Chapter 297 - A Letter to Perun

In the room where the Koutaishidenka stayed, Kazehaya Gin sat by the low table formally with him sitting on his folded legs. In his hand was a pen and scented stationery was on the table, waiting for him to write on.

It's been thirty minutes since Ara left with Aki and Chiaki. His niece would be taking time away from her husband to she could sort out her thoughts. As her uncle, he had already decided that regardless of what she chose, he would still respect her decision and support her – even if there's a possibility he would go against his best friend as a result. However, he prayed whatever grievances she has, she would still choose to be with Kresnik in the end.

Nonetheless, while Ara's still undecided, there's a very important task that Gin still needed to do. With his memories now intact, it's his job to find his brother and inform him of everything that happened, was happening, would happen, and what still needed to be done.

Normally, he would go to Ged via the portal, but he couldn't do that for now. Ara still needed to have time off Ryuu, and he felt he needed to stay to support him. It would be devastating to learn that his beloved wife didn't want to have anything to do with him for now. This was why he would stay at the Cedar Palace. He would just send his brother a letter to inform him.

Also…

Kazehaya Gin gulped. He remembered how livid Perun was when he suddenly struggled without telling him the reason why he suddenly wanted to go somewhere else. He still hadn't gathered enough courage to face him. So, it's better to inform him this way.

He lifted his hand with the pen and began writing.

Dear Perun,

I hope this letter finds you well. I apologize for the delay as I haven't recovered my memories and celestial powers until recently. I am sure you are aware of it as you must have been safekeeping both and noticed the disappearance of my energy from the other side.

I'm sure we have a lot of things to discuss. However, I'd like to cut it short to the important things: the dark Alencica is not an enemy. We were wrong all along. I do not wish to break your heart, but there's no other way to say this. Both the light and dark sides of Alencica are your daughter. It was why she kept dying whenever we eliminated the one we thought was Czernobog's spawn. Breaking her soul was never the solution. We became miserable over the millennia because of our own mistakes.

I would like to tell you that the prophecy I had when we were on the way to be born as mortals. I didn't have time to tell you then because I didn't have enough time to escape the process of birth if I delayed.

To defeat the curse, Alencica should accept the evil part of her and utilize it to defeat the Black God so he won't be able to control her and become the harbinger of doom. It's the only way. But to do this, your daughter should overcome her grudges and choose to really fight to live a life that she's supposed to have with the people she loves.

I have reunited with Kresnik in this world. Your daughter is also here in my care. However, since she has recovered all the pieces to her soul, all the resentment from being unjustly killed has accumulated, and she's now lost about the future. She bears a grudge, but she's aware that everything happened because everyone thought it was what should be done to save her. She knows you love her, but she wants to deal with her heartbreak for now.

I'm sure you understand how Alencica is feeling, but I also hope that you do not blame yourself. We are all responsible for this. Do not shoulder the burden alone.

Your brother,

Stribog

Gin finished the letter and carefully folded it into three and placed it inside an envelope. Afterwards, he stood up and went outside the room and summoned one of the harpy sisters, the blue one, Ocypete, as she's the fastest among the horde.

"O-chi," he called the harpy by his pet name for her, and the harpy appeared. "Could you be a darling and go back to Ged to deliver this letter to my brother?"

Gin didn't need to ask a second time, as Ocypete took the envelope without question and immediately left for the portal. The Wind God didn't have to ask whether the harpy knew who his brother was as he knew all of them knew who he was, as they should have been staying with him while he still hadn't recovered his memories.

Still, he couldn't help but wonder whether his speculation that Perun was Ara's brother in Ged, the King of Ritz, Alistair was correct.  He truly believed that if he was Perun, then Ara shouldn't have died there. Knowing his brother's personality, he would be overprotective of Ara and keep her away from harm at all cost. But Ara still died…

He sighed. In any case, they would find out soon about what really happened there. Ara's memories of her other world were not reliable as she had been infected by a shadow lurker and had completely thought her brother, Alistair, was out to get her. But it was not the case.

"Are you really my brother?" Gin asked audibly as he returned to the room. Aside from looking similarly to him, he had no other indication that it was him.

He was still thinking about this when he spotted movement on the bed, and saw Ryuu awake, staring at the ceiling quietly.

"You're awake," he commented as he came closer and sat next to the bed. "How are you feeling? You're an idiot to let yourself be struck by lightning like that, you know?"

Although Gin could understand the reason somehow, he still didn't approve of such methods as it was dangerous and unnecessary.

"She died engulfed by my flames countless of times. What's this little injury compared to that suffering?" Ryuu uttered as he turned to Gin with resignation on his face. "Ara…"he began, and Gin cursed in his mind as he still hadn't thought of a method to tell Ryuu that she left.

Then again, there wasn't any need for that.

"She's gone, isn't she?" Ryuu asked, and all could Gin do was slowly nod.

Seeing his answer, the Koutaishidenka looked more forlorn as he turned his attention back to the ceiling, then closed his eyes.

"It's fine," Ryuu whispered. "I'll just have to work hard to win her back…"