CHAPTER 74 -GOODBYES ARE NOT FOREVER-

My eyes widened to Elder Dale’s words of proposition. Quiet. That is all that I could describe the meeting room’s current status, nobody dared to talk but instead looked our way. Throwing glares as well as insane looks of confusion and doubt.

“Master Dale I think that you–”

“Noah. If you back down from this now, you will never know what your oppositions have in their deck of cards.” Elder Dale informed me and everyone in the room with a calm and eased tone and expression. Then he continued, with the same tone he had always had, like a teacher explaining to his students about something astonishing. “The team I personally formed was specifically for one thing, and that was to bring Alter Violet from Ezar no matter the cost. That boy alone is a giant weight in the power of the scale, easily capable of turning the tides in battle because of his great strength and talent despite being merely a thirteen year old child.”

Both of the Ezar generals frowned upon hearing the elf’s words.

However, Master Dale didn’t falter but instead continued, “Who do you think that led the Espions–no. Who do you think brought the idea of creating the Espions in the first place? It wasn’t the Lerasea’s monarchs–who in the beginning of the war sided with the enemy. Or the Eliond’s–barely hanging in the battle because of the lack of resources. Not the Orielion–who were busy with creating more tunnels for their own survival. And not to mention the Londorwin–was only throwing away their own soldiers in propaganda because of the wealth and power it brought with it.”

His green eyes, filled with anger towards everyone and even himself. Yet, his face didn’t betray him. With only his eyes being far from the point of shooting laser beams out of, he once again spoke. Defending no kingdom or noble, but only a name which he held and said with respect.

“It was a seven year old boy who had knocked out every single guard that was held as a high knight without trying, showing his face in an expressionless demeanor. He alone brought the Espions and trained them himself, they were all children who didn’t know how to use a sword. In only a year, on an isolated island, they become exceptional fighters. Fought in the front lines, day and night if they had to, hours of endless combat. That boy, Alter Violet, fought that war when we were losing and won that war. So excuse me when I say I don’t think any of you should have a say that the boy has no value, when he is shouldering the responsibility of which we adults should have instead of the child.”

Such emotion left everyone speechless, from the royals to the lowest nobles, even me. The pure sheer of his words brought a realization of who Alter Violet was. My thoughts and doubt alone were not strong enough for me to think that everything was fake or even fabricated to an extent. That also explains the strong aura that landed in front of the gate, the day that Alter’s and Charlotte’s auras were there as well. Like they knew that the aura was heading there for them. It was an Espion, more specifically, one of the trained warriors from the past war.

His mana ring was another thing. Being a different color than the Espions mana ring, it was impossible?

Now that I hear it from Elder Dale’s mouth. Alter, my first friend, is really impressive. Wasn’t he?

My eyesight began to get blurry. The memories–which weren’t many–of when I attended Ifesia academy and met Alter were such a blessing. A friend who would help me study when the exams were about to be brought as finals.

I had some regret of not getting to know him more than what he let people on, even the princess was only told the same thing that I was told–or what only he wanted us to know.

A loud bang then resounded from the entrance double doors, alarming everyone in the room.

“You guys seem like you're in a deep hole.” Said a womanly voice, though she wasn’t much older than I was either.

Both dragons saluted with respect when they saw her, blonde hair with red tips, green eyes like Elder Dale. There was no doubt about it, it was Espion Luna.

“Lieutenant Luna, your sudden appearance is quite alarming. If I may ask, where were you this past week?” The red haired dragon questioned, somewhat concerned about her or something.

General Luna looked around, expecting something or someone to be there, and that could be the reason why she is all tattered in dirt and wounds–shallow wounds–that could be considered scratches.

The green emerald eyes striking into every single person in the council room, such pure emotion of strength, something she didn’t have much when she appeared here in Afreon after some time. Releasing an aura of a predator, her hands moved–slowly side to side–but they had a meaning if they were moving like that. That is when it passed in my mind.

Espion–

No, general Luna is thinking of killing someone. If someone were to move or even talk, they would die on the spot. That was the–

My thoughts instantly halted. The sounds of footsteps echoed through the silenced room, each time a foot let out a sound, there was a heavy sensation of being closer to the blade that was on our necks, almost like a reaper was holding his scythe and was awaiting the order to chop and let our heads roll around the floor for his liege’s amusement.

