Burden and Consequence

Anna wept while Braun and Xax looked at the boy’s face with anguish and sorrow.

Their own faces contorted with woe, they couldn’t believe they allowed this to happen.

Clenching their fits, they stood there helplessly, unable to take their eyes away.

“…why did this have to happen to him…” Anna sobbed. “…he was living in misery until recently… things were finally getting better for him!”

Xax hugged his daughter and they sat together in silence, beside his cold body.

“…why is the world so cruel… father…” she asked.

He held her tightly, giving her a shoulder to cry on.

“Sire… we should probably cover him up…” suggested Braun agonizingly.

“…yeah…”

Anna kept on sobbing.

The boy she befriended not too long ago and started sincerely caring for, was gruesomely killed.

At that moment a figure silently approached the crowd from the direction of the city.

She stopped right before them.

“You aren’t allowed to die yet, Zenzo…” she muttered to herself. “Are you sad, young girl? Did you want him to eventually see a brighter future?” she asked, to which Anna nodded hesitantly. “I am afraid that’s impossible… but if you do want him to live, then don’t give up yet, there is still time,” she added softly.

She was a beautiful old woman carrying a vintage staff.

“Who… are you?” asked Braun. “And what do you mean there is still time…?”

“I am Vodessa, Equara’s unofficial category-offensive mage,” she said, introducing herself, “I knew his grandfather… we have to hurry.”

“What should we do?” asked Xax pressingly.

“All three of you, touch his skin and maintain contact for the duration of my spell. This will be painful, but if you want to save him, please bear with it,” she instructed. “If you are not strong-willed, I suggest you do not participate.”

She knelt before the boy’s body and started reciting an incantation in a foreign language as all three, Anna, Braun, and Xax, held onto a part of him.

“Zenobis dulio, waruviu vara ampheni… enju yulio… are kelemanu… vam xolia, inua zorte spiritus, au chalis…”

“Rise, once more…” she finished, bending down and poking the boy’s chest with her finger. At that moment, a shockwave resonated through all of his body.

Anna, Braun, and Xax exclaimed from the sudden pain they experienced, physical and mental. It was the critical condition of the boy, being distributed among the three of them.

They clutched their hearts, breathing heavily.

As Vodessa slid her finger across the boy’s torso, her eyes widened, but not because of the accumulated pain Zenzo had amassed over the past few months. It was something else, residing deep within him.

“…please… maintain contact… he is now sharing all his pain with you, including his mental stress. His heart is already beating, but to get him recovered as soon as possible do continue holding onto him.”

“He’s alive…?” asked Anna with hopeful tears. “I can’t— I…thank you… thank you for saving him…” she cried earnestly.

…

I was alive.

And there were four people I had to thank for that.

To think they cared this much about me, as if I was their own, blood relative.

I owed my life to them…

They saved me… just like grandpa had…

“…Zenzo… you were going through quite a lot, weren’t you…” said Braun woefully. “All this pain for a 12-year-old boy…”

“It is indeed sad. It is unfortunate that Euliseus had met his end. If he was alive, he would never allow any of this, even if it meant going to war against the entire country… I arrived here because of news regarding his passing. I was going to take the boy under my own care… do any of you mind?”

Sad, but happy that there was someone else who wasn’t his enemy, especially someone who knew his grandfather, they understood that parting was around the corner.

“Can we stay with him just a bit longer, before you take him away?” asked Braun.

“Certainly,” she answered promptly. “His bleeding has stopped. Please put this onto him and onto yourselves,” she threw some black cloaks to them, “follow me.”

“May I ask where we are going…?” inquired Anna.

“Not here young girl… not in front of those people…” murmured Vodessa.

They followed her out of the city and into the woods.

There was an old, wooden cabin covertly stationed in a dense green area.

“Please, come inside,” she invited.

They entered the small, cozy home, and were hit with a smell of relaxing, airy herbs.

“Put the boy over there. That is a healing table, it will continue his recovery while we talk,” she said.

Then, she got right to it, “Alright, what do you young ones know about the World Government?”

Braun and Xax were caught off guard by this unexpected question but began explaining their detailed encounters with the organization throughout the years, nonetheless.

“Hmmm… well it does seem that you two are well-informed, however you are still underestimating their grasp on the entire world,” she said.

“What do you mean?” asked Xax.

“They are everywhere, and I don’t say this as a simple figure of speech. I can assure you, that they are in every single country, every city, every village, every society. Any and all societies… do you understand now?”

“What—”

“In our underground city?” Xax interrupted Braun.

