Chapter Twenty-Three: Respite / Firm Decisions

// 3rd person POV //

Cylrit's rushed steps boomed, reverberating in the narrow, spiral staircase as he followed Seris.

The humidity increased because of the incapacious space making the air suffocating as every breath drawn in tangled over one another.

The distant sound of waves crashing over the structure was similar to the ravaging, cataclysmic hailstorm of both Seris and Cylrit's conflicted feelings.

Cylrit continued to follow her, the composure that stuck to his being like a leech fading away with every passing second as he saw Seris break down for the first time.

"Scythe... Scythe Seris... calm down," He said, his voice sounding like a feeble whisper in Seris' ears over the thundering belabour of her heart against its rib cage.

Blood pounded in her ears, her heart palpitated as she passed by the empty space between the staircase that led upstairs to her castle and the secret research room. The place that still reeked of him... Grey.

His mana signature still lingered like a static miasma of bittersweet memories—laughter, tears, giggles, wails and woes, trust and... betrayal.

All of those feelings weighed down on her shoulders like a titanic mountain being placed on her as she felt her hopes, dreams, ambitions and plans all crushed and burnt down to ashes in a single moment.

"We need to hurry up with our preparations," Seris spoke frantically as she placed her hands on the cold metal bars attached to the door. With a swift movement, she opened it.

The room was spacious with multiple tubes running throughout the perimeter. All of the smaller tubes ran through from the roof to the corners, attached to metallic anchors and then combined at the same vantage point.

The huge translucent dome in the middle of the room had multiple cavities, allowing the tubes to be attached inside it.

"There might be a reason behind it. We should wait for him," Cylrit replied, his voice sounding feeble despite the numerous attempts at standing strong right by Seris' side... just like he always had been.

Seris turned, her eyes raging like hell-fire as she looked at Cylrit. Cylrit stopped in his tracks, taking an instinctual step back.

His body quivered as he looked at a side of Seris—devoid of composure and so unrefined that he could see her emotions–lingering like a tangible veil all over the place.

"We have to hasten our plans, Cylrit... understand?" Seris spoke, her granite-cold hardness in her voice knackering Cylrit's heart, like a blazing sword plunged right into his chest.

"B-But..." Cylrit was cut mid-sentence as Seris turned back, her black battle-robes fluttering wildly with her every movement.

"He knows too much. And once Agrona is done with him, everything will be lost," She said as she reached out of the dome, "Everything." This time her voice came out as a whimper.

She continued to tinker with the artefacts attached to the dome mechanism when Cylrit reached out for her. Mustering up courage and strength he spoke, "Scythe Seris... you're clearly overreacting. Grey would never do anything against you... us."

"He was Agrona's reincarnate from another world. All he did was use us for his own benefit to enact his revenge," Seris said as she turned back to the mechanism.

Suddenly, she receded her hand as a needle pricked her finger. A drop of blood fell on the floor as she plucked the whole device out of its place and threw it in the corner.

Rage, betrayal... disappointment... Once again everything came crashing down on her. Her feet finally gave away as she fell on her knees, her fingers still lingering on the translucent dome as a trail of blood formed on it from her injured finger.

Cylrit could feel it all. He had the same feelings as her. But, he couldn't bring himself to hate or lose trust in him.

"What are you planning, Grey?"

"Something better... for... all of us. Me, Seris... you"

Grey's last interaction with Cylrit flashed in his mind. He couldn't forget it.

The towering pain and regrets hidden behind a false veil of apathy.

He had suffered as well. More than what Cylrit could imagine. More than himself. He had felt loss before as well. He had been broken, used before too. He could understand the look in Grey's eyes better than anyone else.

Looking down, he saw Seris's frame tremble ever so slightly. Her regal battle-robes spread on the smooth beige-coloured marble floor.

Cylrit sighed and bent on one knee near her. Seris' face lowered, her pearl white hair undulating like a pummeling white waterfall in her lap. Cylrit placed a hand on her shoulder. Her body juddered and her eyes moistened but tears remained stagnant in her eyes.

Placing another hand on her back, Cylrit drew circles on it as they both found a brief moment of silence lingering between them—a comforting silence.

"Thank you, Cylrit," Seris spoke, her head still resting against his chest.

"It was my duty to assist you in every way possible, Scythe Seris. I am proud that I was of help," he paused, taking a moment to weigh his own words, "And I will continue to do so. Until my life betrays me."

