Two weeks finally came like a leaf in the wind. The celebration this period hadn't ceased, ranging from Abbey's coronation and now it's Bel Tine.
Bel Tine was a ceremony used to usher the deceased into an afterlife of eternal bliss. It was held every 10 years.
"Wow, it's already Bel Tine. Everything just going fine" Seren said as he opened the window for a breath of fresh air.
"Everything seems fine for the meantime" Nathaniel said after dropping a basket of oranges on the table at the centre of the living room.
"Why did you say for the meantime?" Chiad asked.
Well, celebration is filling the air that everyone's so quick to forget Abbey's kind of person "
"Feudal Lord Abbey" Xander corrected him.
"Whatever"
" Everything's going fine, the former feudal Lord is still alive and of course is directing him so stop being paranoid" Xander said.
"Okay, okay, let me just believe everything will be fine " Nathaniel said in order to avoid further speeches from Xander.
"Besides we have Bel Tine to prepare for, today my brother and my wife would be ushered into a life of eternal bliss"
"But Sir Xander, Sir Xenox died over 18 years ago, why hasn't he been ushered?" Chiad asked.
"Well, during the last Bel Tine, I wasn't around so they couldn't carry out his ushering" Xander explained.
"Well, that's good, this means we have a chance to usher him into eternal bliss" Lorainne said in excitement.
"Besides even if they had done his ushering during the last Bel Tine, I don't care. I will usher my own brother by myself since I'm his only relative, save Seren and Nathaniel, so even if they did his ushering, it's null and void to me" Xander said as he sat on a small stool in the living room.
"You really did love your brother right?" Lorainne said.
"He was the only one who knew the real me and I knew him too. He was willing to sacrifice things far beyond my imagination. Back in the days I had high aptitude for magic but I never wanted to become a mage. The family had already decided that I'd go to Ente Isla and there was nothing I could do about it. Xenox took my place instead. A little change of robe and bam, he was in Ente Isla. We kept up that act for years before our parents found out about it. The news contributed to our father's decline in health which eventually led to his demise. I'm guessing that he couldn't take the fact that his loyal sons played a fast one on him. But that didn't matter. Xander had already become a fully fledged mage and the last I heard, he had become a captain of a squad. He had known I might regret becoming a mage and he took may place over his own happiness. Could you have imagined that he already found someone he loved and yet gave her up just for me" Xander narrated.
"Sound the ol selfless Sir Xenox" Chiad said.
"I'm the most proud man coz I got a wonderful brother like him and he brought an amazing son too" Xander added as he patted Nathaniel on the head.
"Oh please dad, you're making his head swell" Seren said.
"Just say you're jealous" Nathaniel fired
"Whaat??"
"Alright Seren, come over here" Xander beckoned on Seren.
Seren walked up and Xander used his other jad to pat him on his head.
"You two are my greatest treasures. One from the love of my life and the other from my precious brother"
"Awwn, nice family" Lorainne said as a drop of tear fell from her eyes.
"Yeah, you're right" Chiad affirmed.
"So dad, who was the love of his life back then that he gave up for you? I'm sure she'll be cursing him right now" Nathaniel said.
"About that, it's a secret"
"C'mon dad"
"You two should stop bugging me, it's a secret and it would remain that way" Xander stood up and left.
"Not cool at all"
"Dad you're being petty!!" Nathaniel shouted but Xander gave no ear.
"Whatever, you guys should ready the lamps, I don't want any misbehavior during Bel Tine, is that clear?"
"Yessir" Nathaniel and Seren chorused.
"Well boys, let's get ready" Chiad beckoned on them and they started preparing their lamps.
*********************
Abbey sat on his couch waving his fan. He had just had lessons with his dad concerning his ritualistic role on Bel Tine as the feudal lord.
"Oh jeez, that old geezer is such a pain, I can't keep up with this act any longer" He said as he walked up to the mirror in his room.
A shadow figure appeared behind his curtains.
"I bring message from the master" The shadow figure said.
"C'mon, spill it"
"The sun deity is in Cairhien" The shadow figure said
"Whaat??"
"He hasn't awoken so you've been tasked with destroying the deity. He mustn't be allowed to awaken. Take the whole of Cairhien down of it warrants so"
"Finally, I don't have to be playing the goody prince anymore"
"The lord has promised to support you with this armies of gibias, don't make mistakes"
"Tell the master that Mirapolos will see to it and that the sun deity would not live to see the rising of the sun" Abbey said.
"As per your reward the master said you'll be promoted to the upper seat, I've relayed my message" with that the shadow figure vanished.
"If I kill the sun deity, I'll be just as Lord Moghedien!!" Abbey shouted in excitement.
"My lord, any problem?" A guard who heard Abbey scream rushed in.
"Who asked you to come in??"
"My apologies, I heard your scream so I rushed in" The guard apologized.
"As you can see I'm fine you insect!!"
"O-oh, I see"
"Now get lost!!" Abbey thundered at the guard. For an instant, the guard felt a strong fear that he dashed out of the room.
"Today I'll bathe Bel Tine with blood, hahahaha" Abbey laughed heinously.
********************
" A strange air is blowing, and it feels wrong" Lorainne said.
"What do you mean by that?" Seren asked her.
"Lady Lorainne has the ability to listen to the wind, right now it seems that some mayhem is about to happen" Chiad explained.
"Good thing we're in the city, we'll keep watch" Lorainne said.
"Seren, let's go, remember you have a session with Gitara" Nathaniel said as he pulled Seren along.
"Don't wander too far!!" Lorainne said.
"Look, I understand your concern but you aren't my mum so I ask you not to act like one. Besides I'll be fine, Cairhien is my home so I know every nook and cranny here" Nathaniel said before leaving with Seren.
"Hey don't you think you were kinda harsh with your words? Lady Lorainne meant well for you"
"Yeah but she's overly worried for nothing" Nathaniel said as the strolled towards Gitara's tower.