Chapter 286: Euphrosyne

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“Magnus, tell me the truth… swear to me that you have not gone mad because of those legacies.”

“I’m sorry, Xerion… I just can’t assure you.”

“You had already retired, and suddenly you come back with this madness. How do you want me to believe that what you say is true? Nothing that god says is reasonable, it’s all nonsensical madness.”

“I’m not just saying it because my god told me…. I saw it too, ’Patience’ showed it to me. I don’t have much time left, but I’m sure this is the way, I believe in what I saw.”

“Those unhinged legacies…. Was it a lie that if you got opposing legacies you were going to recover?”

“You are wrong, Xerion. I received the legacy of pride too late. besides Pride and patience do not complement each other, I only delayed the inevitable.”

“…”

“Understand… If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t even be talking to you. I wouldn’t have been able to see the end of this era. I’ve already made it this far… it’s more than I could ask for.”

“Haaa… you’re right. But swear to me that what you just said is correct. You, being the best soothsayer of this age, saying something completely different from what even the gods believe… it’s unheard of.”

“It’s true that the voices in my head are growing and the guardians are devouring my rationality, bit by bit…but I’ll tell you: I’ve never been more certain of anything.”

“…Magnus You’ve never been wrong…and you’ve been my friend for centuries. I’ve seen what you’re capable of, and if you’re so sure….. I’ll believe in you.”

“Believe right?…., that’s your doctrine?”

“Yes, if this era has taught me anything, it’s to believe in yourself, in who you are. It’s the minimum requirement for survival. And now… I will believe in myself once more, in the me that believes in you, Magnus. I will believe that this is the way for the cycle not to repeat itself… for my daughter to have a good future.”

“…I appreciate your trust….haaah~ and I do forgive you.”

“Forgive me?…why, do you forgive me?,”

“…”

“…wait can’t you answer me for your god?. If so, forget it.”

“Haaa, Xerion…. More than not being able to is that I shouldn’t…, just remember, as for my god, yes, my god, You always thought she was the goddess of destiny, since I could never tell you her identity, right? The truth is that I’m not restricted by anything…. I could never tell you for one simple reason.”

“…”

“I don’t know either, Xerion I’ve never met him nor seen him… one day simply without going to any temple I started listening to his oracles, always accurate, guiding me to power. That’s what brought me here. Without it, I wouldn’t have gotten to where I am. So I used everything I had to confirm with ’Patience’ that what he told me was true.”

“…So, the next era…”

“Yes. It will be the last era and it will be different from what everyone expects…. That’s why I’m asking you that in addition to the matter with your daughter, that you do the-”

“stop… Let’s finish this conversation later, My daughter woke up… Oh, dear, since when are you listening? I’m sorry… Dad didn’t give you a good first welcome to the world… Humm, it’s still too early. Keep sleeping some more, yes… do it for Dad.”

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Those were her first memories.

She didn’t understand what they were talking about or who these people were. She didn’t even know who she herself was or the meaning of the sounds coming out of the mouth of the man who spoke to her. She only felt that she was existing and that it felt great to listen to him.

And so, slowly, she closed her eyes, remaining in the darkness, guided by that soft speaker.

…

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When she opened her eyes again, she was lying on something comfortable, very different from the feeling she had before, and again she heard the voice from before.

“Good, now … All is well. Welcome to the world, my dear Εὐφροσύνη(Euphrosyne). You don’t know how happy I am… Dad is really happy to bring you into the world.”

Then, for the first time, she felt the warmth that only another life could give.

She still did not understand the man’s words, but she felt his warmth when he embraced her, when he held her in his arms, when she saw him cry releasing drops of water from his eyes.

Even if she didn’t understand his meaning at the time, she would remember it forever….

“From now on, you, my daughter, and I, your father, are family.”

“Family.”

That was one of the words that, for some reason, she felt she had to keep in a special place.Where was that place? She didn’t know yet.

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Days and nights passed.

She could remember that 5 digits had passed since she learned to count. She slowly began to understand the world.

Every night, her father would read her a different book and, little by little, she was understanding more and more of her surroundings.

She was learning and giving meaning to things, including the word family.

But there were things he didn’t understand. Mainly one called ’time’.

In some books and stories, that word was mentioned. And when she asked her dad, who always explained without problems anything she did not understand, but for this case the only answer she got was….

“My daughter, I want you to live free of that concept. Therefore, it will be very difficult for you to understand it, eventually you will… but that momen has not yet come.”

She could remember every word her father said to her, even if it was hard for her to understand them all.

Still, she was happy with the affection he gave her and stopped asking questions like these, as sometimes she felt she could see “pain” in him when she asked things like this.

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The seasons continued to pass. At some point, she began to count them, and they were already well into double digits. It seemed curious to her how everything always kept increasing.

She was still living in that cabin in the woods with her father, and to her, that was her world. She didn’t care. She was happy.

Although she couldn’t deny that she was curious about what she read in the books, for some reason she never felt the need to explore it herself.

She also noticed that, at some point, she was taller, that she could reach places she couldn’t before.

She wondered if she too would “increasing” like the days and seasons.

She asked her father if someday there would be two of her or maybe three or more, and if he would still see her as family.

He laughed and replied that even if there were a hundred of her, she would still be unique in the world to him, because that is what a family is.

Again, that word came up if she had to choose she would say it was her favorite word, in addition her favorite number was 6 the reason she simply found its shape funny.

