Chương 95: Chapter XXV — Towards the Light of a New Day

Galan shook his head, realizing his body had cleansed itself while he was lost in his memory. He dried himself with a fresh towel.

"Did Meredith prepare these?" His mindcast found her at the bar, laughing with the twins.

"Satanvujoang… it's like we're back again or something," he chuckled, opening the door to his room.

"But I suppose we are, now." He put on his pajamas from the wardrobe and collapsed onto the bed. It creaked but held firm, a marvel of dwarven engineering. He then closed his eyes and took a deep breath, deciding to call Vardo in order to set things right.

"Var, you up?"

"What is it, Pa? Did you make contact with the ghosts?"

"Yeah, even got a good chunk of intel out of them." His thoughts turned heavy.

"But that isn't why I called. I saw a funeral tonight, Var. A whole village of yookai and men, weeping together for a girl they lost." A lengthy pause passed between them.

"And she reminded you of Ma?" Vardo sent with a hint of melancholy.

"She did, yes. I summoned her as part of the investigation, and the strength of her will reminded me of the times your Ma helped the down-trodden get used to life in the village." He sighs heavily, releasing a heavy burden off of his chest.

"I hope they'll be fine without her. She seemed to be the one that helped everyone with their ailments, and that's despite the horrible ways they treated her."

"Sounds like you have a lot ahead of you, Pa."

"Aghh, this is nothing," Galan grumbled.

"I'll get the people here to play along sooner than later."

"I know you will, Pa." He paused.

"Is there anything else you wish to talk about?" Galan hesitated, knowing that there would be no turning back once he told his son. But his desire to do the right thing won out in the end. Let's just get this over with, he concluded.

"It's about your Ma. I need you to tell everyone about her." Another long pause, a mix of resurfaced grief and rumination flooded his mind from Vardo's end.

"It's time, huh?"

"Yeah. Make a public announcement from the palace's balcony, and use your power to reach everyone else. Hold it in the city at the end of the week."

"Got it. Anything else?"

"That's it, really. Night Var."

"Night, Pa." The line fades. Now to tell Cu of my pull of the past problem, Galan thought. He sent out a call to Cu, who accepted it after a few seconds.

"Hubby?" her mind-voice echoed.

"It's late."

"Sorry. Did I wake you?"

"I was about to head off to bed. The grandkids were chaotic as always."

"Hope they didn't take too much after me."

"They did," she laughed.

"But thankfully, they also took after your kindness and sense of responsibility." The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"Since when am I a responsible guy?" he smirked. They shared a hearty laugh.

"Rolan asked about you this evening," she sent.

"Tell him souvenirs will have to wait. This case might take a while."

"It's not that." She paused.

"He helped me in the garden today… he asked when Grandma Theara would be coming back. He misses braiding daisies into her hair."

"Just… tell him she's sleeping in the soulstream for a very long time. He'll understand when he grows up."

"I told him that, but… I think he read my mind. He knows she's not coming back."

"He's at that age," Galan said.

"Awakening to his power. Don't worry. You know how tough our kids are. Just be there for them."

"I'll try," she replied.

"So, why did you call?"

"I want to tell you that we'll be having Theara's funeral in Rome. I've told Vardo to set it up. It'll take place at the end of the week."

"Very well. I will tell the others to prepare."

"Oh, and I was also thinking of our past, back when we first met at the outpost. I… felt kinda bad for forcing you to go through your family's real memories like I did." Cu gathered her thoughts.

"In the past, I would've agreed," she sent.

"But I eventually realized some things can't be explained with words. And accepting that I'm more than just a maid helped me realize who I am. You helped me. So… thank you."

"Hey, I was just being a good boyfriend. How are your parents?"

"Their organ rejection rate is half what it was. They're doing great."

"That's great to hear. Hopefully we don't have to—" The door to his room swung open.

"Bloodsucker!" Meredith stumbled in, drunk.

"Who are ye talking to?!"

"Just a new mistress of mine," Galan said while lifting his head.

"Grrh…" Meredith grumbled with a grimace, staggering toward him.

"I… ought'a punish ye for that!" She collapsed face-first onto the floor.

"Hubby, don't be cruel to her," Cu sent in a serious tone. Galan chuckled and got up, kneeling beside his dwarven queen.

"Wrap your arms around me."

"Not until ye tell me who that was!"

"It's just Cu, listen." He snapped his fingers to create a three-way link.

"He's right, Queen, it's me," Cu projected.

"Oh, Madam…" Meredith rolled over.

"I'll have him for tonight, okay?"

"Very well," Cu replied.

"I shall leave you two to your 'duties.' Just don't start collecting concubines yet, Hubby."

"I won't." The connection faded. Meredith looked up at Galan, her face suddenly soft and sad.

"Why did ye lie to me…?" Wow, I forgot how much alcohol can soften her, he thought.

"Sorry, Meredith. I didn't mean to." He offered his shoulder.

"Come on. The wooden floor is no place for a stone queen." She wrapped her arms around him, and he lifted her easily.

"Nnh…" she grumbled. The room was warm, filled with the faint scent of her perfume as he steadied her and carried her toward the bed. He gently moved her onto the pillows before resting behind her, their breaths a shared, peaceful rhythm in the quiet dark.

"Bloodsucker," Meredith murmured, her voice husky.

"Why are ye really asking the guy in charge of this place for help?"

"I realized that if the ghosts disappear, the yookai might be eradicated," Galan replied.

"I need to set up some legal protections. Figure out a way to enforce them." She caressed his arm.

"You think they'd care?" Galan smirked.

"I'd make them care."

"Ooh." She grinned.

"So you gonna crash their party?"

"This is a negotiation, not a hostile takeover. Just boring politics."

"Hah! You say that as if the whole archipelago wouldn't be yours by the end of the week." They both laughed.

"I'll get Pheidon to drop ye off near the castle then," she continued.

"Hmm… I'm thinking of getting an official way in first. Don't wanna spook them."

"Ugh, do ye really have to make it so difficult?"

"Look, I'm doing this correctly, okay? Just drop me off near the birdies. I'll handle it from there."

"There are two smart birdies here, Gal…" she teased.

"Oh, right. I meant the annoying ones." She chuckled.

"Hah! Got it, Captain." Galan closed his eyes, exhaustion pulling at him.

"Hey!" Meredith slapped his cheek.

"Not yet, Bloodsucker!" Galan let out a weak groan.

"What else do you want…?"

"Here." She smiled, lifting her hair to expose the curve of her neck.

"You can have it."

"Don't mind if I do," he said with a smirk. Galan leaned in, fangs brushing over the familiar spot. The skin broke with a sharp, sweet sting, making Meredith moan. As her blood began to flow, the taste hit him with a raw surge of vitality. It was a rush of molten copper and the rich, smoky depth of a mountain hearth, filling him with the enduring strength of stone. He drank deeply, his rhythm matching the steady beat of her heart.

Meredith let out a soft, shuddering sigh, her hand tangling in his hair as she offered herself to him completely. After a few more gulps, he pulled away. He traced the wound with a finger, his restorative power sealing the punctures without leaving a mark.

"Feeling better?" Meredith whispered. Galan smiled.

"Much better." Meredith curled into him, her head resting on his chest.

"Good night, Bloodsucker."

"Good night, Meredith," he said, closing his eyes. The darkness of the room finally claimed them, their breathing syncing into a slow, peaceful rhythm. As his consciousness faded, his mind slowly wandered back to that fateful night, just as his past self was about to face his future as the emperor.