Despite the artificial relic tomb blocking out most of the light coming from outside, Arnold could tell it was night-time judging by the dim light shining from the thick layers of ice above.

The west wing was silent since everyone was busy doing repairs in the eastern side of the palace.

Most of the lights were turned off.

Arnold came to the room he woke up in earlier today.

The door was open and there were a few candles burning in the room which illuminated a figure standing by the window.

Arnold looked at the figure from the door.

‘What’s that smell?’ he could smell a thick iron stench drifting around the room.

“Rafaela?” ignoring the smell, he called out to the person.

He was certain it was her given the elf ears. It’s just that her hair looked different. It was now a greenish blonde color.

What caused this, thought Arnold.

Rafaela didn’t respond, only continued looking out the window.

Arnold entered the room.

Why was Rafaela barefoot and wearing a sleeping gown? Did she come to his room to talk to him about something before going to sleep?

She only opened her mouth once Arnold stood a few metres away from her.

“—I found out the truth. I know where I came from. It’s just like you said before.”

She turned her head to look at him. Her hair was messily let loose on her shoulders and her gown was slightly open at the top, revealing the nightdress underneath.

Why was she showing such a defenceless state to Arnold?

No, the bigger question is: Why is she here?

“The god met earlier today, Ladiath showed me,” she turned her body and faced him and with a downcast gaze she spoke, “I saw where I was born, who my family were, what my life could’ve been like had things been different…”

“…..”

“I was born in a regular kingdom where all races could live in harmony, even elves could build settlements around the humans. We traded our goods with the humans and even built alliances with them. The land prospered because of the peace that had remained between the people for decades. One day someone came to that land. It was… a demon lord. Ekterina Foruthflame.”

“….?”

Arsnoria’s second strongest commander, thought Arnold.

“Wielding a Star Artifact, she said ‘By order of the Monarch Watcher - Watcher of the Slumbering King: If you won’t submit to the Supreme Ruler of all evil who has yet to be born, then you will have to die just like the others who stood with Hero Promethius’ - before slamming the artifact down. A magic circle appeared in the sky after that. It expanded as the days went on with no signs of it stopping. A great number of disasters hit the people. First it was a single district, then it was a city, soon the entire kingdom was covered by the magic circle, with disasters happening only in its shadow while those outside the circle’s range could only helplessly watch. There were countless earthquakes, hurricanes and storms. Miraculously, many still survived, including the Wood Elves that had a village near where it all happened so one cannot truly say that everything was destroyed. I saw my younger self in that village. A few days after the devastation that took place, the elders had a meeting. The contents are unknown to me but I overheard them say something about a ritual.”

Rafaela chewed on her lower lip.

“The disasters would soon reach that village. The elders found a possible solution to destroying the magic circle for good. The World Tree’s roots couldn’t stretch as far as our lands so my people weren’t capable of harnessing the power of magic as well as humans or the power of spirits as well as our cousins beyond the sea of mountains.”

‘Beyond the sea of mountains…’

“They resorted to using Great Ritual Runes to vanquish the magic circle in the sky.”

“Ritual runes require sacrifices…”

There was another problem with using these great runes.

Most of them don’t work even after you offer a sacrifice.

“Yes.” Rafaela lowered her head, “There were indeed sacrifices. They needed sacrifices with innocent and young souls. The elders gathered up the children of the village. Each of us stood in a crudely-drawn rune circle that looked at if it was drawn with blood.”

“…..”

“They prayed to some god as they slaughtered children to form the complete Runic Incantation. Every child. Every scream. Every cry for help. It all amounted to a Rune Letter. They needed 26 sacrifices to complete the Great Rune formula.”

“…..”

“I stood beside them as I watched the children I used to play with, laugh with, as they were killed by their parents.”

In dark arts sacrifices it’s customary for the one who’s going to be sacrificed to be killed by a relative. This is the same in Great Rune Rituals, a banned practice that is punishable by execution if found using it.

All nations banned this ritual after the great war.

One might ask: How did it all start?

Well, it started with religion.

