Chapter Forty-Four
_Unextinguished Feelings
* * *
"Damn it... I feel useless..."
He kicked the wall in frustration, for the thousandth time it seemed, as if trying to break it down. The man sitting tiredly on the sofa spoke:
"Marquis, the presence of the three of us will do nothing but hinder His Majesty.."
"Lord Marshall, are you saying my power is weak?!..."
"Even though you look fine on the outside, the backlash from the black magic attack on you is still significant..."
"As for me, I do not wish to be scolded by Her Majesty for letting her sick brother go into a brutal battle..."
"You two, I am going crazy while you remain calm... "
"It's just that we must keep the positions His Majesty placed us in; he trusts us... despite that, I feel my heart will tear from anxiety."
Mir's smile was full of worry. Elliot sighed and sat in one of the individual sofas, saying:
"I hope everyone stays safe..."
The three sighed, their hearts and minds in a state of intense anticipation and anxiety...
* * *
The battle inside the Temple was in full swing. Raphael walked with steady steps, crushing everything in his path; even the "Paladins" avoided standing in Raphael's way. Ivan looked at Raphael, knowing that the place Ariana had been taken to was the hall where Logan was being held, for it was a plan they both executed as a last card to destroy the foundation of the Temple...
* * *
Two weeks before the battle, on the day of his last meeting with his alleged father...
Two hours prior, Ivan had finished all his final tasks. He was planning to leave the Temple soon and openly follow Raphael's side. He sighed wearily, then closed his eyes and spoke deep within his mind...
"Logan, I know you hear me... I want to talk to you..."
Moments later, the scenery around him changed from a dusty, old office to a luxurious prayer hall...
"Man, I've waited for you for a long time..."
"You look truly hideous..."
Ivan sighed and looked at Logan with resentment. Logan snapped his fingers, sending Ivan flying high, but Ivan regained his focus and landed easily...
"I am no longer a child.."
"In this life, it is only the second time we meet..."
"No problem, if you want, we can meet again..."
Logan laughed and placed his hands under his chin with a smile...
"So, what do you want from me?!..."
"I want to fulfill Raphael's true wish..."
"You know that I am no longer capable of performing any task with my power..."
"I don't need your power, but rather Rukshan's need for you..."
Logan raised an eyebrow in surprise and said:
"You want a spark to start the great battle..."
"Correct..."
"And how will you do it?!.."
"By kidnapping Her Majesty..."
"Do you want your master to kill you?!..."
Logan knew Ivan was crazy, but he hadn't imagined the extent of his madness; that woman is someone very dear to the Emperor's heart, the person who was able to restore the pure heart of this man...
"I also don't want her to be harmed. It's just that Rukshan knows your strength and thinks he is using you for his sake, isn't that right?!..."
"Certainly..."
"He is in a state of despair because of what His Majesty is doing to him; he might try to ask you for help..."
"It's not unlikely..."
"Suggest kidnapping Her Majesty, and tell him you want her for yourself.."
"It sounds like a reasonable idea; he won't act recklessly regarding his master's sacrifice.."
"You can tell Her Majesty about the plan; she is a rational person and will not oppose it..."
"You seem confident in her.."
"She is the protective spirit of this Empire, so I trust her..."
"Then, it's a deal..."
* * *
"Your Majesty, we have arrived..."
Raphael felt a "Deja Vu" upon approaching the large gate and looked at Ivan:
"I think I've been here before.."
"Me too... let's enter, Your Majesty..."
Raphael nodded and opened the gate after giving orders that no one but him and Ivan should enter here, and they must search for Rukshan...
Screeeech!!!!!
Raphael opened the large door, and what lay before him paralyzed his tongue. Ivan looked in shock and swallowed hard; he hadn't expected this to happen.
"Raf, don't come..."
Ariana's eyes were shaking, and Rukshan himself was holding a silver blade to her throat, while five of Rukshan's followers with strong holy power surrounded Logan, pumping the holy power that hindered him...
