PART 25 :-
THE INTAROGATION
MC perspective :-
I'm sitting outside the interrogation room. Mini and the others are probably waiting outside because they don't have permission to enter. Everything is going opposite to the way I want.
I remember Juha's words: no matter what happens, people should not know about my powers.
[The Lord of Joyful and Paradox come outside from the building.]
"You!!!!?"
"Are you that much surprised!???"
"Nahhh… to think that I dragged you in here too."
"And just as I was thinking that now I don't have to see you again."
"They're calling you now… don't panic there… and don't let my orphan name down. If you do, I will kill you then."
"Yeah yeah… thanks for always protecting me."
I leave them behind and enter the room.
...…..
"I thought you hated that boy."
"I still do."
"So, all this just for that promise!!!!? Now that I think about it… how did you manage to fool them?"
"I just needed to use my brain and a little bit of Chiron's help."
"Ahh… that guy."
"Why did you help them!!?? You know his identity. For a brief moment, I feared that you might reveal his identity."
"Chiron will kill me then. And more than that, he knows too many secrets about my life. I can gamble with Bright's future, but not mine."
"Haahah… so he threatened you as well."
"How do the Doomwalkers know about him!!?"
"It wasn't you!!!?"
"No… do you think I would risk my life that much!!?"
"Then who besides us knows about his power!!!!?"
[With shock and surprise, the two selfish men's conversation ends.]
...…..
MC perspective :-
I entered the room and saw an old man sitting there. The same man I had seen during the trial.
"Ahaa… you can sit here."
I sat in front of the man, with a table between us.
"It's nice to meet you again."
"Well… thanks for the greeting, but can you tell me why I'm here!!??? My friends are worried about me and are waiting outside for me."
"Friends… it looks like you have great friends with you. However, there is a great threat spinning around in your head. Do you think they will stay with you when the matter becomes worse!!!? And will you protect them at any cost!!?"
"Does that have anything to do with you, first of all!!!!? It's my problem, not yours. And besides, if I see any chance that their lives are in danger because of me, then I will die protecting them rather than let anyone hurt them. And it doesn't matter whether they stay with me or not."
"Although your answer doesn't clear the thought about how you'll feel when they leave you, considering you a threat. Do you fear that they might leave you!???"
"It has nothing to do with you. It's their choice, not mine."
"I see… but if your death doesn't ensure their safety… then what will be the meaning of your sacrifice!!? And how will you protect them?"
"My friends are not that weak that anyone can kill them if they want. And besides, there are people present who can protect them."
"You believe in them that much…"
"Yeah, is that a problem!!?"
"No…
I remember what you said to me that day. You want to become a protector and protect others. So, will you protect innocent lives that hurt you in some way, or those who hurt you mentally, or even those who hate you!!?"
"I want to erase that hatred as well. And it doesn't matter what happened in the past. If anyone wants my help, then I will definitely help them, no matter what they did to me."
"I see… however, I want to know what kind of power you have that makes you so confident that you can protect innocent lives!!?"
"Power!!!? What are you talking about!!!? If I had power, I would smash those guys there and wouldn't have even joined the academy."
There's no way I'm going to tell you about my powers when Juha already told me what chaos it can create.
"Look, I'm a man who can detect anyone's lies just by hearing their words…"
"Hey—who gave you permission to interrogate my disciple?"
The words completely silenced the old man.
Juha appeared there somehow. I don't know how he entered. I didn't even sense his presence just a moment ago.
But finally, I was relieved.
"How did you enter!!!? The seal didn't even react…"
"Why are you so surprised even knowing about my powers… Bright, leave us here… your friends are waiting outside. You shouldn't make them worry too much."
Looking at the old man, I left the room.
...…..
PART 26 :-
AFTER THE INTAROGATION
"Can you tell me why are you doing this!!??"
"Why!!!! What makes you think that 'why'!!!? You are old enough to already figure it out about his identity."
"Ofcourse I will, he looks exactly like her mother."
