23 Chapter 22: Anything for Peace

- KADITA'S POV -

"A-A week??"

He nodded his head, "Yes. Consider yourself lucky. Most of the mages draining their mana and energy fall asleep and end up dead. Looks like the heavenly gods decided to give you another chance to correct your mistakes in life. I suggest you see my brother. He's inside his room and wants to talk to you. Just turn to the left and go straight then turn right and walk straight again then you'll see a staircase there, go up and lastly, turn to the left, there you'll find the door to his bedroom."

I frowned. How am I going to remember that? Can't he just give me a map or accompany me to his brother's bedroom?? Or can't Valir himself just go here and talk to me?

"I don't remem—"

He massaged his temple and looked at me irritatingly, "You don't need directions. Your 'mate bond' with him can sense your mate. Now go, he's a very impatient person." Then he pushed me until I got out of the room and shut the door in front of me.

I rolled my eyes, "Rude."

I tried to follow his directions though I can barely remember any of it. I walked straight while looking around the hallway. There are a bunch of paintings hanging on the wall. I saw the guy who talked to me earlier and his name is indicated at the bottom of the painting.

"Vale," I mumbled.

My gaze switched to the next painting and felt my eyes glow. It's him. "Valir."

"Ahem," I felt someone's presence behind me. I don't need to turn around because I already know who that person is.

"Prince Valir..." I muttered and turned around only to meet his gaze.

I was about to run towards him and throw my arms around him but he raised his palm telling me to stop. That was embarrassing. I frowned, "Why? Do y-you still hate me?" I know Vale clearly said that their father was the one who sent me that letter but I'm not sure if I should trust him. What if he's just covering up his brother's 'mess'?

He shook his head, "I don't hate you, Kadita. I never hated you. It's just that—" He took a deep breath and looks pale.

I raised my eyebrows while waiting for his answer, "It's just that what?"

Valir cleared his throat and his voice became serious.

"One touch from you and we're both dead. That's one of the reasons why you slept for a week, Kadita. You made me worried, I thought I'll never see you again..."

×××

All of us are having dinner, me, Vale, and Valir. I haven't touched my food yet, I don't feel like eating anyway. I glanced at Valir who's sitting at the end of the long table, opposite to where Vale's sitting, his brother. I'm seated next to Vale since Valir and I can't have any kind of physical touch to each other. Even if it's just a poke to one's shoulder, it can both kill us.

Vale was a bit furious when he saw us talking in the hallway. Vale's original plan was to let Valir talk to me with a door between us, but his brother didn't cooperate.

I've been conscious of my every move since Valir and I talked. He's been staring at me and watching every move I do. He only removes his gaze from me when Vale asks him some questions. Now at dinner, I can feel is stare at me. Great.

"Why aren't you eating?"

I gulped, "I-I'm not hungry..." I murmured and avoided his gaze, trying to focus on the cold food in front of me.

I heard him sigh, "Still, you need to eat. You slept for a week without eating anything, you need to eat." He said before leaving the dining area.

Vale cleared his throat that caught my attention. I'm still wondering why they have different powers when they're siblings? It can be a little different but still have some similarities but I don't see any. Valir possesses fire magic while Vale has wind as his power.

Wait. If Valir's power is fire then I have water—

"I can't touch him because of our powers. Am I correct?"

I saw how Vale bitterly smiled, "Powerful empires are not our real enemies here, Kadita, fate is. Yes, we can fight it or maybe even change it but we can't do that forever."

×××

It's early in the morning but Vale told me last night that we're going somewhere. He just said that we're going to visit someone. Valir disagreed but he had no choice to come with us. I wonder who are we going to visit. Is it Vale's mate? Or their mother?

"We need to move quickly. There are still some enemies scattered around the empire. Those fools won't retreat even though their general is already dead." Vale shook his head while guiding the horse we're riding. I'm on the same horse with him while Valir has his own. He even insisted that I'll go ride with him instead of his brother, is he trying to kill both of us??

His narrowing eyes are focused on me again instead of the road. He might fall because of his foolishness. I looked in the opposite direction. Trying to hide my burning tomato face. I need to calm down. Breathe, Kadita.

Guards are surrounding us in case of enemies tried to attack us. I wanted to go home to my kingdom so I tried to talk to them about that but I always end up keeping my mouth shut. Both of them are intimidating, they haven't said anything yet but you already want to run away. The once brave Kadita is now scared of these two brothers.

"May I ask where are we going?" I asked since our trip took about an hour and we haven't reached our destination yet.

