The Exiled King | ✔

Chapter 21 - A Choice Or A Duty?

Lirya sat in the dining room, eating some soup with a side of bread, when the door swung open and the other guardians filed in. She looked up and gave them a small smile.

"Are you feeling better, Lirya?" Leus asked her, his eyes filled with what seemed to be concern.

No, it was probably not concern, as her brother had said none of them had visited her while she was bedridden.

"Yeah, I'm fine," She mumbled, avoiding his gaze and taking a big bite of her bread.

She wanted to ask why they didn't come to see her. Did they blame her for Taryn's death? Did they consider her a burden?

Fearful of what the answer might be if she asked, she stayed silent.

Leus paused for a moment, then said, "Well, we'll be meeting with King Adrian to discuss our next move tomorrow over lunch..."

He trailed off, with a small smile. It was an unspoken, open invitation. It was her choice if she wanted to join them for it.

"I'll be there," She answered, nodding, and Leus returned her nod before leaving. The others also followed suit, and before long it was just Lirya left in the large dining room, sitting at a table far too large.

She ate in silence for a couple of minutes, before she heard the door open quietly, then click shut. Lirya looked up and saw Eryian at the door.

As happy as she was to see him, her mind was whirling with questions. The one at the forefront of her thoughts was whether he'd had the same dream as she had. The one where Aeliyas told them to throw away their lives like they weren't also mortal like all the people on Dargon they were supposed to save. Like their lives weren't worth as much.

Eryian approached her and was first to speak.

"That goddess came to you too, didn't she?" He said, more than asked.

Lirya nodded, conflicted feelings warring within her. She finished up her meal and pushed the plates aside, then voiced her frustrations.

"Don't you think it's really unfair?" She burst out, "That we out of anyone... have to die to save the world?"

Eryian looked at her with a strange expression for a moment, before his face morphed into a sad smile.

"I can see how you'd think so," He responded smoothly, "But think about it... we're the only ones who can save the world! No one... not even the gods have the power to save the world! But we do! Right now, we have more power than the gods..."

"But we have to die, Eryian!" Lirya protested.

Death was no light matter. Death was final. Death was eternal. And a mortal's natural instinct was to preserve their one precious life. The idea of having to willingly give it up was terrifying.

Eryian lowered his gaze to meet hers and said in a more reassuring tone, "I know it's not the best situation, but I've lived in the Ether. It's a really nice place... basically paradise! Death doesn't have to be the end... It could be the beginning!"

Lirya hesitated. She wanted to believe his words, but every instinct screamed at her that her life was precious and she just couldn't bring herself to do it.

As if sensing her hesitation, Eryian continued, his voice more firm... colder, "It's the only way... the goddess said so herself! It's not a choice, it's a duty!"

His words stung, but there was some truth to them.

"But I don't want to die," She whispered.

In a softer tone, Eryian said, "Believe me, I hate this too! I'm just trying to see the good side of this, but I don't want it any more than you do."

Lirya couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about Eryian, but he was the only one who understood her struggle and she trusted him.

<--<< >>-->

Pelos appeared on Dargon that afternoon. His mortal body simply appeared in King Adrian's study, scaring the life out of the occupants. Leus, who was conversing with Adrian at the time, recognised the god and bowed respectfully.

"Lord Pelos," He said, "What brings you here?"

Pelos gazed at him wordlessly, then twisted his hand and the guardians and Eryian and Aidan appeared in Adrian's study as suddenly as the god himself had. Leus had sensed the mana ripple as Pelos teleported the others into the room, but Adrian looked flabbergasted.

The god had a grim look on his face—one that filled Leus with a sense of foreboding.

I hope I'm just overthinking it, He thought uneasily, Maybe he's saved the world and is just here to tell us that everything is fine now?

"I've bought a few days, but I have no way to save this world," Pelos admitted, his eyes clouding in grief.

He looked up at everyone and continued steadily, "Use this time to say your last goodbyes and tie up your affairs. You have my sincere apology for being unable to protect you and your world."

Say our last goodbyes? So we're doomed then? Everything we've fought for is... for nothing?

Leus wasn't sure if he wanted to laugh or cry at hearing this. Maybe a bit of both.

"You mean Dargon is going to be destroyed?" Adrian burst out, stepping forward, his eyes wild.

Pelos fixed his eerie crimson-eyed gaze at the young king and responded with a cool voice that betrayed none of the emotion Leus thought he'd seen in the god's eyes, "Not just Dargon, but all four worlds—Dargon, Heresh, the Abyss and the Ether. Everything."

Adrian let out a string of curses, running a frustrated hand through his hair.

"Why tell us, then? Wouldn't it be better to not let the lambs going to slaughter know where they are going?" He demanded.

Leus had been wondering that himself.

The god lowered his head, seeming smaller than usual—which was a stretch, given his mortal body was one of a child—and said in a softer voice, "I thought it would be a... mercy of sorts... to give you time to say the things you want to say and do the things you want to do."

"Some god you are... can't even protect your own creation! So this is the extent of your divinity, huh? Choke on it!" Adrian spat.

Pelos said nothing, and the whole place was silent, though the tension hung like a cloud over the room.

Adrian was the voice vocalizing Leus' own thoughts.

He'd never felt such a crushing weight of hopelessness like now.

Marai vrae... this is the worst...

<--<< >>-->

Communication is key! Don't be like Lirya and bottle it all up... it doesn't end well!