Luna here was the liege of such a fairytale character, and her word here was everything.

As the general roamed the room, three times around the rectangular table, eyeing everyone and everything in the room, she finally settled. As she did, she chose the worst part to be in–or at least in between of–the two dragons backed two steps, having their hands behind their backs like they were welcoming their master.

“I have found something interesting during my stay on the timed island.” The blonde haired girl with red tips finally spoke, setting the atmosphere in the council room. “After visiting there for some sentiment of pure coincidence, I found out the true nature of that island’s potential but not the origin. Subsequent to my arrival, my mana core was sealed in a type of way, blocking any interactions with my phases and elemental abilities. Though my understanding of my mana core was somewhat little to none, I was still confident in taking on the Espions at the same time and still win without wasting all my mana reserves.”

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Then she stopped, closing her beryl eyes and deeply inhaling air into her lungs before letting it out. The general was concentrating, deeply concentrating that her breathing was almost unhearable.

A heavy dark deep force was veiled over the room– no, over the whole building, up to the highest floor and to the underground floors. Those standing like me instantly dropped to the floor along with those around sitting on the chairs, breaking the table and cracking the floor beneath us.

Succeeding the notice of the dragons, Someissoa stopped Luna from releasing more energy from her ‘core’ onto the building by touching her shoulder. Her body jolted but was seconds later recovered by a stare towards the red haired dragon.

Freomal gazed at the girl in front of him with suspicion but moved it out the way with the unreadable question. “Lady Luna, though me and Froghyrth had changed positions, last time we saw each other, your connection to mana was feeble.” The teenage girl stared at him with confusion before realizing what he had just said, but still let him continue his sentence. “Yet–I mean in no disrespect–your body and core seem to have a connection towards Divine Mana even though you are a human.”

“Impossible. This must be reported to Queen Sytairirth immediately.” Somessoa announced, not sparing a glance towards us but only to the teenage girl.

What was so important was that those two higher beings were so, shackend by the monstrosity of her aura, releasing a huge amount of this so-called ‘Divine Mana’. Still being a green colored mana ring, the sensation of mana ran through my mind when she released her aura. This ‘Divine Mana’ had the same feeling, if not stronger than normal mana.

The Blistering touch of the air that connected mana and ‘Divine Mana’ together on the back of my right hand, brought pain in an unbearable amount.

I felt the hot tears rolling down my face but that wasn’t the problem right now. The problem was that my hand felt like it was going to blow up in a matter of seconds if I didn’t get treatment anytime soon. Shivery skin, and crawling flesh as my thoughts began to rumble between my sanity and sense of direction because of the fear of losing my hand. That is when I noticed that my mana ring was releasing something into my hand, inside.

My veins were colored purple and were swollen, accompanied by the pulsing sensation of my veins being injected by whatever my mana ring had.

I tried to pull myself together, but it was useless. Thinking clearly was impossible now that I was concentrated in my scorching hand. Dammit… It’s– Hot. A groan left my mouth as I–somehow–pulled my body to the side.

Elder Dale noticed my reaction, “Noah! What is wrong.” He was agitated when he saw my reaction, holding my right arm with my left, applying force thinking that it might relieve my pain–even if it was a little–I pleaded. “Healers. Bring the Healers!”

The world around turned into a stopping time of orb. Everything. Didn’t move. Didn’t make a noise. Didn’t want to acknowledge my presence entirely.

That is when I noticed… I wasn’t seeing anything. Darkness and the void that surrounded me.

Was I going to die?

Why?

Why?

How?

Am I going to really not see my friend, Alter Violet anymore?

Was I useful at some point?

Someone… Please… I don’t want to die like this… I am scared…

Mother… Father…

Where are you guys…

In all the darkness void of nothingness. Somewhere, in the deepest parts of this place, resided a single silhouette, waiting for someone. The light behind him revealed his features of a young boy–no older than me–starring with a cheerful smile. It was nostalgic, seeing that smile from that boy, it reminded me of Alter when we first met in Ifesia Academy. However this boy was different and the same as Alter, his expression and the way he smiled. The difference in their hair and colored hair, his eyes…

I had seen this person before. But before I could remember, the boy started to walk to the light. Leaving me behind.

