11 Chapter 10: Memories that linger

'We flee from the truth and reject that which seemingly makes us weak."

~Tasmiya Shaik

Kingdom of Aranduil

Eizgár~ Southern Regions of Aranduil

Reinhardt Estate

21:36

Sebastian felt the pain in his wounds fade as he was roused to the gentle calling of a familiar voice.

'Alexander...'

The voice uttered the name as though it were a sweet melody, but Sebastian could not grasp on to it.

'Alexander...' It called, sounding much closer than before.

The soft comfort of grass beneath his form drew him awake into an upright position. His gaze dulled by the lack of rest, but he managed to sight a nostalgic silhouette who wavered before him.

'Alexander...'

Sebastian's eyes focused intensely in an attempt to clear his vision, and when he did, he was greeted with the smile of an angel. Her wild hair of burgundy blew against her face with the light breeze. She was adorned in an ankle-length sapphire dress that was long-sleeved and bore the Reinhardt and Sinclaire insignias' designs.

'Yvainne...' He said in a whisper to the woman who cupped the left side of his face.

'Alexander, you are hurting...'

The only woman to ever call him by that name, of course, it was 'her,' and unfortunately for him, this was but a mere illusion, a dream to last but a short while. Sebastian leaned into her touch. He loved her; there was no reason to doubt it. Showered her with luxuries? What a fool he'd been, she had never demanded anything of the kind in the first place and nor had she displayed them with pride to others, but she did, however, appreciate them for they were gifts from him, her dearly beloved.

'I am sorry...' He desperately grasped her hand and pressed his lips to it. Yvainne lost her balance in a rush and found herself on Sebastian's lap.

'You have nothing to apologize for...' She smiled at him, and he rested his head against her chest.

'You have gone much too far...I have lied to myself, I have always been afraid to love you...'

'I know, my dear Alexander,' Yvainne kissed his lips softly before she moved away. 'I could never hate you for it.'

Sebastian inhaled her scent, sweet and fragrant like lavender. He had always been very fond of it.

'They have grown. Lance is much like you; he has your hair and eyes...'

'Alexander, our boys, need you most...do not be afraid...do not drift away from them...return to their side and open your heart to them...I can no longer be with you. You must return to those who truly are with you in heart, spirit, and physical form...'

Yvainne seemed to have faded from his embrace, and reality grasped onto him. His eyes opened, and gently blinked to adjust his vision. He urged himself up and found Avery seated on the vacant space beside him, with her legs folded to one side.

He contemplated his surroundings; the room was simple but quite accomodating for a large audience. Avery's expression brightened with excitement upon his awakening, and she immediately embraced him as tears escaped her eyes. He was taken aback by her sudden action but returned the gesture just before she broke away from him and smiled fondly with tears in her eyes.

'Father!' Lance hurried to his side.

'Lance?'

'I didn't come alone,' He smiled at Sebastian as a little boy emerged from behind him and clutched onto his shirt.

'H-Hello f-father...' He said to Sebastian and retreated behind Lance.

'Hello Zachari,' Sebastian greeted the little boy and nodded to the eldest and tallest of the boys who stood beside Lance.

'Good Evening, father,' He greeted in a deep monotone with a deadpanned expression, much like the one Sebastian often wore.

'Good Evening, Callix.'

'Are you feeling any better, my Lord?' René enquired, and Sebastian drifted his attention to regard her.

'You are?' He asked with a raise of his brow.

~How rude!~ She thought. ~I'm the one who saved your life! You arrogant man!~ She screamed internally.

'René Sotiris, my Lord,' She said with a smile. 'I am the healer.'

'I see you will be rewarded.'

Rewarded? Did he think she was cheap? The audacity of the man!

'That will not be necessary, my Lord. The Aldari Clan is my family; I see no need for compensation.'

'I see,' He responded and then disregarded her as he was absorbed into conversation with Isaac.

~Kilia, I feel like my existence has become meaningless~...René said sympathetically.

~Lahn has always been somewhat ignorant.~ Kilia sighed.

He didn't even care to thank her. How wrong she had been about him! Sebastian Alexander Reinhardt had just proven the tales of his indifferent nature to be very much true!

Avery tilted her head to her left shoulder and observed René. Was she quarreling with herself? Somehow the conversation had been quite audible in Avery's perspective. Was she the only one hearing it?

~Do not worry. It is the bond that links us with them.~ Her companion informed her.

'Miss René? Are you alright?'

René immediately escaped the clutches of her thoughts and directed her attention to Avery.

'Yes? Ah, yes, I'm quite fine.' She smiled.

Oddly, Avery didn't quite believe that she was; however, it was not her place to pry, and she, therefore, discarded the thought.

Sebastian's impatience seeped through its cage and formulated a strategy to put the man before him to his death.

'Isaac Cavendish, as I have said, I do not intend to stay here. My only duty was to deliver Avery and honor her parents,' Sebastian said venomously.

Isaac sighed. Did the man always have to be such a stubborn, persistent beast?

'Forgive me, my Lord, but if Lady Avery chooses to remain here, then there is none who can defy her word. The Clan is in dire need of its leader.'

One responsibility after the other. Sebastian despised the dreadful castle. It didn't have any special memories to offer since his childhood. Lord of the Aldari? Why would his brother even thrust that responsibility onto him?

~You fool, it was you who forced the responsibility on Atticus and Jalil. The commander's position belongs to us, but you fled from it. What of your decision to stay by Avery's side and protect her?~

Great. Now Lahn would pester him on past decisions, but he was right in Avery's regard. Was he even capable of protecting her? Could the beast shut its mouth? And not shove its nose where it didn't belong?

~You bastard, I can very well hear you!~ Lahn remarked.

Sebastian paid him no heed and sighed. The beast spoke righteously. There was a time he studied the ancient sword techniques of his ancestors, as well as their scriptures of magic, in order to prove his worthiness and capabilities to succeed as 'Lord.' Were such ambitions dead and insignificant to his bloodline? What did he train so excessively for? He once revered duty and loyalty above all aspects of a warrior, but something within, a dark hollowness cultivated from his sorrow, it was as though it were a void that absorbed whatever little emotion and feeling that remained within him. At the very least, he would honor his promise to his brother and eradicate all that threatened the harmony of Alvgard.

'Very well, I will honor her wishes. And what of the Order? Have they not yet come to claim her allegiance?'

'I believe Lord Sinclaire negotiated a date in the middle of Spring. I will escort her at the agreed time,' Isaac placed a hand over his heart.

'I see. Callix, you and Lance will undergo the training of the Clan and will be respectively positioned after the evaluation test.'

'As you wish, father...' Callix obeyed with discipline.

Sebastian regarded him with a pained expression. How far has he drifted away? Why was his relationship with them so formal? Was he incapable of being their father?

'Washed up at forty-six cycles, how unfortunate,' Lance intervened with a smirk, and Sebastian swore he was going to have that one thoroughly disciplined.

Callix flicked Lance on his forehead, and the younger boy squealed in protest. Sebastian pretended that he wasn't just insulted by his son, and with a heart heavy with burden, he averted his gaze.