Chapter 202

Chapter 202

Cassis remained silent after hearing his sister’s question. He then offered her the only response he could.

“I’m not sure either.”

“Then does that m—?”

“Hey, careful!”

Sylvia’s golden eyes bulged after hearing her brother’s inconclusive answer. Her pounding heart almost caused her to drop what she was carrying. Cassis managed to catch it for her before it crashed to the floor, then changed the subject quickly as he returned it to her.

“How are the wounded?”

She seemed less willing to accept the change, but she also knew that he would not tell her anything else, so accepted that she needed to drop the matter. “Some have improved, while others have not. Nothing much has changed.”

Her expression was uncharacteristically grim. Of course, he was well aware of the gravity of the situation, so immediately understood why she would look that way. Roussel and Jeanne had even worried that their daughter had been exposed to too much violence outside of her normally peaceful and serene life, but they did not stop her when she decided to remain in Yggdrasil with a look of unbridled resolve. Their son had also shared their opinion at first.

As he was already holding her bundle, Cassis decided to hold it for her as they headed toward the infirmary together. There were patients covering every inch of the large wing. Although the Pedelians had retained use of their healing abilities within the castle, they refrained from using them.

The Blue Master had made a point to never use his gifts for the same reason the Blue Heir would never forget what had occurred the last time he had used his own. Humans must live according to the dynamics of nature. As far as Cassis knew, his father had only ever used his powers once to save Sylvia when they were younger. Even that single act had branded the Pedelian leader’s heart.

His decision to wake Noel Vertium from his coma several days prior had simply been a step toward preventing any additional casualties. That had been the main reason he had refrained from healing the young man completely. Besides, if he were to use his power recklessly, it would only result in more potential confusion and grounds for malicious rumors about his people to spread.

Sylvia’s face had become even more dreary after the two had opened the infirmary door and were met with howls of pain and agony. Unlike her father and brother, she had not been blessed with her clan’s healing powers. The only gift she had inherited was her ability to purify.

That fact had always weighed heavily on her heart. Of course, even if she did possess the greater abilities, neither her father nor Pedelian law would have allowed her to use them anyway. Cassis had simply made himself an exception to their rules.

In truth, both the Blue Master and Heir knew that in some ways their actions were contradictory. The Noble Blue. Defenders of Justice. The Fair and Pure Judges. Despite such titles, whenever they found themselves surrounded by those on the brink of death, the Pedelians would hardly ever take action.

“Well, I should get back to work.”

“Sylvia.” Cassis held his sister’s hands as he returned her supplies. There was one thing he had never thought to try before, but he imagined it might work since she was a Pedelian. He concentrated with all of his might until he sensed some of his powers transferring into her clasped hands.

“You... You didn’t!” As the realization of what he had done hit her, her golden eyes widened. He shrugged and acted aloof as he released her hands. She then blushed slightly as his intentions became clear. After a quick glance at their immediate surroundings, she leaned in to whisper, “Thank you. I’ll make sure to use it carefully and sparingly.”

Her resolute gaze told him that she would neither abuse her new power nor act in any way that would alarm their father. Once she closed the infirmary’s door behind her, he turned around to depart from Yggdrasil once again.

He and Roxana had lacked the opportunity or time to speak before his departure to Vertium. Hence, he had been unable to hear from her directly as to what had happened between her, Deon, and Nix that fateful day. However, he also knew that she had not returned to Agrece immediately after leaving the castle. He was also aware of both the puppet’s and her half-brother’s statuses.

Though she would have likely never told him he hadn’t. Either way, he accepted that it was her decision to make. Along those same lines, his actions were also his to decide. His golden eyes glistened metallically as they reflected the sunlight. He knew he could not rest until he reached the urban region of Yggdrasil.

* * *

Deon was lost in a dream.

In the dream, he was much younger. It was of a time he had almost forgotten entirely. Back then, he had encountered someone odd on his way to a lesson. The boy reminded him of an angel since his hair was golden and his eyes were a dazzling blue. As soon as their gazes met, the boy approached Deon and then patted his hair.

His name was Achille Agrece and he was one of the countless half-siblings living in the Black mansion. Instead of pushing away the hand in disgust, the red-eyed boy felt nothing and allowed his half-brother to continue petting him. Just before he turned to leave, the blond placed a piece of candy in his hands. “This will be our little secret.”

Deon looked up expressionlessly at his half-sibling’s beaming smile. Once Achille had disappeared from his sight, Deon tossed the candy into a patch of grass, then continued on his way. Then he felt a presence lurking behind him. He turned around to see a little girl retrieving the discarded candy. Then their gazes met and he could see that the child who was clearly younger than himself morphed into a fifteen-year-old girl rapidly.

Her scarlet eyes flickered like the flames of a campfire as they stared straight through him. Hate, resentment, rage, despair, and sorrow. Her gaze was filled with emotions he had never experienced before. Those red eyes peered at him as though they would devour him whole. Deon realized what he was witnessing inside his dream as clear droplets trickled down her pale cheeks and fell from her chin. As he watched her, he felt a slight pang in his heart. It was an inexplicable pain that prompted him to place his hand on his chest. But nothing but emptiness met his fingertips.

Just then, the girl facing him parted her lips but nothing came out. For whatever reason, her words failed to reach him. The tears continued to fall from her eyes, then before he realized what he was doing, he reached out for her. At that moment, the tears became a flood that engulfed him. As he opened his mouth, clear bubbles floated out instead of words.

Is this death? Deon pondered his plight as he continued to sink deeper into the dark abyss. No.

Just then, a tiny voice crept into his ears. It was a thin voice that felt as though it would vanish in a heartbeat. He focused all of his attention on it since it was clear the girl’s words had finally reached him.

“You do not deserve such a peaceful death.”

Flutter!

A strange sound akin to wings echoed loudly in his ears. A scarlet wave suddenly swept over him and his bubbles.

Ah, I see. He finally understood what the words she had whispered meant, then smiled. Although it was a thinly-veiled smile, it scattered in the darkness.

“Very well... If that is what you desire.”

Tension left his body as he succumbed to the voice.

Flutter!

A kaleidoscope of scarlet butterflies swept over him like a roaring wave.

Munch, munch!

Crunch!

They devoured every part of him, from his head to his toe. Even the last breath left in his lungs was theirs for the taking. Somewhere off in the distance, an unfaltering pair of scarlet eyes continued to hover before him. They seemed to say that it was a death befitting the Deon Agrece. However, the truth remained that it was all simply a dream he had dreamt repeatedly.

However, he neither had the will nor heart to attempt escaping it. Finally, the light flickered in front of him vanished, and the dream of his death began all over again. He closed his eyes in the midst of the endless hallucination created by his distant memories.