In an Instant

15. Where our mercy is- (37-39)

So sorry guys! I've been MIA for so long but surprise! I'm actually alive! Enjoy this chapter! I think it's pretty fun? In general? The only deaths mentioned are in past tense?

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"Yes, young master Eric. I hope you have been well."

Neo greeted Eric that way before also greeting young lady Amiru and young master Gilbert. He then saw them all standing in front of Cale, and clicked his tongue.

'I guess they are protecting him. Even if he is trash, he is still on their side after all.'

Neo decided not to do anything after seeing the three of them protecting Cale. 

-

Kim Rok Soo averts his eyes from Cale*'s, trying his hardest to not impose his hatred at his own younger self onto this ignorant but innocent young master.

His eyes then catch on the screen.

'Would you look at that.' He thinks, jaws subtly tightening.

An alive "Northeastern trio". 

An alive "Northeastern trio".

All of whom were protecting the trashy Cale Henituse who, in another life, would have only cared about them when they were dead.

Why is he so affected at the sight of them, Kim Rok Soo wonders.

After all, it's not like they had ever been particularly close to Cale*. 

(It's not like Cale* had ever let them close either.)

These people were, at best, his childhood friends who grew apart with age. 

So why?

Was it because outside of his family, they were the closest thing he had to friends? Was it because of the letters he later found, all promising sanctuary and support and love and vengeance, all stamped with their family seals, discarded by the couriers who had abandoned their duty and fled away from war?

Was it because they had all tried, no matter how ineffectively, to protect the vulnerable, stupid, orphan Cale*, even when he had nothing to give?

Perhaps had the war been kinder, Cale* would have received those letters as intended, and would have accepted their help after some agonizing deliberations. The barely-there friendship between the four of them would have been rekindled as they plotted and planned and relied on each other as they fought to protect their loved ones from their enemies. 

Perhaps Cale* would have discovered Amiru*'s hidden fierceness when they planned the deaths of their mutual enemies.

Perhaps Cale* would have found solace in Gilbert*'s steady perseverance in the time they spent together.

Perhaps Cale* would have wielded the sword alongside Eric*.

But instead, Cale* only found out about Amiru*'s bloody fierceness when he saw her grinning as she died through the tiny screen of the video recording device.

Cale* only found out about Gilbert*'s stubborn perseverance when he saw him staying defiantly silent the entire time the poison ate him alive through that same video recording device.

And Cale* had only found out about Eric*'s talent in the sword when he found his corpse with a sword in hand, a trial of devastation in his wake.

-

Eric noticed Neo's intent, and slowly turned around to look at Cale.

Neo's gaze turned to Cale as well.