PART 10 :-
THE PATH BEYOND FEAR
MC perspective :-
[At the forest.]
"It took you longer than I expected."
"What are you talking about!???"
"Well, I thought you might come here immediately after your argument."
"Sometimes I don't understand what the right thing to do is."
"It's not a bad thing. It's proof that you are human."
"Do you also make mistakes in your life, Juha!???" I asked him curiously.
"A lot. More than you could imagine."
"How did you fix your mistakes!???"
"I might tell you, but the thing is, it's not about my life. It's about yours."
"Then tell me, how can I fix this!????" I wanted his advice.
"Hmm… it depends on you. You have to accept whatever happens after you tell them. You have to move forward even if everyone leaves you."
He said the harsh words I didn't want to hear.
"I have to sacrifice everything! This is the ultimate end for me!??"
"Ummm… kind of. But if you can't accept yourself, you can never achieve your Heka, your friends' trust, or even discover your true identity."
"But telling them means I'll put their lives in danger."
He moved forward and placed his hand on my shoulder.
"You know, whether they will be in danger or not may depend on them. What matters is what they think about you. It will be their choice. Do they want to face those dangers with you, or do they want to move on from them? We can't do anything about that.
"You have to accept every possible outcome. And make a promise that no matter what happens, you will not lose your path."
"I will not. After all, you are there for me, and I know at least that much."
I smiled at him and left the place. He looked quite shocked after hearing that. At least, that's what I thought.
"Hey, Juha, what should I do if I lose!!? Why did you choose me out of all those much more capable people!??"
"Out of every bad thing that has happened in your life, you still never lost hope. You are trying hard just to be accepted by others. That itself is a good sign. And you are kind, after all, you know…"
"Yeah, yeah. In a world where you can be anything, be kind."
"Hahaha…"
We both started laughing.
...…..
Bond perspective :-
[At Lyra's Vault, Bond arrived there without being in a good mood.]
Why did I come here again? It's not the time for me to be here. It's not my training or working time either, yet I still came here!
"It's quite unusual for you to be here at this time!??"
"I'm thinking the same thing as well."
"Is that so!?? Then what made you come here!?"
"Do I need a reason to be here!???? Can't I come here without any reason!????"
"Uuuooo… you look angry. Did something happen!?? Did you have an argument with Bright?"
"Yeah!!" I answered him in a low voice.
"And what was the argument about?"
"I'm just frustrated that he didn't consider me or trust me. Because if he did, then he might have told me what's happening in his life."
"So, you want to know what's happening in his life—or more specifically, what's happening in his present life. But did you tell him about yours!??"
"Aamm…"
"At least you know that there is something wrong with his life. But did you let him know even that much yet?
And now you're complaining!!!!"
"Both are not the same…"
"Then tell me, why don't you tell them about your past???"
"At first, I didn't tell him because I was afraid. And now it's different. I'm afraid that they might think of me as a monster."
"So, you're afraid that they might leave you. Or you just don't want to lose them.
See, this might be happening to him as well. He may be thinking the same thing—that you might reject him as well, or maybe your life could be put in danger."
I hadn't thought about that yet. He might be scared the way I was.
"What should I do now, then!??"
"Do you want him to leave?"
"No."
"Then assure him of the same thing. Make him realize that you will always be there for him."
"I already told him that before. I told him that it's okay if he can't say anything to others. I will be there for him always."
"Then prove it as well. Prove to him that you will stay with him during his bad phase as well. Keep your promise. Choose your path beyond that fear. Forget your past and accept your now."
How can I forget my past when it reminds me every night? I guess this is how I have to live.
...…..
PART 11 :-
NEPHEW AND HIS AUNTY
Iras perspective :-
[The very next day. At the Palace of Scribes.]
Ufff… there is a lot of work today. Ehh…
"Who's there!???"
"Aaaahhh… you noticed me."
"Bright!!! How did you enter here!??"
"I just created a domain and erased my Aura presence from there, so nobody can sense me. But I can still be visible."
Can he really do that? Strange. Even I didn't feel his presence until he came near me.
"So—why are you here!? I guess if it's not that important, you would never come here."
"Well, actually, you're right. I came here to discuss something."
"What is it!???"
"Aaaa… will you allow me to stay with Mini if you learn that she might get hurt or even die if she stays with me!??? Will you let her stay with me!????"
You are afraid of your power. But it's just that you don't know about it yet.
"Hmm… you know, I lost everyone I cared about. There was a time when I thought, 'Why am I even alive!??' But during that phase, I became my lady's personal guard and caretaker. Her presence became the only reason for me to stay alive. So, if anything threatens my lady, then I don't want it."
"Alright…"
He looks so sad. Don't be sad. You just haven't realized it yet.
"I'm not finished yet."
"I've seen how males look at her. They make her so uncomfortable every time. It became so dangerous that my lady started avoiding every male. But then she chose you as her teammate. I always wondered why. Why did she choose you!??? And then, when I saw the time you agreed to walk through that fire, I realized why my lady chose you.
"If it's you, I don't have any problem with it. Because I know you will protect her at any cost."
"So—you allow me to stay with her!!!!!"
"I don't have the authority to decide that. My lady is now a free woman. She has the full right to decide what she wants. Rather than asking me, you should ask her instead."
"Do you think she will choose me if she finds out!??"
"I know the answer, but instead of asking me, you should find out on your own."
He started smiling. That's the most important thing.
He is leaving the place.
"Bright!!!" I called him, and he turned around.
"I want you to know that there are people who are happy that you are alive, and the number of them is greater than you can count. So, don't let that smile fade. It reminds me of someone."
"Hey, aunty, thank you."
