The Fourth Secret: A Fantasy LitRPG Adventure (Divine Apostasy Book 4) A. Kay (best management books of all time .TXT) 📖

his parents again after over a year made his heart stop, and his mind went blank. In a blink, Clarysa slammed into him, and they hugged fiercely.

Moments later, Ruwen’s dad wrapped his arms around them. They stood that way for a minute. Only the soft crying of Clarysa broke the silence.

“We’re so sorry,” Clarysa said.

Colyn released everyone and Clarysa stepped back. Her hair was red in the sunlight but looked dark in here. She wiped her cheeks and beamed up at Ruwen.

“What did you do to your hair?” Clarysa asked and then rubbed her hand over it.

“It looks good,” Colyn said.

Ruwen had gotten his dark hair from his dad but had preferred to keep it longer. Colyn had tried to convince Ruwen to cut it, since long hair, like cloaks, were easy to grab in a fight. Colyn had given up once Ruwen made it clear he would be a Mage, not a Fighter. Which was ironic since he now had short hair and the Fighter Class.

“I got too close to some spiders, and didn’t wash up in time,” Ruwen said. After a moment he continued, his mother’s first words still echoing in his head. “Why are you sorry?”

Clarysa’s face grew serious. “We abandoned you. For an entire year! I’m sick about it. One of us should have stayed with you.”

Colyn put his arm around Clarysa. “You know that wasn’t possible.”

The words shocked Ruwen. They weren’t upset with him, but with themselves.

Tremine approached. “I’ll let you three catch up.”

Ruwen and his family stepped out of the doorway and into the dining hall.

Clarysa hugged Tremine and when she’d let him go, Colyn stuck out his arm. “Thank you, Tremine, for keeping an eye on Ruwen. We owe you a great debt.”

“Nonsense,” Tremine said as he clasped arms with Colyn. “He is a kindred spirit, and having him around brought me joy.”

Tremine faced Ruwen. “I only told them of my—” Tremine struggled to finish the sentence and shook his head. “I explained why I killed you, and why I helped Naktos. Everything else they should hear from you.”

Tremine also lived with a lifetime of secrets, and Ruwen had only recently understood that cost. He stepped forward and hugged Tremine. “Thank you.”

Ruwen’s friend and mentor hugged him back tightly. After a moment, Tremine stepped away, his eyes glinting. “I’ll see you all in the morning. I’m going to check on Bliz.”

Tremine left, and the three of them stood in silence.

“I came looking for you as soon as I could,” Ruwen said, his guilt forcing the words out.

Clarysa frowned and took Ruwen’s hand. “That should never have been your burden, but I have no doubt Uru intended it. She should have warned us of the danger here. I’m sure our deaths were part of her plan. Just one more sacrifice this family has made.”

“It was brave but foolish to risk coming here,” Colyn said. “You only just Ascended. I’m heartsick at the risks you took to find us.”

“So you’re not mad at me for taking so long?” Ruwen asked.

Both Ruwen’s parents looked confused, and Colyn spoke. “Why would we be mad at you? We own this mistake.”

“The only person I’m angry with is Uru,” Clarysa said.

A year’s worth of guilt slid off Ruwen’s back, and he smiled. He had been completely wrong about his parents and the situation. It meant the rest of his worries were likely wrong as well. Tremine had put a seed of doubt in Ruwen’s mind regarding how his parent’s group had died. But seeing his parents now, he knew they could never do such a heinous act. Everything was going to be okay.

“And I’m angry with your dad and me for dying here and leaving you alone for a year,” Clarysa said. She bit her lip. “It breaks my heart you had to Ascend alone.”

Talk of Ruwen’s Ascension made him think of High Priest Fusil and how angry the priest had been at Ruwen for his parents’ alleged misdeeds. Because of the time compression Rami had used on Ruwen in the Spirit Realm when teaching him Steps, those experiences happened almost five years ago.

Maybe because Ruwen had shouldered those rumors alone as a fifteen year old orphan for over a year, they still felt fresh and powerful. Even with all the new secrets he’d learned about his parents and himself, which upset him too, that year alone had left deep marks.

“I’m so glad all this is behind us,” Ruwen said. “I think the hardest part about your absence were the rumors.”

“What rumors?” Colyn asked.

Ruwen laughed, thinking how ridiculous his doubt and fear had been. “Because you two didn’t revive with the rest of your party in Deepwell, everyone thought you killed your group and stole the terium. But now we know that for some reason you queued here, and that explains what happened. You both died, too. Everyone lied about you.”

Ruwen’s parents locked gazes. After a moment, his smile faltered. “That’s what happened, right?”

Colyn faced Ruwen. “You’re right, we did die here, which is why we didn’t revive in Deepwell.”

Ruwen sighed in relief. He’d known a logical explanation existed. One that didn’t involve his parents killing everyone.

Clarysa pinched the bridge of her nose for a few seconds and then tried to speak. She cleared her throat and tried again. “But before we died here,” she paused and swallowed hard. “Before that, we executed our entire party.”

Chapter 38

Ruwen stared at his mom, her words like a punch to his stomach. “What? Why would you do that?”

Clarysa bit her lip.

Colyn looked around. Even though they were the only ones here, he pointed down the hall. “Let’s take this conversation outside.”

Ruwen numbly followed his parents out of the temple, and into the night. The Temple Guardians’ low hum filled the night air as they circled the city. A slight breeze fell from the mountains, cooling his skin. How could the terrible things said about his family be true?

Colyn looked up at the tall silos next to the temple. “That’s how