CHAPTER 318: We Are But Some Wretched Souls

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Hi everyone, Llaellen here...

So on this part allow me to explain a bit of my current situation... In case any of you are wondering why the other story Rebrith: Stubbornly Fulfilling A Promise was ongoing while this one was stopped... 

First and foremost, those chapters are all stacked at the same time the story was flowing in my mind, like a river that continued flowing... I had been preparing for the WSA competition... I want to enter another not so unique story but something I find unique and special myself... Because the only way one could have confidence in their own work was when they felt good about their own work... 

Second, just as I have announced in the chapter before this one, my mind suddenly went blank for it despite having all the outline complete... Once I started thinking about the continuation per chapter, I felt they were lacking... And up to now it remained the same... I am still doing my best to make it as good as I can but I can't promise anything... And so... I may be uploading but I wouldn't promise about the consistency...

As for what I will be uploading... They are small in number but I tried my best to make them... Hope you will find it in you to enjoy reading it...

And lastly, starting from June to December are the busiest times for our office, so basically, my time is truly too hectic at the moment that even writing thoughts and typing even just a bit of chapters became so difficult for me... Also, I can't possibly focus on writing while neglecting my real work... Sorry about that... Getting home one would just wish to sleep already as well...

So I hope you can wait a bit longer until I get back on my own game and really give VERACITY OF THE PAST a complete story...

Nevertheless, I do hope I can hear from you regarding this story, you know, comments, paragraph comments, reviews... and some votes here and there would really help as well...

Enjoy reading everyone...

Also if you still reached this point then I am dedicating these coming chapters to Asahi_Khione who waited and asked about this story... Thank you so much... I chose not to reply most of the time because I really don't know how to answer but it felt great that someone is waiting for this story... ^_^

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"Where are they?"

Saphira woke up a day later than the rest since she had nightmares after collapsing.

About everything, some were the real events while the rest were things that she had imagined.

Nevertheless she was able to overcome them without falling into depression.

That was how strong she had been, she can overcome anything after getting hurt and crying, she will rise back up and be better.

That is the case for her today.

After waking up from all those nightmares, she was better.

And as soon as she woke up, she looked for the rest who was no longer at the place she thought they would be.

"They went to different places," Vermilion was the one who replied.

He was also the one she questioned since there is no one around her.

It was night time and the whole imperial city seemed asleep at this time. But she can feel better that the rest weren't resting at this moment.

"Who do you want to meet first?" he asked afterwards.

"Hunter."

Since he was the one who knew things a bit earlier than the rest, she wanted to check on him first.

Because she already knew that Hunter respected Raynisha and Alden the most.

"Training ground."

Reaching the place, she found him swinging his sword with sweat dripping down his jaws.

His breathing and the amount of sweat that he has tells her that he had been going on for hours.

"Are you that disappointed?" she asked.

"Ardel," he spoke without stopping on his swinging.

"For two years he seemed different and it was also something Raynisha felt in that memory. Had he been possessed by the time he returned on that expedition?"

She stared at him for a good while before sighing, "Yes. The one who returned was no longer him."

*CLANG*

Before she knew she was enveloped in a tight embrace.

"So the person you look up to, remained the same until the end. The one whom you became disappointed of, was someone else entirely," she patted his back.

He pulled away and stared at her ruby eyes, his golden brown orbs were filled with shock.

"You... were there?"

He didn't feel her during that time he had spoken about Ardel towards Hans, more like the dark lord.

Saphira smiled as she caressed his face, "I never knew you were feeling that way. By not saying anything I actually allowed you to carry such emotional burden for so long."

"No... I..."

He paused when he remembered the words he said about Raynisha.

"Raynisha she... I mean you... I'm sorry."

She shook her head, "Because that was the truth you all believed in. It was the truth that I didn't correct. You don't have to apologize."

Hunter hugged her once again.

To be honest after hearing that it was no longer Ardel who returned, he felt lighter than ever.

Because all along he felt like he was cheated.

That the ones he looked up to were not the person they portray themselves to be.

The reason why he was also scared when they found out that the other three thought of them as nuisance. He was scared to ask his brother what he truly felt about him.

That maybe the last person he looked up to was actually someone who hated him.

He was so scared that finding out the truth was a great relief to him.

"Why... did you keep it all to yourself?" he asked after a while.

"That's right. Why?"

They parted and looked at the rest who was already there in the training ground with them.

They all looked serious, especially for Drake. While Willow looked guiltier for the fact that she had shown such a disgusting side to Saphira when al along everything was but a lie.

"Because it remained as the truth."

"HUH?!?! Are you still going on with that?!" Ridge snapped at her.

"We already saw the truth about everything and you are still telling that what we knew was the truth?"

"It was the truth because they died through her hands."

She calmly started explaining.

"They weren't fully taken by the darkness and so there could have been other solutions but she chose to kill them instead and that's it. That is the truth, they died because she killed them."

"..."

They all stared at her.

"You ask why I carry such a heavy burden all this time when I could have talked about it and be done with it. Then the whole empire wouldn't have judged our family. But did I have a choice?"

She took a deep breath before continuing, "I woke up too late I guess. And all your hatred was already in our family. So how can I suddenly announce to the world that everything that you have said was nothing but a big fat lie? How will they view me? And if there indeed those who will believe me, how will they view you? And if I indeed tell you instead, would you have believed me?"

All of their eyes shifted upon hearing it.

Looking back, Saphira was in a coma for three months and all those three months, they each gave their testimony that everything was started by Raynisha. So when she woke up, everything had already solidified.

And if she did tell them then, with everything that they have seen, surely no one will believe her and they might even end up hating her more. Not simply feeling prejudiced towards her.

Seeing their reactions, Saphira smiled, "You see, we are but some wretched souls. All of us were some pitiful beings who kept having emotional damages that no matter how much we try to recover, tries to bandage the wounds, the scars always remain. No matter how much we grow up, how mmuch we gets old or how much we mature..."

She pointed at her own left chest, "The scars will always be there bringing us pain over and over again. Isn't that why we tend to cry whenever we remember the dead? Because we are hurt and it will be like that for as long as we live."