Chapter 348: Eduardo’s Journal (III) (Bonus)
"I may have missed my time with writing these journals, but it seems all is well for now.
Celestina’s death changed many things. It has now been four years since then, and almost everyone has left except Francesca and myself.
Keating no longer stays at the manor, though he still works at the company. I still try to keep in contact with Bernadette and Xavier whenever I can."
Ethan continued reading.
"Young Master Ethan grows well. His smiles have a way of making everyone within the manor happy.
He also seems to have become good friends with Marvin’s children, although Marvin’s daughter possesses a lot more energy than Young Master can ever hope to keep up with.
I still notice the sadness upon Master Nathan’s face from time to time. Whenever I ask, he simply tells me that It isn’t over yet."
He slowly turned another page, then another.
As the years passed, Eduardo’s writing became increasingly sparse. The entries that had once been almost daily slowly became weekly, then monthly.
Eventually, entire stretches of blank pages appeared once more, interrupted only by occasional dated entries.
After flipping through several of those empty sections, another passage finally appeared.
"It displeases me that I have gone another nine months without writing. But much has fallen upon my shoulders during this time.
It is now only Victor and myself keeping the company together. At the manor, I also oversee Young Master Ethan’s daily needs.
Of course, these are not complaints. I would gladly do anything for my younger master, even if it means abandoning you, my journals."
Ethan smiled a bit, but it didn’t last. "Old man."
He turned another page.
"Lady Irene has fallen ill, and her condition never seems to improve. Master Nathan has tried everything he possibly can. In truth, it is all he keeps doing these days.
But every attempt only seems to worsen her condition. Master Nathan fears that if this illness completely overtakes her, it will weaken the cloaking spells that have kept her hidden since the last incident.
But more than that, he is afraid of losing his beloved wife."
Ethan’s expression slowly darkened as he continued reading in silence.
"I feel helpless that I am unable to aid Master Nathan in any meaningful way. Young Master also misses both of his parents, who can no longer devote to him the attention every child deserves."
"Sometimes, I find myself grateful for the constant presence of Marvin’s children around Young Master. Especially his troublesome daughter, Hayley.
She never allows Young Master enough peace to dwell upon the absence of his parents.
Though, I suspect this merely means I shall lose several more flower vases or yet another windscreen.
That little wench has absolutely no idea how much it costs me to have mine repaired."
He slowly lowered the journal and looked down, smiling just a tiny bit.
Hayley was still on his lap. Her breathing was soft and steady, she looked peaceful. Beautiful, even.
He turned another page.
"We may be in danger. Marvin has detected new signals entering Gritnia’s airspace, though they remain hidden above the clouds. There is more than one dragon this time.
Fortunately, Master Nathan cast a spell that continues to fool their senses. But there is only so much time before they eventually find us."
Ethan felt his heartbeat begin to quicken.
"Even His Majesty remains uncertain how to deal with dragons hovering above his kingdom. He dares not provoke them.
Marvin says they would take great offense if they discovered that the King’s strongest summon is the spirit of one of their own kin."
"Master Nathan has devised an idea. Marvin has already helped him establish contact with Jenner of the Hemilton Clan.
I do not yet know what they have planned. Only that, it is for Young Master."
He immediately turned the page.
’Today, I write with a heart filled with sorrow. Had I known beforehand, I would have tried to stop Master Nathan.
A significant portion of Young Master’s very being has now been sealed away. I do not know for how long, but for the foreseeable future, it shall remain so.’
Another page turned.
"Master Nathan has recalled every remaining member of the old guild. I do not yet know the purpose behind it."
He flipped again.
"Lady Irene’s condition continues to deteriorate. There are no words capable of describing the agony she endures.
Master Nathan himself has neither eaten nor properly slept for weeks.
But, he says he finally has a plan."
Even Ethan could feel it now. The further he read, the closer everything was drawing toward whatever had truly happened to Nathan and Irene.
Ethan flipped past another two blank pages before fresh writing finally appeared.
"Today may be the last time I ever write within this journal, or write anything at all. Master Nathan truly did have a plan, it is why he called the guild back. Marvin is here as well.
Master Nathan and Lady Irene intend to leave the city before the dragons hovering above the clouds descend upon this country and reduce it to ruin. Even I am uncertain whether I could defeat even one of them."
"Master Nathan has entrusted Young Master Ethan’s wellbeing to me, because he will not be leaving with his son. The dragons seek Lady Irene’s return, and matters would only become worse should they discover she bore a child. It is not a risk worth taking."
"He entrusted the company to Keating until Young Master Ethan reaches adulthood. Master Nathan gathered us together not just to bid us farewell, but to willingly agree to one final request. A request he claims will change all of our fates.
But he has chosen not to reveal it until tomorrow."
Ethan’s eyes widened as he hurried to the next entry.
"I said this would be the last time I write. Because today, for the first time since entering Master Nathan’s service, I lied to him.
He asked whether I still kept journals, and I told him I had abandoned them years ago.
I lied because, earlier today, I watched Master Nathan take from each of us, something that reminded us of him and Lady Irene.
He never explained why, and none of us asked. We simply trusted the man.
I watched Francesca cry as she surrendered the photographs she kept of herself and Lady Irene. Perhaps it is selfish of me, but I could not allow the same fate to befall these journals.
I could not bring myself to part with the only record that remained of the only people in this world I could truly call my family.
The final lines were at the bottom of the page.
"But, I must stop here. I will never continue this journal any further.
This is goodbye...
For good."
Silence settled over the room.
Ethan’s eyes glistened, heavy with emotions he couldn’t quite put into words.
"...Tch." The click of his tongue escaped through gritted teeth as he slowly shut the journal.