CHAPTER 213: PLAN FOR DATE

Riven stayed in the position, tears pouring from his eyes, his heart ached.

"I heard what your father told you."

Riven heard his grandfather’s voice. He looked up and saw him walking toward him.

"Liam died," Riven muttered.

"So I heard. I’ve never known Liam, but your father said he was one of the best knights that this barony had to offer.

He also told of his impact in your life, boy, the first person to hold the sword and teach you when even I and your father could not.

It’s right to cry about his loss, cry that he died, because grief frees the soul, it makes you feel lighter.

But the issue here is that you aren’t crying or grieving, boy."

Riven looked up in confusion, tears still in his eyes. "What do you mean?" Riven asked.

His grandfather stood in front of him. "You are angry that he died, not sad that he died. You are pained that someone you love has been lost, and there was nothing you could do about it," his grandfather spoke, his words like a bombshell.

Riven looked up, shock in his eyes.

"Ahh, so I was right. You are enraged because of the fact that you were unable to save him, even though there was no way in this world you would have been able to.

I’ve met many people like you, many. They decide that the life of the people they love and care for is theirs to protect down to the very tiniest detail.

It makes them paranoid, reckless at times, and prone to doing things they aren’t supposed to, all in an attempt to protect those people.

Liam was a warrior; battle was his home, death was the gate to his rebirth. He fought a fight that others could not, and he won a victory that, even when buried in the annals of time, will not be forgotten in the hearts of people like you."

Riven heard the words of his grandfather, then he got back on his feet. "You are right, grandfather. I can’t save everyone, but I’ll try to regardless, because my heart wants me to. As for the fact that Liam was only a name on a list, I can never accept that.

Neither will I accept it for the fourteen more knights that died, and the hundreds more that died across this kingdom.

I can’t allow that, sorry. I feel if someone gives his life for something, he should be recognized in the best way possible; his name should be known," Riven said.

His grandfather’s eyes widened when he heard that. He remembered all the friends that he had lost in battle, every comrade that had been killed and are now only in his memories and nothing more.

"So what are you going to do?" he asked Riven.

"When the Gala comes, I’ll make sure I make my voice heard. Their deaths are not supposed to be forgotten; Liam isn’t going to be forgotten, ever," Riven said and walked out of the training house.

He went to bed soon after, tired. And that sleep felt very short as the sun rose and forced him to wake up.

He groaned in bed as he rolled off. "That was a very terrible sleep," he muttered.

"You were overworked yesterday night," Twilight said.

"Huh? So you can speak to me more frequently now?" Riven said.

"Pretty much every time now. I can finally have normal conversations like I’ve wanted to," she said.

"Yeah, that’s nice, having someone to talk to all the time," Riven said.

"But you have your brother and friends," she said.

"They are good, but they don’t know the full me. The only one that does is Noel, and he isn’t always going to be around, so having you around will be good," Riven said.

"I see. So what’s the plan for your day?" she asked.

"Dark has returned to his workshop. It would be a good joke to drop by and ask if I can learn about blacksmithing. I also want to ask him about you, how he got in contact with you," Riven said.

He got ready as quickly as he could and left the room. He shut the door only to see Liana standing outside his door.

"Uhm, how long have you been here?" he asked.

"A few minutes," she responded.

"Uhhhh, why?" Riven asked, tilting his head to the side.

"We said we have to get to know each other better, so I want a date," she stated.

"Huh? I’m confused, you want to take me on a date?" he asked to confirm.

"Why would I do that? Don’t get too cocky," she replied.

"You are taking me on a date," she said, and from her expression, she wasn’t joking.

’Why is she acting like this? Is Sofia somehow influencing her?’ Riven thought.

"Ohh, okay, I can plan something in a few days," he said.

"No, tonight," she said and folded her arms.

"Today? I didn’t have anything prepared," Riven said.

"Well, you better. I’d hate to tell my mum and dad that after I finally started showing you some interest, you decided to stand me up," she threatened.

"Oh, come on, straight to threats?" Riven asked.

"Yes," she said with a soft smile and a giggle. "I’ll be waiting by sunset," she added and then walked away gleefully.

"You don’t seem exactly happy about the date," Twilight said.

"No, it’s not that, it’s just that I don’t know much about handling my feelings or the feelings of people toward me.

I never got to experience all that. You would think that I would be capable of doing that because of all the books I have read, but it turns out feelings really can’t be understood through books," Riven said. He locked his door, let out a sigh, and left.

One thing at a time, he would handle the blacksmith stuff and then later think about the perfect date to do in a rush.

"Urghh, today will be stressful as well," he complained.