“Precisely. And not just one. Was the boy frequently met with ridicule in there?”

“Every day…” said Anna, suddenly speaking up. “You mean that those people are…?”

“Yes. Zepsis has enough influence to create people out of thin air; Oracles, commoners, mages, royal guards… or for a relatable example, criminals… The same demographic that would seek assistance in your circle, yet in reality, bears hidden motives – such as gathering intel on all of you, or… killing this boy here.”

“…this incursion… they were all after him?” asked Anna concernedly.

“As disturbing as that sounds,” replied Vodessa darkly. “Another truly terrifying thing about them is that if needed, they are willing to eliminate their own people, and any trace of their existence. Immediately…”

“…just like those royal guards…” said Braun. “Do you know how and where they get rid of them?”

“Who knows, I am not aware of the methods they employ. But I keep seeing it happen, now more frequently than ever. And even if we knew, it doesn’t matter… they do it right in front of the brainwashed public. The same people who keep living blindly, every single day. The ones who can’t see anything for what it is, even if it unfolds right under their noses...”

“…the same way the monarchies disappeared,” said Xax gloomily.

“Indeed... My home continent, Equara, didn’t stand a chance. Since we are neighbors with the Leviathan continent, and were never friendly with them, we were the first to lose ours… The King and Queen were both mutilated and put on display before the public. All the category-offensive mages were slaughtered, shortly joining them. Everyone knew what was going on, but we couldn’t declare war… our manpower decreased to nothingness.”

“…sorry to hear that…” said Xax, “what kind of continent was Equara?”

“It was prosperous. Right until Leviathan’s aggression. Now, it is the poorest continent out of all…” she said dimly, “if I were to put it into perspective, a regular city in Validae has an equivalent amount of wealth to all of Equara, currently. People live in poverty and disappear every day. The population went from millions to just tens of thousands. What used to be a paradise, became the embodiment of hell.”

“…”

“…did Zenzo’s grandfather leave Equara and come to Validae for that reason?” asked Anna.

“No. He came here because his daughter – Zenzo’s mother, Aya – was getting married. Prior to that, he was participating in one of the leading oppositions against Zepsis…”

“…he told me he was an adventurer up until my mother’s marriage…” I blurted out glumly, startling everyone except Vodessa.

“Zenzo!” Anna shouted, running over. She gave me a tight hug, nearly opening my stomach wound.

“…Zenzo…” said Braun warmly with kindling in his eyes.

“…welcome back, Zenzo…” said Xax.

“Please be careful not to reopen his injuries Anna,” warned Vodessa. “As for what Euliseus told you, Zenzo, that is a partial truth. Your grandpa and I were both adventurers, but when things were getting desperate, we both dedicated ourselves to protecting our country...” she said. “How are you feeling?” she added gently.

“…”

“…what did you do?” I asked.

“What do you mean?” she asked, not understanding my question.

“I know I died back there…” I said gravely. “Did you turn me into a walking corpse?”

“Of course not,” she responded, “with ancient magic and a sustainable condition, everyone—”

“…it’s ok, you don’t have to explain it… as long as that’s not the case,” I said tiredly.

There was a short silence.

“…Zenzo, how are your injuries?” Anna asked worriedly, “Anything bothering you?”

“…I am fine… what happened to Zepsis assassins and the hideout?” I asked them seriously.

“Some people are carefully checking the cave right now. We won’t be able to stay in there anymore, so I will start looking for another place,” responded Xax.

“…I didn’t want to die… they were going to kill me… but I ended up becoming a murderer instead…” I said bitterly, looking at my battered hands.

Anna’s cheerful face was superseded with shock, “…w-what?”

I glanced at her horrified face from the corner of my eye, and to others, expecting the same reaction.

“…you… were doing it out of self-defense, Zenzo… I know another person who experienced a similar situation to yours, so I won’t blame you...” said Xax.

What?

“Brother… you mean?”

“Gyorn,” said Xax sadly.

“…what? …he also…?” I asked.

“Regrettably,” said Xax, “but when you are attacked by evil, it’s either you or them… he always says that ‘the day you hesitate is the day you die’… you just got… unlucky… deep down we all know you are a good person.”

Our conversation didn’t progress any further.

I stayed in Vodessa’s hut, recovering, with Anna who was keeping me company and still couldn’t believe what she learned earlier. Xax and Braun went back to Aireven to check on the residents and their search of the cave.

Upon Xax’s arrival, the leader of the investigation unit shared their findings.

