down in one place,” he said as they laughed it off. Everess gently smacked her on his broad shoulders as he chuckled. “We thought we were invincible.”

Their conversation flowed easily, memories spilling out as they reminisced about their teenage escapades, the bonds they had forged, and the dreams they had once shared. The night wore on, the fire burned low, and their shared history wrapped around them like a comforting blanket, holding the promise of unspoken understanding and unwavering support.

Eventually, the mood shifted, and the warmth of nostalgia gave way to the weight of the present. Their expressions grew more serious, the silence now charged with the gravity of their current circumstances.

“Back then, you can tell me everything. I can tell you my own. We were each other’s keepers, you and I,” he said then he looked towards her as played with her hair. That thing she does when she feels secure and safe. That thing that he hasn’t seen since, ever. “Will you ever tell them what you told me?” he then asked, his tone turning serious as he referred to the secrets she had shared before he left for the Empire.

Everess looked into the fire, the flickering light reflecting in her eyes. “I don’t know if they would understand, Tamiron. It’s not easy to bear such truths.”

He nodded, understanding the weight of her words. “They deserve to know, Everess. We all carry burdens, but some are meant to be shared.” Her secret already costed her the trust of her comrades, however he feels that Everess can regain them if she simply told them like she told him.

She sighed, her shoulders relaxing slightly. “Perhaps. But for now, it’s enough that you know.” Everess looked into the fire, the light dancing in her eyes.

“What if they could help us?” he suddenly said, his voice breaking the silence. “A secret like this is a punishment bestowed upon you by the Gods and Animos. I’ll be damned if I describe it that way, but it is. I already did my best to help you, but we can’t keep this from them anymore.”

Everess turned to him, her expression unreadable. “And what if they don’t understand? What if it only brings more trouble?”

“They’re stronger and more understanding than you think, Everess. You need to trust people more,” he said.

“All I got was ridicule. You know that, Tamiron. You of all people should know that,” Everess argued.

“But things are different between us. I know five years is short, I know, but they have trusted your judgement either way and from then on, they did everything they could to try to understand you, without even knowing what you were trying to do. They trusted you despite not knowing the truth of what you are doing, on why you are doing it,” he argued back.

He could see that Everess was having doubts. He then held her hand as gently as he could with his iron hands. Despite him having iron hands, he still felt Everess’ soft skin like it was against his. “We need that same trust now. This secret, it’s too big for just the two of us. We need them. They need to know the truth.”

She looked at him, the conflict evident in her eyes. “It’s just... it’s hard. It’s been my burden for so long.”

“I know,” he said gently. “But it doesn’t have to be just yours anymore. We are your comrades. They are, too, Everess. Always have been, always will be.”

There was a long pause as she considered his words. Finally, she nodded slowly. “Alright. I’ll tell them.” She said as she turned to look at him directly.

Tamiron’s relief was palpable. “Together,” he agreed. “We’ll face this together.”

They fell silent again, the crackling fire filling the void. His thoughts drifted back to their younger years, the carefree days before duty and war had reshaped their lives.

“Do you ever wish we could go back?” he asked quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Everess’ smile was tinged with melancholy. “Sometimes. But we can’t change the past, Tamiron. We can only move forward.” Her words held the weight of their shared losses and the hard-won wisdom of their years.

He nodded, the weight of their shared history and the uncertainties of the future pressing down on them both. “Then we move forward together,” he said firmly.

Everess reached out and squeezed his hands. “Together,” she agreed.

As the fire dwindled to embers, He and Everess sat in silence, the weight of their conversation settling around them. The flickering light cast long shadows on the walls, mirroring the uncertainties that lay ahead. Outside, was quiet, the earlier tension dissipated but not forgotten. All he could think about then was how he missed these quiet nights with Everess. As he held her hand gently, as they chose to relax before the confrontation later on that was to come.

As the fire dwindled to embers, He and Everess sat in a comfortable silence, the gravity of their conversation lingered in the air. The flickering light from the hearth cast long, wavering shadows on the walls, creating a dance of light and dark that mirrored the uncertainties they faced. Outside, the camp had settled into an uneasy quiet, the earlier tension replaced by a stillness that was far from peaceful.

His thoughts drifted to quieter nights long past, when he and Everess would sit together, sharing stories and dreams under the stars. He missed those moments, the simplicity and ease of their friendship before duty and destiny had pulled them into a whirlwind of conflict.

He glanced at Everess, her profile softened by the firelight. Her hand was warm in his, a tangible reminder of the bond they shared. The silence between them was not empty but filled with unspoken words and mutual understanding. He squeezed her hand gently, offering silent support and drawing strength from her presence.

As the fire flickered away in the night, he knew that this moment of respite was fleeting. The confrontation that awaited them loomed large, a storm on the horizon of their thoughts. Yet, for now, he allowed himself to savor this rare peace, the quiet companionship that had always been a refuge amidst the chaos.

End of Chapter XXXI