Reunited

Atlas POV

The eyes of the prince were something I've never seen before. I know this is another world… a fantasy world compared to my old one. But even other beastkin have more human eyes than this.

"Come at me Atlas. Fulfill the promise that you made to Abe."

What is wrong with me? Those eyes…

All of a sudden, Prince Saul dashes forward before I could react and stabbed me through the chest with his mana claws. I tried to block but his claws went right through my arms. I could feel my legs weakening. I fell over, grasping at the three holes in my chest.

This can't be it right?... This can't be…

My vision, it's getting darker… I… can't see…

"You can see it can't you?"

I hear the prince's mocking voice.

"You see your death, right?"

My vision suddenly returns. I'm standing back up again. No holes, no pain, no blood. I was drenched in a cold sweat.

"You're wondering what all of that was right?"

I was too scared to look at him now. I'm sure what I saw had something to do with his eyes.

"Atlas? Why aren't you looking at me? Look at me. Look into my eyes. Look at my Eyes of Kavac and see all of the ways that you will die today."

So… it was because of his eyes.

"I'm right here Atlas. Where are you looking?"

I hear Prince Saul on my left. I tried to look in his direction without looking at his eyes.

I see my left arm missing instead. I grab onto the arm crying and screaming. Doing whatever I can to stop the blood.

"Ceto, quick! Heal it!!"

'What's wrong sir?'

Huh? My arm is back?

'Sir, are you okay?'

I breath in and close my eyes completely this time.

'I'm okay Ceto. Please gather as much mana as possible. Have the others do the same okay. Release it all into my mana circulation when I tell you to.'

'Will do sir!'

Those eyes… Eyes of Kavac… I add a huge layer of mana over my eyes. I need all the protection I can get.

"You saw another one, right? You said your eyes can see those who died right? My eyes are different. Those who look into mine will see all their possible deaths. Every single one."

"Why… do you have such eyes?"

"When I broke through to 50% Death's Aura; these eyes suddenly appeared. I was confused of course. I don't even know how I broke through to 50%."

He broke through to 50%. I need to break through but he doesn't even know how he did it…

"Don't lie to me Prince Saul. Didn't you want this fight to continue? You said it yourself earlier. I need to stay alive longer. If you tell me how, I can stay alive longer."

"Say no more Atlas. I truly do not know, even if I did, I wouldn't tell you. At the end of the day, you are an assassin. Now prepare yourself."

I could feel his eyes on me. Even with my eyes closed, I can still figure out where he is from his mana.

I focused my Aura onto his eyes. I don't know if that will lower the effects but if I don't try anything then I really will die today.

I feel his mana claws aiming for my chest, I dodge to my right and aim at his arm.

'Air Scythe!'

"Repel."

I could feel his mana shift and then I felt the air scythe fly back to me. I jump up high to dodge and then I push myself back.

Fighting him up close isn't going to work. I need to attack from a distance.

'Ceto, please gather the others and prepare. I'm going to summon you four together at once.'

'But sir! You don't have enough mana for this!'

'I know Ceto, that's why I need you four to release all the mana you gathered into my mana circulation. With that and my own, it should be enough. I need you guys to keep him busy while I wait for my mana to replenish.'

'I see. We will try our best sir!'

I can feel that the prince was just waiting for me. Seems like he really wants to see what I will do.

'Okay sir! We are ready!'

Ceto gives me the all clear, so I prepare to release all the mana I've stored up.

'Release them guys!'

I feel a rush of mana entire me. An enormous amount of it.

"Elemental Beast Summoning!"

I feel the all my mana leave my body. I feel Ceto and the others leave my body. In front of me, four spirits appeared and a giant light consumed them.

The fire spirit turned into a phoenix. A small one though. Standing at about 3 feet (91 cm) tall and a wingspan of 7 feet (213 cm) long. He flies into the air, prepares to battle.

The air spirit turned into a Pegasus. She was the size of a modern horse with giant wings. She had to give a running start but she was finally able to take off.

The earth spirit turned into Genesis, a monkey that was the size of a fully grown silverback gorilla. He was a mix of brown and green. On his back were small saplings growing. He jumped onto the nearest roof. Waiting for the chance to attack.

Ceto, the water spirit had turned into a water serpent. We don't actually know what she is, but her beast form looks like a water serpent. She's about 15 feet long (4.5 meters)

When Ceto joined. The other creatures roared. With that, their battle began. I hid and gathered my mana, preparing to make my next move.

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Queen Ivory POV

After the mysterious man disappeared, I turned to Marcus.

"Marcus! Are you okay? Why couldn't you move?"

"I'm okay Mom. He used his Death's Aura to keep me from moving. I thought I was strong but he overpowered me there."

The man did that? From what I could make out, the man was young. Maybe even around Marcus' age. How can someone that young have such a strong Aura?

"Did you get a feel for how strong his Aura was?"

When I asked Marcus this, he froze up again. It can't be that bad right?

"It was at 40% Mom… it was double what mine was…"

"What?! How's that possible? He's just as strong as Saul when he was that age…"

I can't believe it. I knew about the facilities but I didn't think that they create something like that…

"Mom… I'm exhausted. I'm going to rest for a bit."

"Okay baby. Please get some rest."

Marcus seemed exhausting after trying to resist the Aura from the man. He went onto the bed and soon fell asleep.

