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"We're here..."
The door opened, leading to an outdoor room, one of which Slace never expected; it was a shrine, a memorial site, but it felt off. This wasn't a shrine for the ancient dragons.
Slace asked Pyrrhus the question that Pyrrhus knew he would ask.
"What is this shrine for?"
Pyrrhus took a moment to answer; as a person, he was filled with guilt. It was obvious in those eyes that tried to fake happiness, but there was something holding him back. As a king, not as a person, he had to answer Slace.
"It's a memorial sight…"
He took a moment again, walking forward and bowing towards the shrine, giving it a blessing with magic; after that, he continued.
"For the Kurai."
The quietness of the shrine room grew even more for Slace as he heard that, his eyes widening ever so slightly as he looked at the kneeling Fire King.
Slace zoned out, not in thought but genuine unexpectedness; he never saw this coming, never realized a king could do this. He definitely believed the king; seeing the shrine, it really did resemble the Kurai, and it looked like lots of effort got put into it.
Slace then took a deep breath before he took hold of his blade, his grip tightening and his teeth gritting; he looked at Pyrrhus, who slowly got up.
"You don't deserve to do this…"
Pyrrhus looked over to Slace confused, but before he could continue, Slace interrupted.
"You don't deserve to mourn my people… what have you done? What have you done to deserve that right...?!"
Pyrrhus averted his eyes in shame; there were no other words he could give Slace except a few.
"It's the best I can do."
Slace lunged forward, pinning Pyrrhus to the ground with his blade at Pyrrhus's neck. His voice was shaky, tears fell on Pyrrhus's face.
"It was the best you could do?! YOU KILLED MY CLAN, YOU WORTHLESS PIECE OF SHIT! You could've done so much more! Yet… you did nothing and excused it as if you were trying your best!"
Slace looked at Pyrrhus for an answer, an apology, something, but there was nothing, just silence as he just looked to the side. knowing he couldn't fix what he had broken.
Slace's expression twisted and contorted, conflicted with frustration and sorrow; it was an odd expression, a weird one, but you could tell his sorrow was real; even on this hot day, it felt like rain was falling.
The mirror of Slace's demeanor being broken like fragile glass.
Slace didn't take any breaths, didn't calm down, and didn't know what to say next; there was no need for words, though, as Slace got his blade ready.
As he pointed his blade at Pyrrhus's neck, Pyrrhus closed his eyes, accepting Slace's decision. This was the end, he thought. Well, at least he fulfilled his goal in life as a king; that was enough, he thought.
Pyrrhus was ready to die and suffer for his actions.
Then the sound of a thrust came, Slace stabbing into Pyrrhus's.
Silence came after that as Slace got up, picking up his sword and looking down at Pyrrhus's. He seemed to have calmed down.
"If you're really set on fixing your crimes…"
"Then do what's right... and help my clan."
Pyrrhus opened his eyes to hear that, he was confused, Slace left him alive? Why?
Pyrrhus got up, and before he could say anything, Slace had left; that must've taken a lot of strength to leave that chance.
Pyrrhus then thought back to Slace's words. Slace was right; he didn't deserve the peace of death yet, not until he fixed his mistakes.
So he brought his hand to his chest, looking back at the shrine; a new sense of purpose filled him.
"I'll vow to fix my mistakes and earn your respect once more, Slace... and the Kurai."
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The door to the ancient dragon room opened, and the two ancient dragons saw Slace. Noticing his downcast gaze, they decided to not ask what happened.
Slace then signaled for Iml to follow, bowing to Ignis and showing his ever-so-bitter gratitude.
"Thank you for the guidance, Ignis. In exchange I'll bring Iml, like you two requested."
Ignis simply just nodded as Iml flew up through the opening in the ceiling of the ancient dragon room, twitching and looking at Slace in excitement.
"At long last I'll be able to adventure! I'll meet you again when you depart from the fire kingdom Slace!"
Slace simply sighed; he hadn't realized it, but a laugh escaped from his lips at that moment.
"Remember to train your England's flames whenever you have the time; it'll guide you for the future." Ignis said, giving Slace a few departing words of advice.
Slace simply nodded, leaving, although he did wave goodbye.
Ignis smiled one last time, glad that Slace visited them while he had the time.
"Goodbye Slace.."
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Later at night, Slace arrived back at the inn. Walking inside the room, I noticed the Fiarials were gone and Vira and Kisei weren't there. Slace didn't bother to care what the two were up to.
Slace sat on his bed opening the window, the cold breeze of the night hitting his skin.
Slace didn't say anything, but he knew how cold it got at nighttime in the fire kingdom: very hot days and very cold nights.
A bird then went through, very recognizable, especially with the letter attached to it.
"A messenger bird...?"
Slace took the letter from it as it landed on the ledge of the window; as the bird flew away, he began to read the letter.
It was from Vira.
"Hey Slace, if you're seeing this, we did a quest to fight an elemental dragon and met Bjornulf along the way; now we might be out all night feasting."
It was simple; Slace could almost hear Vira's dull tone saying what was written in this letter.
He put the letter on the table, lying down on his bed, letting out a sigh of relief.
"I got to avoid that muscle freak."
And with that, Slace decided to go to sleep, his sword right by his side.