“I stood beside my younger self as my mother kept telling her how much she loves her. I sat there—empty eyed—as she withdrew the ritual blade. My father held down my head. I was the only child who didn’t cry for them to stop that day. I watched that child’s head roll over to my feet. Her empty eyes stared into my own as she asked ‘Why didn’t you help me’?”

“…You died? But how are you… here then?”

“I wonder that myself – how that’s possible. I was kneeling below the throne of the god I served when my eyes opened for the first time after I drifted in darkness. My master was standing beside his throne with a warm smile on her face, as if she didn’t witness my gruesome death. The two of them welcomed me. ‘Rafaela, welcome. From today onwards you serve me as an angel’ he said. Was that my real name? Or did they just give me a new name and lock away my memories?”

‘So, this Sky God erased her memories after he revived her.’

Thinking about, it made sense why he did that.

Who would want to continue living on knowing how they died the first time?

Arnold looked closer at Rafaela’s face in the light of the candle.

Her eyes looked dead, as if she was staring into empty space.

“…Do you want to go back? Do you want to continue serving the Sky God?”

Arnold asked.

Rafaela looked up at him silently.

“If your master knows the truth and intentionally kept it from you… Would you forgive her?”

She could only remember bits and pieces of where she was from judging by one of the conversations they had before:

A sea mountains that stretched from one shoreline to the next, mountains so high that they pierced the clouds.

This was the exact description given to the Culb Mountains when Luke ventured into them in search of the land beyond them.

Rafaela lowered her head, unable to give an answer.

Arnold looked her up and down. Her slightly exposed cleavage was glistening with sweat. He could smell the pungent scent of sweat and hair products blending into an intoxicating scent.

He didn’t notice it but his eyes had changed seeing this beautiful woman in his room who had trusted his company so much to expose herself like this.

“Rafaela, why are you here in my room exactly?”

“I… I don’t know…” she closed the cleavage of her gown and backed away from him.

“You don’t know?” Arnold approached her and grabbed her arms to move them away from her chest, “Maybe you want a man’s touch?"

Arnold’s hand rubbed her shoulder and travelled up her neck. He could feel the goosebumps rise on her pale white skin. The wetness of her sweat made his fingers sticky.

“….” She averted her eyes, “T-That’s not it…”

Arnold noticed that there was something red on his fingers.

Blood.

He looked between Rafaela and the blood on his fingers.

‘Don’t tell me she…’

“Take off your dress, Rafaela.”

She broke free and wrapped her arms around herself even tighter, “No… No…”

Arnold hit the wall behind her with his hand, driving her into the corner.

“I want to see. Take off your dress.”

….

….

Rafaela lowered the top of her dress. She couldn’t look at Arnold. Her breasts were now exposed to him.

There was a visible blush on her cheeks.

“Turn around.”

“…..”

She did as he said.

A squishy sound came from the floor when she turned around on the spot.

‘As I expected….’ Arnold couldn’t help but sigh at what he was looking at.

There were two large wounds on Rafaela’s back. It looked as if something chopped into her skin, like an axe or machete. Some parts of her skin were hanging loose.

The blood of the wounds had travelled down her back and her legs, onto the floor, staining her small feet. Arnold didn’t notice this at first since it was so dark. It was also impossible to see the wounds on her back since she was wearing a dark blue gown.

If the smell didn’t make it obvious then the blood on his hand did.

“You cut off your wings…”

One might wonder: Why would she do that if she can make the wings disappear? Well, the wings don’t disappear per se. They just become invisible to the naked eye from being masked by divine power.

Similarly, an angel’s halo will vanish alongside their wings.

Arnold looked above her head, now that the candlelight was illuminating her completely.

Rafaela’s halo was black and lifeless.

‘She’s an angel no more…’

“…..” Rafaela tried to cover herself again but Arnold stopped her.

“We need to treat this. You’re losing a lot of blood.”

Arnold rummaged in the nightstand next to his bed.

‘Bingo.’

He found some bandages inside. They were quite large, perfect to wrap around a person’s body to cover large wounds.

