"You're incredible, Dayesh. Your abilities never fail to amaze me," Rana said after reviewing the owl's recorded memory that confirmed the mission had been completed smoothly. "So this stone was the culprit. It's beautiful though. It looks like a green diamond. Give me a moment and I will get your reward."
Rana's words seemed to pass through Dayesh without fully registering. His unease returned. He had not gone home for a week.
"Six thousand gold. That was contributed by all the people living near the river."
"Thank you. Take fifty gold from it and keep the rest for me. Just give me one hundred for now."
"As you wish."
Dayesh was nearing home when he felt a heavy presence. He recognized it immediately, so he rushed toward the door of their house.
The door was open. Inside, he saw Jauna sitting at the dining table with a man.
"You're finally here," Jauna greeted him.
"WHY ARE YOU HERE?!" Dayesh shouted at the man.
"Wait, have we met before?" Maruq asked calmly.
"I FAILED TO KILL YOU THAT TIME!" Dayesh snapped in anger. "Is he the one you said you would marry, Jauna?!" he shouted at her as well.
"Wait, what is going on? Why are you so angry?" Jauna asked gently.
Dayesh's eyes burned with fury as he stared at Maruq. "YOU KILLED SOME OF MY MEN!" He could no longer contain himself and lunged at him, while Maruq did not even know how to respond.
"I will explain. Please!" Maruq said.
"THERE IS NOTHING TO EXPLAIN! IT IS CLEAR AS DAY THAT YOU WERE THE ONE WHO TOOK THE LIVES OF MY MEN WHEN WE WERE FIGHTING YOUR CORRUPTION IN OUR WORLD!"
"Just wait for a moment," Maruq pleaded.
"Calm down, Dayesh. Please. You're scaring Lzith," Jauna begged, not understanding the source of his anger.
Dayesh glanced at their child, who was trembling and hiding behind a chair.
He forced himself to calm down. It took several minutes before he regained control.
Maruq knew why Dayesh was furious with him, but he chose to act as if he did not. Back then, he had been controlled by Ordo Vireth. None of it had been his will.
"Drink this first," Jauna said as she prepared something to help him calm down.
"This will be a long discussion, Jauna."
They waited until Dayesh settled down. Maruq then explained everything, from how he ended up with the cult to what he had done while under their control, and how his memories eventually returned.
"What a coincidence. Is the world really this small? Of all people, you are my rival for Jauna?" Dayesh said bitterly. "And you, Jauna. Of course you will choose him. You have known him far longer than me. You want to leave me, don't you? Fine. I will set you free. I do not want to see you anymore either. Lzith will stay with me. Do not come looking for us again. I will buy a place for us tomorrow. We are leaving."
Jauna let out a deep sigh. Although his words hurt her, and even though she had already decided to marry Maruq, there was still pain in her heart. She was not happy with what was happening. How could she be? The man she truly loved was finally with her, yet she was losing her child.
Everything happened too fast. The entire discussion ended in less than three hours.
Dayesh began packing his belongings and Lzith's things, placing them outside the room. He slept in Lzith's room that night, while Jauna stayed in another room with Maruq. However, Maruq decided to leave for now to prepare a place for them when they returned to their home.
That night, Jauna spoke with Faram. She divided her savings, giving him a portion, while the rest was set aside as a fund to buy food for the stray cats nearby. Although Faram refused at first, she explained that money would have no use where she was going.
His only concern was that there would be no more medicine to sell once she left.
After their conversation, Jauna gathered the courage to speak to Dayesh again. His anger weighed heavily on her mind.
She knocked on the door. It took a long time before he opened it. When he did, she noticed his eyes were red, as if he had been crying.
"Let's talk."
"What is there left to talk about?"
"I know you are angry. I hope you can forgive me, and Maruq."
"It is not time for that yet. I had so many dreams for you and our child, and they disappeared in an instant. It's fine. This is just temporary pain. I will move on, and so will you. I am not the type to chase someone who no longer wants me. Let us just be happy in our separate lives from now on."
Dayesh closed the door and lay down again. The situation was incredibly difficult for him. He hated what was happening, but he said those things because he did not want to appear pitiful in front of the two of them. He was thinking that he must have strong courage to take care of Lzith from then on.