Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 562: Final Choice ()

Lord River contemplated it for a moment, he had spent most of his life in the Light Hall, he was not much different from a prisoner,

It was only that in his case, he had taken a willing oath to serve.

Lord River did not have many enemies, his entire world began and ended in the Light Hall.

There were only two races he interacted with, the dragons to whom he had sworn his oath of fealty, and the Fae, his own kind.

Between both of these races, which was more likely to end his life through such underhanded means?

"Why do I have to die?! I did everything that was asked of me! I obeyed the orders at the risk of my own life, so why do I have to die?!" Lord River raged, getting up to his feet.

"How should I know the answer to that?" The voice asked again, this time, stepping closer to Lord River’s cell.

Lord River backed away warily, a panicked expression in his eyes.

"Between us both, the only one who truly knows why you have to die...is you."

This time, Lord River was finally able to put a face to the voice, realising why it had sounded so familiar to him.

"Lady Neveah?..." Lord River asked in confusion, watching as Neveah pulled off the hat and scarf.

Her hair colour was different, strangely so.

Lord River had not met the heiress of the Dune Castle on many occasions, she had only accompanied her father to the Light Hall once,

And even then, he had seen her only from a distance. There had been a few other occasions after.

Despite the limits of their acquaintance, Lady Neveah Vairheac was a face that was impossible to mistake or forget.

"What is the meaning of this? Did Lord Kaideon put you up to this?!" Lord River demanded in indignation.

Lady Neveah tilted her head to the side slightly, her hair falling over her shoulders.

"Why the sudden confidence, Lord River? A moment ago, you could barely speak...am I not worthy enough, to terrify you?" Neveah asked in a low tone.

Lord River opened his mouth to speak, but shut it back up. He had heard many rumours since the breach, most of which centered around this very Neveah Vairheac.

Lord River was not certain the question she had asked was one he wanted to know the answer to.

"You dare mention my father? If my father had come himself, it would only be to put you to death... seeing as you have dragged the honor of the Dunes through the mud."

"What do you think it means, putting my father in a position where it appears he is incapable of handling his own house... before the Dragon King, at that?" Neveah asked, her tone eerily calm. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"I... my reverence for the Dune Lord has always been sincere, believe it or not. There are matters greater than your understanding, you are centuries short of the ability to meddle in them." Lord River defended his position firmly.

Neveah raised a brow at that, chuckling quietly.

"Excuses are not a good look on you, Lord River. I am old enough to understand the meaning of the word... traitor..." Neveah asserted.

"You should stay out of this... this is not your affair, neither is it your father’s. The Light Hall has always been governed independently, I will bear the responsibility alone." Lord River said finally after a short moment of silence.

"There is not a single thing that could happen in the White Dunes that can be separated from the Vairheac’s. This is my father’s base...all you have done is trample on his honor, and you wish to do what? Bear responsibility? Are you even qualified?" Neveah hissed darkly.

"The guest sent your way by the Fae kind is in the hands of the Dune enforcers, though I do not see why we should interfere...in the affairs of the Light Hall as you have so clearly pointed out."

"If the Fae wants you dead, you should die, Lord River. If you could not keep your oath of fealty to My Liege, you should at least remain faithful to your kind until the very end." Neveah adviced.

"I came here only to see your face and watch you realise, how highly your kind regard you...now I ask you, is it worth it?" Neveah asked in a blank tone.

Lord River gritted his teeth, his hand clenched into tight fists.

"I know what you are doing, Neveah. You are trying to get under my skin. Get me to tell you everything you wish to know." Lord River accused.

Neveah chuckled quietly, shaking her head at Lord River’s words.

"You are really an amusing one, are you not? You must be a genius, figuring out my intents that were not already obvious." Neveah lauded sarcastically.

"Take another guess, see if I will get that secret out of you or not." Neveah encouraged.

Lord River frowned slightly, his gaze narrowed.

"So this is your true face...you are not the dignified and calm Lady, Lord Kaideon has portrayed you to be." Lord River said quietly.

Neveah smirked, leaning forwards slightly.

"Believe me, Lord River...if you find me distasteful now, you would not have liked to meet me...a few years back." Neveah assured.

"Now..." Neveah continued, leaning back once again.

"The way I see it, you have a good number of options. I could have this attire returned to who it belongs and allow the bounty hunter carry out his mission unhindered."

"Or I could keep him imprisoned, and have you live till dawn to face Lord Menarx. I could also kill you now, myself...if you wish for it." Neveah listed out the options.

"What I am trying to say in essence is, unlike the Fae... I grant you the choice of your own end. Whichever path you choose, I will make sure it happens exactly so... you have my word." Neveah assured.

Lord River blinked in astonishment; "Will you not ask me to tell you what I know and offer me a chance to live in exchange?" He asked in bafflement.

"Why should I do that?" Neveah asked with a scoff.

"You stood in the presence of the Dragon King and dared speak lies. You should have known then, that this could only end in one way... the only option you have, is how you die." Neveah clarified.

"And my confession? You could have gotten it out of me...kept on your disguise to the end. Why didn’t you?" Lord River asked.

Neveah thought over it for a moment before she shrugged casually.

"You were chosen to be the Lord of this Light Hall at a young age...you accepted the great honour, because you were chosen. But I find myself wondering...if it was ever a path you truly wanted..."

"You have kept the barrier strong for centuries, having no life or purpose other than this... you must not have even realised, when it stopped feeling like an honour... and more like an entitlement..."

"As discord brews between the race you serve and that to which you belong, it must have felt... like being between a rock and a hard place." Neveah had not realized she had given so much thought to Lord River’s perspective.

"And now, you must die...yet you are not even certain if the cause you will die for was your choice or not."

"You have lived a long, long time, Lord River...as you have said, I am centuries short from being capable of understanding you."

"But what I do know is the feeling, of never having the privilege of a choice..."

"Dying in such a manner...it is too harsh of a reality for anyone." Neveah murmured.

"At least, in these final days...every choice must be yours. I cannot take that away from you, Lord River. So I will not force anything out of you...you may choose to die with your secrets, right here and I will grant it." Neveah assured.