Loss, devoid, missing, abandoned.
Loss is a feeling that could said to be, one of the worst experiences any one of us could acknowledge in our life.
A kid losing the last piece of a cake that he wanted to eat, feeling sad.
A girl losing the sparkling dress she wanted to wear, feeling frustrated.
A boy losing his job, unable to feed his family.
A girl losing her lover to another girl, unable to do anything.
A man losing his limbs in war, pain-filling senses.
A woman losing her womanhood, gritting her teeth.
An elderly losing the support of their children, unable to regret raising them.
Loss, may that be as common as taste, obvious as esteem, or important as one's own self, it hurts.
And loss beyond control, even after preparations, or crippled with helplessness, is devastating.
Flames of fire, it could be considered as a bringer of loss. What do flames do? It destroys, it is hot, it burns, it incinerates every essence of existence, leaving nothing behind.
But contrary to it, Ice, it could be considered a preserver. What does ice do? It freezes, it is cold, it snatches warmth, it cremates every fiber of existence, leaving it motionless for eternity.
Both are opposite, but both, in a sense, takes. If think for a moment, Would someone want to just disappear at death's door? or would they want to remain, just to be held helpless? curse to just, exist.
Even if given those choices, regardless of their pick, the loss will be felt by the ones they formed bonds with, the ones they'll leave behind.
To them, their choice won't make a difference, they could cry, they could hope, they could pray, but those tears, hope, and prayer would be useless.
Because when you lose someone, every prayer, every candle, wouldn't make up for the fact, that, what you have left with, is a hole, where that someone is used to be.
The hole that he left behind within me. I tried, tried to fill it, but nothing seem to fit there, maybe they were just small or too big.
***
:: LISA HART
?: "-You should have sent someone to request a presence. "
A black-haired man, wearing a loose white shirt and black formal trousers, laying in bed, stood up, greeting the man who appeared with a flash.
?: " No need to be humble, Archduke. I can not bother you just a day after you got married. But since I have startled you by appearing like this, I have troubled you. Hypocritical, Isn't it?"
In the middle of his personal room, a man, with a beautiful face and body clad in an office suit, appeared, but instead of being offended, the black-haired man showed humbleness.
The man in the suit had fireflies-like stars dancing around on his head, making a crown, not big or small, but those flickering lights made clear their purpose.
?: " You became more muscular than the last time I saw you. Your soul must have strength further. "
The black-haired man, the Archduke, bowed his head in reply, showing his respect.
As I opened the door, which was situated in the corner of our room, those two individuals were present in the room.
The black eyes, of the man, who had the same black hair as mine, looked at me lovingly and the other individual bowed just a little to show a superficial courtesy.
?: " Archduchess, congratulation on getting married. I am here as per your invitation. "
Archduchess: " Thank you, God messenger, Sir Archeon. "
The god messenger, associated with the Queen and Queen's family of the Cloud continent, congratulated in a neutral tone and I replied politely.
The man, revered as Archduke, looked at me confused, it was cute, I went and held his both hands.
Archduke: " You invited, Sir Archeon? "
Archduchess: " I want to give you a wedding present. "
Confusion grew even more on my dear's face, even the god messenger, Archeon, also showed an interest with raised eyebrows. I turned to the man with an extraordinary appearance.
Archduchess: " God messenger, Sir Archeon, I want to obtain ' Frost lvl.3 ' magic. "
My dear showed a startled expression, at my words, and tightens his grip a little on his hand, that I was holding.
Archduke: " I told you. You don't need to do that. High level Ice magic is the Royal Queen family's legacy, above anyone, you should have it. "
I looked at him affectionately.
Archduchess: " And now you are my family. With this, you would be able to cover this whole palace with frost. It will help you in your future, where you will achieve great feats. "
Archduke: " Then at least let me get it with my points. "
Archduchess: " It is a wedding present. From me to you. "
My vision shifted from my dear's face to the man with twinkling stars on his head.
