"We have returned," said Mera, entering the room with Auren, Kael, Lune, Blanc, and Celine in tow.
"What is this about, Father?" asked Blanc as Kael and Lune were wiping the tiredness from their eyes.
"I apologize for the sudden call," began Elion, "come, sit. Have some food while we talk."
As they sat at the table, Mera and Auren returned to Elion's side so they could be face-to-face with the four who had joined.
"Did something happen, Elion, mothers-in-law?" asked Celine.
"Besides the army at our front door, yes," nodded Mera.
"The situation has changed," began Elion, "the arrival of the bas-... no. The arrival of the Yalan, King of the Ulveth Kingdom, changes the battlefield altogether. His interference might spell our doom. And, because we cannot risk all of us dying or getting captured here, you four will all leave this place. Sera is away, and Valar wishes to fight with us as heir to the Blood."
All four had different reactions to this. Kael and Lune were shocked at his words. They wanted to argue, but they were unable to express their words.
Celine stood silent, an expectant look on her beautiful face. It seemed logical to her. No Blood wants to risk getting itself wiped out all at once. For the same reason, polygamy is allowed for Noble and Imperial Bloods.
For the same reason, men can marry multiple wives and women multiple husbands. To protect their Blood and ensure the survival of the Blood. By any means necessary. Even if it appeared as if they were just discarding them.
But Blanc could not stay silent.
"If Valar wishes to fight, then I wish the same. I would rather die with the Blood than run away like a coward." Blanc said confidently, determination clearly on his face.
"Then you are a bigger fool than I thought you were," Valar replied.
"Blanc, my dear son," began Mera, "you have Celine. Who knows, you might even have a child, and you don't even know it. Do not throw your lives away with such ease."
"I am not throwing anything, and I will not let you throw yours either," Blanc exclaimed.
"And how do you plan to do that, Blanc?" asked Auren. "You can barely put any strength in your right arm. You do not have the means to protect us. And Kael and Lune will do what? Fight as well? Suffer? No. You are the only one they really listen to. So it has to be you, even if you could fight."
"I do not want to leave you all," cried out Lune, silent until now.
Kael kept his. But his tears were still present, even if his voice was not, as he hugged his twin.
"My dear," began Celine, speaking over the cries of Lune and Kael, "there is no other way. We need to leave."
"Celine?" asked Blanc, looking at her, shocked. "Why are you fine with this?"
"I am not. But neither am I with us all going down," she replied. "Mera is right. We cannot risk the family we wish to build as well."
"But where are we supposed to go, first of all?" Blanc asked. "Where are we safe? The Golden Forest might be too much for all of us."
"As far away as possible. Maybe towards the domain of my family. They will surely receive us," Celine thought out loud.
"There is one place," began Elion. "You cannot leave the domain so easily. Who knows what might happen or who you might get stopped by on the road," he explained. "You have to disappear for a while, in a place so deep and convoluted that no army might find you."
"What is this place you talk about, Father?" Blanc asked.
With Blanc's question, even Kael and Lune stopped crying and making noises. All turned their heads towards Elion to see what answer he would provide.
"The place my brothers and I used to play in during our childhood summers. The Golden Forest. A special part of the Golden Forest." Elion began, "The Golden Forest is the second largest forest of the Empire. It houses a large fauna of Raw Vita as well as many unexplored places. One of which is the mountain devoured by the forest. The Omu Mountain."
"Omu Mountain is visible, though," Blanc explained.
"It is. But not as easy to get through as you might think. My brothers and I challenged ourselves many times. And during our challenges, we found a cave. A deep one. And we fell in love with the place to the point we've decided to make it our own. So, there are basic necessities there that we used to survive for days at a time." Elion explained. "Use those. Use whatever else you can bring with you. But survive, children of mine. There's nothing else a parent would want from their kids." Elion added, showing a very rare emotion to those present. Grief.
"How long are we supposed to live there?" Celine asked.
"Until we come for you, or a month or two from now," Mera began, "If we do not come for you until then, well… it means we have been defeated. Then you can leave. As safely and silently as possible."
"Indeed," Elion sniffed, "any other questions? If not, go and gather your things."
