The Revival: Epilogue 2 - Worries
Five steps to the left, five steps to the right. Five left, five right, back and forth.
Just how long has Zhaetorus paced around the room, and how come he didn’t become dizzy? Well it mattered not.
Way past nine in the evening, only us — I, Zhaetorus, Ellieros, Neirin and Amalthea — waiting in the Meeting Room for Tzidkiya and Mikael’s return.
Naturally some were more patient than others.
-I was sitting near the mosaic mural, simply cleaning my sword.
-Neirin and Amalthea on the couch, the former lying upside-down -somehow- and the latter sitting cross-legged.
-Ellieros on his rather decorated armchair, looking as if he’s been disturbed from his sleep one too many times.
-And Zhaetorus... Pacing around the room impatiently, with each step becoming increasingly faster as time went on.
“... Careful there. You might cause a dent on the floor.” He ignored. Typical.
“Time won’t pass faster if you continue like that.” Only then did he glare at me.
“You think I don’t know that?” He snapped. Nothing new.
“I knew that rascal was up to something, I just knew it! I insisted we make a search party, but did anyone listen?!”
“We did, loud and clear. But it was Tzidkiya’s choice to go on his own. Don’t tell me you’re that worried about a rival?” He rolled his eyes at my statement and didn’t answer my question.
“... That’s what I thought.” Of course he was worried, Mikael was one of the few who offered him a challenge in a fight.
“Why even bother with them both anyway? It’s not like they would work out as a couple on the long run.” Ellieros scoffed, pessimistic and surly as ever. Though I knew he was merely disheartened by how things turned out... Perhaps the truth is that he put a lot of faith in it.
“Eeey, if that was the case, fella Mika wouldn’t have saved Tzidkiya the other day! If thay ain’t love, whatzit then?” Neirin flailed dramactically on the couch to make her point known, and Amalthea only nodded. Being childhood friends, they had the most trust in Mikael.
“Also, do us a favor and at the very least, speak at a lower volume. You’ll wake the young deities with your rants, Zhaetorus.” He opened his mouth to say something, but closed it and his eyes widened, and he relented. From an angry Storm God to an ashamed man, in the blink of an eye.
“... Well, that doesn’t change anything. How long are we going to wait until the doors open? And if they don’t come back?” I shrugged slightly.
“Knowing those two, they’ll be fine. Perhaps even learning a few lessons out of these events. Cerys is on lookout outside the room, so it depends on her.”
The doors of the Meeting Room opened, and Cerys appeared.
“Mikael and Tzidkiya have returned.”
“They’re back?!” Everyone (except me) asked in unison.
“Like I said.” I spoke up. Less than two seconds after, they all gathered in front of her.
“Where precisely are they?”
“Did they break up?”
“Are they hurt?”
“Did a Nether Beast attack them?”
Zhaetorus, Ellieros, Amalthea and Neirin all asked at the same time, surrounding Cerys. What a mess.
“Um, for all that’s sacred, let me finish before you ask!” The Demon Queen stepped back and frowned at the four, displeased. They stopped pestering her.
“Thank you. Now then.” She cleared her throat.
“Mikael had successfully slayed the Nether Beast he was after, and Tzidkiya found him shortly after the deed. They’re both at the Infirmary, Mikael is resting and Tzidkiya is taking care of him. He told me to inform you all that he doesn’t want visits tonight.” Everyone looked disappointed at best.
“He’ll be more than glad to see everyone by tomorrow, however. And may I add... Zhaetorus?”
“Mikael said you may replace him on the front lines. In other words, congratulation on being promoted” She smirked at his confused face. The others were just astonished.
“You heard me right. Go ask him tomorrow if you don’t believe me.” She turned around to leave.
“Now if you excuse me, I have something important to attend in Hell. Come by if you need me~!”
“Wait, hold on.” Ellieros intervened.
“How about that issue of theirs? Did they split?”
She remained silent for a moment, then smiled.
“... They’ll be alright. It’s only a matter of time.” And with that, Cerys left.
The four kept talking to each other, but by then I no longer paid attention and returned to cleaning my sword.
... Yes. Only a matter of time indeed, and perhaps a matter of understanding. I’ve known for the longest time that they were good for each other, but what they lacked was a proper mutual understanding of their issues.
Then again, who were we to blame or judge them?
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Part 2 of the Epilogue, Part 1 is here, and The Revival can be found here!
