Chereads / Seraphine Aile / Chapter 39 - Chapter 2-28

Chapter 39 - Chapter 2-28

Joshua slowly opened his eyes. Iris' crying face was the first thing he saw.

"Iris…"

"Thank goodness you're awake, Joshua. I thought you…."

Iris wiped away her tears. A relieved smile appeared on her face.

Realizing what was happening, Joshua hurriedly got up and held Iris's shoulders with a worried look.

"What are you DOING?!! Why YOU don't listen to me…. even though I forbade you to move Seraphine Aile!!"

"About that…. It seemed Archpriest Jerome didn't succeed in moving it. When I woke up… I immediately checked my back and I couldn't find Seraphine Aile…. It seems it's still in you…."

"Re-Really?"

Joshua immediately looked for a mirror to check his back. Seraphine Aile still there….

"Yes. That's why I'm worried about you. But it seems you're in a better state than before even though the transfer ceremony didn't work…"

Joshua took a deep breath. His face looks relieved.

"Iris…. Please DON'T DO that thing again…..."

Iris shook her head and smiled.

"It's all right, Joshua. I don't mind if it could-"

Hearing Iris' words, Joshua's expression changed.

"Why…. WHY DID YOU NOT LISTEN TO ME!! I Told You DON'T!"

Iris was surprised to see Joshua angry. Shock was visible on her face.

"I-I…want to help- "

Before Iris could finish her sentence, Joshua interrupted her.

"I told you you don't have to do it! I didn't ask you to help me!"

"But-but I want to do it. When my magic doesn't work-!"

"But it's like you're forcing me to accept your decision unilaterally Iris. You don't understand what I want!"

"You who do not understand! Why don't you just let me finish talking!"

It was Joshua's turn to be shocked when he saw Iris looking emotional. Joshua was about to say something, but he held it back. He was waiting for what Iris wanted to say.

"I-I…. I do not want to lose you! I-I…I….I…I….."

Iris tried to finish her words but the words she was about to say were stuck in her throat. Embarrassed and sad, Iris lowered her head.

For a moment there was silence. Awkwardly, Iris raised her head.

"I-I'd better look for His Holiness… I don't see him-"

Joshua suddenly held Iris' cheek and kissed her lips gently. Iris was surprised but she didn't resist and closed her eyes. Joshua slowly took off his kiss and looked at Iris who seemed to be blushing.

"Forgive me for shouting at you. I think I realize how you feel…. But I don't think I have a chance. Therefore…. I'm trying to deny what I'm feeling."

Joshua pulled Iris into his arms.

"I don't know since when… I have fallen in love with you, Iris…. "

Iris stared at Joshua in disbelief. In a low, soft voice that sounded like a whisper.

"I-I…love you too, Joshua…"

Joshua hugged Iris tightly.

"The reason why I don't let you do it. I'm afraid something bad will happen to you. The thought of losing you is scarier than losing myself…"

"Joshua…"

"I saw you in my dream…. you talked to a black shadow and tried to exchange yourself for me. I tried to stop you but you couldn't hear my voice."

Joshua let go of his hug and looked at Iris. His eyes were gentle but there was sadness in them.

"I shouldn't have brought you here in the first place. But seeing you don't give up…. I got a bit hopeful and couldn't refuse..."

For Joshua, this journey is to fill his last moments with Iris. From the beginning, Joshua had given up on being free from Seraphine Aile. And when he saw Iris, it gave hope for Joshua to be happy even for a moment.

The fact that Joshua had the chance to be free from Seraphine Aile by sacrificing Iris… was too much for him.

"Forgive me…. If I don't understand your feelings, Joshua. But I can't see you in this condition…. I-I'm also afraid of losing you."

The two hug each other.

"I know, Iris...that's why I won't let anything happen to you..."

Suddenly there was a commotion followed by a bang on the door startling Joshua and Iris.

Sensing something was wrong, Joshua gestured for Iris to keep quiet.

"Sst… find a place to hide, Iris and don't come out until I call you."

Iris nodded and quickly hid herself in back one of the altars.

The banging got louder and louder. It looked like they were about to smash the door.

BRAK!

