Thalorian POV
My hands trembled as I served the wine.
Every smile cut deeper into my heart.
The laughter.
The music.
The celebration.
Today was supposed to be Rajiv’s fifth birthday.
A day of happiness.
A day of family.
A day of joy.
Instead, I had turned it into a nightmare.
The moment I finished serving the wine, I could not endure it any longer.
I turned away.
No.
I ran.
Straight toward Vicky.
He was standing near one of the tables, smiling as he watched the celebration.
When he saw me approaching, he laughed.
“Thalorian, what are you doing here?”
“The party just started.”
“Go enjoy it.”
Then he stopped.
The smile disappeared.
Because he saw my face.
The tears.
The fear.
The guilt.
His expression changed immediately.
“What happened?”
I tried to speak.
Nothing came out.
The pressure crushing my heart finally broke me.
I confessed everything.
The bandits.
The hostages.
The poison.
The wine.
Every horrible detail.
By the time I finished, tears were streaming down my face.
For several seconds, Vicky simply stared at me.
Then his expression twisted.
His hand shot forward.
SLAM!
My back crashed into a wall.
His fingers tightened around my throat.
His eyes were filled with rage.
“You…”
His voice trembled.
“You poisoned him?”
I did not resist.
I could not.
Because no matter the reason…
No matter the circumstances…
I had betrayed my friend.
The man who had built Vera beside me.
The man who had trusted me for twenty years.
I closed my eyes.
I deserved this.
Then suddenly…
Vicky’s grip loosened.
His eyes widened.
I followed his gaze.
And my world shattered.
Varinder was walking toward us.
His face was deathly pale.
A thin trail of blood ran from the corner of his mouth.
The poison was working.
The moment I saw him, I collapsed to my knees.
A broken sob escaped my lips.
“No…”
“No…”
“Varinder…”
I could no longer control myself.
I wept openly.
Like a helpless child.
Varinder looked at me.
Then a bitter smile appeared on his face.
Surprisingly…
There was no anger.
No hatred.
Only sadness.
And acceptance.
“I always knew this day would come.”
His words froze both of us.
Vicky immediately shook his head.
“What are you talking about?”
Varinder leaned against a nearby pillar.
His breathing had already become uneven.
“Five years before Rajiv was born…”
“My class upgraded.”
“The Oracle Class.”
Shock appeared on our faces.
Even after all these years, neither of us had known.
Varinder looked toward the night sky.
“When I left the Varian Tribe…”
“I received a prophecy.”
His smile became painful.
“A prophecy that I would die when my son turned five.”
Silence.
Neither of us could speak.
“The prophecy said…”
His voice weakened.
“‘The child destined to save the world shall demand the father’s life as payment.’”
A chill ran down my spine.
Vicky clenched his fists.
“No.”
“Prophecies can be wrong.”
Varinder laughed weakly.
“That’s what I thought.”
“So I struggled.”
His eyes became distant.
“I trained until my body broke.”
“I fought battles I never needed to fight.”
“I built Vera from nothing.”
“I believed that if I became strong enough…”
“…I could defeat fate itself.”
Tears slowly formed in his eyes.
“I wanted more time.”
His voice broke.
“I wanted to watch my son grow.”
“I wanted to see him awaken.”
“I wanted to see the man he would become.”
Another tear rolled down his cheek.
“I wanted to watch my daughter find happiness.”
“I wanted to spend a few peaceful years with my family.”
He lowered his head.
“But fate…”
“…is difficult to defy.”
For the first time in my life…
Varinder looked tired.
Not physically.
But spiritually.
Like a man who had fought for decades and finally realized he could not win.
Then he looked at Vicky.
“Vicky.”
“No.”
Vicky’s voice shook.
“No.”
“Listen.”
The authority in Varinder’s voice made Vicky freeze.
“I won’t be able to live much longer.”
The words shattered what little hope remained.