Rukshan turned to Raphael and Ivan and smiled victoriously:
"I expected you to come..."
Ivan swallowed his anger, his eyes burning. He didn't want to put Ariana's life in danger; he wanted to end everything, but why must someone get hurt because of him?
"What do you want from the Empress?!..."
Rukshan realized Ivan's anger despite not knowing the reason exactly, but he felt euphoria just by infuriating this arrogant boy, so he said:
"Did your plan fail? It seems your arrogance blinded you... Ivan."
Ivan's eyes shook, and he looked at Raphael with a deep sense of guilt, saying in a low voice:
"I'm sorry... I put Her Majesty's life in danger... it's my fault."
When Raphael saw Logan, he recognized him immediately. He was truly upset by what happened to Ariana, but he knew that Rukshan was his opponent, so there was no way to underestimate him...
He looked at Ariana and smiled encouragingly, which made her hold back her tears quietly. She was truly afraid; she didn't want to involve Raphael in something that might harm him, for she hadn't forgotten what happened with him at the end of last year and how he was greatly hurt...
"Raf, don't worry about me, save Logan.. I trust you."
"..."
Raphael felt helpless, and Rukshan didn't seem like he would surrender. Ivan approached him and whispered:
"Let's demolish the walls of the hall; part of it acts as a barrier preventing Logan from moving."
"How can we destroy the rest?!..."
"We must buy some time to save Her Majesty, while the barrier is being destroyed..."
"Did you set a plan?!..."
"Not exactly. I wanted to speed up the escape process, so I placed some magical explosives around the hall, but they need a trigger..."
"Where exactly?"
Ivan pointed with his eyes. Raphael took a deep breath and said calmly, contrary to what he felt:
"What do you want, Steve, from doing all this?!..."
"If you submit to me, I can manage..."
"What confidence! You are quite the dreamer, old man..."
Rukshan was incensed by Ariana's words and brought the silver dagger closer to her neck, causing blood to seep out..
"I want to see how he will act before his people when he fails to save his fiancée—a failed Emperor..."
"Do you think I'll die if you stab me? It seems you've lost your mind..."
Rukshan was shocked when he found that the wound healed as if it hadn't existed; it wasn't Ariana's abilities, but rather Raphael's power which the bracelet was supplied with. He was always pouring magic without thinking, causing the bracelet to act automatically. She knew that, but Rukshan didn't...
His rage intensified, and he said with resentment:
"Is it your power? Healing?! ... "
"..."
"I understand now why he kept you by his side. Were you healing his mana explosion? Hahaha... let's see how he'll heal you when the holy energy attacks you..."
Raphael and Ivan's eyes widened when he gathered an immense holy power in his hand and thrust it into her body, causing her eyes to turn white from the intensity of the pain. It was a swift and sudden attack that left them helpless. Ivan had come to the discovery that Ariana's body was much like the bodies of monsters; not affected by their power but could die from holy energy..
Ariana's body began to writhe from the intensity of the pain until her face lost its color and her eyes lost sight. Rukshan left her, enjoying the look on Raphael's face and the rest, and said to his assistants:
"Don't let him escape, I must get the insects out.."
Rukshan went out, while Raphael approached Ariana and couldn't get close to her because of her writhing...
"Raf..."
It was the only word she could utter through her pain. Raphael, feeling helpless, looked at the hesitant Ivan and said:
"The mana amplification potion, do you still have any?!..."
Ivan could barely contain himself and nodded in affirmation. Raphael signaled him to give it to him. Without hesitation, Ivan handed over the potion, and before Raphael drank it, he said with cold eyes:
"Catch this man... dead or alive."
Ivan nodded, and in an instant, he dashed after Rukshan. Raphael looked at the followers then at the suffering Ariana and took a deep breath. He knew that if one of these interrupted his treatment, it would make matters worse; he would prefer death over that, and there was no time to fight them... so he whispered to Ariana:
"Aya, can you wait a bit?!..."
"Y-yes..."
