“I’m so sorry!” Yushia cried as he groveled before Lei-Lei's feet. “I didn’t mean to! I don’t know what got over me, I didn’t mean for things to go this way! Fei wasn’t supposed to die, nobody was!”

Lei-Lei sat against a tree. Morning had come, and as she listened to Yushia, she could hardly say a word. Her tears had run dry since last night.

“Do whatever you want to do with me!” Yushia pleaded. “I know it won’t be enough, but still... I don’t know how I could ever be given forgiveness, so please!”

For some odd reason, Lei-Lei felt no animosity. She extended her hand and stroked Yushia’s long bushy hair. “It’s over, isn’t it?”

Yushia looked up, his eyes puffy and wet.

“The demon is dead,” Suzaku interrupted, crouching behind her wielder. “Dead for good. The demon had taken possession of Lei-Lei's sister, and there was no of saving her. My wielder... You were the one to put her out of her misery.”

The methods Yushia had used to kill the demon, however, were questionable in Suzaku’s eyes, but she didn’t want to bring that to light. The kids were traumatized enough after what had happened last night.

Spreading her ether field outward, Lei-Lei sensed Yushia’s ether which still burned kind and passionately. As if a boulder had been lifted off her shoulders, Lei-Lei felt some relief. If Fei had lived through the night, she doubted her sister would ever be the same again. She didn’t want her going through the grief she once felt.

“It’s over,” Lei-Lei repeated, resting her hand on Yushia’s head. “We did our best. Please don’t feel sorry for me.”

“Why...?” Yushia asked. “If I were you, I would never be able to forgive someone like me!”

“I know things won’t always work in my favor. I’ve accepted that fact. I won’t lie and say I don’t feel somewhat upset toward you, but you couldn’t help it.”

“I still want to pay for what I did because it’s still unforgivable—”

“Please, Yushia,” Lei-Lei said as she stifled her whimpering. “I don’t want to hear any more of this from you or anyone else, to be reminded of everything that has happened. I want to move on from this madness. I forgive you.”

Suzaku gently grabbed her wielder’s shoulder. “Let her rest. It is much needed.”

Yushia understood this and stood up, wiping the tears from his face. Pulling on his skin, however, Lei-Lei stopped him.

“Will you take me to my sister?” she asked.

Yushia held Lei-Lei in his arms, wary of her fragile state. He brought her to Fei’s lying corpse and set her down, but he couldn’t bring himself to look at what he’d done to her. It felt wrong. As he turned and walked away toward Suzaku, he faintly heard Lei-Lei's voice mumbling words of thanks and love. He lowered his head. He had to remind himself that it was all over. Lei-Lei had forgiven him, somehow.

Much closure was needed for Lei-Lei. She had to let Fei know that they had defeated the demon, and that their clan had been avenged. After that, she told the same thing to Payuei, who lay deceased back at the village. She apologized that the two couldn’t get married and promised that in another life, should they meet again, she’d consider it.

Heading to the Jiuli burial grounds, Yushia and Suzaku assisted in helping bury the two who’d passed that night. Lei-Lei gave her wishes and prayers, and by that point, her legs had healed enough to allow her to stand alone for a short while. She thanked Suzaku for her flames.

Taking out two Silverwolf canines she’d kept on her, Lei-Lei placed them in the center of the burial grounds and spoke with her four spirits, wishing that they’d take care of her fallen. Though she had been asking for too much of their guidance lately, they understood her grief and accepted.

Yushia, alongside Suzaku, carried Lei-Lei on his back; she could stand, but not for long periods. They followed her instructions and headed back to the village so she could change back into her robes. Lei-Lei went deep into thought when considering whether or not to change back into her robes, but in the end, she figured she’d turn a new leaf and keep the special Jiuli clothing she had on now. Then, they began walking toward the lake.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Gentle waves touched Lei-Lei's ether field as they left the forest. “Past the lake.”

“What about it?” Yushia asked. The water glimmered exceptionally.

Suzaku’s eyes widened. “That’s the direction of the closest village, correct?”

