Chroma and Achromos
Chapter 27: Chlari's Secret
Achromos sipped the tea on his desk quickly until his tongue was burning. His face looked pale and his head felt throbbing from the morning. He leaned his back against the chair violently and let out a long breath. At that moment, he heard a clanking sound on the floor. As he glanced for a moment, he saw a key lying down.
"this key.. Chlari.."
Achromos was immediately aware of Chlari's words at his last moment. Without further ado, his body immediately moved swiftly stepping towards Chlari's room. In his heart, there was a hint of fear that began to gnaw. He recalled Chlari's words to Cain.
Chroma is dangerous.... huh? Achromos.
The sturdy body then stopped right in front of the door of Chlari's room which now looks so quiet. With a slightly hesitant hand, he opened the cold door slowly.
His first step into the room sounded a little echoing. The glint of colorful glass in the window made Achromos narrow his eyes slightly. This was the first time he had entered Chlari's room. He had never before thought that he would set foot in the room of the man he hated the most. Maybe that's why Achromos feels a little strange.
When his eyes began to see clearly enough, Achromos was immediately pensive where he stood. On his left side, a large painting was clearly emblazoned. The painting contains a boy standing next to a boy with a smaller body. Behind the two children, a well-built man and a gentle woman stood up while holding the shoulders of the two.
"It's..." The throat of Achromos feels blocked. He did not expect the family painting that he thought had vanished to be burned by his father to remain. And the painting was mounted on the wall of Chlari's room.
"Chris...." Lirih Achromos.
After taking a deep breath, Achromos then continued his steps towards the desk drawer in the corner of the room. With the key in his hand, he opened the drawer slowly.
"Book?" Achromos muttered when he saw a book lying in the drawer.
Curious, Achromos hurried to open the book. The first page of the book contains a short sentence.
To my brother, Achromos.
This book will tell you everything you want to know. If you read this book, it means I'm not in this world anymore. I'm sorry if at the time I couldn't protect you.
the Chlari
As Achromos begins to turn around the next page, all of Chlari's secrets are finally revealed.
•••
The story tells of a boy who was born Crown Prince in the Kingdom of Chraz. Name's Chlari. As a child, there was not much he could do but study until night every day because of his demands to become the next king. He can't refuse. No one would be on his side if he defied the king's word, his own father. There was no one, not even her own mother.
Her mother never noticed her again. He was busy taking care of his younger brother, Achromos. But Chlari did not hate Achromos at all. On the contrary, he loved her very much.
In between his dense study time, he secretly looked at Achromos while his mother was off guard. Although they could only meet for ten to thirty minutes, it was enough for Chlari. Chlari thinks Achromos will be the one to be on his side someday. I don't know why.
Then one night, the thing that will change Chlari's life forever happens. He accidentally found a book with the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Chraz drawn with red ink on the cover. On the side of the old book, unknown symbols inscribed with black ink— made Chlari feel the book was so mysterious. He found the book in his mother's room as he was about to return to his room after meeting Achromos who was there. Curiosity finally made Chlari carry away the book without a second thought.
After locking the door of his room tightly, Chlari opened the book and began to read it. The first page of the book was inscribed with a sentence that made Chlari furrow her brows.
Secret Records of the Chraz Kingdom: Important Information About Xerra
The title was enough to make Chlari surprised, but what made him even more clueless was a small note at the bottom of the page.
This book is intended for the 2nd Prince of the Kingdom of Chraz, Achromos.
•••
Chlari immediately dropped the book onto the floor as soon as she finished reading. He immediately sat down weak. He could hardly believe the book, but he knew it was not a fiction book. The book is a very detailed account of Achromos. But that is so mysterious. The book looks so old and seems to have been made decades or hundreds of years ago. Long before Achromos was born.
Just as he was about to return the book, suddenly his mother knocked on the door hard. He shouted his name from behind the door and sounded so angry. Chlari immediately shuddered and hid behind a blanket. He was afraid of his mother. Why was the book in his mother's room? Isn't such an important book supposed to be kept tight in the royal safe?
At that time, Chlari would never have imagined that her own mother would poke her with the poison of deflecting her morning.
•••
As Chlari's body relaxed and she started coughing up blood, her mother immediately got up and pretended to panic. He called the waiter while crying loudly. Chlari looked at her mother with a sliced heart. He was crying in silence because his consciousness was thinning.
What.my fault.. Mother mothership? Chlari said in her heart before she finally lost her consciousness.
•••
At the age of Achromos the sixth year, Chlari's body becomes weak and he can no longer see Achromos as before. He was no longer the Crown Prince, but he did not care about it. The one he was worried about was Achromos. After reading the book, Chlari was eager to protect Achromos. But Chlari could not speak in front of Achromos. Somehow his tongue felt like it was a mute as soon as he was in front of Achromos.
