16 Chapter 16// Goodbye
Loki POV
"I...I don't have much time left."
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After being slapped by Lucy, Loki looked down at the floor absentmindedly. The image of Aki laying motionlessly on the hospital bed appeared in his mind.
'Hah...I just wish I could see Aki's smile one last time...but I guess it's impossible in this lifetime.'
Without him being aware, he began walking toward a certain place. When he noticed, he was already in front of the grave of Kalian Lilica.
Once a famous mage now lies in a desolate and withdrawn place with weeds and wild plants stepping all over her resting place just like she once stepped over her stellar spirits.
Loki looked at the grave covered in moss quietly, and spoke in a tone only wind can hear, "In the end, we both lost...but Kalian, If I were given a second choice, I would choose the same choice again."
"I don't regret showing up that day."
"I don't regret saving little Aries."
"I don't regret forcing you to terminate the contract."
"I don't regret that leads you to die like a dog and making myself disappear."
"I don't regret any of those!", waterdrops fell on top of Kalian's grave, "...but I regret meeting with Aki..."
"I regret being friends with Aki"
"I regret...falling for Aki...", Loki looked towards the gloomy sky. Droplets of tears slowly fall from the sky as if the sky was mourning along with him.
"...I'm just a Stellar Spirit, what am I supposed to do with those human emotions.."
Loki dejectedly chucked afterward, "I guess nothing can be done, my existence is going to disappear in a few more hours anyway."
He guess the only good thing is he never confessed to Aki. He doesn't have to worry about Aki being sad. There are a lot of people who care about Aki. He will forget about him after some time.
It might be painful. It might be hurt. But he knows Aki can do it.
Because Aki is strong.
That's the way it should be.
His friends will grieve for him but they will soon forget him with the passage of time.
That's the way it should be..
His Stellar friends will be mad at him, but hopefully, they will forgive him when the new 'Loki' is born.
That's the way it should be...
And yet! Why is his chest hurting!? Loki bends down and grasps for breath.
'Calm down, calm down...Stellar Spirits can't get a heart attack. It's all in your imagination, Loki!'
Suddenly, he heard Aki's voice reprimanding him for being a playboy. He chuckled and slowly and shakily got up. He looked towards the direction of Magnolia town...the place where his home has been situated for the past 3 years.
Now it's time to say goodbye.
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He first broke up with all his girlfriends. He didn't want to leave them hanging and delayed them from progressing with their life...If he has a second chance, he's never gonna deny and run away from his feelings, from Aki.
Next, he quietly slipped his resignation letter on Mira's counter. It's better for them to believe he betrayed their trust rather than him...
Before he leaves this town filled with both bitter and happy memories, he quietly bids Aki goodbye.
He stood in front of Aki who's been lying motionlessly for over a week. The bruises on his face were already showing signs of fading but the person himself doesn't appear to be waking up anytime soon.
His hands drifted towards Aki's cheeks, gently tugging Aki's messy hair behind his ear.
The moon peaked out from the window. Chirps of birds going back to their families. Moonlight poured from the window to Aki's body.
Loki slowly bends down and gently pressed his chapped lips onto Aki's forehead.
"The moon is beautiful tonight, isn't it?" Loki softly spoke, "Goodbye, my prince."
Loki got up and walked away from Aki, never looking back.
Just after he turned away, Aki's eyelashes trembled as if he was forcing himself to wake up.
But Loki never found out. And Aki soon went back into a deep sleep.
As Loki was silently watching the flowing of the waterfall, he heard the rustling footsteps behind him.
"Loki! Everyone's looking for you!", Lucy anxiously shouted. Loke glanced behind and saw Lucy running towards him.
Loki couldn't believe what he saw. He never thought that a weak-willed woman he once believe her to be was able to make Stellar Spirit King personally show up for her. And so many Stellar Spirits behind her, his friends, silently supporting this woman..
'Her friends', she said. How could she effortlessly say those words! They were Stellar Spirits you know!... But this is what he envisioned the relation between the Stellar Spirtis and Celestial Spirit Mage to be once upon a time.
But reality shattered his beautiful dream.
'Lucy...you're such a naive girl, but I'm glad I finally met such Celestial Spirit Mage like you..'
