Chapter 86: Heart Resonance

Amphere Harrison

I find myself struggling to resist the urge to end this treacherous little scoundrel once and for all. The photon saber I wield seems almost eager to slide through Cleru's throat, a vengeful instrument poised for action. With calculated precision, I've ensnared him using my mechanical arms, rendering him utterly immobile. His feeble attempts at movement have been thwarted, leaving him utterly helpless and at my mercy. The atmosphere in the room is tense, and even the onlookers—General Holster, Richard, Dennis, Sherman, and Adrian—seem captivated by the impending climax of this confrontation.

A surge of curiosity compels me to break the silence. "Who exactly is Necross?" I address the insolent Princess's Knight, my voice laced with a mixture of authority and intrigue.

"Necross," he responds, his tone shifting to one of explanation, "is known to shift his appearance frequently, but his most distinctive feature is his iridescent rainbow eyes. He is none other than Nox."

Abruptly, the door creaks open, introducing a new audience to our tense exchange. The Princess, Airi, Jasmine, and the other ladies step into the room, their presence lending an air of gravitas to the unfolding drama. Jasmine moves to intervene, a sense of urgency in her actions, but a subtle gesture from the princess halts her in her tracks. It's as though an unspoken understanding passes between them, and Jasmine retreats, anticipation etched on her features.

My inquisition continues, probing the motives behind Necross's actions. "What purpose did Necross have in seeking you out?" I press, determined to uncover the depths of this conspiracy.

Cleru's response is a murmur, laden with both weariness and a hint of desperation. "He sought my blood. Within it courses the essence of the Saint."

Jasmine interjects, her voice a measured interlude in the charged atmosphere. "I, too, played a part," she reveals, her words an admission of her involvement. "I introduced a minute measure of Priestess Exceria's essence into Cleru's bloodstream, augmenting his natural healing abilities. His mastery of the 'Martyrdom of the Peasant' skill in tournaments made it a necessary enhancement. The infusion also granted him access to the formidable powers of Elform and the essence of Priestess Exceria, all at the behest of H.G.'s directive."

With a calculated deliberateness, I retract my blade and allow my Deus Ex Machina arms to dissipate into thin air. I rise from my previous stance, the tension in the room gradually subsiding, though my gaze remains fixed on the detestable figure before me. Jasmine and the princess share a collective sigh of relief, a silent acknowledgment that the immediate threat of bloodshed has passed. Slowly, Cleru regains his footing, the tumultuous events having momentarily transformed him from a captive to a standing presence.

"I won't hold you accountable for the tragic losses of Rudolf and Reina," I conveyed, a blend of sorrow and reproach evident in my tone. "The weight of your own guilt is the penance you'll bear. Don't anticipate your cooperation with the Task Force, considering the wealth of crucial information you withheld initially."

With those words, I pivoted away, exiting the room. Airi, understanding my sentiments all too well, trailed behind me. Her gaze lingered on my tear-strained yet dry eyes, a poignant acknowledgment of the shared sorrow that bound us together.

Returning to the Guardian's Haven, Airi and I sought solace within its walls, choosing to isolate ourselves from the world's concerns. Over the course of nearly three days, we presided over the somber funerals of Rudolf and Reina, the mournful backdrop of ceaseless rain mirroring the depths of our grief. Throughout those agonizing hours, my tears remained elusive, as if the wellspring of my emotions had run dry.

My comrades advised me to take a brief respite, a mere pause to regain a semblance of strength following the heart-wrenching losses. Meanwhile, my team members shouldered the responsibility of delving into the enigma of the Demonic Cathedral, a pursuit Cleru's revelations had set in motion. Even Exceria had joined their efforts. This left Airi and me in a state of limbo, akin to vulnerable prey awaiting a lurking danger, our vacation overshadowed by the persistent specter of anxiety.

Enshrouded in a cloud of despondency, we felt compelled to undertake our own investigation, a testament to our shared determination. Our first stride led us to Cathedral Exa, a place where we hoped to unearth answers from Vesryn, also known as H.G. Descending into the subterranean depths, we sought to unravel the remaining threads of this intricate puzzle, striving to discern truth from the enigmatic layers. Yet, upon reaching the underground fountain, an unsettling anomaly emerged.

Vesryn occupied her customary spot, suspended in the crystalline waters of the spring. However, a stark transformation had befallen her visage. Her left eye, once the vessel of the Eye of Deus and its essence, now bore a vacant white sclera. Her porcelain-like countenance bore the fractures of living ceramic, an intricate network of fissures that marred her form. This unexpected metamorphosis was as disconcerting as it was perplexing, casting a new shroud of mystery over an already intricate tapestry of events.

"The boy has embarked upon his final visit to the Cathedral," Vesryn's voice resonated, carrying an air of finality. "Yet, I'm resolute in withholding any further revelations, as the truth has already been laid bare. However, I am prepared to bestow upon you the entirety of my strength for the impending ultimate confrontation."

Vesryn's statement unfurled with an eerie detachment, seemingly oblivious to the peculiar transformation afflicting her skin.

Airi, perplexed by the enigma that Vesryn had become, voiced her wonderment. "What's befallen your physical form?" she inquired, her tone a mixture of awe and concern.

