Chương 92: It’s Not in My Nature

Seer Aelira sat motionless upon her throne, shrouded in the darkness of the chamber. The torches lining the walls cast uneven shadows, as though even the light itself feared lingering in that place for too long. A portal opened before her. Morvath stepped through it and immediately dropped to one knee, bowing his head.

"Seer Aelira…why did you wish to see me?" Aelira did not even turn around.

"Gunnar is dead". Morvath's eyes widened.

"What…?"

"I can no longer sense his magical presence. It's gone. Most likely, it was that mage…the one collecting the Legendary Swords. The same one who has already crossed paths with my son, Baldovino". She slowly turned to face him.

"You told me you might have encountered her, didn't you?" Morvath hesitated for a moment.

"Yes…but I can't be certain. All I know is that while I was trying to take the Legendary Sword of Fire from a human, my body was split in two by an invisible slash. I couldn't regenerate for hours. Whoever did it is an extraordinarily powerful mage. Perhaps even on Xarath's level". Aelira clenched her fists, her face twisting with rage.

"That damned witch…Xarath…why won't mages of this caliber join us? Why do they waste their power?" Morvath remained silent for a few moments before speaking cautiously.

"Is there anything I can do to help you, Seer?"

"Yes". Aelira fixed him with an icy stare.

"But you will not confront her. If she defeated Gunnar, she'll defeat you as well. Instead, find the remaining three Legendary Swords. We must keep them out of her hands. Is that clear?" Morvath immediately nodded and bowed.

"As you command, Seer Aelira". He summoned a portal and disappeared. In the forest. Ethan approached Agnes, who was sitting silently.

"Can I talk to you?" She didn't even look at him.

"I already know what you're going to say. You're going to leave me here with them, aren't you?" Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. Ethan sat down beside her.

"Yes…you're right. But I'm doing it for your own good". He paused for a moment before lowering his gaze.

"No. That's not entirely true. I'm doing it for myself as well. I don't want to lose anyone else. If it hadn't been for Xia, you'd be dead. I never would have been able to protect you from that mage". Agnes pressed her lips together.

"I know you don't want to be protected, but I can't help it. Protecting the people I care about is part of who I am".

"So you're leaving me here because you don't want to risk suffering again?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"Yes". Ethan's voice was quiet and sincere.

"Not because you're a burden. Not because I don't want you around. But because I can't afford to lose anyone else". Agnes looked at him. Tears welled up in her eyes.

"Then go". She paused, struggling to hold back her tears.

"Goodbye". Ethan gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Goodbye, Agnes". He looked at her for a few more seconds before turning away. Then he faced Xia and Leah.

"Thank you for taking care of her. Truly".

"Are you sure you want to leave?" Leah asked.

"You can stay with us".

"Yes. I'm sure". He forced a bitter smile.

"Good luck. I hope you find the other Swords". He walked several meters before noticing Felicity leaning against a tree with her arms crossed. Ethan stopped. The two stood in silence for a few moments.

"Are you going to search for a new purpose?"

"No…I've already told you. My only purpose is to protect myself and do what's right. There's nothing else I can do for this world". Felicity continued staring at him.

"And if you meet someone else who needs you, like Agnes did? Will you abandon them out of fear that you won't be able to protect them? Will you keep doing that for the rest of your life?" Ethan nodded.

"Yes…I can only protect myself. No one is safe by my side". He raised his eyes to meet hers. His blue eyes were filled with sorrow. They were such an intense shade of blue that, for a brief moment, even Felicity's gray eyes seemed to reflect their color.

"Don't worry…I won't waste the life you spared. I'll keep doing what's right…I'll keep doing good". He looked ahead.

"Goodbye". Felicity said nothing. She simply watched him walk away. Ethan disappeared into the forest, vanishing among the trees. Agnes remained seated. She thought back on all the moments she had spent with Ethan. Watching him leave like that hurt. He had protected her. He had fed her. He had let her sleep in his tent. In such a short time, he had become her anchor. She had grown attached to him, even though her pride had never allowed her to admit it, not even to herself.

But for once, she decided to let go of her pride. She wiped away her tears, stood up, and began to run.

"Agnes, where are you going?" Leah shouted, trying to follow her. But Xia stretched out an arm, stopping her. Ethan walked through the forest. He walked quickly, trying not to think about anything. Trying to erase Agnes from his thoughts. But the farther he went, the heavier his heart became. He had spent so little time with that little girl. So why couldn't he let her go? He couldn't find an answer. He couldn't even bear the feeling. That crushing guilt for leaving her behind. He suddenly stopped.

He took a deep breath. He clenched his fists.

"Ah…damn it". He turned around and walked back. He moved with the same determination he had shown when walking away. In the distance, he spotted Agnes. She was running toward him. They met halfway. For several seconds, they stood there, simply looking at each other. Then they embraced tightly, as if they were both afraid of letting go once again. Agnes's eyes glistened with tears. Ethan's eyes filled with tears as well. She pulled back slightly and looked at him with hope.

"You changed your mind?"

"Yeah". A weary but genuine smile appeared on Ethan's face.

"I did".

"Why?" Ethan looked into her eyes.

"Because…because giving up on protecting someone simply isn't in my nature".