CHAPTER 73: DUTY

...If he does not... then it’s better that he never knows of the plagues marring this land. "

Noctis stared wide-eyed at his mother, his heart beating at a rhythm strangely revealing and aware.

The rather cryptic words took on an alarming message as it entered his conscience.

If indeed what he had found was something he had always been supposed to find by his biological mother, and if indeed she was still alive and waiting, likely in some danger, then the situation became all the more complicated.

He felt the need to save her from the likely danger, felt a bit guilty about delaying all this time, leaving her in anguish for longer, but at the same time realised the danger it possessed.

The woman who could single-handedly decimate an entire herd of beasts while severely injured was most certainly much stronger than him.

Whatever was the thing or the circumstances that had her evading would not be something he could handle just as his own.

Noctis took a deep breath and took a sip of water.

After drinking water and taking some more time to ponder about her message, he realised he might be underestimating his own biological mother.

From what he could understand, she was aware of his connection to forests, his destined realm, and left a way to gain some knowledge about his origin.

But the way, the temple, wasn’t very hidden or hard to access.

Sure, it wasn’t apparent to the naked eye, but just by chance and coincidence, he could very well encounter the temple on his own and at a very young age.

If at an infantile age he did enter the temple and get her, then all her efforts would go to waste.

So it couldn’t be so easy.

Another thing that was plausible was that the temple itself was just a door and he needed a key, but he discarded it almost instantly.

He had been there more than two dozen times, and his instincts unmistakably told him every time that the only condition for the next bizarre event was entering the temple square.

He also thought of the cursed men tied there. Could they be a deterrent of some sort?

But found it even more preposterous after recalling their conduct when they first met him.

While Noctis was deep in his thoughts, forgetting where he even was, he looked towards the rough direction of the temple with a serious expression.

"You know the way, don’t you?"

The sudden soft voice fell in his ears, surprising Noctis.

He was even more spooked after hearing her question.

"H-Huh? Uh... what?"

"The way the angel had described. You know of it, right?"

"Uh... well. no... yes... no..."

Noctis tilted his head here and there, not knowing whether to lie or come clean.

"So you do. I finally understand why you’ve always looked so conflicted at times. You want to go, don’t you?"

"What conflicted? Where?"

Noctis made an expression as if presented with the most bizarre observations.

Elle narrowed her eyes as she came closer.

"You are going to lie to me?"

"No.. what? No.. it just isn’t like that. I just found something strange.. I don’t even know what or how it works and what it’ll lead to..."

Noctis finally opened up, seeing no way out.

"And you’ve been denying your wish to proceed because of me, haven’t you? Oh my poor child, how sorry I feel to have made you so burdened..."

Elle said apologetically as she hugged Noctis in her embrace.

Noctis tried to budge in energy now and then as she went on and on about how proud she felt but also very guilty about denying him his destiny or some crap like that, but she didn’t allow for any of it.

"Tell me, is it very dangerous?"

"Likely not, Mum..."

"Truly?"

"Verily."

"You don’t lie?"

"Not to you."

"That’s a lie!"

"No..."

"You want to go...?"(softly)

*Long pause*

"...yes..." (softly)

"Very well. Go. It’ll be fine."

Elle took a deep breath and finally said.

"But what if something does end up happening and I go missing for another long time?"

"What then?"

"Well, just look at the weather... look at the times in this country... It’s not a great time to leave you all alone."

Elle laughed a little at his cute little face, making that expression that held a strange maturity normally in such a teary-eyed, worrying expression.

It soothed her heart more than any words of affection she could have heard.

She knew he really cared for her.

After laughing to herself a little, she cupped her face and said,

"I’m old and weary, my dear. If you stay here all day wasting your precious youth, what will I say to your mother when she comes back, huh?"

"But—"

"Was I or was I not fine during the previous little mischief of yours?"

"Umm..."

Noctis looked down pitifully, not knowing how to answer.

"Worried sick?...Sure. For your sake I’ll always be worried. But I can’t chain you to me.

And don’t be fooled by this old skin. I can still fend for myself. This time I’ll at least be sure of your magical gifts and the purpose of your exercise.

Heavens protect those that fight for their duty. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Mum..."

Noctis finally nodded, feeling a strange sense of vertigo covering his consciousness.

After a little bit of chit and chat it was finally decided that he would take the step the following day.

Even if the chances were 50-50, Noctis wanted to make sure he did everything he could in case things went south.

So he finished any pending work around the house or in the backyard.

Went out for an extensive hunt after following a little prayer, which he felt strangely obliged to do instinctively after killing so many beasts in such a short time.

Regardless, he felt it a must and did what his instinct compelled him to do.

In this world, he had to take instinct with as much apparel as reason.

After doing everything he could do, foreseeing future problems, Noctis stood the next day in front of the stone temple.