Whispers in the Damp Blue Rose Ruins
The Blue Rose Ruins were damp. Even though it was his own tomb, Rowen felt a profound disappointment that no one had maintained it. Well, they all said no one could enter anyway. He decided to just let it go and understand.
After entering this place, the Hero's Mark had stopped working. It was as if something was blocking it. Rowen and Arahan pushed through the humid sanctuary. He sliced through the vines tangling at their feet with his Ice Blade, pressing forward. Trees had grown so thick they blocked the path completely.
Arahan kicked one aside effortlessly with her foot.
"Impressive."
"Hehe. This much is simple."
"If you knew that, could you let go of me now?"
"No. You told me to stick close, young master."
"It's humid here. It's sticky and gross."
"I like sharing that stickiness with you."
"...Ugh. Do what you want."
They followed the light filtering through. A sense of déjà vu washed over him—a twisted emotion that felt familiar yet repulsive. Arahan looked at him with worried eyes. Not wanting to burden her, Rowen acted like everything was fine.
The path ahead was still long, but the light was growing closer.
"Roses?"
"And they're blue, no less."
"Those bastards. Did the Rose Family scatter roses here because of my name?"
"They're too pristine for that."
"Hmm... Maybe they planted seeds instead of petals."
Rowen scratched his head as he walked. Countless blue rose petals littered the ground, still fresh and green. Some were dried, others freshly carried on the wind. A strange longing emanated from where the roses bloomed. Rowen could sense it instinctively. His soul welcomed it. He felt his past body's presence.
It wasn't far. These were just in the way.
You there. Pass the trial.
Suddenly, stone statues demanded he pass a trial. They weren't golems—no rune fragments' power emanated from them. A trial, though?
"I'm bad at studying..."
"Young master, I don't think it's that kind of trial."
"Then what is it?"
"You'll see when you look."
"...Ah."
The two statues raised rusty spears, aiming at Rowen. It was a bit startling, but if it was a system to fend off intruders, he could understand. Still, they looked so pathetic he clicked his tongue. To anyone else, maybe a threat, but to Rowen? A joke.
...Or so he nearly said.
Rumble rumble rumble!
"Young master. Shall we continue?"
"Y-yeah."
Arahan dispatched them faster than anyone. The guardian statues crumbled into rubble without a chance to fight back.
A massive aqueduct came into view. Neglected for ages, enormous ponds had formed around it, adding to the humidity and lush moss growth. He wished they could reach a drier spot, easier to breathe.
Rowen cut away vines to clear their sightline. He watched the ground too, so Arahan wouldn't trip on stones. Worrying about her was foolish—she was beyond that—but the action came naturally.
His complicated feelings began to tilt, bit by bit.
"You're especially gentle today."
"I'm always gentle."
"I know. But today, you're extra gentle. Have you fallen for me, perhaps?"
"...Shut up."
He ignored her words and kept walking. Any more chatter, and he'd get caught in her rhythm. Her flushed cheeks were enough to redden his own ears.
As they neared the light, the air grew easier to breathe. One curious thing: no bugs. In such a humid, watery place, insects should swarm. The cold, maybe? He scanned around as they advanced.
It was grand. Even knowing it was his tomb, he hadn't imagined it so vast. Clearing vines revealed statues and structures reminiscent of the Rose Family's main estate in Lianod. A wondrous feeling.
Memories of his past life, forgotten amid recent chaos, bubbled up fresh. And for some reason, one woman kept flashing through his mind.
The great saintess Lea. Devotee of the God of Fate, always praying and blessing people. She healed wounds. When Uba rampaged or Rian charged in vengeful madness, she followed, mending them. Regrew severed arms instantly. They'd burdened her terribly, but past Rowen, blinded by revenge, felt no remorse. He thought it natural. Looking back, he was a real bastard.
He regretted it. But what could regrets do now? Mio said Lea had ascended to the divine realm after gaining angelic status. Whenever they met, he'd kowtow and apologize. Lea had never been close to Mio—more like wary. Polite on the surface, but always ending with a piercing glare. Rian had pretended not to notice. Women's fights were scary.
Thinking of it made his body shiver. Not fear, of course.
...Just the cold.
"Who is she?"
Apparently, the chill had another source.
"What're you talking about?"
"You just thought of a woman besides me. I can forgive Mio. But that wasn't her you were thinking of. Who is it? ...Do you have another woman besides us? If so, tonight you'll really..."
"I didn't do anything wrong."
"Yes. You haven't committed any sin. This is merely my 'jealousy.' So tell me. Who is she?"
Lea. Saying that would make Arahan explode. He might not survive the night—sucked dry and left a corpse? No thanks.
"No one. Really."
"I can't believe you."
"...What do I have to do to convince you?"
"Kiss my lips."
"What?"
Shock rippled through him. He hadn't expected such boldness.
"A kiss. Man and woman pressing mouths, tongues entwining. A simple act. Hehe. We do it every night, don't we?"
"Oh, come on, Arahan."
"...I'm holding back a lot too. I know you don't have feelings for me. But... but I won't hide these emotions."
Wrong. She was mistaken. Rowen did have feelings for Arahan. If anything, he was leaning toward her. But Mio and Arahan—could he make both happy? That was the worry. Choosing one was impossible. Picking Arahan betrayed Mio's millennium of devotion. Picking Mio, and Arahan would cause havoc. Valenos had pushed him to juggle both bombs.
"...Later."
"No. Do it now."
"No."
"Why not?"
"It's humid here. No mood. If we're doing it, wait till we get back..."
Embarrassing words. Closer to shy. Rowen's cheeks burned red. He averted his gaze, slicing more obstructing vines.
Arahan looked up at Rowen, now taller than her, still pressed to his left arm. He was so infuriatingly cute, she acted without thinking.
