5 Legacy

As silence returned to the barracks Chrono continued his exploration of the lower level.

His reminiscence took him through the many rooms of the run down building. It was the oldest of the barracks within the Palace Grounds and time had clearly taken its toll. Everything from the floors to the ceilings were worn down and decrepit. Loose bits of wood rained down from the ceiling, floorboards creaked and cracked with every step, doors hung loose from their hinges, the windows too grimy and stained to offer much light, but despite all of its shortcomings this place had become a home.

As Chrono returned to the entryway, a small sound upstairs drew his attention and reminded him of his true purpose in coming here, but before he moved on, his eyes lingered on the place Selene had left him. He knew that his inability to forgive would be impossible to resolve swiftly, but knowing that she was still willing to wait for him was enough. For now, pushing forward was the only option left, he would have to leave the problems of the past to the future.

With nothing left for him here he steeled himself and finally ascended the stairs.

The second level of the barracks were much like the first, but it was here that the ranked soldiers were housed, and it was devoid of the common living areas that could be found below.

It was also where Raiko had been waiting for his arrival, but surprisingly he was not alone.

Chrono approached quietly, straining his ears to make out what was being said, but the two were talking in a low enough whisper that it was near impossible to perceive their words from this distance. Quickly realizing that this was a fruitless task he knocked twice on the wall to make his presence known, effectively silencing any traces of conversation from within the room before him.

After a few moments of silence three knocks resonated from the opposite side of the wall.

This was a signal that Raiko had devised when he had first entered the army. The first party would always use two knocks as a greeting. The second party could respond with up to three knocks to convey different circumstances. One knock indicates imminent danger, two knocks indicate neutrality and offer an invitation of entry, and three knocks indicate to the first party that they should enter with caution.

It was a rather simplistic and childish system, however Chrono and Raiko had continued to use it throughout the years. At the very least it had been effective enough to prevent them from startling each other accidentally.

Still unclear on what exactly he would be walking into, Chrono walked forward slowly, hesitantly pushing the door open.

Raiko, who was sitting casually on the edge of the room's only window, stood and bowed before nodding his head toward the far wall where a rather solemn looking woman was standing somewhat nervously.

Chrono recognized her immediately as guilt washed over him once more, though it was of a different kind than he had felt earlier.

"Lady Ostrava," He whispered quietly, "I expected that we would meet eventually, but not in a place like this, not so soon. Why have you come?"

After shifting uncomfortably for a moment the Lady stepped forward and dropped into a quick curtsy before meeting Chrono's gaze.

"I came to apologize to you and Raiko, to absolve you of the guilt that you most certainly feel over my husband's death, and to ask you about the details of what really transpired that night."

She forced a neutral expression to her face as she spoke, all the while holding back the tears that threatened to burst forth. At least the laughter that followed her next words was real.

"And please refrain from using honorifics when referring to me from now on. I have long since been stripped of all my wealth and nobility, the only positive thing to come out of this whole ordeal for my family. To you I should simply be Rey."

"All right, I can do that, Rey." Chrono said with a strained smile. "How much has Raiko told you?"

"Nothing concrete, and nothing more than what has already been reported by the Kingdom."

Chrono waited for a moment, thinking over his next words carefully. She deserved the truth, that much was clear, but how it should be presented was an entirely separate ordeal.

Finally, he relented and began speaking, slowly and carefully.

"Very well. These are not memories that I would like to dredge up, but you deserve this at least." He sighed heavily as he began recalling the events of that fateful night.

"As you know, Darius died on the night that we now call the 'Beheading of the Usurper.' The Kingdom has told the masses that after a hard fought battle I emerged victorious and took his head, successfully bringing peace to Kalif and ending the Providence War. This is the truth that they chose to believe, but in reality it is nothing but a simply lie that Darius himself concocted." Chrono hesitated here, unsure of whether or not he could say what needed to be said, if he could really tell her what had transpired that night. "The truth of what happened is far more complex than all of that, the truth is, your husband ended his own life that night."

The news seemed to hit Rey as though she had been struck in the stomach and all the air in her body had been forced out; if it were not for Raiko supporting her in time she would have surely fallen to the ground.

It was an understandable reaction, not simply because it differed so drastically from what the Kingdom had reported, but because of the man Darius Ostrava had been.

"Tell me why?" Rey said, wrought with emotion, the distress in her tone overtaking the earlier sensibility and control, the barred tears from before now dripping down her cheeks. "Why would he kill himself? For this worthless Kingdom? For his followers, all the people that believed that he could finally bring about change? Darius may have been a complete fool in his patriotism, but he loved and cherished ever person in Kalif, and I know that he would not abandon them lightly. So tell me for what reason my husband took his own life."

Chrono was as stiff as a board, his expression flat, revealing nothing about the turmoil that he was currently feeling. He had not the words to console her, nor did he believe that even the most eloquent of poets had such ability, and he knew that what he was about to say next would only make things worse.

"Darius gave up."

The words were murmured so softly that they could have been mistaken for a passing breeze.

Chrono was defeated, all of the strength that he had mustered to face Raiko had long been exhausted, he was now nothing more than an empty husk, but he knew that his pain was nothing compared to what Rey was feeling so he fought on, trying his best to convey the true meaning behind his Master's final actions.

"He passed on all his beliefs to the two of us, knowing that the struggle towards change was not one that could be shortcut through force or coercion, and that usurping the throne through war would only make matter worse. Everything he had done in his life was for others, he had dedicated his entire being to Kalif and its people, I know that better than anyone, and he imparted those beliefs to me through the sword. But he was one man, a man that was born a commoner and earned his title through blood, but that means nothing in the eyes of those pureblood nobles. So he took his own life, knowing that I was too weak to hold the blade and bare that burden, and with his death he passed on his legacy to me."