He glanced down as white light overlapped the whole space, engulfing it to the point of him needing to block his sight with an arm. Still, with bits and pieces, he watched the girl seemingly dissipate into thin air, slowly disappearing from the space.

  Simultaneously, he caught a glimpse of something at the very last moment. She smiled at him, yet again. The derision she exuded washed over him, only for the man to drop down on his knees, staring at the empty chains bouncing off the floor.

  Wetting his knuckles with the tears coming out whilst they supported him, Lutiel sobbed silently, for countless breaths on end. Yet, he stopped eventually.

  Raising himself slightly to sit on the ankles, Lutiel’s bare face glistened out underneath the faint crystals.

  Albeit having halted, the streams on his face had yet to dry off, leaving wet trails from the reddened eyes down to the chin. Staring ahead of himself without doing anything, Lutiel stayed silent for a while, unable to conjure but a smidgen of a thought within.

  Nonetheless, he needed to get up, as much as his head wanted to stay in the space for a few breaths longer. Listening to the thuds disrupting the peaceful airs, Lutiel slowly raised himself, although as the heavy breaths finally descended on him, his back kept facing the doors.

  “THAT’S HIM! Take him, you useless bastards!” A brutish, low voice befell through the space, Lutiel’s face steadily turning to the side to witness the events. The guards he had knocked down ran towards him briskly while a brawny man in armor stood behind them, crossing his arms harshly as he watched the man’s white hairs.

  Scrunching his nose after seeing the empty cell, the captain couldn’t help but tighten his hands around his arms.

  Ahead, the two ran at the unimpressed man, his straight face gnawing at them slightly. Regardless, raising their hands, their respective elements flowed to the world. The guard on the left conjured a sphere of translucent water, quickly converging it into a sharp, pointed spike.

  The other followed in his attack, however, an earthly one hovered above his palm.

  Immediately, the two spells cut through the air, whistling in their way before arriving right against Lutiel’s frame. However, the duo’s eyes widened briskly.

  Put up quickly, his sword clashed against the magic, shattering both of their elements. Then, his figure flashed in front of them, flickering before they descended into darkness once again.

  “Hmm!” The captain mumbled suddenly, seeing Lutiel’s leg bend the metal around the guards’ faces. Sleeping once more, only he was left to act. His arms moved immediately, breaking from their stupor to make the wind ravage through the dark space.

  “Not only have you infiltrated my ranks, you also made the saintess disappear. This won’t end easily for you, huh?” He spoke through the demonic tongue, at the same time swaying Lutiel’s hair. However, seeing him stand in front of the wind without any struggles, the knight’s brows furrowed.

  Seeing the man walk unhurriedly towards him, despite the lying guards moving through the floor, the captain clicked his tongue, retrieving one hand before a faint sphere appeared above the palm. Contorting the air around, it gradually grew in intensity, to the point of taking on a light, grassy hue.

  Exploding out of his hand, the sphere of condensed wind immediately hit the man’s shoulder, making him tilt back slightly.

  Yet, that was all it did. Swiftly going back to the same position, only a portion of his armor was bent. And, feeling as the gales around him lessened, Lutiel took a swift step forward.

  Underneath the captain’s fret, he appeared before him two breaths later, withstanding the next wave of elemental spells.

  “Ghaaa! HAH!” The demon uttered abruptly, feeling warmth spread through his organs before glancing down. In between small slits along his armor plates, a blade went through, cutting the chainmail hidden underneath as though it was made from some plain fabric.

  Quickly losing his respires, the captain’s square face gleamed at the man, a smear of blood tainting his lips. “You, how can you defeat me? You’re only a human…” he muttered out, only to falter about as Lutiel pushed deeper into the heart.

  Dropping to the floor with a thud, the man’s eyes remained open, albeit their shine had diminished already. Without glancing back even once, Lutiel kept moving ahead of himself. One after another, he passed the cells stashed with prisoners, his sword sheathed in the scabbard once more.

  Omitting the faint whispers coming from the humans shackled beyond the bars, Lutiel took the stairs, breath after breath going further and beyond.

  With enough steps, he finally went out of the prison, passing through the metallic door lay on the ground, ripped apart from its hinges. “HEY! Who the hell are you?” A voice stumbled upon him right as he exited the space, however, taking a meagre look at the priest, his arm slashed through the space, clenching itself into a fist before making the robed man fold down to the floor.

  Walking around the priest, his mind briskly followed what he remembered from his younger years, running around the palace while avoiding lectures from the priests.

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  After minutes of a steady stride, he finally breathed the nippy air again, however, he no longer glanced at the place.

  Rather, his eyes turned to the right. Despite the large building of the palace inviting himself, he simply kept staring, as though peering through to the other side. ‘Are you seeing this? Can you hear my thoughts? If so, I hope you don’t mind me stealing from you even more, brother.’

  With clear thoughts, his calm face turned at the large fountains, in the middle of the road that connected the palace and the gates.

  …

  “What is it?” A grumpy voice descended through the veil of night, a bit rackety from the irk it felt. And, the heaviness only grew harsher at the response.

  “Your majesty, it’s a guest, but I don’t know how to say this…” Coming from beyond the doors, a muffled voice explained, only broadening in annoyance.

