STAGE FIVE: The King Departs
It has been two days since Freyja summoned Kinju. And for two days, they hadn't left the town. Although a break is more than welcome, they are starting to worry over Freyja's unusual behavior. She's much more relaxed than usual, and not once did she say anything about the location of the final celestial guardian.
"Freyja, aren't you going to ask him about Amos? That's why you summoned him, right?" Freyja just smiled at Alaric's question. "Yeah." She answered. They've been together long enough, but she has never uttered a single word about finding Amos to her father. This made Alaric and Kirin worry, but thinking that they are in no position to question her, they just shot innocent questions as reminders. Obviously however, Freyja was deliberately avoiding the topic.
As soon as she fell asleep on her father's lap that night, Kinju slowly laid her head on a pillow and left quiet as a shadow. He just saw the silver-haired man from the window, looking at him intensely, as if he has something he wanted to say. Kinju nodded, signaling for him to wait.
Outside, Kirin was waiting with a nervous look on his face. One might not notice it, but Kinju could tell exactly what he wanted to say just by looking at his face… and he was right.
"Alfiore Kinju, I am…" He started. But Kinju cut him off. "If there's one man whose face I will never forget, it's you." He said, his golden eyes piercing through Kirin's. Kinju was smiling, but he couldn't hide the contempt in his words and on his face.
"It's been a while, Leriouge. My older cousin, and someone I looked up to. How are your skills? Are they still as unmatched as they used to be?" Kirin felt his heart pound, hearing the Alfiore's words. He barely had memories about his past, but his entire body shivered, as if his body completely remembers what it did to the man before him.
All of a sudden Kirin knelt before Kinju, surprising the King. "Punish me for what I did, Alfiore Kinju!"
Kinju sighed, crossing his arms. "It seems that you lost all your memories. Based from your reaction just now, I can tell that you can't even remember what you did and why you did such a thing." Kirin fell silent, drops of sweat fell on the ground. "I knew it." Kinju sighed again, before extending a hand to help Kirin stand. "Come on, how can I beat you in this state? You're next to clueless."
"I am not clueless!" He stood on his own, leaving the King's hand hanging. "I may not know everything, but I know this much! I… I am the cause of all this. I am the reason why Freyja is suffering, why she had to leave, why she had to be sent so far away from you. Freyja's tears, everything is all because of me. And you… I am the one who killed you, am I not?"
Kinju looked at him straight in the eye and said no word.
"Freyja, would always cry whenever she would remember you. She may not admit it even to herself, but she always has these sad eyes whenever she sees a happy family. She misses you so much, she wanted you to be with her more than anyone. So, I…"
"That's why I said you're clueless." Kinju cut his words again. "Yes, I know that she feels that way. I know that she's been longing for the father in her memories especially after growing up in the human world. And I too, feel the same." Kinju stated bluntly. "However, you have to realize the reason why despite all that, she's still able to smile and be who she is right now."
"… what?"
"Someday, when you get your memories back, you'll understand. But for now, know this. I can't bring myself to hate you, Leriouge. I never thought the day would come when I'd feel thankful that you're here." Although Kirin didn't understand Kinju very well, he could see the same sincere look as Freyja's on his face. Kinju was telling the truth, and he found great comfort in that. "That's because I know that, you care for her." He said. "Maybe, even better than I could ever do." Kinju thought, keeping the last to himself.
"Thank you Le— no, Kirin. Thank you for making her dream come true. Don't be too hard on yourself." Kinju smiled at him, patting his shoulder before turning his back to him. "I'm leaving my daughter to you. The one who she wants to be with, more than anyone, more than anything, is YOU. Keep that in mind, Kirin."
Kinju walked away from the astonished Kirin.
"KInju Alfiore!" Kirin shouted, stopping him.
"No matter what! I will never ever leave her side!" Kirin promised, making Kinju grin. "I know!" Kinju continued walking away from Kirin. "You sealed the guardians, because you didn't want anyone to use them but Freyja." Kinju thought looking over his shoulder. "And, the one who summoned Freyja here wasn't Astrid…he had no such power. It was you." But Kinju kept these thoughts to himself.
As Kinju returned to the room where Freyja is sleeping, he couldn't hold the door knob anymore. Like a ghost, his hand would just pass through it. He sighed and concentrated for a few minutes, before he could grab it again.
