Four: Goodbye 

After this, Silvyr was never the same.  

It had been almost a year since Elisen was killed by Lectric, and he was still a shell of his former self. Layre tried his best to give his father the time he needed, but he was still unrecovered by his twentieth birthday, an event usually paired with lemon tart cake and unlimited, thoughtful presents. This year it was much more solemn. Layre got home from training late, and he went straight to bed, staring aimlessly at the cracked ceiling above his bed.  

Later that night, Layre was sat by the open window, listening to the soothing, soft rain when he knew it was time. He needed to go into the Shaded World. It was time to fulfill his purpose. He would be the one to end all Iyelian suffering for good. 

Layre had over-performed in the training school. He had been promoted five times within his first year, a thing entirely unheard of. Silvyr tried to acknowledge each promotion, but he could only celebrate so long before he grew distant and cold. Layre would rather he leave it be then to try at all.  

Staring into the glowing night sky, speckled beautiful with more stars than Layre could begin to count, he let out a long sigh. Tonight was the perfect night to leave, and he knew that. All was calm, his father was asleep, and he was nearing the end of his training. He needed not to graduate training school, all he wanted was to refine his skill. He had learned a lot, maybe not enough, but he was certain he would learn more during his journeys. He knew there were always more things to learn. 

So, eagerly, he packs all his belongings into a satchel that he drapes over his shoulder. He did not have much, most Iyelians didn’t. One thing he kept close to his heart was a sapphire gem necklace his mother gave him for his fifteen birthday. He rested his palm on the stone, feeling it grow faintly warm beneath his touch.  

He stared longingly at Silvyr, who was fast asleep in the living room. He seldom slept in his and Elisen’s bedroom anymore. It seemed to be too much for him.  

A part of Layre wondered if his father would even notice his absence. As ghostly as he was recently, he figured not. Or maybe he would, but it would be some time before he did. Layre frowned deeply, ashamed of how everything had turned out. He leaned down to his father and pressed his hands into his hair.  

“Goodbye, father.” 

Silvyr awoke for a moment, half a second, to murmur in his sleep-drunken state: “Elisen...?” 

Layre took to the night, swift and with purposeful steps. There were still two people he needed to say goodbye to.  

⊹₊⋆☁︎⋆⁺₊⋆ ☀︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆☁︎⋆₊ ⊹ 

 Peeking into the Inaro household window, Layre is startled.  

Olive is laying on Aderian’s bare chest, and the blanket is drawn over them loosely. Adreian has his hand on Olive’s back, holding her close to himself. The moonlight seeps gently into the bedroom, coating the snuggled pair with dappled blue light. Layre feels ashamed to be looking without them knowing, but he thought they seemed beautiful, peaceful. Floating on a cloud of bliss, as his father would often say when talking about his mother.  

This was a thing that Layre never understood. All his life, he thought himself broken, for he found no pleasure in being romantic with women. He thought they sounded nice, their voices, friendly and welcoming, but he never could picture himself having children or marrying a woman. He could not picture himself marrying anyone.  

When he grew restless at night, all he could imagine was himself, a knight, and Mageus, a prince in need of saving. He never got a good description of Mageus, so he would just imagine a different man each time. It was the only thing that he wanted, and he felt ashamed each time he imagined it. His imagination was different from most; he found it most comforting to imagine holding Mageus. When many found pleasure in sexual deeds, Layre found it with much tamer thoughts. He spoke of his affliction to no-one, as it was not a common practice in Iyelion, to love outside of traditional romantic expectation.  

“Adreian. Olive.” He says into the night, and Adreian flinches awake, holding Olive tighter. She stirs, too, leaning up.  

Layre turns away when the blanket slips from her chest.  

“Layre, is that you?” Olive asks, and Layre nods.  

“One second. Let us get dressed.” Adreian says sheepishly, though Layre does not care much about the circumstances.  

A moment later, they are both dressed and at the window.  

“What is it?” Adreian asks, reaching through the chicken wire to slide it out of the way. “I am sorry we did not tell you about us. We were going to, soon.”  

Layre offers a kind smile, holding the satchel close to his chest.  

“It is alright. It does not shock me.” They both blush when he says this. 

“So, what’s up?” Olive reiterates, the red embarrassment still plain on her face.  

“I am leaving Iyelion. I wanted to come and say goodbye.”  

“You’re leaving? Why?” Adreian forces his head through the window, alarm overcoming his face.  

“I’ve stayed here long enough. I must go to the Shaded World.” Layre explains, watching as they both stare at him, bewildered by it all. The blue moonlight has fallen off their faces now; the night grows old. Layre is running out of time. He wanted to be out of Iyelion before dawn broke. 

“Layre...” Olive tears up, reaching out of the window to draw Layre into a hug. Adreian follows, wrapping his long arms around them both.  

“I’m sorry. It is what I must do.” He tells them somberly, feeling a sharp pain grow deep within his chest, similar to the feeling he carried with him when Lectric killed his mother. The pain of knowing he may never see them again and knowing he must move on from the feeling, however long it lasts. So, he holds his friends close to himself for as long as he deems necessary before he lets go.  

“Promise us you will be back to see us sometime, Layre.” Adreian pleads, holding onto his friend's forearm with a firm grasp.  

“I cannot promise that. I do not know what the future holds in store for me. All I know is that I must go.”  

Disheartened but understanding, they both nod, and Layre leaves them, unsure if he would see them again but determined to, anyways.