Chapter 49: Gnawing Guilt

Lars watched the sunrise from his room window with a somber look. There was not a hint of joy or anything remotely light in his heart. He went back to bed and pulled the blanket over his head.

Despite he was aching for it, Lars couldn't sleep. The bed was nice and soft, the room was warm and cold whenever it needed to be, and everything was of highest luxury in his new room in Calendula Residence's mansion. Still, the comfortable room failed to give Lars a good night sleep.

Lars feared the nightmare. Staying awake was torturous enough for him as his brain kept retracing that day on Mt. Alnath and the news of his brother's disappearance. He remembered his whole life with Len. He remembered how Sophia looked under the sunlight and when she saved his life. He remembered he couldn't save them.

For the past three days, Lars was still far from being alright. Since Sophia's funeral, he cried once in a while and his supposed rest only made him even more drained. His pillows often wet by