That Same Night,
Earth 001.
Ben sat across from Teresa at their small dining table closer to the kitchen, fork in his hand. He was staring blankly at his plate of pasta.
Teresa was in the middle of a story, her hands gesturing wildly as she laughed.
"....and so my boss, Dr. Richardson is in the supply closet, right? With my colleague, Nurse Vanessa. And they're going at it like, full makeout session and neither of them realizes that the patient in Room 304 is his wife's father!"
She paused for dramatic effect, grinning. "So the old man hits his call button because he needs help to the bathroom, and guess who walks in?"
Ben barely nodded. "W-who?"
"His wife! Mrs. Richardson herself!" Teresa laughed out really loud. Even slapping the table. "She opens the door, and there's her husband with his tongue halfway down Vanessa's throat, and the poor old man is just sitting there in his bed like," Teresa made a shocked face, imitating the old man. "...honey? 'Is that my son-in-law?'"
She burst out laughing, slapping the table one more time.
"Ben, can you imagine?!"
Ben didn't react. He just kept tapping his fork against the edge of his plate.
Clink. Clink. Clink!
Teresa's laughter faded slowly as she watched him for a moment.
"Ben?"
He didn't respond, he had zoned out. She reached across the table and placed her hand on his. Ben flinched. His fork fell off his down and clattered to the plate.
"Ben," she said gently.
He dropped his head, staring at the table. "Huh?"
"Are you alright?"
Ben's throat tightened. 'How could he tell her?'
He hadn't even told her about losing his job this morning. About the breakup or anything. And now he was supposed to tell her about Eryndor? About all that he'd seen and the monsters?
She'd think he was insane and personally drag him to a psychiatrist herself.
He sighed deeply.
"Ben," Teresa called again, her voice softer now.
"Sis," he finally said, and then he dropped his head hard onto the table. The ceramic plates and bowls on the table clinking loudly.
"I'm not okay." He sighed.
Teresa's expression shifted to one of concern.
"What do I do?" Ben's voice cracked. "I've disappointed people. And it was for the best, but....I don't know if I should try to make it up to them. I don't know if I even can, or if I should just.."
His voice broke. He was sobbing quietly, his shoulders shaking. Teresa watched him for a moment with surprise visible on her face. She tilted her head, studying him.
'Is he drunk again?' she thought. She leaned closer and sniffed.
'No. He didn't smell like alcohol.'
She reached across the table and gently stroked his hair. "Ben," she said softly. "Listen to me."
He didn't lift his head.
"Whatever happened, whatever you think you did...you need to understand that you can't change the past. You can only decide what you do next and how to make a better future with all you've learned."
She paused, her hand still on his head.
"And if those people really care about you, they'll understand. And if they don't? Then maybe they weren't worth disappointing yourself over. Are things guaranteed to work? Definitely not. So just pick an option you're least likely to regret."
Ben sniffled.
Teresa smiled faintly. "You're not perfect, Ben. None of us are. I told adult life was tough."
Ben chuckled, head still on the table. Teresa smiled. She stood up, walked around the table, and kissed the top of his head.
"You're doing good Ben. Always remember that. Now go to bed. You need rest."
She stretched and headed toward the kitchen, calling over her shoulder, "And if you keep drinking like this, I swear I'm checking you into rehab. Do you know how much of a raise I'd get if I brought in a patient myself?"
Ben let out a weak laugh despite himself. 'I knew it.' He thought.
Teresa grinned. She slowly disappeared into the kitchen and soon the room went silent.
Ben sat there for a moment, processing everything she'd said. His sister's words echoed in his head like words of comfort and encouragement.
'You can only decide what you do next, choose what you're least likely to regret.'
'Did I make the right choice?' He sighed and whispered, "System?"
Nothing showed up. Ben stood up slowly and dragged himself to his room. He collapsed onto his bed and stared at the ceiling.
'Rest,' he thought. 'maybe i just need rest.'
And he closed his eyes.
