Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 579: The Kind Of Darkness ()

~A Month Later

-A Journal For The Unknown: Entry 025-

NEVEAH’S POV:

How many days has it been since that horrible day? Many were slowly losing count...but not I.

I remember that day clearly as though it were just yesterday, the day that had begun as any other normal day, right before everything changed...

It was the day when the world...the stronghold as we knew it had been cast completely into darkness, how could one forget it? How could I forget it?

It was not darkness like the lack of sunlight, though there have been days I stood beneath the radiant rays of the sun and wished it was gone too.

For it would have been better the stronghold knew no more sunlight than what it knew now.

The days and the nights come just the same, but nothing is truly the same.

It was not darkness as in the coming of the dark forces, at least then we would have known our enemy, at least then we would have known how to battle our foe.

It was darkness that had come from our own kind, darkness from within our very own ranks... the dragon empire has been endangered by one of its own and the effect shook the stronghold right to its core.

Four of its greatest pillars were taken away...

The Dragon King’s fate now unknown... this in itself is the true meaning of darkness

Here, I write again...on the 35th day since Verothrax broke the world...

I write because as I slowly lose my mind, there is nothing I can do but this...

For how does one fix a world that is broken, when the King of the world cannot be found?

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Neveah placed down her pen, a frown on her face as she stored the journal away in her drawer and slammed the drawer closed forcefully.

’What was she doing exactly?’ Neveah wondered.

’Journalling? Did she even have the luxury for it at this time? Had she earned any rights?’

These were questions Neveah had repeatedly asked herself.

Everon had said this would help her find calm, help her push through her frustrations, help her keep a clear head which was what was most needed of her now...but Neveah was not so sure it had been of any help.

Writing about it did not change anything, writing did not cross the miasma to bring back what it had taken away from Neveah... from the stronghold.

Neveah’s eyes went closed and she breathed in deeply, a shuddering breath in the bid to calm herself and ease the rage and frustration churning within her.

Neveah was drawn out of her tormentous thoughts when the sound of approaching footsteps reached her.

"Dune Lord." Coran greeted from the door to Neveah’s office.

Neveah winced visibly, it was still difficult for her to hear that title, to be addressed by a title that rightfully belonged to her father.

But with a month passed since any word was heard from her father, it was a title that had now been long entangled with Neveah, much longer than she could even bear for it to be.

"Call me by my name, Coran. You know... how I feel about that title." Neveah reminded the dune enforcer.

Coran nodded slowly, it was clear he would have to be constantly reminded of it, to be cautious with his words.

Coran looked completely terrible, his usually well trimmed hair was messy and his beard had grown out far more than the level he would always keep it.

There was a far away look in his eyes, one that had been there since he returned from the dark lands... without Kaideon.

Neveah knew self blame when she saw it, it was a familiar expression on the faces of anyone she met in these recent days.

Menarx, Everon, Kirgan, they all had this same look... the look that said that they could have done better, done something... anything to avoid the present state they had all landed in.

Neveah was certain there had been times when that very same look reflected in her eyes. But at the least Neveah knew better, that regrets could not change anything.

Neveah breathed a sigh, this was not even the time to be particular about a title, there were far more pressing concerns and as long as she was Dune Lord, Neveah would play her part.

"The dune enforcers are all gathered in the meeting hall, to present the reports on the past day." Coran relayed to Neveah.

"I will be there...in a moment." Neveah murmured.

Coran lowered his head to a small bow and took his leave, leaving Neveah to her thoughts.

Neveah took a moment to stabilize her emotions before she got up to her feet and headed to the meeting hall.

The moment Neveah arrived outside the meeting hall, Neveah paused in her step. As memories from a month ago flooded Neveah’s mind... memories from the last time she had set eyes on him...

~~~~~~~~~

King Jian glanced up from the map he studied closely, watching Neveah who had come into the meeting hall.

King Jian said nothing, his eyes trailing Neveah’s movement until she stood right before him and placed a hand over his.

"It is late, Veah. You should be resting." King Jian said, placing aside the map.

"Who amongst us can find sleep at such a time?...You are here only until dawn... Xenon is out, preparing the way for your departure. How can I go to sleep?" Neveah asked King Jian.

King Jian smiled slightly at Neveah’s words.

"Do you not wish to see me go?" King Jian asked, leaning back against his seat.

"I know it will be hard on you... I also know it is something only you can achieve. Even so... I wish you would not be so stubborn and let me go with you." Neveah admitted.

"I am not leaving you behind because I do not want you with me, beloved. Creator knows I would have you be by my side at every moment of every day...but there will come a time when I must deny you of your duties to the Dunes."

"If only this one time... I will have you choose the Dunes, over me. Without Kaideon...you cannot leave the Dunes." King Jian said.

Neveah breathed a quiet sigh, she understood King Jian’s sentiments but for some reason, she just could not shake off her unease..

"You know I do not blame you right? For what happened... with my father?" Neveah asked to be sure.

"There is much you allow me get away with, my beloved. But I am dragon king...the fault cannot be anyone else’s." King Jian murmured.

"No Jian. King or no King, you are still a man just like any other...the troubles of the world are no fault of yours." Neveah insisted.