CHAPTER 43: WHAT’S LEFT BEHIND IS NEVER FORGOTTEN

"What...?"

Silence.

Teacher Sunder visited our class with devastating news.

The first person he approached was me.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing—Dean Hellmaine was no longer teaching at the Academy.

Sunder could barely hide his own frustration. His expression was hollow, filled with dismay.

"I still haven’t fully processed how everything turned out," he said. "I’m sorry. Dean asked me to tell you this personally.

He said: What happened must not be shared with anyone. But don’t give up. Try to forget what you saw."

Discontent and grief—that’s how I would describe how I looked. I didn’t know what to say to Sunder.

Dean, you were a complete fool, but I’ve never met a better teacher than you. I’m sure you couldn’t reach the truth you warned me about.

You were the only teacher I truly respected. Your knowledge was unmatched.

What a loss.

That very evening, chaos broke out in the Ataraxia estate. The old man collapsed again and locked himself in his room. Only Will, the father of three daughters, was allowed inside.

The rest of the family waited in the hallway. Clouds gathered overhead.

"Emma, how is grandfather? You saw him today, didn’t you?" Lirael asked.

Emma, a frail old maid who had served the house since childhood, looked shaken.

"I-I didn’t see Sir Darius as ill... He could walk on his own, and showed no symptoms..."

"Father collapsed in the hallway at sunset," added Mei Stark, Lirael’s mother. "It was around the same time the children returned from school. God have mercy, he only returned from treatment today. Why now..."

Meliora and Lirael folded their hands in prayer, hoping to all gods that the old man would live.

Their grandmother, sitting in a wheelchair, added, "I told him not to walk on his own. At his age, even with a cane, it’s hard to move. Children, don’t worry. Let’s pray Darius survives."

The whole family joined in prayer.

I stood quietly by the door.

"Sister Elise said she’d arrive the day after tomorrow?" Lirael asked nervously.

Lady Stark nodded.

Elise, the eldest daughter, worked in another city at the Great Archives. As an archmage, she rarely returned home.

Meanwhile, in Darius’s room.

The old man lay in the dim night light. Beside him, Will held his frail hand.

"Father, how do you feel?"

"My son..."

"No, don’t lift your head! Don’t close your eyes, do you hear me? Healers from the capital are on their way. Hold my hand, father!.."

"It seems... my time has come."

"Don’t say that... You’ll live long enough to see your granddaughters grow old. I swear it."

"Will... I believe it’s time you knew the truth... I’ve wrestled with the decision... for a long time."

"What is it?" Will’s voice trembled. "What do I need to know?"

Darius coughed. His voice rasped and barely came out.

"It’s important... It concerns... our clan... our lineage..."

The next morning.

Rain. The smell of mud filled the air, carried by the fresh breeze of the nearby river.

We stood in the graveyard, surrounded by familiar families who came to pay their respects.

Darius passed away last night. Will had stepped out of the room with a grim face.

Everyone wore black cloaks and suits, umbrellas shielding them from the rain.

I stood in the downpour. Drops slid from my hair onto my soaked clothes. Alongside the other guards, we watched as mourners came to offer condolences.

"Grandfather... Grandpa Darius..."

Lirael and Meliora sobbed beside the grave.

A woman in a black hat approached Lady Stark.

"A terrible loss," she said. "Sir Darius was truly strong and resolute. May your family find peace."

Mei remained silent.

Old man... Since I was summoned into this world, not once did we speak. You always assigned others to handle my duties just to avoid me.

I always thought of you as a senile fool who was never satisfied. But in one thing, I could respect you — you were a grandfather others could be proud of. One who got to witness his family grow up.

And now, I understand why you left this world so easily.

Will approached me.

"Atheron. May I have a word?"

We stepped aside under a tree. Before he spoke, an uneasy pause settled between us.

"Father told me... No, to hell with it."

I raised an eyebrow.

"I’m listening."

His tongue fumbled. His eyes trembled with hesitation.

