Silent Ruler [DNF]

Chapter 21: A proper goodbye

"What!?" Dream erupted after George finished telling his idea.

He sighed tiredly while rubbing his forehead. "You got a better idea, Dream?" George countered passive aggressively.

Dream stood up from the chair a walked closer. "So, you're telling me that you "plan" is to send us all back and pretend to prepare an attack while you destroy said weapon alone?"

George gritted his teeth and aggressively ran a hand through his hair. "Again – Do. You. Have. A. better. Idea?" 

Dream began wandering back and forth while muttering something incoherent.

"It will force Ethan to disclose his hidden weapon, which is our only chance at destroying it." George continued.

Dream stopped dead in his tracks. "And you believe that you can force your brother to disarm something that will give him a chance to conquer the forest, a task so many before him has failed to do?"

Dream's aggressive tone and undermining of George's abilities caused anger to rise in his body. Abruptly he stood up from the bed and closed the distant to the blonde. George gave Dream a challenging look. "You're still to present a better idea. I know that I'm hardly your favorite person, but I know what I'm doing. I know that I hurt your feeling by not being honest, but you must understand that this is bigger than us." George responded fiercely.

Dream scoffed condescendingly. "I've trained you for weeks, you're mediocre at best in all form of combat and with that 'thing' present, your channeling is practically worthless." 

Frustration arose at Dream's stubbornness. He knew that he was doing the right thing and even with that 'thing' hindering his ability to channel energy, George was confident that he could make his brother destroy it. Something changed that morning when George sat down by the tree and made it catch fire while rain poured on top of it. That beautiful voice that rang through his head occasionally had been highly present, not always in the form of words. Sometimes it was just a feeling that guided his decisions.

George was convinced that he could, and needed, to destroy it, but also aware of what it would cost.

Your end will be their beginning.

No one knew about that little detail from the book, and he intended to keep it that way. George had never been firm believer in any form of higher power. But in one way or another he knew that nature would ensure balance and he was prepared to pay whatever prize necessary.

"You're yet to provide us with another plan." George said lowly, still glaring at the blonde.

Dream glared back and the green eyes held just as much intensity. His mouth opened and closed multiple times until he frustratedly ran a hand through the blonde locks. Dream's face got even closer, his eyes never leaving George's. "You can send the others away, but I'll be staying. Make me your personal guard. That way there's at least one of us who can handle a weapon." Dream hissed.

That Dream presence, and especially when he used that threating low voice still affected George so deeply was embarrassing. George swallowed and considered Dream offer. The blonde was the most stubborn motherfucker that George ever encountered and knew that this was about as close to an agreement they'd get.

"Fine." George murmured through gritted teeth.

He left his staring contest with Dream and went over to Bad that still sat on the bed. "Bad, I need you to get you and the others out of here and head to the forest and make sure that they prepare for an inevitable fight in close future."

Sadness and happiness both laced his old teacher's expression. Bad suddenly placed his hands on George's shoulders. "I've always known you were destined for greatness. And if this is the last time we'll see each other, I want you to know that it's been a privilege being your teacher and I'm so proud of you, George."

All the years they'd spent together, and it was only the second time Bad ever referred to him with his birthname. His heart ached like never before.

This was a proper goodbye.

George couldn't help himself and hugged Bad tightly, knowing that it broke so many etiquettes. But it wasn't like it they hadn't broken (or planning on) breaking more rules soon. A simple hug felt harmless compared to what's to come.

""Your end will be their beginning."" Bad whispered with a tone dripping in the deepest form of sorrow.

George shockingly pulled away. "You know?" He whispered. Bad nodded and gave George a look drenched in sympathy.

Tears threating pricked at George's eyes. Then this was a definitive goodbye. In the past, George knew that he would've demanded answers, but nowadays he had made peace with the fact that some things didn't need an explanation.

In the end, meeting is merely the beginning of separation.

Bad had served a crucial part in George's story but there's never a guarantee that everyone's going to stay with you forever.

George cleared his throat that had thickened from all the built-up emotions. "We better get the gear ready so that we can evacuate the others." Bad was right on it and headed out, presumable to get harness and rope so they could climb out the window in similar fashion to how George had done.

He glanced at the window and saw that the sun was almost gone, making it a hell of a lot easier for them to escape unnoticed.

"Everything okay?" Dream questioned carefully. George guessed that he must've picked up on the saddened atmosphere.

George refused to cry in front of Dream due to the tension between them. Therefore, he kept his focus on the last bit of light. "It will be eventually." He said in a strained tone.

A warm hand hesitantly landed on his shoulder. No words were exchanged but the gesture was oddly comforting.

The door barged in seconds later by a furious Sapnap and a confused Skeppy. "You can't send us back!" Sapnap protested.

George met the ravenette's intense stare. "Then what exactly do you suggest we do?"

"I– Well – I don't know! But something different!" George was about to reply but Dream was faster.

"Seriously Sapnap. We need someone back there to protect our home or else there won't be much to go back to."

Bad was already preparing the safety lines and after some back and forth bickering between Dream and Sapnap. The ravenette caved.

The sun was now completely gone and one by one, the three guys hauled themselves out the window and landed safety on the ground.

Soon, only George and Dream remained. George was in deep thoughts whilst his hands intensely gripped the edge of the window. He knew how to get Ethan to destroy said thing, but also feared the consequences. Sure, there was a good chunk of "bad" people living inside the kingdom's borders. But George refused to think that they were all bad, mostly just brainwashed.

A crashing sound got George startled. He stirred around but found no source. Only when he looked back at the windowsill did he spot the broken stone.

"Your brother seems to have miscalculated how much he needs to dial that thing up." Dream said half-jokingly.

George wiped his dusty hands on his pants. He laughed dryly. "Guess it's time we begin our mission."