'What the fuck?' Liv thought as she lay on her tiny mattress in her lonely room with her hand resting on her forehead. 'What the fuuck?' She rolled onto the hard floor and punched out. 'What the fuck?!'

She couldn't sleep. It wasn't how she thought the night would go.

Oh gods, it had been a bad idea to teleport him. So bad.

She cringed hard as she thought of the moments after her first kiss when Fabian pulled away and stood up.

"I shouldn't... I can't." he had said as he was about to walk away, only to almost scream and jump back on his ass, as he realized they were still up on the side of the mountain.

Liv had just sat there watching the best moment of her life be ruined by that jackass. Then he had asked for her to transport him back. Transport him?! After behaving like that?! She thought about pushing him off. That bitch.

Of course, she transported him back and wordlessly watched as she bid him goodbye and practically ran away.

What the hell was wrong with her? How exactly did she manage to fuck shit up to that extent?

She lay there the whole night staring at the roof with blank eyes. No answer came.

***

Fabian remained quiet throughout breakfast as well as other meals. Liv just stayed in the basement to practice. Once she was making her way back to her room, she heard Fabian's voice.

She snuck around the corner and peeked inside the room where Fabian and his father were sitting across each other at a table.

"What do you mean?" Fabian asked. "She's Inu's guest."

Fabian's father sighed. "I know. It's a difficult position. We can't turn her away since it's Inu. He has some theory about her being able to live in peace if she gives up her eyes, but let's be honest. She won't do that."

"You don't know that," Fabian said, his voice a pathetic mumble when going against the head priest. "She's a brilliant person."

He just frowned. "Though it is the best choice, the sacrifice is too much. For the past year, she has experienced power unlike anything in the world. That is not something one gives up for a life of normality with the con of blindness. Whether you like it or not, she is the sacrifice of the world. That is the way the gods have willed it."

"Father, I've befriended her. It would be dishonorable for me to withdraw without explanation."

"That is for you to solve. I never told you to make a friend of her. I only said to maintain a standard of courtesy." Fabian opened his mouth but did not speak. "I assume the matter is concluded. This is for your own good. You cannot risk your position as the heir of the temple."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

Fabian nodded. He just fucking nodded.

Liv turned around and walked away. For a brief moment, she clenched her fists. But then she just didn't. Too tired for anger. The world just became a worse place by the day, and the world was all there was. No escape.

Except death.

***

Liv's eyes stung as she sat on her mattress lifelessly. Inu had retreated from her. Now Fabian would do the same. She had overstayed her welcome. In the temple as much as in the company of people in general. It was time to leave it all behind.

For the final destination, she wore her traveler's clothes again.

She gathered herself, stood up and was about to exit when the sliding doors opened quietly in front of her. Fabian peeked in and was startled by Liv just standing there.

"Here to cut ties?" Liv asked monotonously.

Fabian's brows rose. "How did you—" He swallowed, likely realizing that she had overheard his conversation. "It's not like that."

"What did I do wrong?" Liv asked, no weakness in her voice. Just a genuine curiosity. Something she had wanted to know for so long. "What did I do to deserve this?"

"Nothing." Fabian shook his head. "Nothing."

"Nothing?"

"It's... the people. It's this world. You shouldn't blame yourself. I don't blame you. Inu doesn't blame you."

"Thanks. I feel so much better now that I know my suffering is just the gods shrugging," she said and Fabian hung his head. "Did you... like it?"

"What?" he asked, raising his head abruptly. Then his eyes widened. "Oh, uhh."

"Yes or no. It's a simple question." Liv's face twisted a little. "Don't tell me it was just pity. Ugh, your reaction says it all." She concluded the conversation and walked past Fabian.

"No," Fabian said shaking his head as he put a hand on her arm. "Not that. Of course not."

Liv slapped the hand away. "Then what? Tell me."

"I liked it!" Fabian whispered like it was forbidden... Ah, right, it was. "I shouldn't have, but I did. I really did," Fabian said, meaning every slow word.

Liv was stopped. They just stood there. Fabian in his guilt. Liv in her selfish desires. "Come with me. I'm leaving."

Fabian was taken off guard. "What? You can't just leave. What about Inu? He cares about you."

"All he cares about is himself and living up to whatever code he has."

Fabian looked personally insulted. "No, he doesn't. Didn't you see him today? He was devastated by your fight."

"Oh, don't just defend him. And what about you? You still haven't apologized for last night."

"Right, I haven't. But I won't either."

"What?" Liv asked with a little venom in her voice.

Surprisingly Fabian didn't shudder. "Not an apology. An apologia." Liv rolled her eyes. "An explanation. Not an admission of guilt."

"Right. Get on with it."

"I am to be head priest. I cannot break the code of my own religion. I cannot be with you. Even if I want to... which I do. But—"

Liv pulled him in and kissed him again. It lasted only a moment before Fabian forced himself apart.

"Liv, please. I can't," Fabian said, looking down.

Liv forced them close to each other so that they could feel each other's breath. "You can. You want to. I want to. And I won't be here for long. I'm just the gods' sacrifice."

Fabian looked up at Liv. "Let go," he said softly.

Liv glanced into his eyes before relenting. She let go and turned away, only to be pulled back. The pull was slow but hard. Gentle but firm.

She relished Fabian. She was aware she would likely not feel it again. But at that moment, it was there. And she was the lone recipient. Unique in something other than tragedy. When their lips parted, they smiled before doing it again. Into infinity. That moment would last.

As Liv fell backward, she wondered if it was right. Perhaps it wasn't. Then again, it was so right. It was what they wanted. What they needed. What she needed.

She pulled Fabian down with her.