The Exiled King | ✔

Chapter 19 - A Special Bond

Eryian came to visit Lirya again, as he had done for the past couple of days. He sat by her bedside and told her stories.

Today, he spoke about his memories of growing up in the ivory palace.

"It was nice," He began, unsure of how best to describe his childhood, "Great-grandma Ariane, grandma Elena and grandpa Maten... also uncle Beron were all very kind and loving towards me. I'm sure you met at least some of them when you were there too, and you'll definitely see them again sometime too. You should make sure to greet them when you do..."

The other guardians think she'll stay asleep for a long time, but I'm sure she will wake soon. I'm sure she had the same dream as I did and she's probably listening right now.

"When you wake up, you can ask me anything you want to know about our family," Eryian promised, then switched topics and began to describe the things he'd learnt.

It was easier to talk about what he'd learnt than his childhood. He was already aware that his upbringing had been very different and he didn't attach any particularly strong emotions to his memories as a child, but he enjoyed learning new things.

An hour passed quickly, and a soft knock on the door announced the presence of Lirya's maid. She opened the door quietly and slipped inside, giving Eryian a bow. No words were exchanged, but he knew it was her way of informing him that his visiting time was over.

He flashed her a warm smile and stood up, walking towards her. Before she could react, his hand shot out and touched her forehead and he mumbled words in Ovaal as he injected his mana into her. She shuddered and her eyes rolled up in her head, then returned to normal and he removed his hand and stepped away.

"Don't let anyone else in today. Tell them she can't be visited," Eryian instructed her, and she nodded.

The brainwashing spell was a tricky one. It wore off easily, so he renewed it daily. It was also limited in what could be ordered and the slightest infraction to that limit broke the spell as well. However, it sufficed for this small command.

Eryian stepped out of the room and into the hallway, where the other guardians stood waiting.

He gave them a friendly smile and said, "The maid is attending to my sister right now so she must not be disturbed... you understand, of course?"

"How strange that Lirya is unable to be seen after you've visited her," Leus remarked mildly.

He's perceptive, Eryian thought.

Eryian kept the smile on his face and replied, "I must have awful timing with my visits then. She's my sister... I can't bear not seeing her everyday."

"Well then, I'll see you around," Eryian inclined his head and turned and left.

He won't be able to act on his suspicions without proof and he won't be able to find any proof, He thought, the brainwashing spell is nearly indetectable.

<--<< >>-->

Taryn disintegrated over and over again, while Lirya could do nothing but watch. Again and again, she was forced to watch as her foolish actions condemned him to death.

If only I hadn't provoked the creator god!

"He chose to protect you."

Lirya spun around and saw Aeliyas standing a bit behind her.

"You said you'd give me time!" She cried, stumbling a step back from the goddess.

Aeliyas nodded, "And you will have it. But that is not why I am here... in your subconsciousness... again."

The goddess continued, "It is time for you to wake up, Lirya. You must not let the death of one mortal condemn the rest."

"He died because of me! It's all my fault!" Lirya screamed.

Aeliyas strode over to Lirya and grabbed her face gently but firmly and made her watch the same scene that had tormented her constantly.

"Look! Your grief has clouded your memory," The goddess said quietly, the power in her words like the sting of a whip.

Lirya watched with wide eyes as she provoked the creator god, then as Taryn refused to step aside and let the creator god take her life.

"Do you see now?" Aeliyas asked, her intense crimson eyes burning, "He chose his fate! It was you or him... and he chose himself."

"It should have been me!" Lirya cried, her voice breaking as her eyes watered.

There it was. The guilt that had been eating her alive, broken down into five words.

I was stupid and he paid the price.

It should have been me... I'm supposed to die anyway...

"Foolish child!" Aeliyas scolded, "He saved all of Dargon when he saved you from the creator god... I'm sure of it. I suspect the lost power returned to him when the mortals who held it left behind their mortal bodies and transitioned to the Ether. What he did- complete erasure would probably have eradicated the lost power with it."

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?!" Lirya hissed, "Knowing that if I hadn't chosen to do that... he'd still be alive?"

Aeliyas let out a soft sigh and clasped Lirya's shoulders with a firm grip, meeting her eyes.

"Live with your regret, but don't let it consume you. You are stronger than that," The goddess whispered.

It seemed almost as if understanding shone in her eyes... as if she, too, held regrets.

Strangely, Lirya drew strength from the goddess' words. It felt like she'd let go of a breath she hadn't been holding... relieving, yet daunting. To move on felt like forgetting Taryn Aegivyl, but she knew she couldn't continue to wallow in grief either.

Aeliyas released her and took a step back, saying, "It seems my words have resonated with you. The rest is up to you, Lirya."

The surroundings began to disintegrate like Taryn had, but the feeling that accompanied it this time was not as frightening. The goddess disappeared and Lirya's dreamscape slowly melted away into a familiar crimson-tinged darkness.

She opened her eyes slowly and saw a room lit brightly with sunlight, then her brother's face in front of her.

His eyes were red and puffy and his face was the picture of concern as he leaned in and wrapped her in a hug.

He was strangely emotional, but Lirya chalked it up to her not having known him for long.

She looked around the room, finding it empty. A small part of her felt a twinge of disappointment that the other guardians had not been there. Perhaps they had just been unlucky and left as she woke, she reasoned.

<--<< >>-->

What do you think Eryian is trying to do?

Fun Fact: The initial concept of this story didn't have a concrete 'villain'. There was a mysterious villain (who was later changed to become Garyth Herus), but no creator god either. A lot can change in almost 7 years.

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