"You want to... what?"
Alianna asked. He couldn't have mean that... the academy is destroyed and beyond repair.
"I've meant what I said, Alianna."
"B-But why? The academy is destroyed..."
Destroyed... a word that he doesn't want hear nor say. But it is what it is, there's no changing that. Well he could, if only he was strong enough when the attack happened.
"I've found some answer... to why the attack happened."
"Answer?"
"That's right, I know why the attack happened at the academy..." he inhale deeply before pulling out Leizage's bond stone. "It's because of this."
He put the bond stone on the ground before gesturing for Alianna to step back. She does step back. The bond glowed paintly, toxic green, before becoming purple. A whirlpool of smoke comes out and in the smoke, Leizage's body began to materialize.
It doesn't take long before Leizage fully appears before them. It roars wildly, shaking the ground slightly. Ren grabs the bond stone and put it in his bag.
He then decides to approach Leizage. The beast tilted its head as Ren reached out to its cheek, caressing it. Leizage let out a satisfied moan.
"This guy is the reason why the dark guilds decided to attack the academy."
"Zardlite?"
"No... it's Leizage now..."
Alianna nods. She seems to know that Zardlite's small body had grown. It looks like a fully grown beast now.
"Leizage is the target... but the overseers doesn't want to handover my beast. I think that's what happened..."
"So that's why they didn't want you to help defend the academy... It's because your beast is the target."
Ren nodded. There's still a bitter feelings bubbling inside of him. He remember the teacher who used to guide him on understanding the nature of a beast. Now... It's just a memories.
"Teacher Lynch..."
Alianna's face twitched in surprise at the mention of the name.
"She was the sweetest teacher in the academy... she... was like a mother to me..." Ren said, his face showing no emotion, but inside... he wants to scream. "Her laugh, her smile... It feels so distant now... and it's all because of me."
I was just to goddamn stubborn.
"If only I listen to her to stay back... she wouldn't have..."
His words seems to stop. He doesn't want to say anymore words.
"Ren... It's not your fault–"
"Yes it is! If only I've listened to her..."
Alianna doesn't want to speak more. She doesn't want Ren to say anything that he will regret, so instead, she approached him.
She opened her arms wide and slowly wrapped it around Ren's head.
"Ren... don't blame yourself... you didn't do anything wrong. Teacher Lynch did what she did because she wants to protect you."
Her embrace was warm, steadying him against the storm of emotions raging inside. His body stiffened at first, but as the weight of her words and touch settled over him, he found himself relaxing, his forehead resting lightly against her shoulder.
"I don't deserve it..." Ren murmured, his voice barely audible. "Her sacrifice... I don't deserve it."
"Stop that," Alianna said firmly, pulling back just enough to look him in the eye. "You are not to blame for what happened. You may not see it now, but Teacher Lynch saw something in you worth protecting. She made her choice because she believed in you, Ren. And you need to start believing in yourself."
The Sunnycluck chirped softly from Ren's shoulder, as if echoing her sentiments. Even Leizage, the massive beast standing silently nearby, seemed to lower its head slightly.
Ren clenched his fists, his jaw tight as he struggled to hold back the wave of emotions threatening to overwhelm him.
The memories of the academy's destruction, the screams, the chaos—they were all etched into his mind, a constant reminder of what he'd lost.
But in Alianna's presence, those memories felt a little less suffocating.
"You're always like this," he said, his voice tinged with frustration. "Making me feel like things might actually be okay."
"That's because they will be. You just need to keep moving forward, one step at a time."
Ren exhaled, a long, shaky breath that felt like it was carrying some of the burden away. He glanced at Leizage, who met his gaze with a steady, almost reassuring look.
"Alianna," he said, turning to her. "I'm going to the ruins of the academy. There might still be answers there..."
"Then I'm coming with you."
****
The path towards the academy is destroyed, still fresh from the scorch of flames. The smell, the scream... It's still fresh from Ren's mind.
