Chapter 16: The right thing

It has been a fruitful harvest, the adventures that have been assigned worked as well as intended. It was worth a few days for the information that I contacted and requested the right alias that Gabriel had used before in the previous attacks.

Having multiple aliases made it hard to call him without outing him for the favors he had done. It would be unwise if he would consider abandoning the humans if I dared to take such drastic measures.

In the end, there are eight of them stained, the forefront of Violetta hasn’t reported anything besides encountering the two that was sent as a scout. I didn’t intend that they would be split up so easily. There is only a thing to bide time before I capture the leader of the [beast].

For now, Marvos is getting back, after receiving my blood his prime has returned and the thing of human legend to fight head and toe against the dragons wasn’t false as he with the help of the cleric battalion defeated two of the thirteen.

“There is someone that wished to speak with you, your holiness.” The chancellor alerted me outside of the war tent. Without even looking, I can guess who is what is about to transpire inside this tent, so let me this as easy for the both of us as possible.

“Show him inside, and develop the anti-eavesdropping magic,” I command the chancellor as the one with white armor steps inside the tent. A large great lance and blood-filled smell, how nostalgic that this was our younger day in the garden of promise.

“How are you, Gabriel? Do let me know of any discomfort.” I come beside him as he removes the armor one by one, the scar of fighting was not the inflicted wound but his own letting of blood. His magic and authority are savage ones thus having a stubborn body that refuses to die was truly compatible.

“Why.” A simple muster from his mouth, it is of solemn that I view him as Father has viewed him. The tool of war in which he has no choice but to wander off the carnage of his doing in the name of those he is indebted to.

It is painful for him but…this would be the first time I cast aside my brotherly love for something much importance. I would throw myself out for him against the very father I fear, how selfish I am sounding right now that would make me no less than the cruelty I vow never inflicted on anyone but me.

What a hypocrite I am right.

“I have no right to call you my brother, all of the glory you may receive after completing the task in a cocoon of another identity.” I muster up my courage to say these pointless words, however he may hate me now. I don’t regret it as much still a thorn sow deep inside my heart.

“If I say words about how many you saved or how righteous your action be, I still can’t change the fact that blood you draw because of my request.” I continue this monologue as if he wasn’t even in the room, regardless of his feelings I continue on this solo. The healing mana still wraps around his wound as it opens mine.

“It would be understandable if you don’t see me again, or that you don’t me speak in the tone of before when we were brothers. At least, let me do this act on your wounds, I am the one who has caused it.” I wrap the bandage around the wounds as some are infected to be rid of instantly, a sad smile given to the one I harvest belief from. So too the ode of brotherhood, I know our undoing.

“It won’t be the end, however, I have to revalue your words and actions, Mikhail.” Gabriel looks at me with those forceful hands that ample to rip apart his enemies.

“It is not as the closed one that you sought me, I know your burden and grievance brother. All those things that you strive to be, I hate to be the one who of simpler days.”As tears roll down his face, I see what is left of the younger brother whom I once cherished. The bitter is the medicine I need not to see at least not from him, whose naïvity I strived to protect and demolish at the same time.

“Everyone changes I know of the corrosion of time. But I have seen your cold heart grow, robbing me of my joy for your future. Bringing me as your sacrifices, do not even think of me when you ask for information about my alias?” Gabriel stares at me his golden eyes remind me of the same bitterness I once held of Father, of the suffering I have gone through

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“Then you treat me as one of the pawns of your chessboard, you can simply ask of me if that was necessarily dampened to your territory.” Gabriel accused me of my disregard for his importance, it is my trust that has devalued him.

“If you appeared as the thirteen of the archangel, the balance would be disturbed. Don’t you think I would risk my all for my protection?” I asked him to reconsider.

“Is that it? Just because you would be scared of something delicate that you would feed me to danger? I am speechless, Mikhail…at the very least, I thought you have a heart still. I was wrong the whole time.” Gabriel chuckles bitterly and puts on his armor.

