On The Other Side of The Spectrum 3

Dopax clapped very slowly but firmly as Lidua’s and Yevin’s appearances entered his vision. Venye and Regaz stared at them like a father looking at his boy thinking he has grown up. Silgy had a similar look on her face, but it didn’t feel like it was directed at them.

“Bravo to our duo team, you did exceptionally well. Zero hesitation is the battlefield’s best friend, as I have told you, and you have shown exactly that.”

“So, you did want to test me? Have I done anything that showed any sign of me lacking the spirit to go through any of this, Dopax?”

“It’s not about you having done anything wrong; it’s that your vision and dream, being the same as mine, needs more courage than it seems. And that kind of courage can only be attained and tested on the battlegrounds. Now, you have first and foremost shown to yourself that you don’t lack it.”

“These two are really close as always. Sometimes I just wonder if they knew each other somehow from before…”, Yevin said in a very light tone as he went to Regaz’s side while Lidua and Dopax spoke to each other.

“I just believe that they share the same values and goals so deeply that they are somehow connected at a higher level than we think… Or maybe, I am just making up things, I don’t know!”

“WELL, enough with the chit-chat you all, let’s head home! Shouldn’t we celebrate the birth of our two great soldiers and our small win toward taking Aeldrutia back?”

Everyone turned their sight to match Venye’s position and nodded with a wry smile on their face. Then, after taking a quick look at Aeldrutia’s flames that were getting extinguished, they rushed in the opposite direction so fast that it was like they all disappeared.

Back in the aged fortress’ interior, a gigantic room where a table spread out in the middle was getting set by a few other Dwellers. The room was similar to old castles that people would been familiar with centuries ago, while rocks were its main ingredient when it was built and several tall pillars could be seen standing straight to keep the upper floor from falling.

“Wiiiiiiiiiine, give us plenty of wine ’cause we are celebrating today! Our newest additions did their part satisfactorily and crushed a lot of these petty humans! Cheeers!”

Regaz was lifting his chalice-shaped glass while shouting so loudly that the whole room was filled up with his own voice. Yevin, sitting next to him, pulled his hoody up and showed his entire face while raising his own glass.

“To our leaders! For inspiring us to action! For a better future for all of us!”

“YEAHHHHHHHHHHH”, many Dwellers started yelling in a positive response to Yevin’s words. Venye did the same as well while hitting her hand on the table as if amplifying the applauding.

Silgy, on the other hand, sat beside her and was sipping her wine slowly and gently using her two hands on the glass, while staring at all the commotion happening around her calmly.

She then turned to Lidua, who was right across her, and moved her head to get in close to her side of the table.

“They are especially noisy today; this is a good sign, even though I am not one to be a part of such festivities.”

“You think? Ahh, that’s good then! I was getting stressed out as days passed by since I wasn’t sure if I was going to be blatantly accepted as is…given who I am too. And I even got a spot beside Dopax, I thought more of them would be jealous or hated me…”

“Relax, Lidua. It’s only natural that you still feel that way, but don’t you forget that we, and you, are not the same as humans. We do not care about such frivolous and trivial emotions; we each have our own reason for being here, but a single goal unites us together: how we all want to take back our former lives when they were at their glory…”

“Silgy…I might not be aware of your circumstances yet, but thank you. I am glad I can finally share a table with people that can understand my point of view…and I am extremely glad I can finally really work towards making my dream come to fruition.”

“Haha, it’s alright, Lidua. We can talk about it whenever you want. I believe that none of us here has anything to hide anymore. And don’t you worry. Dopax will certainly make your wish come true…”

Lidua raised her head toward the ceiling and looked at it while lost in thought for a moment. She then extended her hand and uttered in a dream-like voice.

“For the first time in my life, I feel very positive about it too…”

Suddenly, like a storm appearing to disrupt the clear skies, Venye came and sat in between the Silgy and Lidua on the table’s top.

“Why you so seriousss giirlss? Come and enjoy the feast! We are gonna take this outside for drunken sparring!”

Silgy sighed at Venye’s words and lifted herself from her position to hold her.

“Milady, this again? Last time you almost took a Dweller’s life away with our drunken fights. Come on, let them have this one and we go lie down for a bit.”

“Siiiiiiiiil, why are you such a buzzkill alwaaays?”, Venye said like a baby throwing a tantrum.

Lidua slightly laughed at their sight, one that reminded her of two sisters been really close to each other since they were born.

The room had started to become quieter and quieter as she watched some making an exit toward the outer field and others to their rooms. Lidua didn’t move an inch from her position and slowly gulped her wine as she was enjoying the peaceful moment.

“Now that I am here, let’s see where this will lead us. Honestly, I am starting to look forward to it…”, Lidua murmured to herself, as she stood up and walked herself out toward a giant balcony that gazed at the glorious mountains that the sun was beginning to hide its presence behind.

This is a side story featuring the main cast from my work-in-progress novel, "In The Ashes of Forgiveness", originally published on Medium.

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