“Take Rajiv and Ananya.”
“Bring them to my father.”
“Tell the old man…”
Varinder smiled bitterly.
“…I’m sorry.”
The words seemed to hurt him more than the poison.
“Sorry for leaving him alone in his old age.”
“Sorry for never returning.”
“Sorry for being such a stubborn son.”
Vicky lowered his head.
Tears fell onto the ground.
Varinder slowly reached into his robe.
His trembling hands pulled out four letters.
Letters that had clearly been prepared long ago.
As if he had always known this day would arrive.
He handed them to Vicky.
“These two…”
He pointed toward the first pair.
“Are for the old man and my brother.”
Then he touched the remaining letters.
“And these…”
His voice nearly broke.
“Are for Rajiv and Ananya.”
“Ananya is old enough.”
“Give her letter when she wakes up.”
His gaze became distant.
“And give Rajiv his after he awakens.”
Vicky accepted the letters with shaking hands.
As though they weighed more than mountains.
Then—
“Father?”
A small voice suddenly echoed behind us.
Everything froze.
Slowly…
Very slowly…
Varinder turned around.
Standing there was Rajiv.
In his hands was a strange white egg covered in mysterious patterns.
The egg he treasured more than anything.
Snaky’s egg.
The child looked confused.
Completely unaware of the tragedy unfolding around him.
Beside him lay Ananya.
Unconscious from the poison.
Peacefully sleeping.
Unable to struggle.
Unable to cry.
Unable to understand.
Rajiv looked around nervously.
Then his eyes landed on the blood at the corner of Varinder’s mouth.
His expression changed immediately.
The egg slipped slightly from his grasp.
“Father…”
His voice trembled.
The mighty founder of Vera.
The warrior who had never feared death.
The man who had challenged fate itself.
Finally broke.
Tears streamed down Varinder’s face.
Not because he was dying.
Not because he had lost.
But because he had finally seen the one thing he could not bear to leave behind.
His children.
For the first time in his life, Varinder feared not death…
…but leaving his children behind.
Varinder slowly wiped the tears from his eyes.
Then, despite the poison ravaging his body, he forced himself to stand straight.
One step.
Then another.
Slowly, he walked toward Rajiv.
The little boy remained frozen in place, clutching the white egg tightly against his chest.
His eyes were already red.
Even though he did not fully understand what was happening, children often understood more than adults realized.
“Father…”
Rajiv’s voice trembled.
Varinder knelt before him.
The movement clearly caused him pain.
Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.
Yet he smiled.
The same warm smile he had always shown his son.
He gently placed a hand on Rajiv’s head.
“My son.”
Rajiv immediately grabbed his father’s arm.
“Father, you’re hurt.”
“We should call a healer.”
The innocence in his voice shattered what remained of my heart.
Varinder’s smile trembled.
For a moment, he looked away.
As if gathering the strength to say the words he never wanted to say.
Then he looked back at Rajiv.
“My son…”
“I’m sorry.”
Rajiv blinked.
Confusion filled his face.
Varinder’s hand shook slightly.
“I won’t be able to accompany you in the future.”
The words hung heavily in the air.
Rajiv stared at him.
Unable to understand.
Unwilling to understand.
“What do you mean?”
Varinder forced himself to continue.
“I won’t be there when you grow stronger.”
“I won’t be there when you awaken.”
“I won’t be there to watch you become a man.”
Each sentence seemed to cost him a piece of his soul.
Tears flowed freely down his face.
Yet he continued speaking.
His gaze briefly landed on the strange white egg clutched tightly against Rajiv’s chest.
Despite everything happening around him, a faint smile appeared.
The child had not let go of it even once.
“Looks like I’ll have to leave the little fellow to you as well.”
Rajiv looked down at the egg.
His small arms tightened around it instinctively.
Varinder chuckled weakly.
“Take good care of it.”
“And when it finally hatches…”
“Make sure it doesn’t become as troublesome as its owner.”
