Chapter 174: A decision made

I stood in my room, in front of the broken sword that I never got repaired. I've gotten its maintenance done many times before but not this time. This time I felt like leaving it like this.

It was originally like this. It's sort of amazing how it broke from exactly the same place from where it was originally broken, part of the reason why I thought so much about my tribe again.

I slowly slid my hand across the top of the transparent case in which the sword was kept.

In the back of my mind. In the very depths of my consciousness I had this one thing I wanted to be true. A wishful thinking I always wanted.

That the tribes would change and their laws be turned for the better. The world had changed so much and in the past thirty years the world took a drastic turn yet the tribes act so stubborn. They want to continue their old traditions but really, it's time to change and they should realize it.

The women should be given more worth and the men should be less aggressive.

But, I didn't think it would be possible. The traditions were too deep rooted. So, I just kept the thought in the dark depths of my mind. That is why I never brought it up, how could I? I was ashamed of them and what they did to me, to my mother and to my sister. Maybe I could have brought it up if it was done by an outsider but the misery was bestowed upon us by our own blood, so I kept the thoughts deep within my mind.

Besides, I was happy here and although I thought about the Hounds I would tell myself immediately that there was no need for me to think about that.

I stared at the sword.

Go back… Huh?

After all this time?

I turned my head and looked out the window. It was a pleasant day but my feelings were a mess.

I wonder if I can make a difference?

I sighed and looked back at the sword. The edge of it shown when the rays of sun slammed against it. Indeed it was beautiful, something worthy of being called the family heirloom.

I sighed yet again, bit my lower lip and stared at the sky from the window.

I wonder why I can't come to a decision? Is it because somewhere in my heart I really do want to go?

But to go back to the place I lost everything…

Why would I want to go there?

I looked back at the sword and took it out of the case. As I lifted it up next to the window, the broken blade in front of the deep blue sky suddenly reminded me of my mother.

Her blue eyes I could never even hope to see again made me yearn for it.

…

Maybe,

I brought the sword down.

I just don't want other victims like her or like my sister.

I took a deep breath as the cool wind blew in through the window, fluttering the curtains, it made a calming sound.

I smiled and put the sword back in the case and stared at it.

Maybe it broke like this for a reason, maybe, it needs to go where it truly belongs to.

I left the room and walked down to further think about my decision. As I made my way from my room on the fourth floor to the second floor lounge, everything I passed by seemed to suddenly have more detail. The details I was well familiar with. All the stuff I saw daily suddenly felt like there was more to it.

Maybe, I was noticing things more today and even though the whole mansion was cleaned regularly, it had a smell of its own.

A smell of familiarity.

It was an odd feeling.

I kept walking as I thought about how I was going to come to a final answer but as soon I reached the second floor lounge all my answers came to me like they had been thrown at my face.

I stopped in the hallway when I saw Arius, Azalea, Athena and Liliana together.

Arius never seemed like a family man. He was always too focused on getting things done right and how to keep the clan strong. He was too bent on staying alone and ending things with him but who would have thought? That same Arius changed so much. He fell in love, even had a child and accepted her even when a family was what he feared the most.

I smiled as I watched him play with his daughter.

Just look at him now. Anyone could tell he loved it.

Until a few weeks ago, for the past twenty years. We two only had each other, while he worked as the leader, I was always there to watch out for him. We were like family for each other, the only family for each other.

But now he has his own family now. A real one.

He's now experiencing the happiness he always deserved.

I guess, even if you have experienced so much together, it doesn't mean you always will in the future too.

Even the strongest bonds part too.

I flinched when I felt a hand slip into mine and intertwined with my fingers. I turned and looked at Nora. She was looking at me a bit worried.

Right.

I smiled at her warmly.

We both have found our separate ways and it was time to walk on it. Arius may have found somethings in unexpected way and the same goes for me too but there are some thing I would to have in the future. I want to plan them.

"Nora." I held her hand tighter, "I've made my decision." I looked into her eyes and after staring into mine and confirming that there was no doubt there she smiled back at me.

"That's good."

"You'll stay with me right?"

"Always."