Chapter 16

Despite the painful time they had awoken, there was still happiness like little cracks in between the dark miseries and Muren had appreciated such moments. Now more than ever, he had felt a sense of accountability to carry on with either death or revolution.

"We must raise this child as a soldier," Muren quietly said, caressing the little boy's cheek.

He's lying peacefully between the two lovers in the bed, sleeping deeply.

Airen glanced at her husband with worried expression as she gently held on the boy's shoulder.

"Must we really have to force the child to be a soldier?" She asked. "But what if he does not like it? What if he detests violence and pain?"

"Whether one is a soldier or not, he will eventually experience violence and pain. Airen, this boy was born amidst war. He must learn to defend himself whilst practicing patriotism. I must teach him discipline and loyalty."

Airen's palm was smooth against the man's cheek. "Please do not be too hard on him, my beloved. He may learn such things, but keep in mind that he is, and he always will be your son."

"I shall keep that in mind, then."

The lovers would still dance and play and hide in their little world with their little comforts. The happiness was never amiss during those times.

Despite the labors and hard works and few instances that they were shaken by the brutalities, they found solace in each other's arms.

Day by day, Muren would only fall deeper in love with Airen's eyes and her rich soul.

A lot of things had truly changed for the better, but there were also some things that remained unchanged. Things that were left frozen, unresolved, and cold.

Ever since the day Muren walked away from his own household to abandon his mother whom he had a huge argument with, he had never returned or visited there.

They did not even mentioned her once or even talked about her.

It was as if Madam Lumen had become an unwritten taboo between their silent stares and silent conversations. Her name was treated like a poison that was meant to intoxicate the air around them once she was brought up.

No one knows what goes on with each other's head when it was about her.

Somehow, Airen knew that they were bound to come back in that place, whether to pay her a polite visit as she welcomes them or to be shunned away once more or to see her out of breath already.

She kept quiet and so did he.

After Muren's return to the organization's activity, the group had been gradually expanding since then. He can walk on the isles with at least two or three members unknowingly lurking around.

After the year had passed too, there had been secret strongholds and undergrounds that were built which housed the collected artilleries along with some items.

Confidential meetings were also getting held after arduous efforts from what once was merely deciphering news articles from the papers.

However, even with such expansion, they are still struggling with what they have compared to the enemies.

Along with their increase in power, the colonizers had also been improving their combat skill after returning from dispatch. They have also gotten more advanced technologies for outside the countries from war.

It will be a difficult battle, they admitted.