TBATE - What if Tessia was the legacy ? - The legacy of it all

So far away, but still so clear

{Arthur Leywin}

Sitting comfortably on the couch in the carriage, I mindlessly used my left hand to slowly caress Sylv's head while looking out from the window to the rocky, mountainous terrain while hearing the far away sound of the waves crashing against the coast.

-Aren't you excited to see the sea for the first time?" Quizzed Tessia who was sited right next to me, causing me to take a glimpse in her direction, only to be met by her bright shining eyes eagerly waiting for an answer.

-I already saw it plenty of time in my past life." I answered dismissively in a tone that came out a bit harsher than I meant it to while jerking my head to look out from the window once more.

-I'm sorry mister: 'I travelled the entire world twice over', I should have known that you were insensible to any kind of beauty." She shot back in an exaggerated tone, trying to get a reaction out of me.

Not feeling like indulging her today, I kept looking out from the window, catching occasional glimpses of the sea through the patch of boulders, pike and stone arches populating the area.

As the sounds of the waves crashing, then slowly being pulled back before repeating got louder, it didn't make me feel any better, nor did it make me feel worse. I was completely indifferent to it.

"Why am I in such a bad mood?" I mentally asked myself as I continued to stare without any real purpose from the window. "Maybe not bad, but... dull?" I quizzed, reflecting on how little I had been reacting to Tess's banters, or Sylvie's games. "Maybe I'm just tired?" I concluded as I felt my eyes slowly start to close themselves, my eyelids becoming heavier by the second, while I didn't feel the need to fight it.

-It is necessary, King Grey." Argued one of my advisors in a firm tone.

-It is of utmost importance to bring stability to our county." Added another one. "If a spy like her is allowed to continue to leak our secretes to the world, we will look even weaker." He concluded while placing his hand on his heart. "It has to be done."

-You are right, Calimirian, but we cannot simply execute a journalist." I counter argued, stressing the last word. "What would the people think?" I asked rhetorically.

-What would they think if we didn't?" Snapped back, another advisor, almost cutting me off. "To show the people of our county, your county, that you are our king, that you fight for us, it is necessary to kill her!"

-She is a traitor of the worst kind-

-If you don't more will follow, people are already-

-She was always suspicious, we shouldn't-

Immediately started shouting the members of the small assembly all at the same time as I shivered in my throne while hearing them scream louder and louder, hatred written all over their face as they threw more and more accusation, pushed more and more their bloodthirsty rhetoric, their voices echoing through the room, making it sound like the sound was coming from everywhere at once. This overwhelming wave only became greater as they spoke louder to get heard over their own echoes, until the room suddenly quitted down a little, only to start shacking from an ungodly roar crashing down against the walls as they all screamed: "Kill her!"

-Art!" Shouted Tess as I woke up in a panic, covered in sweat, my heart beating against my chest while I immediately moved my hand to catch my head, without mentioning the fact that I felt like throwing up.

-I'm ; okay..." I answered between my gasp for air as I extended an arm toward Tess, as if to tell her to stay away.

-You don't look okay." She answered, her deep worry for me evident in her voice as she grabbed onto my trembling arm and gently pushed it back against myself while getting closer.
"Your face is pale, you're shacking and sweating, I'm not even sure you can stay sited properly." She answered as she leaned against me, or should I say, had me lay against her while she took me in a soft hug.
"You don't have to be strong and put up an act with me, you can tell me what you feel, how you feel."