Kismet’s Tale

      Logain stood alongside Aunger on top of the mountain peak. In front of them was the burned and melted body. The soldiers who surrounded the body were shedding tears. They covered the body of their Young Master.

“He ran out of time, huh,” Logain said blankly. “We've had too many casualties, most of the regiments are halved, and most of your Hounds were too busy keeping them at bay.”

“They did their best, everyone did,” Aunger answered in a subdued tone. “Considering what we were facing, we are lucky enough to survive this. You saw it from a distance right?”

Logain took a drag of his cigar. “I saw it. Ain’t surprised that the young master got burnt and melted like this.”

The corpse of the young master had been melted. Every part of his body had caustic burns, and some parts of his body were showing his organs and bones.

Those who had seen the young master before would be horrified. Aunger couldn’t stomach the sight of the young master like this. It was simply too terrible.

“This isn’t fucking right,” Logain said, cursing. “He shouldn’t have fought alone.”

Aunger regarded him dully. “Then? What would you do? Get in the way? We did our best, Logain. We kept the Exiled One from flying, shelled the monster so that the young master could go against the monster. None of our conventional weapons could work, and we have to rely on the young master who was wielding the right tools for the jobs.”

“I know that. I fucking know that, Aunger. How the fuck do you think we’ll tell Lord Derrick about this. He knows that we’re fighting the fucking devil, and what? That we just let the person that fucking made our fucking region prosperous like this? Our brother? The person that we fucking promise to keep alive?”

Logain held on to Aunger’s collar. He lowered his head with teeth gritted. “It isn’t fucking fair, Aunger. It isn’t just fair that Brother has to do all of this.”

Aunger looked away. He couldn’t look Logain in the damn eye. “Brother Mavin had always been prepared about this. From gathering the black-iron, the boons, and the poison that could allow him to stun the creature long enough to defeat it. He...was always ready when his time was up. I couldn’t convince him. There was no way that I could ever convince him to somewhat give up on whatever he was planning to do. Not when he had started to have that damning look on his face.”

Aunger felt his arms go limp. Logain tore his arms away from Aunger, sat down in front of their Brother-in-arms. “None of those fucking monstersa are going to stay alive, Aunger. That’s what I can promise you. In a way, I’m sorry that you have to face the Family with this news.”

“I know. This has been my duty ever since I accepted his request. It’s a burden that I must carry. Can I leave this place to you? We’ll be carrying this young master back to his home...and make sure that you deliver it in time, Logain.”

“I understand.”

Logain stood up, and left the area. Aunger directed the Hounds to start attaching the tethers and carried the young master’s remains to the great manor’s estates.

Aunger remained on the railing of the airships. His dulled eyes were scanning the destruction left behind by the Exiled One and the abominations that came out of the opening in the sky. Whatever the young master did, it was able to seal the ‘hole’ that the Exiled One created.

You always said to me that it was the post-boss, after the final boss. I didn’t really know what that meant, Brother. But I know that whatever you were facing, it took your time away. How am I supposed to tell them? That you’re gone from this era? How could I face them? What would your missus think?

Aunger felt his heart tightened at the thought. He looked up and saw shafts and curtains of light that mingled alongside the sun.

It’s going to be winter soon. Young Master. I know that you wanted to make sure that the threat passed before the year. That we would welcome the new year free of worries from the demifiends, and the threat. You said that this world...would be free for this era. Was it worth the price you have to pay, brother?

Did you think about the people you would leave behind? You’re cruel, Brother. Then again, you only wanted to keep this region safe from us...there was no other way. Or were you simply too tired about it?

Aunger felt his mind lost. He knew that this was the price that they needed to pay. The price that one had to pay if they needed to win against the Exiled One.

There was a somber atmosphere. The silence of the soldiers, the hounds were drowning. No one celebrated the victory over the Exiled One. They all know that the situation could have ended only in either their victory or defeat.

The chances of the young master returning home was low from the start. In the end, in one way or another, they were ready for the price of victory.

The sun became brighter as they crossed miles to reach the area around Karbid. The airship landed on the airstrip that was made for the airship. The Hounds who were standby on the depot saw the grim look on their faces.

Ike, Martina, had welcomed Aunger with their faces steeled. Martina approached the casket they carried and then her face contorted, she threw herself at Ike who then comforted her.

Ike looked to Aunger with a stern expression. He couldn’t hide everything. Not at the moment. They all know what was the plan, and how their young master would no longer be alive in this era.

“Aunger, did the young master do it well?”

“He did. We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for what he did in the peak.”

“I see,” Ike wiped his face. “Then he has done his duty well. We just have to make sure that we don’t dishonor him. Do you need help?”

“No. This is a duty that was left to me. Ike, Martina, I have to make sure that I do my best as well.”

Aunger turned his lonesome back to the direction of the half-truck prepared for them. He led his Hounds, and directed them to the direction of the great manor.

It was a slow painful procession.

The Hounds followed diligently while holding on to their rifles and keeping their backs straight. They followed until they reached the Capital where the gates opened.

