Chapter 41.2: Goodbye my dear

[Zadkiel/Matasyn POV]

“Lambert, I think that is enough. The robe won’t shine anymore, it has been almost a thousand years after all.” The giant keeps on gentle caress my old white robe, it’s useless after all. If the youths haven’t been so demanding, my plan would have been so easily done.

Poisoning Rose with a living creature she loved, the younger one said it was too cruel so I have to change something that causes more “resistance” effect. How hypocritical that one is, to call the same method that it used to cause the death of my “dearest brother” to compare to mine as cruel.

The homunculus is really something to be fearful of, it single-handedly executed that sacrilegious inquisitor and swing the high elf priestess to its side with little effort.

Not having witnessed its battle wholely, I still can’t comprehend what kind of gift it had to cast upon the highest of magic can be called upon.

Even learned by heart of the Revelation book and even when fathoming the wholely of that pure kind of at least archangel have heavenly destructing power, that still can’t explain a little of my indescribable helplessness toward the monster it comes to become. If it cast aside rationality…none of the factions would have survived.

Clank…Clank. The battle axe being sharpened on the hard rock, he needn’t do so why now? What can be gained from this useless doing?

“Lambert, I said it was unnecessary to carry such weapons. Even with the young one’s space equation, the blood mess will remain dripped to show your evidence.” I speak in annoyance, the giant looks at me with cheekiness, and returns my accusation with an obvious-sounding answer.

“Ease up a little, Syn. I am not intending to use it on your precious rose, this is to cut out annoyance.” The material of the axe comes from the old-world kind of quartz, it has been quite rare to see it in the form of presence this well.

‘Deus ex crystallum’ the quartz has emerald coloring coming from concentrated pure mana that drops from either demons or angels, thus the name “god’s quartz” being created. Since the decrease of pure angels and demons, the quartz seems reluctantly vanished even with untapped harvesting. One theory suggests the disappearance render from the lack of mana density in the current world. Or just simply being slowly cast aside for its evolution.

“For a pacifist, you are quite well-prepared for violence. Still, having doubts about his setup?” None of the suggestions matter now, so casting the blame for his cautionary nature on the younger one’s lack of experience.

“Mikhail did say about the equation’s limitation. When the answer is revealed, things will return to normal. If that fragile intolerance of her flattered too soon.” Lambert suggests. Even after Sariel anatomized, there was no measurement of what kind of new ego takes place.

His concern is applaudable, though the registered answers are “By my knife” or “By her intolerance”, the onyx crystalization should have revealed our identities later. So whether it goes for better or worse, I won’t stay at my domain after this.

Lambert’s place won’t so safe after his trace of magic is left behind, and I doubt with that kind of giant figure, he won’t be hard to miss…thank goodness, Rose didn’t employ any angels to follow by her side.

“Happy death day, Barachiel.” The voice of the younger one echoes from the cave entrance. It is really enthusiastic about unburdening the grand plan we created. I won’t plan the homunculus, after all the only reason that motivated it to escape is the freedom it will have.

“ Great work, you two. Now you are free to rest as it is still dangerous to hold the banquet when there is unfinished work.” Lambert congratulates the two of them and Uriel immediately reacts badly to his praises. Meanwhile, Mikhail looks at him with a half-witted smile, what kind of thought goes inside it?

“May I converse with you a little, Mikhail?”

Dragging it across the lake for a more comfortable private location, the homunculus reacts very little to my doing, even with the almost torn clothing, it still says with a level-headed mind.

“Being forceful as ever…There is no arguing that, so what do you want to say?” Mikhail scoffs, it doesn’t directly show irritation but my goodness does the mannerism betray it?

“I will have to shelter in your place for a few days, so will you grant your approval?” The homunculus thinks of my requests a few minutes later, it says.

“What is at risk here? Not that I don’t trust you, Matasyn; but unless thing will go drastically wrong, you won’t ask for something that breaks your solitude.” Often so I just forget about what it was representing, likewise it would be questionable for it not to deduct my intention to isolate from our temporary alliance.

“Lambert’s place is no longer safe and mine won’t either. They have pinpointed the visitor from the start and meddling down the Lambert because of how his figure can’t be easily camouflaged.” There is no benefit to lying and even creating a hostile atmosphere between us so I tell my reason without fault.

“So only Uriel will be safe then, it’s a good thing that we didn’t decide to kill Jeremiel first.” Though the voice was cold and calculated, the homunculus is relieved of the deduction it came into.

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“No, I believe the human side has notified or quite forcefully was being extracted information about Uriel’s absence in Kushiel’s execution. So her confirmation would be lighter than us three.” I refute its theory, however, it seems that another revelation has been thought.

“…You decide to let Lambert die then?’ Mikhail says what I have feared. Amusing, I underestimated its skill.

“There is no other choice… besides your monstrous mana would be a better helper toward us, so it’s a simple deduction.” Let an old friend die is heartbreaking but I will have to do it at some point, even sacrifice my existence for it to carry on and dethrone Sariel.

“Here is the precise location of my kingdom, I doubt it would be hard to locate since others have been located here. My twin is one of them.” The homunculus says with a monotone, perhaps it has come to terms with the situation it is with. Using its authority of its, it transfers the precise coordinate of Saudade’s kingdom to my mind.

“Carried on then, knowing how you without hesitation to cast over an ally’s life, my reason not to trust you wholely has reaffirmed greatly.” Without looking back, it bitterly uses a teleportation spell to return to where it comes from. I too have a role to play in this plan.

