“Why don’t we just use the cure spell? I can cure him with the first page of the holy cure spell,” Ella asked.

Aria looked at Faye, hoping for her answer, while still holding Rain’s body.

“Yes, it can cure,” Faye said in a monotonous tone.

Ella and Aria quickly grabbed their own holy books, but the words Faye said next made the mood turn grim.

“But you can only cure his body, his soul will be stuck in that time forever. His life will be like this forever,” Faye said, gently caressing Rain’s face.

Aria tightened her fists, “We have to find a chrono magician. They can manipulate time and bring his time back.” Aria asked Faye, “Do you know any of them?”

Faye looked at Aria and replied, “No, Iron-maiden, Claudia is far away in the centric continent, and even if they were here, they wouldn’t waste their time on this.”

Ella said, “Maybe some of their mages are still working at the Holy Tower. We should go there and try to convince them first. Last time, we traded for a cube of information and they happily agreed.”

Aria grabbed Rain’s hand, wanting to carry him on her back. Faye touched her hand and Aria looked at her, biting her lip. “We... can’t?”

Faye fixed her gaze on Aria and said with a concerned voice, “No, he will not make it. It hasn’t even been a day yet, and he’s already crumbling. He will respond slower and slower. Imagine what will happen when you arrive at the holy capital.”

“Dead?”

“Yes, In correctly, He will sleep forever.”

Aria grabbed Faye’s arm and steam flew from her hand. Aria’s head lowered, and she whispered, “Does that mean... our only choice is to let him die? Huh, Faye?”

Faye replied, “Yes, we have to let him die, in a sense, to bring him closer to death.”

“What does that mean?”

“I will open the curse gate here and let his time curse run. It will create a turbulence of time, causing him to jump up and down and experience fast and painful strikes. We can fix it at the point when he gets cursed, but there is still danger involved. I can’t guarantee success.” Faye said.

“Just your word is enough. If there’s a chance for him, we’ll take the risk.” Aria said. “Tell me, Red Witch, what do you need and what are your requirements?”

Faye smiled widely. “Soul for soul, time for time, Aria.”

Ella interrupted, “No, Aria. We have to find another way. There’s always another way. If we calculate correctly and remember all the time events backwards, we can predict his behavior and plan the time echo until we reach the holy gate. We can just meet the chrono magician halfway. We still have a chance. Don’t sacrifice yourself like that, Aria.”

Aria remained silent for a moment and then replied, “Thank you, Ella, but we’ll do as Faye said.”

Ella was shocked and asked, “Why? Aria, you have to trust me. I can help record every detail and time.”

Aria shook her head. “I trust you, Ella, but Winter is crueler than you think. They will find him faster than we can.”

Ella was taken aback, “What, are you talking about?”

Aria looked at Faye and asked, “Do you want anything else?”

“A vast field,” Faye replied.

Aria thought for a moment and said, “Okay, I know the place. It’s nearby.” Aria carried Rain on her back. His body was so light, lighter than a kid’s. She dashed out into the forest.

Thud! Thud! Thud! She moved left and right, causing the snow on the branches to fall. Ella and Faye ran after her.

“Astaria…” A fragile voice from behind her.

“Um, I’m here,” Aria said.

“Be alive… Ok?”

“Um, you too…”

“I’m sorry for making you cry.”

“…”

“I’m just so happy that you came looking for me...”

“…”

“I thought I would die so many times...”

“…”

“But your blue tears always appear, as if I dying here would make you angry and cry even more. So I kept walking and walking.”

“…”

“Thank you.”

The moonlight illuminated the path through the forest as she hurried past the final tree. In this place, a field of white flowers stretched out with the white moon hanging in the sky. The petals of the flowers danced in the wind, blending with the white snow.

Aria gently placed him in the center of the field, her expression turning serious. “Don’t thank me... If you’re not going to make it, I will go with you. This time, no one will stop me.”

Rain smiled and replied, “Um, I also want to see the sea, at least once.”

Faye extended her hand. Swoosh! gems flew out, creating a magic circle that spun back and forth. The flowers followed the wind. “Such a beautiful place. Rain, don’t cry. I will help you replant them later.”

Aria turned to Ella and asked, “Ella, help me unlock the Area.” Aria took out her sacred book, and Ella nodded, doing the same.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Their pristine voices resonated, “Heart of Mother Earth, Eye of the Greater Sky, and the Way of the Free Man. This land shall be yours and all of the other innocent wills. Free Soul Realm.”

