"You can come out now.", Joshua said to Iris who was hiding.
Iris slowly came out from behind a large plant pot while holding the St. Varos book. The Free Insurgent who had been chasing them collapsed after Joshua defeated them.
Joshua had ensured that the area was safe from them.
They are on the roof of the Red Peak mansion, namely the sky garden. In order to escape The Free Insurgent who were chasing them, Joshua and Iris were forced to flee there.
"Achoo…"
Iris sneezes while holding her nose.
Josh glanced at her. The nightgown Iris was wearing looked thin and it looked like something was torn from the incident earlier.
Joshua imagined the face of Iris who was crying earlier.
"She must have been really scared earlier….", Joshua muttered in his heart.
Joshua took off his coat and put it on Iris.
"Oh…. Thank you.", Iris answered slowly.
Iris' face looked haggard and her eyes looked a little puffy. Joshua looked at Iris with concern.
"I want to go in to check if it's safe. It's cold outside and you'll get sick. You wait he-"
Iris shook her head in fear.
"It is okay. I'm just going out for a second to make sure. I'll be back soon to pick you up."
This time Iris held Joshua's arm to keep him from leaving.
"I'd better come with you. Please…."
Joshua took a deep breath and nodded.
They were about to walk back to the attic.
Bang!
A shot was aimed at Iris but Joshua quickly took Iris to cover behind a pole.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Shots were directed at them again. Joshua tries to peek to find out the location of the shooter. It appears above one of the domes in the sky garden.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
The shooter did not give Joshua a chance to move.
Joshua looked at the pale Iris. He must protect Iris.
Joshua stood up then immediately ran with incredible speed. The shooter fired the bullet quickly but Joshua dodged it nimbly.
The shooter looked surprised and prepared to aim again but Joshua jumped at him while swinging his arms which turned into huge claws.
Joshua's claws clashed against the shooter's rifle. At that moment they could clearly see each other's faces….
"Is that you…. Joshua?"
Joshua was shocked. The face in front of him was familiar and he knew it but... there was no familiar feeling he felt.
They pushed each other back.
"You…..."
"It's me. Do you remember…. Bea? I'm her brother…."
Joshua held his head. Cold sweat pouring down. A flash of memory popped into his head.
"You...you...Angus?"
Suddenly, a shadow in the shape of a tentacle bound Joshua's legs, arms and neck.
"Thank you, Angus. You have distracted him so I can catch him."
Morrigan emerged from behind the wall.
"And congratulations, Angus. Finally, you can catch your village killer. Seraphine Aile wielder, correct?"
Angus looked at Joshua with anger.
"So, it's true that you did it. I've been suspicious for a long time but I hope I'm wrong. But why? Bea really likes you…."
Angus fired his gun at Joshua without stopping.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Joshua looks in pain. But strangely the bullet that Angus shot slowly came out of Joshua's wound and fell to the ground.
"It's useless, Angus. Ordinary weapons won't be able to kill him."
Morrigan clenched her hands into fists. The tentacles binding Joshua tightened.
"Ugh."
Morrigan cast her black magic spell. It seemed that more and more tentacles appeared but this time they didn't tie Joshua but instead attacked him. Joshua screamed in pain but Morrigan ignored him.
"Why can't I feel it anymore? Where is he? Should I kill him or take that Seraphine Aile from him?", Morrigan muttered to herself.
Morrigan clenched her other hand into a fist. The tentacles that bound Joshua got tighter and made it hard for Joshua to breathe.
But Morrigan has not found what she was looking for.
"Stop it! You want me, don't you? Let Joshua go!"
Iris came out of hiding and walked towards them.
"No...Iris…. You...should…run…"
Angus immediately held Iris' hands and changed his rifle to pistol and pointed at Iris' head.
"Ah, that's right. I do need you, Holy maiden from the church of st. Varos.", Morrigan smiled realizing something.
"Angus, kill her."
"No….! Don't…. do…. it…. Angus!", Joshua shouted with difficulty.
