Ch41: Consequences.

It had been six months since the goblin crisis had erupted, and now, at long last, it was over. Alaric stood in the grand hall of the Vargas estate, feeling a strange mix of relief and frustration. The battle may have been won, but his personal battles were far from over.

"Do you have any idea how much this has cost us?" Count Vincent Vargas bellowed, his face flushed with anger. "Getting involved in Merger was a mistake! You should have left it to the local authorities."

Alaric tried to remain calm, but his patience was wearing thin. "Father, you don't understand. Someone was manipulating the goblins, orchestrating the attacks. This was not a simple matter of local law enforcement."

"Enough!" Vincent slammed his hand on the table, making the papers scattered across it jump. "I will not hear any more of your excuses. You disobeyed orders and cost this family dearly."

Isabella Vargas, standing by her husband's side, joined in the scolding. "And what about the social events I meticulously planned for you? Do you know how embarrassing it was when you suddenly disappeared? The entire noble circle is talking about it!"

Alaric clenched his fists, struggling to keep his composure. "Mother, the goblin crisis was a real and immediate threat. People's lives were at stake."

"Your duty was here," Isabella snapped, her eyes narrowing. "You should have fulfilled your obligations to this family and our social standing."

Alaric felt a surge of anger rise within him. He had risked his life to protect others, to uncover the truth behind the attacks, and now he was being chastised for it.

"Do you both hear yourselves?" he said, his voice rising. "While you were worried about money and social events, people were dying! I did what I had to do to stop it!"

Vincent's face darkened. "You will not speak to us like that, boy. You forget your place."

"My place?" Alaric took a step forward, his eyes blazing. "My place is to use my abilities for the greater good, not to cower behind these walls and attend parties while the world burns."

Isabella gasped, looking to her husband for support. Vincent, however, seemed momentarily taken aback by his son's outburst. There was a tense silence as father and son stared each other down.

Finally, Vincent spoke, his voice quieter but no less firm. "You will go to your room and reflect on your actions, Alaric. This discussion is over."

Alaric stood there for a moment, his jaw clenched, before turning on his heel and marching out of the room. As he walked through the corridors of the estate, he felt a mix of anger and sorrow. His family could not see beyond their own interests, could not understand the gravity of what had transpired.

Entering his room, Alaric slammed the door shut behind him. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions raging inside him. He knew he had done the right thing, but the lack of support from his own family cut deep.

He moved to his desk, where the remains of the Emberblast lay, a stark reminder of the battles he had fought. He picked up the broken weapon, running his fingers over the damaged parts. He would repair it.

For now, though, he needed to rest and regroup. The battle against the goblins might be over, but Alaric knew that the true fight was yet to begin.

A few weeks later, the tension in the Vargas estate had not lessened. Isabella Vargas, determined to restore her son's reputation and secure advantageous alliances, insisted on dragging Alaric to yet another series of social gatherings. She hoped that this time, things would go differently.

The grand ballroom was filled with the finest nobility, their laughter and conversations mingling with the soft strains of a string quartet. Alaric stood near the refreshments table, his expression one of thinly veiled irritation. His mother had been relentless, and he could no longer avoid these events.

Isabella, ever the vigilant matchmaker, guided a group of young noblewomen toward him. "Alaric, dear, this is Lady Evelina, Lady Seraphina, and Lady Juliette. They have been so eager to meet you."

Alaric forced a polite smile, his eyes scanning the women briefly before returning to his mother's expectant gaze. "Charmed, I'm sure."

Lady Evelina, a striking brunette, stepped forward first. "I heard you were quite the hero in Merger, Lord Alaric. It must have been so thrilling."

Alaric's smile tightened. "Thrilling isn't quite the word I would use. More like harrowing."

Seraphina, a petite blonde, attempted to engage him next. "You must have such fascinating stories. I do love a good tale of bravery."

Alaric's patience was wearing thin. "Bravery is overrated. It often comes at the cost of many lives, most of which could have been spared if the situation had been handled differently."

Juliette, the youngest, looked taken aback but persisted. "Surely there were moments of glory? Moments where you felt invincible?"

Alaric's expression darkened. "Invincible? Hardly. Every moment was a struggle for survival. Glory is for those who sit safely at home, far from the bloodshed."

The women's smiles faltered, their enthusiasm dimming under the weight of Alaric's words. Isabella's face flushed with embarrassment and frustration. She stepped forward, trying to salvage the situation. "Alaric, perhaps you should dance with the ladies. It might lighten your mood."

Alaric glanced at the dance floor, filled with twirling couples. "I think not, Mother. If you'll excuse me."

Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving Isabella to apologize profusely to the bewildered young women. He could hear snippets of their conversation as he walked away.

"Such a strange man," Evelina whispered.

"He seems so... dark," Seraphina added.

Juliette simply shook her head. "I don't think he likes us."

Alaric made his way to the balcony, seeking solace in the cool night air. He leaned against the railing, staring out at the distant lights of the city. The clamor of the ballroom faded behind him, replaced by the quiet rustle of leaves in the garden below.

He knew he had been harsh, but he couldn't bring himself to care. The trivial concerns of the nobility felt so distant from the realities he had faced. He wasn't interested in playing the charming suitor, nor did he have the patience for it.

As he stood there, lost in thought, he heard the sound of footsteps approaching. He turned to see his mother, her expression a mix of anger and disappointment.

"Alaric," she began, her voice strained, "what were you thinking? You embarrassed those girls, and you embarrassed me."

Alaric met her gaze, unflinching. "I was honest, Mother. If they can't handle the truth, that's not my problem."

Isabella's eyes narrowed. "You can't keep pushing people away like this. You have responsibilities, to this family and to our standing."

"Responsibilities?" Alaric's voice rose, tinged with bitterness. "To what? To play nice and smile while the world falls apart? I'm not interested in shallow conversations and false pretenses."

Isabella took a step closer, her voice low and urgent. "You need to understand how this world works, Alaric. Connections, alliances, these things matter."

Alaric shook his head. "What matters is finding out who is behind the goblin attacks and stopping them before more lives are lost. That's where my focus is."

Isabella sighed, her frustration evident. "You can't do this alone. Whether you like it or not, you need allies."

"I'll find my own allies," Alaric said firmly. "People who understand what truly matters."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving his mother standing on the balcony, her expression one of helplessness. Alaric knew his path was fraught with challenges, but he was determined to follow it, no matter the cost.