Chapter 58: Fake Honor
Amphere Harrison
During that time, Richard managed to pull off another portal from Twilight City. I carried the dying Airi on my arms as I rushed through. I managed to deliver her to the Guardian Haven's Hospital, and she was immediately sent to the Intensive Care Unit. There, she has undergone several operations for three days. I also noticed that the vision on my right eye faded when Airi left her consciousness. I thought it was blind, so I covered it with an eyepatch.
It's the fourth day after that bloody incident in the Twilight City, and Airi still failed to regain her consciousness. She's in a state of coma, and the doctors are trying their best to return her back but it's no good. All we can do is wait like a sitting duck, unable to do anything.
I sat beside Airi's bed after I changed the daisies on the vase of this room. Airi doesn't want to see withering daisies, she once told me. As soon as she wakes up, I wanted her to smile as soon as possible.
Except the beeping of her heart monitor, everything here is silent. She's not breathing heavily on her oxygen mask unlike the first three days of her stay here in this hospital. I've been bowing, staring at the handkerchief which she used as a hair decoration for the past two decades. I hate myself. I'm so stupid.
I killed my mentor. I got my best friend heavily injured. And then the woman, who loved me the most, sacrificed herself for me. Estoff said that I shouldn't blame myself, but it's easier said than done. All the burden drops to my shoulders, and my guilt is now killing me. I looked at the golden dragon-head badge I just received this morning. It's from the awarding ceremony. They just gave me a medal of valor due to my 'heroic deeds' for killing the Arcadia's commander, Estoff Wraith. Little did the majority know that it is all staged, which makes me feel bad even more.
"…Hey Airi…" I muttered as tears fell off my eyes. I tightened my grasps on her soft hand. "…I totally forgive you now… Please wake up… You're everything that matters to me… C'mon, I'll take your offer. I'll strip my hero status and live with you in a peaceful province for the rest of my life…Just wake up…Please…" I kissed her hand, which was soaked with my own tears. It took five whole minutes.
And then the door opened. There were three people. Duchess Corasell, Kyrie, and Rudolf. Kyrie is currently pushing Rudolf's wheelchair because his lover cannot walk due to his amputated limbs. My best friend's half body is covered with bandages which makes him look like a mummy. Meanwhile, Kyrie only has a small wound on her chest, and it seems that she finally regained her strength.
Duchess Corasell bowed, hiding her facial expression as she clenches her hand with suppressed anger. "Is it true?...Did you really kill Sir Wraith?"
"Yes." I answered directly.
"Was it true that Airelina sacrificed herself to protect you?" She asked again.
"Yes."
"I don't know why it all happened." Duchess Corasell's eyes revealed itself in its teary form. "It must've been you who must suffer these consequences. That poor Mister Gilliard and Miss Elumina… Airelina and Sir Estoff… They don't deserve to feel pain! It must be you! IT'S YOUR ENTIRE FAULT!!!"
"YES!" I stood up and tried to provoke the duchess using my height. "It's my entire fault! But I never wanted it to happen! I'm blaming myself for being so weak! I wanted to suffer all those sins and die miserably!"
"Y-You…" the Duchess readied her hand to slap me with her full force, but she stopped herself. Instead, she just walked away while crying like a little bitch. I was left there, lonesome and dumbfounded.
"You know Amphere…" Rudolf finally talked. "I would smash this wheelchair to your face if I could."
"The duchess is right." I said. Then I looked the golden badge in my hand "I shouldn't be keeping this honor and live like I'm the real hero."
"You know it wasn't the case. She's just upset about what happened to Airelina and Estoff. She's in a mental condition where she would put the blame on someone. But sooner or later, she will discover the relevance of Airelina and Estoff's sacrifices."
"Sacrifices?" I gave out a single laugh. "They sacrificed themselves for me, to have a fake honor?"
"That fake honor will help the Dragonoid Rights Bill to be passed. It may be a moral and emotional defeat, but it was a strategic win. I know that Estoff is laughing up there, and saying 'It's all falling under the plan' while drinking his beer."
"How about you?" I turned to him. "Don't you hate me? Because of my stupidity, you and Kyrie got gravely injured."
"Believe me, no one hates you. You should hate me more because I almost sniped your heart out. I felt the same way. I thought I just killed a precious comrade. That is truly a vexing experience. I've been having nightmare since then and made me thinking…What if I shot Kyrie next by mistake? It took me a day until I realized that worrying is the most useless thing you can do. So you have to stand up, get over it, stop whining about your mistakes, and be a man! Don't think of what you have done in the past. Think about the future!"
My eyes widened in awe. This man, who looks like a sitting potato, is now delivering a speech better than those overly optimist motivational speakers. I hid my chuckle, and then looked at him with a smile. "You and your movies should definitely go to the garbage. But anyway, thanks man."
We answered with a fistbump. Kyrie made a beautiful smile as she witnessed the two best friends come together.
Airi and I were left in the room after a few minutes. I looked at the handkerchief again and cherished the moments we have shared together. She was as adorable as back then when she was five. I never thought that I would see her again. Destiny is surely playful.
Suddenly…
The heart monitor gave a long beep. Airi's heart is no longer beating.
My head went completely blank. I can't believe that my nervous system shut itself down.
Is it Airelina's end!?
The doctors and nurses came, murmuring some numbers and terms I couldn't comprehend. They pulled out a defibrillator, shocked her heart twice, thrice, four times. But her heart fails to be revived. My eyes widened as I heard the doctor's words.
"Time of death… Ten forty four AM."
There was a surging pain in my chest, and in my brain.
W-What the heck is this!?
Why is this happening!?
…Airi…
There was a hard tap on my shoulder. "Amphere!" It was Richard, who was trying to get my attention the whole time. "Carry Airelina's body. I know a way. If the Holy Guardian was able to revive me, then there's no doubt that she can revive Airelina!"
Right! Richard was revived due to the experiments of the Cathedral Exa. There's still a chance to retrieve Airi!
Without any hesitation, I removed all the electronics and dextrose tubes on Airi and carried her in my arms, princess style. I murmured "I'll totally save you!" and then we jumped to the portal Richard created.
We're back in the Cathedral Exa. The church seemed to be in ruins, and there are vines crawling everywhere on its medieval style brick walls. There are priests who are wearing white hooded cloaks who hide their faces.
"Over here!" Richard raised his hand as he ran through the hallway. I followed him while heavily panting.
We ran through a dark spiral staircase leading to the deepest part of the Cathedral. I do research this place before, but I have never been able to discover this particular area. I was astounded when at the end of the staircase, a giant wooden door with a sigil of a crucified dragon blocked our way.
As if reading our minds, the door opened itself.
Inside, is a spring full of glowing blue waters. There are golden light particles dancing through the thin air. In the middle, is a beautiful woman about twenty five years of age, wearing a priestess' kimono. Her silver hair and crimson eyes with black sclera made all my skin hairs stood up. She reached out her arms to me.
"The boy has finally made his appearance. I've been waiting for you for a long time… Amphere Harrison."