I tried to reach out a hand but it was invisible for me to see if I did or not. My mouth opened but my voice didn’t come out. I tried to say something, a vocal word or simply a sound. That is when it finally came out, the words I was trying to deliver to the boy I had a connection to, or at least that's what my gut told me.

“Please… Don’t leave me behind…”

Hearing my own voice was like I was dehydrated for months. The feeling of uneasiness watering through my body when I felt that my words didn’t reach him, because he kept on walking, not looking behind. I was grieving in some way. Being alone in this place while… While he was leaving this void of a place.

Afraid of not being at his side, like before when I…

In that moment, pleasant and miserable memories amounted to the feeling of thirty-six years worth of them. Playing them back like it was a second life that I had forgotten. Years of living with people who weren’t my parents from Afreon but they were my parents in a country named Oskon. Everything was different, down to the last molecule of air and mass.

Living my life as this other person, going through elementary school, middle school, and finally high school where I had met the boy who I earlier saw in the dark void. He was the same as he had always been, a cheerful boy who was looking forward to seeing the youthful life as the older people around him would describe it to him. The memories of this life continued without any pause. The feeling was like it had been yesterday that I was with him enjoying our high school lives.

Then everything in the memories became blurry, after a certain accident, everything went downhill but I couldn’t see them. However, at the end of these memories, the same boy was staring back at me, he had changed into a man. He was handsome to the point where it annoyed me but I was proud of him for that.

“It’s been a while, old friend.” He calmly said, with a soft smile.

I was at a loss for words, tears again fell down my cheeks and my knees failed to gather strength.

“You are still the same emotional baby as always, since the day I met you.” The man continued, squatted and stroked my head before speaking again. “Yet, I am glad that you haven’t changed.”

His gentle hand stopped, the sounds of his feet pressing against the invisible platform made me look up.

There was no expression of features but only his mouth. Though I had seen the memories of him, I couldn’t recall what his features were any longer.

The man who was looking at the distance, in hopes that he left something or was searching for something, reflected in his smile when he faced me again with that gentle same smile.

“I’ve come for you my friend, he let me come here for you since I know how much fear you have of being alone in this place.”

Again. I couldn’t say a word, but only apologizing in my mind, hoping that he would hear them. In hopes he would forgive me for not being there when he needed me the most.

He smoothly laid his hand in front of me. I was hesitant at first but he encouraged me by moving his hand up and down, like a bait in a fishing pole for fish. When I touched his hand, it was rough. Full of hard and tough decisions in this lifetime. At that very moment, I realized how much in pain he was in all those years that I couldn’t see because of the blurry filter in them.

When he saw this, he pulled me to a hug.

I’m sorry…

“You don’t need to be. Everything that I had done was by my own decision, for the greater good for all of you who are precious to me.”

I’m very sorry. Forgive me. I should’ve lent you a hand during those moments of grief.

“I forgive you, my dearest friend. But in exchange, I can’t take you yet. You must go back to them. Where you belong and to your dear ones. While you do that, I will wait for you here, as long as it takes for you to complete your mission.”

You can’t do that, you must go back. It may take time for me to finish all of this, and in that time you might not see the end of this place. I tried to explain to him, I tried to reason with him that being in this place, all alone again without anyone to reach out was a torture and something he shouldn’t do again.

But he disagreed with me. A simple shake of dissent with the gesture of his head.

“If it takes me millenia or billions of years in this place, it is a simple price to pay so that you won’t be here alone. I won’t let you arrive at this place alone, not again.”

I wanted to continue this argument but it was futile, knowing him, he would dismiss it by saying something else.

“You must go. Your time has not yet come. Go and accomplish your goal, I will watch over you and cheer you on when no one will. And…”

His smooth and soft voice stopped, looking at the ground even though I couldn’t see his eyes, I knew what he was going to say.

“Guide me to the right track, I know that you have a lot on your plate but when you can. Please guide him, he will break his own spirit for the well being of others, he will not be in his right mind. I give you permission to hit him– to hit me if other methods don’t work.”

When he finished, the smile he had, reaching his eyes which were finally able to be shown to me, had a relieved expression and gratitude.

“And remember, goodbyes and not forever.”