The Crossroad to Rockwell: The Forest

As Cecily was mostly bedridden, she had hardly been outside. Now that things were different, she did her best to travel. However, we made sure not to take her anywhere dangerous or for her to exert herself too much. She was energetic to ride with us out to the borders but depressingly negative when she was sent back to Veil. We sent the horses back with her, as they’d be impractical in the forest.

My prior conversation with Richard must’ve hit home real hard. He seemed mostly lost in thought and in self-doubt. I can’t exactly read his mind, frustrated I asked.

“Richard, whatever is on your mind. I order you to convey it to me right now.” My sudden demand surprised him at first, but after he gathered himself and realized how out of it he had been he nodded and gently smiled.

“Sorry. I’m alright, you don’t have to worry, I’ve just been recollecting myself.”

“My order still stands” I tilted my head to the left. He hesitated before speaking this time.

“Ever since little, I grew up hearing stories of great sacrifice and chivalry. And because I had been constantly comparing myself and my deeds to a knight and his, I felt inferior. I felt that I could never become like the men in the stories. I was disappointingly weak and unskilled. Sword masters refused to take me as their pupil as I would lower their name. To be frank, I felt useless. And when Ruth attacked us, I didn’t throw myself between the two of you for your sake. I did it for mine. I thought that, if I could sacrifice myself to save another then this life of mine will have finally served a purpose. And if you were to continue to help humanity, then that would give my sacrifice greater meaning.” His head sunk, his gaze fell to the ground. “I’m sorry, I know how selfish it was for me to think and act like that. But, now that I’ve had the time to learn and train under you. I won’t place my responsibilities onto you like that. If I am to save someone, I will do it with my own two hands.” I grabbed his hands and ordered him to look at me. I gazed past the withheld tears and into the blue.

“Do you know what I see? I see a chick hatching from its egg. You’re barely older than me so it’s too soon to think about self-sacrifice okay? I accept your apology, but I want you to leave the past behind now. If you believe in me, then you should also believe in yourself.”

“Why?”

“Because, I believe in you. You aren’t the same Richard who stalked me through the woods, the man who could barely lift his sword. You’re a different man now. I know you’ve been training even without me. That’s why you’re going to prove it to me, right? That contracting with you was the right decision.” I gave him the warmest smile I could.

“Yes, I’ll do my outright best to prove that I am worthy of your blessing.”

“Yup, and just so you know. I’ve never performed the contract with anyone before, you were the first. As the only person to receive my blessing. If you were to sacrifice yourself for someone random. It would really upset me.”