The Land of Dawn (ML Fanfic)

34. son

The sun has set and dusk has basked the sky. Soon, stars will start to appear and darkness would completely entangle the firmament.

When Lolita and Bruno returned to Eruditio from the Berry Dungeon, they were greeted by a distressed-looking Rooney.

"Yo, Rooney what's wrong?" Bruno asked casually, knowing nothing of the weight of the news that his elder was about to unveil.

Rooney took a deep breath before responding, he knitted his hands together and led Bruno inside his office, leaving Lolita all by herself at the entrance of the Machinery.

"What I am about to tell you should not leave this room. Do you understand me?" Rooney said, his voice monotonous, holding a sinister kind of seriousness.

Bruno nodded as a response and sat down on the chair that he just grabbed out from an unsolicited corner in Rooney's office.

"Weeks ago, a megacrypt from the High Grounds visited our grounds. I was relayed a messaged from the jury elders that Lolita should be sent to the portal that separated our realm from the demon's and orc's. Yi Sun Shin told me that more and more of them have been spotted to have breached the realm and our portal's strength to restrain such beings seem to have grown weak."

"Lolita's Noumenon core, from her rocket hammer has the exact amount of energy to refuel the portal's potency. It would always be an honor to send one of our people to serve in order to liberate the realm's safety and glory, but I believe Lolita isn't ready yet." Rooney finished with a sigh, looking at Bruno with his stare never leaving from his.

Bruno could tell that Rooney was just looking out for Lolita and he didn't want her to hurt herself.

"But I know Lolita can handle herself. She has improved over the years. She has mastered controlling her core and her powers. You shouldn't worry of her. Besides, she only has to reset the portal's core once and she'll be good to go home after that." Bruno chimed back, unable to comprehend the weight of Rooney's words, the vastness and depth they held.

Rooney lifted his right arm and placed it on top of Bruno's shoulder. He released an abysmal breath, one that held such a bounty of unspoken thoughts and yet they were just fated to join the heterogeneity of the wind.

"Have you ever heard the story of an Eruditian named Rogue? He also received a hammer that's almost identical to the one Lolita has. It held the same Noumenon core that Lolita has in her weapon too. This man Rogue, lost his life while trying to reset the portal's strength. He ended up being sucked in the portal that his core exploded, killing him all at once. And did you know who he was, Bruno? Whose son he was?" His elder asked him, with eyes all teary and voice slightly shaking; as if holding back a sob.

Bruno was suprised to see his elder's actions. He was clueless as to what Rooney was talking about yet he decided to continue agreeing with him still.

"No, I don't." Bruno replied, determined to hear Rooney's response. His heart was pounding and its loud beating can be heard in both his ears. Bruno was suddenly nervous to know the truth.

Rooney released his grip from Bruno's shoulder and stood up heading for the door.

"He was my son, Bruno." Rooney quietly replied, his voice, the weakest Bruno has ever heard from him.

Bruno didn't know what to do. Instead, he saw Rooney wipe a tear from his right eye as he cleared his throat.

"I just fear for Lolita's life. She has been so good to us ever since she came here to Eruditio. I cannot afford to lose another dear soul." Rooney uttered, his voice once again shaky and jittery.

Bruno also considered Rooney's words. He also didn't want for Lolita to endanger her life. Why does it have to be her? Why not him? He surely wouldn't be missed if he got sucked in by a vortex leading him to the dark world.

For the first time, he thought little of his life than Lolita's. For the first time, his life seemed not so important at all than Lolita's.

"But worry not, I have asked the jury elders to reconsider. I just wanted you to know the news. Anyway, you may leave. Remember, you can't tell her about this. This is just between us two." His older mentor said, with eyes weary and hands clammy.

He just responded with a nod and went out of Rooney's office to rejoin with Lolita.

"What was all the drama about, poop face?" Lolita asked, all playful and cheerful; clueless.

Bruno didn't know how to respond. He wanted to tell Lolita the truth but he promised Rooney not to. He was so torn.

"Nothing. Rooney just told me that I was a whole lot cooler than you. A whole universe cooler." He joked, evading his pressing thoughts of him telling her the truth.

"Of course you are. Since you are the coolest in a universe that does not even exist!" She clapped back, laughing at her own retort. Bruno couldn't help but smile and let his negative thoughts ebb away.

Both of them laughed without knowing what tomorrow had in store for them.

"Anyway, let's go inside and eat some treats. I'm exhausted from today's hunt." Lolita said, as she took Bruno's hand and pulled him with her towards the Machinery's kitchen.

Bruno's heart threw an indiscribable fit. His thoughts were whirring, in tumult, in resounding clamor.

He was madly in love with her.