Azriel, covered in blood and… other things, questions the two survivors of his massacre. Sir Évrard attacks Azriel, who crashes through his own ice throne. The knight sacrifices himself to let Prince Dorian escape, while a confused Azriel grapples with his own identity and past. Dorian flees, terrified and Hysterical, haunted by the memory of Azriel’s hands, before ultimately tearing his own hands off in a desperate attempt to escape.
"Lumine, what’s the matter? Why the panicked look?" Yelena inquired, her hand being gripped tightly as Lumine hurried her along through a narrow tunnel below ground. They had originally arrived at the entrance of some underground structure, leading into a maze of tunnels, with the others. An immediate difference was apparent: torches of silver lined the walls, and the tunnels themselves were unmistakably man-made.
At some point, Lumine had managed to catch up to them undetected and quietly led Yelena away from the main group.
No one had seen him approach.
How could Sir Felix, of all people, have missed it?
Or perhaps he had noticed... and deliberately chosen to overlook it?
"It's simply not safe."
This was the same response Lumine had given the last three times Yelena had questioned him.
This time, however, she halted her steps and tugged on his arm with enough force to make him stop as well.
Then, placing her hand gently over the one holding her arm, Yelena spoke with a firm tone.
"Lumine, I'm not some damsel in distress who needs rescuing."
His eyes widened instantly.
Color flooded his face, and he stammered, sounding as though he had been accused of a grave offense.
"N-No, that's absolutely not what I intended! I-I mean, it was, but... you have to understand... you all were never going to save Princess Jasmine and Princess Celestina... y-you were the bait."
This was, more or less, the truth.
But another truth existed as well.
A significantly uglier one.
Lumine, in a deeply buried, shameful corner of his being, did view Yelena as someone in need of saving.
Perhaps it was hypocritical. Perhaps it was selfish. Yet, he still couldn't shake the horror from the moment they first entered the scenario. Every glance at her brought back the memory. The memory of her back breaking. The memory of her lying there because of him. The memory of the many months she spent in a coma.
And then there were these recent emotions—intense, perplexing feelings he could barely define, let alone comprehend—which only intensified the difficulty of facing her without feeling inexplicably unsteady.
But one thing, at least, had become painfully evident.
His resolve to shield Yelena from harm had never been stronger.
Still, Yelena gently detached his fingers from her arm, and Lumine allowed it. He attempted to disregard the sudden surge in his heart rate.
"Tell me the truth, Lumine," she urged.
Her voice conveyed both trust and affection.
"What did Azriel tell you?"
Gazing into her clear emerald eyes—eyes that held a startling amount of faith in him—Lumine swallowed. He then closed his eyes, drew a deep breath, and reopened them, meeting her gaze with quiet sincerity.
"Honestly... it felt like he said both a great deal and absolutely nothing." Lumine exhaled softly. "But he confessed that he genuinely knows everything. He was... frankly, far more forthcoming than I anticipated. I can't relay precisely what he said right now, but... yes. I learned more about him."
A subtle furrow formed between his brows.
"And somehow, I understand him even less now. If that even makes sense."
Yelena nodded calmly.
"I see..."
She lowered her gaze to her feet briefly before looking back up at him, a hint of confusion in her eyes.
"Then why are we rushing away like this? Sir Felix mentioned sensing nine distinct mana signatures approaching when we entered that structure, with at least two being masters. I wish to assist Azriel if I can... and help the others. Even if we are indeed being used as bait."
Hearing the resolve in her voice, Lumine closed his eyes.
She was unwavering.
Even if she could do next to nothing, it was still significant to her.
Lumine pressed his lips together, his decision made, and resolved to reveal the truth.
"Azriel intends to eliminate anyone who obstructs his path from this point forward."
He kept his eyes shut as he continued.
"He is in pain, Yelena. I'm uncertain if he's thinking rationally anymore. But at this moment... he will undertake whatever he deems necessary, and anyone in his way will be consumed by it." His voice grew strained. "I couldn't stop him. I am powerless to stop him. He truly believes his path is the only viable one."