"Alfiore…" There, Freyja was standing by the window, looking straight at him. "You're still awake?" He asked with a smile. But Freyja wasn't having any of it. She looked straight at him, without a word. Kinju sighed. "Freyja, let's go out for a walk, shall we?"
As they walked through the woods just outside the town, Freyja could see through her father's translucent limbs. She didn't say a single word, until Kinju summoned an aura sword. "No! Don't use your aura!" Freyja panicked.
"No. Freyja, fight me." He demanded.
"A…Alfiore, what are you saying?"
Kinju charged straight at her, giving no time for her to argue. Freyja had no choice but to defend herself with the Celestial sword. "ASTRID!" She shouted. "Hello there, Astrid." Kinju greeted, still trying to push Freyja back with his attack. "I'd appreciate it, if you stay out of the way."
"Forgive me, Alfiore." The sword spoke. "But I cannot disappear while my Lenfiare is in combat." His voice rang from inside the rune blade.
"Even if it's me?"
"Even if it's you."
Kinju smirked and stepped back. Freyja sighed and called Astrid back. "Astrid, please go back. I'll handle this on my own." Her request was granted, and the sword disappeared at once. Then, Freyja summoned an ordinary white aura sword, same as Kinju's. "Shall we continue, Alfiore?"
Freyja charged at him, this time, serious and showing her skill.
Kinju defended himself quite skillfully as well. However, a few more clashes and Freyja was hit, thrown to one side quite badly. Freyja stood up again, but the results were the same. She didn't think that her own father was this good. "I shouldn't be surprised." Freyja thought, "He's had thousands of years of training and experience as Alfiore, no less. But I won't lose!"
Freyja stood up and attacked her father once again.
"Her swordsmanship is amazing… but." He thought, noticing the difference in their fighting styles. "She has to learn the Leafen art of fighting should she regain her full self. This method won't synch well with an aura like hers." He thought, carefully observing her moves.
"What are you thinking about, Alfiore?"
"Your swordsmanship… is quite lacking. The technique doesn't suit you, Freyja."
Kinju noticed the ire in the girl's expression. Without saying a word, she charged at her father, this time, more aggressive, and more dangerous. "Did I say something that pissed her off?" He could feel her emotions through her strikes. "I see. It's the same." Kinju recalled his older cousin, Leriouge Aethelmaer.
With one, swift strike, Freyja cut through Kinju's defenses, pushing him back and down with the tip of her blade on his neck. "Please don't… insult Kirin's teachings." Kinju chuckled, and right before Freyja's eyes, he rolled to one side and disappeared, Leaving Freyja stunned. She looked around, but couldn't find him.
"Impressive." Freyja suddenly heard him whisper on her ear, his aura blade on her neck. Then, Kinju dispelled the aura blade, and stepped away.
"I'm surprised." He said, ruffling her hair. "That technique, considering the time you've spent learning it and how young you are, it's no doubt that at any moment, you can surpass me… even in that human body."
"Alfiore…" Freyja tried to reach for him, but he stepped away.
"Don't you have something to ask me? How long are you going to drag this, Freyja?" Kinju asked, maintaining their distance.
Freyja clenched her fists. She couldn't bring herself to do it. Because if she did, then it's over. He has to return. He has to leave.
"You see, when I was young, the Lenfiare brought me to this faraway dimension." Kinju began. "They were still incapable of speech, so, we taught them how to make basic tools for farming. They were sweet humans you see, they drew us in their caves and made statues of us, although they don't quite like us. But hey, it's the thought that counts!" He giggled at the memory. "In that world, they cannot use aura, and yet, they still smile and live their lives. I thought that it would be nice if I could live in a place like that… where my celestial aura wouldn't matter at all. That's when my fascination with the human realm started."
"Yes, I remember celestials criticizing you for that." She looked away.
"And I'm sure that you also remember my promise to execute you, should you start posing a danger to Celestia, right?" He asked, still with a smile on his face. Freyja just nodded. "You may not believe me, but I never intended to do that, not a single second did I even consider harming you." Kinju's smile finally faded, his voice started to crack. Tears fell from Freyja's eyes. She nodded.
"But you know Freyja, I did something really bad. And the fact that I don't regret doing it, makes me even guiltier. Maybe that's why I couldn't properly merge with the core even after my death."
