Secrets, Gossips, and Rumors

Chapter 23

Lysth was right.

Gos was standing in the amphi-theater. The same place a few days ago, Serca was found guilty. Except the audience's mood wasn't all dark and mysterious. Everyone looked genuinely happy and excited to be here. They all had forgotten about Serca, probably even the fact she had existed.

Standing in front of him was his Dad. The same guy who never bothered to show his face towards Gos after Serca got to become the Chosen One. The least he could've done was send a card, or check on how he was doing. But he couldn't even do that.

No, the guy didn't even deserve to be called his dad.

During the past almost two years, Gos would've been happy with the setting. This was exactly how it should've gone 19 months ago. But hadn't gone like that. But now, he was finally getting what he deserved. He should've been happy to be here, in this exact setting.

But he wasn't. Not even remotely excited.

"-was found guilty, we now need a new person to keep all our private information safe," the King turned to Gos, smiling. "Do you, Gos, hereby agree to the terms and take the title and all the responsibility that comes with being the Chosen One?"

Before, 20 months ago, he would've answered without hesitation. The answer would've been yes without a heartbeat. But now, Gos found himself hesitating, choosing his words carefully, weighing both sides.

Now, everyone is caring for me and being happy, only because Serca left. And Lysth's little spell broke. Still, they have no choice but to cheer for me, he looked around, at everyone's fake expressions of joy.

But even when Serca was there... she was the only person who cared about me. She was the only person who treated me fairly. Everyone else didn't. Serca was the only kind person to me, the only one who cared. Even when Mom and Dad weren't in touch with me.

After realizing the hard truth, guilt filled his stomach, tying knots inside it. And this is how I decide to repay her. By getting her banished.

He looked at the eager faces, his "father", the King, and the glittering Knowledge Chest. Lysth's words stuck out at him, echoing in his mind. It had been since he'd been standing on the auditorium stage.

Whether you like it or not, you will give it up. Lysth's words repeated over and over again. And guess what? It was right.

"No," Gos said, taking a deep breath. He repeated it once more, with more confidence, for the entire kingdom. "No, I do not accept the title and responsibilities of becoming the Chosen One. In fact, I step down from being the next Trust Keeper."

Everyone whispered among themselves, the same kind of negative attention Gos got during the past almost-two years. But he'd gotten used to it and didn't care anymore. If someone was going to whisper about him, he'd rather have them do it in front of his face, not behind his back.

Plus, it was the least he could do for his sister.

"No?" King Rhon asked, apparently not expecting this answer to come out of Gos. He turned to Gos's not-father. "Then... then who'll be the one to store all our private information?"

The question was aimed at the person holding the Knowledge Chest next to him, the person who definitely was Gos's father. But Gos answered for him, deciding to spare that person from the humiliation.

"We'll keep our own private information from now on," Gos answered, loud and clear for the entire kingdom to here. "No more Chosen One's from now on. After what happened with my sister, it'll be too risky."

That part was a lie. Probably. But the rest of them didn't need to know that.

Gos continued on with his inspirational "speech". "From now own, we can't be dependent on someone else to keep our private information. Instead, we'll be the ones who keep it for ourselves."

A ripple of uneasiness went through the crowd. Everyone looked at each other, turning to their right and left. Gos looked at his "father", the guy holding the Knowledge Chest, and plucked it out of his hands. He lifted the Chest in the air, raising it higher and higher until Gos's arms extended all the way.

It all happened so fast. With one swift move, with his fingers retreating back into his hands... he dropped it. Everyone watched in horror, mouths agape, as the Knowledge Chest hit the floor, smashing into a billion pieces.

Nothing special happened. Except for the fact that the entire kingdom seemed to have gotten some lost memories, some lost private information that had been trapped inside the chest. Out of the corner of his eyes, Gos saw the terror in King Rhon's expression, but Gos didn't care. This was the best thing for the entire kingdom.

"From now on," Gos said to the audience, ending his speech. "Our private information will be known as secrets. And we are responsible for our own secrets."

The word is a tribute to my sister, Serca, he thought to himself, but didn't dare put it into words for the kingdom to hear. That, he decided, was going to be one of his secrets.

He looked at the roof of the ceiling, as if looking directly into the sky, into the world. Serca, wherever you are, I'm sorry for doing all this. You may not forgive me, and I accept that. But... I hope you're okay and doing well.

Letting out a sigh, he turned back to the audience. Taking a deep breath, he let out a wide, genuine smile for what seemed to be for the first time since 20 months.

This was a beginning for a new life. For a fact, Gos knew what he had done today, a few minutes ago, had changed the world. It would change the world. Forever.

For the better, or for the worse.

~~~

A/N:

This is it! The last chapter! 

Sorry if it seems pretty anti-climactic. But in a way, I think this is a good ending, a nice way to wrap it all up.

Before you leave, there's an Epilogue, which is the next chapter. That is the final chapter.

Also, I've asked this twice before, but once more since this is the end of the book: Who was your favorite character? Is it the same character from the beginning/middle of the book?

Have a good Day/Night!