Until one day, Chlari who felt a little healthier decided to take a short walk. Just then, he found a bodyguard who looked stealthy. When he saw who was being followed by the bodyguard, he caught the figure of Achromos who was walking cheerfully. Carefully, Chlari followed the guard.
As soon as the bodyguard stopped stepping, Chlari was immediately surprised to see her mother laughing with a foreign man. Achromos immediately hugged the two happily. He sat down and ate the cake given by the man, while his mother and the man joined hands. Chlari who was too shocked did not realize that she was moving the bushes before her too tightly. At that moment, Achromos looked at him. And just then, Chlari noticed the bodyguard moving out of place quickly.
Without further ado, Chlari chased after the bodyguard with all her might. He then shouted to tell her to stop. He knew what would happen if his father knew. Although his mother treated him badly, Chlari still considered him a mother.
But what power, the bodyguard managed to enter his father's room. But what made Chlari a thousand percent more surprised was his father's words after that.
"good job. Immediately prepare the death penalty for both of them." Braz's voice sounded faintly behind the sturdy wooden door.
Chlari immediately looked helpless. Inside his brain revolved around all sorts of things that might happen. And again, he again thought about how Achromos felt. Indirectly, Achromos was the one who told the bodyguard what his mother did. If Achromos knew, he would blame himself for life. Or even decide to end his own life. In addition, if he hears what Chlari just heard, of course Achromos will be further destroyed.
In the midst of a fierce inner debate, Chlari was suddenly awakened by the cry of Achromos. Spontaneously, he finally decided to do something. He made himself a scapegoat. Without a second thought, Chlari immediately smiled as she looked at Achromos. He hoped Achromos would perceive his smile as a triumphant smile.
And, sure enough. Achromos—, who was unaware of the bodyguard's presence and only saw Chlari—, immediately assumed that Chlari had reported her mother. The look of hatred that Achromos threw directly pierced Chlari's heart in a row, making him feel devastated beyond measure. But it's okay. This is all better.
After that incident, Chlari's life direction and purpose changed completely. He is willing to become an antagonist in Achromos' life if it can make him unharmed. He always uses the same smile to hide the various feelings he feels. Even to the end of his life.
•••
There is one thing that Chlari absolutely must do whatever happens: save Achromos from Xerra.
After reading the mysterious book, Chlari discovered that it predicted what would happen to Achromos. He himself did not understand why Achromos became the "child of prophecy" mentioned in the book. Why Achromos?
The story he remembers most from the book is the appearance of Xerra and the chaos that followed. Xerra, and the Artemis Clan, were not ordinary humans. They are humans who were given power by Agioz, a figure that is still a mystery to this day. And Xerra has a power that is too great for a man. Xerra is a creature that has "passed" humans, but not to the point of Agioz. Because of his strength, Xerra is considered to be a very blessed person Agioz, and Agioz is very fond of Xerra. Anyone who dares to love Xerra as sincerely will come face to face with Agioz and he will determine who can be Xerra's partner. However, there is one person who will never be able to be a partner of Xerra until any time, namely Xerros.
Xerros is the name for the half-soul of Xerra. Every time Xerra was born, a boy who was opposite Xerra became Xerros. In this case, Achromos is Xerros to Chroma. And this is not a good thing. Agioz had uttered his curse: if a Xerra and Xerros loved each other, then one of them would die!
After reading that, Chlari immediately knew that Achromos would be in danger if he met Xerra. Therefore he tried to save Achromos as much as he could, until finally he met Aram and became part of Schatten.
At that time, Chlari did not know that Aram actually wanted to unite Chroma and Achromos. Until finally he was forced to choose a way to kill Chroma when Aram had taken Xerra from Chroma. However, honestly he doubted his decision until he left the world before he could do it. And he didn't even have time to explain it to Achromos. Chlari had anticipated the possibility and had prepared a diary in his desk drawer, hoping that Achromos would come to his senses and stay away from Chroma for the good of both of them.
•••
There are no words that can appear on the head of Achromos. His limp feet finally gave up and made him sit on the floor. His head shook slowly while holding the book with a slight tremble. Too many of Chlari's secrets are in the book, making Achromos feel sorry, shocked, sad, frustrated, and angry at once.
This time it was Achromos who really wanted to die. It was like living in a slightly peaceful pseudo-world created by Chlari. All the bitterness and ugliness that happened was like being hidden by her brother.
"Why... just for me.. ?" Achromos's murmur finally.
A drop of clear grain fell on the cold marble floor, indicating that the silent room was now filled with the sound of a small sobbing of a king sitting on the floor with shaky shoulders.
———
