NOVEL NEXT EPILOGUE_02: Reunion & The Funeral
Rushing through the columns and rows of humanity, all Noah could think of was how he must have clarity... Kazuki must have told Eliza the truth of his betrayal... or supposed betrayal? Noah didn't quite necessarily understand it himself, but he knew just how stupid he was for even believing that Obadiah would lend him his assistance.
Dammit... Dammit! Noah shifted through the tide of people until he finally saw his target! Eliza! She was talking to Chloé, who stood beside her. They were waiting for one of the metro trains to take them back to the boarding ports of the Ball Palace.
He's on a time crunch. Noah has to make his words count, but how does he do that? He shook his head. He'll make them count! Rushing up to her, he called out to her. "Eliza!"
Her head immediately turned on a swivel at him. Slowly, her face grew bright. Huh... Wait. No, he has something to do here! He stopped just in front of her, heaving for air slowly.
"Woah, Noah? You good?" Chloé asked, looking over Eliza's shoulder. "Breathe man..."
Noah nodded consecutively, before placing a finger up. "I... I... Eliza... you... are good?"
Eliza nodded. "Yeah! No worries, Noah... Kazuki told me everything."
His face went pale... Just how much did Kazuki say? Did he beat him to the gut punch of the century? Fuck... Noah simply nodded, still heaving for air. A metro train turned into the station, with holographic promotion posters promoting movies on the walls of the station.
He asked, whilst heaving for in between the words, "What... did... he... say?"
Preparing for the worst, Noah steeled whatever was left of his heart and body. Could he... still find solitude in knowing how Kazuki beat him up... Though Noah did understand, to some extent, why that murderer would do such a thing.
After all, he did that to him. Noah started to question himself and everything around him. Did Noah help create the Kazuki of today?
Eliza paused, rubbing her head for a moment. "Ah... yeah! Kazuki said that you two had... a troubled past... I don't know what happened between you two—"
It was over. Noah's mind was flooded with speculations upon speculation. Kazuki must have told her everything there is to know about him, especially about how he brutalised him after he murdered Victoria...
He could still see the faint visage of Kazuki's begging voice... Why did he do that... Victoria was already dead. Killing him would have done nothing. Still, it would have avenged her murder.
"—but... I'm happy that you put that out of the way. He did make an important point for that. Thank you for telling Kaz that you lost contact with me."
Huh? Eliza's words confused him. It hadn't dawned exactly on Noah that Kazuki just covered for him... For a second, he wanted to excuse himself and correct her on the truth of what happened, but that wouldn't be for much, would it?
"Yeah! If you told him a minute later then Liz probably wouldn't be here," Chloé commented. She smirked at Noah, giving him a pseudo-salute with two fingers. "Good call on that one. Anyways... the metro's here, you catching it with us?"
Chloé's words snapped him out of his trance. He straightened himself out, fixing his blazer. He shook his head. "Sorry, my parents still have some business. See you two at uni?"
Eliza nodded, as people started to board the train. She looked happy. "See ya!" She turned towards the train and boarded along with Chloé, who waved back at him.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
Hah... The metro train was packed to the brim, as he was now one of the only people still left on the platform. The doors closed, and the train left - revealing the backdrop of space on the other side. Noah chuckled to himself. The reality of it finally hit him.
For whatever reason, Kazuki covered for him... Why? Did... he pity him? Was it his arrogance that caused that? Noah had no idea.
Noah was always surrounded by enigmas. First Victoria, Kazuki... Eliza... Everyone seems to be hiding something deep within, even him.
There wasn't much else to think about. He should return to his parents, they might be angry with him about what happened... But that doesn't matter. He turned and started to walk away.
Drones flew past, with buckets of water. The monotone happy-go music within the station kept playing as the posters on the walls flickered to show different things. Nothing seemed to change, as he walked up the stairs of the station.
Kazuki… covered for Noah? Noah's blue eyes squinted at the mere thought. Why? His blue eyes and pressed up mind will never… understand nor will he ever learn. Just… what even goes through his old friend's head…
Noah didn't know. Noah did not want to know. Why leave Noah off the hook? What does Kazuki see… that he does not?
∗ ∗ ∗
Kazuki turned out to look over the lake, far off in the distance. It was... odd. Many years ago, he was on the opposite side. He could see the observation post still standing. Rusting, broken, yes. Still there, however.
It waited. All these years... Now, Kazuki is back. He turned to the two graves, built with fine stone with paths leading to them.
"So then, this is all over, hmm? All part of some cycle?" Grandfather spoke, standing behind Kazuki. He wore a mix of both his formal and ceremonial clothing, to pay homage to the dead. "Kazuki, you remember you are after all?"
The Emperor wore ceremonial robes for the occasion, as Kazuki had an informal Trasian jacket on. Of course, a blastproof vest lay under his robes.
"No matter the price," Kazuki started. "Mercenary Prince. Fits."
"You don't act very princely at all," Grandfather remarked, placing a hand on Kazuki's head and ruffling his hair. "And that's what makes you you. Unlike your sister, you've barely touched the damned inheritance."
What point would there be for it? "My conquests and victories were enough wealth for a lifetime of bleeding tenfold. Donate a part of it… I want the Jara-Jin lands restored to full honour – no matter the cost."
The Emperor, Kazuki's grandfather, merely nodded with a wise smile. "It is only within oneself that one can change the galaxy."
Kazuki nodded, placing two brooches on two pedestals. Automatically, the pedestals were slowly embedded into the tombstones, with engravings and sculpting denoting who they were.
"Then change the galaxy I will…"
The small shrine on the Jara-Jin's lands stood firm on a hill behind their family gravestones. The smell of incense permeated strongly, even out in the Trasian spring heat.
In the distance, along the rolling hills and mountains far beyond, Kazuki could faintly see a golden glow… Deer. They were staring down at him, gnawing on the countryside grass.
The tall, imposing structure had the hallmarks of architecture from all across Trasian history… Its ornate walls must have been propped up during the age of the Crusades, during the Confederation Age, where all different Trasian ancestors from Terra crossed swords to defend one another.
Walking up the steps of the shrine, Kazuki sighed. No one was in the shrine, but it was still being maintained. Its floors were swept clean. The golden statues of the Sun Goddess, Iris and the enlightened one sitting side by side stared down at Kazuki.
To some, they were traitors. Others, business partners. Kazuki: A chance. A chance to feel once more what it was like to be... normal. To have more than just his inner circle, to connect with others.
But now, Kazuki knew that wasn't possible. He was too uniquely situated for such a luxury.
Emperor Tadaharu walked up the steps, with his hands together. Ringing the bell and giving a small prayer and offering of incense, the pair walked back down the steps.
The Black Guard swarmed around the place, protecting the two royals.
The brooches were sealed within the stones, as parts of them glistened with an aura of peace. With that, Kazuki turned back out to the lake. For a moment, Kazuki took in a deep breath – before walking away.
"They're home, grandfather," Kazuki stated.
Emperor Tadaharu nodded. "That they are," he said, following on after his grandson.