Summoner's Second Chance

Chapter 19

Melody felt something strange about her brother ever since he came back home. His usually bright expression was not there when he arrived, and this put a strong feeling of unease inside Melody's heart, thus leading her to her current predicament. She is standing right in front of her brother's room, holding a tray of sweets and tea. Even so, she couldn't bring herself to knock on her brother's door. She felt strangely uneasy about it, but as she turned around to leave, she remembered her promise with her brother. "I would not let him take the burden alone..." Taking a deep breath. Melody turned around, and knocked on her brother's door. "Brother, it's me. May I come in?" Melody's voice fell into deaf ears, and no response was given to her. She took another deep breath, and opened the door. "Brother? Are you here?", Melody silently called out.

Melody found her brother, sitting down on the windowsill, gazing at the moon. His back looked very lonely and pained, Melody couldn't help but to feel her heart sink. Trace slowly turned his head toward his sister, and he smiled, seeing the familiar face of his sister, and yet his smile was not warm. It was filled with sadness and self-deprecation. "Good evening Melody. What is it?" Trace tried to sound as cheerful as he could, but he failed. His voice was clearly filled with the sadness he is bearing. Melody put the tray down on his usual tea table, and closed the door behind her. She stood beside her brother, and leant her arms against the windowsill. Trace looked at her from the side of his eyes, and gazed at the moon once again. "Letting your hair down?" Melody snorted in amusement, and nodded. "Yeah. Just for a little while."

Melody silently stood beside her brother, and accompanied him as he gazed at the moon. Some time passed, and Trace finally spoke. "Melody... I'm going to tell you a story." Melody stood there, not looking at her brother, and nodded. Trace saw her head move from his peripheral vision, and took a deep breath. "There was once a powerless young man, in a kingdom far away, when the world knows true peace. He was not the best at what he did, but others compliments him as one of the most hardworking person out there. One day, he met the love of his life, and the two created a bond that could never be broken." Trace paused, and looked at his palms. He closed his eyes, and curled his hand into a ball. "But one day, a violent band of raiders decided to attack the kingdom. Everyone was killed in the process... except for him. He survived, covered by dirts and ashes, the raiders didn't realize he was still breathing. Whether it was fortune or misfortune, no one but the Gods know."

Trace stood up, and walked near his tea table. He traced his fingers on the silver tray, and a snort escaped his nose. "Driven solely by vengeance, he roams the land, killing every raiders he came across, and there are also time where he saved a village from these raiders." Trace turned toward Melody, his face slightly contorts in anger, but just as quickly as it appeared, the anger he displayed was quickly gone. He shook his head with a sad smile on his face. He bit his lower lips and closed his eyes. He slowly opened it to reveal a blank stare. "And as he occasionally mingled with the villagers... sometimes... his desire took control of his body... and he embraced other women. He always blamed it to the loneliness caused by his endless journey for vengeance, but deep down... he knew what he was doing was his own fault." Trace took in a quivering breath, and shook his head. "Thus, the young man, fueled by vengeance, was burdened by one more thing. His quest for vengeance... and his crushing guilt. Sometimes, he wondered what he would say to his love when they are once again reunited in heaven. Other times he despaired the fact that he will fall to hell, without having anymore chance to apologize to his beloved." Trace opened his eyes, and smiled at Melody. Yet another lonely smile that maybe even Trace himself didn't notice.

Trace shrugged, and chuckled. "I'm sorry Melody. The story was probably too dark and depressing. Forget I ever told you any of that, will you?" Melody turned toward her brother, and walked closer to him. He gazed deep into her brother's eyes, and took his hand. She pulled him closer to herself, and circled her arms around her brother's back. The back that seems so dependable now seems so small and helpless. Melody couldn't bear seeing her brother in such a sorry state. "I don't know where this story came from, but one thing I'm sure off, is that its related to the problems you're currently facing." Trace snorted, and returned Melody's hug. "You grew up into such a sharp woman." Melody laughed, and patted her brother's back. "If I'm not, then I can't proudly declare myself as your sister. Besides..." Melody pushed her brother away, and put her hands on Trace's cheeks, slightly squishing it. "I became strong for your sake. Not because I'm indebted to you, but because I love you." Melody enjoyed the moment where her brother's face turned into confusion, and let him go with a mischievous grin. "For now, I'll settle standing by your side as your sister. But! Someday, when I'm strong enough, I want to stand by your side, not as your sister, but as your lover." Melody turned around, and walked toward the window. She turned her gaze to the moon, and reached out. "Someday, when I'm strong enough to stand on my own two feet, when I can make my mom and dad in heaven proud, I will confess my love again." Melody turned toward Trace, and grinned.