A white ring appeared on the ground.

Aria looked at Faye and said, “Do as you please, Red Witch.”

Ella said, “Aria, let me do it instead. I have more mana and life force. I can sacrifice it more easily. I can help him.”

Aria smiled and replied, “Thank you, Ella. You are so kind to me, but this is my duty. He is my citizen, my follower. I have to do it myself.”

“B-but, if you fail—” Ella said.

“Holy Child, step out of the magic circle.” Wink! Wink! Faye’s gems burst into bright flames, forming six swords that rotated above the magic circle. “Your life is not enough.”

“What! I still have so much.” Ella looked confused.

“I mean, The Time of life… He is older than you.” Faye looked at Ella with determined, “You will die quickly, especially with your emotions and inner demons. Aria is more suitable. She can control her heart.”

Ella gritted her teeth and stepped out of the magic circle. Softly, she whispered, “stayed safe, Aria… I also only have you.”

Aria nodded to Faye, her eyes shining with a blue light, Patient mind

Faye reached out her hands and said, “Six swords to the north, moon at the center, river on the side.” Wink! The gems floated and formed a circle that covered the moon. The magic swords began to shine brightly.

“I’m Fayleain Carran, lingering of the truth fire, I will turn the forbidden page of the six swords.”

Thud! Thud! Thud! All the swords locked into the ground, and the light transformed into darkness, moving along the magic circle.

“Moonlight will reflect off the edges of the swords, casting shadows on life. Blood and time will return, and unwilling souls will cry. Gate of Dolor”

Rewritten text: Shadows loomed around the field, leaving only the moon’s reflection on the swords. The shadows rushed towards Rain. A magic circle beneath their feet began to rotate counterclockwise, and the shadows of the swords moved along with it.

The shadow of swords passes by Rain and Aria repeatedly.

Aria sat close to Rain and touched his hand. “Rain, I’m here.”

Fragile as whispered sound out, “hand… out… me…”

“Rain.”

“Holy… Away…”

“It’s me, Aria”

“Ria…”

“Please. Rain.”

Rain suddenly lifts his head, his soulless dark eyes staring at Aria. “Get away! Your holiness is a curse!” He pushed Aria’s arm away.

Aria was taken aback. These dark eyes again, What had happened to him?

“It was all because of you! People were dying like this. As a saint, didn’t you have a duty to protect them? Many children had died, everyone I had wanted to save had died. Ria had died too! Her smile still lingered in my mind.”

Aria’s mouth opened, but no words came out. Finally, she gathered her courage and said, “I’m sorry, Rain. It was all my fault.”

“Who the hell do you think you are? Are you thought that you have a Chosen One Title can Free roam, playing a god and decided all us fate?” Rain grabbed his sachet, and blood started to leak from his eyes and wounds.

Aria tried to reach for Rain’s body, but he swiftly ducked and evaded her touch.

“Aria, you too! Why have you betrayed our country like this? Why have you sided with them? Everyone who had called your name and sacrificed for you would be disappointed in you. Even River Mother—”

Slap! Aria’s hand landed on his face, causing Rain’s head to sway with the force. “Do not speak my mother’s name! You knew nothing.”

Rain slowly turned his head and gazed at her. “Right! I knew nothing because I had never been a traitor. How could I understand you? Furthermore, I had never broken an oath like you-”

Slap! “You were born in prison. How could you understand the weight of a promise and the pain when you couldn’t keep it? You didn’t know the pain of losing the people I loved, the country I loved, the father and mother I loved. I had lost everything.” Aria said, her chest heaving, gasping for more air.

Rain’s eyes glowed blue. “Do not speak as if I didn’t know the word ‘loss’! Did you think that only those from the sky could have a heart? Pebbles like me also knew its meaning!” Swoosh! Rain pushed Aria to the ground.

Aria immediately reflected and instinctively hammered her fists at Rain’s face. “Are you blind, Rain. I never use my title, nor holy or blue river. Never dream of wearing silk fluffy fabric. I eat and drink the same way you do. I don’t have a golden tongue to lick golden plates—”

Chomp! Rain bit her arm, prompting Aria to swiftly tug his long hair. His fierce bite left a red mark on her white arm. “Are you a rat?”

