Echoes of the Abyssal Blade: Path to Free Will

After weeks of resting and healing, Jonan was finally able to walk and move with agility, While it couldn't be said that he would be able to do strenuous exercises or run, he got far better than he had been some weeks ago.

With newfound determination, he had finally decided to stop lazing around and participating in mundane affairs, instead, he would try working hard, and find a path, that would make his family proud of him, and be a help to humanity and his clan as a whole.

Coming out of his room, he first went to his mother, who was with the main wife of the hero Aurelia Sunwhisperer, at the moment, while many consider the hero to be the absolute ruler of the Starfall family, and everything does go on his whims, but all the mundane tasks of the great Starfall family are left to one and only one person, his current main wife Aurelia Sunwhisperer.

His mother has a pretty good relationship with her, which is the reason why they have never faced any trouble in the family, while it might sound all lovey-dovey, Jonan knew deep in his heart, that they were not called the great hero family of humanity for name, they were ruthless to their enemies yes, but they were far more ruthless towards their own members.

Due to this many gave up for succession and were exiled to fight in the front lines, from the moment you were born a Starfall, you don't rest, either you fight or die trying, and there's no escape from being born a Starfall, and the more talented you are, the worse it gets for them.

Of course, they have their own perks, being strong and at the top being admiration of all human beings, and most of all, they can have everything they want, be it women, clothes, money, or all the luxury one can imagine.

Of course, there were exceptions like Jonan himself, while he did not have everything, he was living quite a lavish and enjoyable life, and of course, no one respected him, but no one rebuked him either cause he was a helpless human, without any weapon affinity.

Most glances he got were that of pity, which often felt humiliating to him, but there was nothing he could do, he just resigned everything to fate before and lived his life without any care, but now he has decided that he would not live in such a prodigal manner.

A maid of respectful expression stood at the door of The Whispering Willow Garden, where most of the wives and concubines of the hero go to pass the time and gossip about the happenings of the world.

Jonan respectfully bowed to the maid, and said "Mam, I am here to meet my mother, could you be kind enough to let me know of her whereabouts".

The maid with a respectful expression nodded to him, "Yes sir Jonan, please follow me".

She opened the door, and went in, following her Jonan made his way to The Whispering Willow Garden, which was in it's own right a beautiful sight to behold, only women and children would be found in this garden, children playing, and the females discussing their day.

As he followed the maid, Jonan suddenly caught sight of his mother engaged in a lively conversation with another middle-aged woman. To his knowledge, she was none other than the hero's main wife and remarkably, the sister of the current Sovereign of humans, Aurelia Sunwhisperer.

With such an amazing background, it was given for her to hold quite a big power, while his mother was also from a good noble family, but they were quite less in terms of standing compared to the Noble Sunwhisperer family, who are the current ruler of humanity.

They were both best friends in childhood but who knew what fate had in store for them, and that both of them would eventually marry the same man.

Noticing a teen boy entering from the corner of her eyes, Aurelia remarked with a smile,

"I see, that your son has recovered quite well sister Elara, and it won't be long, I believe that he will be going to play with his friends again".

Elara shrugged and continued, "You jest, Sister Aurelia. From now on, I will confine him. You have no idea how worried this unruly boy has made me."

Listening to his mother complain, made him embarrassed, "Mother it's not like that, I really had no intention of getting hurt, and I don't know why, I cannot recall anything from my time in hunting with my friends, and the worst part is I haven't heard from my friends yet, they might have the answer for me suddenly getting unwell"

Aurelia's face was stunned after listening to Jonan rant, her face scrunched and she moved to Elara, "Elara, why haven't you let him know, I know how you feel, after all, I have a son myself, but this doesn't mean that you should keep such things from him, even if we consider his unfortunate situation, we should let him face the truth".

Elara, saddened by her friend's rebuke, realized she should have informed her son about the entire incident that occurred during his hunting trip with friends.

