The Path of the Adventurer

Chapter 33

The afternoon was filled with sorrow. Children cried into their parents' arms, crying over the losses of their fallen relatives. Surviving soldiers wept for their fallen allies-in-arms, who lost their lives in the terrible battle.

Mass graves were prepared for the fallen soldiers, while the knights were given their own individual graves. Wynd took care of bringing Rith's body back to Casthor in her bird form. The next day, a large funeral was to take place for the fallen, and many tears were shed.

Erion sat somberly in his small room in the castle, hours after the funeral. "To think that out of all of us, Sir Thomas and Lord Rith were the ones to leave us..." Cried Erion. "I spent all of this time fighting against this new threat so no more lives would be lost, only to lose not only the kingdom's best knight, but my own guardian?" Tears welled in Erion's eyes again. "He was closest I've ever had to a father. He was there for most of my life, and we shared many memories together. And now, he's no longer with me..." Erion sniffled some more. "I guess the path of the adventurer wasn't the best for me after all!"

After a while, someone knocked on his door. "Erion," It was Magon. "Are you in there?"

Erion did not make a sound.

Norder soon approached, accompanied by Huffey, Tikana, Carolin, Frostine, and Serra. "Magon, do you know where Erion is?"

"I don't know. Ever since the battle, he's barely looked at or talked to us."

"Just open the damn door. We need to head off to Diablon's lair tomorrow, and we can't do it without him!"

"I know... but he needs time to cope. He just lost his guardian, who was like a father to him!"

Norder sighed, opened and walked into the room.

"You need to stop." He said sternly. "You've had enough time to cry. Right now, you need to forget about Rith and Thomas for now and focus on our mission. We have an urgent mission now, and we can't be weeping and moaning the entire time. We're going to be up against Diablon, so you need to stand up and be strong!"

Erion whimpered.

"Now get up! You need to train for tomorrow!"

"SHUT UP!" Erion exclaimed, to the shock of their observers. "How could I just forget about the one who raised me?! The one who tucked me in at night?! The one who loved me?!"

"Enough! You need to move on! We have a hundred more orcs to fight and a godlike mage to kill!"

"Enough? Huh? Says the one who 'fights for the fallen'!! Hypocrite!" Erion pushed Norder away.

"ERION! Stop!" Screamed Norder. "Yes, I processed the pain, but I turned that pain into fury! But now we have no time for processing! You must get yourself together!"

"I SAID, SHUT UP!" Shouted Erion. "You think I'm just going to act like nothing happened?!? Huh?!" He shouted.

"Erion, lad! Calm down, lad!" Said Huffey.

"After what this asshole just said?!" Shouted Erion. "He just told me to forget about my guardian! The one who guided me throughout my childhood!"

"Okay, you two; that's enough!" Snapped Magon.

Norder looked up at Erion, sighed, and stormed off.

"I'm so sorry, Erion." Carolin said, softly. "I wish we could've been there to save them!"

"You wish WE were there to save them?!" Exclaimed Tikana. "You were the one up there acting all high and mighty with your mom. Why were you doing that? I know. You just wanna make yourself look better because the goblins captured you and made you feel like a pathetic damsel!"