Chapter 94: Side Story 9 – Those who have Passed On

"The deities worked in mysterious ways, and I say this despite having been high priest to one myself for several millennia now. I often feel that much like myself, they do not really care much what we mortals do, as long as we did not cross certain lines.

 

Last time some delusional fool tried something like that, the dwarven capital over at the other continent was reduced to nothing but a cave full of ashes and cinders, centuries of hard work and effort burnt down in a single day, due to one king's excessive hubris.

 

On the contrary, they at times took a liking to people they found worthy of their favor, people who themselves would often never suspect that they would be favored, as they were often not much of a deity worshipper at all. Who knows, child? Maybe one day you'd find your way to reach the afterlife as well, and find your family there, waiting for you?" - Nec Aarin, the Bone Lord, to Aideen Fiachna, the First Unliving.

"They are doing well, father. Soon they would win back our home."

 

"They would… indeed…But at what cost?"

 

"Please don't blame her, grandfather. I sincerely believe she did what she thought was best. They all did."

 

"Oh, I know, child, I know. I am not blaming her for anything that has happened. All these were caused by our failing as the older generations in the first place."

 

"I admit my mistakes, father. I had lacked wisdom in my actions after your… passing."

 

"It's not even you in particular, boy. The blame also lies with me. We had been far too idealistic in the past, seeing the world through tinted glass and making calls that were mistakes in hindsight. I was as much to blame for all those, so no need to feel bad about it. Had he not been taken early from the world, we might have lasted another generation, likely two more, but even so the seeds of discord would take its toll sooner or later, and there's little we could have done about it with the way we did things back then."

 

"Master would look after your people and do them right, father. Of this I am certain."

 

"So am I, lass. He might not care for them in particular, but neither would they suffer under his protection. Maybe back then I should have chosen the other option and saved us all this hassle and carnage…"

 

"With all due respect, father, you would not have been you, had you chosen that route. I myself chose a shortsighted route in the past, thought myself smart, and as a result only got myself a knife in the back as my reward. Even so, I did what I thought was needed at the time, and in the same situation, I would have done it all over again."

 

"Even knowing what you did now?"

 

"... Yes. I would probably have done so."

 

"What saddens me the most was how our actions, while they may have been made with the best intentions in mind, have in the end, just caused our people more harm and suffering. Sterner measures, more ruthlessness, all those might have kept it stable a while longer, but we stood on a flawed foundation in the first place, and never realized it."

 

"Don't blame yourself too much, father. We were guilty of the same as well."

 

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"I have thought this through, my child. I am old, and tired. I do not feel I am up to the task the deities chose to give me for some unknown reason for much longer, so I have asked the deity for permission. Both of you, as my sons, will take my place after I'm gone. Together, I believe you would be more than capable of the task they asked for."

 

"Can we not convince you otherwise, grandfather? Aideen would be saddened when she found us one day… and noticed that you're gone."

 

"Back then, it had not taken long for me to find this existence more a burden than a blessing. I saw the revolt brewing, yet there was nothing I could have done to warn you of it. Then your brother joined me here, and shortly after, your wife, then you yourself. Most of our family reunited here, in what most would consider a blessed afterlife."

 

"But father..."

 

"Being able to witness what you strived all your life for crumble before your eyes, to see your loved ones perish one after another, is a torment in its own way, my son. I had stayed even after I confirmed that you two can take my place, and thus keep our family here, mostly because in the end, I wished to witness the end of my dream with my own eyes."

 

"And now that end is arriving. I know that at least, for the civilians, it will be as pleasant an ending as they could receive. I trust Aarin that much at least. Vitalica, as I built it, ended today, however. Those upstarts using that name, I refuse to acknowledge as successors to that name."

 

"When... Do you intend to pass on, father-in-law?"

 

"After the battle concluded, and after the transfer of power has been officialized."

 

"We will never forget you, grandfather."

 

"Don't grieve for me, my good child. With luck, I might well reunite with your grandmother in my next life, if the deities were to be so kind. That said, do look over your little sister on my behalf."

 

"How will she do, in your opinion, father?"

 

"That child still has a very long life ahead of her, I believe. For all I know, she might well reach here not with your aid, but as a peer instead. That said, in case she made it here before too long has passed, tell her that I apologize for not waiting on her... Or the others."

 

"Should we meet again in a future life… I hope we would get to be a family… once more."

 

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