A Walk with Eternity-Chapter 40: Coming to light

For the past few years, life has been rough, trying to put everything back in its rightful place. Nilsine, in particular, was lost. The moment she found out what happened to Dolunay and how she got pulled into that terrorist group, she knew she was somewhere she didn’t belong.

"A sacrifice must be made. It’s Luna, or your loyalty to the High Angels."

However, for the sake of her friend, she had to stay obedient. For all those years, she willingly became Heins’ dog, leading all the operations that must be done for his business.

She worked to the bone... only to exhaust herself out of her own system. She could barely recognize herself anymore. And yet, this siren in front of her... makes her think that she hasn’t completely lost all of her.

This siren was a part of her.

Nilsine knows well enough that this was the same Rue from their childhood. Rue matured and grew up beautifully. It actually had her in complete awe.

Oh... Yves would have loved to see you, she thought to herself, but then, she was snapped back to reality by the words that Rue just uttered. Nilsine raised a brow.

"What do you mean, what letter? Do you have dementia?" she says with annoyance. "You cut us all off without an explanation. The next thing we knew, your empire was brought back to its former glory after you officially sat on that throne."

Nilsine couldn’t understand the expression Rue was making. She was now overthinking that maybe there was something...

Something that had gone wrong that they didn’t know was happening.

"No..." Rue trailed off, wearing an anxious expression. "I sent a letter that ruined lives...? I’ve never sent you a single letter after our last meeting."

Nilsine rolled her eyes. "Same thing. You ghosted us without a proper explanation—"

"No! You don’t understand!" Rue raised her voice and grabbed Nilsine’s arm, catching some attention. Nilsine can feel how shaky her hand was. "This and that are completely different things. I have never sent you all a letter that says I am severing all ties with you."

Nilsine paused for a moment. I clearly remember it, that day Dolunay stormed out, how I fought my own cousin Kian, and how we all tried to take in your decision to do something close to betrayal, Nilsine thought, her eyes shaking as she observed Rue’s unwavering expression. That shaking hand wasn’t nervousness, it was anger.

Rue’s gaze, though hard to tell because of aniridia, was filled with wrath.

Nilsine feared that Rue was telling the truth.

Rue sighs sharply as she lets go of Nilsine’s hand.

"My mind was occupied with responsibilities, thinking about what’s best for my people, for this empire," Rue tried to calm herself, but she couldn’t contain the burning sensation in her head. "I barely had any time to rest during that time, I wanted to come running back to all of you, but despite waiting for years... I never received a single letter."

Nilsine looked at Rue’s shaking hands. It has always been the obvious sign of Rue’s anxiety or anger flaring up. There was something about this whole ghosting situation that felt wrong. Nilsine could only assume that Rue had discovered something she wasn’t supposed to know, and that she had found answers to questions left unanswered for years.

Thinking carefully of the timeline, Nilsine slowly connected all the dots and came to a realization.

Ah... is this another set up by those bastards...?

Nilsine scoffed in irony, nearly letting out a sarcastic laugh. She had now confirmed that Rue wasn’t the one who actually sent that letter. It was someone else, all with the intention to stir things up within their circle.

This is how they played... all because they couldn’t get us when we were kids...

"Fuck..." Nilsine cursed as she chugged on a huge cup of beer in one go. Rue was taken aback by that.

She used to be a lightweight, Rue thought. The bartender just walked back with her drink. This was a normally suspicious pub, no one would expect that they would serve high-ended drinks.

"Thank you... this is unexpected," Rue says. The bartender smiles.

"No, thank you, mi’lady," he says. "All my customers only ever ask for beer, like this foreign lady over here. It’s the first time in a while that my specialty drinks were actually asked for."

Rue simply smiles. That’s because this doesn’t look more than a pub where thugs get wasted in, she thought as she took a sip. She was a little surprised, but the taste was pleasant. It’s like grape candy mixed with a hundred-old wine.

While enjoying her drink, she felt Nilsine slam her head on the bar stool, which again, made Rue flinch in surprise. With the sudden silence between them after that rising tension, it felt awkward that even the bartender had to walk away from it.

And yet, the silence tells them that even without words, they figured out the misunderstanding on their own.

How foolish, Rue thought, wanting to just stab herself. I should’ve sent letters... but then again, it would’ve been blocked by Vian either way.

"We missed you..."

Her train of thoughts were interrupted when she heard Nilsine’s softened voice. Rue looked back at her, only to see her already looking with eyes ready to burst in tears. Right there, her curiosity got the best of her.

"Can you tell me... what happened in the past few years?"

The evening breeze was gentle on the skin, yet chilling at the same time. It truly was a cold night for many, but summer has barely started for the people on this earth. Syvestian remained wide awake looking out the windows of his room in the palace.

It’s been two days since they’ve returned from the Redridge Clan. Things have been smooth sailing since he woke up. Lysander was healed and was recognized by his town keepers. They, of course, apologized to Syvestian and the others for being rude and unwelcoming, and as well as doubting their intentions.

Kian and the others didn’t mind at all and decided to stay for another week, just so Lysander would be able to adjust well after five years of not doing anything in his body. It was a rough start, but Lysander was able to properly function again.

Upon recovery, Syvestian used his teleportation once again to travel back to the palace and prepare for their next mission.

To find Nilsine Holloway.

The excitement of exploring outside the Slora Empire has him thinking about so many things. However, something else was keeping him awake.

A week ago, when he woke up, the seven of them exchanged information about the current situation. And they found out something... unusual.

"Huh? What do you mean Darian was with me before I was attacked? Who told you that? I was alone with a woman and my body was stolen..." Lysander was confused, but both Cimmerian and Reene was being stubborn.

"But Reene said she remembered clearly how she welcomed you and Darian with a woman..." Cimmerian argued.

"No, that’s impossible. I haven’t met up with Darian since our final search for Dolunay ended, I didn’t even think he would be missing..." Lysander trailed off as he tried to recall something for a moment. "But I think I have an idea where he could have gone off to."

"Where?" Kian asks.

"The Holy Empire."

The Holy Empire huh...

There are three empires in total that rule this earth. Firstly, the Empire of Amadeus Oceana, the oldest empire. With a land of its own right in the middle of the ocean, it doesn’t concern itself with all the other lands besides theirs.

Second, the Slora Empire. It is where 80% of the earth’s population reside; humans, demons, beastmen, dwarves, elves, fairies, and vampires. While the vampires have their own land, the other races are no different. They each have different homelands, but are simply within the empire itself. It takes up at least 60% of the largest continent.

The other 40% is governed by the Holy Empire. This is the empire best known for its other name, God’s Kingdom. Only full blooded humans and angels can reside and become a local. They are not entirely closed off, but they can be a little racist. These two empires have been in each other’s throats for the past century just because of their clashing principles.

That must be the place they used to come down on this earth... Syvestian thought to himself as he sighs in annoyance. All their memories are jumbled and confusing because of Celio. It’s fucking annoying at this point.

Syvestian finds himself a little helpless and pissed at the situation. Only Celio, the Deity of Time, could have been playing with their memories, just to get him to figure out things on his own and piss him off. And now, it certainly is working.

"Fuck..." Syvestian cursed, looking outside his window.

What business could you possibly have there, Darian...?