Vesryn regarded her own arms with a serene smile. "Ah, this?" she replied, her expression reflecting a peculiar tranquility. "My immortality has waned, and the Eye of Deus is now guiding me beyond the realm of the living. The culmination of my purpose draws near."

Purpose—an echo of the narrative Vesryn had recounted to us, involving a cryptic shadow that had bestowed godlike powers upon her, binding her to fulfill a prophecy's decree.

"At last, the moment of my passing is imminent," Vesryn continued, her words brimming with acceptance. "I shall reunite with my beloved on the other side. But before that, I shall impart upon the young girl the true potential of her being—the Chimeratech Dragon."

With a gesture, Vesryn extended her hands toward my girlfriend, a beckoning that Airi hesitantly responded to. As their hands connected, a radiant surge of golden essence surged, the very core of their beings aglow. Spheres of luminous light danced to life, materializing from thin air and performing a spectral ballet in the subterranean breeze. Vesryn's form gradually succumbed to the incandescence, her being consumed by the effulgent brilliance that enveloped her.

The transformative energies that coursed through Airi's being provoked an overwhelmed response from her. "This power... It's overwhelming, yet comforting," she murmured, her voice carrying a mixture of astonishment and reverence. In tandem with her utterance, her scarlet tresses seemed to defy gravity, standing on end. An ancient rune, bearing the emblem of 'V,' manifested on her forehead, a neon-blue luminescence imbuing it with an otherworldly glow. Airi's sclera underwent a remarkable alteration, adopting a pitch-black hue—the very essence of the Eye of Deus.

Gradually, Vesryn's form underwent a profound transformation, fragmenting into minuscule particles of golden dust that mingled with the very air itself. Her existence waned until all that remained were the motes of light carried by the wind. However, even as her physical presence dissolved, her voice endured within the confines of the cathedral's space.

"As a result of this, you shall wield the capacity to fulfill your sacred obligation—to safeguard your knight, your beloved," Vesryn's resonant voice declared, its spectral timbre echoing through the cathedral's hallowed chambers. "Empowered by the interconnectedness of others' emotions, be they companions or adversaries, you shall embrace and harness the essence of their hearts. This, Airelina Frembell, is the essence of the Heart of the Savior."

Airi turned toward me, her eyes glistening with tears that couldn't extinguish the radiant smile gracing her lips. It was a bittersweet moment, marked by yet another departure from the realm of the living. Nonetheless, in the wake of Vesryn's passing, there lingered a sense of closure, the culmination of an existence defined by penance and the orchestration of destiny. A silent understanding passed between us—we acknowledged that not all endings tied to death were lamentable; sometimes, they represented the long-awaited release into peace.

"Let's return home, Amphy," Airi suggested, her voice a gentle murmur that held an air of serenity.

Our journey brought us back to the inn nestled near the Dragon Knights Academy, our habitual dwelling. As with countless nights that had followed the tragedies of my friends' deaths, sleep remained an elusive visitor. My hours were spent fixated on the ceiling above, the passage of eight hours culminating in the weariness of persistent, sleepless nights. The respite of a day off proved insufficient in alleviating the weight of my fatigue and sorrow.

Yet, on this particular night, a shift occurred. Airi propelled herself onto my bed, her landing gentle and uncharacteristically silent. Ordinarily, her antics would provoke my playful protests, accompanied by a mock karate chop to her forehead. However, my heartache had left me devoid of the energy for such exchanges.

"Still finding it impossible to sleep?" Airi's voice pierced the darkness, her words a quiet invitation to share in my restlessness.

I sighed, my arm instinctively moving to shield my eyes from the nonexistent light. "Yeah," I admitted, the weight of recent events still heavy on my heart. "It's just... Rudolf and Reina..."

"You're not alone, Amphy," Airi assured, her touch gentle as her fingers brushed against my cheeks. Her movements held a tenderness that defied the darkness around us. In the obscurity, her lips found mine in a soft collision—a kiss laden with reassurance. Her voice followed suit, a soothing melody in the quiet. "I sense your fear, but remember, you're not alone. I'll protect you and everyone else. I promise."

Our heartbeats synced, a rhythm of solace in the midst of uncertainty. In response to her touch, I gripped her shoulders, seamlessly shifting our positions. Now, with her beneath me, I placed tender kisses on her forehead and lips, the physical manifestation of my feelings.

Amidst the embrace, words spilled forth, unguarded and true. "Airi... I love you," I confessed, my voice a whisper that hung in the air.

"I love you too, Amphy," she responded, her words a declaration underscored by sincerity. "So please, don't let this darkness consume you any longer."

Logic retreated as emotions surged, and I found myself guided by an instinctual desire for connection. My hands began to trace the contours of her form, a tender exploration that soon led to the removal of barriers between us. The warmth of her body pressed against mine, each breath shared in the darkness. Her vibrant red eyes held a captivating allure, her lips an invitation that begged for more. As sweat glistened on her fair skin, her touch and mine intertwined in an intricate dance of desire.

Throughout the night, our bodies and hearts entwined, a passionate communion that eclipsed the worries and sorrows that had cast shadows on my soul. Love became our haven, dispelling the darkness that had threatened to consume us.