In the main hall, the Lord stripped himself of his armour, not wanting his daughter to smell the blood or even see the streaks of dark red that only showed itself in the light.
Piece by piece, it fell from his body, gauntlets first, brassards, then the chest plate rung as it clunked onto the marble, chipping the edges of the square tiles.
Like stones rolling off the mountainous body of the man, the only thing that remained was the black sword on his hip. The deadened crimson shard was no longer glistening; only flakes of dust remained from the crevice it once sat in.
The Lord couldn't bring himself to look at it. The shard was enchanted by the priests of the Luminarum church, creating an unbreakable bond between him and his god.
Pushing the thought of the thing in the forest devouring the flames into itself, then destroying the source of it all, like a child throwing a glass bottle against a wall, like a "Mere trinket". He moved himself from the ever-deepening thought as he saw the top, the words still present in his head.
Now reaching the peak of the stairs, all he was wearing were thin leather undergarments, soaked only in sweat; no longer did the wafts of iron fill the air around him.
Behind him, the blobs of shadows on the floor glistened as the Veralium caught the stray light at the edges, like little portals to the abyss.
Hearing the chants coming from behind, he chose to ignore them; what he wanted was in front of him. Heading for the bedroom to the left, defeated and tired from the ordeal of his daughter and the forest.
All he wanted to do was curl up, holding onto his golden treasures, so much had happened in such a short span of time.
Stumbling into the room, he placed his black sword at the edge of the door, pushing past the calls of his name from the three in the room, his arms flung around the golden-haired girl on the bed.
A soft voice came from the man.
Vayreban: I am glad you are awake, my dear Amelia. (muffled happiness.)
Rubern and Hyrne watched as the giant slumped to the bed, covering Amelia like a cloak.
Rubern: FATHER! (happy cries.)
In front of the young boy, a rarity shot out. An outstretched arm lured him into the embrace of his father and sister on the bed.
Something in Rubern stopped, until a shove came from behind. The hands of the butler pushed the small blonde-haired boy into the reaching arm of his father, now becoming a family once more.
Vayreban: Come here, my son! (grabbing the collar of Rubern, pulling him in and pausing.) Please forgive me, Amelia! (His eyes turned to Rubern.) Rubern, I ask it of you also. I haven't been the best father. (looking down.) I will make up for it, I promise! (sounding resolute, looking back up.)
Amelia: I will always forgive you, father! (happy)
Rubern didn't speak, he held on as tight as he could.
Hyrne watched as the small family was wrapped in a warm embrace.
Feeling eyes on the back of him, his neck hairs standing up.
The Butler turned; he was now staring into the small corner of the room. He couldn't see anything other than a lone shadow.
The Lord turned to Hyrne and grabbed his attention with a question.
Vayreban: What is it? (noticing the movement of Hyrne in the corner of his right eye.)
Hyrne: (Returning to the sight of the family of three.) Oh, it's nothing, my Lord; I was so happy for you, I had to wipe away a tear. The Lord shouldn't see his servants cry. (faking a smile.)
Not wanting to press the butler any further, the Lord had other things on his mind.
Vayreban: Very well! (turning to the bed once more, now releasing Amelia and Rubern from his embrace.) Amelia, are you sure you are okay? Your arm—how does it feel? (concerned.)
The small arm of the little girl shot up, nearly slapping her father in the face.
Amelia: Much better now, look! (She moved her arm up and down, then a wince came.) Ouch. (pouting.)
Hyrne: Miss Amelia, please don't overdo it. (sighing.)
Vayreban put a hand to his face, almost in awe of the energy of his daughter, who nearly faced death and the foolishness of her antics.
Rubern: Sister, be careful. We don't want Eral in here again with his magic. He will blind us next time. (joking.)
Hyrne: I second that. (smirking.)
Amelia smiled and started to laugh, the three began to giggle hysterically.
Vayreban: What will I do with you? The good thing is that you are fine and the Cara that attacked you is no more.
Amelia: You mean the white one? (sheepish in fear.)
Hyrne and Rubern were confused, not at the Cara, but the colour.
Vayreban nodded a yes, not wanting to give a verbal answer, stopping anyone from questioning any further.
The lord didn't want to get into the details with the children; their innocence should last a little bit longer, but Rubern was catching on quickly.
Rubern: A white Cara (looking to Hyrne.) Also, I didn't see Carl; is he okay? (worried.)
Vayreban shot his eyes to Hyrne, hinting at something.
The butler spoke, cutting off Rubern's questioning.
Hyrne: Rubern… How about you and I go and find some of that nice Hermalian chocolate? I think Louvan keeps some in the pantry, in her secret spot. (Eyes cheekily looking left to right.) Let's go and get some for Amelia as well. (smiling.)
The eyes of the girl on the bed went wide.
Amelia: Really? Louvan won't mind, will she? (surprised.)
Vayreban: Thank you Hyrne. (looking to Amelia.) No she wont, next time I am in Veral I will buy her something special! (smiling.)
Rubern looked at Hyrne, knowing it was all a ruse. He nodded and allowed the butler to usher him out of the room. Before he left, he spoke up, he didn't want to say it outright, he knew Carl never returned to the manor.
Rubern: I will say a prayer for him. (His head down.)
Vayreban smiled, seeing the man his son was growing into, and then another thought pierced his mind.
As the door closed behind him, he and Amelia were alone.
He locked eyes with his daughter and calmly asked her the question that was Rubern's mind before Eral shut him down.
Vayreban: What really happened last night, Please tell me, I won't be mad, I promise.
Amelia gripped the sheets of her bed, knowing this moment would come, the moment for the truth to come out.