  “Haa, you useless pricks. Just tell me who it is, and why he bothers me at this hour,” the figure uttered out, promptly rustling about under his blanket before taking it off. In the silky, violet robes, a decrepit body hid itself, tightened away by two straps and quick hands.

  “I’m sorry, your majesty…” the voice struggled about yet again, following on swiftly. “You should really see this on your own, your highness,” the guard added, making the man groan faintly.

  “Ugh, you’ll be executed first thing in the morning for this, regardless who it is,” his wrinkly face spoke away, illuminated lightly from the starry rays coming through the unveiled window. “Where is he?” He asked once more, promptly furrowing his brows.

  “In the throne room, your majesty,” still beyond the doors, the uncertain voice settled, making silence grow about.

  “Why have you allowed him there without my permission?” An aggrieved tone fell on the guards, making them squirm out weak responses.

  “It’s because it’s that person, your highness,” another voice cut in, the other guard swiftly explaining before making the man’s eyes flinch.

  “I have to see them on my own, it seems. Damn imbeciles,” he spoke out with a breathy whisper, not yet closing his mouth. “Open the doors and lead me to the guest that disrupted my sleep.”

  “Yes, your majesty!” They said aloud in unison, briskly parting the room’s entrance before witnessing the emperor’s nightly robes. Without glancing once more, they awaited his steps, walking on each side, one step behind.

  Steadily, while the man’s face turned a bit tart, they gradually reached the room, illuminated with the light of the crystals. And, practically immediately, his face dropped after witnessing the figure standing in the very center.

  “Ahh, ah,” he let out inaudible noises as his jaw shook slightly. The white hair he donned, although slightly different, still reminded him of certain shades. His eyes, different than usual, still didn’t deter the old ruler. Instead, he glanced at his light features, his knees instantly dropping to the red carpet entwined with golden fabrics.

  Gathering up to moisten his scleras, the tears swiftly trickled down his face as he uttered his name. “Raphael,” he said softly, making the guards move away from their spot, leaving the two to converse freely.

  Meanwhile, as the name was called out, the man standing frozen in place smiled faintly, before parting his lips. “I’m back, father,” he said, walking towards the emperor with unhurried feet. Regardless, getting close to the man eagerly eyeing him, he could finally take a closer inspection of his old face.

  Albeit aged more than what he would have guessed, the armored man still easily saw through the wrinkled expression. The sleek length of the face, with angles befit the monarchy, along with the straight, platinum hairs flowing down his back, he was definitely the hero’s father. ‘Thaev de Vieux,’ Lutiel wondered to himself with a smiling face, promptly lowering his hands.

  “Please, let me help you,” he spoke, the emperor’s hand swiftly grasping onto him, holding it as tight as he could, as though he feared that he might slip away one more time.

  Holding his trembling figure, Lutiel glanced deeply into his sky blue eyes crying away, the emperor promptly exhaling before luring his son forward.

  Closing the eyes as he hugged the man, Thaev dug into the armor, as deeply as he could. Clenching his arms tightly, he sobbed sounder than before, unable to restrain the emotions cobbled up inside.

  On the other side, the hero reciprocated the actions. Albeit, with much less strength. The man simply rested the hand on his back. Staring at the regal scape scattered out in front of him with blank eyes, Lutiel breathed calmly, listening to the faltering wails and sniffs.

  “H-how?” The emperor finally muttered, stuttering. Still hugging his son tightly, his tongue continued swiftly. “You were pronounced dead, by the saintess herself. How are you alive?” Mingling with the sobs, his shaking mouth hit against Lutiel’s shoulder, finally stopping his silence.

  Struggling to wriggle out of his grasp, the man still got away in the end, despite the clear dejection in Thaev’s eyes. Regardless, he held onto the emperor’s shoulders, looking deeply into his eyes. A gleam turned across his purple vision, one of solemn somber.

  “I don’t know myself, father. It was all… so… eerie. It felt as if I was sleeping at all times, only to awaken at the right moment. A lot has happened, but I’m back home in the end, am I not?” He spoke with a tongue that broke occasionally, the eyes of his starting to stagger with fluids.

  “Y-yes, yes, that’s right, Raphael. You’re back now, you’re back,” the emperor spoke with a quick mouth, bringing his son closer to him once more.

  Resting his chin on his shoulders, he added. “I’m sorry for being so sudden, son, but I have to ask. What about the artifact? She said that it was gone, that it disappeared completely,” he asked, making Lutiel glance at the floor for a moment, his eyes clear of previous emotions.

  “No, sadly, I couldn’t find my sword anywhere. It’s gone,” he said regrettably, shaking his head slightly before feeling sudden movements. Getting away a bit, Thaev looked at him with momentarily creased eyebrows.

  “I don’t care about that damn sword, I can get you another like that. What about the hero’s blood? Did it disappear as well?” He asked quickly, making the man churn internally. Musing for a while, he got fully out of his touch, moving back before raising his right hand.

  “About that, I think you will like seeing this, father,” Lutiel said with a meek smirk on his face, Promptly taking off his gauntlet and glove at the same time. The pale arm swiftly illuminated itself beneath the crystals’ light, right before he brought it higher and showed the emperor his wrist.