Wicked Reincarnation

Something was hurting. It wasn't clear what. Something was soft. He wasn't sure what. Something was wet. It was also warm. A sharp pain. Then a blurry memory. And a hatred for the world appeared.

'Brother! Can we go to the Mortal World once?'

A dream that should've never been dreamt.

'Of course, I'll bring you there.'

A promise that should've never been made.

'Really? You're the best!'

'And you're the only one I have left. No matter what I'll grant your wish.'

And an aspiration that should've never been sought.

It all ended in death and darkness. Forgiving? No one.

He wouldn't forgive anyone. Especially not the council families. A simple request that has been granted to everyone else but denied to him.

'Brother, it hurts. I don't want-' a pair of eyes that desperately held onto life but finally, the hand fell to the ground.

Another pair of eyes that turned dead. Ah, alright. End it if you want. This whole world. Anyone, everyone feel my pain. Go through what I've been through.

Yet it didn't matter. He couldn't get his dead sister back. So what? It all wasn't worth it anyway. An eternity walked in darkness. But the end had a tiny little glint of light.

He opened his eyes and saw the glint of light shining brighter than any life source in this world. His hand mustered strength to caress the soft wet cheek, "Ma…ria."

A small smile formed on his lips. Dying like this wasn't too bad. Dying in her arms was good.

"Don't… be sad…"

Yet his words made her cry even more, "Why?"

Why? Timo thought back to a few seconds prior. Wasn't it obvious? Because he didn't want her to die.

This light should continue to brighten up the world even if it couldn't do so for his life anymore.

"Isn't… it ob…vious?"

"No, it isn't!"

Maria sobbed and held him tighter in her arms.

Timo closed his eyes.

"NO! Timo hold on a bit more! I'm healing you! So just-" Maria concentrated all of her life force on the brutal wound in Timo's body, but even with her healing, it was too late.

It should've been Maria who was killed by Min. So why did Timo feel the need to throw himself in front of her to save her? Sobs stuck in her throat as she choked out, "Yano's fighting with Min. So, I'm safe. So you… you just focus on healing."

"Ha…ha…" Timo was happy seeing her care for him. He also wanted to cry. If things would've been different, if he chose a different path back then, could they've been happily together?

He wanted to spend more time together, he...he…he…

"Because… I love you," finally these words that fought so hard in his mind, made it out. As a response, Maria squeezed him tighter and put her forehead on his.

"I know, I know, so stay with me. Don't leave."

The feelings Maria felt for Timo she didn't understand, the reason why he loved her she also didn't understand but right now the only thing she wanted to do and say was, "Me too. I love you too."

"Then… I'm happy, very happy," he slightly bumped her nose and then-

Throughout the silence surrounding them, the held back wails, tears and sobs all came out at full force. Nothing could hold them back and nothing could mend this broken heart. Only two words were chanted like a ritual, "Don't leave. Don't leave. Don't leave. Don't leave. Just don't!"

Until they turned into "Why? Why? Why?" and more desperate and despairing notes that transcended into a whirlwind to wreak havoc upon everything yet nothing.

In the final moments of Timo, light returned to his eyes and shone as clear and bright as they used to. This image of him would be forever engraved in Maria's mind.

It was so beautiful and breathtaking as if his death was just a lie. A nightmare he pulled her out of. An image that would forever haunt her yet lull her to sleep for the wish of eternity to also bestow her. It was a curse.

***

For Yano, it was a damaging sight. He could see how Timo's face lit up when he saw Maria and then contorted into horror as Min was about to kill her. If that was Lia, Yano would've done the same. This was one point Yano liked about Timo.

Even though the latter seemed like he didn't care about anything, his genuineness and excitement towards Maria was real. Just like him, Yano wasn't interested in anything until he met Lia. That was why Yano felt a connection towards Timo and actually liked him, refused to fight him.

And that was why Yano mourned Timo's death. And why Yano charged at Min. If Min was here that meant he hasn't found Lia yet. Although Yano told Lia to wait outside, Yano trusted that Lia had a reason to go into the palace. It was also Yano's fault for wasting time with Timo.

If those two had properly settled things instead of fooling around, then all of this might have not happened.

Min's attack aiming for Maria was blocked by Timo. Min was at first shocked but then anger welled up inside of him. One of his most trusted men turned on him for a mere woman.

