Chapter 109 Sanctum With Snakes (4)

It was an unfair trade–giving up your life and the chance to take care of your child in order to save the life of another. Lukas didn't exactly meet the gaze of his companions, each one seeming to have a different opinion than the other.

"Well, that's utterly tragic." Lukas muttered.

"But that still does not excuse his actions." Stacy's fist clenched together. Her dark red eyes blazed with a certain fire or perhaps reflected the burning flame in front of them. "A tragedy doesn't permit you to inflict pain on others, does it?"

"Well, it was his family we're talking about." Chaerin murmured. "What else would you have done in his shoes if his loved ones were taken away?"

"Then you're accepting that he's killed those who oppose him?" Stacy's gaze flickered to Chaerin's.

"Let's not pretend that we're dealing with innocents here." Chaerin smiled balefully. "This is a people who used to kill each other barbarically–and pardon me for saying this, but if everyone knew that the boy would undergo something like this, well they could have prepared him better."

"That's fair." Alexei said.

"Alexei!" Stacy looked at her brother aghast.

"Well, he could have handled it better by himself." Theodore relented a little. "Who's to say that his motivations are primarily motivated in avenging his parents? It could be a combination of other things too–he did seem to have an ideal of how the forest should be run."

"That's…" Chaerin frowned. It was easier to paint the picture of a tragic young man who lost everything instead of a power hungry individual who seized the chance to gain more power for himself.

A lot more palatable too.

"What do you think, boy? You've been quiet." the elderly woman laughed and turned to Lukas.

Lukas glanced at the elderly woman's scars and hoped to ask what exactly happened to her. Were these the scars from when Cervus attacked or was it something else entirely? Either way, he held himself and stood up instead.

"I'm going to talk with Ursa."

"What?"

"Do you think that's a good idea?"

Protests came from his companions and Lukas simply bit back a smile. He did not want to be some kind of arbiter for this group of people, if anything–he was not qualified to be the judge whatsoever.

But there was probably someone who could.

And he had an inkling of a chance that Ursa might be able to help him. Lukas brought his wooden bowl and sat across the fireplace of Nievu and Ursa, the two of them both threw glares at him.

"Hey," Lukas greeted.

"Have you and your friends made a decision?" Nievu's red eyes stared down at him.

"They shouldn't be here." Ursa grumbled and continued to slurp down her soup, before she received another serving from the elder sitting with them.

It was a surprise that these people had a soft spot for someone who looked quite scary, but there was a gentle and almost embarrassed look in Ursa's eyes as she accepted the fresh stew and ate again.

"Could you leave us for a moment? I have something I'd like to ask Ursa here." Lukas smiled and it was the cue for the elders to leave and join other fireplaces, but Nievu remained.

"That is unnecessary." Nievu frowned.

"I know, I know–but I didn't want them to see Ursa uncomfortable." Lukas said and then smiled as friendly as he could. "My name is Lukas and we just wanted to pass by here."

"Then go." Ursa said.

"Yeah, I had a feeling that you'd say that." Lukas nodded. "Which would be great if once we come back here and you grant us passage again–but Cervus is out to get your head. And I don't think that he'll stop, will he?"

Ursa's shoulders hunched together and her grip tightened across the stew bowl. Nievu once again glared at him, but Lukas ignored him and gauged Ursa's expression.

"You… you feel responsible for this, don't you?" Lukas said.

"Everyone fights and kills." Ursa sighed. "Better off gone, if it would bring peace."

"Don't say that!" Nievu turned to Ursa with a shake of his head. "You would be able to rule better than Cervus could once we manage to assassinate him."

"And someone will replace and start this fight again?" Ursa smiled bitterly. "Cycle and cycle, it's all the same but if I'm gone..."

"Well, we don't know if Cervus would actually let the others live if that happens." Lukas nodded empathetically. "That's why we're in this stalemate. However, what if there's someone who can be the judge of that?"

"Judge?" Nievu frowned. "Do you think someone has authority over this?"

"Heart of the forest?" Lukas raised a brow. "Do you think that someone who's been around at the start of everything can be a good judge?"

"We don't…"

"Huh." Lukas scratched his head. "I mean, I'm kinda guessing, but there's got to be a Dryad around here somewhere. Someone who's been taking care of you all and even giving the ability to navigate the forest–"

"Then they'll side with Cervus." Ursa frowned.

"We don't know that." Lukas wagged his finger. "And it's what I've thought of still being able to remain as an outsider while still helping out you know? So what do you say–we look for this Heart of the Forest?"

"And what if they don't really exist?" Nievu asked.

"Well, then we're gonna end up fighting Cervus." Lukas sighed and glanced around the fireplaces and the elders. "I don't want to be the judge of anything, but the person who still chooses to kill others because they don't get what they want is not cool. If they only wanted to avenge their family, it might have been understandable–but involving everyone else?"

"And what of the people I've killed." Nievu murmured.

"It doesn't seem like we can get through life without harming others." Lukas shrugged. "Some people may want to go the pacifist route, but that doesn't mean that those who've harmed–and even killed in your case are bound to suffer."

After all, how would Lukas look at himself when it was him who had to do the same?