PHASE 95 - THANK YOU FOR SAVING ME

The arrow swished throughout the midair, destroying the wind barrier as it passes through. My head is obviously exposed to the sniping archer, and there’s no way I could evade that flying projectile.

There is nothing for me to do but to close my eyes and accept my fate. My body refuses all my commands, and Rikkun is not aware of the flying arrow. This is my end.

However…

I heard a weak clang. When I opened my eyes, I saw the magical arrow that Kristoff unleashed, and it struck the back part of Rikkun’s armored left shoulder, two inches away from my face. The arrow immediately disappeared right after it hit Rikkun, and Kristoff’s did not do any damage.

“He… He missed?” I muttered.

On that faraway building that has been scouting me, I saw Kristoff and Jecchan. I could no longer hear them, but I can still read Kristoff’s lip even at about six hundred meters in distance.

“I’m sorry, I missed it.” Kristoff slightly lowered his bow with an exhausted smile on his face. “They’re no longer in my range now.

Jecchan wordlessly turned her back and jumped downwards. Kristoff followed her. There are no longer Gate Guardians chasing or watching us from a distance. We’re now completely safe.

Tears ran through my cheeks again. I finally regained control of my body and I hugged my lover who has been carrying me around the whole night. I cried on his chest as an outburst of mixed happiness and sadness. Honestly, I don’t know what to feel with this.

Kristoff’s and is a sure-hit projectile attack when used all at once. And yet, he missed.

There is only one conclusion with that: Kristoff let me go. He had the opportunity to kill me, but he chose to hit a different target on the last second.

“...Au…”

I dipped my face on the heart of my lover as I continue to muffle my weeping. All the casualties in that fight are on my tab. I am responsible that they are hurt. I am responsible that they are killed. There’s no going back now, and my life has now ruined to crumbles.

“Everything will be fine again, Tiara. I am here.” Rikkun caressed my head as he continued to run aimlessly.

“I’m sorry, Rikkun. Thank you… for saving me…”

<>

It was a long exhausting night that I found myself sleeping on my lover’s arms as he continues to run, run, and run. This temporary comfort I got from him made me comfortable to sleep, and it was two hours later when I was woken up.

“Tiara… Tiara…” Rikkun’s soft voice entered my ears.

When I opened my eyes, I finally realized that we’re in front of a Shinto Shrine on top of the hill. This setup is very much like the Kozukata Shrine in Heightsburg City, but I know it’s a different place because it looks abandoned. It’s as if this place has been placed to rot in more than ten years.

“” Rikkun opened his palm and a miniature sun on the size of fireflies flew away. The miniature suns lit up the lanterns all around the shrine, illuminating the very place.

I went down from Rikkun’s grasps as my eyes scanned the very shrine. It’s a big building that has a left and a right-wing, and for some reason, the left-wing looks burnt for a long time ago. I also saw the pine trees surrounding the shrine and as I slowly turned around, I saw the shrine gate.

The gate has a nameplate that says “The Brightmore Shrine.”

“Rikkun…” I moved my hand closer to my chest. “Are we…”

“Yes.” Rikkun slowly dematerialized his Aether Armor, revealing his tall blonde base form. The silver flakes of hair on his head twinkled as he moved. “We are here at Brightmore Town. I’m sorry if I led you here, but this is the only place I could think of to rest.”

I shook my head and smiled. “Mmmm… It’s okay, Rikkun. As long as we can stay somewhere safe. As long as I’m with you, I’m okay with anywhere.”

“That’s a relief.” Rikkun made a satisfied but tired smile as he relaxed his shoulders. He grabbed my hand and started to walk towards the entrance of the shrine. “Come, let’s have our second take in this haunted place together.”

“Y-Yes!” I tried to act cheerfully as I pumped my fists.

I look at the skies. It’s actually almost dawn now. It is too late to sleep considering the time, but it’s not like we still have school anyway. We're so tired of the battle.

Rikkun and I will be living together, secluded from people from now on. It pains my heart that everything has to change, and all I can do is to suck it up and swallow this bitter medicine I got myself into.

<>

Rikkun and I are both tired, so we did not really explore the place. All we did was to check the bathroom and the bedroom we last had when we last came here. We both made a quick shower to wash our bodies. I mean we took a bath together and washed each other’s backs.

We do have a perfect chance to be perverted, being all naked in the same room, but we didn’t bother because we are both traumatized by what just happened tonight. We just focused on making each other clean so that we can go to bed sooner.

After we had a shower, I prepared our sleeping place. I saw an old tatami mat on a cabinet so I used it to cover the floor. There are also blankets and pillows that looked clean enough for us to use so we utilized that.

When our sleeping place was all set, I sat on the side, bowing, reflecting on the tragedy I caused in this night. I also saw Rikkun do the same gesture as he somehow repents for his sins. His hands are trembling, and his whole body is shaking. His eyes are wide open as the flashbacks of having Heushac’s blood on his hands started to haunt him.

This is not right. I need to save Rikkun from this sin. It was my fault anyway, so the very least I could do is this.

“Rikkun.”

When my lover turned to me, I immediately caressed his cheeks and kissed his lips. Channeling the prana inside Rikkun’s body, I silently used my Guardian Ability to act as a sponge and absorb all the fear and wrath in his heart.

When I withdrew my lips, I saw Rikkun’s charming emerald eyes once again. His hair no longer has silver strings in it, which indicates that I have saved him from his sins. I have stolen the Curse of Aeternos from him.

“Tiara… Why…” Rikkun muttered.

I bowed down and started to weep. I covered my face with my hands as I felt embarrassed about being too dramatic in front of my lover.

“I’m sorry, Rikkun. I’m sorry that you’ve got caught in this. I’m sorry that you killed and hurt people just for my sake. I’m sorry that you killed your best friend just to save me. I’m sorry… that you had to become the person you hated to be… I’m sorry… I made you become Aeternos.”

“...Tiara…”

I felt a warm hug when Rikkun pushed himself to me. I felt his throbbing chest and the tight grip on his arms with the intention of never letting go. His cheek rested on top of my head as he tried to comfort me with his kind words.

“That is nothing for me, Tiara. I will become Aeternos just for you. You have saved my life for more than seven million times, and this is just a small price to pay for me. Yes, I do hate Aeternos. I do hate turning into him… But I would gladly be him if it was for your sake. I don’t want to lose myself, but… I’d rather lose myself than to lose you.”

I lowered my defenses and looked at the man I love the most. I also hugged him tight and I definitely don’t want to let go of him too. Out of all the past nights, I’ve been alone. It’s an eternal blessing for me just to be on his side.

“Rikkun… I love you… I don’t want to lose you too…”

“Tiara… I love you too… I’m sorry if it took me longer to realize that you’ve been tortured every night. I’ll never let you off my eyes again, I promise.”

We shared another kiss once again, but this time, it is out of pure love. Rikkun dragged me to sit on his lap while facing him as we continue to enjoy each other’s warm embrace. We did not talk much thereafter as we focused on giving each other’s comfort. We may look like animals who are licking each other’s wounds, but we didn’t pay any attention to it as we continue to celebrate the last speck of happiness left on our hearts.

As the morning sun rose up with its radiance in the heavens, our souls were replenished by hope as we consummate our love.