The door hinges came loose and several knights entered. They burst in. When they saw Joshua, they immediately surrounded him pointing their swords.

"Where did you hide the HERETIC JEROME?!!"

"The heretic Jerome???"

"Don't play dumb!!! Hand HIM over!!!"

The knights immediately attacked Joshua without hesitation. Joshua nimbly dodged while turning his hands into claws.

Iris could hear everything that was happening from where she was hiding. There was the sound of screams and clashing of weapons.

It didn't take long for Joshua to defeat them. After he finished defeating them, both of Joshua's arms returned to normal.

Joshua cleaned up the remaining blood on his hands before come to Iris. He didn't want Iris to see traces of blood in him.

"Iris, are you all right?"

"Joshua…. They called His Holiness a heretic…. What actually happened while we were unconscious…?"

"I have no idea. But I smell the scent of battle everywhere. We'd better get out of here."

Joshua then took Iris by the hand.

"Don't' look that way, Iris. I don't want you to see anything horrible. Just…. close your eyes. I'll guide you."

Iris obediently nodded and close her eyes.

=====

"WATCH OUT, YOUR HOLINESS!!!", a priest pushed Archpriest Jerome to avoid being slashed by a sword.

As a result, the priest was injured and it didn't take long for him to breathe his last.

"FARREL!!"

Archpriest Jerome came running to help him. But the other priests stopped him.

"It's too late to save him, Your Holiness! We have to go so that Father Farrell's sacrifice will not be in vain!!!"

From afar came screams and sounds of battle. It seems that Duke Albert ordered his knights not leave anyone alive.

Witnessing the carnage before his eyes, Archpriest Jerome appeared in shock and froze.

"Your Holiness, quickly save yourself! We will hold Duke Albert and his knights!"

Several of the temple knights gathered and formed a formation to protect Archpriest Jerome.

With a heavy heart, Archpriest Jerome was forced to run away with the remaining priests.

"Damn you Rondo! You betrayed me! From the beginning you were trying to destroy this place. In the end, you sent one of your dogs!", muttered Archpriest Jerome.

There was a scream from behind. It seemed that Duke Albert's knights managed to break through the Temple knights just now.

"Come here, Your Holiness!", a priest opened the door and locked it.

There was the sound of someone trying to break through the door from outside.

The two remaining priests then cast a spell together to form a barrier over the door.

"Your Holiness, we will stay here and hold the door. Escape from here and save yourself."

Archpriest Jerome looked sadly at his two disciples. There was a louder voice from behind the door.

"Hurry and go, Your Holiness while there is still a chance! Tell what happened here to our brothers and sisters out there."

Archpriest Jerome turned around and immediately leaves them.

=====

Joshua slowly walked while keeping an eye on his surroundings. The underground library looked messy. Several bookshelves seemed to fall and books scattered on the floor.

"CHECK THIS PLACE!! DON'T LET ANYONE GET AWAY!!! FIND THE HERETIC!!"

From behind the wall, Joshua saw knights busy rummaging through the library.

Joshua whispered for Iris to wait on the spot.

By sneaking around, Joshua finished off all the knights in the library. Without giving them a chance to run away or call for help.

After that Joshua returned to pick up Iris who was waiting for him.

"This place is a mess. It seems that someone wants to destroy this place."

"In that case…. Shouldn't we wait until the condition is safe first?"

"I doubt it. From what I can see they want to do it as soon as possible. The sooner we leave this place the better."

Joshua took Iris' hand.

"Better close your eyes again, Iris… the sight you're about to see won't be pleasant."

"Alright…."

Joshua led Iris until they arrived at Archpriest Jerome's study. The atmosphere seemed dead silent. Likewise, when they left the room.

Joshua slowly walked down the hall while passing the corpses of several priests and temple knights.

The fishy smell of fresh blood was faintly wafted over.

Iris tried to peek.

When she saw the corpses of the priests and temple knights that were brutally killed, Iris immediately turned her head away. The dizziness and nausea made her almost vomit.

"Are you all right, Iris? It's better if you don't see anything at this point. It looks like this place has become a massacre…"

Iris shook her head with a pale face.

