Erador walked across the manor’s courtyard, past the fountain. As he went between the two towers he turned and remembered his moments here. For once, the black windows made it appear more ominous. He would no longer call this home.

  He took out Sescina’s anchor necklace from his pocket and stared at it for a moment before slipping it around his neck.

  Yuni’s footsteps echoed off the buildings as she came toward him and set her luggage next to him. She watched with him in silence. For once, he didn’t mind her presence, and didn’t look at her like she was the enemy.

  “Hawth got away.” Yuni adjusted her satchel strap. “I thought you should know.”

  Erador looked at her. “You think he’s going to come for us?”

  “With Judgment dead... he might not.”

  “Is Baubie going to wipe his memories?”

  Yuni gave a sharp shake of her head. “Hawth wouldn’t allow it. You shouldn’t worry.”

  Erador focused on Yuni. “What makes you thinks that?”

  “Hawth said he wanted to leave this place for good.”

  “Guess he got his wish.”

  Yuni dug in her satchel and pulled out a small bag. “Here.” She held it out to him. “Since, I never performed his rebirth.”

  Erador took the bag that clinked when he grabbed it and looked at the coins inside. “This is all of it?”

  “Besides what I used to buy food for Lucrethia.”

  “I thought you were a thief.”

  “I thought you’d be surprised by how little there is.”

  Erador looked back at the few coins. “Did my father promise you more after his rebirth?”

  “Yes, but I declined.”

  Erador looked over her suspiciously. Yuni had always been eager to take, from candy, to pampering. “Why did you settle for so little?”

  “Don’t forget.” Yuni pulled out a candy from her bag and unwrapped it. “I got one extra bucket.” She popped the candy in her mouth and smirked.

  Erador’s lips raised. “I guess that was worth it.”

  He couldn’t understand why she seemed content with getting hardly anything. Lucrethia wasn’t just any place. It harbored criminals his father was ordered to dispose of by kingdoms that contracted with him.

  “Did you come here because you needed a place to hide?” Erador said.

  “If I did, this would be the last place I’d come.” Yuni rolled the candy to her cheek as she looked at the manor. “At least some people were nice.”

  Erador rubbed his neck. “I’m sorry for blaming you.”

  “Thank you for your poor apology.”

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  Erador scoffed. “That’s not good enough for you?”

  Yuni put her fist on her hips. “You did think I was killing people, that I let the Raven out, and killed all your crops and animals.” She cocked her head at him. “You have a lot to make up for.”

  Erador let out a chuckle. “I guess I do, but you didn’t exactly help with that.”

  Yuni’s lips flattened. “So you’re blaming me for your choices?”

  “I’m not…” He scratched his head. “But you didn’t make a good first impression in a place that witches are banned.”

  “You assumed.” Yuni touched her brooch. “You never gave me a chance when others did.”

  Erador rubbed his head. She was right. He shouldn’t have judged her harshly. As he looked back to the manor, it unsettled his stomach. It was what his father did. He didn’t want to be like him. He wanted to be better.

  Yuni picked up her luggage and walked ahead.

  “What are you going to do?” Erador asked.

  She looked back at him. “Maybe find another cult leader who needs a rebirth.”

  “They won’t have as much candy as us.”

  “Guess, I’ll have to savor this last piece.” Yuni smiled and walked toward the gates.

  Erador dug in his pocket and pulled out the red candy he'd given to Sescina. “Yuni,” he said. “Last one for the road?”

  She turned around and he tossed the candy to her and she caught it. “You saved one for me. How generous?”

  Erador laughed. “I was thinking of you a lot.”

  Yuni’s lips raised as she slipped the candy in her satchel. “Finally embracing your witch blood?” she said, nodding at the necklace that he lifted. “I hope you don’t miss me too much.”

  As Yuni left, Erador stared at the necklace, finally embracing that he could let go. He looked one last time at the manor before he went through the streets toward the front gates. Civilians stopped what they were doing to watch him. Not with apathy or despair like before. They were hopeful as if this change would bring them what they needed. Erador tried not to look at them because it only upset him.

  He turned down a street and stopped when yellow sunflowers awaited him. Plum was out there but he couldn't feel her now. As he stared in the alley those horrifying nightmares returned. Lurkers were still viscous. He wasn’t sure if Plum was ready for someone to care for her.

  This haunting alley was nothing but a dream. In this world, it couldn’t hurt him. He took a step in the alley and another. The visions didn’t bother him nor did the shadows. When he made it to the end, he looked back not feeling like he conquered or accomplished, just that he was one step closer to changing.

  He left town and didn’t look back as he went to the forest’s edge when someone called him from the gates. Erador turned to find Dethil running toward him with a bag.

  “What are doing?” Erador said.

  Dethil tried to catch his breath. “I’m not letting you go alone.”

  “I thought your father still had a grip on you.”

  Dethil laughed. “I just didn’t think you were serious.”

  “About leaving?” Erador scoffed. “You thought I’d never leave?”

  Dethil shrugged. “You used to tell me not to talk about Elsgrith.”

  It was because he never wanted to hear what he could have experienced if he wasn’t the son and soldier of a cult leader. While that was in his blood, he would no longer let it control him.

  “Where are we going?” Dethil asked.

  Erador shrugged. “I haven’t decided.”

  “You better decide because I don’t think she’s going take it well.”

  Erador looked past Dethil at Aminria by the gates holding her bag below her hips as she walked over to them. Overwhelming warmth overcame him and raised a smile to his lips.

  “What changed your mind?” Erador said.

  Aminria moved closer, tucking a hair behind her ear. “You think you two can survive out here on your own?”

  “And a princess knows better?” Erador said.

  “I’m the only one who was forced to leave my privileged life and basically live in the wilderness.”

  Erador chuckled. “What about your brother?”

  “I... think if my brother is out there, he’s old enough to take care of himself. That doesn't mean I don’t want to find him.”

  Erador smiled too hard his face hurt. He turned around before they could say anything about it and walked into the trees.