Chapter 135: I’m Sorry and Thank You
Under the vast expanse of the twilight sky, I walked alongside Freya, Lyra, Amelia, Marius, Julius, Termina, Luna, Erin, and Hendrik’s team. The evening breeze carried a solemn air as we made our way toward Kael’s grave. Waiting for us there were Cain and Leopold, the two remaining brothers of Kael. As his kin, they had chosen to stand with us in this moment of remembrance.
Cain’s presence surprised me the most. As the head of the Flamemore family, he rarely displayed personal sentiments, yet tonight, he was here, standing before his younger brother’s grave. His face remained composed, firm as ever, yet the aura he exuded was unmistakable—one of deep, unspoken sorrow.
Stepping beside him, I gazed down at Kael’s grave. Cain, ever the silent observer, said nothing, allowing me to speak first.
"Yo, Kael... I came to visit," I began, my voice steady, yet carrying the weight of emotion. "The first time we met, you were obnoxious, always loud, always trying to act like the strongest in the room. But now, here you are, so quiet... It feels unnatural. The last time I saw you, you faced Zorx with everything you had. Even though you weren’t as strong as the rest of your family, you never backed down. You fought relentlessly. That was proof of your determination, Kael. As annoying and overconfident as you were, you were still my comrade, my classmate."
As I spoke, I could see Freya, Erin, and Leopold breaking down into tears. The others remained silent, their emotions welling up but held back. The quiet sound of muffled sobs filled the air.
Freya, Leopold, and Erin, the ones Kael had protected with his life, wept openly, calling his name in grief. I clenched my fists, forcing myself to keep my composure.
"I never expected you to sacrifice yourself for your comrades when facing Zorx. That wasn’t the Kael I once knew. Back in the academy, you were an arrogant coward who boasted about your noble lineage. You even challenged me to a duel when I returned. You were a pain in the ass, to be honest. I even burned your hair off in that duel, and it never grew back." I let out a shaky chuckle before my voice softened. "I... I always felt guilty about that. Maybe if I had helped you find a way to regrow your hair, or if I had trained with you like I did with Marius and Julius, things would’ve been different. I should have helped you get stronger... Instead, I just saw you as an annoying rival. If you hated me for it, I wouldn’t blame you."
My voice cracked, and before I knew it, tears began trailing down my cheeks. Even Envi, who usually had something snarky to say in my head, was silent. I could feel his quiet grief, merging with my own.
At that moment, I felt Freya’s warm hand gripping mine. I turned to her, and she gave me a firm, reassuring squeeze.
"I think you’re wrong, Naoki-dono," Freya whispered through her tears. "Kael never hated you."
I stared at her in confusion, but she continued, her voice growing steadier despite the tears in her eyes.