Alexander suddenly found the dark world had vanished, and he was back in the world of reality...
But the pain had not left.
His memories, although vague and incomplete, most contained Kaynel.
A friend closer than a true blood brother. Someone who did anything and everything by his side.
The one who made it possible for him to survive.
[Master?]
"Master?"
Fei'lan, Kaliara and Paolo were standing around Alexander while his body seemed to have been unsteady. He opened his eyes, trying to regain his composure, but the piece of his heart that was torn out will never return or heal.
"Haha, sorry, I was just feeling a little tired. It's been extremely rough for the past few days."
"Maybe I felt a little anaemic..." How disgusting, he felt embarrassed; why the need to hide his pain?
How could he expect those around him to believe these lies if he couldn't?
"N-No worries; you were talking about evacuating, right?" Paolo's bitter smile told him everything.
They might not know what was troubling him, but even Paolo could see something wrong.
"Ah. We are running out of time; the second wave will begin any day now. So we plan to head to the east, where most of the zombies were cleared before it dies down, and we can head north."
"Are you in?" Alexander asked Paolo with a shallow smile.
"If we stay here, I'll just die since the barrier of this village is already failing since the gods abandoned us."
"It's only a matter of time... This place couldn't have lasted forever, right."
Paolo's nervous and sad voice helps Alexander balance his heart, putting his heavy feeling aside to think about the bigger picture.
"Not likely. Are you willing to come with all the others?" Alex motioned to Fei'lan as they looked at him with slight wariness but nodded as they saw even Fei'lan helping to support them, Anmer male.
"Let's go... We should leave as soon as possible because nothing can be taken for granted in this shit world..."
Kaliara followed beside him; her eyes always fixed on his appearance as neither bickered nor fought.
Silently they walked beside him, watching like a supporting presence.
***
Everyone was waiting outside; as the group gathered now, it was almost evening, and the time for departure was a little late.
'Is anyone there...?'
Alexander called out; the loss of Kaynel caused him to feel a sense of danger and worry.
If he lost the guiding hand, they helped him understand the world changes or the hidden secrets from other worlds. He might never have saved Qiyana and the other women...
[I am...]
A beautiful voice, like the ocean waves cascading onto sandy shores. It was Saphira's graceful yet gloomy voice that replied.
'Thank you for the support... All this time.'
Her reply was slow; as the group gathered, many of the people who came were carrying equipment for McAlister while Stella and Kaliara stood beside Alexander like guardsmen.
Their eyes on him like a hawk, the dark ripples in his heart, the unsettled feeling in their connection...
It was likely that not a single Vesta right now was at ease, feeling the pain and anguish their Master was silently enduring.
Because he had a task to complete for their survival...
***
Alex didn't visit the mall, his eyes looked in the direction of a sense of worry, but he chose to trust in Simon.
He hoped he would return to his side in the future.
[There is no need for thanks, without you, I may have perished all the same]
When she finally replied, the group had travelled towards where everything started for Alexander... The Lone Star University.
Now ruined with broken walls, destroyed cars and fleshy corpses rotting in the open...
It looked nothing like where he spent each day wishing to escape it. 'Ironic that now it's gone. I miss those days the most...'
'When there weren't over a thousand lives that depended on my survival and focused mind...'
[You can take a break. I will open a rift to give you time to grieve...]
Alexander was tempted, his dull eyes retaining a slight glow, but then he shook his head. He chose instead to push forward, no matter the pain or feelings he was suffering now.
He might never return if he chose the easy escape now, fleeing to Saphira's arms.
His heart felt that kind of feeling... That he would abandon all he loved on this planet and remain in that warm, divine place forever.
[Is eternity with me that appealing? Thank you]
Saphira was hurting likely more than him.
When he heard her slight laugh and the smile almost visible in her voice, Alexander decided to help this girl who even faked her father's role to support him.
'I cannot be selfish when other's suffer more than me...'
Like a sudden focus in his mind, his feet stopped and looked over the ruined city, but he did not see the destroyed city or haggard scavengers trying to find food...
He saw the past...
Cars driving with lovers smiling, and students jogged to enter the gates before they were late for a lecture.
A couple breaking up outside the dorm...
'Ah, this is the world I want to restore...'
'Even if my body is broken, I must stand.'
'Should my mind be shattered, drowning in despair? I must Push forward.'
'When there is nothing but darkness. I must become their light.'
'Because I am their King.'
[(Silly man...)]
[(You should just rely on me, we are alone now. I only have you.)]
[(So when you are broken, I will fix you)]
[(When your mind is shattered and flooded with despair. I will place it back together piece by piece and shower you with my affection and hopes.)]
[(When your light burns out, I will become your fuel and tinder. So that you may continue to guide their way)]
[(Because I am your Goddess)]
Kaynel had left many things out: why she loved him, and Saphira brought him to Sarian to meet him again.
There were things a daughter could never tell her father.
That is why he perished at his most beloved's hands just like the night aeons ago.
She made an oath like today.
An oath she never once broke or forgot in the thousands of years apart.
***
After making his oath and the supporting words of Saphira, somehow, the bleak despair Alexander felt was now manageable. His heart still lamented the loss of his brother.
Yet he could now swallow the frustration and anger towards the one who did it...
His memory was foggy, he didn't know Asmodeus, but from the words and tone of Kaynel, it was obvious that he should have...
Likely a very, very deep bond.
"Master, everyone is prepared, and we can leave the city under darkness after the non-Ghouls have a meal and rest." Himari chirped her dress now like a bishop or nin's gown, but it was sexy and alluring.
Standing beside her was Ayami in the normal Vesta outfit with a black dress and stockings with the addition of black gloves that went all the way to her shoulders... It looked alluring, but her tattoo was still healing and covered with cloth and cotton.
'That dreaded hobby continues even now... These girls...' Alexander thought to himself as he smiled at the twin Oni sisters.
[You find it attractive and sexy, though, right? I can sense your arousal whenever those girls pass, and you see a glimpse of it...]
[Rather... Why do they flash you with it whenever they pass...]
'Ah... It was a sign to say they were willing to sleep with me in the past... No, it has become some signal that tells me they want to have sex with me.'
[...]
[You are a hopeless pervert...]
'Hahaha... true. So when will you get one?'
[Well, when I.... !?]
[Never!]
He didn't say anything and just smiled; this girls constant speaking during his return was the biggest support. Not to mention Stella, Sarah and Amy, who instantly noticed something...
Alex hoped his mother didn't come to him...
She would know mothers always know when their children are hurting or suffering. It's like real magic.
"I think we should depart around 7 am and let the humans and non-ghouls get a full rest because otherwise, they might not even last the journey to New Haven." Alexander corrected Himari, who nodded and realised her thinking had changed when becoming an Oni.
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