Arnold also took out a few bottles of the potions that he made that time before he entered the dungeon.

“I’m no expert in treating wounds like you so you’ll have to bear with me.”

The wounds had to have been inflicted shortly after Ladiath left the palace. This means that there’s no need to clean it. Arnold thought so anyways.

He poured the liquid onto two bandages. He made sure to fold the bandages to make it easier for the liquid to be trapped in the fabric.

Rafaela lowered her clothes and pulled her hair aside.

Arnold carefully placed the bandages onto her wounds. Rafaela winched for a second.

Arnold then grabbed a second bundle of bandages.

“Lift your arms,” Arnold’s mouth was right next to her ear.

He could see goosebumps on her neck from his breath blowing into it.

She did as he said.

Her clothes fell onto the floor, exposing her butt and back.

A perfect hourglass figure; not too thick but not too skinny either.

This wasn’t the time to appreciate what a perfect body Rafaela has so Arnold has to hold himself together.

He began wrapping the bandage around her upper body.

….

After a while.

Rafaela silently put on her clothes while Arnold was busy cleaning the floor with the mop that was standing in the hallway.

He managed to finish dressing her wounds after about three minutes of trial and error. He asked her if it was too tight earlier but she said that it was fine.

Arnold spoke with his back turned to Rafaela.

“I’m going to rest up for a few days. If you want to leave then I understand. I’m not leaving until I’m back at full strength. I can’t hope to face the challenges ahead otherwise.”

If I do end up fighting those martial masters then I need to be at full strength, he thought to himself.

“I’ll wait for you.”

“I see…”

Well, he’s the only one who can protect her. There’s no telling if the pathways left behind by her master and the other disciples are still safe enough to travel alone. Travelling along with him ensures her safety.

Arnold suddenly heard the bed creaking.

He then heard Rafaela’s voice again.

“Are you coming to bed?”

“…..” he turned his head, “Wait, are you… staying here?”

Rafaela was sitting under the blankets on his bed.

“I’m too tired to walk back to my room,” she said with a downcast gaze, “The other rooms down the hallway are locked so I can’t go into them either. Only Miss Siana’s room is open but I don’t want to trouble her.”

“Hmm, well you lost a lot of blood so that makes sense.”

“Mm.”

That was all Rafaela murmured before she laid down.

Arnold stood there in silence for a few seconds before he decided to climb into bed as well.

“Are you fine laying down like that?” he asked when he climbed under the blanket.

Wouldn’t it hurt laying down while having wounds like that?

“I used a spell to nullify the pain so I’m fine like this.”

‘Nonchalantly, says the girl with two open wounds on her back.’

“…I see. By the way…. Why did your hair colour change? Did losing your wings do that somehow?”

“I changed it myself. I… I just don’t want to be reminded of my old self. I want to let go of the past…”

“So, you’re running away from it?"

“….I suppose you can say that…”

Arnold glanced at her. She was looking up at the ceiling.

A cold wind blew into the room, blowing out a few candles, making the room even darker.

Only the moonlight shined down on Rafaela.

She lifted her upper body and turned her head to look at Arnold.

Her eyes swam around the room when Arnold looked at her.

“What’s wrong?”

“What you said… That I wanted a man’s touch… Do you think it will make me forget about what I saw… and what I know?”

The flush on her cheeks didn’t go unnoticed even in this dimly-lit room.

He wanted to say “No, I was just kidding” but those eyes… Those eyes staring at him, begging him to comfort her…

She didn’t know what to do so she confided in him as if he knew the answer.

This is wrong. He shouldn’t use a woman’s vulnerability to satiate his carnal desires.

Part of him wanted to comfort her. The other part of him had other, less noble intentions.

Arnold lifted his upper body.

He locked eyes with Rafaela.

Her body looked so small and delicate compared to him.

He grabbed her hand.

Soft and small. He could feel her small hand trembling as it clutched his own.

He then put his hands on her shoulders and slowly laid her back down. She didn’t resist.

He then climbed on top of her.

He could hear Rafaela’s breathing becoming shorter and quicker.