Despite the intensity of the pain, she decided to support Raphael in any way. If one of them decided to kill him during treatment, Raphael wouldn't hesitate to continue the treatment even at the cost of his life...
Raphael stood with a lethal momentum, making the following priests tremble with fear. Without any hesitation, Raphael put his power into his sword and with a swift movement cut them all down. Logan was amazed and looked at Raphael without saying a word. Raphael fired a magical shot toward the magical bomb, and the wall and barrier crumbled...
"Logan, please.."
"Don't worry, finish her treatment and I will protect you both.."
Raphael didn't finish his sentence because Logan understood. Raphael quickly approached Ariana and held her hand, which had become cold as ice—even colder. Without hesitation, he swallowed the largest amount of the potion that had been the cause of his madness, and his energy, which was stabilizing, magnified to an incomprehensible degree. Without hesitation, Raphael embraced Ariana and began pouring his magic and soul into her body. Despite the madness of the energy in his body, he was pumping it calmly, as if every surge of magic told her the extent of the feelings he couldn't contain in his heart alone...
"Wake up, let's get married... what do you think about having a wedding ceremony in the public square? Don't you love unusual things?"
"..."
"I want us to get married soon, but that fool Leo says he won't attend because his wife will give birth to their child soon. He thinks I'll wait for him until he's free... in fact, I'm excited to see my friend's child...."
Raphael was literally crying his words. Her body rivaled snow in coldness, and her body was still still...
"... nonetheless, I'm even more excited to see our children. What will they look like? I want them to look like you... Aya... Aya, please don't let go of my hand..."
After about an hour of pouring magic into her body, her body began to regain its color. Raphael had spoken about everything concerning them: his past, his present, and his future that he wanted her to be in. He had spoken about many things, sometimes strange and silly...
"I didn't know... that you... were so good... at chattering.."
Her weary words that came out of her mouth restored life to Raphael. He placed his hand on her cheek and smiled with eyes screaming with salvation and tears on the verge of falling. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, kissing her eyes...
"I might have been dead now, if I hadn't seen these eyes looking at me once again.."
Ariana laughed with shyness and fatigue, but Raphael was in a state of disbelief. If it were a dream that Ariana had regained her consciousness, perhaps he would prefer to live in it. He had lost so much when he was younger, but he had finally found his long-sought goal; he had found in this woman his salvation, his strength, and his only love..
"Aya... don't do this again. Do not put your life in danger, even if I die before you..."
Ariana found no response except to nod yes. He smiled and whispered:
"Aya... I love you."
Warm tears fell on Raphael's hand holding her cheek, so she placed her hand over his and said:
"And I too, I love you.... I don't want you to be hurt either."
Raphael smiled and embraced her warmly. Meanwhile, Logan, who was watching silently while wiping away fake tears despite the real happiness he felt for them, found that despite his desire to talk to both of them, he felt his mission ended here. It seems the wish was fulfilled, so he can return to his world. But he had formed a connection to this world, so perhaps one day he would come and visit them...
* * *
"Do you leave your master unguarded?!..."
He knew he was mocking him. At this moment, he was praying in his heart that the Empress would be fine. He looked at the man trying to mock him and said:
"Do you leave your followers to die and escape alone?!... No wonder... you are just scum...."
"You.. you.."
"At least my master will come to save me when I need him..."
Rukshan truly held a grudge against Raphael. Although the previous Emperor was strong, he complied with the Temple for the sake of his son. As for this man, even his rivals will stand by his side when necessary...
"What will you do? Will you kill me?!..."
"Do you think otherwise?!..."
Rukshan flared with rage and attacked Ivan. In his view, if he wasn't a weapon for him, he must be destroyed. He fired luminous whips and tried to strike Ivan with them. Ivan retreated and threw a magical bomb at Rukshan. Had he not created a shield, it would have killed him, making him even angrier; how could this boy try to kill him? Despite his twisted personality, he was still pure from the inside, so his holy power was intensely concentrated despite possessing magic. Ivan is an innocent child who couldn't kill a fly, let alone a human...
