Chapter 557 - Shameless (1/2)
CHAPTER 557
SHAMELESS
Six figures stood leaning against the cool wall of the hall, silently observing the ball that had long since begun in full. The dancing platform was permanently filled with people, and the music itself never stopped, instruments mingling either together, or bellowing out in solo pieces. On occasion, even those from the elevated platform would dip down for a quick dance or two, though it was mostly the general audience.
Eldon stood in silence, drinking with a relaxed expression, observing the ongoing ball with a faint smile on his face. He looked no different than other humans now, albeit slightly on the taller end of things, with groomed hair and beard and the festive, somewhat flamboyant clothes. Though a smile hung on his face, there was a trace of bitterness in his eyes. Shortly after he talked with Gaia – confessing who she was – she vanished. Though he could have asked Lino or even Hannah to find her, he chose not. If she ever wanted to find him, she would, of that he was certain.
Besides, in more ways than simply one, she was no longer the same Alana that grew up under his eyes. She wasn't a child anymore, chiseled by eons of the rugged and biting winds, her own, whole person.
”… that guy really didn't return?” Elta quizzed with a somewhat queer smile, glancing at the empty chair up above. ”Tsk, you sure knew how to pick 'em, Eldon…”
”Isn't that his style by now?” Reli chuckled. ”Do something outlandish and then just… vanish.”
”Always has been,” Eldon chuckled as well, shaking his head. ”Could never quite read him completely.”
”… do you regret it?” Itor, the solitary one of the Writs who never entered the conflict until the very end asked. ”Giving up all that strength?”
”… not one bit,” Eldon replied with a smile. ”It wasn't for me.”
”How long have you known?” Artur asked Itor following a brief silence.
”Known what?” the starkly red-haired and red-eyed man asked back.
”That the famed Writ of Chaos was Eldon.”
”Oh,” Itor chuckled lightly. ”Not too long; perhaps a few decades prior to Lino becoming the Bearer.”
”And it never occurred to you to share it with us?” Reli asked, arching her brows.
”Would you have even believed me?” Itor shrugged. ”Besides, the fact that I remembered told me that you will too, eventually. So… I just had to wait.”
”It doesn't matter anymore,” Elta chimed in, shrugging. ”The question is… what do we do now?”
”… I'll be staying here,” Eldon replied as everyone turned toward him. ”At least for some time. What about you?”
”Same here.” Reli replied immediately.
”Ditto.” Elta joined in.
”I've to visit those famed brothels as well…” Artur added with a smirk.
”Elta's staying, so I'm staying as well.” Itor added.
”We still need to wait for Anda.” A rather gloomy-looking man, seeming no older than thirty, spoke out for the first time, his starkly black eyes seeming perpetually half-closed.
”Hoh, look who suddenly cares for Anda,” the woman who was yet to speak joined in as well with rather loud laughter; her strikingly short, brown hair shimmered beneath the light of the chandeliers. ”Weren't you two always fighting back home?”
”Oh shut it, jealous s.l.u.t.” The man rolled his eyes at the woman, sighing. ”There's a whole new world of men waiting for you – go, start chasing.”
”Ah, here we go again…” Elta mumbled as she and Itor quickly withdrew, Artur following soon after, deciding to try and mingle with the crowd, leaving behind only Eldon and Reli who, a few minutes later, were also no longer able to endure the valiant attempts at masked flirtation, withdrawing.
”Still no word from Alana?” Reli asked in a somber tone as the two made their way to the nearby table full of fruits, both grabbing gr.a.p.es by a handful.
”No.” Eldon replied.
”… it's only been a few months,” Reli said, biting her lower lip. ”She'll reach out, I'm sure of it.”
”… thanks,” Eldon chuckled blithely, shaking his head. ”But, whether she does or not… it's fine.”
”… ugh, you stubborn, old oak,” Reli grunted, slapping the back of his head gently, startling him. ”If you won't start looking for her, I will.”
”… how is it possible that your temper hasn't changed even after all this time?” Eldon sighed, rubbing the back of his head, smiling bitterly.
”How is it possible that you were able to face the world alone, yet cower in the face of your own kid?” Reli sighed as the two sat down on the small protrusion of the windowpane, their bodies cast in thick shadow, hidden from the peering eyes.
”It's easy,” Eldon said. ”I didn't care all that much about the world.”