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One day her father began to explain something to her that she didn’t understand from a book .

“Listen to this, Rosy. We people are contradictory beings. We understand and reason that we should do something one way, but sometimes … we do just the opposite.”

“Contradictory? I don’t understand…”

“Humm, let’s see… you know that jam you love so much, and save for special moments?”

“Yes!”

“Let’s say one day I want it too. What would you do?”

“Well… if Dad wants some too, I’d give him some, right? After all, dad’s the one who makes it.”

“Humm… well, yes. but… humm…. this is more difficult than I thought. Well, my daughter, it’s something I know you’ll understand. After all, you’re a live being too, Rosy. Anyway, I’ll make some more jam today.”

“Yay!!”

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Again, the seasons kept passing and increased in number, but for her the important thing was that her father seemed tired lately.

“I’m sorry for everything, Rosy.”

“Dad? What’s wrong? Why are you apologizing? Is it because you’ve been tired lately? It’s okay, you rest. I can gather the firewood and make the food, leave it to me.”

“I’m sorry… I’m dying. I don’t have much time left.”

“Dying? What’s that, Dad?”

“And that’s why I’m sorry…. You know, I wanted to create the perfect life, but even so, I have restricted you from many things that we living beings have… just because of my one-sided desire.”

“Dad… I’m not understanding. What are you talking about? What’s going on?”

“As I told you once… we living beings are contradictory. I’m really sorry… My time is coming, and you don’t even understand what I’m talking about. I’ve really been a bad father.”

“What are you saying, Dad? It’s true that I don’t understand a lot of things, but…but I know you’re the best dad…. You’re my dad, my family.”

“And of that be in no doubt, Rosy…..you know, You used to have an older sister, but she left this world too young. That’s why I ended up with a broken heart and no purpose…. But you know, even in the darkest of situations, light can be created, and you…you are the light that lit up my life again Rosy…. Haaah~.”

“Dad?”

“If there’s one thing I’m thankful for, it’s that I wasn’t crazy enough to name you after her… You are you, Rosy, and no one else. And I hope you understand that, even after I’m gone….”

“Gone…? Where to, Dad? Are you going berry picking? Is it because it’s my birthday soon?”

“Oh… yes, your birthday? Sorry about that too, Rosy. How many was it?”

“180, Dad! Why do you always forget?”

“Oh… So it’s been that, time, huh? Funny how you keep count even better than your senile father.”

“Time?”

“Yes, time, Rosy. I told you I’d explain that concept to you someday, didn’t I? Though not directly…you’ll understand soon enough. Haa… You are a free being, Rosy. When you know everything, I’ll leave the decision up to you. Go, explore the world, feel it… and make your own decision.”

“Feel…? Feel the outside world? What decision, Dad?”

“…My friend convinced me, and you had a destiny he wanted to attach you to. But, you know? Time changes people… And I just can’t. I can’t hold you to what I promised my friend.”

“Friend? Like the ones in the book? Dad had those too?”

“…Haaa~…. I wonder if I’ll be punished for depriving you of so many things. No… I don’t deserve forgiveness, neither from you, nor from him…wait hahaha, that’s what he meant, hahaha, always ahead of everyone else, always wanting to win until the end, damn Magnus hahahah, so you already forgave me?”

She watched as her father laughed but also cried, she didn’t understand what was happening to her father, when finally her father finished crying and laughing she asked.

“Dad, I don’t understand. You’re acting weird today…. What’s wrong?”

“haaa~ Rosy, I just want you to be happy. Come, your dad is just old and tired…and he’s rambling nonsense. could you come and sleep with your dad?”

“Sure, Dad!”

She, obedient as always, lay down beside him on the bed and hugged him, if it made her father feel good, that was good enough for her.

“Somewhere along the line, you were so big…. You really are the last and best thing I’ve ever done in my whole life, Rosy. You’re as real as anyone, and no one can tell you otherwise, you understand?”

“Yes, Dad.”

“I hope you’re happy. You know…I just hope my friend is right with his words. But, still, only you will decide your fate. Whether or not you break the cycle, whether or not you achieve great things… just freely choose what you want, My little girl, choose your own happiness.”

“…”

“Thank you, Rosy… Thank you for being born. Thank you for being you. Thank you for being by my side all this time.”

“Sure, Dad. After all, that’s what family does.”

“Yes, Rosy… that’s what family does. I hope that, if you take that path, you’ll find someone else you can call family for the rest of your life…”

“But Dad’s enough.”

“Just hear me out for now, Rosy…. If this father of yours deserves your sadness when he’s dead, don’t be discouraged continue onward, I assure you that, someday, you will find your own happiness. You will find a place to call home and you will be surrounded by many whom you can call family.”

“…”

“My little Euphrosyne…. You know, you are the light that rescued me from the darkness. You are my joy and happiness, and I hoped that you could have a bright future, full of happiness, that you could enjoy the life I gave you. That’s why I named you that name.”

“Oh. Yes Dad already told me that before…”

“Now… this selfish father wants to ask you something. One last thing in these final moments…. Could you smile for me?”

“Smile…? Of course I will, Dad!”

“good… Even if I have to die without you really understanding anything… this was the last thing I wanted to see. See you tomorrow, my little Euphrosyne…. I really love you.”

“See you tomorrow Dad, I love you too.”

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