"For the sake of that radiant bond, I'll consider this case an 'exception'," the Stellar Spirit King spoke with authority, "Leo...I'll allow you to return to the spirit world."
"...Please wait a moment," Loki looked down, "I..I don't deserve to live-"
"Stop right there!"
The people present, both spirits and human alike simultaneously looked at the source of the voice and saw a white-hair young man with bandages all over his body running towards them while huffing and puffing.
"A-Aki?"
"Aki san?"
"Hmm.."
Loki slowly got up with the support of Lucy. Shortly after, Aki arrived in front of them.
"Aki...", Loki tried to support Aki who almost fall down.
Without catching a breath, Aki grabbed Loki's collar and yanked towards his face with a frightening glint in his eyes.
"Loki...no Leo The Lion, Do I permit you to die?", Aki asked with a cold tone and a thin barrier appeared underneath his feet and surrounded the whole space.
"Ryoiki Tenkai...Pathway to Heaven"
Lucy's eyes widened, just a second ago, this place was just the outskirt of Magnolia town, now everywhere she looks...it was just white, nothing but white! Both Stellar Spirit king and her friends are here too. But it seems as if time was frozen for them!
Lucy's hand reached towards her neck, "..can't breathe", her eyes began to swell up. She looked toward the middle of the white space where Aki and Loki were. Her clear eyes reflecting the image of Loki and Aki.
At this moment, she finally registered that Aki was once an S-Class Mage. He was surrounded by an aura of death and life, both contrasting yet at the same time, singing the harmony of black and white.
He looked as if God has taken the mercy to end the life on its own.
At this moment, she's quite jealous of Loki, whose life is within the grasp of Aki's hand.
Just before she passed out from asphyxiation, she heard Aki's calm voice.
"I permit you to breathe."
Lucy falls on her knees and grasps for breath, "huff..huff.."
She looked towards Aki who paid her no mind anymore with twinkling eyes, 'Oh crap...I might just fallen for Aki.'
Aki looked back at Loki and raised his eyebrows, "Well?"
Loki stared at Aki with pain in his eyes, "But I..don't deserve to live."
"That's not for you to decide," Aki spoke with the arrogance only powerful S-mages could have.
"I heard everything, both spoken and unspoken words in your heart," Aki stated, "Do you dare to give me your life?"
"Your heart, your mind, your emotions, give everything to me. I'll personally trample them with my feet for you."
Loki's mouth widened in disbelief. After a moment, he gently smiled, "If..If it's you, I don't mind what you do with my everything."
"No matter if I shatter your heart into pieces? No matter if I break your mind without any chance of being repaired? No matter if I order you to die?"
Loki chuckled, "Yes."
Aki slowly put down Loki's collar and a gentle smile finally appeared on his face, "Then Loki...live for me. Live for your friends, your families."
As soon as Aki spoke those words, the white space began to crumble into pieces, and heaven praised Aki with its golden sunlight, "No taking back 'kay?"
Thump Thump Thump
The image of Aki smiling gently toward him reflected in Loki's moist eyes.
If Aki is a god, he is willing to be his devoted believer, the ant beneath his feet, the soil beneath his boots, forever admiring from distance.
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"Well..that's another way on how to tell someone to live, old friend", Stellar Spirit King murmured, "Leo...even after this, if you still feel compelled to atone for your sins..."
"Then I command you to become a pillar for your friends and live on."
Tears quietly fall down from the corner of Loki's eyes and he softly smiled, "..Yes."
Stellar Spirt King glanced at Aki and immediately disappeared from view.
'Ugh..that old man must notice this body is past its expiration date..oh well, whatever happens, will happen,' Aki nonchalantly shrugged.
Lucy's Stellar Spirtis all disappear one after another, not before Aquarius glared at Aki.
She was Lucy's guardian spirit damn it! She couldn't do anything for her while Lucy was close to passing out! She couldn't even twitch a muscle while she was helplessly watching Lucy grasping for breath on her knees!
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At the same time in another place -
"Oi! You guys!"
"What!? Have you found Loki!"
"NO! Aki woke up!"
"That's great news! Why are you being anxious for?"
"He's now missing!!"
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Fuck"