"And also, one thing—you can come here without hiding. After all, a nephew can meet his aunt at any time. And do you want to know a secret!??"
"What is it!??"
"My lady's birthday is coming soon. Wanna know what she likes as a present?"
"Yeah yeah yeah yeah!!"
He got so excited.
[Time passes on its way.]
...…..
PART 12 :-
THE BOND OF ACCEPTANCE
Bond perspective :-
[Inside the room, just before leaving for the academy.]
I stood there for a moment, gathering the courage to say what had been weighing on my mind.
"Hey... I want to talk to you about something."
He looked at me.
"Hmm. Funny... I was actually planning to talk to you about a lot of things too."
"Then shouldn't I go first?"
I took a breath.
"Look, I know what I said before was wrong. And I know I already told you that I'd always be there for you, even if you couldn't tell me everything."
I lowered my gaze.
"But when I saw them... when I realized they were coming after you... I got scared."
My voice became quieter.
"I was scared that I might lose you."
I paused, trying to steady myself.
"I just... don't want to lose my best friend."
For a moment, neither of us said anything.
"It's okay if this isn't the right time to tell me," I continued. "It's okay if you don't want to tell me yet. I'm not asking you to reveal anything."
I looked at him again.
"I just want you to promise me one thing... don't die."
I smiled faintly.
"You're the only one I have."
He stared at me for a moment before a small smile appeared on his face.
"Oooohhh... that's not like you."
"Hey! Stop making fun of me."
He chuckled.
"I'm not."
His expression slowly became serious.
"I don't want to hide anything from you. I just need some time."
He paused before looking directly at me.
"When I know that it's the right time... I'll tell you everything."
A small smile returned to his face.
"I promise."
I nodded.
"That's enough for me."
We stood there for another moment before finally heading toward the door.
Whatever he was hiding...
I could wait.
...…..
Erebus perspective :-
[At the academy class.]
Shaman started his class today.
"You all know that your semester is soon going to end. We will not provide any physical education for you all now. All you have to focus on is your general knowledge. We will provide you with information about war tactics and how to complete a mission.
"After your new semester starts, you are all going to focus on your Heka and martial arts training.
"A little reminder to you all. Martial arts is not something that you can master in one or two years. The more you practice, the more perfect you become. But your body also needs to adapt to combat, and that takes years—more like decades—to master. So be better prepared for that."
[At the end of the class.]
"Erebus, I hope you haven't forgotten that you still don't belong to any groups.
"You have time left only for this semester. After that, if you can't register your name in any group, you are going to leave the academy. That is the deal."
It's not like I wasn't trying before. But most of them rejected me as well. Should I ask Bright for help!?? But there are already four people in his group. They can't include me. And besides them, who's going to accept me the way I am!???
"So, you understand it!??" Shaman asked me.
"Aaa… yeah…"
Shaman left the classroom. Everyone started leaving as well. Most of the groups already have four members, so even if anyone wants to add me, they can't.
What should I do now!??
"Hey, you hexhead… it looks like you still don't belong to any group."
"Isn't that the obvious reason? Who would be willing to accept a curse in their group?"
My old groupmates. They would never let go of a chance to mock me.
"Look, we will not give you this chance again. If you accept your place and are willing to serve us, then maybe you can rejoin the group."
I don't want to, but I don't have any other option left.
"No, he is not going to join you scums again."
I heard Bright. He stepped into the conversation.
"You guys don't feel pity for him. You just don't want yourselves to be expelled as well. We saw how badly you guys performed in the ritual and the mounting as well. You just want him so that you guys don't have to work hard anymore."
Bond said that to them harshly.
"What did you say???!!!!!!!!!!!"
"What's the matter? It's none of your business."
"Yes, it is. After all, I said that I would be there when he needs help."
"And why do you need to help him!!???"
"I don't need a reason to help others. Especially not when it comes to my friends."
Friend!!!!??? Is he considering me his friend as well? But I am not worthy of being called his friend.
Can I become a good warrior if I'm with them again? I doubt that… So there is no point in being in such a toxic group.
"I refuse to be with you guys again. Being with you guys doesn't make me what I want to be."
"You…"
They left without saying anything, maybe because there were a lot of people standing behind me.
"Hey, how about you join us? Then you don't have to think much about it."
"He can't…" Bond said that to him.
"Why!!???????"
"We already have four members in our group, including Minidra, Dex, you, and me. So the only spot open for us is our commander after we graduate."
"Even if there is a spot, I don't want that. You helped me every time, and I don't want that anymore. I want to create a place where I will be the one who helps others. And for that, I need to work hard on my own."
"Hahhhhhh… Well, what you're saying is going way over my head, but if you think so, then we need to find another group, I guess."
"Ahh… hey, can we talk!??"
I saw Tyr and his friends.
"I know it might sound odd, but will you join us!? No matter how hard we try, we have to accept that we are still weaker than others. And if we perform like that, we might get expelled as well. We need to have a strong person with us, and we saw how good you are. After all, you are one of the very few people who won the ritual fight."
"Are you guys really okay with that? I'm cursed, and more than that, joining me might make your group hated by many."
"Ohh… it's not an issue. We are not like them. Many people also hate us because of our bloodline. We are worried that you might think that joining this weak team would trouble you.
"But we promise that we are going to work hard and catch up to you soon, so that you don't have to think that we are holding you back."
"Then it's alright."
I don't have much of an option either.
"Aaaahh… we are nervous all the time. It's so easy. Welcome to our group, Erebus. We are friends now."
"Friends!!!??"
"Isn't joining a group enough to make you their friend!??"
"It's good for you too, isn't it!??"
Bright said that to me.
I don't know. Is making friends really that easy!??
I made new friends!!!!
...…..