Jonan stood in stunned silence, his mind reeling from the weight of his stepmother's revelation. Air in the room seemed to thicken with each passing moment, carrying the weight of unspoken fears and unanswered questions.

As he entered the chamber to meet his mother, Jonan had expected a simple reunion, yet he found himself confronted with a truth he had not anticipated at all.

His mother, Elara appeared visibly distressed. Her warm eyes were clouded with sorrow as she began to speak, her voice carrying distress.

"Jonan, I apologize for not telling you sooner," Elara started, her words hesitant yet filled with an underlying urgency. "When you were found in the woods after your hunting trip, you were alone. There was no trace of your friends or any signs of the beasts you had set out to hunt. Even their guards were nowhere to be found."

Jonan's face turned pale in contemplation, Alone in the woods? No friends, no beasts, no guards, the scene painted by his mother's words clashed starkly with his missing memory and his last memory, in which they were ambushed by the blood-horned jackals.

"The Family guards were stupefied including Sir Dragon Knight, who was also responsible for investigating the mysterious disappearances of your friends," Elara continued, her voice slightly trembling.

"The families of your friends are obviously distraught and are seeking answers, you were seriously ill at that time, recovering from your unstable condition, and we decided not to burden you with these details until you were well".

Jonan gulped, his thoughts racing, his mind grasped at fragments of memory, but they slipped through his fingers like mist. How could he have been alone, What had happened to his friends, to their guards, and worst of all why does he have no recollection of it.

Elara added, her voice now thick with emotion. "He has decided that you will be responsible for recounting your experiences in front of the families of the missing children, and giving them closure, Jonan".

Jonan's chest tightened at the weight of his mother's words, and his gaze fell to the floor, his mind grappling with the gravity of the situation, he had emerged from a near-death experience only to find himself at the center of a mystery, that could have far worse consequences for him and those he cared about.

He looked up at his mother, seeing the anguish etched on her face. "Mother," he began, his voice trembling slightly, "I... I don't remember anything."

Elara's eyes filled with tears as she reached out to grasp Jonan's hand. "I know, my son," she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper, "But you must find the strength to face this, your father needs to know, and the families of your friends also deserve the truth".

Jonan nodded slowly, his heart heavy with the weight of the unknown, he knew he had to face the truth, no matter how elusive it seemed, for his own sake, for his family, and for the families waiting for answers, he would brave the oncoming obstacle.

"Yes, Jonan while it pains me to say this, you have to keep a brave front at the next monthly assessment, everyone from the family will be present then, and at the end of it, will you be questioned and there's a good possibility that you might be treated unfairly, even then you have to keep quiet and trust us, cause I have your eldest brother to take care of things from my end for you, we will try to minimize the situation from getting out of control".

Aurelia conveyed her support to both Jonan and her mother, by saying this and also saving them from unnecessary embarrassment which might occur at the next monthly assessment.

"Sister Aurelia, how can I ever thank you, you have done a great deal of help to us from long before, please accept my bow, and if I can be of help in any possible way ever, do let me know in the future, Jonan you also bow and thank your aunt", stated Elara, while bowing towards Aurelia.

Aurelia stopped her instantly, "there's no need for such embarrassing things between us sisters", remarked Aurelia.

With slight tears in her eyes, Elara talked more with Aurelia, while Jonan respectfully stood silent beside them.

After both the mother and son left, Aurelia's face which had happiness etched turned into concern one as she gazed towards another direction, where her husband, the great hero is present, "Just what are you planning lord, you already have less children, now you are dwindling them by making them blood thirsty for each other, is it necessary to play with their lives, I know you have no love for them, except for those of utmost talent, and that too is just a slight interest, everyone thinks that you might have some love for the monstrous geniuses of our clan, but only I know how devoid of emotion you are, but still this is going too far, playing with my dear sister elara's child as if he were a toy, while she is naive, I and others understand this perfectly, just what do you see in him, that you have decided to push him to this firepit of your creation, is it something none of us know, or are the rumors true that Jonan is your only child, who looks completely like your father, someone who is missing or does not exist".