Chapter 74
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the sprawling fields surrounding the Abelard family farmhouse. Nicolas Abelard leaned back in his creaky wooden chair on the porch, the familiar sound of crickets chirping filling the evening air. He took a long swig of his beer, the cold bottle sweating in his calloused hand, and glanced at his son, Ethan, who sat across from him, his brow furrowed in thought.
"Dad,"
Ethan began, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between them.
"Do you ever regret it? Joining the military, I mean."
Nicolas chuckled softly, the sound low and gravelly.
"Regret? No, not really. But there are things I'd change if I could."
Ethan shifted in his seat, the wooden boards creaking beneath him.
"Like what? You always talk about how it's a calling, something you were meant to do."
"I was,"
Nicolas admitted, his gaze drifting to the expansive sky above, sprinkled with stars.
"But sometimes I wish I had a choice. I didn't want to lose my parents. They died, and I had to step up. It felt like I didn't have time to think."
"What happened?"
Ethan asked, his voice barely above a whisper. He had heard bits and pieces over the years, but tonight felt different—more intimate, like the night sky was encouraging confessions. Nicolas sighed, the weight of the past creeping back into his chest.
"They were killed in mysteriously. Just like that your grandparents, gone. I was fifteen. No one prepared me for that."
Ethan's heart ached for his father.
"That's... that's tough. I can't imagine. But your life turned out okay, right? You served your country, earned your rank. You've always said that's what you were meant to do." Nicolas shook his head.
"It's not that simple. I've seen things, Ethan. Things that haunt you. I've had to make decisions that still keep me up at night before"
"Like what?"
Ethan pressed, leaning forward, his eyes wide. He was drawn in by his father's intensity, a magnetic pull that made him want to understand the man he admired so much.
"Like when I had to choose between saving a squad or taking out a target. You don't always get to save everyone."
" kill huge amount of enemies , trying to kill a frail looking old woman, remember what you mother share about the Grand Matriarch of the Haniel clan in the middle east, that we became part off,"
Nicolas's voice dropped to a whisper, as if the memories were too fragile to be spoken aloud.
"But that's war, right?" Ethan replied, his youthful face scrunching in thought. "You have to make those calls."
"some were no even wars son, strong sense of righteousness can lead you also astray,"
" be weary of this son, I seen many fall into insanity and false belief,"
"True. But I believe in protecting the innocent, even if it means taking a life. There's a balance, Ethan. You can't let evil grow unchecked."
Nicolas's eyes darkened, the flicker of old battles dancing in their depths. "Sometimes, to protect the good, you have to be willing to get your hands dirty."
Ethan took a sip of his beer, the bitter taste grounding him.
"So, you're saying you're okay with... killing?"
"Not okay with it," Nicolas corrected. "But I've accepted it as a necessary part of life. Evil exists, and it must be confronted."
He leaned forward, his gaze piercing.
"You don't understand the world out there, Ethan. You've had a charmed life here on the farm. But it's not just about you. It's about everyone. You have to be ready."
"Ready for what?"
Ethan than asked, his voice trembling slightly.
"To fight?" "Not just fight but kill. To protect. To stand up when no one else will. To face the darkness."
"Evil those not have a reason, the proper way to respond, son?"
" death , father!"
Nicolas straightened, his posture becoming more rigid, the soldier within him surfacing. Ethan felt the weight of his father's words pressing down on him.
"But what if I don't want to be a soldier? What if I want to do something else—something that doesn't involve violence?"
"Then you have to be prepared for the consequences of that choice,"
Ethan never openly admitted , he has already step foot into the realm of violence already, when Nicolas replied, his tone firm but not unkind.
"You can't turn away from evil and expect it to just go away. It doesn't work like that."
"Maybe,"
Ethan conceded, his voice trailing off.
"But I don't want to end up like the others , Dad. I don't want to carry that burden."
Nicolas studied his son's face, noting the youthful determination mixed with uncertainty.
"Ethan, it's not about becoming like the other that were eaten with guilt and darkness. It's about finding your own path. Just remember, whatever you choose, it doesn't absolve you from responsibility. You have to stand for something."
"Darkness is not evil, it's the absence of light.""people created this false , narrative that darkness is synonymous with evil. It's up to you to redefine that narrative and create your own truth."
Ethan nodded, absorbing his father's words before finally speaking,
"I will choose my own path, but I won't shy away from the darkness. I'll face it head-on and make my own light."
Ethan hesitated, searching for the right words.
"What if I want to be a teacher or an artist? Does that mean I'm not standing for anything?"
"Not at all,"
Nicolas replied, a hint of a smile breaking through his solemn expression.
"Those are noble pursuits, but they come with their own challenges. You'll still have to face the world's darkness, even if you're holding a paintbrush instead of a weapon."
Ethan let out a soft laugh, shaking his head.
"You make it sound so dramatic."
"That's life," Nicolas said, shrugging.
"It can be pretty dramatic. But it can also be beautiful. You have to find the balance."
The air grew still, the crickets' song a gentle reminder of the night's embrace. Ethan looked out at the fields, the silhouettes of crops swaying gently in the evening breeze.
"Sometimes, I wish I could just escape all of this. The expectations, the pressure. I want to explore, to see what's out there."
Nicolas nodded.
"That's good. Exploration is important. Just don't forget where you came from. The lessons you learn on the road will guide you."
Ethan took a deep breath, feeling the weight of his father's gaze. "What if I fail?"
"Failure is part of the journey," Nicolas said, his voice steady.
"What matters is how you respond to it. You get back up, learn from it, and keep moving forward."
"I guess that makes sense,"
Ethan murmured, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly.
"But it's hard to imagine what the world is really like beyond this farm. You've seen it, right?" "More than I'd like,"
Nicolas admitted, his tone softening.
