Alma 91 The Sinner

The rising star who'd become a unique bridge between the two empires had apparently disappeared. His absence had created an opportunity for both empires in an unexpected way.

The North and East had been given a legitimate reason to interfere into the Holy Church's domain. Even if the North could not justifiably pin the destruction of Lei-en on the Holy Church, the could still use the missing Lord of Evergreen instead.

Both empires now had full rights to put pressure onto the Holy Church.

The Stainless Prince had disappeared during his visit to Fourth Heaven claimed the East.

The Lord of Evergreen had disappeared during his visit to Fourth Heaven claimed the North.

That was all the needed — an excuse. They could now, especially after the devastating attack on the Holy Church, nip the threat once and for all. The timeline of the unified offensive against the Holy Church Alliance had been pushed forward tremendously now.

Reed wracked his brain for a possible method to delay what they'd set into motion. Perhaps if he showed himself, he'd be able to deny the empires of their convenient excuse, but they'd likely find another way to spin the truth to their advantage.

Would Reed's word be worth compared to the royal family's in North?

Probably nothing, most likely. Although I've got the title of Evergreen, it won't count for shit against the word of the Kingscrown Family.

I have very little sway in the North, even if I'm on relatively good terms with Violett and Haydn…

If we went to Velvund, he'd likely support us. He promised to help me and I trust his word but…

What would he say to him? He would have to explain to him what had happened. What they had done. If anyone in the goddamned continent deserved his respect and trust other than Lu'um it was him.

He would have to tell him the truth. That he was the one responsible for what happened in Fourth Heaven and at Lei-en.

The thousands of innocent civilians that died in Fourth Heaven and the 1.7 million of Lei-en were his crimes.

All dead — because of me. So many lives gone because of our actions.

Their lives weighed down upon his shoulders heavily, but he understood that there was no going back from what he'd done.

Reed knew that if he went to Velvund, he'd find the kindness in his heart and help him, even after knowing what he did. He was good man.

The thought of telling Velvund the truth scared Reed. Last thing he wanted to do was disappoint the man who brought him into his family. Tell him that he was the murderer of millions of innocents.

I can't be a prince, not after what I've done. I don't deserve Gramps' help. I can't go to him with my tail between my legs and tell him I've fucked up… The shame would eat Reed alive if he did.

How would he even repay — make amends for what he had caused? Was there even a way to do that?

He did not know... but he'd make sure to never fail like that ever again.

If it came down it, he'd lie to all of his friends if it ensured him a decisive advantage. To make the difficult, painful decisions in order to win. He wouldn't let other people suffer because of his failures ever again.

Reed was resolved, for he had sworn an oath to her.

He would NEVER fail again.

To NEVER take what she had sacrificed herself — his life — for granted ever again.

She wouldn't be there to protect him anymore.

Reed realized that he had to grow up — shed his immaturity if he was to survive the coming days without her.

Lu'um gazed at Reed with a perplexed expression and said, "What's the matter? Can't sleep? If you're cold, I can help you… stay warm."

If he didn't, the next time he'd lose even more… and that, he could not tolerate.

Reed grabbed the bed's thick comforter and tossed on top of Lu'um without warning, startling her.

"What was that, babe? I can't hear you. Did you say something?"

A muffled cry of protest came out from beneath the comforter in response but Reed ignored it, for he had other plans.

Reed was going to demonstrate his love for her the same way his older brothers once did for him back during his orphanage days.

He clenched his muscles as tight as possible and then released the superheated ball of toxic gas he'd been saving at full force. The hot wings had caused a terrifying reaction deep within his bowels and now it'd been released.

When Reed heard her muffled screams of horror, he cackled in delight.

Eventually, she managed to clawed her way out of the comforter and gasped for fresh air as she recollected herself.

"Oh? What's the matter? I thought you wanted to stay warm," said Reed as he combed Lu'um's frazzled hair with his hands.

He wanted to reflect some more on his past failures, but…

…For now, he'd push his troubling thoughts away and focus on the matter at hand. He understood that there was nothing to be gained by tormenting himself. It wasn't productive, it was just pathetic.

Punishing himself — feeling sorry about his failures would not amend what he'd done.

There'd be a time to answer for his crimes, after he finished what he'd set out do. Astrid and Sebastian were almost out of time…

The missing pair enjoyed their calm night in the middle of nowhere. Well, one enjoyed it more than the other, but that was par for the course when it came to them…

Unfortunately, other people had not spent their night as comfortably as them.

Two people had not seen the light of day in the longest. In fact, it'd been so long since they'd seen light that they'd forgotten how it looked like.

They'd been brought down into the depths of a pit, an ancient tomb buried kilometers underneath the ground. It was a secret ruin that a joint Dragoncrest-Ashborn expedition had discovered several millennia ago when they had first resettled in the East.

It was an expansive labyrinth that had been sealed centuries before the Great Barrier War, predating even the arrival of the First Generation of Otherworlders, when the Ancient Mulians still occupied the majority of the continent.

Xibalba — that was what their scholars said the tomb was called.

That was where they had been taken, deep into the bowels of the earth where the sun did not shine… a place where shadows ruled supreme.

He had lost track of time. He no longer knew how long he'd been kept trapped in the room. There was no way to tell how much time had passed when there were no windows, let alone even light in the room.

He'd been shackled with Animsealing restraints that constantly siphoned Anima when he tried gathering it. A novel solution, since they could not remove his ability to manipulate Anima aside from straight up killing him.

An Alma could not removed with conventional means. It was beyond anyone's ability to accomplish a feat like that…

Without Anima, he'd become a mortal again. An imprisoned mortal.

The silence was deafening. He'd been left alone to his thoughts.

It was as if he'd died. Sealed in a pitch-black room — a coffin. Trapped in his mind.

A part of him had already accepted his death, but was fine with that.

He'd gladly take the fall if meant that she'd survive. That was more than enough for him to endure.

It wasn't supposed to be like this… we accomplished our mission!

They had done what their elders had commanded, so why had they been punished?

Why? He knew what he was, but even so, he had strived to become someone worthy of the family name. Labored for so long to not disappoint the elders, only for them to have done… this to him.

More than a decade of diligent service had amounted to nothing.

He'd spent unknown amount time denying the truth. After all, he'd spent so much time and effort into trying to become someone of value to the family.

…Eventually though, he broke. He had to accept that he'd been discarded.

In the end, he came to the conclusion that this was deserved, especially considering what he'd done.

A befitting punishment for a betrayer who'd sold out a friend.

Sebastian weakly laughed at himself in derision.

What am I even good for? For what purpose was even kept alive?

He closed his eyes and tried his best to remember when it all had first started. Long before he had even realized that he'd been allowed to live…

Chapter end