I walk down the dark and empty corridors of the estate, making my way toward my room. Most of the servants are either asleep or cleaning up the arena. It was honestly quite peaceful hearing the droplets splatter against the windows. It was quite a contrast to the gruesome scene that i've just witnessed.
I walk slowly trying to make the moment last longer.
As I reach my door, I find myself releasing a sigh. Tonight would be my last night with Aurelia.
I open the door and stroll inside. Aurelia is already here, lying on our bed, scrolling on her communicator. She doesn't respond. Even as I wrap my arms around her, she remains silent. She turns over, facing away from m.e "Do you have anything you want to say?" I ask, hating the feeling of being ignored. She doesn't respond. "I'm gonna miss you a lot you know," I tell her.
"Im gonna miss all the memories we had together, I'm gonna miss holding you like this, I'm gonna miss seeing your face whenever I wake up."
She still doesn't respond. My breathing gets heavy as my heart begins to ache. I drag her on top of me, flipping her over, desperate to see her face.
Her eyes are dark and watery, her makeup ruined. I don't know what to do. I've never seen her like this before.
My heart aches even more. I hate this feeling. I hate seeing her like this.
"What's wrong?" I ask "Why are you crying?"
"You're so dumb. How are you so insensitive!?" she asks, tears continuing to drop like a waterfall.
"It's hitting me now…" she says in between her breaths, "You're gonna be gone tomorrow. I will be all alone." she continues, her voice barely a whisper, diluted from her cries.
I sigh hearing her words. I hate making her sad.
"You may not see me, but you can always talk to me," I reassure her, pointing toward her communicator. "I'm always just a phone call or message away. "I tell her, attempting to cheer her up. "I will also miss you dearly, you are going to the university remember?" I want you to text, call and talk to me about every detail," I say holding back tears. To her, I may seem like some strong, proud man, but in reality, I'm also scared. I'm scared of never seeing her again, I'm scared about her leaving me, I'm scared of her moving on without me.
I find a small smile playing at her lips once again, alleviating my heart from its aching. "You will have to read and respond to every message and phone call you know?" she tells me. "I will" I say, smiling back, reassuring her that I'm not gonna be gone, just away.
I find myself holding her in my arms for what seems like eternity, only halted at the break of dawn.
As I make my way toward the courtyard, a strange feeling begins to grip me. The halls were dark and silent, leaving me alone with my thoughts. What was I doing? Leaving everything behind, my family, my past. Was it really to escape my brother? Or was it something else entirely? The truth was, I didn't know. Whatever it was, it didn't matter anymore. The decision had already been made. I could only hope that I wouldn't come to regret it.
The courtyard was completely quiet and empty when I arrived, except for two figures, my mother and Aurelia. Both wore the white and black armor of House Virellis, along with an ion blade strapped to their hips.
I approach slowly.
"Are you ready?" my mother asks, her voice lacking her usual coldness.
"I think so…" I respond, glancing at myself. The heavy tungsten armor fits me extremely well, however it was very heavy and uncomfortable. Still, its energy shield protects me from blaster fire, and the armor itself could sort of hold up in a fight with ion blades. It restricts my movements, yet it was better than nothing. My magnetic flux axe rests on the back of my armor. It is an interesting weapon that can both pull and repulse metal. It guarantees hits, however, it's really bad at piercing through armor unlike an ion blade.
Aurelia doesn't say anything. She simply stares at me, her eyes sweeping over me from head to toe, almost like she's making sure I have everything.
My mother's voice breaks the silence. "What are your plans?"
I exhale sharply. "To be honest, I'm not sure. I don't know what I'll do after my apprenticeship ends. The universe is ever changing." I shrug. "I'll just… deal with it. Whatever happens, happens." I say, not really caring much about the future.
Her face tightens a little as a faint frown pulls at her lips. She doesn't like my response.
Before she's able to say anything, a sudden roar of engines splits the air as a transport ship pierces through the storm clouds overhead, cutting through the sky with a low hum. It was almost time.
"What about you?" I ask Aurelia, trying to direct the attention away from myself. What did her future look like? What did she wwant to do?
She was quiet for a little, but as the ship neared, she finally responded. "I'm going to the university. After that… I'm not sure." She says pausing, her lips curling into a familiar teasing smile. "But I guess I'll need you to come back and show me the way, won't I?"
She steps closer, lifting herself onto her tippy toes, wrapping her hands around my neck and pulling me into a kiss.
The kiss was brief, yet she tasted so good. "Call me every day. And don't forget me… or else I'm not even sure what I'd do." she whispers seductively into my ear as she pulls back.
The smile on her lips was playful, yet there was a dark tone in her words. I didn't know exactly what she'd do and I'd honestly rather not find out.
As the ship lands and its cargo door begins to open, my mother pulls me aside. Her voice, much quieter and softer than usual. "Listen, I know I haven't been the best mother," she starts, her words awkward, as though they were foreign to her. "I know that you felt threatened, maybe even scared. I know that I did nothing to protect you all these years." She pauses, her eyes flickering down for a moment before meeting mine again. "That's probably the reason you have been forced to make a big decision like this." she sighs. "I want you to know that I'm sorry. I'm sorry for not being a great guardian. I'm sorry for rarely ever seeing you. I'm sorry for being so cold to you. I hope you know that I will always love you." Her words felt awkward, yet they were not forced. She wanted to say this, I could tell. It felt as if I wasn't talking to a superior, but rather my mother.
For a moment I was speechless, too stunned to speak. I already knew everything she said, yet, I never thought that she'd ever say it herself.
"I know mom. I've always known" I say with a little chuckle. When I was younger, I always thought that my mom never really cared for me and my brother. I thought that she was always indifferent toward us and that she'd let him do whatever he wanted to me. But when I grew up, I realized that I was wrong. I realized that she pushed me toward every big achievement and goal. Even when I was lonely, she brought Aurelia home. She even approved of our marriage.
For a brief moment, I thought I saw her eyes flicker with emotion, something real, something unguarded, yet it was gone before I could be sure.
She pulls me into a strong but hesitant hug. "Whatever you do, make sure you're happy. even if you become a farmer or a peasant, as long as you're happy, that's enough for me." she whispers into my ear, "Be happy and live. No child should die before their parents, that is a fate far too cruel."
I don't know how to respond. I just hold her for one last time.
"I'll live happily, don't worry" I tell her, a big smile finding it's way onto my face.
"I'll make sure to visit you once I return!" I call out, walking toward the transport ship. Little did I know, that would be the last conversation I'd ever have with my mother.