#229
“… no… Agatha… . I, I… .”
[Tira, your path is not wrong. It would be nice if all dreams were the same, but wouldn’t that be the case and there are so many archdukes’ dreams? I think so. When several dreams meet and become one, only then will one dream be complete. So I hope you don’t blame yourself.]
The old Sehyeon couldn’t understand why Agasa was protecting and representing Tyra like this. Even when countless people were sacrificed due to Tyra’s choice, Agatha only tried to overcome the situation and did not criticize the White Coat Alliance at the time.
But now I felt like I knew why. Tyra and Agatha had no choice but to move with their own beliefs, following the vision shown by each other’s dreams.
The Archduke’s dream was cruel, but both Tyra and Agatha probably thought it was right. And among them, the role played by Tyra was that of a villain who had to make a lot of sacrifices. Because that was her dream.
I had no intention of understanding. It was Tyra’s responsibility to believe that it was right and put it into practice, and it was her choice to think about taking it.
[Think of it as a price. I will take a small amount of your sins instead.]
“I… It was what I deserved, Agatha. Why are you taking that! I was going to take it all, but why… ! “When did I ever want that?”
[Do you remember the day we first separated? I still can’t forget the sight I saw that day when I cried like snow. It’s not because of despair. Not because I’m scared. Tyra, I’m glad we could be a ray of light to save the world. Perhaps that was why the scenery of that day whispered to me. It’s a perfect memory.]
Agatha described the starting point of everything as memories. Before his death, Agatha’s expression looked very carefree and light, like someone leaving everything behind.
[I’m glad it was you who were by my side that day. It was an honor to see, feel, and carry the same thing. Even though I can’t be with everyone until the end… I just leave when they applaud, haha. So don’t be too sad.]
It was as if the clear sound of laughter was right next to me. Even in the slow-winding gaze, Agatha was still full of dignity and made her presence stronger than anyone else.
[I didn’t have the courage to stop you. Next time we meet again, blame me. At that time, all my complaints will be heard. So Tira.]
Agatha’s clear appearance began to blur. The quiet sound of the film was heard again. As if foreboding her end, Tyra stretched out her hand and grabbed Agatha. However, it ended in vain every time.
Agatha smiled brighter than ever. Her thick tears ran down one of Agatha’s cheeks.
[My maintenance… Could you continue?]
The sound of the film moving around suddenly stopped. The light that occupied the dark wall and the vivid image of Agatha disappeared as if evaporating in an instant.
In the place where Agatha disappeared, Tara stood, looking vain. The hand that was grasping the air soon fell down.
The crouched shoulders did not move for a while. Sehyeon woke up when Tyra’s whole body was sobbing.
“I won’t comfort you. Who knows, maybe those who fell victim to your hands were like that to someone. The business is over, so let’s go back now. Seeing off… “You don’t have to.”
As I left the throne room, leaving Tira who did not respond, the sound of rain came from all directions. It was then that a familiar hand touched my shoulder, where I could feel the chill.
When I turned my head, Ruhak’s figure came into view. Sehyun smiled indifferently and squeezed his hand.
“what… “Can you at least comfort me?”
“If you feel like it, do it.”
The hand languidly rubbing the back of my neck made me forget my anxiety. I wanted to get rid of the habit of leaning, but it wasn’t easy, perhaps because of the anxiety about the end. In a case like now, where only bad things are happening, the comfort Ruhak gives me is deeper than I thought.
“OK.”
In the end, Sehyun pretended that he couldn’t win this time and responded to his words. Perhaps because the sound of rain reminded her of that dangerous night, or because the hand caressing her wings made her throat itch, Sehyeon was curled up in Ruhak’s arms on the airship all the way from Tyra’s Empire to the Black Empire. .
Agatha’s image appeared several times in my vision, which was blurred day and night. Now all that remains is Tyra’s choice. Will she fight together or just sit back and lament?
Sehyeon erased her thoughts by tightly hugging Ruhak’s neck as he searched for her lips in his cold gaze.