Angus seemed to hesitate. But when he remembered Bea's death, anger filled his heart and blinded his mind. Angus pulls the trigger and prepares to shoot. Iris closed her eyes resignedly accepting her fate.
Morrigan suddenly felt an immense power radiate from Joshua.
Joshua's eyes darkened and his Seraphine Aile emitted a dark aura. He easily broke the tentacles that bound him and attacked Angus.
Angus immediately aimed at Joshua but Joshua disappeared from his sight and suddenly appeared behind and knocked him against the wall.
Fresh blood spurted out of Angus' mouth. Angus lay in pain.
It didn't stop there, Joshua attacked Morrigan this time. Morrigan had prepared by summoning the Phantom. A creature of darkness that would not die before its target was completed.
The Phantom attacks him by shrouding Joshua in darkness and stabs him multiple times. Joshua seemed to be in pain at first but suddenly Joshua was able to grip the Phantom form. Things that no one could ever do before.
Joshua screamed and tore Phantom into two pieces.
Morrigan stared in disbelief. Joshua returns to preparing to attack Morrigan. Morrigan created black mist to absorb Joshua's attack.
But Joshua's claws shattered her magic through the black mist.
Morrigan immediately moved places quickly at the last second. She moved next to Angus.
"It seems that I underestimated you."
After saying that, Morrigan disappeared with Angus.
When Joshua realized that the situation was safe, the dark aura from Seraphine Aile slowly started to fade. Joshua's eyes began to return to normal. Likewise with his hands.
When he turned around, Iris was already standing behind him.
Staring at Joshua with a concerned look.
"Are you all right?"
Joshua nodded.
"Seeing you like that made me worry. Seraphine aile as if it was about to...swallow you…."
Joshua looked gloomy but he didn't say anything. Just turned his face away and walked away.
"Come in, Iris. I don't want us to be up there much longer. The air is getting colder."
"Joshua..."
Iris could sense Joshua's despair.
"Wait a moment..."
Iris picked up the St. Varos book that she had hidden before she came out to meet Morrigan.
"Joshua, this book was written by St. Varos himself and… he mentions Seraphine Aile. Maybe this can help you... St. Varos himself seems to be intending to move Seraphine Aile…."
"Is it true?"
Joshua stares in disbelief but shows in his eyes that he is interested.
Iris nodded. She had just skimmed through it and she wasn't sure what the book contained. But Iris wanted to give hope to Joshua. She didn't want to see Joshua falls to despair.
"Hmmm…. Okay. Once I make sure you're safe. I'll find out. Give me the book."
Iris looked at the book she was holding for a moment before passing it to Joshua.
"Take me with you too."
Suddenly Iris moved backwards and didn't give the book she was holding.
"What? Impossible. Everything related to Seraphine Aile is dangerous. I will not risk your life."
Joshua tried to reach the book that Iris was holding.
But Iris dodged while tightly hugging St. Varos book.
"I don't care. From the start I was involved with this Seraphine Aile matter."
Iris stared back at Joshua with a serious look. She is determined to find out the truth about Seraphine Aile and at the same time help Joshua.
Joshua let out a long breath.
"Then...forget it, Iris. I don't want to put you in danger for the sake of some obscure possibility."
Joshua turned around to go into the attic when he was surprised to see Iris' face.
Iris turned her head away. A tear fell but she quickly wiped it away.
"Oh, I see…."
Iris looks sad.
Joshua clenched his fists in confusion.
Doubt filled his heart as he saw Iris looking disappointed by his rejection. He hoped that Iris would change her mind but it didn't look like that would happen.
Finally, Joshua reached out his hand after a long silence.
"Sigh…. if that's what you want, Iris. Are you sure?"
Iris looked in surprise at Joshua's outstretched hand. She didn't expect Joshua would agree to it.
For a moment Iris remembered Isabel's advice not to have anything to do with Joshua. With a dubious look Iris looked at Joshua.
Their eyes met.