After some time. I suddenly heard footsteps approaching our cell.

'Usually no one visits us. Only General Noah would appear from time to time to keep us informed.'

The sound suddenly stopped and I see a pair of feet in front of me. I look up to see the shock of my life.

"LEO!!! Have you finally recovered?! It's been two long years my love!"

My husband, my king, Leo had finally come to me.

"Sorry Ivory. I wish I could of came to see you sooner."

"No no… don't worry. You're here now. How did you even get here? Did Saul let you come in? Why didn't you show yourself sooner?"

I had so many things to ask him. For two long years, he's been in a coma. I haven't even seen him since the last argument we had. I've had nothing but regret since that day.

Leo looked at me with caring eyes.

"Ivory. I'm sorry for leaving you alone. But I'm finally here. Let's just talk, okay?"

"Okay!"

I was so happy. I can finally talk to my love again.

He sits down and crosses his legs. He looks so cute. Like a little cub waiting for his mother. I sit down as lady like as possible.

"How are you holding up in there Ivory? It isn't too hard right?"

"No, it's okay. It was hard at first but they brought Marcus in here not long after, so it got just a bit easier…"

"That's good to hear…"

"Are you okay Leo? I don't even know what happened to you. You've been gone for so long."

"You're right. I guess you can say that I've been slowly recovering and bidding my time."

I guess he was waiting for the assassins from the facility to meet with him.

"Does that mean you met that man? He claimed to be a part of that program you told me about."

"I did meet him, he-."

"He's not going to actually kill Saul, right? Leo, we can't lose Saul as well! Our princess has been missing for so long! And Sunny he…"

I couldn't keep it in… I've been holding it in to be strong for Marcus but I couldn't do that in front of Leo. My eyes that have been dried for two long years began to fill with tears.

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King Leo POV

I'm such a failure. As a husband. As a king. And as a father.

I failed to protect my wife from the pain. I failed to keep my people safe. I didn't even understand my own kids and now one of them is dead.

I look down at Ivory, she was there quietly crying. I call out to her.

"Ivory, don't worry. I met the boy already. He won't do that okay? I already told him not to."

I'm sorry for lying Ivory. I don't know if he will or not. But I'm praying that the boy will let my son live…

"I promise you everything will be okay. You believe me, right? I never lie to you right."

Ivory cutely nods. Gosh… I guess it has been a while since I've tended to her.

I stand up and walk through the cell bars.

"Huh?! How did you do that Leo?"

"Don't worry about it my love. Let's just cuddle together."

I grab onto my beautiful wife and hold her tightly in my embrace. I could feel her warmth.

"Stawwwppp honey… what if Marcus sees us?"

She looks up at me with her wet eyes and pouting face. How could someone be this precious?

"What's wrong with that? I heard that it was healthy for the children to see that their parents still love one another you know. Do you not love me?"

She buries her face into my chest and grabs onto my arms.

"Of course, I do… stop teasing me Leo…"

"Hahaha! Okay okay."

After this we hold each other and talk about our time as young lovers.

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Queen Ivory POV

I had so much fun. I'm so glad Leo is back. We haven't talked like this in so long.

"By the way Leo, are you feeling okay? Your body has been cold this entire time?"

The entire time, his body has been cold. I figured he hasn't fully recovered so I was holding him as tight as I could to warm him up. But he still feels the same.

I look up at Leo but he just sighs.

"Ivory… I need to tell you something."

My heart starting beating… Why am I worried right now?

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King Leo POV

"I'm already dead… two years ago… Saul poisoned me. I tried to fight it but I couldn't. That day, I died already. I've lingered after death. I wanted to stay after and clear all my regrets before moving on."

Ivory looked into my eyes. She started crying. Bawling. She began punching me, kicking me and screaming at me.

"Stop! Why would you say that! You're right in front of me! Hahaha! It's all a joke right? There are other times for that you know."

I hold onto Ivory.

"I'm sorry Ivory… I wish that I was joking with you right now but it's the truth. I've been watching over this castle for the last two years, unable to speak with anyone until I met that boy. The boy Abe praised so much. After meeting him, I felt that I could see you one last time and tried coming down here. I'm sure that it was thanks to him that I could talk to you one last time…"

Ivory continued crying. My heart was broken. I could have protected her smile if I was a better king.

I felt it. My conscious began fading away. It looks like I don't have much time. I reach out to Ivory, holding her one last time. Trying to remember this feeling. Making sure I never forget her.

"Don't leave me as well Leo! Right as I feel happy again, it's being stolen from me! Please don't go!!"

I feel it. My body is beginning to fade away as well. Is fate really this cruel?

"Ivory, I'm so sorry for leaving you so soon. Please take care of yourself. Make sure you get enough rest. Don't overwork yourself, okay?"

Ivory just kept crying.

"I love… you… so much Ivory."

"I LOVE YOU TOO LEO!"

As I fall down, I can hear Ivory calling out to me.

"Nooo! Leo, please get up! Please!! What am I going to do?!"

Those were the final words I could hear from Ivory before my vision fades.

Why did it have to be like this? I wish I could stay here forever…

Atlas… I'm grateful that you allowed me to have this moment, even if it was bittersweet. Even if it wasn't you, I am still grateful. I wish to repay you someday. Even if I need to do it in my next life.