Chapter 105: Inviting Ren Home
Ren stood tall in the faintly lit alley, his gaze unwavering on the pointed rooftop that was barely visible from deep within the courtyard.
Initially, he’d find all sorts of reasons to justify his frequent visits. Maybe he wanted to see how Kestrel’s wounds were healing or to ensure the Erdtree they had brought back wouldn’t pose any risk to her.
But as the days turned into weeks, these visits became routine for him. Every time he found himself catching a break after a tiring day, he’d instinctively drift back to this very location.
When he finally made his way back to the Imperial Nexus, Ren had armed himself with a list of reasons to explain his sudden departure and why he hadn’t waited for his comrades. Yet, much to his amazement, no one asked, and he never had to use them. Brandon didn’t blame him for leaving and even vouched for him.
After the fall of the Polluted Zone, many brave alphas ventured in, only to be greeted by the sight of a decayed, massive tree. Its fragile branches would turn to dust at the faintest contact, making it an impossible task to take any part of it. Not even a lone golden leaf could be salvaged.
The mission handed down by the queen—to retrieve a section of the Erdtree—had proven fruitless.
"You did your best, especially considering you managed to unlock the portal and defend yourself amidst all the mayhem," Brandon acknowledged when Ren got back. "It’s a pity we couldn’t meet the queen’s expectations. Still, the fall of the Erdtree’s Polluted Zone revealed lands and settlements lost for over four hundred years. This discovery has showered the Empire and its citizens with vast resources and riches. Your pivotal role in this will not be forgotten, and Luther and I will ensure the queen acknowledges your contributions."
With Brandon by his side, Ren’s responsibilities multiplied. His position was elevated, and he was now a sergeant in the royal guards.
Whispers floated around that the queen had publicly lauded Ren, in Luther’s presence, for his bravery and gallantry. Because he had selflessly paved the way for others, he became a beacon of inspiration for the emerging generation of alphas.
As for Cass, he was stripped of his rank and pushed out of the Empire’s power center. Conversely, Ren’s stature only soared higher. The newly appointed Minister of Military Affairs honored him with a combat medal featuring the queen’s portrait.
People who once turned a cold shoulder to him now embraced him warmly. It was as though they’d always been the tight-knit group of friends from their school years.
Suddenly, Ren’s social calendar was overflowing. He was constantly on the go, being invited to one celebration after another. Dressed in his finest attire and sipping on wine, he encountered those eager to forge a bond with him, as well as those he was keen to know better.
In the close community surrounding the Tower, opulent events and grand dinners were a regular affair. There was a plethora of mouth-watering dishes to savor and an unending flow of wine—it felt like a renaissance period where socializing and indulging were of utmost importance.
It was as if soldiers weren’t laying their lives on the line for a mere couple of ashcredits, or that children weren’t being thrust into battlefields when they should’ve been playing; it seemed as if the alphas didn’t have to fiercely compete for relics, or that numerous civilians weren’t starving at the gates; it was as though the wild didn’t harbor the Polluted Zone with its ferocious mutated beings and that once again.
Humans stood atop, reveling in luxury, prosperity, and comfort.
Sometimes, Ren felt like he was stuck in a weird, wild dream. It seemed like he was trudging through a super muddy swamp. Every step he took was shaky, and he felt like he was going to fall. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t get out, and finding stable ground seemed impossible.
Each day, when the fake excitement and showy glitz faded away, and all became quiet, Ren felt this growing hole inside him, a kind of sadness that kept getting deeper.
Even though the Imperial Nexus only got snow pretty late in the year, to Ren, this city felt colder than the icy places up North. Here, he just couldn’t find a place where he genuinely wanted to hang out or a cozy spot that made him feel warm.
Often, his mind would wander to Kestrel. He’d think back to the comforting hug she once gave him, how nice it felt when her hands touched his face, and that really peaceful nap they once had together.
Whenever he had a quiet moment to himself, he’d find himself drawn back to this same spot.
