The Beginning After The End (Early Years Book 1) (13 page)

After
a couple of weeks of assimilation, my body acted up less frequently and I was
allowed to go out into the city.  So after promising Tess that I’d go
touring around the city of Zestier, I went to sleep.

___________________________________________

Waiting
outside my room was an adorably dressed Tess.  She was wearing a white
sleeveless sundress and a white see-through cardigan over it.  The light
pink colored sun hat she wore over her head was decorated with a white flower,
giving her a very fresh and innocent look.

“Took
you long enough! Hurry, let’s hurry!” She takes my hand, half dragging me as I
fight to keep up with her pace.

I’m
astounded by the view of the city again as we make our way to the heart of
Zestier.  We get off the carriage and start walking, visiting the numerous
stalls and stores that the city has to offer.  We’re met with a lot stares
from the fact that a human child is holding hands with their kingdom’s only
princess.  While most of these gazes only hold curiosity in them, some
stares are filled with hostility.

Coming
out of the armor shop, I’m bumped by an elf child that seems to be a little
over 7 years old.

“Hmph!
Well if it isn’t the human brat that Elder Virion has taken under.  I’ve
heard all about you.  Gross, I got human germs on my clothes.” He snidely
says with a pompous look on his face.

It
is fairly obvious by the clothes and attendants behind him and his little group
of friends that he’s a noble.

Wow.
 So this is how a spoiled 7-year-old child acts.  I almost forgot how
immature children are after only spending time with Tess.

He
then flashes a smile at the princess and takes out his hand, palm up.

“Princess,
it is below your level to be with this human brat.  Allow me to escort you
around.” He urged, expecting Tess to receive his hand.

Not
even looking in his direction, Tess just links my arm with hers and coldly
says, “Art, let’s go.  There seems to be a bug that I don’t want to
accidentally step on.”

Ouch!
Even I feel the burn.  Tess can be awfully cruel.  I think her words
are a more effective weapon than mana to be honest.

I
glance back to see the noble boy’s forehead crease in anger and veins pop out.

“Hold
it brat! I’m not done with you!” He shouts, gripping my shoulder.

“I
heard you’re pretty talented for a human mage.  Around here, I happen to
be a pretty well known genius myself.  My mana core has already reached
red stage and aside from water AND earth manipulation, I've been begun showing
signs of being able to manipulate plants!”

His
ego must be inflating ‘cause I swear his nose is getting longer.

I
just put on a nice surprised expression and innocently exclaim, “Oh my word!
Princess Tessia! It seems we are in the presence of pure genius here.  I
am not worthy!”

No
point in getting angry with a 7-year-old.

Tess
just giggles at my sarcasm, trying to hide her face under her sunhat.

“I’ll
be sure to give you proper respect Lord Genius of the Elves.  So if you’ll
excuse me…”

I
lead Tess out back into the main road while I see the attendants and his little
posse trying to control their giggles.  Mr. Lord Genius of the Elves
himself turning bright red.

I
wasn’t going to fight him like he wanted.  I may win, but this isn’t my
kingdom and it’s not right of me to do anything excessive.  I was
representing Grandpa Virion as his disciple.

The
days that followed consisted of training with Grandpa Virion in the morning,
spending time with Tessia in the afternoon and training by myself at night.
 During this time, I’ve sent messages to my parents every once in a while
to let them know I’m still alive and that I miss them dearly.  I tried
keeping out of trouble from the elves and they did the same.

Like
this, 3 years has come to pass.

Chapter
14.5: The Other Side

Reynolds POV

I couldn’t believe it.
 

My son.
 
My son was gone.

“NOOOO!” “NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.”

Durden had to hold me back before I jumped off
the cliff myself to save my son.

I knew it was too late.
 
I knew what could’ve happened had
already happened but I couldn’t just stand still and not do anything.

“Let me go! My son! He could still be alive.
 
Let me save my son! Please.”

Durden wasn’t budging and Adam came to hold me
back too.

“Please Rey.
 
You have to hold it together.
 
There’s no easy way to tell you this but
it’s not possible for him to survive that fall.”
 
The always playful and lax Adam had a
solemn look on his face and couldn’t even meet my eyes.
 

“Adam is right.
 
Pull yourself together.
 
Your wife needs you Rey.”
 
Durden also mutters.

They’re right.
 
They’re absolutely right.
 
Yet.
 
Why is my body not listening to me?
 
