Author's Note: No update next week since I need to catch up on writing more chapters. I will be updating Patreon instead, since that takes more priority. 

"Xue."

Xue glanced back at the hand on his shoulder, realising it was K'xug that called out to him. They were heading up the wooden stairs to the upper deck of the ship.

"I have something to tell you."

"Go on and say it."

"When I was...trapped in the cave, I heard many things from those two damned brothers," K'xug grimaced at the unpleasant memories that surfaced. "Do you want to know about them?"

"..."

Xue remained silent for a moment.

He glanced up the wooden stairs, watching as Haru and the others moved aside once they were at the top of the stairs. The sunlight poured in, showering him in a familiar warmth.

It was the same in the two realms he once ruled over.

"Kill that traitor!"

"Our lord has betrayed us all!"

"Kill him! The ruler of our enemies!"

"Death to the angels!"

"The Supreme God deserves nothing but death!"

Each day, he ran for his life hanging by the thread. Everywhere he looked, everyone he went to, they only seeked his death and nothing else. Yet, the sun remained constant, bathing him in the same warmth each day.

The only thing that changed was his mind.

The spiral to a never ending despair.

"Even if what you went through was similar to us, we will never become like you."

"We will let all the tragedy and suffering end here."

Xue recalled the words uttered earlier, and he shook his head at K'xug.

"Forget it."

"You don't want to hear it?" K'xug raised his eyebrows.

"No, not right now," Xue climbed up a step, staring up at the clear and bright sky. "You probably wouldn't believe me if I said this, but..."

K'xug stared at Xue's broad back, not saying a word.

"I'm...exhausted."

K'xug widened his eyes, staring at his friend's broad back that seemed smaller now. He didn't have to imagine the expression on Xue's face, since he could hear it in his voice.

"Yeah," he lowered his head, smiling wryly. "Of course, you would be."

There was no one who wouldn't be exhausted, after experiencing what Xue had gone through.

"Besides that, it's not pleasant for you to recall those memories, right?" Xue added on.

"Do I seem that fragile to you?" K'xug questioned, raising an eyebrow.

Xue smirked. "Maybe."

K'xug shook his head with a smile.

"If it was back in the past, you would have nagged at me for being lazy for giving an excuse like that." Xue snorted, resuming his climb up the stairs.

"Because you were," K'xug sighed, following behind. "Who was the one throwing most of the workload to me the entire time, while he ran off and played the samaritan?"

"Yeah, yeah, it would have been better for you to be the Supreme--"

"Xue! K'xug!" Cecil called out.

The two men were almost at the top of the stairs, spinning around.

Hana waved at them in a sheepish manner.

"You need to take a look at Hana, quickly!"

***

The four of them were seated inside the room where Hana and Cecil slept in. K'xug was seated on Hana's bed while Hana sat in front of him, her waist-long red hair swept to one side to expose her fair neck. The point where Zeau struck was there, but there were no remnants of his attack that day.

Her skin was completely unblemished as if nothing had happened at all.

Light magic was emitting out of K'xug's palms as it hovered over Hana's neck. However, there was no reaction from both ends.

"..."

Cecil bit on her lower lip, leaning in with a concerned expression. "Anything?"

K'xug furrowed his eyebrows, shaking his head. "Nothing, there's nothing at all."

Xue observed the situation quietly, knowing that there was something behind Zeau's actions. It wouldn't just end with a simple attack like that, especially since Hana came out of it unscathed.

He narrowed his eyes, his mind coming up with endless possibilities behind the mysterious attack from Zeau.

Jehan: "It's definitely not nothing."

Jehan rubbed at the area where he was attacked by Zeau.

Jehan: "I can still feel it even when I'm dead."

Zasiok: "You deserve it."

Leonaut: "I agree."

The other soul fragments nodded along to Zasiok.

Jehan: "..."

Isleif: "You do deserve it, pathetic vermin."