***
The Palace dungeon,
Eryndor.
Ezra knelt in the center of a dark room, his hands bound behind his back. Many guards surrounded him. All of their faces obscured by shadows. A sack covered his head. The rough fabric scratching against his skin as he struggled to breathe through it.
'where am I? The dungeon? Or worse.....the execution ground? Damn!' Ezra thought.
Then he heard a familiar footsteps. The king's. He trembled at the thought of what might happen to him.
"Remove it." Ailwin said calmly.
One of the guards stepped forward and yanked the sack off Ezra's head. He blinked, adjusting to the bright fire torch each of the guards held.
Ailwin stood before him, arms crossed. His expression was unreadable.
"Ezra," the king began, his voice gentle as ever. "Do you understand what you have done?"
Ezra swallowed hard but said nothing.
"You broke into my palace, you and your sister disrupted and assaulted my guards. And worst of all..." Ailwin crouched down, meeting Ezra's eyes. "...you brought an outsider into Eryndor."
Ezra's jaw tightened.
"As an official representative of the Glacial Throne," Ailwin continued, "your offense would normally result in years in the dungeon...."
Ezra's heart sank.
"Or death." Ailwin paused, getting to his feet. "But, I am not without mercy."
He turned his back to Ezra, hands clasped behind him. "The outsider understood his mistake and accepted his fault without a brawl. And now, he is gone."
Ezra's chest tightened. 'Ben.'
"And so," Ailwin said, "I will show you mercy as well."
Ezra exhaled shakily and bowed, pressing his forehead to the cold stone floor.
"Thank you, Your Highness," he whispered. "Thank you."
"Your sister and the guard will be released as well," Ailwin added.
Ezra's head snapped up. "Your Highne..."
"Your sister is a participant in the Blood Reaping, I believe," Ailwin said with a faint smile. Ezra nodded.
"Then let tomorrow decide if she lives or dies. I don't have to interfere." He chuckled.
Ezra's stomach churned, but he nodded. Ailwin waved his hand. "Guards, leave us."
The guards bowed and filed out of the room, the heavy door closing behind them with a thud.
Silence. Ailwin turned back to Ezra, his expression still calm. He crouched down again and stared at him.
"Look at me," he said softly. Ezra hesitated because he was terrified. He had messed up badly this time.
"Ezra." the king said, his voice firmer now. Slowly, Ezra lifted his head and met the king's gaze. There was an intense eye contact exchange between the two.
"Am I a joke to you?" Ailwin asked quietly.
Ezra's throat went dry. "Y-your Majesty, I..."
"You knew about the prophecy, didn't you?"
Ezra froze.
"Why didn't you say something? Anything?" Ailwin's voice was soft. Hurt, even. "Ezra, I thought we were close."
Ezra looked down, guilt washing over him. Ailwin reached out and gently grabbed Ezra's chin, tilting his face up.
"Tell me," Ailwin whispered. "Where is it?"
Ezra's heart pounded. "I...I went to the Oracle. That's all I know. Only the Oracle knows where the scrolls are."
Ailwin stared at him for a long moment, his eyes searching Ezra's face. Then he let go and stood.
"You won't go unpunished, you know that. If I keep showing you mercy every time you mess up, the councils and officials would start to percive me the wrong way."
Ezra nodded. "Yes, Your Highness."
He knew why he was getting punished. And maybe why the king couldn't spare him this time. He was hoping the king would save his heard once again but now that wasn't going to happen.
Ben had unknowingly saved several Glacian male participants in the prologue while using the Fantom Surge ability Ezra had recommended. And the king, knowing that his rule could be at great risk if the prophecy was true, was highly alarmed.
Ezra's plan had been working. But without Ben, the Glacians were guaranteed to lose when the first stage of the contest starts tomorrow.
The king turned away, his back to Ezra. "This will be your punishment," he said finally.
Ezra was hoping for the best and lightest punishment. But at the same time, hoping for the worst.