Why can’t I go comfort my wife.

“AAAAHHHHHHH!!!”
 
I break down before everything goes
black.

I wake up to see Helen holding a wet towel over
my head.

“You’re finally awake.”
 
She says, with a sympathetic smile that
lacks emotion.
 

I just get up and bury my face in my hands.

“This isn’t a dream is it?
 
Please tell me I’m going to wake up to
see my boy playing with Jasmine and Adam.”

“…”

“I’m sorry…” is the only thing she manages to
say before she starts sniffling as well.

Durden comes into the tent and faces me.
 

“Reynolds.
 
I can’t begin to imagine how much it must hurt for you, but right now,
your wife needs you.
 
She’s blaming
herself Rey.
 
She thinks you hate
her for losing your child.”
 
He
says, his red eyes evident that he himself was having a hard time.

“…”

*SMACK*

“Reynolds! We had to stop Alice from killing
herself! This isn’t the time to be fucking moping! Get off your sorry ass and
take care of the one that’s alive!” He growls.

This is the first time I’ve seen the composed
Durden this angry.
 

I nod, a little stunned, and go to the tent my
wife is.
 

I see my wife curled up under a blanket with
Angela by her side, patting her gently.

I give a meaningful gaze at Angela.
 
She just nods, excusing herself out of
the tent.

“…Alice”

“…”

“Honey.
 
Can I see my wife’s beautiful face?”

“…
child
” I faintly
hear her mumble.

“What was that honey?” I say, patting her back.

“I killed our child!” She bolts up and turns to
face me.
 

“I killed our son Reynolds.
 
It was my fault!
 
I-if I wasn’t there, he could’ve dodged
that.
 
He could’ve lived.
 
He sacrificed himself to save me *sniff*
it was my fault.”

I grab my wife and hold her tight, softly
kissing the top of her head over and over.

I shut my eyes tighter, keeping myself from
crying as she continues sobbing in my chest.

We just sat like this for a while until her
sobs turned into whimpers.

*Hic*

“You don’t hate me?”
 
I
barely hear her whisper.

“How
could I ever hate you?
 
Alice.
 
I love you and I always will.”
 

*Hic*
 
*Hic*

“…I miss
him so much Rey.” She sobs again at this point.

I clench
my jaws, willing myself to stay strong in front of my wife.

“I-I know
honey.
 
I miss him too.”

The rest
of the journey was a slow and arduous one.
 
Not physically.
 
No.
 
I feel like even the wild animals knew
of our emotional torment as they steered clear of us.
  
Our group just went on in silence.
 
Any of Adam’s attempts at trying to
lighten up the mood all but failed.
 
Even the cheerful Angela kept a solemn face throughout the rest of the
journey.

Alice and
I fell asleep together last night together in each other’s arms.
 
I managed to console her and it helped
me as well.
 
I needed an excuse.
 
I was the one that sent Arthur to
protect Alice.
 
I keep trying to
find people to blame but the ones that are actually at fault are already
dead.
 
Revenge was already
taken.
 
Now all I’m left with is
this feeling of emptiness and regret.
 
The only thing keeping me going is our unborn child.
 
For that child, my child, I had to
endure.
 
I won’t make the same mistake
I did with Arthur.
 
He was only a
child but I sent him off to protect my wife against fighters and even a
mage.
 
I had no one to blame but
myself.

We
arrived in Xyrus through the teleportation gate with no further complications;
as though God was mocking us by saying we’ve been through enough.
 
The Twin Horns were supposed to separate
from my wife and I from here.
 

“You guys
sure you’ll be okay?”
 
Adam gives a
helpless look.
 

Durden
adds in, saying, “We don’t mind staying with you guys for a couple more
days.
 
I know you originally came to
this city for Arthur but…” He never finished the sentence.

“It’s
okay.
 
You guys have your
agenda.
 
Alice and I have all of our
basic necessities and money too live off of for a couple of weeks.
 
Keep your guys’ positions updated in
Guild Hall.” I wave them off.

“Will
do.
 
Take care guys. We’ll see each
other soon.”
 
Durden replies.

The girls
all give Alice a warm hug before saying their goodbyes to her.
 
After they leave, I turn to my wife and
give her a serious look.

“Alice,
what do you say about living here from now on?”

Giving me
a confused look, she replies, “What about our home in Ashber?
 
We just got it all fixed up.
 
A lot of our stuff is still there.”