After the horrific battle between the beasts and the spirits, and the death of Zelistina, the field was silent yet filled with grief. Lara rose from the ground, tears streaming down her face, her eyes full of pain.
She looked at Ji and said in a broken tone:
"Why...? Why did this happen?"
Ji tried to explain, but his voice was filled with regret:
"I didn't fully know her intentions... I thought I was helping."
Lara interrupted him, her voice a mix of anger and sorrow:
"You leave a child like Levin alone in a place like this?!"
Ji was taken aback and asked:
"You mean Levin?"
Lara screamed in anger, pointing at him:
"Yes! He saw all his soldiers being torn apart and killed before his eyes! Don't you have a conscience?!"
Unable to contain her rage, she drew her spear and moved toward Ji to attack. But before she could reach him, Levin's trembling voice echoed from behind:
"Stop it!"
They all turned toward him. Levin stood there, tears streaming down his cheeks. His voice was shaky with grief and fear as he said:
"I've seen enough for today... This is all my fault. I have to die."
He raised Zelistina's dagger, moving it toward his neck.
Ji and Lara rushed toward him, trying to stop him, but exhaustion weighed heavily on them. Lara collapsed to the ground, too drained to continue, and Ji struggled to even stay on his feet after everything that had happened.
Ji shouted hoarsely:
"No, Levin! Stop!"
But Levin, crying, lifted the dagger higher and said with a voice filled with guilt:
"I'm sorry... I ruined everything."
In the moment when he was about to thrust the dagger into his neck, his hand began trembling violently as if some unseen force was stopping him. Suddenly, a strong hand grabbed his wrist and forced him to drop the dagger.
Ji turned and saw Don standing behind Levin, gripping his wrist tightly.
Ji shouted:
"Don! Stop it!"
Don let go of Levin's wrist after throwing the dagger aside. He then walked toward Ji, his voice sharp with uncharacteristic anger:
"The one thing I despise most is seeing children being broken by fools like you, you scum!"
Ji tried to respond, but Don cut him off sharply:
"If you enjoy making others suffer, then you're no different from the beasts. Remember, I have my own reasons for staying with you... so don't make me regret it."
With that, Don vanished as he always did, leaving Ji standing in silence, overwhelmed by mixed emotions of guilt and anger.
Slowly, Ji approached Levin, who was sitting on the ground, trembling from the shock. Ji spoke softly, his voice full of remorse:
"I'm sorry. I didn't realize how much you were suffering."
Levin answered in a trembling voice:
"It's not your fault... I just thought I—"
Lara, who had risen with difficulty, interrupted him and said in an exhausted tone:
"No, it is your fault, Ji. Everything started because of you."
She then walked over to Levin, lifted him gently, and said:
"Don't worry, little one. Just rest. Where do you want us to go now?"
Levin replied shyly:
"To the palace... to the right."
Lara agreed with a lifeless voice:
"Alright, let's go."
Ji followed them in silence. Halfway through the journey, Levin suddenly said:
"Ji, I have a gift for you."
Ji responded coldly:
"Keep it. I don't want anything right now."
Lara glanced at Levin and said mockingly:
"Don't give him anything. He's too arrogant and doesn't deserve gifts."
But Levin insisted, pulling out a small blue crystal from his pouch. He said with a shy smile:
"This crystal belongs to you, doesn't it?"
Ji stopped in his tracks, staring at it in shock. He then replied:
"Yes... it's mine."
Levin handed him the crystal and said:
"Here, take it. I don't need it."
Ji felt a wave of gratitude and took the crystal. As soon as he touched it, his body absorbed it. A strange power coursed through his veins.
Don's voice suddenly echoed in his mind, laced with sarcasm:
"Only four crystals left. Get ready, the adventure isn't over yet."
After a long walk, they finally reached the palace. They were all covered in blood, the signs of battle still fresh on their bodies.
A soldier approached Lara and asked:
"What's wrong with Prince Levin?"
Lara replied with exhaustion in her voice:
"His hand is broken because of some strange pressure. He also saw all his soldiers and their captain torn apart before his eyes. He needs rest and treatment."
The soldier responded with concern:
"Very well, please come in."
They took Levin to his quarters for treatment. Meanwhile, the king summoned Lara to discuss what had happened.
In the throne room, the king sat with a solemn expression, watching Lara, who looked utterly drained and sorrowful. He approached her gently and said with a comforting tone:
"My child, what happened? Why do you look so heartbroken?"
Lara lifted her head slowly, her eyes brimming with tears, and said in a trembling voice:
"I've lost everything... My tribe, my family... They all turned into beasts."
The king moved closer, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder as he said softly:
"I know the pain is heavy, but remember, you're not alone. We're here for you. I'll take care of you as if you were my own daughter."
Lara looked at him, tears streaming silently, then nodded slightly and said in a faint voice:
"Thank you... That means so much to me."
The king smiled warmly and added:
"You've shown great courage today, and you'll always have a place here with us. You'll never face this world alone."
As his words filled the room, Lara felt, for the first time in a long while, a sense of comfort amidst the overwhelming grief.
That night, Ji lay on the grass outside the palace, gazing at the star-filled sky illuminated by the moonlight. He whispered to himself:
"I've caused so much trouble... Because of me, Zelistina died, Lara lost her family, and Levin suffered a trauma he may never recover from."
Don suddenly appeared beside him, smirking as he said:
"You're like a rock that just sits there! Instead of wallowing in regret, do something useful. Train, become stronger, so you can stop the bloodbaths—or as you call them, tragedies."
Ji replied firmly:
"You're right. I need to train."
Don added:
"And don't forget about the remaining crystals."
Ji answered with determination:
"I'll find them all. That's a promise."
End of Chapter...