Tears of Dusk

It was late afternoon when Isyd made his way back toward the Academy. He had first waited to see if Snake would come back or if the Kazkan would send other people after him. Isyd wasn’t so much worried about the latter than about the former. Since Snake knew Isyd’s identity, he could take revenge by targeting him indirectly. Isyd had weighed the risks of letting someone such as he escape but eventually concluded that it was for the best. Snake had said that he was leaving Vilriver, and until proof of the contrary, Isyd was inclined to believe him.

Naeht flying next to him was throwing worried glances in his direction. She hadn’t been there for his fight against Snake. She had flown in an hour later, to find Isyd bruised and bleeding where he’d been cut.

“Stop looking at me like that, Naeht,” Isyd said. “I’m fine!”

“I know you are, but I can’t help but worry! Don’t push yourself too hard.”

Isyd shrugged and winced. It was true that he felt tired. The last few days had been hectic, to say the least.

“I’ll find time to rest later.”

“You always say that… When was the last time you slept again?”

Isyd simply smirked.

They had taken the long way around to go back to the Academy. Instead of sneaking past the Kazkan’s manor, he had walked all the way to the Ruby Bridge and the Outside. Truth be told, Isyd half expected to have the Tutors or Seniors waiting for him. After all, he had left without a word and directly after the incident at the Ravasz’s.

After crossing the Emerald Bridge and entering through the Western Gate, Isyd was somewhat relieved to see that nobody was awaiting him. In fact, nobody was paying him any attention as he walked across the Fields in the direction of the Spital. He headed straight to the Ravasz’s room.

The door was ajar, and even before entering, Isyd felt the presence of Julya, Jadwia and Norran.

They turned toward him as he knocked and entered.

“You’re back!” Jadwia said, rushing toward him.

Julya followed suit, wringing her hands. Isyd smiled and pulled out the Ingraced Blysht for them to see.

“You got it back! I knew you did!”

“You’re quite something, Isyd Wybrany!” Norran drawled from his seat. On his lap was open the newspaper of the day. “Is it safe to assume that you are the one they’re talking about in the papers?”

“Perhaps… A lot of things happened over there; things were confusing. All that matters is that we recovered what was stolen.”

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” Julya fretted.

“I’m fine. Here, take the Blysht. I had to exhaust it when using it as a diversion.”

In exchange, Isyd grabbed the broken Lightsphere that held the [Outgracing Hex].

“What about those who attacked us?” Norran said. “Did you see them at the Kazkan’?”

“I did and we had a… talk,” Isyd said. “I don’t expect them to come back. In fact, I don’t expect the Baron to try anything any time soon. The only reason he dared attack us as he did at first was thanks to the element of surprise. Now, he knows that we know that he’s the culprit.”

“You think that it will be enough to dissuade him?” Julya said. “He is the Baron of Vilriver, after all.”

“Even the Baron would not dare attack the Academy directly. Right now, he is probably confused as to why we haven’t said anything. He expects it but doesn’t know when we will reveal what he did. It is better that way; it will keep him on his toes. Let him live in fear of the Academy’s denunciation.”

Let him live in fear of Antaka coming for him…

Julya let out a long sigh and slumped on the bed. “So, it is over at last… They will leave alone…”

“Yes.”

Norran grabbed his wife’s hand and squeezed it. Isyd looked down at his seat, at his legs that were hidden behind a plaid.

Isyd considered telling him that he had avenged what had he be done to him. Would that make Norran feel better knowing what Isyd had done to those men?

He shook his head, trying to chase away the echoes of cries and pleas for mercy.

No… they don’t need to know.

“Anything new regarding Tekla?” Isyd asked instead.

Norran and Julya exchanged a look.

“She left earlier this morning,” Julya said. “Apparently, she was convoked by the Doyen last night and she gave her resignation. Or so told us Tutor Tchepwa.”

“She left like a thief into the night!” Norran drawled. “Good riddance, I say!”

Jadwia yawned and stretched. “You told me to stay here until you returned. Does that mean I can go now?”

“Sure! We should be safe now,” Isyd said, trying to silence the nagging thought of Snake in the back of his mind.

He was pretty sure that the situation was resolved and yet… Isyd couldn’t shake the feeling that there were still a few loose ends, things that didn’t make sense even looking back on it. For one, the attitude of the Baron had been strange when Isyd had confronted him. And he hadn’t expected to find the Blysht in the Izaak Kazkan in all people.