The once-proud statue of the Goddess loomed ahead, sliced cleanly in half. Ren's eyes lingered on it, memories of Teacher Lynch flooding back. The kind smile as she encouraged him to take part in studying.
As they stepped to the destroyed entrance of the academy, the weight of grief and guilt returned. But this wasn't the time to dwell in the past.
"Where should we start?"
Alianna asked, scanning the broken statue.
"The library. If there's anything left..."
Alianna nodded and they began picking their way through the debris.
When they reached the shattered remains of the library, Ren stopped. It was barely recognizable, the walls caved in and books scattered across, all burnt.
"It feels suffocating in here."
Ren clutched his chest, the memories of Teacher Lynch, teaching in this library feels so distant now. The once towering bookshelves are now burnt and destroyed. He approach the broken bench where he used to sit, the table in front of it is nowhere to be found.
Ren knelt down and ran his hand over the charred wood of the bench, his finger brushing away the ashes. This was where it all began... the countless hours spent studying bond theory, learning about the intricate relationships between tamers and their beast.
"She used to sit right here..." he said softly, pointing to the spot across the bench. "Whenever I had questions... she'd stop everything to explain. She always believed in me, even when I couldn't see m own worth."
Alianna stayed silent, watching him with empathy. She didn't want to interrupt the moment. Instead, she began to sift through the rubble nearby, her eyes scanning for anything useful.
Ren's fingers brushed against something solid among the ashes. He carefully pulled it free... a half-burnt notebook.
The edges were scorched, but the center remained intact. He flipped it open, his breath catching as he recognized his Teacher's handwriting.
"This is..."
Alianna noticed it and she stepped closer, peering over his shoulder. The pages were filled with notes, diagrams, and sketches of various beasts, but one page stood out.
It was marked with the symbol of a swirling vortex.
"What is this?" Alianna asked, pointing to the symbol.
Ren's brow furrowed as he read the notes surrounding the symbol. Teacher Lynch's handwriting was hurried, as if she'd been racing against time.
"The bond stone's true potential... unlocked only in dire circumstances. An ancient power sealed within... but at a great cost."
Before they could read further, a dry voice cut through the silence, startling them both.
"Why are you here?"
Ren spun around.
Standing in the doorway was a man, his frame tall but hunched, as if weighed down by some unseen burden.
His wild orange hair was striking, a clear familial resemblance to Teacher Lynch. But where her presence had been warm and nurturing, his felt like a storm cloud on the verge of breaking.
The man's pale, tired face was etched with deep lines, his dark eyes carrying a hollowness that spoke of sleepless nights and countless regrets. Everything about him screamed of someone who had long since given up but was cursed to continue living.
"Who are you?"
"You don't recognize me? I suppose I can't blame you. You were just a kid when I left." He stepped closer, his boots crunching on the charred floor. "I'm Klyve Lynch. Lisa Lynch's brother."
"Teacher Lynch never mentioned you."
"No, I suppose she wouldn't have. After all, I abandoned her when she needed me the most."
"Why are you here?"
Alianna interrupted, her tone wary as she positioned herself slightly behind Ren.
Klyve tilted his head towards Alianna. His face showing no sense of humor.
"That's my question..."
His eyes narrowed as he scanned the destroyed library, his gaze lingering on the bond stone tucked in Ren's bag.
"You shouldn't be here. This place is nothing but ashes and regrets... just like me."
Ren tightened his grip on the half-burnt notebook.
"I came here for answers. I need to understand why this happened."
"Answers? You're not going to find them in that notebook. Lisa always had her head in the clouds, chasing theories and ideals. That's what got her killed."
"Don't talk about her like that! She gave her life to protect us, to protect me. You have no right—"
"I have every right!" Klyve interrupted sharply. "She was my sister. And if you think her death was some noble sacrifice, you're more naive than I thought."