Chapter 15 – The Weight of Staying
The night was quiet.
Too quiet.
Naz sat with his back against a broken wall, his body still heavy from the battle. His left leg was wrapped in torn cloth. His right arm hung limp at his side. Every breath still carried a faint sting.
Chimini sat beside him, her small hand gripping his sleeve. She hadn't let go since he fell.
A few steps away, the child they had saved was asleep, curled beside a stone pillar. His name was Ren.
For the first time in years…
the sky above the Kingdom of Diamond was clear.
No current.
No black clouds.
Only distant stars.
Naz stared at them without blinking.
A voice broke the silence.
"You're still awake."
An old woman approached slowly, carrying a small clay pot. Steam rose from it.
"Soup," she said. "You haven't eaten."
Naz didn't move.
She sighed.
"I was among those who threw stones at you."
Chimini tightened her grip.
"I thought you were the reason the Current rose," the woman continued. "I thought… if you hadn't come… the sacrifice would have been enough."
She paused.
"But it never stops. It only hungers more."
Naz finally spoke.
"Then why throw stones?"
The old woman lowered her eyes.
"Because it's easier to blame a stranger… than to accept that your children were never safe."
Silence.
Naz reached for the pot. His hand trembled slightly as he drank.
"Thank you."
She shook her head.
"Don't thank me."
She stood slowly.
"Leave before dawn. Some will call you a savior… others will call you a curse."
She walked away.
Before dawn—
Footsteps.
Fast.
Desperate.
A woman ran into the square, tears streaming down her face.
"MY SON!"
She collapsed to her knees, arms wide open.
The child froze.
Then—
"Mom…!"
He ran into her arms.
Crying.
Clinging.
The father stood behind them, silent… but his hands trembled.
Then—
He lifted his head.
And looked at Naz.
He said nothing.
He bowed.
Deeply.
For a long time.
Naz froze.
He didn't know how to react.
No one had ever bowed to him before.
Not in the orphanage.
Not in school.
Not anywhere.
The mother looked at him, smiling through tears.
"Thank you… thank you so much…"
The child slowly walked toward Naz.
Stopped.
Looked down.
Then up.
"I…"
His voice broke.
"I'm sorry…"
Naz frowned. "Why?"
The child wiped his eyes.
"I thought… you were going to throw me too… into the Current…"
He started crying again.
"I'm sorry… please forgive me…"
Naz looked at him.
Silent.
Then—
He placed his hand on the child's head.
"You have nothing to apologize for."
The child looked up.
"Really?"
"Really."
A small smile appeared on his face.
More people began to gather.
Not many.
But enough.
An old woman with soup.
A man with a blanket.
A child holding an apple.
"Thank you…"
"We were afraid…"
"You saved him…"
"You stopped the Current…"
Voices overlapped.
Naz stood there.
Frozen.
He had never been thanked before.
Not once.
Something tightened in his chest.
Strange.
Unfamiliar.
"I… didn't do anything…"
But someone shouted:
"You saved our son!"
Another:
"You faced the Current!"
Another:
"You saved the kingdom!"
Naz turned his face away, embarrassed.
Chimini smiled.
"Big brother… your face is red."
"It's the wind."
"There's no wind."
"Be quiet."
She laughed.
At the northern gate, Naz stopped.
The child stood there.
His parents behind him.
Watching.
The child raised his hand.
"THANK YOU… BIG BROTHER!"
Naz stopped walking.
But didn't turn.
Chimini turned instead, waving happily.
Then she pinched Naz's cheek.
"Hey! He's saying goodbye!"
Naz glanced back.
At the child.
At the people.
Then—
Slowly—
He raised his hand.
And waved.
Without turning.
The child jumped with joy.
Chimini smiled.
And Naz…
smiled too.
Just a little.
But it was there.
Before the first light—
Naz woke Chimini.
She rubbed her eyes.
Ren was still asleep.
Naz hesitated…
Then carried him on his back.
"We're taking him with us."
Chimini nodded.
"Where?"
"Anywhere but here."
They walked through empty streets.
No one stopped them.
At the gate—
Naz held Chimini's hand.
"Don't let go."
"I won't."
They stepped into the darkness.
Behind them—
The Kingdom of Diamond grew smaller.
Ahead—
Only the road.
Far away…
In a chamber of black stone…
A figure knelt before a mirror that reflected nothing.
Only darkness.
"Zagred has fallen," he said calmly.
The darkness pulsed.
"Bring me his head."
A voice answered.
Cold.
Certain.
The figure smiled.
"Which one? The human… or the one inside the sword?"
Silence.
Then—
"Both."
End of Chapter 15