Eclipse? I asked.
"Yes," Rhapel continued.
"We are a group of organizations who have lost everything… just like you." He said while smiling.
"So just like me, you have also lost…?"
"Yes… it happened when I was three. But enough about that come. Let me take you to your sister."
Rhapel led me to where Lysera lay.
She was still unconscious. The healer said she wouldn't be waking up soon the method used to awaken the Aetherion Eyes had been flawed, and the trauma she endured added to the toll. Her chest rose and fell softly, fragile, like even the air feared to disturb her.
I realized I couldn't control my rage I took a stroll and ended up climbing a mountain close to the base. I remembered the times I and Father had watched the village from a high hill… tears started flowing freely, I wanted to scream but what will be the gain of that?
Sigh…
"So you have woken up. I heard a voice that was familiar."
"That voice… that was the one I heard then,"
"it was the lady who rescued me.
"Your body has a great recovery speed, yet you slept for a whole week…"
One week, huh? I wiped my tears off. Now was not the time to cry. I must do what I need to do to grow stronger… if I have to go against him again....
"Seems he is still down about what happened. Well… that's to be expected. He's holding off better than I imagined."
"You know, we have a lot more in common," she said.
I turned to look at her, this was the first time seeing her face clearly. Her long hair flowed with the wind, and the calm aura she radiated reminded me of Father, but it was more refined.
"You see, I too lost my people… but the Master found me," she continued.
"At that time, the Eclipse had not been founded. I was consumed by rage, regrets, confusion… questioning why I hadn't died with them", the master said to me "if inwant revenge I should follow him and that was the best decision I ever made..."
"Can I ask a question? Did… did you avenge your people?"
Aris thought to herself,
"This kid… interesting."
"Yes," she said quietly.
"How did it feel?" I asked.
"Well...It was Fascinating," she replied.
"This kid… I like this kid…"
"What's your name, kid?" she asked.
"Gray… Gray Veyrun," I answered.
"Gray… would you like to join the Eclipse?"
"The Eclipse… huh? Will I become stronger if I join the Eclipse?"
"Yes. Become my disciple, and I will make you stronger. Though… you will become an enemy to society."
An enemy to society, huh… I thought. I wouldn't want that if I'm honest. But this is a decision I must take my time with. Yes, I want to grow stronger, but I don't want to become an enemy to everyone just to kill one man.
Silence filled the air as the wind blew past us.
"Take your time to think," she said while she was leaving.
"Wait… please… take me to the village. I want to see it one last time."
"Huh… you want to go to the village?"
"Yes… please take me."
"If that's what you wish, there's no harm in it," she said.
She took my hands, about to fly, but I refused.
I wanted to walk there, I didn't want to fly over it.
◆◇◆
At the forest, memories with Father surfaced. Most of my childhood had been spent with him; he took me as his son, even though I wasn't truly his.
I paused before a tree.
"Does this tree have a memory attached to it?" Aris asked.
"Not really. It's just the place where I was found," I said.
"You were founded?" she asked.
"Yes… I'm not truly a Veyrun. My original parents abandoned me, but I was found by him...my father, and that was the place he said he discovered me."
When I told him I knew I wasn't his son, he was shocked...but I had always known myself, even as an infant. I remembered much of what I had seen and heard.
Aris remained silent, her eyes calm, seemingly understanding. Then she hugged me.
I was surprised, but it was exactly what I needed. I burst into tears, I couldn't hold it anymore
"It's okay to cry," she whispered.
"I… I miss them… my mother's food, her laughter… the times she scolded me, the training sessions with Father… Even when I felt inferior to other kids because I couldn't use essence energy, he was always there to encourage me.
Why…just Why do I have to suffer this way? Am still a kid.....Why did I survive? This power I have… it's a curse…"
"It's okay, Gray… it's okay."
◆◇◆
At the village, the air reeked of decay. Familiar faces, now unrecognizable, filled me with rage. I gathered all the villagers' bodies, Aris assisting me. At the center of the village, I saw Father's head decayed, his legs gone to ash. The others lay in various states, some skeletons, some charred remnants. Mother should have been among them.
I set them all in flame. As the fire died down, I carefully buried each one. Aris wanted to help, but I insisted this was my duty alone. Night came and passed as I worked, fatigue was meaningless, besides I could train for days with a sword without getting tired. I somehow have a perfect body .
Afterward, I asked Aris to slash my left hand with her sword. She hesitated, but I reassured her it was nothing to fear. Eventually, she did. Drops of blood fell as I forced my body not to heal. Eventually a scar remained, which was exactly what I wanted.
"As this scar remains in my body… I promise I will avenge you all!" i said with rage,
"Lady Aris, I hereby pledge to be your loyal disciple, and a member of the Eclipse."
Aris was about saying something.. but then
That the same pain in my chest surged again and
I Blacked out
*To be continued…*