“Lord Xax… there were… no survivors among the Zepsis assailants…” he said. “…the boy wiped them all out… in a rather gruesome way… that is not to say that he is in the wrong!” he added quickly. “…he was defending himself, so he had no choice… but those bastards are all mangled up in there…”

Fraught loomed over Xax and Braun as they listened to this report.

“Show me,” said Xax seriously, “take care of everything up here, Braun.”

The man and Xax ventured back into the hideout.

Braun who had remained on the surface to coordinate the efforts of other forces, and to maintain the current situation under control, waited for roughly an hour before he saw Xax again.

But the brother he saw enter the cave was not the same brother who came out.

Bearing a pale visage, Xax stepped off to the side and threw up.

“Brother! …are you ok? What happened…?” said Braun dreadfully running over.

“…I am ok… it’s nothing,” replied Xax with his gaze so distant and troubled, it seemed he was in a different realm. “Falk, thank you for checking everything… you did good.”

“Thank you, sire… If I may, sire… how is the boy?” asked Falk.

Xax thought for a second, remembering Vodessa’s words about Zepsis.

“He is alive, but unconscious. According to the woman mage, that will remain the case for some time…” said Xax, improvising on the spot. “Falk, forgive me for sending you away already, but do me a favor and investigate the mountain city, Niima… look around and report back on its suitability for our next hideout.”

“Right away, sire,” said Falk.

“Be careful, I’ve heard the roads are rather uncompromising…”

Falk bowed and left to gather things he will need for his journey.

“Do you suspect him, brother?” murmured Braun warily.

“Can’t leave anyone in the clear anymore… we have tough times ahead of us…”

…

Next time Xax came to Vodessa’s cabin, he spoke to me in private to discuss what I did to my attackers.

“What… prompted you… to do that to them…?” asked Xax.

“…I don’t remember what I did… I remember getting attacked by all of them, panicking, and then getting seriously injured from the back… twice,” I responded.

“Was it the fact that they attacked you from behind?” he inquired.

“…it could’ve been… or maybe survival instincts… I remember thinking that if I don’t… kill them, I will die instead…” I explained. “When I was stabbed in the back, everything that happened after was blurry. Then after getting hit in the head from the back, I don’t remember anything at all…”

“Alright… thank you, Zenzo. Continue resting,” he said, walking away.

…

Three days have passed since the assault on Aireven.

I have healed, and the only problem I had after regaining consciousness – my impaired motor functions – was salvaged with time.

That said, it was clear to me what I had to do next.

That is why I am writing this letter.

Dear Anna, Braun, and Lord Xax.

You are the closest I have had to the word ‘family’, ever since grandpa’s death.

We got off to a rocky start in the beginning, but you treated me with nothing but respect and kindness after that.

Even with my questionable origins and bounty, you were willing to give me the benefit of the doubt when no one else did.

You took care of me, fed me, gave me a shelter to stay…

I am very grateful for everything you’ve done for me.

That is why I am going to walk a separate path from now, away from all of you.

You must have realized by now that Zepsis is trying to kill me.

That means whoever is with me, will also become a target.

I don’t want to risk losing anyone close to me anymore.

I want all of you to live in peace.

Even though your standing in society is compromised, that is still better than getting hurt because I am around.

Please take care of yourselves.

Thank you for everything that you’ve done for me.

I hope we meet again,

Zenzo.

Writing a letter was definitely the way to go.

If I told them in person, I would be forcefully restrained.

Vodessa, the person grandpa never told me about but was clearly important to him, could end up getting hurt. I am very grateful to her for saving my life, but I won’t put her through danger if I can help it.

Anna would be against the idea and would do everything in her power to either make me stay or come with. She is a surprisingly kind girl, with a deeply sympathetic character, contrary to our first meeting. I don’t want anyone ever targeting her, like that country-scale mage did.

Braun wouldn’t want me to go by myself, because it would be too dangerous. He would probably ask Xax for permission to accompany me… they often say your heart is roughly the size of your fist, but in his case, that wasn’t true. Heart of immeasurable size, he is a great man, the nicest and most empathetic of all.

Xax… is too unpredictable. There is a side of me that thinks he would let me go, and a side of me that doesn’t. Despite every argument or conflict I have had with him, he was truly worthy of the title to rule the country. It is a shame that Kings are a concept of the past and that he is forced to live in the shadows; had he become one, I would gladly live under his reign.

Some of the words in the letter got a little messed up.

I really have gotten a little too attached to them…

It was time to say goodbye.

Farewell, my other home and second family.