The King's Beloved

[Music Recommendation: "Bound By Fate" by Yasunori Mitsuda (Chrono Cross OST) - available in Spotify or Youtube] ~ Please listen to it in a loop while you read this part to experience the utmost beauty of this scene ~

A heavy atmosphere filled the place. Everyone sobbed from the heart wrenching truth that was revealed before them. Finally, answers to their questions were given. Only, they weren't sure if they were strong enough to handle it.

A moment of silence passed by…

A moment of deep and solemn silence…

Elliot's memories began to patch up, like a puzzle, slowly reaching its completion. Along with it, the throbbing in his head started to fade away. Though in return, it gave more pain in his heart. 

Watching his parents die right before his very eyes rekindled the despair that had been hiding inside him for a very long time. Amare's actions made sense to him. If there was anyone in that room who understood her pain most, it was him. For the late king and queen were his very own parents. And they all died because of a simple mistake he made as a child.

Again, thoughts of blaming himself crossed Elliot's mind. Gritting his teeth, and clenching his hands tight, he told himself over and over not to dwell in guilt. But the more he did, the more he succumbed to it. Like a quicksand, slowly swallowing him up.

But then… he remembered the words of the Supreme to him back when they travelled to the Seventh Gate, and he had to face his own fear.

"My child, the world will give you many tribulations. But take heart! For I have overcome the world. I will always be with you. I will never leave you, nor forsake you… So be strong and take heart! And always remember who you are".

Remembering those precious words, Elliot's lips began to smile.

"You are not a harbinger of destruction, you are the herald of salvation.

You are not the root of all evil, but instead, the root of all goodness.

When you helped a beast in pain… 

When you were tempted but you endured… 

When people needed you, you didn't turn them away… 

When someone offended you, you chose to forgive… 

When faced with the impossible, you chose to believe… 

In your heart shines patience, kindness, meekness, self control, mercy, joy and compassion.

Truly, you are my son, and today, I have begotten you".

A heartwarming peace started to envelope Elliot's heart. For indeed, the perfect love of the Supreme was far greater than any sin, or guilt, or any fear that tried to swallow him again.

And so, instead of dwelling in the sea of guilt like before, Elliot pressed forward. Though everything that happened was extremely regretful—a painful tragedy, still, there was hope.

"Thank you, Ducis, and Calum," Elliot smiled warmly towards the two. "Thank you for letting us know the truth."

Everyone was shocked at how well Elliot was taking it all in, especially King Calum who was still traumatized by everything that happened that day. Rania, Ducis, and Lunaflora felt proud of Elliot. They all worried that he might not be able to accept or cope with the past… but fortunately, he did.

Amazed by Elliot's strength, King Calum smiled bitterly. He found it reassuring that his younger cousin was strong enough to handle all that—something he found extremely hard to do. He sighed in relief knowing that. But there was still one question that lingered his mind.

"Elliot… I'm overjoyed that you are alive, truly. But how? How did you manage to survive? We all thought that you were…" King Calum asked with a desperate expression. If he only knew that he was alive all this time, then maybe… it would have been easier for him to endure.

"Regarding that matter," Illuminaire stepped in, "it would be because of us." She referred to herself and her twin brother, Clavis.

And so, it was time for the twins to reveal the secret of the keys they were holding. Everyone turned to the twins to listen to what they had to say. This time, with no re-enactment through magic. 

"It all started a few weeks before that great tragedy," Illuminaire explained. "I received my very first vision, an oracle, from the Supreme. It was no prophecy, nor simply a dream. It was as if… He brought me to the future Himself. To the future where the late king, queen, and the crown prince, all laid lifeless on the ground. A very clear and lucid dream it was."

"Aside from the dream," Clavis added, "I also received a word from the angels of the Supreme on the exact same day that my sister saw the vision."

Then, in a chorus, the twins spoke the words that the angel of the Supreme directly told them.

"Take the prince and hide him away,

In the Forbidden Chambers shall he stay.

Take heed and do not delay,

Or you will risk the future astray."

Everyone felt shivers run through their skin upon hearing those words, as if the Spirit of the Supreme passed by them like the wind.

"Though we may be mere children at that time, we were still the descendants of the Great Oracle," Illuminaire continued. 

As befitting of the Oracle she was, she held her head high, confident and dignified.

  "If it is the Supreme's will, then surely, we WILL follow. And thus, when the tragic event unfolded, we made sure to take the Crown Prince when no one was looking, masking it as if his body disintegrated in the air when he released too much of his spiritual energy. Then, we took him to the Forbidden Chamber and waited for the Guardian of Time and Space. When he came back, we told him the vision and explained the instructions of the Supreme."

"Yes," Ducis nodded, "They told me of how I should take care of Elliot until he grows older. How he was the Chosen King of the Supreme, and how I should guide him through the Rite of Passage. And all of those, was to be done in secret. So I created a strong barrier from the Forbidden Chamber up to the Forbidden Forest, making it inaccessible to anyone up until today, and trapping Elliot inside for several years."

Ducis' face saddened. He still felt sorry for trapping a mere child inside his dwelling place for a very long time. The childhood he could have enjoyed were all taken from him.

But Elliot corrected his words. 

With a confident smile, he patted Ducis' shoulders and said, "Not trapping, 'protecting' me for several years."

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