Cecil paled upon hearing Kai's response.

Kai...knows...?

But how? That-that didn't happen in the original novel...he...he was tricked by Xue to the very end.

I...I...how should I even react to this?

Cecil bit on her lower lip, looking down. She didn't know if it was better for Kai to know, or not to know at all.

Xue's eyebrows twitched. "You knew?"

"Ever since I fought you, I knew," Kai nodded, solemn. "I knew you were me, and I am you. My soul...has been calling me, telling me to fuse with yours."

Cecil swallowed, finding it hard to breathe. The glass container in her hands, that were hidden behind her back, suddenly felt heavier.

I caused it.

I was the catalyst that led to the fight. If I didn't request Kai for that favour...

Kai glanced at Cecil, who had been silent the entire time. "Cecil, you've known since the start, didn't you? That Xue was here to absorb my soul, ever since that day stopped him in the alley?"

Cecil snapped her head up, and she did not bother to hide the conflicted look on her face.

"...yes."

However, instead of Kai cursing out at her, or showing her a hostile expression or even one of pain of being betrayed.

He grinned at her, with the same old toothy grin.

"That's a relief."

Cecil was stunned. "Wh-why?"

"If you didn't know...I didn't know how to explain it to you, if I were to disappear someday."

Cecil didn't know how to handle her current overwhelmed state, and she hurriedly shoved out the glass container behind her back, placing it on the table.

"Th-this is the herb to help with the absorption...it's...it's to prevent Xue from killing the previous occupant."

The herb was fully matured, it's flowers were glowing brilliantly. They were bigger than before, when the random stranger took it from the slope for her.

"So this is what you've been training for? Since the very start?" Kai suddenly began to understand. "That's why you drank the Widerlich willingly?"

"..."

"...yes." Cecil forced out, biting on her lower lip.

Xue was surprised at this revelation, his wide, grey eyes staring at Cecil in disbelief. The room was once again filled with silence, and Cecil looked at Kai.

She knew she just had to look at him.

Kai who has been standing at the corner of the room all along, started to move towards Cecil. Cecil couldn't help but stumble back, her eyes darting back and forth, she wasn't sure how Kai looked at her now.

Does he detest me? That all of this was for the sake of Xue?

But...Xue is him and he is Xue. Bu-but, they are not exactly the same person either.

...was I wrong to do this? Was it selfish of me? I...I...

Kai reached his arms out and Cecil stiffened, bracing herself for any angry shoving or pushing.

...only that Kai embraced her.

Cecil was stupefied.

"Cecil, you've worked hard. Don't worry, I'm not angry, neither do I feel betrayed." Kai tightened his arms around her. "When you said you were doing this for the sake of someone you regard as precious, it was Xue."

"And when I think about it, I am Xue."

"You were doing this for the both of us."

Cecil was rooted to the spot, she couldn't move her arms or legs. Whatever Kai had stated was true, but yet, Cecil felt like she had betrayed him.

"Am I right, Cecil?" Kai withdrew, bending down slightly to meet Cecil's downcast eyes.

She couldn't speak, and she swallowed her saliva with difficulty, nodding vigorously.

"...you did...all of this...the academy, this herb, locking yourself up to train. The Widerlich, for the...two of us?" Xue repeated, his words shaking ever so slightly at the end. "But...why? Why would you do something like that? Why?!"

Kai rolled his eyes, heading to Xue and patting his shoulder. Xue shrugged his hand off, narrowing his eyes at Kai.

"Let's start, Xue."

"I'm still not done with that woman--"

Kai just put his hand on Xue's shoulder again.

"Anymore, and Cecil might just breakdown." Kai warned Xue, and Cecil heard that clearly, bringing her head up slowly.

Upon seeing the distraught look on Cecil's face, Xue hesitated.

"Kai, I...I..."

"Cecil."

Cecil looked at Kai, her eyes glistening with tears as she tried to blink them away.

"I understand, you don't need to feel the way you do."

Cecil breathed out shakily.