Kai: "You aren't any better, red-haired bastard!"

Isleif: "Hah?"

Kai: "What, you wanna fight?"

Jehan: "Sure."

Sid: "Uh, I'm pretty sure he wasn't asking you."

Jehan: "Just be quiet and go back to sleep."

Shin overheard their conversation, shaking his head as he continued drawing his own paintings again.

Shin: "All of you aren't any better."

He had heard about the encounters the soul fragment had with Cecil, knowing they weren't in any way innocent.

Zasiok: "Except Alric."

Leonaut nodded.

Leonaut: "Except Alric."

Alric: "Hu-huh? What?"

Xue was annoyed at his soul fragments leisurely chatting in his mind once again, and hence, he decided to shut off their connection.

"I told you I am fine!" Hana smiled, grabbing onto Cecil's arm and hugging it. "Hmm? Cecil? I am fine, really!"

"I don't believe that at all." Cecil shook her head, frowning as she glanced at Xue. "It's not that simple, isn't it?"

"Cecil is right, Hana," Xue agreed with a nod, his arms across his chest. "You should let K'xug look at you for a while more, he is better at figuring things out like this compared to me."

"Boo boo!" Hana pouted. "Cecil's medicine is finally taking effect and I wanted to go play with her!"

"Hana, what can we do on a ship that makes you get sea sickness the entire time?" Cecil laughed helplessly.

"Kiyae asked us to help her sew some dolls!" Hana perked up, still latching onto Cecil's arm. "She said she wanted to show us some of her pretty dolls too!"

"Oh right, she did say that..." Cecil murmured to herself.

"Come on, Cecil. Come onnnn!" Hana pouted, swinging her arm left and right.

Due to her movements, her red hair slapped K'xug in the face and he flinched back, blinking rapidly.

"Let's go, Cecil. Hmmm? Hmmmm?" Hana pleaded.

"Alright, alright!" Cecil smiled in resignation. "Just let K'xug take another close look again."

"If Hana would stop moving and slapping her hair in my face," K'xug avoided her hair that almost slapped him in the face again. "I could probably do that."

"Hehe, you mean like this?" Hana smiled cheekily, flipping her hair.

Her hair slapped K'xug in the face again, and the man only gave her a deadpan.

Xue watched the scene with a smile on his face.

"Get over here, Hana." K'xug lunged for her.

Hana squealed, immediately bolting out of the bed and hiding behind Cecil.

"Why are you dragging me into this?!" Cecil laughed.

Hana spat her tongue out at K'xug.

K'xug sighed with a hint of smile on his lips, beckoning Hana with his fingers. "Over here."

"No way!"

"Hana."

"Catch me if you can!"

"How can he catch you if you are using me as your shield?"

"K'xug is strong anyway!"

"How childish." Xue sighed, shaking his head with the smile still on his lips.

At that moment, someone knocked on the door to Hana's room and Kiyae burst into the room a second later.

"Cecil! Hana! Do you want to see my collection--what are you guys playing at?"

Ryo was there as well, and his eyes lit up upon seeing K'xug. "My friend, come on, let's spar!"

Raz, who was finally awake, peeped into the room as well. He wore an embarrassed look on his face, remembering his drunken actions from yesterday.

***

In the end, K'xug investigated once more but found nothing. Xue, K'xug and Cecil were equally concerned but Hana showed no signs of worry about herself. In fact, she never even revealed the ominous words she heard in her mind earlier.

"I should have just died back then."

However, Hana found no point in dwelling in something she couldn't understand. Thus, she shrugged it off and only thought about spending her time with Cecil.

The rest of the journey on the ship passed by uneventfully. If they weren't training, they were spending time with one another, be it chatting or having meals together.

When they reached their destination, they were greeted by Kiba who personally came to witness the sight of an apprehended Ephert. Meanwhile, Ephert became awfully quiet after the conversation they had that day in the temporary jail cell.

