Chapter 10 Part 5

A great misfortune was swallowing Aksion whole.

“No!”

Elia reached out towards the black orb, but her gesture was futile. She had never seen a disaster consume a person before. It was too late to cast a spell, so she had only one option left: the spirits.

“If I call upon the Spirit of Space and Time…!”

Elia immediately thought of Serpi, but it was impossible. Since that day when she had protected the domain, Serpi had not shown himself to her again. The great spirit that governed time and space—was it just a stroke of luck back then?

She felt a new connection with another spirit, but pulling that thread now would break it; it was too fragile.

Aksion floated within the black and purple orb, unconscious. Elia felt helpless as she watched him being consumed.

“If only I were the one inside…!”

She couldn’t just stand and watch. As she reached out to cast a spell, the orb began to change. The black sphere gradually started to shrink—not disappear, but shrink.

“The disaster isn’t devouring Aksion.”

He was absorbing the misfortune. For a calamity of this magnitude to penetrate a person… Normally, it would result in a horrific death, but his face, with his eyes closed, looked incredibly peaceful.

Finally, the black orb shrank enough to release Aksion. As the misfortune completely disappeared, he opened his eyes. In the darkness, his eyes glowed a bright, fiery red. Elia cautiously called his name.

“Aksion…?”

He looked at her but seemed not to hear her voice. Then, the transformation began. Darkness started to envelop his body, much like the day he had fallen asleep when they encountered the black mist. But this darkness was far deeper and more void of light.

His body, swallowed by the black shadow, began to take shape. A low growl emanated from him. 

It was the growl of a beast. Two pointed ears, sharp fangs visible in a long snout, and a massive body made the large hall seem cramped. Four legs and a long tail formed.

“A black… dog?”

Elia’s gaze darted around. The black dog, with its giant body curled up, was intently observing her movements. Its large eyes were those of a predator.

She suddenly remembered a forgotten memory. The black dog’s eyes were the same deep red as his. Elia swallowed dryly, her body stiff and unable to move, possibly even her mind.

“I didn’t see it wrong back then.”

The shadow of the beast that always loomed under him. The truth Elia had been avoiding finally surfaced.

“Why? No, since when?”

Asking alone was futile. She recalled memories from before her regression. Just before the world’s destruction, Aksion had exploded with black power, becoming the fear of all. The origin of the dark magic that tormented him had always been a demon.

“It was a seed.”

Though the demon was gone, it had planted misfortune in Aksion’s body. Using his body as nourishment, it grew to become a disaster that could consume the world. Elia had suppressed the dark magic within Aksion all this time. 

Up to this point, it had been a success. But the enormous misfortune dormant underground had awakened his power.

Elia examined her fingertips. The thread of fate connected through their resonance was tied around the black dog’s neck.

“The thread is still connected.”

Their bond wasn’t severed. The black dog blinked slowly, its gaze scrutinizing Elia, as if deciding whether she was an ally or an enemy. They were close enough that it could devour her in one bite.

Elia bit her lower lip. If the black dog was truly Aksion, he might remember their shared memories.

“I have to try something.”

She approached the black dog. It flinched, its snout wrinkling. As it bared its teeth, Elia showed her palm to the beast. The red pupils contracted and then dilated. Elia cautiously stroked the black dog’s cheek.

“Oh, it’s warm.”

This time, it was Elia who was surprised. The sleek black fur was as soft as melted night.

Aksion seemed confused. As Elia mouthed words, his pointed triangular ears twitched in anticipation.

“Aksion, can you hear me?”

The black dog focused on her voice. She prayed inwardly that her words would reach Aksion.

“If you can hear me, return to your original form. For me.”

No matter the form, he was connected to her. The desperate wish seemed to reach Aksion. The beast’s eyes, which had narrowed, widened.

Their eyes met. Those eyes were not of a beast seeing Elia for the first time, but Aksion’s.

The black currents began to move. The enormous dog’s body slowly shrank. Finally, he returned to the form Elia knew.

Was he asleep?

Aksion lay sprawled on the marble floor, unconscious. His eyes were firmly shut. The black uniform he wore and the body that had guided her remained unchanged. His peaceful face made it seem as if nothing had happened.

Elia sat beside him, gently stroking his black hair, which felt just like the black dog’s fur. She remained by his side, feeling his breath until he woke up. Or forever, if needed.

How much time had passed?

In the darkness, time seemed meaningless. It felt like she had dozed off briefly. Then, she felt a twitch under her hand.

“Are you awake?”

“Why am I…?”

Aksion clasped her hand as he sat up, looking confused.

“What happened? The black orb?”

He furrowed his brows, looking around. The last thing he remembered was the hundreds of hands emerging from the disaster.

“The black orb… you got rid of it. You lost consciousness because of the recoil.”

“Me?”

He furrowed his brows again, trying to recall. He pressed his finger to his forehead as if he had a headache.

“Don’t overdo it. You used a lot of holy power, that’s why.”

Seeing his reaction, Elia was certain.

“He really doesn’t remember.”

She had contemplated tens of thousands of things while waiting for Aksion to wake up. It was almost a relief that he didn’t remember the recent events.

“I need to find a solution before Aksion finds out.”

Elia lied to him. It was her duty to keep this secret hidden.

“Are you okay?”

“…I don’t feel anything unusual.”

“That’s a relief.”

Elia hugged his neck tightly. She tried to control her trembling voice but wondered if it was noticeable.

But it was a vain worry. Her arms around Aksion were already trembling slightly.

“I was really worried.”

She had feared he wouldn’t wake up. She tightened her embrace. When Elia remained silent, Aksion called her.

“Elia?”

“Just let me stay like this for a while.”

He stiffened momentarily, then embraced her in return.

She couldn’t show any more weakness. Tears wouldn’t solve anything.

“For now, it’s okay.”

At this moment, there was no need to be anxious. Elia forced a smile.

“Let’s go out.”

She didn’t want to stay here any longer. Aksion nodded. When she tried to help him up, it was Elia who was lifted instead.

“I’ll carry you.”

He effortlessly picked up Elia, whose legs had weakened.

As they climbed the stairs, the sound of fireworks reached them from outside.

Had it already turned to night?

The festival welcoming the saint continued even after darkness had fallen. The two boarded a carriage headed to the second house in the capital.

The festive scene outside the window looked prosperous and carefree. Elia watched the brilliant lights, deep in thought.

“Has Duke Tartan successfully contacted the saint by now?”

They had to reclaim the Sun Sword that had been taken. Though she tried to focus on future plans, her thoughts kept drifting to Aksion.

Until they reached the second house and entered the bedroom.