"But I want you to see it too. Not just the horror but the beauty as well. Travel, meet people, learn about their struggles and triumphs. It'll shape you."
"Like how it shaped you?"
Ethan asked, curiosity piqued.
"Exactly." Nicolas took another swig of his beer, the bottle clinking against the wooden railing. "You can learn from my scars, but you can also create your own story. Just don't shy away from the truth."
Ethan fell silent, considering his father's words. The stars twinkled above, each one a reminder of the vastness of life beyond the familiar fields.
"Do you think I'll be able to make a difference?"
"Of course you will. Everyone can make a difference, Ethan. It's just about how you choose to do it." Nicolas leaned back again, his expression contemplative. "Just remember, it won't always be easy. There will be challenges, and you'll feel like giving up sometimes."
"Then what?" Ethan asked, his tone anxious. "Then you push through. You find your reason to keep going, whether it's for yourself, for others, or for something greater." Nicolas's voice was firm, but a softness lingered in it, the tenderness of a father imparting wisdom to his son. Ethan took a long breath, feeling a mixture of hope and apprehension swirl within him.
"I just don't want to disappoint you, Dad." "You can't disappoint me as long as you stay true to yourself," Nicolas said, locking eyes with Ethan. "I'll always support you, no matter where your journey takes you."
The warmth of his father's reassurance wrapped around Ethan like a comforting blanket, easing the tension in his chest.
"Thanks, Dad. That means a lot." Nicolas smiled, his expression softening further. "Now, how about we finish these beers and watch the stars?"
"Sounds good." Ethan lifted his bottle, clinking it against his father's.
"To journeys, then."
"To journeys," Nicolas echoed, taking a long sip.
They settled into a comfortable silence, the weight of the world easing just a little as they gazed at the vast expanse above, the stars glittering like distant hopes. As the night deepened, the conversation ebbed and flowed, touching on dreams, fears, and the uncertain road ahead. Ethan couldn't shake the feeling that tonight was significant, a moment etched in time that would guide him through the challenges to come.
"Hey, Dad," Ethan said suddenly, breaking the silence. "Do you think I'll ever be able to live up to your legacy?" Nicolas turned his head, his gaze steady.
"You don't have to live up to my legacy, son. You have your own to create. Just be brave enough to forge your own path."
"I will,"
Ethan said, determination sparking in his chest.
"I promise." And as the stars twinkled overhead, the two of them shared a moment of understanding, a bridge built between generations, allowing the weight of the past to coexist with the promise of the future.
"As you said, son , you are aiming to be like me, right? It's much better to surpass me."
"You are a regular knight right? It's no different from being in the military. "Exactly, Dad. I want to make you proud by going above and beyond what you achieved,"
Ethan replied with a smile.
"I'll make sure to pave my own way while still honoring the values you've instilled in me."
And with a simple clicking of their beer bottle, they both knew that Ethan was ready to embark on his own journey towards greatness.
Ethan continued their conversation with his father, shifting the topic to recount the day he and Katarine accidentally crossed paths. He explained to his dad that their meeting wasn't a typical love-at-first-sight story; instead, it was a whirlwind of unexpected events.
"She was that hard to manage," his father chuckled, prompting Ethan to elaborate. "Looking beyond her elegance and beauty, she is a walking and unpredictable storm, dad!" Ethan expressed. "When I first told you over the phone about being hired by a logistic warehouse to deliver parcels to a multinational company in the city, I never expected such an encounter."
"Meeting Katarine wasn't about mere attraction," Ethan reflected. "It was like being pulled into unforeseen circumstances that I had to navigate. She was like a magnet for challenges and adventures that intrigued me beyond words. She brought out a side of me I never knew existed."
His father teased, "It sounds like you already like her." Ethan smiled, "Maybe, but the situations we faced were truly out of this world. I'll spare you the details, but she was incredibly unpredictable." He continued, "Beneath her aloof exterior, there was a vulnerability and kindness that drew me in. It was like unraveling a complex puzzle."
"She was a wildfire that needed taming," Ethan confessed, "yet she also brought a sense of tranquility to my life like a gentle breeze. Our relationship was a rollercoaster of emotions; one that I never wanted to end." He admitted, "Her presence in my life stirred a mix of excitement and uncertainty that kept me captivated."
"I found myself irresistibly drawn to her, like a moth to a flame," Ethan mused, his voice barely above a whisper. The warmth of his memories enveloped him, igniting sensations long buried beneath the weight of routine and obligation.
"Her magnetic pull was unrelenting, and I couldn't resist."
Each recollection danced in his mind, a vivid tapestry of moments shared under starlit skies and early morning sunrises, where laughter flowed freely and silences spoke volumes. It was a feeling of being constantly on edge, yet strangely alive and invigorated, as though she had awakened a dormant part of his soul that he never knew existed.
Ethan trailed off, lost in the labyrinth of thoughts that spiraled around the intriguing woman who had turned his world upside down. Her presence had transformed the ordinary into the extraordinary, making even mundane tasks feel electric with possibility.
He remembered the way her eyes sparkled with mischief and the way her laughter filled the air with a kind of magic that left him breathless. Each encounter was a vivid brushstroke on the canvas of his life, painting hues of excitement and trepidation that clashed yet harmonized beautifully within him.
In her company, time felt like a paradox—fleeting yet eternal, a moment stretched into infinity. She challenged him in ways he never expected, pushing the boundaries of his comfort and coaxing out dreams he'd forgotten he had.
With every shared secret and whispered hope, she etched herself deeper into his heart, leaving him yearning for something he could scarcely define. It was both exhilarating and terrifying, a bittersweet dance of desire that made him question everything he believed about love and connection.