Chapter 04 - The Night Of Farewell
1106 Words
The final night arrived far too quickly.
For Aren, the entire day felt unreal.
Every moment seemed more valuable than before.
Every smile.
Every conversation.
Every familiar sight.
As if his heart already knew he might never see them again.
The sun slowly disappeared beyond the distant hills.
Darkness spread across Green Hollow.
And with it came the moment of choice.
The Vale family sat together for dinner.
The atmosphere was peaceful.
Yet Aren found himself memorizing everything.
The wooden table his father built years ago.
The smell of his mother's cooking.
The sound of Lina complaining about chores.
He wanted to remember it all.
Forever.
"Why are you staring at us like that?"
Lina suddenly asked.
Aren nearly choked on his food.
"What?"
"It's weird."
Elena laughed.
"She has a point."
Darius nodded.
"You've been acting strange for two days."
Aren forced a smile.
"Maybe I'm just tired."
Nobody seemed convinced.
But nobody pressed further.
Later that evening, the family gathered outside.
The stars shone brightly overhead.
Darius looked at the sky.
"When I was young, I dreamed of exploring the world."
Lina looked surprised.
"You?"
"Hard to believe, isn't it?"
Everyone laughed.
Even Aren.
For a brief moment, the heaviness in his heart disappeared.
Then his father turned toward him.
"Aren."
"Yes?"
"If life ever gives you a road you didn't expect..."
Darius smiled.
"Walk it without regret."
The words struck him deeply.
Aren lowered his head.
"Okay."
For some reason, his father placed a hand on his shoulder.
As if saying goodbye.
Even though he didn't know why.
Shortly afterward, Aren left the house.
The village was quiet.
Only the sounds of insects filled the night.
His feet carried him toward the river.
The place where he always met Selene.
The place where countless childhood memories were born.
And, perhaps, where one chapter of his life would end.
She was already waiting.
Just like always.
Moonlight reflected in the water behind her.
For a moment, she looked almost unreal.
Beautiful.
Fragile.
Lonely.
"You came."
Aren smiled.
"Of course."
Selene didn't return the smile.
Instead, she stared at the river.
Silent.
The air felt different tonight.
Heavier.
More emotional.
Finally, she spoke.
"The goddess is coming tonight."
"Yeah."
"And you'll choose."
Aren nodded.
Neither spoke for several moments.
Then Selene asked quietly:
"Do you want to go?"
The question was simple.
Yet impossible.
Aren looked toward the sky.
"I don't know."
That answer surprised even him.
Because it was completely honest.
He didn't want power.
He didn't want adventure.
But he couldn't ignore what he had seen.
Entire worlds being destroyed.
Countless lives disappearing.
If there was even a chance he could help...
How could he turn away?
Selene clenched her fists.
"Aren."
Her voice trembled.
"I don't care about other worlds."
The words stunned him.
"I care about this one."
She looked directly into his eyes.
"I care about this village."
Tears slowly formed.
"And..."
She stopped.
Her courage nearly failed.
But this time she forced herself forward.
"And I care about you."
The words hung in the night air.
Simple.
Honest.
Real.
Aren froze.
For years, both of them had hidden those feelings.
For years, neither had spoken.
And now, on the night everything might end...
The truth finally emerged.
Selene lowered her head.
"I know I'm selfish."
"I know there might be bigger things happening."
"But I don't want to lose you."
A tear slid down her cheek.
"I love you, Aren."
The world seemed to stop.
The river.
The wind.
The stars.
Everything became silent.
Aren felt his heart race.
He had imagined hearing those words countless times.
But never like this.
Never while standing on the edge of losing everything.
Slowly, he stepped closer.
Then gently held her hands.
"Selene."
Her eyes met his.
Filled with fear.
Hope.
And sadness.
"I love you too."
The confession escaped almost effortlessly.
Because it had always been true.
Since childhood.
Since the days they played in the fields together.
Since the days they dreamed about the future.
For a brief moment, happiness appeared on Selene's face.
A genuine smile.
Perhaps the happiest smile she had ever shown.
Yet tears continued falling.
Because neither of them knew what would happen next.
Then the sky trembled.
BOOOOOOM.
Golden light split the heavens.
The stars disappeared.
The air became heavy.
Lyra had returned.
The Goddess of Eternity descended slowly from above.
Her silver hair flowed like liquid moonlight.
Golden eyes shone brighter than the stars themselves.
She landed several meters away.
Silent.
Patient.
Waiting.
Aren slowly turned toward her.
The moment had arrived.
The choice could no longer be delayed.
Lyra looked at him.
"What is your answer?"
No pressure.
No command.
Only a question.
The answer belonged entirely to him.
Aren closed his eyes.
Images flashed through his mind.
His father working in the fields.
His mother's smile.
Lina's laughter.
Selene standing beside the river.
Everything he loved.
Everything he wanted to protect.
Then he remembered the darkness consuming entire galaxies.
The countless worlds disappearing.
The future that awaited if nobody fought back.
Slowly, he opened his eyes.
And made his decision.
"I'll go."
The words echoed through the night.
Selene's face turned pale.
As if her heart had shattered.
Aren turned toward her.
"I'm sorry."
She tried to smile.
Tried to be strong.
But tears flowed uncontrollably.
"Idiot."
Her voice broke.
"You really are an idiot."
Before he could respond, she suddenly hugged him.
Tightly.
As though letting go would mean losing him forever.
Aren hugged her back.
Neither wanted the moment to end.
Even Lyra remained silent.
Watching.
For the first time, a strange feeling stirred within her chest.
A feeling she could not name.
A feeling that would grow stronger as the years passed.
Eventually, Selene stepped back.
Her eyes were red from crying.
But she smiled.
A brave smile.
The smile of someone hiding unbearable pain.
"Come back."
Aren nodded.
"I will."
Neither knew that promise would become impossible.
Lyra raised her hand.
A massive golden portal appeared behind her.
Beyond it stretched endless stars.
Infinite worlds.
Countless unknown futures.
Aren took one final look at Green Hollow.
At his home.
At the only life he had ever known.
Then he stepped forward.
Toward destiny.
Toward eternity.
Toward a war that had already lasted millions of years.
As the portal closed, Selene fell to her knees.
Watching the place where he had disappeared.
Her tears wouldn't stop.
And deep within the shadows beyond the world...
Something watched her.
Something ancient.
Something from Hell.
A voice whispered softly.
"Do you wish to see him again?"
Selene's eyes widened.
The darkness smiled.
- Writer
