When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was the absence of pain. My muscles no longer screamed under the tension, and my wounds had disappeared as if they had never been there. My head, heavy after so many battles, was strangely clear, almost empty. Yet one sensation remained: the feeling that I had lost something irreplaceable. I had no explanation for how my body had healed so quickly. Perhaps it was linked to the mysterious power that seemed to inhabit me over the last few days. Or maybe the Ancients had granted me one last breath of respite after the recent events.
But my heart still weighed heavy.
Lira had left. That was the news that awaited me when I awoke from my recovery. Kael had tried to explain, but his words didn't matter. What mattered was that Lira, the one I had always protected, the one for whom I would have given my life, no longer recognized me. She had seen me, seen what I had become after all the bloodshed, and she could no longer bear the sight of this "stranger" I had become. In trying to save her, I had lost more than just a companion-in-arms: I had lost a part of myself.
These thoughts spun in my head as Kael and Kimpa Vita discussed in the background.
"Alaric?" Kael's soft but worried voice pulled me from my thoughts.
I lifted my gaze, trying to hide my unease. I didn't want them to know how much Lira's departure weighed on me.
"We need to decide our next steps."
I took a deep breath. Kael's book, the one he had entrusted to Gobinot in good faith, was lost, along with crucial information about us, about the history of the Ancients in the ruins, about Alokta, and about Kwame, that brother-in-arms I now needed to question. Not to mention the situation with Luther and Kimpa Vita.
Kimpa Vita glanced at me, her determination evident. She had never taken her eyes off her goal: to find Luther, marry him, and reclaim the throne that was rightfully hers. I had to respect that, after all she had done for me. But deep down, a voice whispered that our journey was just beginning. Before thinking of parting ways, we had to honor the promises made and support her in her quest for justice.
The Importance of Kankourang
But beyond all that, I also had to think about Kael. He was no longer just a traveling companion. His potential as a sorcerer had grown, and it was now clear that he needed advanced training. The ideal place for that was none other than Kankourang, the largest and most prestigious magic school in the empire. Many of the most influential mages in our world had been trained there, and this had been the case for centuries.
According to legend, Kankourang was founded on the ruins of an ancient magical city where the first sorcerers had learned to manipulate the mystic energies of the stars. Every student admitted had to prove their talent before even setting foot in the school. But beyond talent, it was also a place where the most influential families sent their children, paying exorbitant sums. Those who graduated from Kankourang were almost guaranteed to become major figures in the world of magic, royal advisors, or respected archmages. Some even claimed that forgotten gods had walked the halls of this school, leaving traces of their divine knowledge behind.
The problem was clear: the tuition fees. It had taken me an entire year of savings to gather enough money to pay for just one semester for Kael. If I couldn't find another way to earn money, it would be impossible to keep him there. True, Kael was a genius, and with some luck, he might earn a scholarship. But nothing was guaranteed. And if this school cost so much, it was because it offered resources and knowledge found nowhere else.
For a young sorcerer, being trained at Kankourang meant gaining access to arcane knowledge that only the greatest magicians had ever mastered. The control of elements, the ability to summon creatures of light or shadows, or even connecting to the invisible forces governing our world.
But if I sent Kael there, I would also have to let him forge his own path. And that weighed on me, despite everything. We had traveled so many roads together. I had lost Lira, and I didn't want to lose another of my companions. But Kael deserved this chance.
The Decision to Make
"Alaric, we need to focus. What's the plan now?" asked Kimpa Vita, bringing the conversation back to reality.
I looked around. We were all exhausted, physically and mentally. And yet, we had to keep moving. We had to honor our promises and continue the journey, even if it meant making sacrifices.
"We'll accompany Luther and you first, until you reclaim your throne," I said, standing up. My body, though seemingly healed, still carried the scars of recent battles. "And then, we'll find a way to get Kael into Kankourang."
Kimpa Vita nodded, her expression grateful. Her path was fraught with obstacles, but together, we stood a better chance. Luther, who had remained silent throughout the conversation, looked at me with respect, perhaps even admiration. I wondered what he thought of me after all he had heard about my recent actions.
But despite the road stretching ahead of us, part of me couldn't stop thinking about Lira. Had she truly decided to turn her back on me forever? Was she right to do so?
I lowered my eyes to the ground, my mind weighed down by that question. I had thought I had saved my friends, but now I realized I had perhaps lost more than I had gained. By killing so many, by letting rage and violence take over, had I sacrificed part of my humanity? And would I have to sacrifice it again to achieve what needed to be done?
I clenched my fists, ready to face the world. But deep inside, I could already feel the growing emptiness.
Lira was gone.
And with her, a part of me that I might never find again.