Trace was beyond confused. His mind had completely stopped, but something else was going fast. His heart. He put his hand over his heart, and realized that his heart is beating rapidly. He shook his head, and took several deep breath, but to no avail. "Brother, what's wrong?" Melody approached her brother, and Trace can feel his heartbeat rising. Trace cleared his throat, and turned toward the tea table. "Let's enjoy the tea you've prepared. It would be a waste to let them sit any longer there." Melody cheerfully nodded, and sat down at her usual seat. As they enjoyed their tea together, Trace couldn't help but to look at his sister in a different way. Her dainty fingers that moves in an elegant manner, Her cute, round eyes that shone a light green color, her dark brown hair combed neatly down to her shoulders, the night gown Melody always wore, Trace had seen all of it countless times, but he couldn't help but to be distracted by them tonight. He sighed deeply, and put the cup on the table. "Brother, you're acting strange. Are you really alright?" What's more, Trace couldn't help but to see her unrefined way of talking to be very adorable. He shook his head, and smiled at Melody. "I think I'm alright."

Melody rested her head on her hand, and sighed. "Mother told me that I could be a lot more selfish with you. Am I bothering you, brother?" Trace shook his head furiously, and laughed. "Not at all!" His laugh died out with a sigh, and he drank the tea in his cup in one gulp. He put the cup down and gazed outside the window, to the night sky. "Something happened with Olivia, right?" Trace continued to look out the window, before finally sighing and shrugging at Melody. "You are correct." Melody stared at her brother for a moment, before folding her hands on the table, and leaning closer to her brother. Trace chuckled, laughing at his own nervousness. "After you went home, Olivia... confessed, her love to me... and... for some reason, I felt very disappointed in myself, and let it show on my face. Olivia mistook it as a rejection, and... well, things became very complicated." Trace rested his head on the table, and sighed. "Why did it come to this? I helped her because I wanted to. I should've heeded Alice's words." Melody's eyebrows turned upwards in wonder. "Alice? Do you mean Alice Angelsong?" Trace nodded slowly. "She warned me to put a limitation on my kindness to others, to avoid this sort of things... I really should've heeded her words." Trace sighed once again, and slumped completely on the table.

Melody closed her eyes, and nodded a few times. "Brother, there are a few things I need you to make clear." Trace turned his head toward his sister, and nodded. Melody thrusted one finger in front of Trace's face. "Do you regret helping her?" "No. Of course not." Melody nodded, and raised another finger. "Do you feel happy when you saw her happy?" "Of course I do. I mean, I helped her. Of course I want her to be happy." Again, Melody nodded, and raised another finger. "Then this is the last one. How did you feel when she confessed her love to you?" "How? Of course..." Trace paused. The answer was so natural, it surprised even himself. The love he swore to protect, the love for his one and only, was now split in two. His heart still yearns for Alice's love, but part of him also secretly yearns for Olivia. Trace slammed his forehead to the tea table, and groaned. "I am sorry my love, for I have fell for another woman..." Melody giggled at her brother's antics, and patted his shoulder. "It is not uncommon for a noble, especially the powerful ones, to have multiple wife." Trace took a deep breath, and looked at Melody with a somewhat annoyed expression. "I know, but..." Melody laughed and patted her brother's shoulder. "Don't think about it too much brother, just do what comes natural. Oh, but I won't forgive you if you take in too many women." Trace stood up quickly, almost knocking his chair over. "As if I would do that!"

Melody laughed again, and stood up from her chair. "Now then, it's time for me to leave." Melody cleaned up the table, and walked to the door. Just as her hand was about to grab the handle, she stopped and turned toward Trace. "I know you will be able to solve this problem. I just know it. Well then, good night brother. May you have a pleasant dream." Melody opened the door, and left. Trace was still standing up after reacting to his sister's words. He walked to his bed, and lay down. He stared at the wooden ceiling above him, and sighed. He turned to his side, and curled. "Multiple wives... easier said than done." Trace sighed once again, and scratched his head in frustration. He sat up, and looked at his table. On it was the bag he always used when he brought medicine for Olivia. Although those days was past, he still have his bag, and the contents inside. He gazed at the bag, and nodded to himself with a renewed conviction in his heart. "Fine. If that's how it's going to be, then I'll save every last one of you!" He raised his hand to the moon outside the window, and curled his hand, as if grasping it inside his hand. "Alice, Olivia, Melody... I will save all of you!"