PHASE 2 - THE CUPID OF DESTINIES

“We have to meet him in Hell?” I repeated the words that this mysterious woman just uttered.

“Yes.” She made a simple answer.

“How are we supposed to do that?” I asked again. I don’t know what this new Outsider is thinking, but considering our conversation, she sounded serious.

“Tsk. Tsk.” Erylle waved her index finger in front of my nose. “You’re talking to a Gate Guardian who can travel through parallel universes, inverse realities, and extra dimensions. Opening a Gate to the underworld is a piece of cake for me. That is the power bestowed upon the Outsider; the Gate Guardian who is responsible to keep the balance on all the multiverses.”

“So you’ll help me reach Aeternos in the afterlife, is that it?” I slightly tilted my head.

“Precisely.” Erylle smiled. “And I will do it free of charge!”

I made silence as I turned my back and looked at the Frozen Soul. I rubbed my palms slowly on the smooth ice, reminiscing me of my precious memories with my eternal love. I’m imagining that I’m petting Tiara’s forehead like a puppy.

If there is a way to wake her without risking everything, then I shall take it.

It seems that The Outsider; Erylle, is telling nothing but the truth. It’s not like I have a choice anyway. But I have to make sure that I won’t be betrayed again.

“I believe everything you said, but you’re still hiding something.” I turned at the beautiful blonde woman with a slight smirk. “I can’t trust you fully. Especially that you have the very same name as the Corrupted Frozen Soul that the Fake Outsider Yohan Romanov used to love.”

“As I told you before, I’m different from that Erylle. I came from another space, time, and dimension. I am a real Outsider.” Erylle crossed her arms and frowned. “And that Yohan is not the one I knew. There’s no way that the man I love is cursed. That Fake Outsider sealed me along with that Corrupted Frozen Soul and assumed my position for his own selfish intentions.”

“The more we drag this conversation, the more it gets me confused.” I scratched my head with a guilty smile.

“Okay!” The blonde woman pumped herself up. “There is another proof that you can trust me completely!”

“And that is?” I asked. She sounded so certain that she can win my trust.

“You have seen Tiara’s memories on the previous timelines, remember?” Erylle said. “The woman who shot your Tiara’s heart with a light arrow, do you remember her?”

<>

During the previous timeline, Tiara was completely converted to a Cursed Guardian due to the curse of the Brightmore Witch and her endless love for me. She even killed his jackass twin brother as a result. She used her to fuse my soul to my severed head in order for me to live with her forever, but I didn’t like it.

I talked shit to the woman who only knows to love me, and begged that she should kill me instead. So she did kill me. After that, Tiara made a wish, and an angel descended from the sky.

I remember her appearance. Long blonde hair and emerald eyes. She’s wearing a Valkyrie suit and there are eight fluffy wings swaying on her back. She holds a white short sword that is similar to the one the Fake Outsider wielded, the . And she’s equipped with a platinum bow with the other hand.

She is the one who is responsible for changing Tiara’s doomed destiny. If ever, it’s all thanks to her that Tiara’s dream to be loved by the man she longs the most came true.

<>

Suddenly, the mysterious Erylle Fontaine had her body engulfed with golden-white particles, the very same manner as to how Tiara transforms into her . I can sense divinity on her, on par to those people who possess God Cores.

White Valkyrie suit, white-winged tiara, and a white feathered longbow. Eight fluffy wings danced on her back. The demigoddess in front of me is none other than the woman I saw in Tiara’s memories in the previous timelines.

“Y-You…” That’s all I can mutter. I was so mindblown that my thought circuits burst. “I-It can’t be…”

“Actually, I’m the cupid who bind your hearts together.” Erylle joked.

I can’t think of any words. If she’s really the one who has the power to change Tiara’s destiny on the previous timeline, then there is no doubt that she can revive Tiara from that indestructible diamond ice.

“So, will you trust me now?” Erylle lent out her hand as she swiftly reverted back to her base form. Light sparked from every inch of her skin as she released her .

“As long as I can bring Tiara back without hurting anyone, I’ll trust you.” I took her hand and shook it.

“Good. Now we’re talking business.” Erylle said.

“So when is our field trip to the bowels of hell?” I asked.

“I can open the Gates of Hell anytime you want. But there’s no need to hurry. You have to rest for the night. The hell or underworld is the source of all Eidolons. We’re not just walking in a park. We’re going to venture into a Jurassic park.”

“Right…” I said as I tightened up my fist. I’m so excited and pumped up that I’m itching to defrost Tiara from that cursed ice. But I know that being motivated can only get me far. I need to calm down for now.

Erylle continued to explain. “I have to tell you that Eidolons there are extremely powerful. There’s also a high probability that you will have to fight Cursed Guardians and of course, Aeternos there. It’s obvious that he won’t give you the Fragment and the Curse easily.”

Fighting Aeternos again, huh? If we may have around two, it will be a hard fight. Considering that I no longer possess the God Core of Freyr and I can’t draw the , I will only be relying on my own powers.

About the twelve God Cores… It’s stuck in Tiara’s heart. There is no way to remove or even borrow its powers as of the moment. It’s like we have to get Tiara out of that ice prison before we can retrieve the God Cores we worked hard to find and achieve.

“Can I bring some other Gate Guardians?” I asked. “As you can see, I don’t think my firepower can bring down Aeternos. It would make my quest easier if I have party members.”

“I’m sorry, it’s prohibited.” Erylle frowned. “The moment other Gate Guardians step on Hell, they will be erased due to the natural laws of the universe. You’re the only one who has the ability of , which makes you unaffected by any force that deletes your existence.”

“That’s a letdown,” I said.

“Don’t worry, I’ll help you fight. I’m almost as strong as Helena with seven God Cores, so you need not worry!” Erylle made a safe smile.

<>

I’m back in my home in Mirose Grande.

It’s already two hours past midnight. I’m lying on my bed, unable to sleep. I’ve been repeating Tiara’s songs on my phone over and over at full volume. I think my wireless earphones are going to burst if I continue doing this for an hour more. Idol Club music is never my genre, but considering that my girlfriend is the lead singer of the club, I’ll wholeheartedly add it to my taste.

Tiara’s voice is soothing and refreshing. Her lover’s serenade makes me feel like she’s cradling me on her soft chests and hugging me tightly. All those flashbacks when we first kissed, when we first caressed each other, and when we first hold hands came back to me. I can even remember myself patting her head. Heck, I can remember her punching my nose every time I become rude.

Listening to her voice in such wonderful music is my daily routine. After an hour of listening to her songs, I would hug my lonely self together with my crippling depression and proceed to cry endlessly until I tire myself and put me to sleep.

But now, it’s different.

Now that I have finally found a way to wake her up, my heart and soul are now filled with hope.

I raised my body and looked at the window. The gorgeous full moon peeks from the bluish dark skies that are full of colorful stars. I clenched my fist and fixed my resolve.

“Tiara… I’ll be coming to save you.”