Mwah.
"...!"
Rowen turned left at the sudden sensation. His whole face flushed crimson. Arahan was the same. She feigned composure, but her face was apple-red.
"Hehe. So cute."
"...What the hell was that..."
"The rest... at the castle. I'll be waiting."
Her eyes opened naturally. Her sleeping mind gradually awoke. The same scenery, always. He knelt, eyes closed, a corpse. Blue rose petals swirled around him. The saintess gently embraced the knight once called a hero.
Always the same scene, sounds, landscape. Yet the tenderness in her heart had endured a millennium. If she hadn't accepted angelic status, could she have faced him without falling? But impossible. If she hadn't become an angel, he couldn't have reincarnated. Without her ascension, reunion was impossible. Thus, tasting corruption—unfair indeed.
"God, your servant weeps in the flames of fallen karma..."
Please. If you watch, save me. Disappointment in her eternal prayer. God had abandoned her. Didn't prevent her fall. As if natural order, erased her from the divine registry. Her voice no longer reached the heavens. So she waited for him.
"Kill me."
Rian. Save me. The fallen saintess hated her black wings. Her deeply corrupted eyes saw no light—only red. She gazed skyward. Only blue ice. The great knight's corpse held the holy sword, lightless. No—her eyes saw no light anymore.
"It's starting again."
A voice echoed. She'd resisted corruption for eons. If not for hearing that one's whispers that day... No, already fallen. Black wings proved it. But... perhaps her wish for even a shred of sanity, to meet him, let her deceive herself. Her jewel-like eyes swirled red. Golden hair turned ashen white. The voice came—repulsive, contradictory, staining her with corruption.
—Did you want to see him again so badly you'd heed the devil's whispers you hated?
"...Ahh."
—Contradictory. You slay evil, yet join it for your desires. Truly contradictory, aren't you, Lea?
"...Shut up!"
—Curious what face he'd make seeing you like this?
"Please be quiet... please..."
—Would he slay the 'devil' as before, or protect a 'comrade'? Hehe. You're alike. Beings of pure contradiction.
"Shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up...!"
She screamed loudly—at herself. Prayed it wasn't true. Her voice echoed in the vast ruins. But only hers resounded. The whispers were merely from within.
"It's hard..."
It hurts. It aches. I want to cry. I can't endure. I miss you. Where are you? I long for you. Yes... I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you.
Crack. A spring winding tight, cracking. This moment, her time stopped. From his death, really. Finally, release from unbearable endurance. One last struggle. From her depths' abyss, she awoke. Pure love for him tasted corruption. Her body moved. Fallen wings stirred. Her hand reached toward past traces.
"Hehe... Let's be together forever, Rian."
Her restrained emotions exploded. No longer the enduring woman. The one awaiting her love gone—only the Fallen Saintess remained. She embraced him.
—Pierced his ageless corpse. Watched it shatter slowly.
—Felt his heart rupture.
Crash!
—Drip... Memory fragments shattered.
—Blood dripped. Ahh... Licked his still blood. Crimson stained her lips. Licked her alluring lips, kissed him. So happy—why the tears?
"Answer me, Rian."
No voice replied. The loving voice calling her name—gone!
"Why? Why won't you move?"
Ahh... So that's it. The feared happened. I couldn't endure after all. Tears flowed endlessly, yet laughter burst mad. Maniacal.
"I love you..."
She whispered, as always. Please. Answer once. She whispered. She'd forsaken all. Yet her long-desired prize eluded her.
"...Haha. Hahahahaha..."
Madness-laced laughter. Futile. For this, she endured corruption? If inevitable... Who compensates her time? No one. No reason, no ability. What hadn't moved for years stirred.
Boom!
The rose garden's door opened.
"...Who?"
She remembered waiting for someone. But who? Her love was inside her now. Who comes here?
"...Ahh."
Light. Light she couldn't see existed before her. The man's hand staring piercingly trembled. His eyes quivered. Unfamiliar face. Yet she knew him. Forced together shattered memory shards. Headache throbbed. But mustn't forget. The one she loved most in the world. The one she didn't want seeing this.
"Rian, you're finally here?"
"Fallen angel?"
"You don't recognize me?"
Familiar. A face seen countless times. Aura different, but surely her.
"Don't recognize me? You... no way..."
"I told you to hurry... You were late after all. It's okay, Rian! Now we can be together forever."
His face twisted. All a lie. Yet she affirmed reality.
"Rian. Why that face?"
"No? It can't be. Yeah. No way."
"Hehe. Didn't want you seeing me like this."
The fallen saintess smiled. Clear tears traced her cheeks, wetting blue rose leaves. Sudden wind blew. Petals fell like waves, swirling skyward. But his eyes saw only one woman. Impossible to forget. How could he?
"Why... why even you...!"
"Disappointed?"
Fallen saintess—no, Lea, who loved Rian Rose—approached with piteous eyes. Embraced him.
"Finally met you. Now forever together."
"...Lea. Let go."
Fallen being, evil's kin.
"...Why? Why push me away? I became an angel for you. Look. Pretty, right? Such beautiful wings. What do you think? Nice?"
"...There was a reason? Right? You, who followed light, couldn't be consumed by darkness."
But a precious comrade of long years.
—I must eradicate evil.
But why... couldn't he raise his sword. She was his dearest comrade, family. The 'saintess' who'd saved the death-facing 'knight' countless times.
"Rian. Finally met you. My precious Rian."
Rowen denied reality. Like seeing Kael's fall. She rubbed against him in his arms. Her long-held wish. Accepted corruption as whispered.
...The reward? But this time wasn't eternal.
"What the fuck is this crazy bitch saying?"
"Wait, Arahan!"
Arahan's golden chains began binding her.