THE LAST KEEPER

Chapter 361: 361: ANOTHER FAREWELL

Later that evening, after sharing a meal with his parents for the first time in years and talking about nothing in particular all day, and about how their lives had been, he watched them prepare for the journey south.

Even so, he had matters to iron out with Tsaka, which is why he now stood atop one of the highest rooftops in Alika beside Tsaka.

The city stretched beneath them, its lights beginning to awaken as dusk settled across the North. The day had gone by quickly; he hadn’t even noticed it. For a while, neither spoke.

Then Sagiri broke the silence.

"I know you did not welcome me to the city just to give me tea," Sagiri said.

"Perhaps I have missed seeing your face. You were a little nicer when you were here last time." Tsaka said.

"Cut to the chase, or I will have my beauty eat you," Sagiri said, and the man finally got serious.

"Are you going south with your parents. You have settled the scale with me. Now we are even." Tsaka said on a serious note.

"Balancing scales, you say? I have not even begun equalizing the scales, shadow general of the north, and I won’t be leaving the North for a while." Sagiri said.

Tsaka’s expression remained unchanged, though his eyes sharpened slightly.

"That is not possible." The older man said, shaking his head and resting his hand on the hilt of his blade out of habit. Sagiri looked toward the horizon.

"There is a bigger scale that needs equalizing." Sagiri ignored the man’s whining. The words were calm, but there was enough killing intent buried beneath them to make the air feel colder. Tsaka sighed heavily.

"You are the Supreme Chief of the South now. Entire cities wait for your return. Armies answer to you. You cannot simply wander through the North starting wars." Tsaka argued. The man was either cunning, selfish, for only caring to save his skin, or a coward.

Sagiri finally turned toward him.

"Try and stop me then, general of shadows." For a heartbeat, the rooftop fell silent. Then Tsaka laughed.

"I dare not." The old fox shook his head.

"For all I know, by tomorrow morning, you have already escorted your parents safely back to the South." His smile widened slightly. "In fact, I am quite certain that is exactly what happened. The Supreme Chief of the South arrived, collected his parents, shared a meal, and departed peacefully. As for whether a certain red-haired madman remains somewhere in the North..." Tsaka spread his hands innocently.

"...I would know nothing about that."

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Sagiri’s mouth for the first time in days. The old man was turning a blind eye. A way for him to move without forcing Tagayia into openly choosing sides.

Clever.

Very clever.

Tsaka’s expression slowly became serious again.

"Just remember one thing, Sagiri. Revenge is a debt that never stops growing. Be careful that by the time you finish collecting it, there is still enough of you left to return home." Tsaka said, and for a moment, neither spoke.

Then Sagiri looked northward into the darkening distance.

"That depends on whether the people who owe me decide to make this easy. Besides, I have nothing to return to. They killed my whole tribe. Your mandra will answer to me when I am done with them. His inability to rule caused this," Sagiri snarled.

Even Tsaka had no answer to that.

"That will be war. You know that. The mandra does not decide on all matters of war. He had just become mandra back then."

"So he is incompetent. Don’t tell me the North is scared of a war either. You know that is far from the truth. I have the orphans you created in my turf now." Sagiri said his voice bleeding with sarcasm.

"You are not in the north, as far as I know. I will talk to the mandra." Tsaka after another pause

"Don’t mind, I will talk to that beast art freak myself," Sagiri said before he stepped onto the edge of the rooftop and looked down at the colossal beast waiting below. The wind pulled at his crimson hair as he glanced back at Tsaka one final time.

"See you soon, General." His voice was calm, but something was chilling beneath it. "An apology won’t do. The North owes the South a debt..." His crimson eyes narrowed slightly.

"...Owes me a debt."

Before Tsaka could answer, Sagiri stepped forward and vanished from the rooftop. A heartbeat later, he landed atop Zaira’s head as lightly as a falling feather. The beast immediately sensed the change in its master’s mood and released a low snarl that rolled through the streets like distant thunder.

Zaira slowly lowered its massive head all the way to the ground. The movement alone shook nearby buildings. Waiting beside the beast, Rusha and her husband exchanged uncertain glances before carefully climbing onto the broad scales.

Even after all these years, it was difficult to believe their son commanded such a creature.

Once they were secure, Zaira began rising.

Higher and higher it lifted its head until it towered above the walls of the Inner City itself. The beast paused there for a moment, looking across Alika. Then it roared. The sound exploded through the city like a judgment. Towers trembled. Windows shattered. Birds erupted into the sky in terrified flocks. Citizens stumbled as the foundations beneath their feet vibrated.

Then, without another glance behind him, Sagiri turned his gaze toward the horizon. Zaira pivoted, its massive body moving like a living mountain through the streets, before it finally left Alika behind and began carrying its master and his parents south.

Zaira had carried them deep into the east and south, where no curious eyes could follow. The beast stood upon a rocky rise overlooking endless plains while the wind swept through the tall grass below. Sagiri stood before his parents in silence for several moments.

The time had come. Zaira would carry them south. He would remain behind. Rusha already knew it. He could see it in her eyes. She had been avoiding the conversation ever since they left the city.

"No," she said before he could even speak.

"No..." Her voice cracked. "...You are coming with us." She begged, and Sagiri looked away.

"I can’t." He said in a tight voice.

"You can." She stepped forward immediately. "Whatever this is, whatever you think you need to do, you don’t have to"

Sagiri shook his head.

"It has already waited too long." His father remained silent, understanding far more than he wished to. Rusha grabbed her son’s arm. Tears were already forming in her eyes.

"You just found us. We just found you. You expect me to return south while you stay behind in a land that clearly wants you dead?" For a moment, Sagiri almost broke.

"Mom." His voice softened. "I have to finish this." She shook her head repeatedly.

"No. No, you don’t." Then she threw her arms around him. This time, there was no joy in the embrace. Only fear. Fear of losing him again. Sagiri closed his eyes and hugged her back. For several long moments, neither moved.

"I promise I’ll come back," he said quietly. Rusha laughed bitterly through her tears.

"If you don’t, I will not forgive you. A child can’t die before their parent. You are my only child. You know this, my son." Rusha cried. Even Sagiri couldn’t argue with that. Eventually, his father stepped forward and gently placed a hand on Rusha’s shoulder.

"Let him go." She turned toward him in disbelief.

"How can you say that?"

"Because look at him." The older man sighed. "

"Take care of yourself," Sagiri said, looking into is fathers eyes. "Mother, I will always be your son. Forgive me for not listening to you this time. I will surely come back to you.

"Take care of yourself," she whispered. Zaira lowered its massive head. The beast seemed unusually quiet, almost understanding the moment. Rusha reluctantly climbed aboard while Sagiri’s father followed. Before stepping away, Sagiri placed a hand against one of Zaira’s scales.

"Take them home. Then come back. Tell Koru to proceed with the plan." The beast rumbled softly in response. For a brief moment, its massive golden eye met his. Then Zaira turned away. Rusha looked back the entire time as the beast began moving. She continued waving until the distance swallowed them from sight.

Sagiri stood alone atop the hill long after they disappeared beyond the horizon. Only when they were completely gone did he finally turn north.

The warmth he had been holding onto vanished with them.

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