The Holy Site
Holy Site. The sacred domain. A word denoting a holy place or land imbued with divine grace. A single man stood in this place, where even the name evoked an aura of profound sanctity.
Rowen Valenos. Born as the illegitimate son, he had not inherited the "Valenos" name. But now that his status as an illegitimate child had been proven false, he could claim it proudly.
The reason this man, bearing memories of his past life, had come to the Holy Site was simple.
The holy sword.
The fragments of the holy sword used to seal the Demon Kings had become pillars, binding them eternally. All that remained was its hilt.
Even knowing this, he had set foot here. Because the Holy Site was the tomb of Rowen's past life—Rian Rose.
A fairy tale from his childhood had described it thus: The surviving hero buried the sacrificed hero's body in a sunlit place. That place was called the Holy Site, known to none.
But Rowen knew its exact location. Mio had told him, though the fragments of his past life fused within him, combined with the blessings of his god and angel, had perfected that knowledge. An imprint etched into his soul.
The seal on the back of Rowen's hand glowed with light. Following its direction would lead him to the holy sword. Being imprinted on his soul, it guided him to the traces of his former body.
Rowen could sense it. He followed the light, riding his frost steed.
The light soon pointed beneath his feet. He dismounted carefully, stroking its mane gently. It shattered like breaking ice, dissolving into fragments. But it would reappear at his call—no issue there.
Leaving Valenos Castle behind worried him slightly. Yet with the alliance forged with Kalia Rune, he could trust them. Above all, Sirayunsul didn't seem the type to betray him. She had, after all, been briefly raised by Kadan.
Besides, Rowen wouldn't be gone long. He'd retrieve the holy sword and return immediately.
"This is the place..."
"Yeah. My tomb."
Arahan's expression was subtle. She loved him with a fiercely burning heart. Hearing this was his past life's grave stirred complex feelings. She didn't want to see it, yet she did.
The fairy tale hadn't mentioned it, but she'd overheard Mio and Rowen arguing nearby before the Snowfall reclamation operation.
—Rowen, going alone again?
—Cut it out. I'm done hearing it!
—You... don't you remember? You went off alone, lost all your limbs, and ended up with a sword through your skull!
It must be gruesome. After a millennium, perhaps only dust remained. ...Not that her worry was excessive. Arahan simply wanted to see his past self in the flesh—far better than any recorded image.
She glanced at Rowen. He looked uncomfortable too. Afraid to face his former self? Especially if his last memory was being pierced by that demonic sword—it would hurt even more.
So she gently clasped his hand tight.
"I'm fine."
"Is that the face of someone fine? You look ready to cry any second."
"It's just the rage hasn't faded. If I'd been a bit more careful, I'd have shoved a blade right into Belzebub's ugly mug..."
"Then I never would have met you, young master."
"..."
"Regretting the past won't change it. And honestly? I'm grateful you died."
"Hey, you."
"Hehe. So don't blame your past self too much. You're not 'Rian Rose' anymore—you're 'Rowen Valenos' now."
She was right from start to finish. Rowen could say nothing, lost in her steadfast blue eyes gazing straight at him.
Once again, she saved him. Not salvation, really—just pulling him from brooding over old memories. But undeniably, Arahan gave him courage. Just like when Kadan died, or Kael.
She'd comforted him using every means. ...Though he questioned if those methods were proper.
But one thing was certain.
My heart has already...
It might have tilted toward her.
"So straighten up. We have guests at the castle—shouldn't we hurry back?"
"Yeah. You're right about everything."
Rowen shook off idle thoughts, turning his head. No need for distractions. Just see his old body, take the holy sword. Nothing else.
Beneath his feet. Mere snow-covered plains, yet explosive mana surged. Familiar... like prime Rian's 'fighting spirit.' The days he'd coated his blade in aura, borrowing the holy sword's mana to forge black energy.
As if his past life's remnants awaited, drawing him in. Rowen couldn't help a smirk. A mere corpse clinging to the desire to live—what else but a hollow laugh?
"Young master?"
"Nothing. Time to go in."
"But... I don't see an entrance."
"Just hold my hand."
Arahan looked puzzled, cheeks faintly flushing. She often led, but such words from him? A first.
Rowen eyed her confusion impatiently and seized her hand. Slender, yet callused from training. The familiar touch he often felt at night.
He focused on the seal. Mana flowed naturally, intertwining with the snowfield. A massive magic circle etched in light appeared.
The formation, buried under snow for a millennium, recognized its rightful heir and welcomed him.
Ancient seal unlocked
Rumble—! The snowfield parted. One might question the phrasing, but that's how it was. The ground split, revealing the Holy Site's gate hidden within.
