Chapter 250 - 243. Murky Waters
It was the same field of withered grass. The same patch of red soil. The same glaring red sky.
He felt courageous before, but Zein couldn’t lie that he wished he visited this place with Bassena by his side. Every step that he took toward the memorial site made his necklace feel heavier. At one point, he paused. He stopped walking and just stared blankly ahead.
His body instinctively knew, that this was the place. This was the point where he stood for hours looking at the blazing fire, filling the night sky with the stench of tears and agony. This was the point where he left his old name behind. ’Zen’ was dead here. Even if Umbra did not disappear that day, ’Zen’ would never come back there.
No one urged him; whether it was the Scarlet Moon who knew, or Jock who only guessed. They waited patiently for the man who fought the tremble on his legs. From here, they could see the ’memorial’--a simple large slab of stone with the name of the dead carved on its surface. It stood in the middle of a bald patch of field--even after five years, no grass was willing to grow above the land where dozens of people were cremated en masse.
This was what Bassena worried about, wasn’t it? Zein smiled bitterly, taking out a ring from his storage and putting it instantly on his index finger as he started walking again.
It felt like traversing muddy water at first, the heaviness traveled from his neck to his legs. But with every pulse of soothing waves from his earring, Zein’s step slowly became lighter. He grasped his wrist, rubbing the Paladin’s Tear while taking steady breaths until he arrived at a distance where he could see the names carved on the stone.
They said people had selective hearing; but Zein thought he must have selective vision too, because he could instantly recognize the twin’s names.
Aiden. Hayden. Just two simple names, as Zein had given to the one taking account of that time.
But that was better. He would feel gutted to see that bastard’s name attached to his little brothers. Zein crouched in front of those names and touched the carving gently, as if he was afraid he might break the stone.
Yes, he smiled. They were his little brothers. They always were, and would always be. No matter what blood ran through their vein, no one could deny that they were brothers.
If Zeid had to be honest, he rather regretted choosing to have them burned then. At that time, he didn’t think he would have a future where he could afford a proper burial for them, but now...now that he had the means and the money, there was no remain he could take.