"What do you mean, Alfiore? You didn't do anything bad, you just protected the land from the rebellion, right? The rebels teamed up with Phrein to dethrone you because you wanted to save me, right? There's nothing wrong with that!" She argued.
Kinju shook his head. "Yes, there was a rebellion. But it was me who first burned Celestia. It was me who plotted to steal half the core and forcefully seal it into you, even though I knew how much it would hurt you." He paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. "…so that you can rule and force them into submission. It was me who betrayed our home, for my own selfish wish." Freyja turned pale, hearing the sudden revelation. She didn't know how to react. "Because I didn't want to lose you. I didn't want to be alone. The whole of Celestia, my own mother, Lifenya Lenfiare Leafen, always compared me to my older, prodigious cousin. My first consort, Sera, ran away from Celestia and chose death than be with me. And Reyrah, she was more loyal to Celestia than anything. I never had anyone, but you. I was so afraid to lose you, and be alone, Freyja."
Freyja fell onto her knees. Unable to process what she just heard.
"I believed I was doing it for you, but I never asked for your opinion nor about what you really wanted in the first place. I did it for myself, and nothing more." Kinju looked down, clenching his fists. "I'm sorry. Everything was my fault."
"NO!" Freyja shouted. "No, Alfiore. It isn't! I'll never blame you, never! Even though you're far away, I've always felt that you're with me!"
The trembling stopped. "That's a relief."
"But how is Celestia now?" Freyja asked "Astrid said they're not doing good while I'm here."
Kinju nodded. "Correct. But I am not sure. It must be a completely different Celestia from what I remember. I'm sorry, I don't know the answer to that."
"Freyja, I have one last question. Please answer me honestly." Kinju said, finally closing the distance between them. "The mark on your chest, do you hate it? Did you ever wish you weren't born with it?" His golden eyes shining as he gazed at her, waiting for an answer. Freyja took a deep breath. Finally, she smiled.
"Never. Not once did I think otherwise. If anything, I absolutely love this mark on my chest." She said, facing him eye-to-eye. "This mark is a proof that I am Kinju Alfiore's daughter, that I am celestial. This mark reminded me that I have a place somewhere in the universe. It was because of this mark that I met you, that I have these memories, that I met my friends, my guardians, and Keon, Alaric, and Kirin." She smiled proudly. Kinju was taken aback. "So, Alfiore, I promise you! I will return to Celestia and prove them wrong! I will never be the person they're so afraid of! I will go back, return the core, and help them. So, don't worry, Alfiore. I will never lose to a prophecy, never."
Freyja looked so certain, and proud. She had a wide smile on her face, and radiant golden eyes beaming with hope. It's a look he never had himself. He was glad they have the same face.
Kinju felt something heavy in his heart slowly dissipate with every word she said. Kinju looked down. Freyja saw tears roll down his pale cheeks. "Thank you, Freyja." He whispered.
For one last time, he hugged his daughter. He squeezed her tight, suppressing his trembling with all of his might. "You are already an amazing Lenfiare, much more than I can ever imagine." He whispered into her ear. Freyja felt warm droplets on her shoulder. "I'm so proud of you, Freyja."
And then, slowly, he stepped back, with a serious face. "Freyja Lenfiare Leafen of Celestia!" He called, with a strong, firm voice, surprising Freyja. Kinju placed his right hand on his left shoulder, and his left hand on his right waist. He knelt before the Lenfiare, a sign of submission. "Almighty Lenfiare, the ruler of the light. I pay my respects to you." Slowly, his body turned translucent. Freyja wanted to stop him, but she knows what she must do.
Freyja took a deep breath and stood firm. "Alfiore Kinju, tell me where the fifth guardian is and how I can open the gates to Celestia." She commanded, fists trembling, voice shaking.
"Underneath the crescent island, I ordered a temple to be built deep within the ocean. I did not seal Amos myself, but the one who did, may have sealed him there." He answered.
Kinju slowly felt his body lose its feeling. His vision dimming. It's time to go back to where he really should be. He reached out to her for one last time. Freyja knelt down and grabbed his hand, which she wasn't able to do. Like a ghost, his hand passed right through her grasp. "I love you more than anything, my little Freyja." He said. And before his entire senses vanished, he heard her voice for one last time.
"I love you, father! I always did and forever will!"
Freyja shut her eyes tight. And the moment she opened them, Kinju was gone.
Freyja finally let go of the tears she could no longer hold back.
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