Chapter 17: Noah's Vow

Noah stood rooted on the spot.

Tears came as if his pain had at last condsed into a deluge of rain.

He cried to his heart's contt, he sat and leaned against a tree crestfall.

''My mother was one for surprises, each day a multitude of tiny things... how they made me smile from toe to lips. Which hand was my cookie in? Which way would we walk to school? Would be splashing in puddles or leaping over? Would we dance our special jig if we saw a cat?

It was so fun, all those every day advtures... I can still feel her excitemt at seeing a simple flower or the way the light played upon the path. In a life so ordinary it was her that was extraordinary, not because she was giv so much, but because she made it that way.

As the baker turns flour and water into bread, as God turns seed and water into flower, Mother turns the mundane into fascination and love; she was my heav, my superhero. The day Iost her my world crumbled. Oh, mother, I miss you so much.''

Noah cried loudly not caring about his image, he was so vulnerable at the momt that it was heartbreaking to watch him.

He recalled all those beautiful memories he shared with his mother, memories he thought they'd last forever but shattered that day.

Noah took a deep breath, this recording made him painfully aware it was over. It hurts so much, he wished to forget everything but it would be too easy and irresponsible.

Suddly, Noah recalled something his psychologist used to oft tell him during their sessions.

''Your suffering, your memory of it, is like a teddybear fashioned from glass shards - the tighter you cling to it the deeper it will cut. So perhaps practice putting it down for longer periods, noticing wh you have picked it up and it slices at your skin. You and it are separate. One day you'll notice that the bad teddy bear is gone, you lost it some time and never noticed.

You will see that your good and noble choices made a better life, something positive, and now you hold a new teddy bear, soft and warm, one that brings an inner glow and keeps you cozy under starlight and sunshine alike.''

She ev gives him this personal example.

''Those painful memories are books with chapters, deep and horrible; and so I leave them on the shelf to gather dust. I can pick them up if I need to learn something, to gain a perspective that helps me to create my own good story. I can use them to re-see situations through the ls of their needs and traumas rather than mine.

Kade sighed, although having many studts with Unique classes can be considered a blessing, it was also a curse, his intuition was telling him a big storm was coming, hopefully, it wouldn't be too devastating.

°°°

At the same time, somewhere in the wasteland.

Polished braziers at the bottoms of each of the eight ivory columns light up the tire throne hall and radiate warmth across this hall. The large mirrors on the layered ceiling dance in the flickering light while statuettes look down upon the granite floor of this lavish hall.

A vermilion rug runs from the throne down through the cter and splits into two paths leading out while winged banners with gold fringes droop from the walls.

Betwe each banner sits a small altar full of candles, almost all of them have be lit and in turn illuminate the depictions of late royal family members below them.

Extsive, colored glass windows are neighbored by veils colored the same vermilion as the banners. The curtains have be adorned with fine patterns and fancy tassels.

A regal throne of marble sits atop a tall elevated platform.

A man with extremely pale skin was sitting on this throne wh suddly he oped his crimson eyes.

Just this action alone made the atmosphere inside the throne hall decrease to an alarming degree. The candles were extinguished.

''Oh! So there's another one, this one is a bit particular. Contact our spy on the other side. We need to know everything if they're worth recruiting or will be simply devoured.''

''Understood Lord Dracula.'' A voice responded from within the darkness.

The man on the throne closed his eyes and mumbled.

''The Spear of Destruction moved rectly after many years of inactivity, I wonder if it's connected to this unusual awaking. Well, doesn't matter. Our God's plan must be carried.''