Seris rose, leaving his support. Just as he was about to look at her, her hand pressed against his cheek, her lips pressing against his.

"Hmmm??"

Cylrit, petrified as he saw his lips locked with warm but quivering lips of Seris. Her hand was glacial cold—a contrast to the sultry lips that formed a delicate yet firm grip around his own.

Placing a hand on her shoulders, he pushed her away, "Scythe Seris... this... this is..."

"You said in every way possible. Were you lying too? Like Grey?"

"Never..."

Just as that word escaped his mouth, Seris got into his lap and wrapped her arms around him, once again kissing him. Cylrit replied by gently placing a hand on her waist and the other behind her head.

The minty taste of their saliva and sharp, violent inhales and exhales from their nose sparked a flame inside both of them. Like drawing into each other.

The feelings that Cylrit never understood and mistook for loyalty, the hazy veil around them started to lift up with every rapid beat of his heart.

He realised it was more than just a sense of loyalty.

And somehow, the salty tears that sting in Seris' eyes due to holding them back, vanished. Like it was never there.

She parted, a bridge of saliva linking their lips before coiling her legs around his waist as Cylrit took the initiative this time.

His hands ran all along her body before finally sneaking in from the bottom of her robes. His cold hands touched against her warm skin making an exotic shiver run down her spine. Her body craved for this.

Her legs that coiled like a hades serpent around his waist tightened. She could feel it. The overwhelming tingle between her legs as her toes curled inwards. She could feel it nearing. All her pent-up frustration being let loose with such a small act of intimacy.

Cylrit's self-control slowly slipped away—similar to his sense of reasoning and sanity as his hands ventured more and more, caressing the pristine, glassy skin.

The comfort that this malcontent activity provided was enough to neutralise the aching pain in Seris' heart. The pain of betrayal from someone she was so close to. Someone, she confided her secrets with.

Finding comfort in this rebellious act of seeking comfort, she let herself lose her sanity as her mind went blank.

// Tessia Eralith //

Father walked from one corner to another, his steps echoing in the spacious, newly-renovated room.

His heel made a hollow echo against the wooden floor with every anxious step.

The door to the spacious meeting room opened, revealing grandpa. He was wearing a teal-coloured tunic.

The bags under my parents and grandpa's eyes had vanished after my return. The emaciated looks of my family and the ruined state of the castle slowly started to return to its former glory.

But the hollow feeling of something amiss... something vital... still lingered deep in my heart, like a festering wound.

Was it guilt? Or was this empty feeling because of something else?

"Father! If annexation with humans wasn't enough, you're even letting Tessia go to that wretched place... again?" Father spoke, his eyebrows knitted together as a sharp frown formed on his face.

I looked up at grandpa, his slender fingers gripping the bridge of his nose. "Calm down first of all Aludin", grandpa said and placed a hand on my back, motioning for me to walk forward. Following his gesture, I started walking as father left space for me and grandpa to walk towards the seats.

"Have a seat. You too Merial," Grandpa said, his eyes jumping from father to mother and then to me.

Father took the seat right beside Grandpa, just in front of me, while mother sat in the chair adjacent to mine. Placing a hand on my head, she smiled, the corner of her eyes creasing. I smiled back at her and averted my attention towards grandpa and dad.

"How can I calm down father? Those humans..."

"It's not just them," I blurted out.

All heads turned towards me.

"It wasn't just humans. Although the majority of my abductors were humans, I've seen elves," I clarified.

"That still doesn't justify your admission in Xyrus," dad said, slamming his palms on the table.

Mother's grip over my shoulder tightened, her grip as meek as an autumn leaf, withering away. Seeing my mother's subtle tremble and her downcast gaze, a wave of guilt washed over father as he sat back down. The trauma of losing me forever had left a scar on my mother, making her sensitive to the slightest of commotions.

"That wasn't my decision. Little one insisted on it. And...," Grandpa paused and then looked at me. The frown that lined his face, made him look eternally tired, visibly relaxed as he spoke again, "After talking to her and seeing her abilities first-hand, I think we can let her."

I smiled brightly, but once again my heart sank as I heard my mom gasp, her grip tightening on me.

"I don't want to l-lose her... not again... ever. I-I won't allow this," Mother said as she got closer and hugged me from behind pulling my head in her chest—like protecting me from something.

Her hands were cold and by how my ear touched her chest, I could feel the hammering of her heart, threatening to leap out.

