Legends of Ardonia 3: Color Balance

Chapter 20: Reflection

Killic sat on his couch in deep thought, staring blankly at the fire crackling in the fireplace. He had made a huge milestone in his goal - killing Emmilia Prime, yet why did he feel so...wrong? Her words rung in his head: 'Your reign of terror...your reign of terror...your reign of terror...' He tried pushing his thoughts aside, but they always came back, as if she were a ghost haunting him. Opal came up behind him and tenderly massaged his shoulders.

Opal: "Honey, I wanted to talk to you about something."

Killic: "Hm? What is it, dear?"

Opal: "Well...I'm not sure if continuing the Color Balance is right..."

Killic: "What? How could you say that? I defeated one of the most dangerous Ardoni out there and you think it's wrong?"

Opal: "She spared our sons, Killic. She said other Ardoni wouldn't have, but she did."

Killic: "You're just traumatized, my dear, and I get why. But with the Color Balance, any Ardoni attacks on humans will be over. This organization is going to make Ardonia a safer place. Why don't you trust me?"

Opal: "I do, Killic honey, I do."

Killic: "Then?"

Opal: "What if all we're doing is angering them? What if they come after our sons again?"

Killic: "Believe me, they won't. And if they do, then they'll have to face their worst nightmare."

Opal let out a worried sigh. Killic put his hand on her chin and gently made her face him.

Killic: "Do you know what it was like for me to pull you and Jian out of the rubble in the war? Do you have any idea of the fear I had thinking I was only pulling your corpses?"

His voice wavered as he remembered his horrible memory as a Conchord soldier.

Killic: "Jian was just a child, Opal. And I thought I lost him. I thought I lost you. But the gods had mercy on us, and by a miracle, we all survived. Opal, I know men who were not as lucky in the war. Men who lost everything but had to keep on living by themselves. As long as the Ardoni are using Ardonia as their playground and making a mess of things, no one is safe. The Color Balance will stop that."

He leaned over to her and gave her a kiss. She leaned into it too, a little more at ease.

Killic: "Don't worry about a thing, darling. I'll handle everything. We'll be fine. You know I'll do anything to protect you and our sons, because nothing's more important."

He then stood up.

Killic: "I've got to get some sleep. I can't be late for my speech at Crown Peak tomorrow. Good night, my dear."

Opal: "Good night. I'll be right there."

He went in the direction of their bedroom and laid down to rest. His mind started whirling with thoughts again. First, Emmilia's words, then Opal's doubts. He had a hard time drifting off to sleep. Just down the hallway, Opal looked into Harley's room, where the little kid lay in his bed, sound asleep. She went down to another door and looked in to see Jian sleeping in his bed. Opal's mind also raced with thoughts, mostly glad that her sons were alive.

The sun rose cheerfully over Ardonia, birds singing their morning songs in the Conchord forestry. Footsteps hit the ground heavily as a figure ran through a bush, quickly being followed by many more. Enair half-stumbled half-ran through the forest, brushing aside low hanging branches and leaves. Color Balance soldiers shouted behind her, a few Droug bullets whizzing by her head. She emerged at the borders of Sendaria, quickly turning west as the Color Balance soldiers emerged shortly afterwards. A bullet plinked against her spine and Enair gritted her teeth as the metal jostled from the impact. The soldiers set their sights on her when a messenger bird landed on the arm of one of the soldiers. He quickly unraveled the message it had and read the paper before holding up his fist. The soldiers lowered their guns, a bit confused.