It was almost evident to Lana that something had altered Rogue's powers. She deduced that someone had taken over his being, yet the dark truth behind this situation eluded her.
"Oh, isn't that the heiress of the Temparus I see there?!
"Rogue? What's happened to you?"
In a flash, Abaguo, in Rogue's guise, moved towards her with superhuman speed. He engaged Lana in a fiercely intense staring match.
"You do have a pretty face up close. I see why that kid is drawn to you.
"Hmpf…"
She clenched her fist, gathering chromatic distortions within.
"I don't know who you are, but you'd better leave that body before I disfigure you. You got that, spirit?!"
"Ohh! She does have a comeback—"
She struck him, sending him flying across the room, but unexpectedly, his face remained unscathed. So, I can still absorb hits despite the weakness of the original body. This means I retain the same properties as my original body.
Abaguo stood up.
"I have a question for you.
"We don't talk during a fight.
"Are you in love with that kid?"
"Absolutely not... He's just a colleague, of no sentimental importance to me.
"Yet it was almost steamy in the jacuzzi! You were about to make out."
"I... I didn't know what I was doing.
"Really? And if I do this?"
With a precise jump, Abaguo landed on the window ledge, poised at its edge. He turned to Lana, feigning a jump at any moment.
"What are you doing?!"
"I'm going to return the body to the kid mid-jump. That way, as soon as he regains his vulnerability, he'll die hitting the ground. Meanwhile, I'll go find another host to possess."
Lana swallowed hard, her heart racing. Then suddenly, she realized the true origin of the situation. Wait a second, so body possession isn't just a rumor? It's real?!
She stepped forward slowly as the wind shook the sheets, furniture, and windows in a macabre cacophony of the impending tragedy.
"Wait, that doesn't make sense! Why would you do that? It's pointless."
"BECAUSE IT AMUSES ME! AHAH! I LOVE SPREADING CHAOS!"
At that moment, Lana lowered her guard. The world around her seemed to freeze as she suddenly realized her feelings for Rogue.
"Please, wait..."
"IN TRUTH, IF I POSSESSED THIS BODY, IT WASN'T TO CONTROL IT! BUT TO DELIGHT IN YOUR SUFFERING! AHAH!"
Abaguo reveled in the mental torture he inflicted on Lana with almost perverse enjoyment. Lana questioned her constant worry for Rogue. Was she truly smitten with him? And if so, how could it be? She racked her brain for answers, but in vain... How can a girl like me have feelings for such an ordinary boy? she thought.
Everything made sense when she compared herself to Rogue. It all became clear in her mind, for she had loved him from the beginning due to his ability to evolve, where she herself stagnated.
Looks were important, of course, but not as crucial as personality. As cliché as it might seem, she had to admit the truth: mentally, Rogue surpassed her in every way. That was the reason for her first love, as they complemented each other. Where one failed, the other succeeded, and vice versa.
"Don't do this," she whimpered.
"Yes, that's it... BEG ME!"
The Cleared family members finally arrived at the horrifying scene unfolding before them. They couldn't hide their astonishment.
"Behold, humans, for you are about to witness the grand return of Abaguo!
"You're Abaguo?!"
He lifted his head without responding, then took a deep breath.
"O QUEEN OF DEMONS, WITNESS THIS SPECTACLE OF WHICH YOU ARE THE AUTHORESS!"
With one step forward, he let himself fall into the void, leaving Rogue's body and restoring his consciousness.
"ROGUE!"
Lana could thank her temporal power for giving her supersonic speed. But it was too late, Rogue was plummeting to the ground at a dizzying pace. Until Lana's emotions took over her being, compelling her to jump after him to catch him.
"LANA, NO WAIT!" Eliana cried out.
Their eyes met in a dramatic dance of tears. Each gaze seemed to silently convey "I love you" in an exchange that defied description. The wind, whipping their hair, lent a poignant acknowledgment to their fall towards the ground, which seemed so distant. Yet ultimately, they resolved to cling to each other, where only this embrace served as their means of communication.