"What? We leave right now?" Blanc asked.
"When else? During the fight? It is too dangerous," Auren replied.
Blanc looked around at the walls of the hall. They looked beautiful now that he took a closer look. They were fascinating.
He wanted to look at them so much more. Days. Weeks. Until he grew bored of them again.
But then his eyes turned towards Kael and Lune, who, in turn, searched for his, their eyes not sure what to do anymore.
To cry or to keep on pressing their eyelids so hard into each other, that by the time they opened their eyes again, this whole thing would have been only a nightmare they would soon wake up from and forget.
Unfortunately, Blanc hoped the same. Yet this was no nightmare. The nightmare stood outside, waiting for the dawn to begin its destruction.
He knew what he had to do and why he had to do it. But it was not fair. He was of Blood Denegis. A Noble Blood. He could not act like a coward.
He could not leave the family he always knew behind, and do what? Live while they get captured, or worse, die? How could he forget himself for that? But those thoughts are for times of silence to haunt him.
Not now, when the lives of his two smaller siblings have been placed directly in his hands.
However, he did not realize either, that tears escaped his eyes. Not until they ran down his face.
When, with a nod to Celine, he turned around towards his family who stood, waiting for whatever Vita had in store for them, and without a word, bowed deeply. Shortly, Kael, Lune, and Celine followed him.
"Ah, my children," Mera started crying, running towards Blanc and the rest and hugging them one by one.
Auren followed shortly after she attempted to keep the tears away. A miserable failure, but nobody to judge her.
A mother cannot be judged for the tears she sheds for her children. So she hugged them too, leaving a few words of wisdom to all of them, before returning to the table, trying to compose herself.
Next was Valar, still stoic in the dryness of his eyes, but with a sad smile atop his lips, as he approached his siblings.
"If I said I couldn't wait to see you again, we'd both know I was lying. But I'll say it anyway. I can't wait to see you all once more." Valar said.
"Come with us, Valar," Blanc muttered, "You are the heir. You cannot die."
"I will not die, little brother. Do not worry about me and do what you have to do." Valar replied, "And Celine, please take care of this foolish brother of mine. And of yourself, of course."
"Of course, Valar. Take care of yourself and the rest of the family as well," said Celine, offering him a smile and a handshake.
Valar nodded before going towards Kael and Lune and letting Elion say his goodbyes as well to Blanc and Celine.
"Father," Blanc began, but a sudden hug sent a wave of pain through his wounded shoulder. But he did not mind it. He stood silent and hugged him back for a few seconds.
"My son, I've sent for Drew to leave something in your room. Take all of it and use it wisely. May it offer you all a safe life once you leave the forest," Elion said.
"What? Money?" Blanc asked, "But why do we need it if you will come for us?"
"I'm sure we will do. But it is a safety measure in case we do not," Elion replied. "The backdoors will be opened for you, and Drew will take you there. May the Vita keep you all safe, Blanc and Celine. And do not forget about Kael and Lune. Offer them whatever you can to give them a good life."
"Of course, Elion," smiled Celine, "And tell my father I am safe. I know he will worry otherwise."
"I planned on telling him, either way. Now, if you will excuse me, I have to say goodbye to Kael and Lune," said Elion, moving away from Blanc and Celine.
The preparations to leave felt both like a second and an eternity for all four as they prepared everything from a few changes of clothes, dried foods, water, and whatever else useful they could carry.
A pair of bows and a few arrows, as well as small swords and knives, were given to the twins, and a bag full of coins to Blanc.
Many gold and silver coins were present, which, from a quick calculation, guaranteed Blanc that they could leave comfortably for a year with these if it came to it. But he did not wish it would come to it. He trembled at the idea.
With all four prepared, weapons on their back, and tears on their cheeks, they hugged their family one last time before Drew took them through doors and darkened rooms, behind the garden where just a few days ago Blanc and Celine had their engagement party.
A tear left his eye for that memory as well.
With a few blessings from Drew, the four of them took a look at the mansion they called home one last time.
All the memories. All the arguments. All the laughter and worry. All the joy and sadness. All the good and all the bad.
And they left it all behind.