"...you've done well, all this time," Kiba placed a hand on Haru's shoulders, looking at the rest of the group. "Please, take as much rest as you want."

"Uncle, actually, it..." Haru hesitated, forcing a grin on his face. "It wasn't that hard after all."

Kiba looked at his nephew. This young man once stood as tall as his knee, and now, he was a full-fledged grown man.

However, no matter how he looked at Haru, he was still that young boy he knew. The one that stood only as tall as his knee.

Kiba reached his hand out, his wrinkles becoming apparent as he smiled, ruffling Haru's hair.

"No one said it was easy, Haru."

"...I know."

"Your father and your mother would have been very proud."

"..."

"Now, just leave the rest to this old uncle of yours."

Haru lifted his head up, seemingly touched.

Kiba continued smiling, patting his hand on Haru's shoulder before he turned to face the crowd of people. They were all gathered at the docks, upon hearing the news of their lord's victory.

"People of Tul, after ten long years or so, this bitter fight has finally ended. We have lost many in that time, and some might have been forced to desperate ends for the sake of their loved ones. However, now we no longer need to live in the past anymore."

Kiyae heaved a sigh, biting on her lips and resisting the urge to cry.

"What's gone is gone. What's lost is lost. Now, we have to look at what's left, for the sake of our people and for our loved ones. Let your suffering, grievances and sorrow stay in the past, and not bring that forward to our future."

There was dissonance among the crowd of people.

"This is something easier said than done." Raz stated bitterly.

There was a mocking glint in Xue's grey eyes as he witnessed this entire scene, his sentiments similar to Raz. He once stood before the crowd of angels and demons, saying similar uplifting words but alas, the suffering and grievances of people could never be forgotten so easily.

Xue experienced it firsthand, and he knew he couldn't let it stay in the past either.

"I would simply prefer if my people lived on with smiles, instead of tears filled with regret and anger." Kiba faced them, stretching his single remaining arm out to them. "It would be disheartening to see any one of you live the rest of your lives this way. Please, there is...no need to make yourselves suffer anymore."

Kiyae sniffled, showing a teary smile.

Yun, Ryo and Haru smiled wistfully at Kiba's words.

The crowd became silent.

"Let's go, to put an end to our dark past." Kiba said and he proceeded to lead the guards away with Ephert in tow.

Xue gazed on with an inscrutable look.

Cecil noticed Xue's strange expression, and she placed her hand on his arm.

"Xue? What's wrong?"

"I'm thinking if it's possible," Xue lowered his eyes, his expression appearing a little lost. "If it is really possible for anyone to move on this way. Putting aside all your sorrow and pain, and looking on to the next day with a...smile."

"Why not?"

Xue paused, glancing at Cecil.

Cecil looked on at the scene of Ephert being carried away, a small smile on her lips. "I believe it's possible, even if it seems ridiculous or selfish."

"...I don't think I could."

"There's nothing wrong in that," Cecil nodded, glancing down at their hands and entwining it together. "For me, I simply want those that I treasure and love to smile and remain happy...for a long, long time."

"..."

Cecil looked up, her smile growing wider. "That includes you, Xue."

Xue felt a warmth spreading through his chest at her words, and he couldn't help but smile back at her.

He brought their entwined hands to his lips, pecking the palm of her hand softly.

Meanwhile, K'xug who stood beside them along with Hana, smiled in approval at Cecil's choice of words.

Indeed, why not.

Setting aside your anger and sorrow isn't impossible.

That's what I learnt from you long ago, Xue.

Even if you have forgotten it.

Hana looked over at Xue and Cecil, before looking at K'xug who was still smiling. She smiled in return, tugging at K'xug's sleeve.

K'xug glanced over to Hana, a questioning look in her eyes.

She stretched her hand out to him. "Hold my hand too!"

K'xug was flabbergasted.

Sometimes, he wondered if Hana understood the meaning of being shy.

