Kingsland Arc: Chapter:18 - The Farewell
Later that day, Ronin woke up, the strange exhaustion clinging to him like a shroud. The familiar scent of wood and dried herbs filled his small room. He looked up to see Rose sitting patiently by his bedside, her slender frame a comforting presence.
"Rose?" he murmured, his voice thick with sleep. "What happened? To Chou, Rafaela, and Yue Xin? Where are they?" His green eyes were wide with sudden concern.
Rose offered a gentle, reassuring smile, though her eyes held a hint of sadness. "They are fine, Ronin. They are downstairs, having breakfast with the others. Freshen yourself up and join us." She didn't press, allowing him to take in her words at his own pace.
Ronin quickly washed his face, the cool water a jolt to his still-weary senses. He then joined the others at the large dining table in the main hall. Freya, her sharp features still a little pale, was there. Miya offered a tired but kind smile. Lamus gave him a gruff nod. Even Chou, though still bruised, managed a nod of acknowledgement. A heavy quiet hung over the breakfast, a distinct absence of the usual morning chatter. Chou, Rafaela, and Yue Xin, though physically recovering, seemed different, their eyes holding a new, unreadable glint when they looked at Ronin, a subtle distance now in their expressions, burdened by the unspoken secret of what they had witnessed in the forest.
After a quiet breakfast, Rose approached Ronin, her expression carefully neutral, masking the profound decision she had made. "Ronin," she said, her voice soft. "Let's go out today. To the nearest town. I thought we could do some shopping." She carried a small, packed bag, a silent, painful signal of her impending departure.
Ronin, pleased by the unexpected outing, readily agreed. "Okay!"
They journeyed to the nearest town, a small, bustling settlement nestled at the foot of the mountains. Rose led Ronin through the lively streets, a bittersweet air hanging between them. The everyday sounds of merchants hawking wares and children laughing felt strangely distant to Rose. She bought him new clothes, simple but sturdy tunics and trousers that fit his growing frame, her slender fingers lingering on the fabric. At a blacksmith's shop, the scent of hot metal and charcoal filled the air as she commissioned a perfectly balanced scabbard for his twin blades, Sei and Kuro, her fingers tracing the worn handles of his blades as she spoke to the gruff smith. They shared a quiet meal at a small, cozy restaurant, the aroma of roasted meat a stark contrast to the forest's recent stench. Finally, at a shoe shop, Rose carefully measured his foot, her brow furrowed in concentration as she picked out a pair of new, reinforced boots, as his old ones were almost worn out.
"Wear these shoes when you start your training," Rose said, her voice a little wistful, her slender hand gently patting the new leather, her gaze holding a silent message of future hardship.
Ronin looked up, his green eyes curious. "Okay... But what training are you talking about, Rose?"
Rose's smile faltered, a flicker of pain crossing her face. She quickly averted her gaze, giving a small, almost imperceptible shake of her head. "Let's go," she said, sidestepping the question, her voice suddenly tight with unspoken emotion, urgency in her tone.
They continued their walk, eventually stopping at a small, weathered church on the outskirts of town. Its stone walls were softened by moss, and a faint scent of incense hung in the quiet air. Rose led Ronin inside.
"This is where I grew up, Ronin," Rose said, her voice soft, her gaze sweeping over the simple pews and the stained-glass window depicting a serene goddess. "Until I started training under Master Baelish."
Ronin's eyes widened slightly. "You grew up here? You were an orphan?"
Rose's lips curved into a sad, gentle smile. "Yes, I was an orphan. But I'm not an orphan anymore." Her eyes, usually so stoic, softened with deep affection. "After I left this church to train under Master Baelish, I met new friends. And later on, they became my family. Like Master Baelish, Shin, Stanley, Freya, Lucy, Rin. And you, Ronin. You are also my family." She reached out, her slender hand gently cupping his cheek, her thumb stroking softly. "Remember, Ronin. You are not alone. We all are there with you, always. Even when you can't see us."
Ronin's eyes welled up. The warmth of her touch, the raw emotion in her voice, broke through his usual composure. He bit his lip, trying to hold back the tears, his chest aching with a profound, overwhelming love for her. "Okay," he managed to whisper, his voice thick with emotion, his gaze fixed on her.
Rose hesitated, her hand still on his cheek, her heart pounding with the difficult words she had to speak. Her eyes searched his, a profound sadness in their depths. She took a deep breath. "Ronin... Master Baelish has accepted to train you."
Ronin's face lit up, a surge of pure joy pushing through his emotion. "Really?! That's great!" His previous tears forgotten, he straightened, his eyes sparkling with hope.
