The Beginning After The End novel Chapter 242

Chapter 242

Chapter 242: Two Loves

Tess’s eyes lit up. “Really? You’re coming with me?”

“But... you have to reconcile with Virion first,” I said sternly. “Whatever you argued about with him, remember that he didn’t just lose you back at the Castle, he lost his son.”

“I-I know. What they did was wrong, but they only did it—”

“To save you. Yeah, I know,” I finished. “Which is why if we’re going to save them and bring them back here, you’re going to want to be the bridge that’ll mend things between your grandfather and parents. You won’t be able to do that if you just leave like this.”

Tess opened her mouth, as if to argue, but simply let out a sigh. “You know, most girls don’t like guys who are always right like this.”

A smile tugged at the corner of my lips. “Do you want most girls to like me?”

Narrowing her eyes, Tess punched me in the arm before turning back towards our camp. “Come on. Let’s go back.”

***

“I’m sorry—I really am—but we can’t risk it,” Elder Rinia said resolutely. “Your mana core has been corrupted by the beast will inside you. If you leave—”

“But the potion cured me! That’s why my parents did all of that—so they could give it to me!” Tess argued.

“The potion that Agrona gave you, Tessia. You may be fine now, but we don’t know if that was a permanent solution or if it’ll only give you a period of respite. It’s too soon to tell and if something does happen to you on that journey and you’re taken by the Alacryans...”

“Why does it matter whether I’m taken by the Alacryans? How does my death affect the future of an entire continent?” Tess demanded.

“Tessia!” Virion snapped. “Don’t talk like that!”

“It’s true though,” she continued. “I’m not anywhere near as strong as the lances, nor am I influential enough to rally people together like either of you. Why does my death matter?”

I took a step forward when Sylvie put her hand in front of me.

‘Don’t, Arthur. It’s not our place to interfere. Not now,’ she sent, a wave of solemnness leaking from her.

As Tessia, Virion, and Elder Rinia continued to argue, I shifted my gaze to the others around us. Bairon was leaning against the far wall of the room by the door with his arms crossed. My sister had left the room some time ago with Boo while Mother quietly listened.

“So are you saying that I can’t even go find my own mother and father?” Tess asked quietly, her eyes brimming with tears.

Virion’s gaze softened as he grabbed his granddaughter’s hand. “We’ll bring them back. Just give me and Bairon some time to recover.”

After a long silence, Tess finally nodded in acceptance. “...I’m sorry, Grandpa.”

Virion pulled his granddaughter into his arms. “It’s okay, Little One. It’s okay.”

My mother walked over to us, gently patting Sylvie on her shoulder. My bond and my mother exchanged a warm smile before my mother’s gaze shifted to me. “Your sister is outside. You should go talk to her.”

After taking a quick glance at Tess to see how she was, I turned back to my mother. “Okay.”

As I turned to leave, I was grabbed by the wrist. I saw my mother’s eyes red and glistening.

“Mom? Is something wrong?”

She smiled at me and shook her head. “It’s nothing. I’m just glad you’re staying,” she said quietly, just barely enough for me to hear.

My mother let go of my wrist and waved me away with a smile, but my chest still tightened from guilt.

‘Go. I’ll watch over your mother,’ Sylvie comforted.

I passed by Bairon, who shot me a quick glance and nodded, before heading down the stairs to the ground floor.

Damn it.

I berated myself as I walked out of the building. It made sense in my head to go with Tess since my mother and sister were safe here, but I didn’t think about how they’d feel about me leaving.

Spotting my sister and her giant bond by the stream, I walked over. Boo was curled up into a furry ball, sleeping, while Ellie was throwing rocks into the stream.

“Mind if I join you?” I asked.

“Why? Aren’t you going to leave soon, anyway?” she asked bitterly.

I picked up a flat rock. “We decided not to go until Bairon and Virion are both fully healed.”

Ellie chucked another rock, making it splash into the calm water. “That’s too bad. You were probably looking forward to going off on your little romantic adventure with Tessia.”

“You know it’s not like that,” I said calmly, snapping my wrist as I tossed the flat rock. The two of us watched as the smooth stone skipped four, seven, ten times before it finally sank. “Bringing back Tess’s parents is something that has to be done.”

“Why?” my sister retorted. “Because your girlfriend wants you to?”

“Ellie,” I replied.

“Don’t ‘Ellie’ me!” my sister snapped, throwing the rock in her hand before turning to me. “I overheard Commander Virion talking to Tessia earlier. I know that the four of you almost died fighting that one scythe! And now you’re telling me that you’re going to go back there to bring back the elves who basically sold us all out?”

“It’s not that simple, you know that.”

“It sounds pretty simple to me,” she said sharply, looking down to search for another rock. “Our family—what’s left of it—barely got back together but you’re already eager to leave us.”

My insides knotted as I saw the drops of tears stain the rocks on the ground below her lowered head.

“I’m never eager to leave you guys.” I let out a sigh. “I’m one of the few mages powerful enough to turn the tide in this war, and one way to do that is by bringing back Tess’ parents. Only then will we be able to muster up the forces necessary to eventually take back Dicathen.”

My sister paused as she held onto a fist-sized rock on the ground, her face still covered by her hair.

I continued. “I love Tess. But you, Mom and Sylvie are my family.”

Boo let out a deep groan from the side.

“And you too, Boo. You’re family too,” I added, smiling as Ellie stifled a laugh. “I’d do anything to keep you all safe, and if that means I have to be away from you all to do it, that’s the price I have to pay.”

Ellie quickly wiped her tears before getting back up. She turned around and threw the stone in her hand. “I know. It’s just... I wish you were around more.”

I picked up another flat rock and threw it. “I wish I was too. More than anything. But I don’t want you and Mom living in an underground town below a desert for the rest of your lives, and to do that, I need to get off my butt.”

“I don’t mind it. I know Mom won’t wouldn’t mind it too,” she said, watching my rock skip on the water. “I know you’re doing this to keep us all safe, but it works both ways, you know.”

Ellie turned around, pouting with red eyes and flushed cheeks. “We just want you safe.”

I smiled. “Do you know what my dream is after this is all over?”

“What?”

“For us to live together in a huge house by the ocean. Me, you, Mom, Sylvie, Boo, and Tess.”

“Wait, why do you get to live with your girlfriend? What about my future boyfriend?” she protested.

I looked at her blankly. “You won’t have a boyfriend.”

“What? Why not?”

“Because if you do, I’ll get rid of him,” I said matter-of-factly.

“That’s not fair!” she huffed.