However, he still accepted her request and held her hand.

At that moment, Hana gasped in shock and looked at K'xug with wide eyes.

"Wh-what?" K'xug asked, rather embarrassed at her bewildered stare.

"I...wasn't expecting you to actually hold my hand."

"...then what did you expect?"

"No-nothing!" Hana smiled with an embarrassed smile, muttering the rest of the words to herself. "This is...really nice too."

Hana was expecting K'xug to brush her off or find some way to escape from the situation. However, he did neither of those things.

K'xug blinked rapidly at her.

He could see the blush lining her cheeks, realising she knew how to be shy after all. He cleared his throat awkwardly, glancing away and their hands remained tightly clasped together.

On the other hand, the sight of Ephert being dragged away as a criminal left Haru rooted to the spot. He watched the scene with a solemn expression.

The crowd of people jeered and cursed at Ephert who paid them no mind, wearing a blank expression on his face. The guards surrounding Ephert gripped onto the man tightly, not letting him a single chance to even escape.

Seeing his uncle at the front of the line, Haru felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted off his chest.

"Captain." Ryo muttered out, his voice a little hoarse due to the touching speech done by Kiba.

"Yeah?"

"What do you want to do now?"

"Well, first thing first," Haru nudged his head at the two couples with a saccharine atmosphere around them. "Getting away from those sickening, lovey-dovey couples."

Kiyae snorted. "We agree for once, captain."

"I have to agree on that too." Raz nodded.

"And then after that..." Haru grinned.

Yun furrowed his eyebrows. "Why do I have a bad feeling about this?"

"I'll go roam around! After stealing a ship from my uncle!"

"..."

***

It was time for them to leave now.

They were seated around the dining area, discussing their next plans to Haru and the others.

Xue informed Cecil about sensing his remaining soul fragments. Apparently, Zeau had interfered yet again and his soul fragments were assimilated into one single individual. Whether they were someone opposing Xue or willing to cooperate, none of them could tell.

There were other soul fragments he sensed, but their presence was rather faint.

Haru and Yun were more than willing to aid them in finding a way to their next destination. Unfortunately, the journey would be a trip across the sea once again, since Tul was a continent surrounded by water.

Hana wanted to cry without tears upon hearing the depressing news.

"Why boooooats again!"

Cecil resisted herself from laughing, comforting the aggrieved red-haired woman.

Meanwhile, Raz never expected someone like Hana to suffer from sea sickness. He had witnessed it firsthand of her vomiting rather ungracefully.

"We'll contact the guide over there, they are extremely familiar with the Sen continent," Yun informed. "She's someone you can trust and rely on."

"Someone we can trust and rely on?" Cecil repeated, tilting her head. "Are you implying she is someone of power from there as well?"

Yun smiled. "Indeed, you guessed correctly."

"Her name?" Xue questioned, a dubious look on his face.

"She belongs to the biggest tribe on the Sen continent, and she is the chieftain's sister," Yun explained. "Linqin."

Xue, Cecil and Hana froze at the mention of that name, glancing at one another.

Raz glanced at K'xug for an answer. K'xug shrugged at him, not knowing the reason behind their reactions as well.

Cecil leaned in closer, her eyebrows furrowed.

"What...did you say the name of our guide was? And her position?"

"The chieftain's sister, Linqin."

"..."

"..."

"..."

All three of them had the same thoughts in their mind.

Linqin, the chieftain's sister.

The same Linqin they knew in the academy.

The same Linqin that withdrew from the academy abruptly.

Also, the same Linqin that had a crush on Xue and tried to harm Hana once.

***

Pt. 1

《 start 》

No amount of words would be able to express it.

My feelings.

My thoughts.

My gratitude.

Whatever I do or say, it's never enough to express it to you.

My Cecil Lan.

《 stop 》

***

Pt. 2

《 start 》

What's this?

So she knew how to be shy after all.

...how cute.

《 stop 》