“…going, Isyd?” Jadwia was saying.

Isyd blinked and focused back on the conversation. “You were saying?”

“I want to attend the last classes of the day. Are you coming?”

“Yes, I follow you.”

They both gave their goodbyes to the Ravasz and left the room. However, Isyd quickly stopped midway through the hallway.

“What is it?” Jadwia asked him.

“You go ahead, I’ll be just behind you.”

First surprised, Jadwia then gave an understanding smile as she saw him on the doorstep of another room. She waved at him and left as Isyd knocked on the door. A weak voice answered and invited him inside.

Kewin Udachur was awake and sat on the edge of his hospital bed. He was simply dressed in a white robe reserved for the Spital’s patients. The young man turned to him, surprise on his face.

“Isyd! You okay?”

He is the one in a hospital bed and he is asking me? Isyd could not help but not smirk at that.

“Grace Kewin, I am fine. What about you?”

“I’m doing okay. Better now! They healed the burns and gonna remove the bandages around my hands tomorrow,” Kewin said, showing his two hands wrapped in white gauze.”

“And how are you feeling?”

“I… er… well, I feel fine. I’m a bit tired, but that’s it. The Apteyka said it would be normal for a while since I am… well until my body adapts…”

Standing on the doorstep, Isyd watched the young man for a long silence, uncertain of what to do. He eventually decided to drag a stool near him and sat down.

“I am sorry you got hurt, Kewin,” Isyd said.

“You don’t need to apologize! It wasn’t your fault!” Kewin said vehemently.

“I’m glad you think so, but I disagree. You got involved in my business and was hurt in consequence.”

“Well… you told us to stay away, right? I guess I was too stupid to listen…”

“No, you were simply too kind.”

In the silence that followed, Kewin tried to catch Isyd’s eyes, but he wasn’t looking at him. Instead, Isyd was staring into the void, as if reminiscing of a time long ago.

“Everyone like to think that they are virtuous and good people, that they would always do the right thing when necessary,” Isyd said. “But it simply is not true. I have witnessed it too many times. When hard times come, it is everyone for themselves. People only think of saving their own skin and those closest to them. If this means stealing, hurting, betraying or dooming others to a fate worse than death, then so be it. I do not fault them for that. Survival is one of men’s deepest instincts; I cannot blame anyone for having a sense of self-preservation.

“But then what does that say about those who put others first before themselves? Those who help without expecting anything in return? Those who worry and care about others simply out of empathy? In my eyes, those people show the rest of the world what true strength looks like. In a world where selfishness, deception and violence are seen as justified and necessary, a kind gesture is more than the ‘right’ thing to do; it is the difficult thing to do! Kindness shouldn’t be taken for granted; it should be celebrated and recompensed. We should always be grateful and humbled by kindness.”

“I… I never thought about it that way…” Kewin said. “It’s hard to feel recompensed right now. The Apteyka said that I was… broken…”

Isyd put the broken Lightsphere in his bandages hands. Even through the gauze, Kewin could feel the engraving of the [Outgracing Hex].

“You lived! You survived where many others would have died. You broke, but you did not shatter! What does it say about you?”

Kewin tried to look away, but Isyd didn’t let him. He held his hand and held him captive by the sheer magnetism of his eyes.

“I… I…”

“It means that you are strong , Kewin Udachur! Strong of heart and strong of body! Your kindness is not a weakness, it never was. Do not let anything or anyone tell you otherwise!”

Kewin dropped his head. Isyd let his hand go but didn’t take back the Lightsphere. He stood up.

“Do not leave the Academy!” he suddenly said.

At that, Kewin’s head whipped up. “What? But… but I’m Disgraced! I can’t use the Arts… I can’t stay…”

“Do not leave the Academy!” Isyd repeated more forcefully this time. “I can show you this strength of yours you don’t realize. I can show you that all isn’t over for you. They call you Disgraced, but I can show you that the Holy Grace hasn’t given up on you! There are many things you can still learn, Kewin, and I can teach you.”

Kewin stared at Isyd for a long time, moved by the conviction in his words. The broken Lightsphere moved between his fingers. It was strangely warm, despite being damaged, and on it was engraved the precious [Hex] Isyd had worked so hard to invent.

The Lightsphere was broken and yet it was still valuable.

Kewin turned to face Isyd and gave him a timid but determined smile. “Please, teach me!”