The Darkness (2)

“What?” he questioned.

“You called my father by his name…” she realized. Vrastos tensed. “You casually call everyone vessels… but you said my father’s name.”

Athesia looked at them, smiling. Vrastos averted his eyes, reposturing himself.

“I…”

“Don’t be such a child and admit it… that you felt like that last vessel was the most endearing human being you have ever met,” Athesia teased.

Vrastos blushed, turning away.

“Whatever! Go back… your Light Esper guy is waiting for you at the door,” Vrastos demanded. He waved an opening for Valencia.

She gazed at the portal, then back at Vrastos’s back. She tightened her jaw and took a deep breath.

“Were you… thinking about that day when it happened?” she mustered the courage to ask.

Vrastos clenched his fists. The silence lingered.

“Yes… that’s why you dreamt about it…” he answered. “I didn’t mean to make you live in that memory that I couldn’t forget.”

Valencia nodded hesitantly. She slowly stood and walked into the portal, returning to the dukedom. She sniffled before wiping her boogers once more.

“Are you okay?” Kael suddenly asked, opening the door.

Valencia turned around and forced a smile.

“Yes… a little bit,” she answered.

Kael entered and placed the meal tray on the table. He walked toward her and hugged her, comforting her.

“Do you want to talk about it?” he wondered curiously.

Valencia leaned against his chest and sighed.

“Do you know the previous Light Esper before you?” she questioned, her face hardening.

“The… previous? Yes… he was the late Crown Prince, who died shortly after the Void Esper was announced dead,” Kael replied without a thought.

“Why did he die?”

“I heard… he went insane because he didn’t have stability.”

“Where was he?” Valencia added.

Kael furrowed his brow.

“Why are you asking so many questions about the previous Light Esper?”

Valencia froze and looked at him. Her chest tensed.

“Just curious…”

“Well… I heard that he was following to help the Void Esper, but never made it back,” Kael explained.

~•~ ~•~ ~•~ ~•~ ~•~ ~•~ ~•~ ~•~ ~•~ ~•~ ~•~ ~•~ ~•~ ~•~ ~•~ ~•~ ~•~ ~•~ ~•~ ~•~ ~•~