NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1075: So what if you were helpless
[OP: ]
With the conclusion of the dungeon matter, the house welcomed a new group of visitors.
The adventurers who had not gone home and were suddenly invited to stay with the heliox were all tired, but at the same time, the excitement of staying at such a fine place was not something they could contain.
Also, some of those adventurers had families and partners who did not yet know about their return, so they asked them if they could go back to the city and meet them and come back later.
There was no problem, so the lord allowed it.
Though, instead of just saying their goodbye to their families and loved ones, the lord even suggested that they bring them with them if they wanted.
It was… out of the blue.
The chance to live in the Heliox castle, right next to the grand lighthouse that they had only ever looked up to, was not something most of them had even imagined they would receive.
Some had complicated feelings when they heard that from the Lord so, after calming their minds and hearts, some decided to keep this matter to themselves, while some excitedly went ahead and connected with their spouse.
And, since the others did that, the rest did not have any reason to not do so either… It was a precious chance, and even if it was only going to be for a few days, this was not something they might ever get to do in the future.
So, it was best to just do it. And, the Lord also preferred if they do it since, it would be more convenient for them to eliminate as much witnesses as possible.
When everything was concluded, and when Eon and Rein finished their small nap, the two made a feast for the rest of their family.
A feast that unexpectedly tasted far finer than it ever had.
They were all delighted. Eating that was not simply an experience, it was an… event.
An event that the rest of the guests would remember even after losing their memories of the events of the dungeon.
"Haaa…"
-Swiiiiiish…
The dinner was over, and it was late night right now.
"What a day…"
From one of the towers of the castle, Eon gazed out at the ocean under the cloak of night, its surface shimmering like a blanket of stars.
[{ "You left me again… you're so mean." }]
The calm waves rolled gently, reflecting the soft blue light of the moon that hung high in the sky. Each wave lapped against the rocky shore below, creating a soothing rhythm that echoed in the stillness of the night.
[{ "It's not that I left you alone… you're tired, and I have something I have to do, so I'm just out here for a moment." }]
He murmured to himself as he talked with his upset fiancee, captivated by the unusual beauty before him.
[{ "You're just making excuses since you don't want to stay with me-." }]
[{ "You know the best how much I want to stay with you… especially on nights like this.
I'm so tired, the tension from the trial still remains… I don't want to anything but simply rest in your embrace." }]
The deep blue water seemed to stretch endlessly into the horizon, where it met the dark sky in a seamless hug. The moonlight waved upon the surface, casting silvery trails that sparkled like scattered jewels.
[{ "I want to hold you… I want you to hold me.
This whole night, I want nothing more than to spend it all with you, by your side, with us playing some games, talking… laughing… it would be so fun." }]
[{ "I'm pretty sure would do much more than talking and laughing if you're serious about that." }]
[{ "Which is besides the point here." }]
He took a deep breath, inhaling the salty scent of the sea mixed with the cool night air.
-Shrrrrrrrr…
The distant sound of waves crashing softly against the cliffs was like a lullaby, inviting him to lose himself in thought.
"Celes?" he called her out with a light voice, his voice barely above a whisper. "Can you come out now?" Now that they finally had some time to themselves, he wanted to talk with her.
The ocean which felt like a vast canvas, painted with shadows and light, was the perfect backdrop for this presumably serious conversation.
[{ Yes… master… }]
As he stood by the moonlit scene, he felt both small and significant.
In that moment, under the vast expanse of stars and that shimmering water, he was reminded of his place in this world… his fleeting presence in a timeless dance of nature that would continue long after he was gone.
-Ooooooooooong!
He was no significant being before this vastness, he was also not some omnipotent being that could do everything.
Merely accessing his own power was a challenge to him, so, he surely wasn't the best as well.
"So, care to tell me what this silence is all about?"
Then, he wondered why his smart familiar, the being who knew as much as him, would be sad over not being able to help him… that too, in a fight where the opponent was an unfathomable existence.
[{ Master… }]
Eon could feel the obvious self loathing from her, but along with it, there was a strange disappointment present as well.
[{ This happens every time. It's always like this…
Always…
Just when you need me, just when I have to be there to help you, right when you are in trouble… I'm locked away in the mark.
It's always like this.
Sometimes, you're the one that does that. And, it's at least fine. But, then there are times when I can't get out because of external factors… because someone too powerful is strong enough to lock me away from you. }]
She did not like it.
He could feel the pain that she was feeling. And, he could also feel the sadness… the uncommon emotion of his otherwise cheerful familiar.
[{ I'm tired of this master… I don't like it. I hate it when you're the only one suffering, suffering when I could still be there to… to at least be there.
I know…. I know I'm not powerful enough to help you with every situation.
I know it might always stay like this. This is just… frustrating. }]
The negative emotions he could feel from her spoke more than what she was saying.
He understood more than what she expressed thanks to their connection… and feeling all those emotions, he couldn't help smiling bitterly at his partner.
"You silly…"
He gently caressed her little head with her sitting right before him.
"You're not the only one that feels that way…"
She wasn't the only one feeling all those things. That frustration, that anger towards herself, that sadness and that fear… of something like that happening once again, where he isn't as lucky.
"We're always walking a thorny road. This life of ours… it's complicated and it might always stay complicated."
It's just how it is for those cursed by fate.
"So what if you were helpless that one time?"
Despairing over something as complicated as fate isn't something they should be doing when there's always a chance something much worse could happen.
"It might not be the same the next time… and before you say anything, no. I'm not being optimistic here or anything.
It's just a fact that there is always a chance for something to happen, and if we are talking about us facing another life threatening situation where I'm helpless, the people around us are helpless, and even if you're helpless, the chances are pretty high."
Like the protagonist of an epic story, they were going to face many problems, small and larger than they had ever faced.
"Maybe, you'll help me next time. Maybe, there will be a time when you're the only one that can help me.
With the changes that are happening to our lives, with the complications rising up and with the new knowledge about the divine aspect… we will just get busier in the future."
They were going to go and perform that complicated experiment in a few days, and that whole process itself is going to be complicated.
He knew there might be things that would cause problems and failure that might lead to large scale destruction, but he was ready for it.
"You're the best when you're being yourself, Celes. It's always going to be despairing. It's always going to be hard and more challenging than before.
That's the path we are walking… that's the path we started walking on when we met in that cave in the great forest."
They were together even before he met his master.
In a world full of deadly beings and monsters, she was her sole hope and light.
She wasn't just his familiar, she was a partner that stood above any creature in this world for him.
[{ Master… }]
"Don't be all sad now and let's go back and sleep, okay? Our Ma'am will come out otherwise."
He was tired, and she knew that. Also, she knew how Elle was suffering ever since she got those new eye powers.
She wasn't showing it, but just like how she could feel her master's emotions directly, she could somewhat tell what she was feeling through their connection.
[{ Yes… master. }]
He had to be with her as well, so Celes gave up her stubborn sadness this time.
"Alright then~. Let's go back~."
The shores weren't lonely today.
There was light, there were calm winds, there was a bright starry sky above, and there were many eyes upon them right now.
It will continue from this point on, so… though they did not know, they would have to prepare for more than they have prepared for.