Min grit his teeth. It was the same thing that happened with Leo. Were all of these people easily controlled by their feelings and emotions? Were they all so utterly useless and lacking loyalty? After Min recovered from his initial shock he aimed for Maria again, only to find himself kicked through the entrance.

Min landed on the plaza. Confusion on his face. Then he saw Yano coming.

"I should've dealt with you sooner," Yano closed in on Min who stood up and finally understood, "So you are also trying to stop me?"

A mocking smile appeared on Min's cold face.

"Min you gotta open your eyes more. You were always so narrow-minded, not even a machete would have split you open," Yano smiled, "I was never supporting you either. I've always been part of the hidden families."

This caused Min's face to turn ugly, "What did you say?"

"You still haven't figured it out?" this time Yano mockingly laughed at Min, "Skyla, Mil and I were from the beginning part of the hidden families and-"

Yano drew his sword, "Everything you've done to Lia, I'll return it a 100 times."

Min was so angry he couldn't say or do anything. Again it was that damned woman. Just how many people were willing to fight for her? What was so special about her?

What made Min even more upset was the fact that Min never knew that these three belonged to the hidden families and he even tried to recruit them. They really weren't going to leave him any face. Min has never seen Yano fight properly but Min already knew. Against Yano, only he could defeat him.

***

Inside the palace, Lia and Holn made their way in search of the cube. Eri did mention that Min was in the throne room. So, in the end, they had to face him and eventually kill him. Lia was a bit reassured to have Holn with her.

However, they needed to hurry up. As soon as they found the cube and Lia absorbed it, they would kill Min, which meant that everyone else didn't have to fight anymore. Lia was anxious and worried about the others.

But the problem was that their way to the throne room was cut off. Lia definitely didn't go the wrong way. So how did they end up in the staff quarter? On the opposite side of the palace?

"Lia, you sure your brain didn't get mushed?" Holn smirked but Lia ignored him. Then after a while, she realised, "They blocked us."

"Blocked? What do you mean?" Holn couldn't follow. In the first place, they didn't even see anybody.

"They're purposely leading us away."

"How?"

"I guess it's a power."

What was it? Illusion? One that made Lia see things differently?

"Holn tell me how this hallway we're in looks like. Anything special?"

"Erm..." Holn still couldn't follow but decide to go along quickly, "There are 5 doors on each side with flower vases and-"

Lia guessed it. She was imagining the wrong hallways. This was really someone playing tricks on her, "From no on, describe the hallways to me."

"Huh? What…erm ok," Holn was still confused but went along.

After a whole lot of ordeal and Holn taking care of several soldiers who came in their way, they finally reached the throne room, a few minutes after Min chased after Maria and killed Timo.

In the middle of the room the golden throne chair stood and on the chair was the cube they were looking for.

"I see it!" Holn pointed at it and Lia nodded but she didn't dare to rush to it instantly, after all, why did it lay there so conveniently without anyone supervising it?

Where was Min? Wasn't he supposed to be here? What was he doing? Lia got a bad feeling but they had to hurry.

"Lemme get it," Holn also knew that something was wrong, so in case they were any traps, he'd be the first to receive them.

"But-"

"It's ok," Holn was already halfway there. Both his and Lia's heart were beating frantically. It wouldn't calm down until Holn's fingers finally touched the smooth surface of the cube.

His hand wrapped around the cube and tossed it into the air. With a grin, Holn said, "I got it. Nothing's happened!"

Lia thought it was amazing just how carfree Holn could be. She also wanted to add that he shouldn't play with it but then realised they had to destroy it afterwards anyway.

Holn handed the cube to Lia. There was nothing special about it. It was a cube that guided the ghosts but Lia saw nothing. Lia poured her life force into it but it didn't activate. Although she had Min's lifeforce inside of her, the cube wouldn't yield to her.

Then Lia decided to extract the lifeforce stored in it but again it wasn't working. In the first place, Lia didn't even feel Min's lifeforce in it. There were a few possibilities.

Either Eri lied or the cube was fake or Min stored his lifeforce somewhere else. Either way, Lia still had to destroy this. Even if it was fake, it was an eyesore.

Without even thinking twice Lia smashed it on the ground and stomped on it.

The cube shattered into pieces and rolled around the ground.

"Did it work?" Holn saw Lia's displeased face and wondered.

"No, this might be a fake. We need to search somewhere else."

However, when they ran out of the room, a few hallways down they met a surprising person. They turned to Lia and Holn, "Now I can redeem myself."

A grin spread on their face.