‘Collocatione’ is a light wrap between me and Lambert to where Rose resides. Despite her failing ego compare to what Sariel created, the memory of primary remains still enough for our meeting, the nature of her magic seems to be unchronicled.

Compare to what I usually see as orderly by other archangels, her magic is cast upon two distinctive sources of power, one from “our” experience, the other from Sariel’s “improvements”. Those two clashed very much together so her magic output is stronger but less unstable.

“The space and time begin to change just like Mikhail said.” Certainly, the space tie becomes more and more distorted as we approach, the mindscape effect has been influencing many but two actors: “The questioned” and “Answers”.

At the very center of this very chaos, a humming song carried out from the upstream of the place, Rose follows through despite the animosity happening around…which isn’t her but Barachiel, the implanted ego that comes along the amnesia.

“I will give you some time while wandering out here, call me whenever you need me.” Lambert goes and wanders around the place; as the effect of the space equation, everywhere he goes the place become normalized. He may take it into account of organizing his children's habitat.

As I approach the stream, she turns around to greet me before causing any noise. Does she have an omniscient presence in this land or she just feels so common of my usual visits that it becomes a common norm for her to take notice?

“Oh, Zadkiel. What are you doing here? Is it time yet?” She asks sheepishly, how I kind of hate when the ego uses that kind of mannerism when greeting me, it knows full well of the prestige that Rose used to have.

“For our continuous meeting, it becomes monthly in recent two years I recall,” I comment on the normalcy of this conversation takes place. Barachiel doesn’t seem uncomfortable anymore, maybe she doesn’t sense Lambert’s presence anymore.

“What is the I see over there? A gift, surely this one doesn’t rot this time?” Barachiel’s eyes lock on the small locket that I hold loosely in order to activate the crystalization process. The locket contained a powerful spell, I haven’t come up with the name but it will turn whichever touched them with exposed skin will begin crystalization and traps their soul inside the locket.

“Well this one is a small piece of jewelry to commerce our present, won’t you take it, Barachiel?” I hand it over to her, the locket should activate now.

“You call my name !?” Within expectation, she is overjoyed by the affirmation of her request. Since this is the last time we ever converse, I may as well fulfilled its wish. Barachiel isn’t Rose, but it didn’t cease my fondness for it.

“For the betterment of our present, I should let go of the past. Don’t you think it so?” I comment to further decrease the oozing pain of crystalization.

“It’s a shame really since my memory of before came back a bit by dreams. I was a fierce lady, being praised for you and my achievement.” Barachiel’s face mimics the one that Rose usually wears. Of the lack of our sleep, winking eyes always appear whenever Rose is displeased with the situation.

“I know…” Can it stop? I don’t need to be reminded of killing my lover string puppet, my voice stutters from the pain I try to hide. The hope of the remembers surge within me only to be shot down by the memorization of the spell usage. The crystal won’t stop until enough essence is consumed.

“As for the betterment of our future on my part, I decide to cuties with lord Sariel.” Barachiel smiles naively

“What !?” A knife struck my heart with that statement. Doubts sow and regret to spew, I shouldn’t have done this, why was I?

The locket being its phase of absorbing the mana essence of the exposed one, in this case, Barachiel falls down before me as her hand holds close to the aching chest where the mechanical heart is being placed.

“It’s hurt, what is the jewelry doing to me? Zadkiel please help me.” Barachiel pleads as she holds onto the crystalized chest. The spreading seems slow due to Barachiel’s large amount of mana, her body is still holding up well. A fight should be expected if she finds the strength to find back.

“I am sorry but it must be done,” I whisper

“What are you saying?” Barachiel says in desperation, her growl can be heard from afar but the illusion veil is covered so well that no even sound escape the place.

Violent thunder rains down the illusion space as whirlwinds call upon her authorities. The horrific scene can be described as a natural catastrophe.

“For the betterment of our present, I let you and I use our cursed names. But for the betterment of my future, your existence is a needed removal obstacle.” I solemn say, discarding any left emotions to the sentence

“I don’t understand, what have I ever done to you? Was that I am not her, wasn’t it?” Barachiel weeps

I stay silent as thundering and storm lose their power, Barachiel’s power comes to a drastic closed, and the crystallization immobilizes her arms and legs leaving only her head intact.

“Now I see it, my love will never reach you, won’t it? I am such a fool…” Her thoughts linger as the last of mana escapes her body.

In a choke of weeping, I collect the remaining shard of the crystal which was Barachiel and keep it in my pocket. The golden color shines gloomily in my grey robe, the failed promise also dies with the ending light.

“Goodbye, Barachiel. Even if not even a moment that you were rose, I did truly love you from the bottom of my very soul.” I release my last regret into the sorrowful air.

The illusion of space dissolves as nature goes back to its original habitat. Grabbing Lambert as we teleport back to his cave entrance, I feel someone still watching us from afar, not knowing who it is. But the one should mean no harm or hostility toward us.

“You did the right thing, as someone will have to sacrifice.” Lambert congratulated me on the wrong as the tears start to fall uncontrollably on my face, holding still that very shard of hope to end this sad romance.

“Did I, Lambert? Let's see each other with a better façade next time.” With the last goodbye, I appear before the strange garden which presumes to be Mikhail’s kingdom.

“I know too well…let me get you inside, O great magician.” The homunculus embraces me as the day ends before our eyes.

The end