The Exiled King | ✔

Chapter 24 - Undecided Decision

Night fell over Sanobar, the sky's colourful sunset fading into inky darkness. Lirya stood on the balcony of her room, watching the fiery mountains darken. She leaned on the railing and let the chilly mountain winds flow against her face, throwing back her hair and numbing her face. She wore a deep emerald dress with enough layers to brave the evening chill.

She didn't know how long she would have stood there—perhaps until the cold drove her back inside—but a distant knock on her door prompted her to return to the warm room.

Her room was dark, but the light streaming from her balcony cast long shadows on the walls and lit the way to the door. With nearly soundless steps only interrupted by the rustling of her gown and the occasional creaking of the floorboards, Lirya walked over and opened the door.

The hallway light was not excessively bright by any means, but it was blinding to Lirya, whose eyes had adjusted to the dim lighting of her room. Eryian stood there with a grin, looking more and more like their great-grandfather by the day. He'd forced back his wavy hair into braids that didn't suit him and he wore a thick winter cape indoors.

At first she had found it odd, but eventually she decided that people had different ways of coping with loss and if that was his, so be it. It certainly seemed harmless enough, and it was probably better than moping about.

Eryian pushed past her and strode into her room, brandishing a bottle of wine and two glasses, held precariously in one hand.

"I brought wiiine," Eryian cheered in a sing-song voice, waving the offending bottle—along with the glasses—through the air.

He made a beeline for the table by the balcony and set down the glasses and the bottle.

"Oh... Eryian, you shouldn't have. I don't- I don't like wine," Lirya mumbled.

Eryian popped open the cork with a swift flick of his fingers and briefest flare of mana and poured wine into both glasses anyway, insisting, "Come on, sister... live a little!"

Lirya sighed, but sat down at the table and glanced down at the glass of crimson liquid that Eryian slid over to her with mild distaste.

I don't like the bitter taste of wine, but I suppose the effects can be nice, Lirya mused.

"Well? What's the occasion?" Lirya asked, taking a sip of the wine.

Oh? It's not as bitter as I expected, She thought, reaching out and turning the wine bottle to check the label.

"It's the good elven stuff," Eryian explained with a knowing grin.

He leaned against the table, his drink momentarily untouched, and said, "As for the occasion? Hmm... us, I suppose. A toast to the twins who will save the world!"

In a colder voice than she had intended, Lirya snapped, "Can you not mention that, for once?"

"What?" Eryian asked, his eyes widening in surprise.

Lirya scowled and waved at the two of them and answered, "This! Us! All this 'saving the world' nonsense. We're more than just people who have to die to save the world!"

Lirya took a deep sip of her wine as Eryian turned to her with a slightly perplexed expression.

Oh, it's already working, She thought, feeling a warm flush across her cheeks and a pleasantly light feeling in her head.

"Are you having second thoughts?" He finally asked.

Perhaps the wine gave her some liquid courage, or maybe it was just the idea of it, but Lirya cried out, "YES! I just- I just can't do it!"

Eryian stood up and stepped towards her with an uncharacteristically soft expression.

"But Lirya... you've been to the Ether. You've seen it! You know how nice it is! The afterlife is beautiful! There's nothing to be afraid of!"

"I know that!" Lirya burst out, then continued in a quieter voice, "I know that, but I'm just so scared. I feel like I have no choice in this! And... doesn't it feel wrong to you too? Like every part of you is telling you to survive... no matter what?"

Her heart was racing.

Eryian frowned and said coldly, "I'm thinking about our world here! Of everyone, not just myself! Don't you think you're being really selfish?! If we don't do this, everyone, and I mean everyone will disappear like your elven friend did."

Lirya paled and she hissed, "That's a low blow."

With shaking hands, she grabbed her glass and downed the rest of her drink in a gulp. She slammed the empty glass down on the table with uncharacteristic force and stood up, reaching for the bottle, refilling it to the brim.

It's got a bit of an aftertaste, but I won't taste that if I have more, She thought cheerfully.

Sweat beaded along her hairline and she felt comfortably warm, despite the breeze from outside.

Eryian sighed and looked down at his feet and mumbled, "I know... I'm sorry. I was insensitive. Will you forgive me?"

"It's alright," Lirya sighed, taking another sip.

"You do know it's the only way, right?" Eryian said, peering at her with a strange expression.

"Ye-"

Her wineglass slipped out of her fingers and shattered on the wooden floor, the crimson liquid spilling out like blood.

A searing pain ripped through her chest and throat and she coughed and couldn't quite comprehend the crimson specks that decked the table, as if to taunt her.

"Eryian... w-what...?"

Her throat felt like it was closing up and as she struggled to draw in air, her heart beat faster and icy panic set in.

I'm going to die.

I-I'm dying...

As the warmth faded into numbness, she stumbled, grabbing onto the table, but her hands wouldn't cooperate and she crashed to the floor, her own blood mixing with the pool of spilt wine.

W-Why?

With hazy eyes, she watched helplessly as Eryian finally grabbed his own glass and raised it in a mocking toast.

He said, "Tonight, we'll die together, Lirya!"

Eryian downed the whole glass and set the empty glass down on the table, dabbing at the corners of his mouth with his sleeve.

"We'll die and save the world, just like pri'jafi wanted! Then, we'll live in paradise for eternity with him and our family!"

Lirya's heartbeat stilled and her spirit detached from her body in time to see Eryian's body buckle and drop much like hers had.

He frowned and whispered in stuttered breaths, "I s-should.... have chosen a-a more.... painless poison..."

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Well. What do you think? Do you think Eryian did the right thing?

The last chapters of the book will go up on the 25th of August, so stay tuned!