Chapter Ninety-Two: The Spirit Lord of Nature, Aetos – Part Two

Chapter Ninety-Two: The Spirit Lord of Nature, Aetos – Part Two

Twenty minutes had passed since we entered the portal, and the silence was almost overbearingly loud.

Primrose and Aetos kept looking at each other, but no one made the first move. The Spiritual Grove seemed wounded and afraid. The damage almost reminded me...of me...when I was constantly kept near death.

“I...haven’t treated you well.” Aetos was the first to finally speak. His wounded form flickered like a candle, and he hopped from her perch, approaching with a noticeable limp. Primrose flinched and squeezed my hand. I felt her apprehension like it was a deadly disease. Her fear wasn’t unjustified.

“...” Primrose began heaving like an overheated horse. She pressed away from Aetos and moved back, clutching her heart while looking at me. Primrose's eyes told me she wanted to leave—that she didn’t want to be here—that she’d rather live without this conversation. And maybe she was right. But I was her summoner. Looking after my spirits was part of my duty.

I loved Primrose. I loved all my spirits, and I still wasn’t over the ones who were viciously slaughtered in front of me when I was being sold and passed around like meat. The nightmares were rare, but I thought of them. But those thoughts were becoming scarce. Spirits all come from the same world. They shared a mutual relationship at a level that couldn’t be felt by beings from the Mortal Realm, so my former spirits could be considered Primrose’s extended family that shared a common ground.

I wanted to do right by them and her.

“I’m sorry, but we can’t leave. This is important, Primrose. You helped me conquer my fear,” I whispered, squeezing her hand—it felt like sweaty wood. “So let me help you. I promise everything’s going to be okay. I swear it will.”

“Your reaction is understandable. Perhaps it is what I deserve. And perhaps that mark of failure shall define my recent legacy,” said Aetos. “I know you must understand the truth of what I’m about to say, but the words must be spoken for... No, I’m unsure if it’s for my benefit or yours. However...still...”

Aetos stuttered. This wasn’t comfortable for either of them.

“I... You didn’t create me out of love, did you?” Primrose’s voice was a whisper, and it was unsteady.

“That’s... That’s correct,” replied Aetos. He stepped away and looked out at the damaged Spiritual Grove. “There will be no more lies. For all that I shall speak shall be the truth. Hatred was the fuel that initialized your creation. Hatred for that damned Dark Lord of Tyranny.”

“And... My life was never really meant to be my own?”

“... No. It was not. Your purpose was espionage. I had imprinted bias and forced you to live a life that never...belonged to you. Your goal was to sow discourse within the ones surrounding the Dark Lord of Tyranny. You were to drive an unrepairable nail and shatter their trust.”

“You...never really cared for me? Not when Lord Springfield bested me in combat? Or when, after those bounty hunters were killed, I tried to take my life? You still...held the reigns, but... You were resolved to let me die?”

It was like a flip had been switched. Primrose’s hesitation was replaced with fiery wrath. She bared her teeth and stared down Aetos, refusing to look away.

“I’ve been so lost! The feelings I acquired after spending time with them did not match what I thought I was supposed to feel! And you never cared?! No—you were only preoccupied with making the Dark Lord of Tyranny’s life a living hell, but Sekh isn’t her! She’s... She’s kind...and gentle. And caring... She fought to protect me! Me! Someone who was given ample reasons to see her suffer, and you didn’t even care enough to stop me from taking my life?! Lord Springfield and Sekh are the only reasons why I still draw breath. And... You never cared... I was a pawn...”

“I consider all spirits created from the Eagle Yew to be—”

“To be what? Family?! I cannot believe that!” Primrose spat. She trembled like she was freezing. “What father would make a daughter from hatred, not intervene when she’s about to kill herself, and continue to hold the reigns to her core?! I know about that! You were holding me hostage the entire time! And... And... My life...was never meant to be mine...”

“Primrose...” I rubbed her back and comforted her.

“There are no excuses, but permit me to say this,” Aetos said. He inhaled a deep breath. I saw the wincing in his eyes. Talking this much was difficult for him. “Only a few still remember how close we brushed against the brink of execution when the Dark Lord of Tyranny unleashed her terror upon the world. It was chaotic. It was disorder. No one knew if they would survive to see tomorrow or if her forces would arrive to rape, pillage, and burn away the land. Everyone, Primrose... Everyone who had lived through those dark ages would have done what I did... And I regret it.”

