New World - A New Beginning

I carried Katherine through Auroria, recalling the memories I had shared with her in the distinct areas. I finally found myself in the forest just outside Eloria, the place I had first fought side by side with her.

I identified the tree that we had sat against so many years ago. I approached it, caving the earth right in front of it. I set the girl's body in the grave, standing back up and taking the last look I would ever get of the girl that I had come to cherish so much.

I decided to say one last thing, one last goodbye.

"See you later, Sis," I said, covering the tomb and turning away. I knew Katherine was lying when she said she had family waiting for her in Auroria, so I decided to hold a funeral only I knew about. Nobody would disturb her here, and I would make sure of that.

I contained my aura as I walked through the streets of Eloria. The insane amount of people and livelihood of the city no longer mattered to me, my main focus being to just walk around aimlessly.

ASTHIA DARCK'S POV:

Jay...

I didn't know what had happened to him, but the amount of pain I had felt through our connection was enough to rip apart a man's spirit.

I had been spending the last few days with Diana in Eloria, and the sheer size of the capital never ceased to amaze me.

"Let's go for a walk," suggested Diana while I was in her room. I nodded, but the thought of immediately leaping out into the public wasn't something I looked forward to. Diana seemed to read my mind, the girl smiling.

"I'm the Royal Princess. We'll have to hide our identities anyway," she added. I smiled, thanking her.

We escaped the main castle using a passage only the higher royals were aware of, silver cloaks concealing our identities. I gasped in amazement at the sudden burst of life in front of me, races I had only read about casually strolling right in front of me.

Diana looked at me, grinning, her usual dignity replaced with mischief and excitement.

"Come on, let's explore," she said, grabbing my hand and pulling me through the streets.

The massive avenues of Eloria surpassed what I was told back in Lares. The vivid colors bursting forth from the diversity of the people, architecture, and products up for sale. Fruits, vegetables, meat, there was everything. My nose tingled in desire as we strolled through the food market, Diana stopping on various occasions to buy a small fruit that we ended up sharing.

We turned what seemed like the thousandth corner, my eyes lighting up at what stood before me.

"An accessory market?" I asked excitedly. The Princess nodded, equally thrilled.

We both zoomed from stall to stall, admiring all the different trinkets and pieces of jewelry that were on display. It had been a lot easier to act like a normal eleven-year-old girl for the past few days, exempt from royal duties and noble pride. It was a freedom I didn't feel very often, and when the opportunity arose, I tended to act excessively excited and immature about everything just to release some steam.

We ended up not purchasing anything due to our lack of money, but browsing through the items was always a nice way to pass the time without worries.

I noticed some commotion on the next avenue, my instincts immediately approaching the scene.

"Adventurer's guild?" I read off the sign, entering the tavern. The entire room was silent, everyone's attention focused on a single boy at the desk. My heart jumped, my senses immediately identifying the individual.

It was Jay.

I stood my ground, not wanting to cause him any more trouble.

Didn't he have a partner? I believe her name was Katherine? I had been told by Mother that they were adventuring together, and even if I didn't like the idea, I found it weird that she wasn't present.

A metallic voice suddenly echoed throughout the room, everyone trying to eavesdrop on Jay's words.

"A-rank domain cleared," he said slowly, showing his card. The clerk nodded, taking his card. I waited, realizing he still had more to say.

"Members killed in action," he continued, the atmosphere immediately tensing up. Casualties had been rather rare lately, everyone waiting patiently.

"Rom, Ava, Emma," listed Jay, his heart shattering at every name that he called out. I closed my eyes, feeling his pain. It wasn't hard to deduce that these were the members that had accompanied him into the domain, but there was still one unaccounted member.

Please, don't say the next name.

"Katherine Hearth."

I put my hand over my mouth, my eyes shaking in agony.

Jay had watched his entire party die right in front of his eyes, including his three-year-long partner. The pain that he had felt, the horror that he had experienced, it was him witnessing his teammates dying one by one.

I wanted to run and hold him tight, tell him it would be all right, tell him he wasn't alone, but I could tell it wasn't what he wanted right now. His desires echoed through my soul as if they were my own, the need to be isolated from the rest of the world.

There was nothing I could do but wait.

I watched as Jay turned around and walked out of the hall, passing right by me. I didn't even flinch, completely understanding his emotions. Now was not the time for reunion, and even if he had sensed me, he wanted to be alone right now. I turned around, seeing the cloaked Diana finally catching up to me.

"I was looking for you," she said, panting ever so slightly. I didn't answer, my mind focused solely on Jay.

I glanced to my left, seeing the young boy walking through the streets of Eloria. I wanted to follow him, but I restrained myself.

There would be a time for reunion, and when that time would come, I would hold him and support him as much as I could. I'd support the boy I had come to love with all my being, help him regain his stability after his trauma.

I'm so sorry, Jay.