For the first time since arriving, a tiny smile appeared on Rajiv’s tear-covered face.
Then Varinder gently held his shoulders.
“So promise me something.”
Rajiv’s small body trembled.
“Promise me you’ll go with Uncle Vicky.”
“Promise me you’ll listen to him.”
“Promise me you’ll become a good person.”
Rajiv bit his lip.
His eyes were already overflowing with tears.
Varinder glanced toward the unconscious Ananya.
Then back to his son.
“And promise me…”
His voice almost broke.
“Promise me you’ll take care of your sister.”
“Just like I’ve always taken care of you.”
He paused for a moment before continuing.
“And take care of your grandfather too.”
The words came out softly.
“He’s old now.”
“And he’s going to be lonely.”
A sad smile appeared on Varinder’s face.
“I wasn’t there for him when I should have been.”
“So do what your father couldn’t.”
“Stay by his side.”
“Make him smile.”
“Be a good grandson.”
Rajiv finally began crying.
“No.”
The little boy shook his head desperately.
“No.”
“I don’t want to.”
“I want you to stay.”
The simple words struck harder than any blade.
Varinder closed his eyes.
For a brief moment, the great founder of Vera looked completely defeated.
Not by poison.
Not by fate.
But by the tears of his child.
Slowly, he pulled Rajiv into his arms.
Holding him tightly.
As if trying to memorize the feeling forever.
The battlefield remained silent.
No one dared speak.
No one dared interrupt.
Only the sound of a father saying goodbye to his son remained.
Several moments later, Varinder finally released him.
He gently kissed Rajiv’s forehead.
Then he whispered.
“Goodbye, my son.”
Rajiv reached out toward him.
But Varinder had already stood up.
With trembling steps, he turned away.
If he looked back again…
He knew he would not be able to leave.
Slowly, he walked toward Vicky.
Every step seemed heavier than the last.
When he finally stopped before him, both men remained silent.
For twenty years, they had fought side by side.
Built Vera together.
Saved each other’s lives countless times.
Yet now, neither knew what to say.
Varinder smiled weakly.
“Vicky.”
The usually carefree man lowered his head.
His fists were clenched so tightly that blood dripped from his palms.
“Take them.”
Varinder’s voice was barely above a whisper.
“Take them and leave.”
Vicky remained silent.
Varinder chuckled weakly.
“My friend.”
“That is my final order.”
For several seconds, nothing happened.
Then Vicky finally looked up.
His eyes were completely red.
Filled with grief.
Filled with rage.
Filled with helplessness.
Then his gaze shifted toward me.
The moment our eyes met, I felt as if a knife had pierced my chest.
The disgust.
The disappointment.
The hatred.
I had never seen such an expression before.
And I knew I would remember it for the rest of my life.
Without saying a word, Vicky turned away.
He carefully lifted the unconscious Ananya onto his back.
Then he picked up Rajiv with one arm.
The little boy struggled desperately.
“Father!”
“Father!”
“Father!”
His cries echoed through the night.
Each one more heartbreaking than the last.
Finally, Vicky tightened his grip on both children.
Then he turned.
He took several steps forward.
Then stopped.
For twenty years, he had followed Varinder into countless battles.
For twenty years, they had stood side by side.
They had built Vera together.
Saved one another countless times.
Shared victories.
Shared failures.
Shared dreams.
His body refused to move.
Slowly…
For the first time since accepting the order…
Vicky looked back.
Their eyes met one final time.
No words were exchanged.
None were needed.
Varinder simply smiled.
The same smile he always wore whenever things became difficult.
Vicky’s fists tightened.
Then he bowed his head.
And ran.
Faster than before.
Away from the celebration.
Away from Vera.
Away from the dying man they all loved.
Rajiv’s cries gradually faded into the distance.
Until only silence remained.
And throughout it all…
Varinder never looked back.