Phoenix: The nuruk beast.

Chapter Eighteen: A New Beginning

Lydia sat with Evelyn in the castle's training ground, the early morning sun shone brightly over their heads slowly melting the snow on the grounds.

"It seems winter's coming to an end." Evelyn said,

"I guess so." Lydia rested her elbows on her knees as she bowed her head. Her meeting with Aldrich the night before had left her in shambles. The king then ordering that it be publicly announced that she was the one who killed it made her feel even worse.

"You know I thought you being quiet for once would be a blessing from the gods, but seeing it now, I find it just as unbearable as when you talk." Lydia ignored Evelyn's remark at her, she straightened herself and finally asked,

"Do you think slage was right, that I should have killed him?"

"Well of course I think you should have killed him, but I know Aldrich, he would have done the same as you."

"So why did he—"

"He probably said that out of grief Lydia, he did kill his best friend with his own hands."

"I think slage was the reason."

"What?" Lydia's gaze stayed fixed ahead as she said;

"I think Slage was the reason William had partial control over the nuruk."

"I looked into it, turns out he came from a broken home, his mother never even wanted to have him, his half-brother however was mothers' favourite, so after he died things only got worse. Those two had been friends since early childhood." she leaned backwards on her hands and looked to the sky, "Their friendship was probably the only thing making him hold on to his humanity."

"And all we did was separate them."

"Talk about bad luck."

Aldrich knelt by the tree where he had just buried William, it was the tree he always read by and also where he always met him. The snow atop the leaves of the trees had begun melting. He looked up at it and admired the new leaves which blossomed.

"Are you okay?" Archer who had just arrived asked him, Aldrich dabbed the small tears of his eyes and said to his father;

"I'm fine" he looked at the grave stone which was but two rocks atop each other on what looked like a mound of sand, compared to his step brother's funeral, Williams' was dull and empty. "No one even came."

"Well I can't say I'm surprised."

Aldrich's eyes narrowed at hearing Archer's response, "Why would you say that?" he said;

"I've watched you two since you were little, and the same way he was your only friend, where you his."

"But he wasn't like me, he was...better."

"If we are the only two who can see him for that, then we are the only ones who deserve to attend."

"You really think so?"

"I'm certain." Aldrich took out the dagger that housed the nuruk demon, it looked more ornate now that it wasn't with William for some reason.

"I know there wasn't a choice but, it still hurts that he died in my hands."

"It's normal to feel this way but there wasn't an easy choice, you have friends who understand that don't you?"

"I don't think I want to do this anymore, if I'm going have to go through this every time I walk their path, I rather not follow Lydia and Evelyn anymore."

Archer sat beside his son and said, "You are still a terrible liar."

"What are you talking about, I really don't—"

"Something had changed about you Aldrich, I couldn't see it before but it is as if a fire has been kindled in you." He took the dagger, placed it in Aldrich's hand and closed it firmly. "You may see it as the end for you, but it is just the beginning son." A smile appeared on his face as he said, "you may deny it now, but those two are a part of your life now."

Lydia breathed slowly as she aimed a crossbow at a deer. Right before she released the arrow, one of her daggers fell from her right arm alerting the deer. Just before it ran away, another dagger came flying at its head and killing it. Lydia whirled her head round to see who threw it and saw Aldrich wearing all his gear,

"Slage?"

"Who thought I would be killing your game for you." Aldrich said as he pulled out the dagger,

"What are you doing here?"

"Came to return your dagger."

He handed the dagger she had lent him when he killed an enchanted doe back to her, still surprised by his appearance, Lydia fixed a confused gaze at him even as she took her dagger.

"I came to talk to you." Aldrich said as he put the deer on his shoulder.

"Where are you taking that?" Lydia asked in a faint voice.

"Well I assumed you didn't have another secret enchanted place so I thought I'd help you take it back to the castle." she still stood motionless, surprised at Aldrich's friendly attitude towards her, Aldrich started moving towards the castle as he said over his shoulder,

"Come on." Silence fell for a while as they walked back to the castle until Lydia then finally said to him.

"I'm sorry about--"

"Don't be, the fault was still partly mine. If I had been more attentive to him, he might still be with us."

"He was lucky to have you as a friend."

"And I him." Lydia's face suddenly brightened when a thought came to her.

"Lydia?" Aldrich called,

"Yes slage?"

"If it's okay I would like to start working with you and Evelyn, see where it takes me."

"We look forward to working with you Slage." Her eyes sparkled as she added, "And if you want, I can teach you how to use that sword we found."

"I do like the sound of that."

"It won't be easy though, I'm a harsh mentor."

"I doubt you'd surprise me, Lydia."