The crowd was curious by the slow march. Aunger led the march sternly and headed to the great manor while holding back his heart from collapsing right there.

When they reached the great manor. Aunger saw the young lady of the Tomas Family accompanied by the young master’s wife. The three of them were worrying about something in the front of the great manor.

Aunger approached the entrance of the great manor while keeping his gaze on the entrance. Lady Elea approached first with her hands on her hips.

“Aunger? What’s happening?” she demanded. Lady Elna and Lady Natalya moved next to the Lady’s side.

“Please call Lord Derrick and Lady Elma here, Elna. I have news.”

Lady Elna nodded. She went to get the Patriarch and the Matriarch of the House who looked at Aunger with a grim expression.

With the whole family in front of him. Aunger clapped his boots together and saluted.

“I came here to bring the news, that my Master, Mavin Tomas, had defied the very fate of this world, and had died in the name of the greater good of Greater Lazon in defiance to a creature that was beyond this world, and had successfully fulfilled the oath that he had sworn to defend his home and Empire at the cost of his life!”

Aunger announced.

The Hounds carried the casket and saluted. Elna broke out crying, while Elea followed, her mother taking in her daughter whose heart broke.

Aunger tried his best to keep still. But he shivered at the sight of the dead look on Lady Natalya’s face. She approached the casket silently, and ripped the cover with a single hand.

She looked at the melted, burnt, and disfigured husband of his. Her eyes on the scar that was on his eyebrow.  Her legs shook and she kneeled in front of the casket as if her will to live have left her.

Tears broke out of her eyes, and silently she took the knife from one of the soldiers and tried to stab her throat with it.

Aunger reacted quickly, blocking the tip of the knife with his hand. Lady Elea hurried to Lady Natalya, her little arms wrapping around the Lady.

“Big Sister! Please don’t leave Elea as well!” the little girl sobbed. Lady Natalya’s face distorted, then with such an anguish look, she wrapped herself in Lady Elea’s embrace and started wailing her heart out.

Aunger clenched his bloodied hand then saluted Lord Derrick who remained standing strongly. “Thank you for informing us, Aunger. Tell me, did my Cousin die well?”

“He saved us, Lord,” Aunger found out that his knees buckled. “I...had hoped that it wouldn’t happen, but he was right...this was the only way for us to win and live on.”

“I see,” Lord Derrick patted his hand on Aunger. “Get yourself treated, Soldier. All of Lazon will know of this.”

 

***

 

Kohl looked at the letter that was on his hand. He read the letter. “In any case, I intend to send only this package. Give my regards to Maria, she’s a fine woman, and for the love of all that is good and just. Don’t try to do what you tried to do before we went back to Sudugar.

“Best regards,

 

“Mavin Tomas.”

 

“Haha, Brother Mavin really did not joke about the boar,” he looked at Maria who was worrying about what to do with the boar that they got. “I think we should give some of our neighbors with it.”

“We should, your friend really is too thoughtful!”

“I know,” Kohl smiled.

He thought of his meeting with his friend. He was someone who appeared, and carried him out of danger. The friend who was there for him when he had doubted and was afraid of meeting Maria.

To say that he was someone that he owes too much would be an understatement. He had a feeling that he wouldn’t be even here if his friend didn’t come to his rescue

“I should write back,” Kohl nodded to himself. He took a piece of paper from his desk, and started writing:

“Dear Mavin,

“I have certainly received your gift. Haha, did you somehow know that our wedding would be soon? By next week, we will have our reception here in Sudugar. I was planning to write you a letter, but it seemed like you didn’t forget about your gift. You made me popular with how many of my neighbors wanted to become friends, seeing that we have quite a gift.

“But truly, how are you doing? Still helping people around? You always have a knack for that, friend. I actually know who you are after asking around, the seal on your package was a dead giveaway to who you are. I heard stories of the Young Master of the Mavin Tomas, and how you have done so much for your state. Hah, I should have suspected  better, right? Anyway, even though there are also bad rumors of you. I will be believing in the Mavin Tomas that saved me during that fateful day.

“The priest here had told me that the kismet of life is rather troublesome, there might be ups and downs, but in the end we all follow the kismet given to us by the Lord. I always saw you as someone who was eager to help people, and whenever we would meet, I always saw you in front of a soldier, telling them to keep on living. I actually had heard from a fellow soldier who had lost his leg in the wag, he told me that you were there when he had hope in this world. Your words had motivated him when he was lost in a train heading to Flost. Haha, you really have a knack for giving people hope, eh? Anyway, I think that’s what you are, friend. At least the Mavin Tomas I know was someone with a warm heart to his brothers-in-arms and the people around him. So I refuse to believe the rumors about you.

“That’s why I would like to thank you for saving me and giving me the courage to see Maria. Thank you, for giving me a happy ending. So, it would be my honor to see you at my wedding, Mavin Tomas.

Your friend,

Kohl Otto.”

Kohl reread his letter, and then nodded.

He looked outside and saw Maria looked over shoulder, smiling, with the sun on her back.

Thank you for this, friend, he thought to himself.

Truly, thank you for the happy ending you gave us. 

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