He knew that constantly coming back here might seem silly and even a little pathetic. But he was comforted by the fact that he was a super strong alpha with great instincts, which meant he could slip away without anyone noticing. He felt sure that no one had caught onto his odd, secret visits.
When he came to this spot, he wasn’t there with a big plan. He just wanted to watch from a safe distance now and then. Lots of people came here. Once, he saw an alpha kneeling down, softly kissing Kestrel’s hand. Seeing that made Ren’s heart string a bit.
He knew that Kestrel was super special and many alphas probably liked her. After all, she was the best beta out there, no question.
And he figured that maybe, someday, he’d see her with another alpha, walking side by side. But even then, he’d still pop by, standing back, just watching silently.
...
"I thought you’d sensed his presence," Kowaru told Kestrel. "I’ve felt how strong your psychic skills are. They’re so powerful, even more than mine, and they’ve seriously surprised me."
Kestrel, holding a hot tea, took a bite of her snack. As she did, her tendrils moved around, sensing Ren who was alone in a dark alley nearby.
"But isn’t it kind of rude to just go around sensing how everyone feels?" Kestrel asked, getting comfy on a window-side couch. "I mean, that’s what our teachers and everyone else always told us."
Sharing her thoughts with Kaworu, she added, "It’s like everyone says the same thing. It’s rude to just go around feeling everything. That’s not how a good beta is supposed to act. That’s why I try so hard to control it, only using it when I have to fight, and making sure they don’t just go wherever."
After saying that, a bunch of her tendrils touched the window’s edge, their tips kind of showing they both agreed and were annoyed.
"For real, it’s so frustrating. She’s always trying to control us."
"She’s always saying we’re rude."
"We just want to explore and learn, but she keeps holding us back."
"I mean, seriously, even just touching the fish gets us in trouble."
Kaworu took a break from his gardening, and said, "Is that really the case? It’s been four hundred years later, and betas are now so restricted?"
Kestrel and her tendrils rested on the windowsill. She wondered aloud, "Hasn’t it always been this way?"
"In the past, betas were proud of their sensing skills. They saw it as a strength," Kaworu mentioned as he stood under the moonlight, his silver mask shifting as he talked. "While alphas have sharp ears, betas have the gift of sensing. Together, they could spot enemies from afar. If you stifle a beta’s sensing day-to-day, won’t that hurt them in a fight?"
"People didn’t see it as rude back then?"
"Sensing is a gift betas have, especially for battle. Why would it be rude? Plus, alphas can hear stuff from far away too. Would you get mad at an eagle for flying high or a dog for its strong sense of smell?" Kaworu added, "If alphas don’t want betas to notice them, they should get better at hiding. Betas don’t mean to invade anyone’s privacy."
Kestrel had never thought about it this way. His words gave her a new sense of freedom and understanding. But in her time, people just didn’t see it like that anymore.
Kaworu touched the rose he’d planted. It seemed to move happily under his touch.
Raindrops started to fall on the rose.
"Is it starting to rain?" Kestrel looked up to see clouds covering the moon.
...
"Is it raining?" Ren looked to the sky and noticed the moon was covered by heavy clouds. Cold drops touched his face.
"I should go home," he thought. The night was especially chilly, and the ground of the alley felt like it had frost on it.
Lifting his foot, he saw a small tendril reaching out from the ground. It wrapped around his ankle and tugged his reddened finger. It felt to Ren like the tendril wasn’t just pulling his finger, but also his heart.
In the darkness of the alley, Ren’s cheeks turned red. He was glad that Kestrel didn’t come herself, but sent a tendril instead. If she had actually come out, he might have been too embarrassed and run off.
The tendril tugged harder, giving a comforting pat to his hand.
Slowly, Ren started to follow the tendril, leading him to a closed door.
The tendril, while still holding onto him, tried to sneak into a crack in the door.
Ren, who was usually so confident in fancy gatherings, stood outside this door, unsure. Only when the rain got heavier, soaking him, did he finally get the courage to press the doorbell.
