Chapter 27 - Athiris and Karil

Kazaris had gone to bring the flower that Nisus mentioned for Karil, but a lot of time had passed, and he still hadn't returned. Karil was still unconscious on the bed. Athiris came beside Karil and held his hand, thinking, "Karil, I can never be a good father to you. You are human, and you deserve a good life in the human world."

Mellory looked at Athiris with curiosity and said, "You are a demon, right? Why do you care so much about this boy?"

Athiris gave a sad smile and said, "Because whenever I see this boy, I remember my own son."

Mellory: "Really? I kind of understand."

Athiris: "I'm going to check around here. Take care of Karil."

Athiris left the room to ensure Nisus's true intentions. Suddenly, Athiris disappeared. Mallory was shocked and said, "W-wait, I..."

While invisible, Athiris entered a room where Nisus was sitting.

Patri: "But Kazaris was a friend of our father in the past, and Karil's presence made our father return home. They are our friends too."

Nisus: "They are both demons, especially the red-eyed boy. If we don't destroy them now, we will be destroyed in the future."

Nisus and Patri were sitting on the couch talking, unaware that Athiris was listening to their conversation.

Patri: "I kind of get your point, but what did you do with Kazaris?"

Nisus smirked and said, "I sent him to the angels; he will never return."

Patri: "Really? At least you solved the problem without fighting and bloodshed."

Nisus frowned and said, "Yeah, but the red-eyed boy is still there."

Patri: "What do you plan to do with him?"

Nisus: "Now that Kazaris and Lyotan aren't here, I can easily kill him. I just need to use a death potion."

Athiris thought, "As long as I'm here, no one can harm Karil!"

Athiris returned, and Mellory looked at him in surprise and said, "Where did you suddenly go?"

Athiris carried Karil and said, "We need to leave quickly. Nisus wants to kill Karil."

Mellory: "What?! What do you mean?!"

Athiris, tense and stressed, said, "We don't have time. We need to leave quickly!"

Mellory: "Wait, how are you going to escape?"

Athiris: "I don't know. If they notice my presence, I might have to kill a few people."

Mellory: "There's no need for that. I'll distract Nisus so you can escape with Karil."

Nisus was heading back to the room where Karil was. Mellory approached him and said, "Mr. Nisus, are you here?"

Nisus thought, "Where did this girl come from?!"

Nisus stopped and said, "What is it?"

Mellory: "Sorry to bother you, but I have a few questions for you."

Athiris saw that Mellory was distracting Nisus and carried Karil, quickly leaving the clinic.

Nisus frowned and said, "I don't have time for you. Go ask someone else."

Mellory thought, "Mission accomplished."

Nisus went to the room where Karil was, only to find that no one was there.

Nisus, angrily, said, "What?! That boy couldn't have woken up!"

Athiris took Karil to an old village, a very green and almost forested place. The houses in the village were destroyed during the war. 

Athiris went near a ruined house, leaned against the wall, and placed Karil on his lap. 

Looking up at the sky, Athiris took a deep breath and said, "Maybe I should have done this from the beginning, bringing Karil here and living together right here."

Karil opened his eyes and said, "Where am I?"

Athiris caressed Karil's face and said, "Don't worry, you're safe now. Nothing will harm you."

Suddenly, Karil sat up and said sadly, "I had turned into a demon and was destroying everything!"

Athiris: "Don't worry, I saved you. I'll never let that happen to you again."

Karil stood up and looked at the ruined village houses and said, "What happened to this village?"

Athiris: "This village was destroyed in a war about twenty years ago."

Suddenly, Karil felt sick and covered his mouth, then fell to his knees.

Athiris grabbed Karil and said, "What's wrong? What happened to you?!"

Karil fell onto Athiris, and with a quiet voice said, "It's all my fault, if I didn't exist, everything would be better."

Athiris angrily said, "That's not true. You just wanted to take revenge for someone you loved. It's the fault of those people who treated you cruelly!"

Karil looked at Athiris and said, "Where is Kazaris?"

Athiris smiled and said, "Kazaris is fine. He went to get medicine for you. I'm sure he'll come back."

Karil, happy, said, "Really?"

Then Karil laid his head on Athiris's chest and fell asleep.

Athiris stroked Karil's back and said, "I hope Kazaris returns soon and finds this place. This boy needs him."

Kazaris was in the land of the angels, watching the cityscape from the top of a building. 

Alorin came up to Kazaris and said, "It's a beautiful view, isn't it?"

Kazaris sighed and said, "Beautiful? I don't know."

Seeing Kazaris's somber expression, Alorin thought, "Ever since he came here, he's been lost in thought, staring at the view. I need to find a way to help him feel better."

Alorin: "You said your brother's life is in danger and you need to get the yellow flower to him, right?"

Kazaris looked at Alorin sadly and said, "He's not my real brother; his eyes are red, but he's a human."

Alorin, surprised, said, "A human is your brother?"

Kazaris's face contorted and he said, "I don't want anything else. Even if I have to live here for the rest of my life, it doesn't matter. I just want to save that boy."

Alorin, saddened, said, "I'll go talk to the leader. Maybe we can convince him. After all, your friend's life is at risk."

Kazaris gave a sad smile and said, "Alorin, I'll repay you somehow."

Alorin went to the great hall to talk to the leader about Kazaris's problem. 

The leader angrily looked at Alorin and said, "Alorin, have you forgotten that Kazaris is a demon? He lied to you to get you to free him!"

Alorin: "That's not true. I looked into his eyes carefully. Kazaris was really upset."

The leader sighed and said, "Let's assume you're right and someone's life is in danger. Kazaris is a demon; he'll use you and then betray you."

Alorin: "But someone's life is in danger. I can't be indifferent to that."

The leader sighed and said, "Don't talk about this anymore. I will not allow Kazaris to leave this land."

Alorin thought, "No matter what happens, I will help Kazaris save his brother."