"Because he is family, Rael." Eon's voice was faint but insistent. "Whether he reciprocates or not, he is still my family—our family. You must… do it for me. Please… For my sake, forgive him and save Eldest Brother."
Rael's heart twisted, and he ran a hand through her hair, his thumb brushing gently over her forehead. He could see the exhaustion in her eyes, the weight of the world resting on her fragile shoulders. But he also saw the love, the unwavering trust she had in him.
"Eon…" He whispered her name as if it were the only thing that mattered in the world. He couldn't let her suffer any longer. He decided to do whatever it took to give her peace, even if it hurt him.
"I don't want to, but I'll do it," Rael said softly, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him.
A small, grateful smile tugged at Eon's lips, though it was faint. "Thank you…" she murmured. "I knew that you would listen to me."
Rael nodded. He didn't need to think any longer. He would do anything for her. He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead and promised. "I will save him for you, Eon. I swear I will."
And with that, he closed his eyes and prepared himself for what was to come.
After a while, Rael's footsteps echoed through the halls as he left his room and made his way toward the Temple.
The guards at the Temple's entrance tried to stop him, raising their hands as he approached. But when they saw the cold, unwavering look in his eyes, their resolve faltered. He didn't say a word at first. He simply stared at them, his gaze like a sharp blade, daring them to stop him.
"Move aside," he said in the end, his voice low but firm.
The guards hesitated for only a moment before stepping back and opening the doors for him.
Rael walked inside, his eyes scanning the room, and there they were. A couple of elders, the grand elder, some family members—his father, the Duke, and his aunt/stepmother, Cathy Storm, who stood off to the side, her expression cold. The High Priestess was kneeling next to Raphael, performing some kind of healing ritual, her hands glowing with divine energy.
The others sensed his presence for a moment, all of their stares fell upon him and Rael stared back.
His stepmother's voice broke the tense silence.
"Azrael!" Cathy Storm's voice was sharp as she rushed toward him, her eyes flashing with fury. "What do you think you're doing here? You should leave this place, now."
Rael didn't respond. He didn't even look at her. He simply kept moving forward, determined, his gaze never leaving the High Priestess and his brother. Cathy's hands shot out to grab his arm, pulling him back, but Rael was too quick. He twisted his arm free without even flinching. His eyes met his father's, who stood silent but watchful, and his words came out cold, unwavering.
"I'm here to help Raphael," he said, his voice calm but edged with the weight of the situation.
Cathy scoffed, her lip turning into a sneer. "Help him? After what you've done to him? You destroyed his life, you monster, and now you want to fix it? What a joke."
Rael's expression didn't change. He ignored her words, looking only at his father now.
He stepped closer, his voice firm. "Father, do you want my help or not?"
Rael's words hung in the air, and the room fell quiet. The High Priestess, still kneeling beside Raphael, didn't look up from her work, but the tension in the room was obvious. Rael's gaze never left his father's face, waiting for an answer.
"I can save him," Rael continued, his tone leaving no room for argument. "But there isn't much time left to bring his soul orb back with the Arcana spirit. All of you were aware of this, too."
His eyes remained locked with his father's, not caring about the others in the room. All that mattered was the Duke's decision. If he accepts his help, fine. If not, he would return to his room and tell Eon that their father didn't let him save Raphael and there was nothing he could do.
Cathy's sneer deepened, but Rael didn't spare her a glance.
The Duke stood silent for a long moment, his eyes narrowing as he took in everything Rael had said. His mind raced, trying to reconcile what was before him. Suddenly, he realized something. "The Hourglass," He let out a gasp of surprise.
As Rael nodded, the High Priestess added, "The Hourglass could indeed manipulate time. If manipulated carefully, it could bring Raphael's soul orb back to its best condition."
Rael then spoke once more, his voice unwavering. "I can reverse Raphael's state, bring him back 12 hours before his soul orb was shattered. But once I use the skill, he will disappear. He'll appear in the same place when he was 12 hours ago."
The Elders murmured among themselves in favor of Rael's suggestion.
Before the Duke could respond, Cathy's voice broke through it, harsh and accusing. "He's lying!" she snapped, her eyes flashing with venom. "The High Priestess has already found a way to heal the soul orb using the shattered dust! It'll take months, yes, but it can be done! Azrael is trying to destroy Raphael's chances of recovery, trying to destroy the soul dust for good. With Raphael out of his way, he would be the sole heir to the Duchy, and the Duke couldn't punish him harshly either. Don't listen to his nonsense."
The High Priestess, who had been silent until now, gave a nod of confirmation. "It's true that with the shattered dust, we could eventually restore the soul orb. But the process is slow, and it will require time. Moreover, the Arcana spirit would not return. We would be using the forbidding ritual in bringing another Arcana spirit from the Spirit realm and sealing it into his mindscape. However, the newly formed Arcana spirit would never be as strong as the former one."
Rael's gaze turned cold, his face expressionless. He wasn't swayed by Cathy's accusations, for she had always hated him since birth.
He turned to his father again, his eyes locking with the Duke's. "I don't care what Aunt Cathy says. Raphael is your son, your blood. Only you have the right to decide what happens to him now." Rael's voice was calm, but there was an intensity behind it, a quiet authority that made it clear he wasn't asking for permission. He was offering a choice.
The Duke met Rael's gaze, his brow furrowed as he gave a nod. "Azrael, come forward and help our your brother."
"But… Dear… he is…" Cathy was about to protest against it but the Duke gave a swift order. "Cathy, leave this place right now. You shall wait outside until I told you so."
"Dear…" Cathy looked shocked, betrayed by her husband.
The Duke, however, sternly pointed his finger toward the door. "Now, leave."
Cathy bowed slightly, and grabbed her long gown, storming out of the room. "Damn you Azrael… You evil fiend… You killed my sister and you want to sabotage my child's future too? If anything happens to him, I swear I'll do anything to kill you and your sister." She hurled insults at Rael, although in her mind.
Once she was out of sight, Rael approached Raphael.
The Duke watched, his face impassive as Rael summoned the Hourglass.
"Soul skill: Chrono Rewind."
The transparent, colorless energy wrapped around Raphael, lifting him up like a wisp of smoke. Rael's hands tightened around the Hourglass, his heart pounding in his chest as he never unleashed this soul skill before. Yeah, he was as nervous as others, wondering whether it would really work.
As the light grew brighter, Rael's gaze locked onto his brother's unconscious form, the body now flickering in the swirling energy. The result of the battle was now being undone, reversed by the sheer force of the Chronorewind.
The energy surged and then, in an instant, Raphael vanished, dissolving into the air like a million particles of stardust, his body caught in the reversal of time. Rael's breath caught in his throat.
The High Priestess looked at the Duke. "It worked," She said.
"Really?"
"Yes."
The Duke patted Rael's shoulder. "It must be hard for you to do this, son. Putting away your hatred for your brother and saving him, when you sacrificed your future away like that…"
Rael shrugged nonchalantly, interrupting him. "I still don't forgive him, Father. It is Eon who requested me."
"Eon woke up?" The Duke's eyes lit up in happiness.
"Yeah, but now you have to focus on your son's whereabouts, Father," replied Rael, turning around to walk away.
Meanwhile, somewhere in the White Mountains of Camelot;
Raphael awoke with a start, disoriented and confused. His surroundings were familiar—an isolated, barren cliffside, bathed in the soft, silver glow of the moonlight. The shattered remnants of stone jutted from the earth like jagged teeth, which were created by him during his practice in the earlier afternoon. He blinked rapidly, trying to clear his mind.
"Where am I? And what was going on? The last thing I remember is…"