Xue clicked his tongue and Kai went to seat on the bed, lying down. Xue stood beside him, extending his palm out and a familiar red marble emerged out from his hand.

"Aren't you coming over with the herb?" Xue asked and Cecil bit on her lower lip, making her way over to the bedside with the glass container in her hands.

She placed the herb on the bedside table, and she knew the herb functioned in the same way as a flower. Placing it into a vase with water would be enough.

It just has to be near the person who is experiencing extreme heat, whether it was externally or internally, this herb would absorb the heat.

It was able to withstand a great degree of heat, and would eat it up greedily.

The marble in Xue's hands began shining and it hovered over his palm as Xue closed his eyes. Kai's eyes gradually closed as well, and Cecil watched on silently.

She was upset.

She was angry.

She was hurt.

She was disappointed.

Everything was overwhelming, but there was one prevalent emotion.

Sadness.

The tears pricked at Cecil's eyes once again as she glanced down at Kai. Somehow, Kai frowned, reaching out and clasping onto Cecil's hand instinctively, and Cecil put up no signs of resistance.

She just held his hand back, her nose starting to feel stuffy.

The strong, callused hand holding hers grew warmer and warmer with each passing second.

She sniffled audibly, her tears threatening to spill. The two men heard her clearly, despite one of them getting his soul absorbed bit by bit.

Xue opened his eyes, glancing at the woman that nauseated him at first, and gradually becoming someone he regarded as annoying, especially her fragrance that etched into his mind.

For the first time in his life, he felt conflicted for a woman other than Hana.

Xue closed his eyes, continuing the soul absorption process, his heart feeling rather heavy.

Kai opened his eyes, his eyes glazed and he looked at Cecil, recognising her instantly. He felt a tight grip on his hand, realising Cecil's petite hands were both clasped over his.

"Cecil Lan."

Cecil sniffled again, her eyes red as she looked down at Kai.

"Can you do me a favour this time?" he struggled out weakly, his face pale.

"What is it?"

"Please, don't forget me."

At those words, the tears spilled out from her eyes, rolling down her face.

"I-I won't, I won't ever forget you, Kai...and..."

"...and I'm..."

"I'm sorry."

Kai smiled, and his eyes gradually closed.

Cecil cupped her mouth, sobbing and despite the heat from Kai reminding her that he was still there, she knew she was losing him.

Her mind started to recall the memories of Kai, first on the balcony, followed by the memories at the clearing.

...and then there was the one in the inn room, where he was exposed as the pervert.

She could distinctly remember his reason for being wherever she was.

"Because of you, Cecil."

Cecil cried harder, no longer hiding her sobbing, wailing loudly. She clutched onto Kai's hands tightly, whose grip had started to loosen.

"I'm so sorry, Kai."

"I'll miss you, Kai."

"Thank you for being my friend, Kai."

"Thank you for liking me, Kai."

The Flaming Lavender on the bedside shone brilliantly, completing its job of absorbing the heat.

Kai was no longer holding onto Cecil's hand. It was only Cecil alone as she cried, wailed and sobbed in the ugliest way over Kai's body.

His face and his lips were extremely pale, but he was breathing ever so slightly.

Xue saw this, knowing that the herb worked, and he clutched onto the luminous red marble as it submerged back into his body.

Cecil could feel him breathing, but she knew once those pair of yellow eyes opened again.

It was no longer the Kai she knew.

She could never see that toothy grin, neither could she ruffle that rough hair of his again.

I can never see him again.

"..."

"Goodbye, Kai."

***

Pt. 1

《 start 》

Thank you for allowing me to like you.

Thank you for allowing me to stay by your side.

Thank you for spending your time with me.

Thank you for everything.

I'm happy that I met you.

I'll miss you.

Please don't forget me.

Please remember me.

Farewell, Cecil Lan.

《 stop 》

***

Pt. 2

《 start 》

After hearing everything, seeing her cry in such a way.

I feel extremely uncomfortable.

If she desires for me to be happy...what about her?

《 stop 》