A bird that had hit the barrier let out a shrill scream as it was flung back. Thud! Unable to regain its balance, it eventually crashed hard into a tree before falling to the ground. Chirp! It staggered to its feet from the impact, and the barrier hummed as it spoke.
[Who are you?]
[No one unpermitted can enter.]
[We must protect the Saintess.]
The bird, trembling with fear, stared at the shimmering white barrier.
[If you intend to harm her, go back.]
[We won’t let you.]
The threatening voice and the eerily rustling leaves that came with the wind made the bird shrink back as it stared at the barrier.
Instinctively, it knew that forcing its way through the barrier would result in great harm. Despite that, it couldn’t turn back. Following Rehir’s orders was the bird’s sole reason for existence. Holding its breath, the bird waited for the barrier’s wavering to subside. Then, it took flight. The barrier, sensing the intruder, began to glow white.
[You are fearless. Are you not afraid of annihilation?]
[If so, let me show you.]
The barrier’s angry whispers mixed with the bird’s scream-like cries. After several flashes from the barrier.
[Is it dead?]
[Seems so.]
[But the flame is still alive.]
[It’s getting smaller, though.]
[That might mean annihilation isn’t far off.]
Perhaps due to the repeated impacts from being bounced off the barrier, the bird eventually stopped moving. With a rustling sound akin to whispering leaves, faint stains began to spread throughout the barrier. The stains gradually darkened and eventually formed the shape of a very small person. The spirits that made up the barrier had returned to their original forms. They leaped to the ground and began discussing seriously around the fallen bird.
[Its heart isn’t beating. Is it dead?”
[Didn’t it never have a heart in the first place?]
[If it’s still alive, what should we do? Should we kill it?]
[But Julia only asked us to ‘block’ it.]
[So what do we do now?]
At that moment, one particularly tall spirit among the perplexed group raised a hand.
[I have a good idea! Listen! Let Julia decide whether to kill it or not. How about that?]
[Good! How about showing it to the Saintess? The Saintess will surely find a good solution!]
[The Saintess! Meeting the Saintess!]
The fierce atmosphere vanished, and the spirits, now excited, chatted among themselves. They picked up the now motionless bird, its flame almost extinguished, and ran towards Leticia.
* * *
Meanwhile, at the exact moment the blue bird made of Julios’s soul tried to break through the barrier.
Julios was leaning against a wall, breathing slowly. Everything was faint. His vision, clouded since his soul was taken by Rehir, and his future were both unclear. He could see nothing ahead.
The only relief was that the pain, which felt like his body was being shattered into pieces immediately after his soul was taken, had somewhat subsided. Because of this, the flame of hope, which he thought had completely extinguished, flickered back to life a little.
‘Maybe I can hold out until the end.’
Even if Rehir took everything from him, as long as he could resist the dark force trying to engulf him until the very end.
‘Maybe the worst-case scenario can be prevented.’
In other words, this life also has meaning. Just like in his first life, when choosing death allowed him to protect everyone else.
‘Even though others don’t know that I have returned.’
Julios let out a deflated laugh. In both his past and present lives, it seemed his fate was to die alone.
‘But that’s okay.’
He could forget the pain as long as he imagined the bright future of his people.
‘I’m glad I still have the strength to endure.’
Thinking that, he smiled faintly. Suddenly, all sensation in his body evaporated.
At first, he didn’t know exactly what had happened. It felt as if his nerves had dried up.
‘What is this?’
In the silence, an ominous ringing sounded. Julios blinked in bewilderment. At that moment, the distant sensations returned like a wave. Julios’s eyes widened. It felt like his insides were completely turning over. He doubled over and vomited bile. It felt as if a giant had kicked him. The impact continued. Lights flashed before his eyes. He couldn’t even groan, just opening and closing his mouth.
“Chirp!”
“Will you really not give up?”
A voice filled with static was heard. Thanks to that, Julios realized he was feeling the impact on the blue bird.
‘Because it’s made of my soul.’
Julios closed his eyes tightly. He couldn’t think of anything anymore. His whole body felt like it was being crushed. Silver eyelashes shed tears endlessly. Even amidst this, the impacts continued. The bird was endlessly bouncing off the barrier.
“Urgh.”
Julios gritted his teeth. His temples throbbed with the effort to stifle his groans. As he weakened, the dark force once again tried to engulf him. It was hopeless. He couldn’t see any light.
“Sa-save me….”
Unknowingly, he said it. Julios gasped in surprise. Begging for his life. He should never say such things, not even in his dreams. For his people, his existence was a disaster. He clenched his teeth tightly. After a moment, when the impacts subsided a bit, he spoke in a trembling voice.
“Please, let me disappear quickly….”
Saying that, something like a fireball surged up inside him. Hot tears welled up and fell before they could even pool. His face twisted in anguish.
‘I want to live.’
Actually, that’s how he felt. He wanted to live. He always did. In the past and now. He was just an ordinary young man with many dreams. He had only suppressed all his desires with all his might to protect everyone.
Amazingly, even now that he had been forcibly revived, he felt the same. He wasn’t asking for much. Just to live near the people he loved. No, just being able to watch them live happily would be enough. His mother, his brother, even Leticia, who had become part of his new family.
