Age of Heroes (Age of Heroes Chronicles)

Chapter 418: The sorrows of a cold man (1)

THE RESTING ROOM OF VERMONT PALACE

Arial return to his resting room and he sits on his chair, as he took a glass of wine and began sipping some wine. Kyle sat beside him, talking about the beautiful Isabelle.

Between him and Kyle there is a very steady friendship, in spite of great opposition of character. 

Kyle is endeared to Arial by his selfless acts, easiness and openness, his charismatic flair, his strength in character, even his unpredictable anger, a great contrast between Kyle and Arial personality.

However, between the two of them in their relationships as friends, Arial had always been the superior one. 

He is the leader. The hero. The King. The lord. In positions they are different, vast like Heaven and Earth. 

But still they treated each other as equal or as equal as they can be considering Arial position.

By no means is Kyle deficient but their attitudes on certain matters differentiates them.

Arial is fierce, Kyle is gentle. Arial is harsh, Kyle is smooth. And after his wife death Arial becomes harsher, and his manners though well-bred is not inviting. 

In this matter Kyle had the advantage. josei

Kyle is liked by people for who he is, he is open manners and could afford to act without reserve and still acquire the pleasure of others while Arial remains this untouchable divine thing.

Arial listens to the lively recollection of Kyle about the woman called Isabelle, Kyle could not stop praising her as the prettiest girl in the ball, and none more pleasant to the eyes.

Arial on the contrary, had seen many things, and finery of all kinds in his time as a rich lord, so none of the description of the beauty of the ball or the atmosphere of the ball captivates him, none of the beauties appeared tonight at the ball moved him other than the weird feeling he has when his eyes locked into Rhyssa.

It was like in that moment it was only him…and her. And everything blurred other than her….it was like they are the only two people in the ball.

And he doesn't know why…after all the efforts he employed…. he could not take his eyes of her. That is what he felt when they locked eyes in that ball. 

It is nothing like he ever felt before. He did not feel like this even when he was with Helia in the past

He always tries to sneak a peek at her during the dance….so unlike him.

There is just something about her…. that he can't quite figure out

She was beautiful beyond imagining, and she was mysterious, daring and brave. And mysteries have always piqued his interest 

'Time has served her well' Arial mused. She has matured into a wise and beautiful person.

Isabelle, Arial acknowledge to be pretty but smiles too much, and too sheltered in his opinion, cautious and indifferent to the advances of his friend.

She is a tease Arial concluded.

But a sweet girl nonetheless, with the innocence of a maiden girl. Of course such a girl flutters the heart of man but that does not happen for Arial. 

He does not need the innocence of spring; he needs the fire of summer…. passion to thaw his frozen heart, though he would deny it if anybody ask

'You really put this girl in high estimation.' Arial said.

'How do you know?' Said Kyle confused.

'How could I not know? How could anyone in the ball do not know? You dance with the girl thrice. Either you admired her or you like her.'

'Can't it be both?'

'Rarely' Arial reply. Then he added

'Especially for men like you. If the girl is one you admire, you will feel inferior to her. Thus, you will not make advances to her other than occasional flirting. If you like her, then I know you…to move heaven and earth to make her like you back. This, I know about you. Your passion about woman defeats my passion for war.'

There is an odd silence between friend and then smiling bitterly Kyle ask

'And how about you, friend?' Kyle shot back

'You were intolerable in the ball. Is it your design to drive everyone away from you? If it is, then you are doing marvelously. Surely the Empress will be advised by her confidant to calm herself down from her vexation.'

Arial treated the words that is coming out from Kyle mouth as nothing more than winds that passes by

'She looks quite fine; her wit fast like lightning, her nature is strong.'

'You don't think your ill treatment of her will vex her to the point of hatred? Queens have their tempers and nothing hath more fury than a Queen scorned.'

'You make it sound like I'm at fault here.'

'You, my friend is as prideful as you are disagreeable. Even after the dance ended, you walk here and there, just looking, not participating. It might send some wrong impression.'

'What do I have to care about impression?'

'I thought reputation is everything. You once said it to me.'

'Reputation is everything, yes…. when you don't have power to back you up. When you have power, nothing is impossible.'

Kyle just listens in silence. Then Arial began to sit up, preparing to return to his bedchamber.

'Wait, friend'

'Hmm?' Arial said looking back.

'You should give people a chance sometimes. It might do you good.'

'What are you talking about?'

'I know what you think you are doing. I know what it feels like. But I don't think Helia would like to see you like this.'

Arial expression turned hard.

'What do you mean?'

'This act of yours, torturing yourself with loneliness is not a tribute of love my friend. Be honest with yourself. For once. Be honest. This is…. guilt.'

Arial turned back and look at Kyle straight in his eyes.

'You....I could not forget her as easily as you!' Arial shot back in anger. 

Kyle took that insult calmly and slowly he takes a deep breath and closes his eyes and once again he opens his eyes and he said.

'I never forget her. I can't. But she's gone. I accept that but you didn't. And I don't think she will be happy looking at you from Heaven Above.…the way you are now. I have stood by you, when you wage war. I stood with you when you send me into perilous battle. I stood with you even when Silas defy you, when your council advises you to stop the war. I stood by you through all of it. Hoping…. that the you I know would return. Hoping that my effort would make you forgive me'

He sighed and then he continues

'And now the war is over. The last smoke of rebellion has been extinguished. You have succeeded. By all eyes, you have reached the peak of life, there probably would never come another person like you in the Human Continent for millennium. You have achieved what the past Emperors of MontBlanc had tried to do in thousands of years in just a couple of years. Your vengeance should have ended. The Palace of Zettel had been torn down, their bloodline was extinguished and Zettel is burn down to the ground. It should have ended'

He then releases a heavy breath and then said

'But it's not isn't it? Not for you'

Kyle said staring back at Arial, hoping his sincere words could move his friend heart.

'A life work erupted out of your guilt, an empire founded upon your vendetta. But, it's still there isn't it? That feeling of unsatisfaction? That feeling of incompleteness. It will never go away. That is what it feels like when you lose someone. I know you think you could protect everyone you love…. but you can't save everyone.'

'I sure as hell could try' Arial said defiantly.

'You have tried, friend. Tried and fail. And it's fine. We're human. Mortals. We fall. We stumble. And we get up, scratched by stones, muddled by dirt, naked and beaten by fate. But we get up. Because we have to. And you have to. It's time to let go, friend. Move forward and cast your eyes to the distant future like you always did.'

'Enough.'

'There is- '

'Enough I said! I ordered you as your emperor. Cease your words!'

Kyle stops. And he bowed.

'As Your Imperial Majesty commanded.' He said obediently.

Arial then once again walk to the door but just as he was about to exit the room Kyle once again asked him a question.

'Your Imperial Majesty, permission to ask you a question?'

Arial turned back and after thinking a bit he said.

'I will grant it.'

'Why did you never punish me?'

'Hmm?'

'Why did you never punish me for my transgression with the Empress? I could never understand your generosity. You never exile me, banish me or even execute me. Not that I'm complaining, but I could never understand.'

Arial look at Kyle and he said as he walks off the room, his words echoes in the room like a question.

'Isn't her death…. punishment enough?'

And he walks off, as Kyle ponders Arial answer. 

Arial walk showing the back of a man burdened with the weight of the world, all on his shoulders, a lonely man in a crowd of people, such sorrows and sadness encapsulated in his life.

And he keeps walking…. every day. 

Cursing the world. Every day. 

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