Archduchess: " God messenger, Sir Archeon, please. "
Archeon: " Very well. "
He nodded, his eyes said that he seems to find my request interesting.
Archeon: " In this realm, Ice skill is something that was generated by the First ruler, Ice Princess, and even though only a handful from your family in the past were able to access it. Part of that also resides in your soul. So it is better to buy it for your husband... "
He did some gesture waving his hands in the air.
Archeon: " ...Skill requires 50,000 points but since it is a wedding present, I will grant it for 40,000 points. "
The moment was the happiest of my entire life, security, specialness, and warmth filled my heart. The skill should help him in his further endeavors of being an Archduke.
But-
?: ' I am sorry ArchDuchess Lisa. He was fighting bravely, it was just bad luck. '
?: ' Yes, The opponent was a bad match. His skill didn't have any effect. '
?: ' But he still fought bravely. '
?: ' A,Archduke, fought the flaming Amphisbaena. It is a large snake only heard as a legend, it has two heads one at the front and one at its tail...'
?: ' T,The F,Flames were all around, Archduke fought with all he had, he even used the Royal Family Ice Magic, b,but it didn't faze the creature, i,it t,tore A,Archduke's l,limbs one by one as we watched-'
I never even got to see his body. People said he went ahead bravely, protected as many as he could, he should be honored, revered, he set an example.
' They why? ' dispirited, I could not help but ask that question.
Why did all I get was apologizes? I am sorry for your loss, It is tough times Archduchess. If what happened was so honorable, why say those words? why show sad faces? why say such things? why shed tears?
All it did was made me see myself in those mournful faces.
Truth was, he is gone, lost, the gift I gave him was all for not, he has been torn apart like an ant, blood was spilled, even that was burned, nothing was left.
It was a mess.
My mind was a mess.
A sight of a Flame creature did all that.
As soon as in my vision the creature, so humongous, that its flames seems to cover everything in view, appeared. My mind could not help but bring out the haterade, grief, and fear, I buried deep within my mind.
Its hissing voice kept reminding me of the hissing of a snake. The same creature who stole a man, a man that was dear to me, loved by others, and respected by many.
?: "Let's do it, you and me, 'Flame of the Abandoned soul.' "
My breath got stuck as those words struck in my ear which resonated from far ahead of me.
A man, with the same hair as mine, might have been of an even darker shade, holding a large sword was standing ahead, with his back towards me.
Then with a silver light, white wings appeared on his back, and with those on his back, which already seemed broad before, appeared even bigger.
' I will do it. '
Part of the word, he said earlier to me, resounded in my head. Do it? Do what? what can he do? At what cost?
I still remember when he first walked into my office and presented his form with only a name, Arthur.
He had nothing interesting, apart from his handsome features, and playful maturity. Sure he talked his way and even answered the question I asked, but I never was considering to make him an assistant.
It might have been fate, as Hekate told me, that he became one.
I often heard and saw his shows stoic expressions, uninterested in others. But I knew he had a playful side, coupled with maturity.
That contradictory behavior, one as rumored, and one he only showed to some, often reminded me of my Royal days from the past.
Screechhhhhhhh....
The creature hissed at Arthur and threw its paw at him. It wanted to slam him under its paw and it seem possible.
Lisa: " A- "
My mouth opened, trying to squeeze the words out, but my throat felt gauged.
Arthur kicked the ground, avoiding the paw that was descending on him, and stood meters away from the slammed paw.
Bam.!
The flame danced on its fur, it should have been burning hot, but his body didn't seem to falter.
Arthur: " Isaz. "
The word 'Isaz' is what people often use, say in their hearts, to focus on Ice-type magic.
The sword's silver blade turn light blue, and he swung the sword in the air, forming an arc.
The attack seemed useless at first, as he swung it in the empty air, ...but the next second, part of the beast's flame, infront of which the nonexistent attack was thrown, turned to soft ice. The flames disappeared and it was covered with something like... ice, like snow, or like-
Lisa: " -Frost. "
The beast first time, since it appeared, showed signs of slight fear, as it jumped back and swiftly shake the frost that covered its paw.