"Or someone which you consider as monster. If he figured it out what you did to her, how do you think he react. I can't take that much risk."
"And that's why I interrogated him. After hearing his words that day, I never imagined he would carry the same legacy as his parents. I just trying to correct my own mistakes."
"Ohh… come on… I mean seriously!!! I know you more than anyone who lives today. I even change your diaper. Don't try your acting in front of me kid. You are just excited about his power which he inherited from his parents."
"And so what…."
[Before that old guy finish his sentence, Chiron break the table sit exactly infront of him.]
"Stay away… if you involve with him again, then no matter which God you follow I will erase your every member of your clan. And I don't think, you prefer that, after all only some of people are alive in your clan."
[Chiron's words makes him trembling in fear. And Chiron leave that place.]
...…..
Mc perspective :-
I finally, get out from the building.
I saw everyone waiting for me outside.
"Bright!!!!"
Mini hugged me tightly. I finally felt relaxed.
"Ohh… you are all right."
"How can something happens to me when you guys are with me!!?"
I started to falling down. Bond grab my shoulder.
"Why you so reckless!!!? You know we are also there for you."
"It's because of your moves which makes you that much weak now. You shouldn't uses those carelessly." Old geezer said that.
"Now now, please give me the space."
Aunty hold her hand in my chest.
"Blooming heal!"
Flowers come out from her hand with a light. I finally feel energetic.
"It's going to recover your Qi. But you need to rest for recovering from your internal damage. You should go now."
"Yeah, we should go now."
I started to leaving the place Bond and Dex holding my hand.
...…..
Minidra perspective :-
[While Bright at the intarogation room.]
"What's going on here!!!? Who were those people!!? What are they talking about!!!? What deal they have with Bright!!!?…"
"Clam down my lady… I know you all have so many questions but for now it's not the right time."
"You know about this Iras don't you!!!?"
"Ahh… it would be lie if I say no… but for now you have to wait for him."
Waiting!!! How much I have to wait… Bright is injured!!!! They just took him although he was the one who got attacked by them.
[Bright finally come out from there.]
After seeing Bright there i hugged him tightly. I'm so glad that he is alright.
"Bright!!!!"
"Ohh… you are all right."
"How can something happens to me when you guys are with me!!?"
You silly… if anything happens to you, how can I live anymore.
...…..
PART 27 :-
THE GREEF AND FRUSTRATION
Minidra perspective :-
[At the palace of Scribes.]
"May I come in, my lady!?"
"You don't need my permission…"
"You haven't eaten much since you came back to the house."
"I'm just not hungry."
"You're worried about him…"
"They attacked him. He was bleeding, suffering from pain again, just like that night. And what did I do!!!? I just stood there doing nothing."
"Maybe that was the best way to help him there."
"And how do you know that!!!? I don't even know what's going on in his life. He didn't even tell me because I'm not even strong enough to make him believe in me…"
"Or he might believe in you from his heart."
"How!!?"
"In my early days, when I went on missions… I had a teammate whom I truly believed in. We worked together and became friends. Eventually, there came a time when that person hid something very important from me. When I found out, I became angry.
"But the fact was, that person hid that secret from me because they wanted to keep me safe. They didn't want to hurt me. And for that reason, they kept getting hurt, both mentally and physically.
"Maybe he is doing the same thing—not because he doesn't believe in you, but because he wants to keep you safe from the enemies he can't defeat."
"But I don't want to be safe. I want him to be safe."
"He shares the same desire as you. Maybe you have to make him believe that he has to think about himself as well."
[A man knocks on the door. A man Minidra never imagined would be there.]
"Father!!!"
[Minidra stands up.]
"I heard about what happened today. Is that boy alright!!?"
"Yeah, for today."
"I see. You also got a Divine Relic. That's a great thing."
"Thank you."
"I also heard that you didn't eat anything after returning…"
[Two servants enter the room carrying food.]
"Eat and rest now, or do you want to become a weak warrior?"
