ushernet Act 4: Fallen Heaven - Chapter 637: Farewell For Now
Act 4: Fallen Heaven - Chapter 637: Farewell For Now
Act 4: Fallen Heaven - Chapter 637: Farewell For Now
Maia blinked, wondering what exactly she was doing. After being saved by the strange Avril, she ended up in a fancy inn, sharing a meal with two brats, a strange old man wearing a mask, and Avril. The enticing scent of the freshly roasted chicken wafted and nearly caused a drool to spill from her lips. The moment she took a bite, the herbs and spices danced on her tongue, and the juices overflowed, its flavor striking her like a rock to the head. The vast pleasure caused her to moan, unbelievably satisfying. She blushed, realizing she was in public, her face ripening like a tomato as several gazes turned to her.
"Is it good?" Avril held back a laugh, her quivering shoulders giving her away.
Too embarrassed, Maia silently ate her meal, unwilling to answer. The masked old man whispered to Avril, Maia's sensitive hearing unable to pick up their conversation, clearly hidden behind Ein. Avril shook her head as if denying the old man's words and smiled brightly, cutting up small pieces for the two brats who clamored in cheers, waving their forks around without manners, a bunch of little brats. Staring at her own greasy hands, she scoffed at herself, the lessons on etiquette all lost to her. She had no right to scold them.
The old man never averted his gaze from her, his green eyes on her. Who was he? She chewed slowly, pinching a part of the white nightgown and shuffling her feet on the varnished floor. Avril had lent her the comfortable nightgown for her to wear, but her sweat had already drenched it. Whoever the old man was, he terrified her. He didn't send any Ein to intimidate her. His stare alone reduced her to this state, absolutely inconceivable. One of the brats ran over to the old man, and he finally turned away, smiling widely and carrying the brat in a burst of hearty laughter.
"Um, pretty lady. My name is Gloria. Who are you?" The other little brat trotted over to her, grabbing her leg.
'How cute.' Maia instinctively thought that first. She jolted, her feet still on the floor, but her shoulders bounced, a chill crawling from her chest. The old man, carrying the boy, locked his gaze on her again as if waiting for her to attempt to harm the girl. Her instincts warned her. She could tell that lying was impossible, not in front of this old monster. "I am Maia. Nice to meet you, Gloria."
"Are you with us?" Gloria asked, tilting her head, her pigtails swaying to the side in an adorable pendulum motion.
"Huh?" Maia stood up, the little girl now clinging to her knee.
"That sounds like a good idea!" Avril chimed in, grinning from ear to ear. "I accept Maia to accompany us to our new home in Convecia City. She lifts her arms in excitement. The thought of a new companion fills her up with joy."
"Mom talks weird." The boy sighed, earning a pinch on his cheek from Avril. He hurried out his apologies repeatedly until Avril was satisfied.
"Yay!" Gloria joined in the cheers.
"Huh?" Maia said again.
.......
The door closed gently, and Avril sighed. She had hoped Maia would stay. However, she also had no right to keep her here. The exit remained shut, and Maia's presence disappeared, presumably too far away. Perhaps, in the future, Maia might return and reconcile. When that would be, she did not have a clue. With that, Avril smacked her forehead and headed for the dining room, taking a few deep breaths to put Maia aside for the moment. Opening the door, she faced her two children. For an odd moment, their younger selves overlapped, the small, cheerful selves under the shockingly adult and depressed figures.
'When they become such adults?' Avril went over and embraced them both, patting Renn on the back and caressing Gloria's head.
"Mom. Why didn't you stop her?" Gloria buried her face into Avril's shoulder, warm tears leaking out. "I don't hate her. I could never hate her."
"To think that she was at Orbis and was an enemy...." Renn said, leaning on her.
"Do you hate her, Renn?" Avril asked.
"No." Her son stated without hesitation. "I only hate her for not staying to talk it out."
"She has her own struggles. Right now, she and your father, they all need our help." Avril pecked them on the cheek and held their hands, warming them. "Do you hate your father?"
"No." Gloria and Renn answered together. Renn spoke up for both of them, "I'm grateful that he took us in, and that led us to meet you, but I did hate him for leaving you alone for decades. Every time I saw Mom become sad at mentioning Dad, I cursed him. But I can't now."
"Dad needs our help. I can slap him later for leaving us, but he returned in the end." Gloria put on a strong smile, one Avril knew to be forced.
"Good. Then, for now, pack your things. Your father's entrance caused a commotion. She thinks Convecia City will be too dangerous." Avril exited the dining room, passing by the broken light crystals, her steps crunching on the shards as she entered the darker half of the hall. In the wrecked room, Remulus sat in a corner, watching from a distance. Oscar had woken up, but his eyes were still desolate, unresponsive to her arrival.
"A-Avril...." Erden grunted, waking up. His pained groans leaked sprays of blood on the floor. Avril rushed to his side, inspecting the wounds. Before she could take out more bandages, an antler wing turned her to face him. Erden gasped, his chest heaving like heavy waves. He warned in a low, raspy voice, "We are not safe here. Go to the Lands of Zeret."