"The Ataraxia family are direct descendants of the dragonslayers. Do with that what you will."

Will turned and walked away, leaving me standing in stunned silence.

My eyes were glassy. My fists clenched.

What the hell did I just hear?

I could barely believe it. All I could hear now was the rain.

A few hours later, Will gathered the entire family at the palace and told them the truth. The Ataraxia family were among the last remaining descendants of ancient heroes.

They were all shocked. Lirael, seated in her chair, lowered her head and trembled. Tears of confusion rolled down her cheeks.

"How? How is that even possible?.. Then Atheron..."

"Your summoning of a high spirit wasn’t a coincidence," Will snapped. "Though we can’t say for certain. But it remains a fact. If even books lie, then I don’t know what to believe anymore."

"No way... How could this happen..." Lirael whispered in disbelief.

Meliora looked at her with sorrow. Too much had happened in just a few days.

I lay in my room, refusing to change clothes. My eyes were empty.

"What am I supposed to think...?"

I longed to meet the descendants of my lineage. But now that I’ve confirmed they exist... why do I feel so sad?

A knock on the door.

I slowly opened it, finding Meliora on the other side. She looked especially downcast.

"Can we take a walk?"

...

"Yes."

Moonlight bathed the palace courtyard. We strolled beside the pond, watching swans swim against the current.

"Remember when I told you summons respond to soul resonance? But Supreme Summoning is said to not follow that principle. Now it seems what’s written in books is nothing but nonsense. Too bad I can’t make a report on this... They’d kill me for my bloodline."

She attempted a clumsy joke.

"By the way," she added, "maybe my father didn’t tell you the other secret."

Meliora turned to me.

"The dragonslayers were descendants of the dragons themselves. I believe this is why they managed to defeat them. Atheron, in your veins flows both human and dragon blood."

"Interesting. No wonder the dragonslayers were wiped out. Mages feared we’d become just like the dragons.

And yet, it’s astonishing. Hiding something like this for generations and surviving in a world of mages... This must never be spoken aloud."

"I know," she nodded. "I just wanted to share it so your heart might feel a little lighter. As for us... the Ataraxia family will have to live with this for the rest of their lives. Though we’re descended from heroes, our blood is now mixed."

I looked at her calmly.

Maybe that’s why they live like ordinary people. According to legends, dragon blood granted long life. But now, they’re no different from the rest.

I’m content.

The next morning, more guests arrived with condolences. Before leaving for the Academy, to my surprise, grandmother approached me.

"Dear Atheron..." she said, her tone somber.

"Yes, Lady Mori? Did you need something?"

"Forgive us."

Direct and painful. I couldn’t hide my surprise.

"My husband... He was a good man. Always cherished this family. He built what we have today.

He was strict with you and Lirael not because you failed our expectations...

He was afraid of what you might become. He was afraid of you.

But Darius never thought you were evil. Please, try to understand him... and forgive us, too."

The entire family approached me.

"And please," Mori continued, "accept us. Maybe we truly are your descendants. A story buried by time... and hate. But now, we must face that hate..."

The Ataraxia family... one of the few I can call kin.

You brought me into this world, resented me for so long... But now, I find no hatred left in me.

"Yes. How could I not accept you? We share the same blood..."

For the first time, I opened up.

The old woman smiled and took my hand.

"Thank you."

———

When we left for the Academy, Meliora stayed behind to help the family with the guests.

And suddenly, the sky outside turned white. They stepped outside, barely able to open their eyes.

"Where is that light coming from?" Meliora muttered.

In the blinding brightness of the sky, a figure flickered. It hovered over the palace like an angel.

Draped in radiant garments, with long flowing hair, the figure raised its arms and whispered:

"Vanish."

The world froze. Her voice echoed through the palace. And that was the last thing everyone inside ever heard.

The White Beam. A pillar of divine light pierced the clouds, obliterating the palace in a flash of silence.

When the light faded—

The Ataraxia estate no longer existed.