Chapter 26: Betrayal

Raven watched as the cityscape gradually changed. Buildings gave way to sprawling landscapes, and the noise of the city was replaced by the rhythmic sound of the train on the tracks.

Leira sat opposite Raven, her gaze locked on him, concern etched on her face. She could also understand the implications of Atlan's presence here.

"Should we get down at the next city?" She suggested, out of concern for Raven's safety.

Raven shook his head. Although he knew how risky and uncertain this trip just became, he also understood how much suspicion they were going to raise if they got down before reaching their destination, especially since they had caught Atlan's attention.

"I understand." Leira nodded. She didn't insist anymore.

She only hoped that nothing was going to go wrong. Although they could forcefully leave, even if they were attacked by multiple Knights, things could get really complicated if Arthur and Merlin also arrived.

Zephyr silently leaned against the seat, his eyes closed, but his mind alert. He trusted his instincts, always ready to react at a moment's notice. The journey felt long, but they remained patient.

Raven looked at the distant sky. He felt quite pathetic in this weak body, yet he couldn't do anything about it. Every second, he was reminded of the time when he was cursed by Gaia for this cursed fate.

He could break the curse even if he could only be completely free of these shackles for a mere second. Unfortunately, with just an earring, he could only be free of a small fraction of the curse, and that too for a short time.

There was only one way to break this curse, and that was to retrieve everything that belonged to him.

Half an hour passed before Raven also closed his eyes, trying to give some rest to this pathetic frail body of his.

...

"Did you pick up another kid from the lower realms? Did you say her name was Leira? Last time it was Zephyr, and now this girl? Are you planning to open an orphanage in Heaven?"

"Sigh, why can't I say no to you? You know you're quite lucky to have a childhood friend like me. I'll allow you to keep her in Heaven. Zeus and the others might raise some complaints, but I'll handle it."

"Where are you going? Are you again ignoring me after getting what you wanted? Such a heartless bastard!"

....

"Your cooking skills have become so good. Just the scent alone was enough to draw me here."

"Hey, why are you hiding it? Is that how you behave with your only friend?"

....

"How could you?! How could you betray us?! You've destroyed everything, all because of..."

....

"With my life and Heaven's essence as a sacrifice, I shall seal you forever! Never in the future shall you be able to cause such carnage!"

"You have taken so many innocent lives! For an eternity, you'll pay for it with your life! For your sins, I shall curse you to a fate worse than death!"

....

Raven subconsciously reached out his hand, grabbing a person's throat. His entire body was covered in sweat.

Fortunately, since his body was weak, he wasn't able to crush the person's throat. He slowly opened his eyes.

Before him, he saw Leira, standing still. Even as he grabbed onto her throat, she didn't offer any resistance, as if worried she might hurt him.

Raven released his hand, freeing Leira's throat. Before anyone could react, he stood up and left his seat. His vision was slightly blurry as his fever flared. With unstable steps, he walked toward the Washroom.

Zephyr stood up, seeing Raven's unstable steps. He reached out his hand to support Raven, but Raven simply pushed him away. He might be weak, but he didn't need anyone's help.

He entered the washroom, turning on the tap. He washed his burning face with fresh water, looking at his reflection in the mirror.

Raven's reflection in the mirror revealed a face that was pale. Dark circles covered his tired eyes. He ran his hands through his dishevelled hair, trying to gather his thoughts.

Leaning against the sink, Raven took a deep breath. He stood with its support, feeling his head spin.

As the cool water trickled down his face, Raven felt a momentary sense of relief. The sensation eased the heat of his fever and brought some clarity to his mind.

He knew he couldn't let his emotions consume him. However, he could never forget that past, a past that still made him hate all those people, including his so-called friend Gaia.

Drying his face with a towel, Raven turned off the tap and looked at himself in the mirror once again.

He left the washroom, noticing Zephyr and Leira standing outside and waiting for him. Both of them were filled with concern about his health.

They could see that Raven's health was getting worse with time. That also made them understand why Raven was so stubborn about not delaying the plan, even though it was risky. It was because he knew that he was dying.

The moment he used those earrings and made the curse stronger, his body had already started breaking apart. He didn't have time to waste. Each second made the difference between life and death.

Looking at the concern of Leira and Zephyr, Raven couldn't help but smile. There used to be a time when he used to be their strength. Yet now he was so pathetic that he even made them worry about him. He wasn't smiling at them. Instead, he was smiling at his own weakness.

He lightly tapped the shoulders of Zephyr and Leira, silently conveying that he was alright. He walked past them, slowly returning to his seat.

"He looks like he's about to die. Even people like them dare dream about joining that place. It would've been funny if it wasn't pathetic."

As Raven was returning to his seat, he heard a taunt directed at him. He turned around, noticing the same Train Staff that had a problem with them before.

Raven glanced around him before walking toward the man, bringing out a pen from his pocket.