Aster Veren
Episode 211

- Carel

I took my breath before looking at the woman in front of me carefully. Judging from his expression, it seemed like he knew something.

"Why did you bring that outfit from—"

"So this is Faren's outfit?" My cut surprised him.

"Ma—mana maybe, that's my sister's outfit. She accidentally kept it in Faren's closet because—"

"I'm sure you don't have a sister." Cutting me up again makes him even more agitated.

"You're looking for my identity? Who the hell are you? And why ... don't tell me you're the one who went after Faren and wanted to eliminate him, right?" He looked panicked and immediately grabbed a nearby fruit knife.

"I'm guessing you know something, does that mean you also know that the child is a girl? Where'd you find him?" I asked her with emphasis, hoping that she would willingly answer my question.

"It's none of your business. I—"

"Tell me!"

"What's going on here?" The annoying voice surprised me, I remember the Tesar already standing near the stairs with his confused expression.

"Darling, she! Looks like this kid's planning to catch Aster." His words really made my breath stop.

Finally, what I was waiting for came out of his mouth. My guess all this time, it was not just behavioral thoughts.

Unknowingly my tears had already fallen when I saw Aster's clothes in my hands, even the shadow of him began to reappear in my memory. With a passionate longing, I hugged Aster's clothes and kissed him as much as I needed.

But it still feels less .. I want to meet him, I want to hug him directly. I—

"Calm down, he can't hurt Aster." Tesar's voice brought me back to reality, I saw he had hugged his wife and grabbed a fruit knife in his hand.

"How can you be sure? I'm not going to let it go, she—"

"Calm down, let me explain the situation to you."

***

- Esther

My body really cannot be moved when I see Uncle Rigel in front of me, especially when he calls me by my real name.

My heart rate was racing faster, even cold sweat started to drench my body.

I didn't expect to meet her after being separated from everyone to explain my feelings to Tami.

"How are you doing, son?" The question made it difficult for me to open my mouth.

"Looks like you're okay, huh? Are you nervous? Relax, I didn't come to kill you. Your father, you remember him, right? I'm asked to bring you alive." He continued along with a strong gust of wind hitting my body and Uncle Rigel.

"Lied!" I cried after painstakingly swallowing my saliva when I felt my throat dry up.

"Why should I lie? Your father's memory is restored, that's why he's looking for you."

"No. I'm sure the news of my death has spread, so—"

"Ah, you don't seem to have seen the news yet?"

"What?"

"Ti—no way."

"... I really didn't expect you to change your appearance to this extent. I would have had a hard time finding you, if I had known the kid I met in the storage room was you. Maybe I'll take you to Ansel." He said it again made my mind even more chaotic. I can't even believe her words, I don't know if she's telling the truth or not.

But, if only my memory had been restored. I ... I want to go see her, I also want to curse her once. Therefore I lived in fear for half a year, and therefore I .... My mind can't imagine my father's expression when I meet him.

I don't want to expect too much, because it'll hurt my heart even more. So I decided not to trust Uncle Rigel, after all he was the one who was most eager to kill me that day.

"... aren't you coming with me?" Her question looked at me sharply, making my body shiver for a while.

"No. I won't—"

"Well, if that's your decision. I can't be patient any more because right now my life is in danger." Her speech cut off my words, I who saw her unfriendly expression felt confused. Even though a second ago he still showed his best smile to persuade me, but why did his expression change so quickly when I rejected him?

"What are you—" I asked stopped when I saw him pointing his gun at me.

The same situation as what I had experienced, again I had to deal with crazy people like him. Even the bad memories of my father re-emerged in my view, it was hard to breathe. Even my body that had trembled slightly started to shake violently upon seeing the gun hole that was pointing at me.

This is bad, this is really bad! Worse than before. Is it because of the pressure? My mind remembers the figure of his father Dean who almost shot Yuna that day.

***

- Carel

I took my feet as fast as I could, running down the street to the festival venue where Teo and the others had come after hearing the explanation from Tesar.

Then at the same time Teo called me if he didn't find Faren anywhere. Though I've ordered him to keep sticking with the boy before they leave. But why didn't he listen to me?

Goddamnit! No more, I don't want to lose him again. Once I fail to save her, this time no more. My mind continued to babble while running like crazy.

"Carels!" Uncle Eric's voice stopped me.

"Uncle?" I asked with irregular breaths.

"Why is uncle here? What ...,"

"We've heard everything from Mr. Albert, and it seems like the news of the truth of the surviving lady has been spread. That's why we rushed off to see the lady before .. wait, what happened?" Obviously when I saw him clucking.

"What about miss?" It made me shake quickly while clenching my hands tightly.

"I saw him go to the festival with Teo and the others, but Teo told me he lost Aster." I'm obviously hiding the fact that Teo doesn't know Faren's true identity. That's why he could have acted recklessly, had I told the boy the truth. Surely this will not happen, right? But I can't say it before I'm sure of my own thinking. Stupid right?

"What?"

"Master, three o'clock!" Hans exclaimed through the earphones used by Eric sounding loud. Does he scream while running? Heard from the sound of his breath.

I quickly followed Eric who had already run towards the direction mentioned by Hans. I saw two strangers running from Hans, and beating them up mercilessly before tying him up.

"Enemy of Veren." Mumbles.

Damnit damnit! Had the old man not spread the news until Aster was safe in my hands, none of this would have happened. Now where should I look for Aster? I'm sure he ran away when he found out the news about him was spread.

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Thanks for reading...