Water surged around Aetos’s eyes. “The burden of the father should have never been placed upon the child. You never asked for this. You never desired this, yet I thrust it upon you without offering a choice. And the consequences were dire. You've suffered so much from conflicting feelings that...that there is nothing I can say or do to make things right.”

“YOU’RE DAMN RIGHT!” barked Primrose. “You—Gaaahh!” She grabbed her hair and screamed, unleashing a lengthy tirade. Everything she wanted to say and confess erupted from her chest. “I’m not a tool to be used! I’m me! I’m Primrose! I’m my summoner’s spirit, and I wish to be an ally to the Transcendent Dark Lord! I wish to help break the Dark Lord of Tyranny’s curse! I won’t be your puppet! Not anymore! You can’t detonate my core remotely anymore! I don’t have any reason to fear you!”

“...” Aetos kept silent, but Primrose continued for another twenty minutes. She finally screamed and dropped to her knees, sobbing in her fragile hands. I approached and hugged her from behind, and Aetos replied. He was wounded—not only from the damage the Essence of Wrath had inflicted upon the Eagle Yew, but Primrose’s words cut deep.

I was sure no father ever wanted to hear them. I saw the strain on his face as he stepped forward. Each one must’ve taken much effort, but he approached, spread a wing, and...

Aetos was blindsided. He silently observed my face, turned to Primrose, and looked at the anxious skies. It was faint, but the eagle was crying.

“Who knew...this day would come...when I...know how shameful my lady would’ve looked upon me for treating a child like this? The great Princess Susize Vredi never wished to involve children. She often dreamed of giving birth to three or four and desired a large family. To her? Everyone and everything within Vredi Forest were her brothers, sisters, and cousins. The forest surrounding Aetos Village is naught but a shallow recreation of what used to be the grandest landmark in all the world. And to think that I was once proud... Just where has that pride gone when I devolved to use a precious child...like this... Primrose, forgive me... I am so sorry... This is not your war. Nor is it your conflict.”

We became silent. No one moved or spoke until Primrose shifted in her sleep. Her eyes slowly opened, and I was there to greet her with a smile.

Throughout it all... Aetos never removed his wing from Primrose’s head.

“Why?” she asked, leaning up. “Why are...we here? After what I said? Why didn’t you kick us out?”

“The thought has never crossed my mind.”

“But...”

“Primrose, I wish to do right by you. Please grant me another opportunity. I promise... I swear on all I love that I will do better.”

Primrose turned her head away and looked at me. She met my eyes. All I did was nod, and she turned back to Aetos. Her steps were small—like a baby crawling. But she ran to Aetos, crying soft sap from her beautiful eyes. She tightly hugged him, and he protectively wrapped a wing around her as she rubbed his back.

“Father... Father!!!”

“I love you, my child. I swear... I desire your happiness... Please...grant me the chance to atone, my sweet girl.”

The two embraced... I couldn’t lie. I...I wanted to hug my mother and father. Even if it was for just a moment, but they were probably dead. Our village was harsh. The environment was unforgiving and cruel. I had hoped my running away would’ve let them survive that much longer.

In my mind? I had already considered them gone. My heart felt the same, but...

I still loved them. And I did wish they were safe, sound, and living happily ever after. But...

I doubted it. I also doubted if I’d ever returned. I was sure Mila wouldn’t mind taking me to Barbil if I asked. Seraphina could probably teleport us. But I was afraid...because heading there meant confronting the truth. But if I were to go, then I wanted to go alone. I knew how that made me sound like a brat, but facing the past? I... The power had to come from within.

“Come, Niva,” said Aetos, breaking me from my thoughts. “Please... I...wish to be better for you, too.”

“Summoner...” Primrose’s glistening eyes had softened, and I felt emotional, too.

So...

I ran to them, joining the embrace. This marked the beginning of a new era.

No longer would Primrose be shackled to the fear inside her mind.

And...

It served as a beginning for me, too. As Niva, a spirit summoner accepted by the Spirit Lord of Nature, Aetos.

I could do this...

I could grow strong. And I wouldn’t have to do it alone—I’d never be alone again. And...maybe I could...one day return to Barbil and confront my past.