After a moment's reflection, she devised the perfect solution for a safe landing. Internally, she even chastised herself for not thinking of it sooner, so obvious it seemed now. Using her power, she slowed time around them, making their descent gentler and slower until they landed unharmed.
Rogue reopened his eyes in contemplation, realizing he was still alive.
"Am I alive?
"Are you alright?! Are you hurt?!"
"Lana… did you save—"
Suddenly, unable to contain her emotions any longer, Lana leaned toward Rogue and kissed him passionately. It was an unexpected kiss but conveyed everything she felt at that moment. Their kiss was imbued with relief, love, and gratitude.
Rogue, initially surprised, reciprocated with equal intensity. Their lips met in a tender embrace, sealing their connection beyond words. The world around them seemed to fade away, leaving only their mutual love and desire. Eventually, they parted, their foreheads touching as they looked into each other's eyes.
"I'm sorry for not accepting my feelings for you earlier…
"So, you too…
"I always wanted to deny it since I got to know you... I didn't want to accept it... But I resolved myself when you were about to die…"
Suddenly, Lana threw herself into Rogue's arms. Words could no longer express what she felt.
Rogue accepted her embrace, finding comfort in it.
Meanwhile, the Cleared family rushed to the garden hurriedly. Eliana, emerging from the mansion through the grand door, was the first to witness their embrace, both astonished and pleased.
"I'm so happy to see that you're both safe…"
Stewards and guards from the mansion arrived on the scene, stunned by the unfolding events. Rogue observed them as he broke from the embrace. He then looked up to his room and noticed something alarming.
"Uh... what about my room? I can fix it with my powers, but if the flames keep growing, I won't be able to do anything.
"My husband and son are still inside. We must do something!"
Everyone's gaze turned to the growing flames in his room, now consuming the affected area of the mansion. Lana volunteered and promised Eliana to repair the damage with her power and bring them back alive.
Meanwhile, Rogue pondered how Abaguo could have interacted with him, considering his body was supposed to be in Hell. However, he realized this was not the time for metaphysical reflections. The situation was critical, and he expected other events to unfold at any moment.
Indeed, the night sky had become a silent witness to the incident, suggesting that demons or even thieves might take advantage of the confusion. The flames engulfing the scene were visible throughout the village, causing dread among its inhabitants. Everyone wondered what was happening and worried about the Cleared family's fate.
Knights from the Kingdom of Rymis had already been dispatched to warn neighboring villages, galloping at full speed to prevent a tragedy like the one that struck Haradi.
At that moment, a knight on the outskirts of the village suddenly collided with an invisible barrier, causing him and his mount to stumble.
"What the?!"
He stood up to better observe the obstacle in front of him, which was nothing. His realization came with unprecedented horror: it seemed that one or more people had erected a magical barrier to prevent anyone from leaving or entering.
"Oh, by the Archangel... This is terrible!
"Don't move."
Behind him, two hooded individuals held him under threat, their hands ready to cast a magic spell.
Back at the mansion, Rogue and the guards insisted on the absolute protection of Eliana. They asked her to take refuge in a bunker designed for such emergencies, but she categorically refused to hide without her family.
"Come on, Eliana! It's for your own good!
"I must know if my husband and son are alive.
"Uh-hum... Your attention, please..." a woman's voice suddenly interrupted.
Everyone turned sharply, their eyes searching for the source of this enigmatic voice. Behind them, the garden revealed a mysterious assembly of hundreds of individuals draped in black capes, carefully concealing their silhouettes and faces. At the forefront of this sinister procession stood the dark magician, her left eye hidden behind a strange mass of glitches, while the other was obscured by her blonde hair.
"I apologize for interrupting your exchange, but have you had the chance to come across Lana Temparus recently? We are looking for her, you see."