Vrastos slammed his fist down and looked at Athesia.
“What do you mean by ‘lost half of your power’? What does that have to do with me?” Vrastos asked. The voids beneath their feet rose into the air surrounding them. Vrastos sneered. “That means you’re weaker than me now!”
Athesia stared at him. Valencia panted in fear. Athesia’s calm silence angered Vrastos as he flicked one void at her. Valencia gasped and ran in between them.
“Stop!” Valencia yelled. Vrastos warped a void ball around her, imprisoning her. Valencia looked around, hitting the ball. “Let me go!”
“My vessel is weak… weaker than any others. How dare you put me in such a weak predicament?! Let alone, his descendant…” Vrastos argued. Athesia casually smiled and looked away. “How dare you laugh?!”
Vrastos ran toward Athesia with murderous intent. Valencia exhaled sharply.
“STOP FIGHTING!” she screamed. The void ball that surrounded her popped. Vrastos jolted and looked at her. Valencia fell to the ground and glared at him. She stomped toward him and pushed him down, her eyes blackening and her voice distorting. “Weak?! If I were weak, then what are you?! You left my father to die!”
Vrastos stared at her with surprise.
“How are you still… controlling the void when I removed—?”
“You’re still a part of her… via blood,” Athesia revealed.
They both darted their gazes to her.
“Blood?!”
“You used all of your remaining power to protect the recent owner… you never realized that throughout the years, you had always been so attached to him. When he was in the making of her, a little of your power seeped together,” Athesia explained. “That’s why she was the strongest person to be your next owner.”
Vrastos stood and huffed.
“What do you mean? I did nothing—”
“You really didn’t have a bond with him?” Athesia questioned.
Vrastos gulped, softening as the memories flipped through his mind like a movie.
“Who would want to have a stupid bond with an idiot like him?” he muttered.
Valencia quickly returned to normal, saddened.
“You mean… you tried to save my father…?” she realized.
Vrastos refused to shed tears and looked away.
“I did no saving… his aura core shattered—”
“And yet, you tried to keep it together…” Athesia added. Vrastos tightened his jaw. “Vrastos—”
“Why do you care?! He died! Whoever took him burned his body… I was unable to find him because you pulled me into her body!” Vrastos stated.
“Would you rather stay as a part of his world in death or from the living love he created?” Athesia questioned.
Vrastos clenched his fists.
“I’m tired of living in this hell!” Vrastos claimed. He panted heavily. “Everyone died… Athesia, they all died accomplishing nothing.”
“But your recent one didn’t.”
The words split his view into nothingness. He bit his lower lip and stepped forward.
“And yet… he is still dead,” he murmured.
“That’s sad to hear… you seemed to really like him,” Athesia chimed, placing her hand on her cheek.
“So what if I did?! He sacrificed himself for what? Whatever he did never stopped that Demon King from lurking. The Demon King is still waiting—”
“And that’s why it’s important for you to keep trying,” Athesia interrupted.
“No! I quit! Many lives were lost because you trusted those weaklings—”
“And now… one has stolen my power,” she admitted.
Valencia and Vrastos widened their eyes and looked at her.
“Stolen?” Valencia repeated.
“You were very near the presence of the person who stole my power… however, I cannot find that person,” Athesia revealed.
“But… I’ve only been close with a Light Esper,” Valencia recalled.
Athesia furrowed her brows and stared into Valencia’s eyes.
“Where were you recently?” she questioned.
Valencia choked on her words, thinking.
“The Tower… and…” Valencia paused. Her eyes slowly stretched as the words came into a whisper. “The Royal Palace.”
Athesia took a deep breath, pondering.
“The Royal Palace? Isn’t there… a royal who has the power of Light?” Athesia asked.
Valencia shook her head.
“He is a royalty… but he denounced the royal name and became an heir to his dukedom,” Valencia explained.
Athesia squinted her eyes.
“What happened to the previous vessel for the power of Light?”
Vrastos cackled in frustration as he covered half of his face.
“What happened?! He lost his life because he couldn’t find stability. That bastard tried to steal her mother,” Vrastos exclaimed.
“Are you saying… my mother was the only S-Guide?”
“Your mother was wanted by both Light and Void…” Vrastos clarified. Valencia’s stomach churned. “That’s why she had to hide you and run for her life, so that no one could take you both away.”
“But…” Valencia paused.
Vrastos hushed her as he heard voices. He looked at her and smiled.
“Goodnight, little vessel,” he whispered.
Then the darkness pushed her out, and she… returned to the dukedom. She stood there, confused.
“What…?” she muttered.
Kael opened the door and looked at her, standing.
“Well, hello there… aren’t you tired?” Kael asked.
Valencia gazed at him, then averted. I can’t tell him yet… Danger is still near.
“I… I was a bit anxious about why you left for a long time,” she lied.
His mouth opened without a sound. A long time?
“Did I leave for that long?” he echoed. Then he walked to her, a sly smile on his face. He pulled her head for a kiss. She blushed. “I only went to speak to my parents about the marriage.”
“Oh… what were their responses?” Valencia wondered curiously.
Kael chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his neck.
“Oh… you know… happy?”
[FLASHBACK]
“Marriage?! Did you not understand the propriety of introducing your fiancée to your parents, Son?” Nuredus asked, cracking her knuckles.
Kael laughed anxiously, hiding behind William.
“Mother, I… I told you that she’s afraid of people—”
“Have you ever considered if she even wants to marry you?! You sly fox!” Nuredus lectured.
Ezrael sipped the tea served to him.
“Hmm, this is quite aromatic, Hun,” he nonchalantly stated.
“Father, stop Mother, please!” Kael begged, running away from the room.
“Oh, dear son… you should have known that this would have—”
“I’ll take the dukedom! I will make sure that you have as many grandchildren as possible! Mom!” Kael screamed.
All while William cried in the background, praying.
[END OF FLASHBACK]
As the darkness gathered over the kingdom, Kael watched Valencia sleep next to him. He stared at the shape of her face, tracing it with his index fingernail.
“Why did I feel stable when I first met you? I still cannot figure out why…” he whispered. His jaw tightened. “Could it be… because you’re Persai’s daughter?”
Valencia groaned, nudging his finger away as it tickled, while her eyes stayed shut.
“Dad…” she mumbled quietly.
“Who are you, Valencia? Why did you try to hide from me?” The question occupied his mind. He closed his eyes, frowning, and hugged her tightly. “As long as you’re next to me, nothing else matters…”
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