“Still if you ever find it again, I would answer to my brother. Not another father that I have to answer to, I am sick of your playing.” After those words he walked out of the room, leaving me to own grievance.

Quite a heartless remark I have just exchanged. Would it be strange that I didn’t find an ounce of conscience in such words? Have I grown cold like he has said? After all, it should be put aside before the invasion ends. I shall have an apology before him when all of this ends.

“Urgent, urgent! Where is his holiness?” The shout comes from the outside as someone or something comes directly through the tent but is blocked by the barrier.

Violetta comes rushing in with my bloody golden knight, her look is quite grim as if something has happened. Cuts and bruises are apparent on his body, all were applied carelessly through a healing spell. Burnt marks with a shade of thunder as well, he did fight a thunder dragon of that sort.

“Please help him, Lord Mikhail. He was playing coil with his life at this time. We have finished two of the thirteen dragons when he fought one alone.” Violetta pleads, throwing down her pride at this point. Though Darwen is still smiling the situation doesn’t make anything less dire. I have asked him privately about my order.

“Leave us alone, Violet. I need concentration for the healing this worse.” I command as she begrudgingly leaves the tent, with competence on her face as well.

[Anti dotum] for the sterilization as a knife made from mana cutting through his useless flesh patches by patches of stitches each showing a placid color of peach that no longer has that much blood flowing through them.

[Renasci] For those patches to regrow like a new limb, the process is painful indeed but I need him to stay awake so I hold my left arm into his mouth as a biting toy. The teeth sink deep into my flesh as more and more patches begin to regrow.

Cleaning up the blood and disposing of rotten flesh on the table, Darwen looks with quite a puppy face like waiting for praise, treats for his merit.

“My order was made clear even you to stay of fatal injuries. As I won’t make the rebirth of a person that easily, have you thought of the consequences?” I ask of him in a defeated tone, what he said was something that was so wrong.

“I know, master. I know this body has reached its limit long ago. I am doing what is considered reckless but for the sake of the mission.” Darwen confesses, what a headache to deal with a mule.

“Your mission was to draft down the sacrifice, I have never said to make you a sacrifice myself, don’t mix the definition like that. For this conversation only, refer me by Mikhail.” I sigh, stepping down from the pedestal of a higher being talking to him as an equal to share his worrisome mind.

“No, Mikhail. I am doing this for a prophecy of my own. I fear that Violetta will die in my hand, I can’t let that happen.” Darwen sighs, holding tight to the axe with his newly healed hands.

At that morib statement, I would understand the whole picture. What I have been misunderstanding from the start after the duel, is something about a prophecy that laid in his head as the possibility of that happening.

It is like looking deep in the mirror of my own image, having something that we want to safeguard by disregarding ourselves and our own morale. Darwen sacrifices his own safety and the common norm of swordsmanship, I sacrifice my empathy and the bond of brothers.

How blinded I can be to my own fault, but even so…

“It has already been too late, hasn’t it? Your mind has been so dead set on the goal like mine, that there is no point of persuading you of what you think is noble.” I sigh looking straight at him.

“Don’t make me sound like a devout to evil, Mikhail. After all, I am still your possession; but you are correct about not backing down, I am intended to trade my life for her.” Darwen proclaims with determination.

“Then let our goal align, listen to my last order, Darwen. Give me your axe as I shall enchant it.” I say as I engulf the weapon with light magic so dark magic. Incantation of such spells shall aid me in his goal of protection but it is also worn of his mortal soul.

“Burn your soul out as the garden of your savage delight, there shall be no aid better than yourself. This would be my last act of generosity as your master.” I hand him the axe as he kneels down to accept the grave honor.

“Thank you, my honored and final master.” Darwen expressed his gratitude with the last of his being as he came out with his last lifeline. Lingering twilight as I leave the tent with my mind clear of doubt, as the wonder of sacrifice finally answers with a dwindled fate.

The end