Stone of an unfamiliar material. Pristine white formed a clean gate shape. Towering like ancient ruins. After a millennium, it was ruins indeed.
Inside, moss-covered stone structures overgrown with dense grass, trees, and vines. Golden jewels shaped like dragons peeked through the foliage.
Light emanated from the depths—the place Rowen sought. Pure white divine power wafted through.
"...Lea?"
Unmistakably Lea's aura. The warm energy only a seed of god could wield. Her image naturally surfaced in his mind.
"Did you make my tomb?"
Mio helped with the magic, Lea with the seal—to bar ordinary folk, allow only them. But Mio had said:
—I can't enter there.
—Something rejected us all.
—Definitely Lea. That sister did something.
As if Lea permitted only him. Absurd fancy, yet it crossed his mind. What if—just what if—Lea knew of his reincarnation?
"...Impossible, but..."
Not entirely. His companions were barred, yet he succeeded. Because he was once Rian? Lea was a seed of god, an angel. His past fragments spoke of fate god's intervention, repeating destiny crushing him.
He'd brushed it off. But if tied to Lea...
"Later."
Not now. A massive tremor built. The ground beneath Rowen crumbled.
Arahan, holding his hand, startled and clung to his arm. Rowen wasn't fazed—Mio had warned him.
Arahan lacked magic prowess. He had it. Letting go now spelled disaster. She knew it too.
"Dangerous!"
"It's fine. Even if we fall, we won't die."
"I will!"
"Cling tighter."
"...Pardon?"
"I'm jumping. Hold on!"
Rowen scooped her up—princess carry. Arahan wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face in his chest against the wind. Absolutely no ulterior motive. His ears reddened slightly, ignored.
Strong gusts hit. They plummeted.
Cold nipped his cheeks—different from the Ice King's chill. Piercing deep within, born of longing for someone. Why cold? Rowen couldn't say if it stemmed from sunken sorrow.
But this was his to bear someday. Unwanted end or future alike. To face it, he stepped forward.
He didn't yet know what lay ahead. Focused only on reclaiming the holy sword here.
Ruins blurred past—ceiling, walls. Astonishing such vastness hid inside ice. Outside, frozen sea—easy to drown.
Rowen felt faint dread.
"Brutal. For real!"
"Eek...!"
Thus, they entered the Holy Site's depths.
*
In the dark ruins, an angel with black wings smiled softly. Eerie yet warm. After a millennium's wait, she finally met him.
Three vast pairs of wings sprouted from the beautiful woman's back. Angel. No—the woman who loved one man awaited him in the Rose Garden.
"...You're finally here?"
Her body had reached its limit. Wings staving off corruption were blackened. Her love spanned a millennium.
Whispers tempted: In a world without him, wouldn't vanishing be best? Impure thoughts, unfit for a seed of god... yet she'd begged the divine for his reincarnation. Pure selfishness.
His death shattered her. Cradling his cold corpse, she'd wept endlessly. Rose Family blooms filled the ruins. She yearned.
A millennium now. Would he be disappointed in her state? She'd lied to Mio about ascending to the divine realm. She waited here solely to meet him again.
She could endure no longer. Before corruption consumed her, she yearned to see him.
Tears streamed down her cheeks, crushing her heart. In the garden blooming with blue roses, the saintess who longed for 'Rian Rose' a millennium ago awaited.
"...When will you come?"
Her voice quavered. She knew holding off corruption grew impossible before he arrived. No—she knew she was already fallen. Merely deceiving herself.
She'd wished a world without him gone. Perhaps that's why a fallen seed took root deep within, feeding on her emotions, swelling.
She lay upon the blue rose garden. Blackened wings blanketed her like a quilt. Alone in the cold ruins, loneliness overwhelmed.
How am I to live without you...?
Her body trembled. She pulled wings tighter against corruption. Teardrops fell on petals.
Hard to endure. Emotions swirled.
Was loving you a sin?
If she surrendered to these feelings, would peace come? Love him without such loneliness and sorrow? Live eternally together? Laugh, chat, sleep, make memories as before?
Slowly, tear-filled eyes turned upward. Light beamed from the icy ceiling.
Illuminating one man. Breathless. Unconscious. Mere corpse.
A knight knelt, head bowed, life fled. Roses embraced him from his knees. But his state was wretched. A ghastly smile tainted his lips; blood-red eyes quivered.
Suppression neared limit. To stem these emotions even slightly, she embraced her precious, cherished one.
Untouched by time—no decay after a millennium. Her beloved would soon come to her.
She reached, grasping floating petals. Dearly. Hands shook, voice shook, eyes shook.
"...Come soon. I'll wait here."
Please. Before impure thoughts take hold.
Before an irreparable mistake.
Before our bond twists.
"Kill me, Rian."