Without You | Garmau

Chapter Twenty-Nine, Realize

Garroth's Pov     
(I will make you realize how important Laurance can be, hate him or not, I might make you. -Author~chan)
I saw Laurance running and avoiding everyone in his way directly to the gates.

I am close to the gets, sitting under a tree, which reminds me of my past, yet I can't point my finger into it.

I stood up and called, "Laurance!"

I see him mouthed a 'Oh Shoot' on his mouth, not a single sound coming out. He just stood frozen there, staring at me blankly.

"Laurance..? Are you okay?"

"I'm visiting Metelli for Cadenza's birthday."

"Laurance, Cadenza's birthday is two months away.."

"..Fine, you caught me."

I chuckled. "Something happened?"

"Aphmau got misunderstood. You know what happened. I saw you at the top of the tree looking directly at us."

"I see you are sharped-eyed."

"Sometimes, I just wonder why you act like a ninja. How the heck did you even got up that tree?!"

Oh right...he forgot about what happened when were little..huh..

"I have my ways." I smirked.

He slightly punched my arm and chuckled.

We both suddenly heard footsteps coming from the trees inside of Phoenix Drop.

I grabbed my crystallize blue sword and readied my battle stance. Laurance did the same thing, unsheathed his sharpen lime sword  and went behind my back.

"Come out. I know you're in there.." I spoke.

I heard chuckling then Travis walked out by the shadows. "Aw, Your Highness already saw me.." He held his sword and ran to me, but I was able to block his sword from attacking.

"Come on sir Garroth! I still want to play...muhahHAHAHA!.." He suddenly appeared behind my back but I was able to slash my sword and gave him a small cut on his cheek.

"My, my, I see you did really deserved the title of one of the Jury of Nine, Ro'meave.." He snickered and appeared behind my back, slid his foot on the ground to my feet in order to loose my balance yet I was able to jump away from that.

He suddenly appeared again in my back, without me knowing, yet his sword was blocked by Laurance.

"Ah! My good old friend, Laurance. You really have grown strong!"

Laurance stood quiet and was able to slash his sword on Travis' hand.

But Travis was also able to smack Laurance using the back of his sword. Laurance was knocked out cold, Travis did smacked Laurance in the head pretty hard.

Travis held Laurance and hid his sword.

"Until we clash again, Ro'meave. Tell Aphmau I left a letter for her in Laurance's house..

..see you in the marriage, your higness..." He laughed and disappeared in thin air.

"Garroth!" I saw Malachi running towards me.

"Garroth...You need to see Aphmau...she..is bleeding...badly.." He panted.

"Lead me to her." He nod and I followed him towards Laurance's house.

※∞∞∞※

As I enter Laurance's house, I saw Aphmau, holding a letter. A tear fell down her face and landed on the paper, then she ripped it to pieces then throwed it into the floor.

She kneel down, covered her eyes, then started crying.

"...Aphmau?.." I spoke then walked to her. I hugged her, making her stop from crying..

"Aphmau...calm down.."

"C-Calm Down...?! H-How can I calm d-down?! Now Laurance is gone...because of...me!..I never even get to say sorry..." She said as she wipes a tear in her eye.

"..shh..it's fine..it ws just misunderstanding... Now, tell me, what made you realize how important was Laurance in your life..."

Shs sniffed then spoke, "When I was thirteen...I was walking around the forest to find the flower, Resurrection in order to save my mom from Amnesia. I stumbled into him and he asked for 3 petals of the flower. I gave him and bid farewell. His father was suffering to the curse called Path of Death, and it needed 3 crushed petals of Resurrection. I walked back to our house but...but there was something else.

Someone grabbed my hand, then ran. I was being pulled, until we reached our destination. There was this nether portal, a large one. He pulled the flower out of my hands then carried me, and was about to throw me when.. Laurance came.. He kicked the unknown man who was carrying me, and the man carried him instead and walked with him at the nether....he saved my life....he came back as a shadow knight..."

"Laurance is not just a friend of mine...he was like my brother...he suffered...I knew what happened....because...I...

...I was once a shadow knight earlier than him..."