However, nothing would make progress if I stayed like this. I don't want to be protected. I don't want to depend on others. My life until I was abducted was smooth, always cared for, looked after and provided for. Never did I experience an empty feeling. All that anyone could ever dream of was given to me... even if I didn't ask for it.

And maybe that was exactly why I suffered so much when I was kidnapped. In a different environment where I was treated worse than deranged mana beasts. Beaten until I couldn't cry, tortured until I lost my voice and couldn't scream. Death could've been the last mercy for me.

But even that privilege was taken from me. Time and time again... by Bairon.

Death seemed like my sole escape from this purgatory where I was burned daily and then the next day it was the same routine all over again. Everyday without fail. In this situation all I ever wanted and wished for was death.

But Bairon remained persistent. His resolve never wavered as he stopped me every time I tried to end this pathetic excuse of life—to end my wretched self and finally be free.

Him rescuing me every time seemed like another way to make me suffer. But every time he saved me he would accompany me. Tell me not to treat my life so unfairly. That my fate wasn't to just stay here.

He showed me. The goodness in humans. Not just him, but that boy in the dungeon as well.

Good and evil existed everywhere. It's just that we were too blind to notice the abhorrent bastards in our own ranks.

Placing a hand on my mother's arms I gently, softly pushed them away and stood up, "Sorry to interrupt you," I said looking at my parents, "Mother. Father."

"Let little one speak as well. I am sure you would understand too," Grandpa said, crossing his arms.

Both mom and dad who were about to speak, silenced.

"Thank you, grandpa," I said, looking at him. The corner of his thin lips quivered in a smile as he threw me a wink and a thumbs up.

"Sorry to so rudely interrupt you two. I can understand all that you feel. I've felt the same over the thought that I would never see my family again," I started as I saw my mother's face visibly going pale.

Her past trauma was kicking in, resulting in a panic attack. However, neglecting situations like this made situations even worse. I could remain silent, and say nothing. However, after all those years of being a bird in someone else's cage, I learned something.

To confront our fears, no matter how much it haunted us.

"First of all, father," I directed him as he turned in his seat, turning his attention to me, "With all due respect your judgement is highly jaundiced. Ever since my return, I have pressed on the matter again and again that the kidnapping involved multiple elves as well."

"They might have been forced into it."

"They were the ones who provided an opportunity. If not for them providing intel and guiding them through the enchanted forest, they would've never gotten their hands on me or any other unfortunate kids—elves, humans and dwarves alike. Forlorn and ill-lucked people exist everywhere."

Father's mouth opened and closed again, trying to form words to retaliate but he couldn't. Balling his hands into fists, he looked down, unable to argue back.

"I was rescued and looked after by a human. When all I received were wounds he was the only one who put balm on those wounds. When all wanted me to die, he kept on saving me time and time again. Even sabotaging my multiple suicide attempts," I said as my fingers trailed on my bandaged hand. Through the thin dressing, I could feel the wounds lining.

"My saviour wasn't an elf. It was a human. Not just one. In the dungeon dive, I was saved by a boy my age. Virtuous and Diabolics exist all around us. We have to identify which from which. Or we'd remain the same for all eternity... never evolving," I said as the smirk on grandpa's face widened.

"Such powerful words. You sure grew up into a good girl. Despite the absence of the one responsible," A sweet mellow voice interrupted.

Looking back I saw Elder Rinia, standing with the help of a cane. A wide smile lined her face as she looked at me. Leaving my seat, I ran to her and hugged her. Placing one hand on my back and another on my head she patted it.

"How come this old wench left her place?" Grandpa said, his eyes wide open.

"Oh shut up you old coot. Get out of here you lot. I want to talk to Tessia... alone."

"But we..."

"I. Said. Now."

Silence spread in the wide room followed by the rustle of robes.

"Merial, Aludin. We will continue this later. Let her talk to her."

Rinia gave an affirmative nod to Grandpa as he started to push my parents out of the room. Once they were gone I turned to Elder Rinia.

"I am so happy to see yo-"

"Take your clothes off, child. We don't have much time."

"Ehhhhhhhhh?" I made an unintelligible voice—baffled, bamboozled, flabbergasted at the sudden demand.

"Hurry up child. Take your shirt off. I am not able to do much. However, I can let you speak a bit. Break your curse partially."

How did she know?

Seeing the confused look on my face, she smirked, "Oh. I know everything. All is exactly how it is supposed to be." She said, grabbing the lower corner of my shirt before pulling it up.