"You, are you trying to kill me?!.."
"Are you afraid now?!..."
"You will lose your holy power..."
"Are you joking with me?!..."
"..."
"You have killed many and many. Not with your hand, true, but your power is defiled, because you are mere scum..."
"If not for my blood, you wouldn't have been born..."
"..."
"My blood flows in your veins, are you cursing me now?!..."
There was a fire raging in Ivan's heart, for this was a fact he couldn't deny. Ivan, who has great holy power and wonderful magic, had not found fighting to his liking—not due to weakness, but because he loved building over destroying. This was something Rukshan knew...
Ivan spotted a sword lying on the ground, pulled it with his magic, and looked at Rukshan with burning eyes..
"Fight me..."
"Haha, foolish arrogance.."
Ivan charged with his sword relentlessly. He was good at using the sword, but he carried a pathetic hesitation within him, in his view...
'Why?!.. Why can't I?!'
Moments of hesitation are sometimes fatal. Rukshan attacked Ivan with a real whip until he vomited blood...
Ivan kept coughing violently, trying to stand up. He might not want to kill him, but Rukshan wouldn't hesitate to do so..
"I didn't teach you the sword to fall like this.."
The voice was very familiar, a voice he thought he would never hear again. Ivan looked at the owner of the voice and said with a cracked voice:
"Why did you come back?! ..."
He moved his hand through his blonde hair and spoke with boredom:
"Not for you, rest assured..."
"You.."
He extended his hand to support Ivan, who stood with trembling legs. Kayin looked at Rukshan while talking to Ivan:
"My revenge didn't end with Albin Silas... it's still.."
Ivan, who lived two lives, understood. They were the ones who framed the Marquis and forged facts, but he knew it wasn't the only reason..
"Big brother!! ... 'Do you feel guilty?' "
He couldn't utter his last words as Kayin looked at him and said with a smile:
"Ivan, do you remember when was the last time you called me big brother?!..."
"..."
"When you left the orphanage, you hated me so much... you got angry with me.. you told me I was selfish..."
"..."
The situation didn't allow for telling this story from their childhood, so he looked at Kayin with a complex feeling. Meanwhile, Kayin continued while swinging the sword in his hands:
"I felt strange. Why is the child who treats me with all childishness and stubbornness the one who missed me the most? But I realized you are a twisted child, unable to show your feelings"
"..."
"You always considered me your friend and big brother. You only talked to me or to Raphael and Leo... you loved teasing me constantly to tell me that I'm still your big brother... we were a family not bound by blood ties..."
"Have you realized now, you fool?!"
"I know my mistake, but I have no strength for confrontation. I want to protect you as my final oath as a good big brother..."
Ivan laughed, while Rukshan, who wanted to slip away, realized that Kayin was someone he couldn't fight even if he mobilized all his holy power. He was discovered by Kayin, and before he could attack, Kayin restricted his movement and said with a sincere face suggesting the amount of suffering he had endured for a while:
"Ivan, do you allow me to kill him?!..."
Despite Ivan's confusion for a moment, he understood the reason for Kayin's permission; the first reason being that Steve Rukshan is his biological father, and the second because it's Ivan's revenge too...
"You have it.."
Kayin thrust the dagger into Rukshan's heart until he coughed blood from his mouth, then stood up from him. He turned to Ivan and said with artificial playfulness:
"It's fin—....."
He didn't finish his words because of a whip that wrapped around his neck until it almost strangled him. He realized whose whip this was and didn't know how. When he tried to remove it by force, he was stabbed by another whip, which didn't seem ordinary... He looked at Ivan, who was in a state of shock and barely comprehended the rapid events, then Kayin fell to the ground when Rukshan pulled the whip...
"..."
"You are very arrogant. Do you think you can defeat me easily?!.."
Ivan didn't turn to Rukshan but went to Kayin, who was vomiting black blood. Ivan felt worried:
"How will you save him? You know that no matter how strong your holy power becomes, you cannot heal a demonic poison..."
... To be continued ...