STAGE FOURTEEN: HOT PURSUIT
It has been six months since they last saw Freyja and Kirin. Not having a single clue where they went, Alaric returned to Runerich, and offered for Alyon to stay with him for the time being. After Freyja had ran away and closed the dimensional gate in Hawsdark, the black dome around the continent has disappeared. Alaric was hailed a hero for banishing the darkness in Hawsdark, which he took advantage of, in order to thoroughly search what remains of the Aethelmaer manor.
Alaric called for the assistance of Alyon and Runerich rune masters and soldiers to raid the Aethelamer manor, especially the treasures they left behind. What they found was beyond disturbing: Piles of mutilated bodies, experimented on and sacrificed by the Aethelmaer family, as well as traces of phreinian presence. Alyon himself confirmed that the Aethelmaer clan has been working with phreinians in the past few years, presumably to destroy the dimensional barriers between the worlds.
The Aethelmaers were said to have descended from celestials, and indeed, they hold a lot of celestial artifacts in the manor. But ever since the day they stopped Ahrin Aethelmaer, there is no longer a surviving direct descendant of the Aethelmaer clan except for Kirin, who is currently missing. As to who will lead Hawsdark now, that is yet another problem, on top of many others.
Alaric sighed, closing the eighth book he has read for the day. From what he and Alyon have discovered so far, they came to the conclusion that one of the Aethelmaer's ancestor, Leriouge Aethelmaer, has not died. Instead, he sealed himself. Two of his brothers from Celestia were able to follow him many years after, only to find him already irreversibly sealed. So, for many years, the Aethelmaer clan protected their ancestor, someone they believed to be a pure-blooded celestial, and most powerful of all.
And then one day, Kirin woke up as a child, with no memories of his past. The current head of the Aethelmaer clan, Aneurin, took him as his own. Aneurin raised him to be part of the Aethelmaer clan, to be the strongest weapon of the Aethelmers.
Did Kirin know about this? Judging from Kirin's behavior over the past years, Alaric could tell that Kirin may have known about his identity from long before, but he is certainly not aware of what he did in the past, for the most part.
Alaric recalled that Freyja kissed Kirin when she finally awakened Amos. And Kirin fainted soon after. Alaric knew that it must be when Freyja finally unlocked Kirin's memories. But why did she run and not say a word? That is what frustrated him more than anything. "WHY!?" He shouted, punching the bookshelf, making the topmost books fall down the ground. "WHY WON'T YOU TELL US ANYTHING!?" He punched it again, only to be stopped by Alyon.
"Alaric, calm down. I think I finally have an idea on the Lenfiare's whereabouts."
Alyon's news surprised him. "WHERE!?"
"The Lenfiare swore that she will help me go back to Phrein. There is no way I'll not find her." Alyon said, clenching his fists. "Let's go. I found a clue. I'll lead the way."
~ o 0 o ~
Alyon's months of intensive searching led them to a remote area in the north of Hawsdark. In a small island country. He heard about a couple who moved in three months ago, fitting the descriptions of both Kirin and Freyja. At once, Alaric and Alyon boarded an airship and headed straight to the island, prepared to finally confront the two.
Using Runerich's private airship, Alaric and Alyon reached their destination in less than two days. They searched the city first, and then headed to the suburbs, where they finally found them.
Alaric could feel his chest tighten, full of mixed feelings. He finally saw her again, Freyja, her jet-black hair that already grown past her shoulders, and her radiant golden eyes. She was holding a basket, full of produce, walking towards a small cottage in the middle of the forest. When she finally arrived home, Kirin greeted her with a smile. Alaric could no longer bear to watch. He barged into the house.
"Freyja! Kirin!" He called, fists clenching. "You have a lot of explaining to do!" Tears fell from his eyes. He was relieved to see his friends alright, at least.
Freyja and Kirin were speechless. They expected that Alaric would find them sooner or later, but it was much sooner than they thought. Alyon followed inside the small wooden cottage, looking around. "So, this is where you've been hiding, Lenfiare."
"Listen, actually we—" Kirin was about to explain, but Freyja cut him off. She stepped forward and offered a seat to the guests. "It's okay. I should be the one to explain, Kirin."
Freyja took a seat and urged Kirin to sit beside her, facing the two once and for all. "I'm sorry. It's my fault that I left. But I needed to leave as soon as possible." She started. "Kirin is actually a celestial and we have a rather… complicated past we really needed to sort out ourselves."
"You mean Leriouge Aethelmaer?" Alaric's answer surprised them both, but laughed it off. "As expected from the nerdy runemaster." Kirin commented. "So, you guys already know who I really am."
"Yes. We've investigated the Aethelmaer manor. The atrocities your family committed is disgusting, to say the least." Alyon explained.
"I know that, more than anyone." Kirin replied, Freyja rubbing his back to comfort him. "It's okay Kirin, it's not your fault. What matters is that it's over." She assured him.
"That said, when are you coming back to Celestia?" Alyon confronted her. "You should be returning by now, shouldn't you? The phreinians involved with the rebellion, I'll help you bring them to justice."
"I'm sorry, Alyon. I'm not going back to Celestia." She said, looking down. "You can hit me, hate me. Do whatever. But I���m staying here with Kirin."
Her words infuriated the prince, Alaric had to hold him back. "WHAT ARE YOU SAYING!?" He slammed the table, cracking it into three pieces. "You said there's no other heir but you! What will happen to the celestial core if you're not there!? Celestia will collapse at this rate, and so will the dimensional gates!" He continued to berate her. "What kind of useless idiot are you if you won't do anything!? Even this world will crumble if Celestia does not get its barriers back! We will all be dead can't you even realize that!?"
But Freyja took everything he said with silence. He's right, she can't argue. Freyja clenched her fists. "I'm sorry, Alyon." That's all she said.
"I'm done." Alyon said, turning his back. "For all the things you did for me, I will not kill you. But I'm done with you. I'll go to Celestia myself if I have to. You can rot here." He stomped his way out of the cottage, slamming the door shut when he left.
"Freyja, Kirin, I know how much this means to you, but consider what Alyon just said. We can't just do nothing. But remember this, whatever you decide on, I will always support you and wish for your happiness." Alaric sighed in disappointment, forcing a smile for one last time, before heading out to follow Alyon.
"Wait here, I'll go and talk to them." Kirin said, rushing outside. Freyja, couldn't move a step away from her spot.
"Alaric, wait!" Kirin called, stopping the runemaster in his tracks. "Are you going to help Alyon?" He asked.
"Of course. I may be human, but I will do what I can." He said, disappointment written all over his face. He admired Freyja for her strong sense of justice, for refusing to give up regardless of the adversity. Seeing her like this is beyond disappointing, especially when this is the time where she is needed the most. Alaric understands how much Kirin meant to her, but he felt strongly betrayed and couldn't even bear look at her.
All of a sudden, Kirin whispered something in Alaric's ear, his eyes almost popping out. "WHAT!?"
"Shhh…" Kirin urged him to be as quiet as possible. "Please, Alaric. Can you help me with that?"
Alaric looked down. And finally, he faced Kirin with resolute eyes. "Yes. I will."
~ o 0 o ~