Eclipse

Chapter 13

★Elio★

The door closed behind us, almost, but not quite, slamming. Arino Lidin stood in front of me in silence. I felt the rush of guilt washing over me. I was ready to kill her just to follow a command. But he told me to. Why would he tell me to if I wasn't supposed to kill her? I was so confused!

"You still have a lot to learn, Elio." Arino Lidin said, his voice full of empathy at the moment. It was as if he were speaking to a child. One that still has yet to learn the ways of the world. One that still must learn both ethics and logic.

I wished I could just crawl in a hole and ignore the rest of the world. I wanted to turn invisible. I hadn't felt this amount of shame since I was just a boy.

The elder man in front of me turned, looking me in the eye. I expected to see a look of disapproval, but instead I saw the eyes of a teacher. A guardian.

Arino Lidin motioned for me to follow him, turning once more and walking down the dark street, lit with lanterns on the cobblestone pathway. The sound of chatter and mechanical tools working filled the town. Few children stood outside at the moment, but there were those that had their daughters out with them, holding their hand as they walked. Sons typically either became Soros or worked outside the home at blacksmiths and other shops. Others cut trees or did the farming in the South Side.

I followed Arino Lidin silently. He didn't speak, neither did I. I just watched the pathway in front of me. The marching of soldiers filled the air and a path cleared way. They were gone just as quickly as they came. "You know what is right and what is wrong, correct?"

I had barely even processed his voice by the time he had ended his sentence. I looked at Arino Lidin walking at my side. I looked forward again. "I do."

I could see him nod from the corner of my left eye. "So, you must know that what you were about to do was wrong. So, why did you do it?"

I was confused. Was he seriously asking me this? He gave me an order! "Well, you told me to. I can't turn down an order from someone of higher rank than me."

"Stop, Elio." His voice stayed calm. I stopped walking and faced him, putting my hands behind my back in habit. He turned to face me, hands behind his back as well. "The rule is not to always listen to orders. The rule is to serve and protect. If you get an order that contradicts the other, you don't listen to it." He sighed and looked off down the street, as the light faded the farther it shone.

"I had to learn this the hard way. Trust me." He paused before continuing. "When you were born, the king was very hesitant. He didn't like the idea of a child so powerful existing without restraints." A glazed look crossed his eyes, reminding me of someone picturing a memory. Replaying it in their mind. "He didn't believe that your mother should be able to keep you. He gave the orders for her to be..." He paused before continuing. Discomfort blanketing over his features. "Confined. All of the soldiers were out for her. And when they got to her, I was leading the group. I saw the way she cried and the way she pushed back. She was afraid for your life because she knew how bad the training could get for Soros."

Arino Lidin went silent for a bit. I didn't say anything. After a minute, he continued. "Due to her fight against the soldiers, they were supposed to kill her. I was right there with my sword to her throat. But when I looked into her eyes I saw-" He stopped, eyes widening. It was as if he were about to say something that were a secret. The fear in his eyes was almost palpable. He shook his head just slightly. "I didn't do it. I broke an order. We, instead, seized your mother and brought the two of you to have an audience with the king. After seeing my rebellion, he decided that it would be better to let you still be in her life. She was a lot more willing to let you train and it did wonders for your mental health."