Arnold leaned down and whispered in her ear:

“This won’t help you forget about what you saw and what you know. But, it will make the memories less painful for just a moment.”

“…..” she averted her eyes, “…A moment is enough… Just make sure to give me lots of those moments when we’re alone…”

“Alright.”

He held onto her gown whilst looking into her eyes. She nodded.

“…Mm…”

Arnold slowly took off her gown and nightdress. He couldn’t see her breasts anymore since the bandage was covering her entire upper body, except her arms, of course.

Rafaela flinched when Arnold ran his hands along her curves. His hands ended up on her hips and travelled up her legs. He lifted her legs and pulled off her underwear.

Rafaela opened her legs for him. He could still feel her trembling like a small animal.

Such a beautiful rose.

Rafaela glared at Arnold with a face as red as a tomato noticing him staring at her flower with such a focused expression:

“S-Stop staring at it like that.”

It’s sad that this is his first and will be his last time seeing this innocent rose. Even with her legs opened, it stayed closed, too shy to show its pink petals.

Arnold began rubbing himself on her entrance.

She just looked at him in confusion, not knowing why he was doing that.

He was careful not to put it inside immediately.

Rafaela was still dry so it would hurt her instead if he rushed things. Arnold fiddled with the bandage and managed to free her breasts. Her breasts were small enough to squeeze through.

Arnold licked one of her puffy inverted nipples. Rafaela stroked his hair.

Arnold managed to free one nipple. He twirled his tongue around her areola before taking the entire thing in his mouth and sucking it hard.

A popping sound echoed. Rafaela raised her hips and grinded against his member which he hadn’t stopped rubbing against her flower.

“Hn… Nh…”

Arnold moved his head down her body until he was right in front of her flower.

Her petals showed themselves as steam rose from her flower. The hole behind her petals convulsed and pumped out her love nectar.

Arnold used two fingers to spread them apart.

Pink and beautiful. Staring into her deepest and darkest place had a strange charm and beauty to it.

“W-What are you doing…?” Rafaela asked breathlessly.

He could feel how tense she was. Her body was trembling slightly, unsure of what awaits when Arnold inserts his member.

“Relax. Just leave everything to me.”

He could immediately feel her body relax. She closed her eyes and laid her head onto the pillow.

“…Okay… Hk!?” Her tiny affirmation turned into a surprised shriek when Arnold shoved his tongue into her.

Her body jerked up due to his sudden action.

“Ah… ah…” Rafaela moaned softly as Arnold moved his tongue inside her like a slithering snake.

Arnold poked one finger inside and began scraping her flesh outwards. Her body jerked again.

“Hyaaahnn…”

Arnold could hear a long sigh when he pulled his fingers out.

He grabbed his shirt and wiped his face with it.

After covering himself with her natural lube, he gazed into her eyes and said:

“Here I go.”

“Nnn!!!”

His member slowly expanded her inner walls.

Blood stained the sheets and his shaft when he broke the thin film inside Rafaela, forever ridding her of her purity.

“W-Wait, hold on…” she put her hands on his chest to stop for a moment.

Rafaela and Arnold stared into each other’s eyes. He could feel her sweet breath blowing into his face.

Rafaela took a few deep breaths before nodding and clutching the sheets.

Arnold began moving again, this time a little harder and faster.

Her sweet moans and those convulsing walls of hers made him shudder and grunt.

Feeling a fire burn inside his heart, he pounded her faster.

Rafaela just lay there and took it all while groaning in pain which eventually turned into moans of pleasure.

It got even more intense when Arnold turned her on her stomach and lifted her butt.

Soon the sounds of skin slapping skin resounded in the small bedroom just a few doors away from the former owner’s bedroom.

Groans and sweet moans could be heard down the hallway. Any passer-by would know what these moans are.

‘Hmm, it feels like I’m forgetting something…’

Arnold had that fleeting thought as he thrust in and out of Rafaela.

Deciding that it wasn’t as important as “comforting” the beauty under him, he decided to let it go.

Arnold recovered his strength by resting over the course of five days, among other things…