"It is okay. I will try hold on. What a cruel thing they went through…"

Suddenly there was the sound of footsteps around the corner ahead. Joshua hastily pulled Iris to hide behind the wall.

The sound passed them fast. It seemed they were busy so they didn't pay much attention to their surroundings.

Before they disappeared, Joshua could recognize them.

!

"Isabel and… the man with her…. Iris' future fiancé if I'm not mistaken. What are they doing here? Are they looking for Iris?"

Joshua looked undecided. For a moment he wanted to pursue Isabel but the man she was with made his heart hesitate. He could trust Isabel to look after Iris. But that man…. Joshua didn't really know him yet.

What's more, they were wearing the same uniform as the knights who had attacked Joshua earlier.

Joshua decided it was best not to deal with them for a while until things cleared up.

"Joshua, is everything okay?", Iris whispered. Her voice was still trembling from seeing the corpse earlier.

Joshua gently stroked Iris' head to calm her down.

They walked back until they came to a near junction which was in the cloister.

From a distance, several knights could be seen dragging two battered priests.

"It's because of you, that Heretic Jerome managed to escape!!! You think he's gonna survive?! Our comrades are after him!!!"

The knights then tortured them cruelly.

Seeing everything, Iris turned her head. She could have guessed that the fate of the priests would end tragically.

Finally, one of the knights slashed the neck of one of them. His friend screamed and cried. Another knight then stabbed him in the stomach.

After that they left the two priests.

Joshua and Iris stepped out from behind the wall. Iris was about to check their state but Joshua stopped her.

"It's too late for them. I don't want you to force yourself to witness this brutality anyway."

As they were about to leave, one of them grabbed Joshua's leg.

With his remaining breath the priest begged, "Please…. please…help…. Hi-s Holiness…. We took him…. escape through the emergency route that is…. in the priests' dormitory…"

"Where is Archpriest Jerome at?"

"It should be if there are no problems…. By this time His Holiness… should be…. in the cave that will take him out of here…. Y- You have to protect him from the knights chasing him…."

After saying that, the priest breathed his last.

Iris turned around while wiping away her tears. Joshua patted her head to comfort Iris.

"There's nothing you can do, Iris. Don't feel guilty."

Iris nodded faintly.

Seeing Iris who looked pale, Joshua became worried.

"Iris, are you sick? Your face looks pale…"

"I don't know Joshua. I suddenly feel unwell since seeing everything that happened…."

Inwardly Joshua wondered if Iris was sick due to trauma.

"So, this is how it feels when Iris worries about me….", muttered Joshua.

Knowing that Joshua was worried about her, Iris took Joshua to continue the journey.

"There is no need to worry about me. After getting out of here I might be in better condition..."

Iris' answer worried Joshua even more because he knew that Iris liked to push herself.

Taking Iris' condition into account, Joshua changed his plan to escape climbing the walls like he did at the Grand Center back then. Joshua decided to use the information the priest had given him. The same route that Archpriest Jerome had used to escape.

====

Isabel resentfully glanced at Leon who looked busy. Previously, in the room above, Leon was busy checking the table and drawers.

"He's hiding something…. He said we'd go find Iris. But he has been busy doing other things since earlier." Isabel muttered.

Now they were in the underground library and Leon was still busy on his own.

Isabel looked at the room they were in. Several corpses of Duke Albert's knights were scattered about. It seemed they were killed as efficiently as possible.

"This weapon strike… could it be-…."

Isabel's thoughts were interrupted when Leon approached her with a satisfied face. It seemed Leon had managed to find what he was looking for. He appeared to be tucking a book into his clothes.

"Are you done with your business? We better find Iris soon. Or…. You lied about her being here?"

"Ahh…. you're worried that I tricked you. Take it easy, Isabel. On the other hand, I just found solid evidence that she was here. Let's just pray she is safe and hasn't left this place yet."

"Hmmm…. if you say so. So maybe my guess wasn't wrong."

"What do you mean?"

Isabel crouched down and inspected one of the bodies.

"This wound is fresh and not a wound by a sword. As far as I know Joshua uses claws as his weapon."

When Leon heard Joshua's name mentioned, his facial expression turned irritated.

"Oh, I see. We better hurry and find them."