Brothers II

#37 Odie's Ending

Seran stood there, in front of Odie in the middle of a green field as rain poured down at them, traveling from their fists and to the tip of their swords. “So, it has come to this, huh?” Odie said to him with a blank face. He looks numb. “You brought this moment to us, to the world… Perhaps I was at fault at times but… Why are you doing this?” Odie lunged at Seran, sword hitting each other as the men from afar cheered at them. “You know the fuck why.” Seran pushed Odie away. “You know Seran, you didn’t have to get involved in this. You could have just stayed silent in the side lines but, you really had to play hero.” Odie quickly moved to his side, hitting his armoured head with the handle of his sword. Seran backed away, his ears ringing from the impact on his head. “Aren’t you proud? You trained me well, dad.” Odie chuckled. Seran really wished that wasn’t a mockery, he probably would’ve been happy… As weird as it sounds, Odie is like his son… What happened? Where did he go wrong? …Is it what I said while Odie is mourning? Am I really the reason why all of this happened? He looked up as Odie was charging towards him. A very different person than the Odie he knew, the cocky, funny, vulgar, smart, strong and kind Odie he helped grow, he protected since childhood… And the change started when Prince Aurus died… Probably– No doubt worsened from how he just couldn’t just let Odie have his peace mourning his lover… He’s not an understanding person. Never was. He barely had a childhood, never had a lover. He thought that it wouldn’t be a problem but, here’s the result of his inexperience, death, war and the ruin of a person who he cared the most, Odie… He closed his eyes, tears falling as he waited for his deserved death which he caused… …There’s nothing. “What’re you doing, dumbass?” Seran opened his eyes and saw those brown eyes under the clear sky. “Odie…” Seran fell to his knees, crying. “I’m sorry… I’m sorry. This is all my fault…” “No… don’t be… I– I was… I wasn’t your fault… There’s many reasons…” Seran heard a gentle laugh. “But I regret nothing… I think I’ve done enough… I’m done… I feel peaceful now. I’m happy.” Happy? Seran looked up and found those brown eyes again. He’s crying, a smile on his face. A smile he had never seen for so long. “Aurus told me it’s enough… I can go and live with him, now… Thank you, Seran… You’re the father I wished for.” “Huh?” Odie’s hand reached into his pocket, bringing out a bottle. “Odie, what’s that?” Seran stood up but he's too late. Odie immediately drank the poison which he could only guess was a hemlock… “Odie, what have you done?!” Seran grabbed Odie, finally seeing how bright his eyes are but how empty it is at the same time. Odie fell to the ground, in Seran’s arms. “I love you, Seran, the same amount as Aurus but in a different way. I will do the same if you were in Aurus’ place too, probably more but… I’ve done enough… I’m happy. Aurus is happy.” “No, no, no, Odie, listen to me–” “I can’t and I won't… This is how my story ends, death and love for a lover and love for a father… Thank you, Seran…” Those lights finally left Odie’s eyes… Seran just sat there speechless, tears running down his face as Odie laid dead in his arms…