Tbate: Resurgence

-Chapter 4 : Right or Wrong-

Virion Earlith

I made my way through the academy's corridors, the quietness unsettling. These halls have seen decades of change, but something about today feels heavy—a weight I can't ignore. I’ve come to speak with Tessia. Since Arthur’s departure, she has been distancing herself, consumed by the chaos of her own emotions. She’s neglecting her responsibilities as student council president, hiding away from the world. Not that I can blame her. The truth about Arthur—Grey, I should say—would have been enough to shake anyone.

As I approach the training room, the one that used to belong to him, I feel her mana inside. It's turbulent, restless. I pause at the door, gathering my thoughts.

"This won’t be easy". Still, I push the door open and step inside.

There she is, sitting on the floor, staring blankly into space. Her face, once so full of confidence and resolve, now shows only doubt and confusion. My heart aches to see her like this. I’ve lived far too long to be surprised by such a reaction, yet it still cuts deep.

"You've been spending a lot of time here," I say, trying to keep my voice calm. “Brooding alone won’t make things clearer, Tessia.”

She looks up, startled, before a flash of anger crosses her face. "Why are you here, Grandpa?" she snaps, turning away from me almost immediately.

Ah, the deflection. It’s easier to push me away than to confront what’s really troubling her. I move closer, studying her for a moment. "I came to talk to you," I reply. "You’ve been avoiding your duties as the student council president . I know why, but you can’t hide here forever."

Her shoulders tense up, and she shoots me a glare, though I can see the hurt behind it. "How can you expect me to just... move on after what I learned? After what he hid from us?"

I studied Tessia as she stood there, her eyes filled with hurt and confusion. I knew my words would sting, but sometimes the truth needed to be harsh. "Your reaction was... expected, given your age and inexperience," I said, keeping my voice firm.

Her shoulders tensed, and I watched the tears that threatened to spill over. "So, you're saying I was wrong to feel betrayed?" she whispered, barely keeping her voice steady.

"I’m saying you reacted as any teenager would," I continued, not letting up. This was something she needed to understand. "You were angry and hurt because you felt deceived. But life is filled with secrets, Tessia—burdens that people carry whether they want to or not. Arthur’s past is one such burden, one that was never meant for you to bear."

She flinched at my words, clearly struggling. When she finally looked up, her eyes searched mine for something, perhaps some reassurance that what she felt was justified. "How can you be so calm about it, Grandpa? How can you just accept what he is... what he was?"

I turned my gaze to the window, trying to collect my thoughts. It wasn’t that simple, not by any means, but she needed to hear it from me. "Because I’ve lived far longer than you, Tessia," I began, the memories clawing their way up from where I had buried them. "I’ve seen wars, lost loved ones, and dealt with betrayals that could break the spirit of most men. I know sincerity when I see it, a rare quality in this world, especially in someone like Arthur—or Grey, whatever name you wish to use."

I felt the weight of my past settling heavily on my shoulders. "I was a king once, too, and I made my share of mistakes. After Lania died, I spiraled into darkness, not so different from what King Grey endured. If it hadn’t been for Rinia and your parents... I might have walked that path even further."

She was quiet now, listening. Good. She needed to understand this part of me if she ever hoped to understand Arthur. "Lania died protecting me," I continued, my voice dipping into the pain of those memories. "It was during a war instigated by the previous human king, a war that claimed far too many lives. Her sacrifice saved my life, and for a long time, I wished it hadn't. I was lost. But I had Rinia and your parents around me who brought me back, who reminded me of my duty and my worth."