The Inner Odyssey

After Elara left, silence reigned between the two men.

Neither one knew how to start.

Eventually, Alden spoke.

"You never told me you knew the Keeper."

Alistair chuckled at the incredulity in his son's tone.

"It's hardly something that you can just bring up. There was never a reason to, until… now."

"Is she…"

The older man hesitated.

"Okay?"

Alden shook his head.

"No. She's… dying."

Alden sighed, ruffling Ignia's feathers.

He felt duty-bound to break the news to his father.

Alden glanced towards him, registering the flash of shock and surprise on the man's face.

Then, Alistair's jaw clenched as he processed the news. A storm of emotions brewed in his gaze. Some were too complicated to discern. Others, like deep, heavy sorrow were much easier to glean.

After a while, the Guildmaster composed himself.

He showed a wistful and slightly pale smile.

"I always had a feeling something was up. It was abnormal how she never left her Donjon, even when I showed up outside."

Releasing a troubled sigh, Alistair leaned back in his seat.

Alden recognised the look in his father's eye.

…The older man was reminiscing.

Alden stayed silent, finishing his meal.

He didn't want to interrupt his father who was doubtless reliving a precious past.

Taking one final sip of his drink - a spicy, non-alcoholic version of the mead - Alden exhaled a turbid breath.
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Eventually, after some more time passed, the young man broke the silence.

"How did you two meet?"

At that, a small smile formed on Alistair's face.

"When we were kids. She was my neighbour."

The Guildmaster sighed again.

"She would occasionally come over and read with me as we increased our knowledge of the world. We also had mandatory schooling back then - when the Four Clans and the previous Keeper had first decided to implement it. I saw her a lot, and she saw me a lot. She was… and still remains an important person I care about."

Alden nodded.

Then, he mulled over his father's words and frowned.

There was something a little off about the last part.

"With how you described your relationship, it seemed you two were closer back then than you are now. What happened?"

Alistair's smile turned bitter.

"Life."

The older man's gaze turned sad and wistful.

"It first started when she apprenticed herself to the previous Keeper. We had a lot less time to see each other after that. Slowly, we stopped meeting and eventually broke off contact when she no longer left her Donjon. I don't know why she distanced herself, but I regret not putting more effort into keeping in touch."

Alden watched as his father pushed his plate away, having doubtless lost his appetite after hearing of the unfortunate news. The Guildmaster almost forced himself to take a large draught of his drink, unwilling to make even the tiniest drop go to waste.

The young man hesitated, unsure whether to ask his next question.

"Were you…"

Alden gritted his teeth, unable to suppress his curiosity.

"Aware of how she felt?"

Alistair froze. Then, his shoulders slumped.

The Guildmaster released a big sigh, placing his cup back on the table.

"Yes, I was. At least to a certain extent. I had my suspicions, but your mother confirmed it after we wed."

Alden nodded slowly.

He hesitated even more.

"Do you… regret it? Your marriage with Mom?"

His father glanced at him for a moment.

Then, his expression softened, turning extremely warm.

"No. No, I don't."

***

Alistair gazed at his son.

Alden looked a lot older.

…Much, much older.

He seemed to have a maturity far beyond his years, doubtless due to all the suffering he had experienced. The month Alden spent alone in the Wilderness probably also played its part.

Alistair sighed, his heart heavy.

He wanted to shield Alden and Celeste from the harshness of this world. He wanted them to remain innocent. Not warriors. Or people who had witnessed many horrors.

But children.

…His children.

However, Alistair knew that so long as the Apocalypse remained in Arkanis, so long as there were still Defiled prowling the lands, so long as humanity was still restricted to the Sanctuary of Everlast, that was but a distant and unrealistic dream.

The Guildmaster exhaled a turbid breath.

It hurt him a lot to see that his son had experienced so much at a young age.

'It can't be helped...'

That was the bitter truth of their reality.

It was just how their world was.

Alistair himself had gone through his fair share of pain and suffering in his youth.

However…

That was not to say he was going to remain idle while his son and daughter suffered. Far from it. Apart from slaying more Defiled, and preventing any potential danger from reaching them, he planned to make his children's lives easier. That was not to say he would coddle them.

Rather...

Whatever eased the pressure from Alden's and Celeste's shoulders without obstructing their growth, Alistair would gladly do it.

Without a second thought.

That was his responsibility as the father, was it not?

Even if it meant exhausting himself. For that was a father's love for his child. Shaking his head, the Guildmaster noticed that Alden had more questions.

He smiled wryly.

"Ask away."

"Is… your Sponsor listening in?"

Suddenly, Alistair tensed.

A grave expression appeared on his face.

Why was his son asking this of him?

Did he not want the otherworldly being to know what he said next?

Narrowing his eyes, the Guildmaster instinctively blocked his Sponsor's view. Then, he beckoned for Alden to follow. Alistair quickly entered his office. Inscribing a certain rune in the air, the broad-shouldered man erected a dome of silence. Or rather, it was more accurate to say he had created a barrier.

…One that would not let any sound leave.

'Perks of extensive reading and knowledge.'

This discussion of theirs would stay in his office, away from prying ears.

'Can't be too careful.'

Alistair suppressed his unease.

While Alden sat in his chair, he stood by the door.

The Guildmaster resisted the urge to cross his arms.

He had to keep his body language as open as possible.

Otherwise, there was a chance Alden would second-guess his decision. And that would not do. He had just resolved to put more effort into easing his children's burdens, after all.

This would be a good start.

Whatever his son wanted to tell him, Alistair would do his best to take it in stride.

Only…

What left Alden's mouth was not what he had expected.

Alistair blinked.

Then, he froze, his mind registering the full implication of Alden's words.

His face swiftly turned pale.

"...There is a traitor inside the Sanctuary."