"Iras, leave her for now. You both can talk later."
[He leaves the place after saying that.]
"My lady, it would be best for me to leave you now. You need to rest your body for now."
[Iras leaves the place.]
...…..
Bond perspective :-
[At Lyra's Vault.]
"You guys are so quiet today. What's Bright doing!!?"
"He's sleeping in his room."
"What!!!? There's no point in looking at me like that."
"You knew what was happening from the very beginning. Yet you stayed quiet."
"He's not my student, so he's not my responsibility."
"But he's my friend, and my responsibility."
"Is that so!!??"
"Did you tell him everything about yourself?"
"No, and I have no intention of knowing what his secret is either. But that doesn't mean I won't help him when he needs it."
"He didn't want you all to know because he knows that you guys aren't strong enough to defeat them.
"In other words, we're both much weaker than them. You're even weaker than Bright when he doesn't have a weapon."
"Then make us strong."
"You didn't understand my words. What I'm trying to tell you is that your sword isn't meant for protection. It's meant for revenge. You can't protect your friends with that desire."
"I can do both at the same time."
"You can't…"
"I can… It's a deal. I'll prove you wrong in the future."
"Best of luck!!"
He irritates me all the time.
...…..
Iras perspective :-
"My Lord, may I come in?"
"Yeah."
"I didn't expect you to congratulate her."
"You don't have to be formal. I sealed the room."
[Iras sits on the chair.]
"Sometimes I don't understand you, Valen."
"Hahaha!!! That's not a new thing."
"You shouldn't have just shown her how much you care about her."
"You know I can't do that. If I did, they would understand everything. Who's going to protect her from them!!??"
"She might not understand now, but in the future, she will realize."
"I don't want her to know. If she did, they would come."
"Stop drinking… you've already finished two bottles."
"This makes me forget about my sorrows. I can't become a good son, husband, and now father. I'm just a worthless guy."
"I don't know how bad of a son or father you are, but at least you're a good husband. Although, I still wonder how that beautiful girl fell for you."
"Nah… Mana is like a shining moon in the deep ocean, never to be reached. I still can't believe that she loved me.
"And what did I do? I can't protect her, nor can I keep our daughter safe. And now I'm married to someone else. Why!!!!? Because of this stupid clan." [With a sorrowful voice.]
"I miss those old days, when all of us were together. Although I always lost the duel to you, that time was the golden period for me. At least until she was born. But she doesn't even call me Papa anymore. I've hurt my daughter so much."
"It's because you're trying to protect her from them. Otherwise, she might lose her life. If you hadn't married and had a proper son, she might have faced discrimination."
"Sometimes I want to kill all those bastards who dare to look at my child that way, but because of that thing, I always stop myself."
"Now you don't have to worry. She's found good friends."
"Ahh—that boy… I think he'll be okay, although I won't let him have my diamond. He's a good guy. When I saw how he was ready to walk through fire for her, I realized I don't have to worry about the people around her.
"Although, I think your madam's son might have been better for her if he were still alive today. He might have carried the same kindness as her and the bravery of his father."
I can't tell you now, but you might be happy when you finally find out that your daughter fell for the exact same man you were wishing for.
"I might leave now. You need to sleep."
"Iras, make her strong. Strong enough to protect herself. I'm scared of what would happen to her when I die. Who will protect her from them!!??"
"She is growing fast, and she's becoming stronger too. But you don't have to worry. She doesn't need anyone's help to protect her. But if you're thinking that I might tell you there is always someone who will never leave her… at least until he dies."
[Iras leaves the room with a smile.]
The ritual ends with a lot of drama.
What awaits Bright in the future!!?? What will the Doomwalkers do in the future!!??
...…..
[In the story, "Father" and "Mother" are used by the children as respectful and formal ways of addressing their parents. However, when there is no distance between the parents and their children, they use more affectionate terms such as "Mom," "Dad," "Mama," or "Papa."]
...…..
[END OF THE ARC]
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