Free Web NovelChapter 387: I hope so
Elion and the others were joined by a few more important figures before their return to Haven.
None of them were particularly noteworthy, at least not compared to the Saints already present. The new arrivals were a trio made up of an elf, a beastman, and a vampire, each of whom answered directly to their respective monarchs in much the same way Xavier deferred to Melroy.
Xavier stood leagues above them in strength and status, but the three were still highly respected Sage Mages in their own right.
Elion had also become briefly acquainted with the elven monarch, Taegen, though the two of them had yet to meet in person. The soft-spoken king had kindly apologised for being unable to join them in the lounge, as he was still responsible for controlling the floating island from elsewhere.
Their entire conversation had taken place through one of the interfaces built into the lounge. But that was fine.
Nearly an hour had passed since they arrived above the Great Forest, and it was almost time for the island to begin moving once again.
Alexander, however, had yet to return from the room where his father’s body rested.
No one spoke of it openly, but Elion could tell that the others were beginning to grow concerned.
Fenrir had finished her tea some time ago, though she continued holding the empty cup between her fingers, her gaze occasionally drifting toward the hallway.
An hour was a long time.
Not unreasonable, given the circumstances, but long enough that he briefly considered going to check on Alexander himself, but he ended up deciding against it.
After all, he could still remember what it felt like to lose his own father. It was like losing a guide and beacon in your life, and he had felt lost for a few months after the tragic event that saw him orphaned.
Such things took time.
Just then, footsteps echoed faintly through the corridor and everyone looked toward the entrance. Alexander appeared a few seconds later.
His face was calm.
His eyes were slightly reddened, and there was a faint hollowness in his expression that had not been there before, but his shoulders were straight, his steps were measured, and his posture remained dignified.
He looked like a prince again. No, something had definitely changed. He looked more like a king.
The thought appeared in Elion’s mind before he could stop it, and the realisation made the faint smile on his face disappear.
Alexander walked into the lounge without saying anything. His gaze moved across the room briefly, stopping on Noctis, Fenrir, Xavier, and finally Elion.
For a moment, neither of them spoke, and then Alexander nodded.
"Thank you," he said quietly.
Elion raised a brow.
"For what?"
"For being there with him at the end."
His voice remained steady, though the faint strain beneath it was obvious. Elion looked at him for a moment before nodding lightly.
"He didn’t suffer for long," he said, and Alexander nodded, glancing briefly toward the hallway behind him. He took a slow breath and turned toward the others. He didn’t seem to be too eager to hear any words of pity or reassurance; perhaps he didn’t want to appear weak.
"We should return to Haven."
Noctis watched him quietly before nodding.
"Yes," the vampire monarch said. "We should."
Fenrir set her teacup down carefully, "Taegen," she called out.
A soft crackle came from the nearby interface before the elven monarch’s calm voice responded from the other side.
"I am listening."
"We are ready to depart."
"Understood."
The floor beneath them vibrated faintly as the floating island changed direction. Then, with a gentle but unmistakable surge of momentum, it began making its way toward Haven.
Elion looked toward one of the empty seats.
"You should sit down," he said.
Alexander turned toward him, "You look terrible."
Elion looked down at his own bloodstained clothes and damaged armour.
"That is a bit rich coming from you."
Despite everything, the corner of Alexander’s mouth twitched faintly. He moved toward one of the couches and sat down, his gaze drifting toward the view of the skies on the outside. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
The floating island moved smoothly above the forest, far faster than any ordinary mount could have travelled.
Xavier eventually moved away from the window and approached Alexander.
"Your Highness," he began carefully as Alexander looked toward him. Xavier hesitated for a second.
"There will be many matters awaiting us once we return to Haven."
Alexander nodded, "I know. There will be those who try to determine whether I am weak enough to control," Alexander finished calmly.
Xavier fell silent.
Alexander looked back toward the forest below. His fingers curled slightly against his knee.
"I am not naïve enough to believe that my father’s death will simply be mourned. Some people will see it as a tragedy. Others will see it as an opportunity."
Alexander’s gaze sharpened, "They will be disappointed."
Xavier studied him for a long moment, and then he nodded his head lightly, "Yes, Your Highness."
Elion watched the exchange silently.
He could see that the grief was there, but Alexander was not allowing it to break him.
He was compressing it inward, forcing it into something that would drive him forward. Whether that was healthy or not was another matter entirely. But perhaps a future king did not have the luxury of grieving normally.
Fenrir looked toward Alexander with a faintly approving expression.
"You resemble your father more than you realise," she said.
Alexander’s gaze shifted toward her.
Fenrir smiled lightly, "Though perhaps with slightly more dignity."
Noctis scoffed quietly.
Elion smiled faintly and reached for the grapes again. A servant had brought a fresh bunch at some point. Elion discreetly gave her a thankful but playful wink from the side where she was standing, making her blush profusely.
A few minutes later, Noctis rose from his seat and approached the interface at the side of the lounge. He exchanged a few quiet words with Taegen before turning back toward the others.
"We should reach Haven by tomorrow morning."
Alexander nodded. That was roughly half a day of travelling, comparing that with the couple of days it would take when travelling with flying beasts, this was certainly an upgrade.
Noctis looked at him carefully.
"You should rest."
"I am fine."
"That was not a question."
Alexander raised a brow, but Noctis only folded his arms.
"Your father was an exhausting man to deal with, but even he understood the value of sleeping before making important decisions."
Fenrir lifted her teacup again, sharing her own thoughts on the matter, "Occasionally."
Noctis glanced toward her, "Very occasionally."
"Fine," he said. "I will rest."
A servant stepped forward and offered to guide him toward one of the available rooms within the villa.
Alexander rose to his feet. Before leaving, however, he stopped and looked toward Elion, "You should rest too."
Elion raised a brow, "Are you already ordering me around?"
Alexander’s expression remained calm, "Yes."
Elion smiled faintly, "I see. Your rule of tyranny begins early."
Alexander shook his head dryly and continued walking. The servant led him down the hallway until both of them disappeared from sight.
Elion watched him leave and slouched back against the couch again.
"He will be fine," Fenrir said quietly.
Elion glanced toward her. The beastwoman monarch was still looking toward the hallway.
"He will grieve," she continued. "He will struggle, and he will make mistakes, but he will be fine."
Noctis nodded, "He has people around him who will make sure of that."
Elion looked toward the hallway for a moment longer and sighed, "I hope so."
