LIGHTNOVELONLINE V. Collapsing Worlds
Much to Anya's and Virno's surprise, Charles did good on his promise. For the next few months, he diligently helped his son with his studies, guiding Virno to become a more stable, less problematic young man. However, one day, Charles received a visit in his mansion from some strange gentlemen...
Anya von Virtus: Charles, dear... There appear to be some men at the gates here to see you. They claim that they have an urgent message for you. Something about one of your accounts...?
Charles' face turned pale immediately. He was sitting by the garden, smoking a cigar like he used to. He promptly put it out, and made his way to the gate.
Anya von Virtus: Please, Lord... Don't take him away from us again...
From that day onward, Charles became more absent from his home once more. He would still spend at least one day there every week, but not more. After some weeks, he barely went there at all...
Pocna: I'm sure your father is just busy taking care of some very important business. He'll be back soon, sir Virno...
Virno was sitting with Pocna, resting after one of their intense sword fighting sessions.
Virno: Whatever... I don't need that old man anymore, anyway. Whether he's here or not doesn't change things at all. I'll do what I must, instructor Pocna... I know full well the kind of person I don't want to be. That's all that matters.
Pocna smiles.
Pocna: You've changed a lot, young Virno.
Virno looks at the ground.
Virno: I'm just trying to do things a bit differently now... I didn't particularly like the way I was handling them. That's all, really.
Pocna: Well, if you keep it up I'm sure the future will have great things in store for you!
Pocna smiled earnestly. He had been Virno's instructor since he was little, and it gave him great pride to see who he was choosing to become. Little did he know, however, that Virno's future would not be so bright...
Anya von Virtus: CHARLES!
Charles had been missing for days. Nobody knew his whereabouts, not even the people who worked with him daily. At last, he was found locked inside an office in one of the homes he owned. Charles had hung himself.
One of his personal butlers found him already dead and immediately alerted lady Anya, who made her way to the house as soon as she heard the news...
Anya von Virtus: WHY...?! Why would you do this to us...!
On a desk was a letter written by him. It was directed to his wife and son:
"Dear Virno, dear Anya,
The mistakes of my past have finally caught up to me. The crimes I so desperately tried to hide have been uncovered, and soon, all that we own will be taken away. This is my fault. I did my best to keep them away, I tried so very hard... But I couldn't protect you. I'm sorry. A thousand times over, I'm sorry. I know my words will be of no use to spare you from the ruin and misery that will follow, but I'm sorry. I have failed you as a husband, Anya. I have failed you as a father, Virno... But, above all else, I have failed you both as an honest, trustworthy man.
I cannot bear this shame. To live carrying the guilt of the crimes I committed was a curse I was willing to bear, but to know that I forever tainted my family's name and trust, and that I doomed them to live in poverty, and myself to live in imprisonment... That I cannot handle. The truth is, I am a weak, pitiful man. I chased after an easy life, and made mistakes so grave that they have now come to take me. If you wish to stay in this world, then please take whatever jewels and gold you can find, and run. Run far away from this country, where none will be able to find you. Please.
Virno... Don't be like your father. Be strong. Be true. Be the best man you can be. Become what I was too weak to become... And don't ever forget the tale I used to tell you, for it is so much more palpable than you can know...
I will be waiting for you both on the other side.
-Charles"
Anya broke down crying. Soon, the life they knew would be ripped away from them. After mourning the loss of her husband, she couldn't wait any longer. She needed to take Virno and run... Run far, far away. Even though she managed to leave the mansion without bringing the young man along, she would now have to tell him the truth...
Virno: THAT FUCKING COWARD!
Virno tears the letter to shreds, leaving them scattered all over the ground. He was livid... Too livid to even shed a single tear.
Virno: HOW COULD HE DO THIS?! FUCK...! FUCK!
Anya von Virtus: Please Virno... We can mourn him on our way out of the country, son... But now, we must hurry.
Virno: Mourn...? MOURN?! I have NOTHING to mourn. HE LEFT US TO ROT, MOTHER! Fuck that bastard...
Anya von Virtus: Virno...
Virno: We'll survive. We'll get by and show him that we never needed him to begin with, that he was nothing but a burden to us!
Anya didn't say anything else. She left the room and let Virno gather his belongings. Outside the door, she heard a faint sobbing.
Anya von Virtus: Charles... You chose the worst possible outcome for your family...
Anya and Virno escape the country, carrying what little gold and jewels they can take with them. The riches were enough to let them rent a rather nice house in a neighbouring country, but Anya struggled to find work. For a while, they could rely on the money Virno received from doing odd jobs to keep themselves financially afloat, but as soon as word got out that they could be related to the notorious Charles von Virtus, no person or establishment would dare to hire either of them. Soon, their funds were running out, and the two found themselves forced to move into the city slums...