The moist lips that touched each other were unusually hot. So much so that my mind becomes empty.
***
It was several nights later when Tyra contacted Sehyeon’s Empire. Because Sehyun requested to be alone, he had to defeat everyone around him and have a private meeting with Tyra.
In the dark, gloomy evening and night, Tyra was sitting with only a candle lit, looking at Sehyun. Still, she looked neater than the day I last saw her. Even if the area around my eyes is all puffed up.
The conversation started when the candle wax hardened and formed a trace.
[…] I met Agasawa through a game. I’m an orphan and I’m unwell… I was unable to leave the house. She will live like this for the rest of her life and die… I was living with that thought, but one day Elix appeared in the world. It was amazing. My Grand Duke… Like me, he wasn’t feeling well.]
Sehyun was just listening to the story. The sound that poured out like a sigh over dry lips was a weightless word.
[The reason I used the Celestials was to tie you up. That way, you will rescue them and create the Celestial Alliance. I also know that it is a sin that cannot be washed away. representation? Justification? Well, it’s funny. Why did we talk so much about the façade created by trampling on others… . By the time I realized it, I had already come too far. Still. Still, I… I thought everything was good as long as it ended well.]
Tyra spoke calmly. She blinked her eyes as if she were about to cry.
[…] When I met Agatha, I was just before I was defeated during my fourth hunt. Agatha saved my village just before it was destroyed. really… It was cool. Through Agatha, I learned that a person can be so strong yet upright. I felt like the world had expanded. That’s how they take care of me, who has nothing and doesn’t know anything. always… I just got help. They take care of me, pull me around, and come to me for no reason… . Maybe it was because my mind was crooked, but it didn’t seem good at first. Actually, I wanted to be like him the most… .]
The reason Tyra became a celestial being with wings may have been her desire to be free more than anyone else. The buffs that allow infinite recovery and the buffs that become stronger the more injured are racial characteristics may have been created from her wishes. Because it couldn’t be done in reality.
[You might ask why I’m saying this… I’m not saying this because I want sympathy. It’s not a justification for my sins. just… I just wanted to confide in someone. I may be alone in my thoughts, but to me, Agatha was my family and close friend.]
Tyra’s lips were tightly curled between her teeth. Tyra tightened her chin as if to hold back her tears. The image of her struggling several times was conveyed through the air currents.
It was a while later that Tyra’s mouth opened again. Meanwhile, her Tyra’s eyes were bright red.
[therefore… At least it’s right for me to be her last guardian. I even asked for that… . How could I ignore it? The first time you did it to me… It was a request.]
The heat that filled Tyra’s eyes conveyed countless traces of worry. Tyra’s fingertips on her knees were trembling. When her fingertips curled tightly, she held back her tears and put an end to her long sentence with distorted eyes.
[therefore… . According to Agatha’s will… We will cooperate with the Chowun Alliance. I pledge that the White Cloak Empire will become your vassal state from now on. also… I will give you everything I know.]
At one time, Sehyeon also had eyes like Tyra’s. Those eyes that are hard on the outside but soft on the inside. A look that hates people.
People who first entered society were better prey than expected. Because of this, Se-hyeon also suffered a lot, and when it came to resentment towards others, he was one of those people who could not be defeated by anyone.
I hated and disliked so many people whose faces and names I did not know. It was because I was busy with life, and it was even more so because the people who approached me were not very nice people.
In reality, Sehyun thought that there were no good people in the world. Until I met Kwak Jeong-han, Lee Jae-young, Baek Do-hyeon, Yoon Je-ha, and Owl.
People get hurt by people, but sometimes they are saved by people. Sehyeon’s experience after coming here was the latter. Maybe that’s why I was able to understand the feelings behind Tyra’s words. Of course, that shouldn’t be sympathy.
“… Live your whole life atonement for those who sacrificed their lives because of you. That is the responsibility that Tyra must bear.”