The frost fell into the ground and melted away, leaving behind a normal red-yellowish fur.
Sreeeeeechhhhhh....
The beast hissed at Arthur, to show its hostility. The flames on its fur, flared and covered its paw again.
This time, with the intent to not get close to the man who extinguished its flame, it opted for an attack from a distance.
The flames danced around in the corner of its mouth and it opened its maw at Arthur. The flames then came out from it. The attack was a bit weaker than the breath attack it used earlier.
But even though weak from before, due to its size the flames were wide and tall.
The flames looked as if they will consume Arthur in full and then will fill the entire world as well.
My heart sank, seeing him fighting with ice type attack and the flames towering infront, it overlapped with the situation that never left my mind.
Arthur: " Fuir. "
The blade shines in a light red this time, and he swings it infront of him, in the empty air again.
The 'Fuir' is the word, same as 'Isaz'. Just as 'Isaz' is used to focus on Ice-type magic, 'Fuir' is used to focus on the Fire type.
The futile-looking non-existent attack, cut the flames in half, no, that was not it. The blade consumed some of the flames infront, which looked like it was cut in half.
Arthur: " Who comes to a party without any return gifts? Here is yours. "
He swung the sword once again, but this time the attack was not non-existent. The flames that were consumed, came out as an attack from the sword's slash, and slammed into the beast.
But the flames that remained were nothing to scoff at, my vision still seems to cover with them. But then it was covered by something white, it looked soft, and made of feathers.
Arthur's wings, spread, stretched, fanned out, and blocked the remaining flames from reaching me.
The ice, to attack the beast's flame, using the beast's own flames to attack the beast itself, and using his wings to protect the remaining, seems a completely harmonious form. It seemed perfect, but was it really? My mind went blank at what came after.
Arthur: " puckk- "
Arthur stammered and coughed a handful of blood. The amount was no small, he held his mouth with his free hand, already covered with dried blood, and once again it became drenched in red.
His hand was completely drenched, his cheeks had a little bit of it, and his clothes had splotches of his blood.
He then jerked his hand, trying to get some of the blood off his hand, and went ahead to face the beast, who once again emerged from the flame attack that Arthur sent its way earlier.
The remaining flames that his wings didn't block, slammed into the ground at random, creating holes and debris. Some were far and some were close to me, but none on me, which made it clear, that the attack he blocked was to protect me.
His words resounded again in my ears.
Arthur: ' -I will do it, I won't let it hurt you... '
My dear's voice, before he went for the subjugation also resounded in my mind.
Archduke: ' I will obliterate every thorn in your path. Nothing will ever hurt you. '
' Why?! Why is this happening?! ' I asked myself. Why do the two seem too overlapped? and it was making me more and more anxious.
' Even if I am protected, even if everybody is protected, what good is it if you have to sacrifice yourself? '
Who the ' you ' I was referring to at this point, even I wasn't sure.
The fight becomes intense, Arthur kept slashing his sword towards the beast. Frost was creating everywhere, and the beast kept attacking with flame claws and breath attacks, while dodging frost slashes.
Arthur would consume some of the attack flames into the sword's blade and send them back, while using his wings to deviate some of the attacks heading at me.
The remains of flames kept descending here and there. The rumbling of attacks kept jerking my body.
Every time an attack, that was deflected and slammed onto the ground around me. I wished it landed on me.
Because every time I saw an attack headed at me and then hit somewhere else, it crunched my heart, because-
Arthur: " Puckk- damn it..."
The blood, that he coughed up every time, was because of me.
' Why? Why put yourself through so much? Why suffer over and over? '
Was there really a need to protect me? the attacks were not breaking any glass cells. When an attack was connected to the cell, people inside showed terrified reactions, but they were safe, the glass walls just rumbled a little but nothing else.
