Boundless Evolution: The Summoning Beast
Chapter 47: Darius’s Last Message

Chapter 47: Darius’s Last Message

A ghost of Darius Valen, the legendary commander- stood before them, his gaze steady and yet carrying an unmistakable warmth.

At the first sound of his voice, Bennet stiffened, his breath getting caught in his throat. A shiver ran down his spine as the sheer reality of hearing his father again struck him like a hammer and a surge of emotions clawed at his chest.

Seraphina’s fingers tightened around the fabric of her dress, her other hand instinctively reaching for Bennet’s as her breath also hitched.

The weight of hearing his voice after so long pressed down on them both, raw and unexpected, as the warmth in Darius’s tone made the loss feel fresh again, cutting deeper at the wounds they had thought they were prepared for.

"I wish I could have been there to guide you guys and see you all once again, but fate had other plans," Darius spoke, his voice rich with emotions.

A lump formed in Bennet’s throat as he grasped Seraphina’s hand tightly.

Darius’s figure then exhaled a heavy breath, making it seem as if he was here, alive for just this moment, "The war is not going to simply be about borders or power. It’s going to be about survival. Our enemies are relentless and formidable, I do not know how they did it but they managed to summon a dragon. The forces at play are greater than the previous wars we have faced. You must be vigilant and be stronger than I was."

The weight of his words hung in the air. Bennet’s hands curled into fists at his sides, his jaw clenched as he listened.

Boy flicked his ears as he observed the emotions unraveling before him. The weight in Bennet’s clenched jaw, the miniscule tremors in Seraphina’s fingers that she tried to hide- these subtle signs of grief, reverence, and longing stirred something within him.

It was not just grief that he saw in them, but love, unexpressed love, an intense sorrow of losing a father, a husband, a legacy that was more than just duty.

His amber eyes flickered with an unreadable expression, his gaze shifting between the projection and the Valens. He found it beautiful... strangely amazing...

Had he ever been mourned? Would his absence ever carry such weight?

As he thought more, he could not find anything pointing towards that happening for him.

He had fought, bled, survived, but for whom? Was there anyone who would truly mourn him if he fell in battle? Would anyone grieve for him like Bennet and Seraphina?

No faces came to mind, no voices that would cry his name in sorrow.

Had there ever been?

He had fought, bled, and survived—not for himself, but because he was expected to.

But because it was his duty. A tool did not ask for love. A summon did not question if it would be missed. And yet... despite the truth of summons and their nature... something inside him ached, a quiet longing he had never allowed himself to acknowledge.

The realisation settled in his chest like a cold weight. He was reminded of his talk with Raegan as he thought to himself, ’I pursue strength... and am getting stronger...’

’But I feel that strength will not matter if there is no one who cares about me enough to remember me...’

The room was tense, filled with both disbelief and grief, all eyes still planted on Darius as he continued to speak.

"Benny, my son, I have always been proud of you..." he spoke as his gaze softened, but there was a deep sorrow in his eyes.

The words hit hard, stealing breath from Bennet’s lungs as his vision blurred and lost focus for the briefest moment.

His voice lowered slightly, carrying the pain of a man who wished for more time, "From the moment you could walk, you carried responsibility far beyond your years and everytime I worried, you would display an ability to match. You have grown into a leader worthy of the Valen name even before I could officially hand the responsibility to you."

Bennet’s breath grew unsteady. His father’s voice wrapped around him like an embrace he could never return.

The warmth in his father’s voice, the sorrow laced within it, deepened the ache in his chest, making it impossible to hold back tears as they silently trailed down his face.

He wanted to be strong—to be the man his father believed him to be—but in this moment, he felt like a boy again, small and lost. The weight of his father’s legacy pressed down on him, heavier than any armor he had ever worn.

Darius then spoke again, his tone encouraging and uplifting, "Remember this, my dear son- you are not alone. Lead with wisdom, not just strength. Trust those beside you, especially Seraphin."

At this, Bennet turned towards Seraphina, his gaze softening as he gripped her hand, grounding himself in her presence. A small, loving smile crossed his lips as he was truly grateful that he did not have to bear the weight of his father’s death alone.

"Sera..." Darius called out, now focusing his attention on Seraphina, his features strained with regret.

It was almost as if he could see her, but the ache of knowing he never truly would again lingered in his expression, "My dear daughter-in-law, I could not have asked for better. You have been a pillar of strength for my son and for this family. I see all that you do directly and indirectly. Benny’s mood completely lights up when he knows you’re around. I regret that I will not be there to see the future that the two of you will build together. But I leave with the comfort of knowing that Bennet has you by his side. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for joining this family of ours and even giving me a grandson."

Towards the end, his voice wavered slightly, his sorrow barely masked but his gratitude and thankfulness even more stronger and clear in his words.

Seraphina inhaled sharply, her throat tightening as Darius’s words wrapped around her, filled with love, pride, and sorrow.

She had always known how much Darius meant to Bennet, but hearing him acknowledge her role in this family, in Bennet’s life, made her feel truly seen.

A single tear slipped down her cheek as she grasped Bennet’s hand a little tighter. She wanted to be strong, to hold herself together, but the ache in her heart made it impossible to suppress the emotions rising within her. He had believed in her, in all of them. And though he was gone, she silently vowed to honor his trust, to stand beside Bennet and ensure that his father’s final words would never be in vain.

A brief pause followed, his features softening further as he spoke again, "And to my dear grandson, Lucas, I want you to know that grandpa loves you dearly. I wanted to see you grow into a man but I am afraid that your grandpa will have to be watching you from afar now. You have the brightest future among all the males in our family lineage and grandpa believes in you."

Bennet and Seraphina inhaled sharply at that, their grip around their hands tightening as they both committed the words to memory, their hearts aching at the thought of their son never getting to meet the man who spoke with such love and pride again other than in this form.

After this, the image began to flicker as the projection growed unstable. Darius’s expression shifted, his once-steady gaze now shadowed by a deeper sorrow.

"Benny... Sera... Lucas..." he murmured, his voice softer now, strained, "I wish I could have been there longer, to see Lucas grow, to stand beside you both through the hardships ahead. But my time is now gone. Yours is now."

He exhaled, a ghostly breath, before his eyes suddenly locked onto Bennet, "You have my strength, Benny. Lead well. Protect our people. And live with no regrets."

With this, the projection slowly began to flicker, Darius’s form distorting, his voice crackling as though fighting against the inevitable.

His eyes lingered on Bennet, soft yet filled with something unreadable—a final wish, perhaps, or an unspoken goodbye.

Then, in an instant, he was gone. The space where he had stood felt empty, colder, as if the room itself mourned his absence.

In that moment, the crystal emitted a soft beep as a small button illuminated and popped out, pulsing gently.

No one spoke, as if the air itself had frozen to momentarily honour the weight of Darius’s final words.

Bennet, Seraphina, the gathered advisors, and the party remained still, lost in quiet reflection. The once great commander, known for his strength in battle, had left behind something far greater- a message of love, duty, and hope.

"He spoke to them as a father, not just as a commander," Raegan observed quietly, "Even in death, he wanted to ensure his son and his family were prepared."

The conversation lingered in the air, thick with grief and admiration.

Creak...

The heavy wooden door creaked open slowly, drawing everyone’s attention.

And small footsteps padded into the room...