"To the Sacred Statues," Valir answered.

I frowned, "To the border? Why? Are we going to the Light Empire?" My eyes gleamed, having a little hope that I'll see the empire where I grew and see my friends and family again.

Vale shook his head that made my heart sank. Oh.

"Just the Sacred Statues. We're going to visit someone that lives almost half of her life living underground."

I was about to ask again but the horse stopped. We arrived already.

Vale got off the horse first and held my hand to support me. When I got off, I saw Valir's eyes flaring. I immediately let go of Vale's hand and followed the guards that went first. I heard Vale chuckled while Valir is grunting. Curse you all.

They both caught up with us until we all stopped when a man appeared in front of us, "Halt! None shall pa—"

"It's fine, Aldous. I trust them." Another man came and touched the guy's shoulder then looked at the brothers behind me.

"You came." He half-smiled then his gaze fell on me, "Is she..?"

"Yes," Vale answered shortly. What? I am what? I faced Valir who's also frowning to his brother.

"Come in. Monsters are lurking around here. We need to finish this quickly. We only have one shot to do this ritual." The man said before going inside the hole.

W-Wait. What ritual?

I was about to ask Vale but he avoided me and followed the man inside, the guards remained outside. Valir and I are the ones left outside except for the guards. I looked at him and asked, "What's happening? What is Vale talking about?"

He only shook his head "I also have no idea about what's happening today. Let's just follow them, then we'll understand what's happening." Valir went inside, leaving me here outside.

Even though I don't want to, I have no choice but to follow him inside. I just feel something's not right.

I looked around the area and all I see is stone with some torches attached to it that gives light to this place. How can someone live here??

I saw them standing around something so I went closer to find out what it is. Only to find out it's a body. My eyes widened when I recognized her. She's one of the Mystics. The Twilight Goddess. There are three of them, one is in front of me, the other one is Queen Rafaela from the Heavenly Kingdom and I don't know where the other one is.

"I-Is she..?"

The unknown man shook his head, "No. She's not. She's just sleeping. Lunox will wake up soon." He switched his gaze to me then looked at Vale who looks pale.

"How did you make her agree on this? Does she know when Lunox uses her body, there's a big chance that she'll also die? Too much energy will be drained from her." The man added.

My eyes widened and looked at Vale. He just avoided my gaze and looked at Lunox' almost lifeless body.

I understand what's happening here now. Vale planned this all along. We went here so that Lunox' spirit can enter my body to use it since her body is too weak. That's why Vale wants me to come with them. Because their plan will be useless if I didn't come. I faced Valir who looks about to explode.

"Y-You! You planned this?? Without even telling me?! What the fck, Vale?? That's my fcking mate! And you'll let that damn goddess control my mate's body?? Have you lost your mind?!" Valir raged and tried to attack Vale but the guy stopped him.

"Watch your mouth, Fire boy. You're talking about the goddess that's about to save the whole Land of Dawn. Respect!" The man said while pointing Lunox' body. I'm guessing that he is Lunox' mate.

Valir scoffed, "Why would I respect someone that's about to take away my mate from me?? Find somebody else who is willing to do this ritual. I'm not letting you use Kadi—"

"If I let her, will she save Land of dawn?" I asked seriously while walking towards to Lunox.

Vale slowly nodded, "Y-Yes, she and the other two goddesses will."

I bitterly smiled, "Then start the ritual. Make sure you'll succeed, I don't want my life to be wasted into nothing."

"WHAT?! Kadita no! You don't understand! You'll kill yourself. Damn it! Vale! Do something. Find somebody else, just not her, please! Vale, you're also killing me. I can't live without her anymore. Can't her spirit use my body instead?? I'll do anything, just not kadita, please. I'm begging..."

Tears started to fall off my cheek when I saw Valir knelt while begging them. I-I can't. I can't see him like this. We need to move quickly.

"Damn, what's taking so long? Do the damn spell already before I change my mind." I said and tried to close my eyes, ignoring Valir's voice.

"Why now, Kadita? Why do you have to kill yourself in front of me? Have you ever thought about me? My feelings? Fck, I sound gay but I love you Kadita! Do you?"

I bit my lower lip trying to suppress the sobs. I heard them chanting and Valir's endless declaration of his love for me. I'm doing the right thing, right? Then why does it feels so wrong? I'm doing this for the whole Land of Dawn, including Valir. It means they'll be all safe. They'll be all at peace.

They finished chanting and their voices are getting weaker and weaker until the last thing I heard was...

"Lunox?"