Lei-Lei nodded and pointed in Pitur Village’s direction. “There’s nothing left here. We’ll head there.”

“How long will it take?” Yushia began walking around the lake. He scooted Lei-Lei up his back, ensuring she wouldn’t slip.

“Thirty days on foot,” Lei-Lei answered. Considering how deep they were in the Northern Kratian Mountains, thirty days wasn’t too unreasonable. “Yushia, do your eyes still leave you insecure?”

He forced an unsure smile. “They do.”

“We can stop here and look for the herbs for the medicine. They lie commonly in the forest.”

“Right, let’s do that.”

The trio agreed to take a break. Suzaku insisted that she be the one to search, so Lei-Lei repeated the ingredients needed for the remedy and what they looked like. After a dozen tries, she finally memorized it and went back into the forest to search. Yushia stayed behind to keep watch on Lei-Lei and sat beside her against a large boulder. The awkward tension between them was quite suffocating.

“I used to think Ceruleans were evil,” Lei-Lei said bluntly, breaking the silence. “I thank you for changing my mind.”

“What makes you bring that up?” Yushia asked.

“You harbor deep resentment toward the ones who took everything from you, don’t you?” Lei-Lei said. “I sensed that through your ether, but I couldn’t understand it until recently when we fought the demon.” She held his hand. Her staff had broken when she fell from the tree, and she needed something else to hold on to. “We are very similar. That is what I have concluded.”

Yushia’s face blushed at the gesture. Lei-Lei could sense that too. Her hands felt unusually slender but rough, as expected from someone who used to hold their staff at all times.

“Please don’t think anything of it,” she reassured. “It makes sense that I deepen our bond this way, from one survivor to another.”

“I suppose that’s right. You also know of my wife then?”

Lei-Lei shook her head side-to-side. Her ether field could do many things, but they couldn’t peer into memories.

“I lost her five years ago when my people were killed and enslaved. Her name is Shiashia. I can still remember vividly ow everything happened.”

“Did she pass, too?”

“I believe she is. I remember before falling unconscious a small girl fighting until the very end.”

“Your wife?”

“Yes. I’m looking for her now. She’s the reason I’ll keep moving forward no matter what. I’ll keep fighting the same way she did.”

Smiling, Lei-Lei tightened her grip on Yushia’s hand. “I’m sure you will find her, as long as you stay strong.”

The tension between the two had loosened. Yushia’s awkwardness had disappeared, bringing Lei-Lei much ease.

“Can you tell me more about yourself, Lei-Lei?” Yushia asked.

“Is there anything you would like to know in particular?” she responded.

Yushia hadn’t thought that far ahead before asking the question. It just felt right to ask it. “Your ears are unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”

Lei-Lei turned red and touched her long ears that pointed upward. “These? They’re just ears...”

“Can I touch them?”

“Uh... If you’re gentle.”

Yushia poked his finger at her ears and watched as they twitched at the slightest touch. His finger grazed down the soft edges, tickling her.

Lei-Lei moved her head away while blushing harder. “That’s enough...”

“Sorry.” Yushia set his hand down. Her reaction was sweet—a treat.

Suzaku came back quicker than expected with an armful of colorful herbs. “My greatness has arrived!”

The hold Lei-Lei had on Yushia’s hand released as Suzaku walked toward them. She sat down and crossed her legs, giving Lei-Lei the diverse herbs.

“Those don’t look safe,” Yushia said suspiciously.

“They are all but dangerous,” Lei-Lei said as she stuffed the herbs in her top. When the time came when she would need to make the remedy, a miniature Imprisonment Aqua would do the trick in blending and mixing.

“Shall we go now?” Suzaku asked, aiding the two children up.

Carrying Lei-Lei on his back again, Yushia and Suzaku continued their walk around the lake, toward the direction of Pitur Village.

>Yushia’s resolve has strengthened upon realizing he is not weak. He fights, knowing that he must.

>Suzaku’s arrogance has weakened—she knows she is not the great being she once was.

>Lei-Lei is released from the burden of protecting her people, though she wonders what purpose she serves now.

—THE END—