The stench of the corpses grew stronger and stronger, the odour was poisonous and awaful. Henry with the help of Maria piled the corpses and burnt them in pits they dug, "This isn't how I planned to celebrate our victory."
Maria busted out in laughter, "Move your lazy ass Mr Victorious, I don't want to keep inhaling this toxic air." Henry grabbed her closer to him, he whispered sweet words in her ear and passionately kissed her.
In the midst of their romance Junta suddenly appeared, his face was worn out. He sat on the staircase, with his head buried in his hands he said, "What will l tell him when he wakes up? That father is dead, but his body is nowhere to be found…I have searched the mountains…oceans and even under small rocks. Do you have any place in mind where my father might be…please…." Junta broke down to tears.
Henry gently hugged him, he lightly patted his head and said, "Junta, everything will be alright…" "It will not be alright! I witnessed how much they loved each other…this tremendously hurt him. He will never accept his death till he sees his body…"
"His body was disintegrated by that light! The wind carried his ashes away…he is dead Junta!" Henry lashed out at beloved child, Maria was surprised to see the angry side of Henry.
After taking a deep breath Henry said, "Junta, please go inside and change your clothes…" "Who are you talking about?" Hwan was standing on the staircase wearing his night robes. The three froze upon his sight, no one dared to utter a word for a minute.
Hwan looking around said, "King Henry, won't you answer my question…now that I think about it where my husband? Junta where is your father…when I woke up he was already out of bed."
There was total silence as the three organised thoughts to convey the news, Junta walked over to Hwan. "Mother, let me help you inside. Your body isn't strong enough for you to wonder around." Hwan patted his head wit a smile on his head he replied, "I need to see my husband first before sleeping…it hurts as it is that I didn't see his face upon waking up."
"After the war…I went to search for father but I couldn't find him. Mother there is no easy way to say this but father…father is…he is…gone." Hwan's eyes popped out as he listened to his son's words.
His hands were shaking, "We are soul bonded…his demise is my demise too. Stop talking nonsense because all night long your father took care of me…I am very disappointed Junta. If you aren't going to look for my husband I will look for him myself. Ji Lie! My love I am hungry!"
Hwan climbed down the stairs as he called out for his lover, Henry held his hand from walking any further. "Let go of my hand Henry…" "Stop…stop this my Lord. No matter how much you call him…we both know he will neither answer nor come. It hurts me to say this but Emperor Ji Lie is dead…his body was disintegrated by the light and his ashes were swept away by the wind. Stop hoping for his return…stop hurting yourself…"
"Don't telling me about my feelings because you aren't even aware of them! My Ji Lie would never leave my side! He would…never…" Hwan's nose began to bleed, he fell on the ground.
In a place filled with beauty every corner, exquisite beasts and plants flourished on its grounds. Beautiful women and handsome men were all smiling as they walked pass each other dressed in expensive silk gowns, children ran carefree pass the adults with laughter.
A woman sitting on the throne was the Queen f the Equlia land, this land was the mother of all realms. All species in any realm were developed by the sons of daughters of Queen Kyra.
Her beauty was immeasurable, he skin was flawless and pale white and her eyes were crystal blue. Standing from her throne she fixed her robes and checked her face in the mirror, "Have you found what you were looking for?"
Ji Lie walked in the room with an angry face, the maids and other superiors all buried their faces in the ground, "How desperate were you to drag me here? Are you out of your mind releasing such a powerful demon to that realm?"
Kyra standing in front of Ji Lie replied, "I went out of my way to organise for your welcome home party my King. How long had it been? Time moves slower up here…I was caught with work and…" "Everyone leave us." Everyone in the room quickly left to give the couple time to talk.
"Kyra…you forced me back here because you knew I would never set foot back in this realm. I am not here as your husband…I came here for the safety of my wife and child. Are we clear?" Ji Lie's eyes were filled with rage and hatred.
"Will you throw away your family for that bastard and his mother?! I made a mistake and I have atoned enough for it…why is it you are throwing away our love for the one mistake I committed!!" "We were married out of convenience…there was never love! What I felt with Hwan was love, I didn't leave this realm because you had sex with my brother behind my back…I left because I wanted to find someone who would make me feel like a man." Kyra slapped Ji Lie so hard that it left an imprint.
"That is enough Luther! Have you ever considered I slept with your brother to make you look my way! Since our marriage you have looked my way with lifeless eyes…I provoked you several times but you never changed. You never uttered a word nor got angry when I brought in male concubines…countless times you caught me having sex with different men you never uttered a word! Why are you looking at me with so much anger and hatred for the sake of that realm?!" Kyra was trembling down to her feet.
Luther sighed and replied, "I shall rest in my room Kyra, stay away from my child if you want to live. Here you drop something." Luther dropped the brutally injured demon creature on the ground, "On second thought, dispose of this waste." Luther with the heel of his shoe smashed the creature's head.
"You have to attend the banquet tonight, should I send someone to attend to you?" Kyra was calm, she knew Luther would kill her if she keep pushing his buttons. "If it isn't Hwan, I don't ever want to see anyone in my room." Luther walked out of the royal court.
Luther closed his door and locked it, he sat inside a tub full of water, "Oh Hwan, will you forgive me for all my lies and selfishness."
Henry and Junta were all eagerly waiting for Hwan to wake up, "This will surely kill him…I understand father sacrificed himself for this realm but it was at the cost of their love." Henry gently held his hands and said, "Junta, this isn't your fault…."
"It is my fault, I failed to protect neither father nor Takato…I am a failure." Junta stood up from his seat. Hwan in his sleep kept mumbling Ji Lie's name, he was having endless nightmares of the war.
Hwan opened his eyes and saw his son beside his bed sleeping whilst holding his hand. Hwan lightly brushed his hair back and said, "You look just like your father…without looking at your eyes I might have mistaken you for him."
Henry and Maria entered the room holding a bowl of soup, "My Lord, please eat it whilst its hot." "It would have been nice if we were given even a second for us to say our goodbyes. I had so much to say to him…wasn't there another way to end all this. Something didn't feel right…they took away his body and soul leaving me with nothing! How can I bury an empty coffin and accept his death?!"
Junta gently held his hands and said, "Please…I know it hurts to lose father, we have to acknowledge his death as a starting point to move on with our lives. I am sure father wouldn't want to see you like this…"
Hwan puked out blood, he wiped away his clothes and mouth, "Henry, please look after my son…" "Please…don't leave me too." Junta knelt on the ground as he pleaded his beloved mother.
Hwan kissed him on the forehead and replied, "I need time to heal my body and organise my thoughts…all this bleeding is because it is badly damaged. Will you give me time to grieve your father? I love you Junta…take care of yourself. I will be watching over you my baby."
Hwan laid back on his bed, a seal appeared on his forehead as he had already started his healing journey.
Junta was accompanied into his room by Maria, he saw a being lying on his bed with his face covered with a silk cloth. When he lowered the sheets, he saw Takato lying on the bed with pale white skin.
"Forgive me for turning him into one of us, it was the only way to save him from death. His body and core were badly damaged during the transformation, I don't know how long it will take for him to wake up," Maria smiled when she saw Junta's relieved face.
Junta kissed Takato on the forehead and replied, "No matter how long it takes I shall wait for him."