Rose's smile was fleeting, replaced quickly by an expression of deep sorrow. "But, Ronin... I am going back to Finslia."
The words struck Ronin like a physical blow. His joy shattered. His face drained of color, replaced by a flush of disbelief, then raw anger. His lean body tensed, his small fists clenching. "Why?!" he demanded, his voice rising, a sharp edge of betrayal in his tone. "What do you mean, you're going back?!"
Rose's gaze was unwavering, though her own eyes were now glistening, tears gathering at the corners. "I am going back to Finslia, Ronin. I can't stay here. I have to supervise Rin and Lucy, they are still young, and I have responsibilities to King Sayan's legacy. And... I can't always be there for you, Ronin."
"I will also..." Ronin started, his voice desperate, ready to argue, to follow her.
Rose interrupted him, her voice firm, a finality in her tone. "You can't come with me back to Finslia, Ronin. If you return now, you might be put in prison. For attacking Prince Kazuma during your mana outburst at the Academy. It's too dangerous for you there, not yet." Her eyes pleaded with him, her voice softening with desperate earnestness, her fingers lightly gripping his arm. "So please, stay here. Train under Master Baelish. Be friends with Chou, Rafaela, and Yue Xin. Master Baelish's training will be strict and hard for you, perhaps more than you can imagine. But you need to endure it. You need to become stronger. You need to master your demonic power. For all of us. For Vasmos."
Ronin persisted, a storm raging in his heart – anger, betrayal, fear, and a desperate desire to cling to her. But then, the logical weight of her words, the chilling truth of his dangerous power, and the memory of the Jewelion Viper, settled over him. His shoulders slumped, his jaw clenched, and after a long, agonizing moment of internal struggle, he nodded slowly, tears finally streaming down his face, a silent sob wracking his lean frame. "Okay," he whispered, the single word heavy with acceptance and profound sorrow.
Just then, Freya and Baelish arrived, their footsteps echoing softly as they entered the quiet church, their faces etched with a somber understanding. Freya's sharp features softened as she took in the scene, her eyes filled with sympathy for Rose. Baelish, his face grave, simply watched, his ancient eyes observing the painful goodbye, a subtle, almost melancholic understanding in their depths.
"Rose," Freya said softly, stepping forward, her hand gently resting on Rose's shoulder. Her voice was tender. "It's time. Don't worry. Ronin is in safe hands. Master Baelish will ensure his strength." She pulled Rose into a tight, comforting embrace, a shared moment of female camaraderie and support.
Ronin, with a choked sob, threw his arms around Rose, burying his face in her shoulder. His lean body trembled uncontrollably as hot tears streamed down his face, soaking her tunic. Rose hugged him back fiercely, her own eyes overflowing, silent tears tracing paths down her pale cheeks, her slender hands clutching the back of his shirt. "Be strong, my Ronin," she whispered, her voice raw with emotion. "Be strong."
Finally, with an immense effort, Ronin pulled back, his face streaked with tears, his green eyes burning with a new resolve mixed with deep sorrow. "Goodbye, Rose," he choked out, his voice cracking.
Rose, her face a mask of profound grief, nodded, unable to speak, her throat tight with emotion. "Goodbye, Ronin." She broke away, turning quickly, her steps swift and resolute, before she could linger and falter. She did not look back.
Later, Rose took a carriage through the darkening roads, the familiar landscape of Kingsland blurring past her tear-filled eyes, until she reached its bustling port. From there, she boarded a ship, its sails unfurling against the night sky, setting course back to Finslia.
On the ship's deck, the cool night wind whipped at Rose's dark hair. She stood at the railing, gazing out at the vast, churning ocean, her slender figure silhouetted against the moonlight. A single, silent prayer formed in her heart, a fierce whisper carried on the wind. Get stronger, Ronin. Come back to Finslia. And let's fight together to get Vasmos back. Her eyes, though still filled with sorrow, now held a glint of unyielding hope, a quiet promise to herself.
Back in Kingsland, Freya, Ronin, and Baelish headed back to Baelish's House from the church. Ronin walked beside Baelish, his lean body heavy with a new kind of emptiness, his head bowed, his eyes fixed on the path, a profound sorrow etched into his young face.
Baelish, his tall, imposing figure walking in the quiet night, looked down at the boy beside him, his ancient eyes filled with a grim, profound determination. This child is precious, he thought, his mind already calculating the formidable task ahead. He is our hope for the future. Against the demons... and against himself. I need to train him. I need to forge him stronger than any warrior who has ever lived. I must help him master this Demonic Power.
[To Be Continued in Chapter:19]