His words paused.
"And... I'm not entirely convinced he is mistaken."
For a moment, silence enveloped them.
Then, he heard her speak, her voice barely audible.
"Won't you save him?"
Lumine's eyes slowly opened.
Yelena regarded him with an expression he couldn't quite decipher. It held sorrow. Gentleness. A certain ache.
"I attempted to, but..."
"You stated it yourself, didn't you?" she murmured.
"He is suffering."
"I cannot save someone who resists salvation."
"That's not true."
Then, abruptly, Yelena smiled.
A deep sense of warmth radiated from her, a comforting presence solidifying something within him.
"If Azriel truly didn’t want to be saved by you," she stated, her gaze steady, "he would never have been so candid. He wouldn’t have shared everything. Deep down, he yearns for assistance. He is lost... and even in that state, he reached out to you for guidance."
As she articulated these points, her hands gently enveloped his.
Lumine gazed down at their joined hands.
Her touch, though soft, provided an anchor that mere words could not.
"And most importantly," Yelena continued, her voice now a mere whisper, "do you not consider Azriel your friend?"
Lumine’s throat constricted.
"...He said he thought of both of us as his friends."
The instant those words were spoken, an unconscious smile bloomed on Lumine’s face.
Yelena's fingers momentarily faltered before her grip tightened once more.
"Then isn’t it obvious what we must do?"
This time, Lumine’s smile was entirely genuine.
"Yeah," he affirmed softly.
"Thanks, Yelena. I can see clearly now."
A delicate peal of laughter escaped her, light and melodious.
To Lumine, her giggle was more enchanting than any renowned singer's voice—a sound he felt he could listen to eternally.
"Anytime, Lumine."
How utterly foolish he had been.
When Azriel had presented him with that lantern... he should have fought with greater vigor for him. Letting go had been a grave mistake. After all they had been through, Azriel was his friend, and he was Azriel’s. Azriel had aided him on countless occasions... it was only fitting that he reciprocate the kindness.
Having finally reached a decision, Lumine was about to inform Yelena that he believed he had devised a method to persuade Azriel—
when the unprecedented occurred.
[A new quest has appeared!]
[QUEST TYPE] → Main Objective (Highest Priority!)
Note: All current quests will be frozen or removed until this quest has been cleared.
▸ Title: To Live for Another Day or Die Trying
▸ Description: An Ophanim has fallen from the firmament above.
▸ Objective(s):
– Do not attract its attention, and survive no matter what.
▸ Time Limit: ???
▸ Reward(s):
– Life
▸ Penalty for Failure:
– Death
[A new quest has appeared!]
[QUEST TYPE] → Main Objective (Highest Priority!)
Note: All current quests will be frozen or removed until this quest has been cleared.
▸ Title: To Live for Another Day or Die Trying
▸ Description: An Anathema has risen from the void below.
▸ Objective(s):
– Do not attract its attention, and survive no matter what.
▸ Time Limit: ???
▸ Reward(s):
– Life
▸ Penalty for Failure:
– Death
Lumine became rigid.
His eyes widened in sheer terror as the system notifications inundated his vision.
[Warning! Metrics calculated! Host is extremely underleveled for the current assigned quests!]
[Warning! It is impossible to decline the current assigned quests!]
[Warning! 15 more identical current quests are in the spam box!]
[Warning! Dozens of anomalies have been detected around "the judged realm"!]
[Warning! Current calculations give the host a survival chance of 0.000000000000000000001% for the current assigned quests!]
[Warning! The host can only survive these quests through forced extraction from "the judged realm"!]
[Warning! A Grade 5 void artifact has been granted free of charge to the host.]
[Note: Grip it tightly to destroy the ball and be extracted from the scenario, returning to your world. It only works on yourself.]
[Warning! A Seraphim has been detected in your vicinity! Proceed with caution!]
