Free Web NovelChapter 159: Seeing Tarian Again (1)
Kestrel carefully slipped into a flawless white beta dress. Taking a step towards the door, her fingers brushed against the soft lace at the dress’s bottom edge, noticing a tightness that made taking steps difficult. Even though she’d been wearing such dresses for more than ten years—stunning, beautifully detailed, flattering to her shape— they weren’t really designed for easy walking.
She once believed she’d feel comfortable in these fancy outfits. However, she soon realized that, sometimes, just because you wore something often doesn’t mean it was always comfy, especially if you only wore it because you had to.
Outside, a car from the Tower was ready for her.
Actually, the Tower was just a short distance from her house; she didn’t truly need a ride. But, she’d heard that the Queen, wanting to praise Kestrel’s hard work, had specially sent an alpha from her royal guards to fetch her, showing great respect.
The car’s window slid down a bit, and inside was a face she felt she knew. She paused, searching her memory for a name to match the face.
It was Tarian, the guy she was once supposed to marry.
The narrow street was hushed, with morning light cut neatly by the tall walls of the courtyard. While Kestrel was illuminated by the fresh sunlight, the man inside the car was still touched by the shadows of last night.
Suddenly, Kestrel grasped how much time had really gone by. Those old memories, of her younger self, wearing white and standing all alone, seemed fuzzy now. Those moments felt broken up and far away. She had to think hard just to remember the details of Tarian’s face and what his name was.
All those overwhelming days from before, filled with little problems and concerns, didn’t seem so important now after everything she’s experienced.
Gracefully smoothing out her dress, Kestrel acknowledged Tarian, showing no surprise, and elegantly stepped into the car. As they began to drive, looking out, she saw the tall Tower—clean, unyielding, and splendid, glowing in the morning sunshine.
Inside the car, the air was quiet; both stayed silent.
Then, after what felt like a long time, Tarian finally said, "I heard you’ve... visited a lot of different places recently." His voice had a rough edge, like he had practiced these words over and over in his head before finally saying them out loud.
Tarian, in Kestrel’s memories, was always the kind of guy who spoke beautifully and had lots of friends. He was poised, well-spoken, and rarely unsure. But she also understood that people change over time, and she wasn’t completely the same girl anymore either.
She replied with a simple, "Hmm."
"Do you like it? I’ve heard the outposts can be really tough. Where’d you go?"
"It’s been an experience," Kestrel replied. "I’ve been all over the eastern parts."
Previously, to hone her skills and improve her teamwork with Ren, Kestrel had explored almost every place of the East Shore outpost and ventured into the Polluted Zone near the Eyehole. Looking back at all those adventures, she felt confident in thinking of herself as a battle-hardened warrior, rightfully earning the title of a veteran.
Her eyes drifted outside the car, locking onto the majestic peak of the Tower. The very top shimmered, catching the sun’s golden touch.
The tower’s height was such that from her seat in the car, the highest window on the wall was hidden from view. Yet, Kestrel knew about that particular window perched up high. Maybe, someone was there, observing the world from a bird’s perspective.
Today, she would climb to that very summit of the tower, to meet with the Queen, the most powerful figure in the Empire.
Tarian glanced at Kestrel’s face, suddenly finding it hard to swallow. He had made significant efforts to ensure he was the one to drive Kestrel today. With her now seated beside him, he was tongue-tied.
He hadn’t seen Kestrel for what felt like ages. Though he tried to keep her out of his thoughts, her image was so deeply ingrained in his heart, making it impossible to forget.
Tarian’s mind was flooded with memories of Kestrel. Her face remained as stunning as ever, and her iconic white dress was unchanged. However, there was something new about her. The Kestrel next to him, while looking the same, emanated a powerful inner power. She was calm, unbothered by the world outside—undeniably the demeanor of a warrior who had earned respect.
Lately, Tarian had heard people whispering about Kestrel. Rumors said she had unlocked the Polluted Zone of the Erdtree, had met with the Queen herself, had chosen her exclusive, and had taken some bold action to destroy the Eyehole.
During the competition to be Kestrel’s exclusive, Tarian, though being part of the Royal Guard, could only stand on the sidelines, frustration evident. He yearned to step into the fight but knew he wasn’t the match. All he could do was watch from the crowd, witnessing the elite guards clash, bleed, and compete for the privilege of being close to Kestrel.
Bitterness consumed Tarian. "That spot next to her was supposed to be mine. I should’ve been the one with her." freёwebnovel.com
He wished he could express this to Kestrel, to plead for another opportunity, promising he would treasure it.
Now, with every beat of his heart, he felt a twinge, reminding him of the first time he saw Kestrel by the sea, surrounded by flowers. She had seemed otherworldly then, a unique beauty. He had promised to care for her right at that moment. He couldn’t believe he had let that promise slip away.
Right then, Tarian’s heart pounded loudly like a drum. It once felt sweet emotions, but now it was filled with sadness and hopelessness. He tried to speak multiple times, but words just wouldn’t come out. He realized it wasn’t the right moment and that their drive was too brief. Before he could share his jumbled feelings, the car already came to a halt. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
Kestrel didn’t really look his way. She just opened the car door and walked toward the massive Tower.
