Did all I could

Allegro steadily made his way toward the border, guilt building in his chest, but even that guilt was twisted by a sickening sense of relief. More and more he had felt a painful resentment in his chest when he looked at Azzurra and that wasn't fair to his daughter. It wasn't her fault she had taken more after her mother than her others. It wasn't her fault that she had been so sick and so heavily dependent on him for most of her life. It wasn't her fault that every time he looked at her now he thought of Aranea and all he could feel was the betrayal and the heartache that she had caused. None of that was her fault but he also couldn't stop himself from feeling that way either.

He hesitated as he reached the border, slowing to a stop as he looked down at the ground in front of his paws, thinking of Balthier, Solo, Psalm. He loved his children. He really did. He loved them more than anything else in this world. But he couldn't force himself to stay for their sake. He was hopeful that he had done enough to prepare them for this world, but he honestly wasn't sure if anyone was ever prepared for how cruel and unfair this world was. Aranea was gone. Not just from his life or their lives but truly gone. Taken form this world by a force he couldn't control. As much as he tried to say that he was done with her, that he no longer cared, he did. He had loved her. And now she was gone, killed by the children he had cursed her for. He felt deeply guilty for how he had reacted and now he couldn't take it back.

He grit his teeth and forced himself forward, crossing the border and walking out into the world beyond. Not even two steps past the edge of Abaven's claimed lands, he heard a noise behind him and he stopped, looking back over his shoulder till his blue gaze landed on Balthier. His boy. His pride and joy. His ears fell back against his head, but he tried to force a smile onto his lips as he turned to face him, saying, "Balthier? What are you doing up? You should be asleep."

Walk | "Talk" | think