Rain tugged her hair back and looked at her with dangerous eyes. “Being a rat is better than being a rotten fish—”

Chomp! Aria retaliated by biting his arm, and Rain pushed her face, hoping she would release her bite. However, her face remained unmoved, with red blood seeping from her mouth. Eventually, she let her mouth go, and Rain tried to move his hand back.

Thud! However, she quickly pushed his body and flipped him to the ground, her hair scattered and covering her face. “Do not call me a rotten fish, Sewer Rat!”

They locked eyes, eyebrows lowered, both with the other’s blood on their mouths. Soon enough, they resumed fighting, slapping, hair pulling, pinching nails, rolling on the floor like girls fighting in school. But it wasn’t long before the situation risen. They started grabbing rocks and striking each other.

Splash! Pluck! Thud! Blood and bruises scattered across the flower field.

Ella watched in confusion. “What is happening? Why is She be like this?” She clutched her sacred book and felt the need to help. However, suddenly, a blazing hot sensation engulfed her body.

She saw Faye with her scarlet eyes locked onto her, blood leaking from them. Faye’s outer white eyes had turned black, and the scarlet iris at the center danced like crazed. “Do not do that, You’ll regret it for the rest of your life,” Faye said, her hands still in front of her, with something moving beneath her glamorous black gloves, as if a million worms were burrowing into her flesh.

Ella furrowed her eyebrows. “Can’t you see? They’ll kill each other before the process ends.” She tightened her grip on her book, but Faye didn’t respond, only giving her determined eyes.

Pluck! Rain Blocked Aria Attack, Twist! Grabbed Aria’s wrist. Slosh! finally rotated as pushed Aria away. He pivoted body and turned head towards Faye.

“Faye, run! I’ll distract her. The Holy Tower lied. They used the Codex to deceive you. They won’t return your belonging back.” Rain shouted.

All the women turned their gaze towards Rain, their faces filled with various emotions. Faye’s heart cried out loudly, and even the magic spell she had cast seemed to flicker as she tried her best to console herself.

“Please go, Faye. Even though we have been enemies for so long, we are the only ones who can trust each other. Lestria plans to kill us all—”

“Filthy Bastard! What Nonsense are you taking about, We do all as we speak!” Ella said. Schwing! She drew the sword out, her eyebrows furrowed, never thought this conversation will bring out. But when she saw his eyes, something wrong turbulence inside her heart like as bright star on sky slowly fade out.

Rain looked at her and smiled sadly, causing the wind to gently flutter in the area, carrying flower petals with it. “Ella... Even you. Are taking their side?”

His eyes lowered as he looked at the floor. He touched his heart and bowed humbly to her. “... I, Astra of the Blue River, sincerely apologize for my disrespectful conduct towards Lady Elmyra, the Holy Princess of the Great Empire Lestria. We kindly request your understanding and mercy towards our nation.”

Crack! Something inside Ella cracked, and she lowered her hands. “R-Raccoon, W-why, have you said that sorry—”

Thud! Thud! Aria quickly ran towards Rain’s blind spot, attempting to lock his body, but he agilely dodged her hand, swiftly dashing back. She grabbed at nothing, her hand coming up empty.

“Whisperer, what are you doing? You are breaking the law!” Rain exclaimed. “You must not harm innocent civilians.”

With her hair covering her face, Aria murmured, “How can you pretend not to know me? Do you think my heart is made of diamond, Hmmm, Follower Sewer Rat?” Aria drew her swords, and as the snow fell, droplets covered her blades, giving them a shimmering blue glow.

Rain said, “That’s not fair, God’s Whisperer—”

Slashed! A transparent blade swiftly flew past Rain’s head, but luckily he ducked just in time, only having his hair cut.

“Alright, let’s fight, if that’s what you want.” Rain’s eyes glimmered, and he held his hand out in front of him. Suddenly, the air around them stopped, as he shouted, “Rocky!!”

Swoosh! Rock fly fast. Aria instinctively grabbed the flying rock.

Rain started running with weak legs, struggling to maintain his balance. “Friend, distract her. I will pray for you later!”

Aria looked at the stone for a moment and then cracked it into two pieces. “Again...” She lowered her body, bending her knees as the air around her began to churn. “I will cut you in half,” her eyes shone blue in the darkness.