Missio sat in the light of his room. Darkness surrounded him like a parasite. Behind him, his door rested on his bed. His breath – ragged, hair – disheveled. It looked as if he had come out of a mental asylum.
"Lilla…?"
He called out the name of the maid but got no response.
"Lilla…?" He repeated, his voice cracking.
His voice echoed again but still he was ignored. He realized that no one was coming to help him up this time. He shed his last tear as his brother's words repeated in his mind.
"Look at you after 18 years and you're just the same as before, you haven't changed you've just gotten older – you're still thinking about Mom and about that day. You're pathetic – You're useless – You're trash. You're going to stay here cuddle up in this room for the rest of your damn life while everyone moves on just because you're a coward who can't face the past."
He bit his lips, drawing blood. He couldn't be angry at him – he was right. Missio knew too. He never wanted to face his past again – to experience that day. He dreaded it. So, he ran away – avoided anything close to his past, hoping – wishing he would recover but he never did… Then, he remembered his brother' last words.
"If you're willing to change, follow me. If you can't, then stay in this room until you die."
That phrase echoed in his mind. Even though Dante's words hurt, they were the truth. He stood up, drawing a deep breath. He entered the bathroom, turning on the sink and splashing his face with cold water. He stared at himself in the mirror. He placed his hand on the counter and sighed heavily. He contemplated in his mind for minutes. Then, he came to a decision.
"…I'll change… I'll change…"
He repeated that to himself until that imprinted itself into the depths of his mind. He wiped his face and exited the bathroom. He glanced around the dark room. The bright walls reminded him of his childhood. He remembered how Dante would wake up first and wake him up as well. He formed the figures of himself and Dante doing exactly that. His illusion of Dante entered the room and neared the bed.
He hugged his younger brother, pressing his cheek against his. He urged him to wake up in a tired voice. Eventually, his younger self groaned and woke up. He rubbed his eyes and headed down with bis big brother. Dante hugged him, kissing him on the cheek as they exited the room.
Missio chuckled – a bitter chuckle.
"I haven't left this room… at all…"
He stepped towards the light. His foot touched the floor of the hallway. The air felt… fresh and lively compared to the stagnant air of his room. His head rotated, peering down the corridor. He treaded through it and descended the stairs. Lilla met him with a worried look.
"My lord, Are you okay?"
Missio didn't respond to Lilla's question. He simply hugged her. Lilla paused and hugged him as well.
"Thank you for taking care of me."
Lilla smiled, pulling away. "It was my pleasure."
"Where's brother?" Missio inquired.
"He went to your mother's grave." Lilla replied.
Missio nodded and headed to the door. He put on his shoes and exited the building. The sunlight felt like a hot cushion pressing against his cold skin. Nearing the main gate, he halted. He glanced to side, noticing a yellow flower. He plucked it and brought it along.
***
The sun…shimmered in the sky. Its brilliance stabbed the clouds above, creating a beautiful scene. Dante stepped through the grass. The cold winter breeze swept past him. He exhaled and continued on his path. Eventually, he stopped beside a tree. He turned forward and lowered his head. A bitter smile forced itself on his face.
"Have you been well…Mom?"
He stared at the gravestone of his dead mother which read;
[ Aislin Augustus
2930 AD – 2966 AD ]
He crouched down, leveling his eyes with his mother's grave.
"I just had… an argument with Missio but just hear me out."
Dante spoke as if mother was actually there. As if she listened to every word he spoke with utmost attention.
"He was in his room for more than a week and I was really worried. The trial was coming up so, I couldn't check on him much. After the trial, I tried to get to him but he just pushed me away. I was just… really stressed so, I just burst then and there."
Dante paused as the leaves rustled.
"I had a fight with him but nobody got hurt don't worry, Missio is okay. Though, I did say some harsh words to him."
Dante heaved a sigh and took off his glasses.
"I let him cry… I didn't help. I ordered Lilla not to comfort him…I felt like such a bad brother. Was that the right thing to do?"
He gazed the gravestone – it didn't speak, it just stood in silence.
"I know that…I'm an adult now and I gotta start to make decision on my own but… this was about family so… I wanted to talk to you."
His touched the gravestone, grazing his fingers against the granite surface.
"Yeah… you're right… he deserved it… he was being too selfish… He needed a reality check…"
Dante wiped the tears welling in his eyes as his voice cracked.
"You would've said that…right, Mom?"
He drew a deep breath. Just then, he heard footsteps approaching from. They neared him but didn't pass. They halted right near Dante. Dante didn't turn around – he knew who it was.
"So…have you decided?" Dante put on his glasses.
Missio's soft voice sounded form behind.
"Yes…"
Dante stood and spun around. He lowered his head and locked eyes with his brother. Noticing his brother holding a certain yellow flower, he impulsively smiled. A moment of silence passed in peace. Dante passed Missio and placed his hand on his shoulder.
"Then, I hope… I hope you chose correctly. Follow me."
Dante left. Missio paused for a moment too long. He peered at his mother's grave as the leaves rustled. The chirp of the birds, hum of the wind and the rustle of the leaves formed a beautiful symphony. He bent down and placed a daffodil on the grave. He straightened and looked at it again. The memory of his mom flashed before his eyes but this time, he didn't cry.
"Thanks, Mom…" Missio stated with a bittersweet smile. "Thank you…"
He remembered the image of his mother's smile. How she would hold his hand. How she would kiss him on the cheek every day before school. His heart ached but he had shed the last of his tears. He smiled, turning to the side.
"Goodbye, Mom…"
Saying farewell to his beloved mother, he felt a deep sense of sorrow. He endured it and trailed his brother. His feet felt the touch of nature; His arms swung in the air. His fingers ran through his hair as he felt the cold breeze of winter.
The daffodil on the grave watched Missio he left. Eventually, the sun stabbed through the white giants in the sky and shone directly on his mother's grave.
(End of Volume 3 – Golden Hour)