Return of the Fallen Volume 9 Chapter 70
While everyone else celebrated with cheers of joy, Danny briefly explained what had just happened to King Brian and his friends. He kept the important parts, such as the deal he made with Detra and the death of Glacious and Etora as well as Kazuki’s explosive growth but he kept a few unsettling things quiet.
He did not mention how Kazuki came to enter the 7th stage. Were he to simply state the fact that Kazuki ate not only one of the Ancient Beasts’ kings but a part of another one as well, that would not be too bad. The real problem though came with the consumption of Glacious and Etora. Danny could understand Kazuki’s decision 100%. In fact, he would have done the exact same under the circumstances.
Kazuki saw an opportunity to gain immense power in a short time, a time in which death was around every corner, and one of the people causing all of this death was someone he absolutely wished to destroy. If someone dangled such enormous power in front of you, would it be so easy to turn away? Danny would not hesitate but in the end, he understood his way of thinking was different from others. While he was less emotional than his friends, he could easily take such a deal.
Danny looked at Nunully before taking a look at all of the survivors celebrating.
(If I tell Nunully that the man she loves ate two people she loved and considered family…Even if he did it when they had already passed, and even if he did it so that he could help protect others with the power he gained, all of this would not go over too well. This is something I can never tell anyone or mention. It is for Kazuki and Kazuki alone to speak on. Nunully, forgive me but this secret will never part from my metal lips.)
Nunully and the others felt a mix of emotions. Yes, they were all glad they had been rescued and yes they were happy for Kazuki but learning that their teacher Glacious and Etora had both died because of Fera. They felt more sad and bitter than anything else.
Etora was like a fun-loving uncle. He joked around and was almost always in a good mood and try to put you in a good mood. Because of this, his attitude was infectious and he made those around him both comfortable and lively. In times of danger, he would turn 180 into protective mode and he would put everything on the line to protect those around him. With a smile, he made one feel like no matter what happened, it would turn out ok.
Glacious was different from Etora. He could be very stern and blunt. Without notice or warning, he could toss you across an entire forest and into a river. He would throw you in a cauldron and would pay no mind for your bones breaking as your swirled around inside. This made him seem uncaring but he was the complete opposite. The moment they were pulled out from that cauldron, Glacious would have a tasty meal prepared and waiting. He would share and pass on knowledge, secrets that most humans had none of, yet he gave this all away to Nunully and the others freely.
He taught them all and helped make them stronger beyond their wildest imaginations. Everything he did, he did to make them better versions of themselves. Called a Dragonslayer most of his life, but to them, he was a true teacher in both body and spirit. Feeding, them giving them a roof over their head and letting them live in peace inside his tiny world. In a time when they were being hunted, Glacious was truly a big tree that provided shade and blocked out the blazing sun bearing down upon them.
No one said anything. Nunully and Asuna naturally cried in each other’s arms and Kimi in Sam’s chest. Shin stood there gritting his teeth in frustration.
“Damn it!”
Even he could only curse at this time.
Triska wanted to slap him on the back and knock the pain away but even she could tell this had really gotten to him. She did not know Glacious nor Etora but she had heard of them. In her mind, they were basically Gods. Beings that could go anywhere and do anything but in the end, even they had fallen.
“I would have liked to meet the two legends at least once. The stories you told me about them…They sounded good. Sorry that they are gone.”
Triska tried her best to come off empathetic but she wasn’t very good at the whole emotion thing. She valued strength above most things but she could see that Shin was hurting and she cared about him.
Shin sighed heavily.
*Haa*
“Thank you, Triska. Glacious was amazing, he was so powerful he could destroy this planet and Etora…He could eat a whole planet, heh.”
…
*Pfft*
Everyone thought Shin’s joke didn’t and but only a second later, Nunully started to laugh. Everyone stared at her with wide eyes. Of all people, Nunully should be the most broken but here she was laughing. Kimi wondered if the girl had cracked, While Asuna just continued to hold her.
Shin though felt her laugh and it made his mood change. For some reason, he wanted to hear her laugh, even more, so he continued.
“That’s right it’s no lie. I’ve seen Etora open his mouth and swallow a large bird whole. I looked at him in shock but he just turned to me and burped before eating another one.”
Nunully laughed harder and harder and again everyone just stared at her with some confusion.
“Etora loved his food so much that one time I witnessed him snatch a potato directly off of Glacious’s plate. Glacious proceeded to beat him right then and there but Etora didn’t care and simply kept eating.”
Nunully was now laughing so hard that she was having trouble breathing. This laughter of hers was so infectious that Asuna began to laugh, followed by Kimi, and even King Brian. He didn’t know Etora very well but he had seen other instances of his gluttonous nature. Just picturing Etora snatching food away from someone like Glacious, who else would dare and not only that but also live to tell the tale.
Triska even began to laugh. She did not know Etora nor Glacious personally but the atmosphere and Nunully’s laughter, caused her to start to chuckle away.
“I remember one time, I got really drunk and ended up throwing up in a nearby cup because that was the only thing close by. Etora wasn’t paying attention and snatched the cup from my hands and took a large swig. The moment he tasted it, he spat it out all over Sam who was next to me.”
Sam couldn’t help but roll his eyes. That was not a pleasant memory to him. Not just him but after Shin mentioned this all of the laughter suddenly died down and Shin knew he had lost them.
Kimi gave him a cold glance.
“Everyone was starting to feel better and you mention throw up.”
Shin shrugged.
“I just went with my gut there, just like I did in that cup, hehehe.”
Shin tried to restart it but it was over.
…
While celebrations were happening all around them, their circle had become quiet.
Nunully unconsciously wiped the end of her tears away on Asuna’s shirt and her expression changed from one of sadness to a small smile of comfort.
“Uncle Glacious and uncle Etora were incredible. One would make you laugh and the other was so nurturing.”
Shin heard that and couldn’t associate that word with Glacious. Yes, he would help make you a better version of yourself but they came with grueling torturous work and pain. At the same time, he kept his mouth shut this time and let Nunully continue.
“They were both amazing and they loved me like I was a real member of their family and I loved them back the same. At the same time, I will not grieve for them…Not now…Not when Fera still lives and breathes. I cried just now because I was overcome with sadness but I know they wouldn’t want that. They would want me to be happy and cherish the memories we had together. They would want me to continue to live on and that’s exactly what I plan to do. Right now, I will cry no more. Right now, what we need to do is try and figure out how to help Kazuki defeat Fera. We have been running around like chickens with our heads cut off. Running from king Garn, running from Azirian’s, running from the Miasma. I’m tired of running and right now I’m tired of crying. We will survive this and when everything is finally finished, only then will I cry, only then will I grieve.”
Asuna pointed at her shirt and said.
“Uh, that’s great, it really is but maybe next time before you have a big speech you don’t wipe all of your snot onto my shirt. Look at this mess.”
Nunully looked at Asuna’s shirt and then turned and looked at everyone else. Everyone suddenly looked away as if they had seen nothing but Nunully knew and her cheeks flushed red in embarrassment.
“Nooooooooo!”
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