So If he just focused on protecting himself, and fight earnestly, it would have been so much easier.
Words resounded in my ears again, seemingly answering my desperate questions.
Archduke: ' Fear not, everyone will be safe, I will be back soon. '
' But you didn't come back.! '
Arthur: ' Nobody will die. '
' But you will.! '
Arthur: ' It makes me who I am. '
' Why are you like that then? Change yourself.! '
It was selfish to want to change someone at my convenience but I didn't want to care about him. He always acts like, he knows better, getting involved in situations, repeating the same thing.
Arthur: ' Someone you can rely on. '
' I don't want to rely on you.! I don't need to rely on anyone.! '
Arthur: ' Rely on me again. '
' Why? '
My body wanted to move, my heart knew that I need to reach out, go there, and at least support. But my mind and heart seemed disconnected, my mind didn't want to let go of the past.
Arthur: " Puckk- ...yeah... even I like cats, but this one is making it harder for me to like her. "
The fight was progressing, frost covered the ground at multiple places, and the beast growled at Arthur. With his sleeves, he wiped his mouth which became coated with blood.
Arthur: " But I do what I want, and I will release this cat. "
I just looked in a daze and was stunned.
' Move body, Damn it.! '
Griping his sword hilt tightly, his eyes went around looking at the people inside the glass cells.
Arthur: " I need to get everyone out of here soon. "
Saying so he went ahead, once again exchanging attacks with the beast.
But at his words, the last word of Archduke, who jumped into his own demise, at his own death, that I saw on a recording orb, came into my mind.
Archduke: ' I will hold onto the beast! Everyone get out of here! '
Those were the last words that he spoke, as he went towards the Amphisbaena. And then as troops tried to run away, the beast bit his head off. The beast kept tearing his limbs one by one, before engulfing the whole area with flames.
' Am I going to lose 'him' now? '
' Right infront of me? '
' Am I - '
' Will he- '
Arthur: " Do you want to have a deathmatch kitty? "
He swung his sword, its blade covered in blue light, and frost formed infront of the beast. The beast jumped and then landed on frost, it melted. The beast hissed at Arthur, seemingly replying to his question, as flames danced at the corner of its mouth.
Arthur: " Haha... How can I deny an adorable kitty's request? If that is what you want, Now a deathmatch shall you have. "
He laughed and declared boldly.
Lisa: " Enough. "
But that snapped the last string, that was holding me.
My voice came out cold, devoid of any emotions. I felt the thumping in my chest subsiding, and my breathing became normal. The earlier gagged sensation in my throat felt clear now.
Lisa: " You want to do what? "
I throw those words at the man, who declared so boldly that he will engage in a death match.
I felt my voice clear, cold, and strong. My mind felt clear, and my heart calm. I took a step ahead, I no longer felt restrained.
I don't know what liberated me. Was it getting tired of constant thinking about the grief? Was it the acceptance of my past? Was it not letting the past repeat itself? Or was it the bafflement after hearing 'him' accepting his own death?
I don't know, and at this moment, It doesn't matter to me.
Lisa: " You can laugh?... While looking at your own death? Is it so easy to accept, like accepting a work from me? "
Since he always takes any work saying, 'I am your assistant, Miss Lisa.' 'I am here to help you, Miss Lisa.' It must have been just that easy.
I took another step ahead. The air in the surrounding got colder and colder, just as the look in my eyes. The battle came to a halt, no attack was thrown at anyone.
The baffled and feared expression seems to appear on Arthur's face, even the beast shows a worried expression. It sensed something changing in the surrounding which was unfavorable to it.
And then-
+
[ A new attribute is germinating inside you. ]
+
[ The attribute 'Ice princess' has evolved inside you. ]
+
[ An Exclusive skill has branched with your attribute. ]
+
[ The Exclusive Skill 'Blizzard Lvl.1' is activated. ]
+
Arthur: " Heol? "
***
[ Nubeculas watching are shocked. ]