Although there was no place for him among them, if he could see them smile, he felt he could endure this pain.
“Ha. Haha.”
Julios’s face twisted in anguish at the realization of his own desire. Wanting to live, wanting to stay alive to watch over them. The more he thought about it, the more ridiculous it seemed. His very existence was a sin. If he lived, he would eventually be consumed by Rehir’s darkness. He would end up hurting his people while completely losing his sanity.
‘I want to live.’
Julios closed his eyes tightly. He wanted to live. He was willing to give up everything he had to live.
“Ugh!”
At that moment, a strong force grabbed his hair and lifted him. His hazy vision came into focus. Julios panted as he looked at the figure.
“R-Rehir.”
“You’ve become a nuisance.”
Rehir said with a chuckle. Despite the annoyance in his words, his expression looked quite pleased.
“Your soul has completely lost its power. No, the bird made from your soul is completely destroyed. Well, thanks to that, I got to enjoy quite a show.”
“Enjoy a show?”
“Watching you suffer.”
Rehir chuckled as he tapped Julios’s cheek. Then he spoke in a sing-song voice, his eyes gleaming cruelly.
“You cried and said you wanted to live, didn’t you?”
Looking into the dark green eyes, Julios realized that Rehir had deliberately linked the senses of the blue bird to him.
“No matter what I said, you failed. You won’t be able to pull off a trick like this again.”
“What?”
Julios mustered all his strength to lift the corners of his mouth into a smile.
“Leticia’s spirits took your puppet. They’ll find out what you’ve been up to.”
“Will they, really? That pitiful bird has completely lost its power. All that’s left are fragments. What could they possibly decipher from that? Human traces?”
Rehir added mockingly.
“Sure, they might find some traces. But that’s it. They’ll never imagine that the soul belongs to you. No.”
Rehir’s laughter grew louder.
“It’s better for you if they never know, isn’t it? You’re living in hell right now. I’ll never let you go. You’ll feel excruciating pain until you’re completely annihilated. Isn’t it better to endure that alone? Do you really want to reveal your state? Do you want your people to suffer from guilt again? Don’t you feel sorry for them?”
Julios flinched. Rehir whispered, looking into his trembling eyes. Persistent and cruel, like the darkness that pierced the weakest part of Julios’s heart.
“Accept your fate. Be used by me until you quietly disappear. Abandon that dream of wanting to live. That’s the only thing you can do for them.”
* * *
“Your Highness! Lady Leticia! It’s me. I have urgent news!”
“Julia?”
Leticia, who was lying in bed, sat up. She looked at Dietrian with a worried face.
“What could it be at this hour?”
“Wait a moment. It’s probably nothing serious.”
Dietrian kissed Leticia’s forehead and got up. He opened the closed door.
“Julia.”
“Your Highness, I need to see Lady Leticia immediately.”
“What’s the matter?”
“Rehir’s puppet tried to attack Lady Leticia again.”
“Rehir’s puppet?”
“That bird has come back?”
Leticia cried out in alarm. She hurriedly stood up. Dietrian quickly supported her.
“Leticia, you mustn’t overexert yourself.”
“Julia, where is that bird? I need to see it myself.”
“Leticia, it’s dangerous. It’s Rehir’s puppet. No matter how concerned you are, you can’t let your guard down. It tried to attack you again. So for now.”
“Let go of me! Let me go!”
“Leticia!”
Finally, Dietrian called Leticia in a low but firm voice. Leticia, who had been struggling to break free from his embrace, flinched.
“Leticia. Please, just wait a moment. I’ll check first.”
“But—”
“Think of our child.”
Half lost in her emotions, Leticia finally regained her composure. Dietrian smiled bitterly as he gently sat her back on the bed. Holding her hands tightly and meeting her eyes, he said,
“It’s Rehir’s puppet. It’s better to be cautious.”
Dietrian was deeply worried about Leticia’s concern for Rehir’s puppet, especially because he didn’t understand the reason behind it. He feared Rehir might be plotting something he was unaware of. Naturally, he couldn’t let Leticia face such a dangerous being first.
‘I need to call Kailas again.’
Dietrian decided to check the bird first and then ask Kailas to examine Leticia’s condition. He gave a nod to Julia.
“Wait here with Julia for a moment.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Julia, who had carefully placed the bird on a table, quickly approached Leticia.
“My Lady. It’s best to wait for His Highness to check first. You won’t have to wait long, so don’t worry too much.”
“…Alright.”
Maybe it was Julia holding her hand, but Leticia calmed down a bit and nodded. Despite her anxiety, she knew it was better to leave it to Dietrian, especially since she couldn’t pinpoint the exact reason for her unease.
Meanwhile, standing in front of the table, Dietrian held his breath. The moment he faced the blue flame, he felt his blood run cold. He stared at the fallen bird without blinking.
‘How?’
Why on earth?
‘Brother?’
His brother’s aura. He couldn’t believe it. It didn’t make sense.
‘Am I imagining things?’
As he thought that, Dietrian covered his mouth. His face turned pale.
‘It can’t be a mistake.’
He was Gilead, the owner of eyes that see through the essence.
