Xiao X Reader [A Fragment of My Memories]

[42] A Thousand Regrets

"Alatus, wanna come over to my place?" You beckoned with a smile.

"Your home? No need. I have no right to enter a mortal's home."

"...Don't you feel lonely?"

He let out a small chuckle. "Don't worry. Adepti aren't prone to feelings of loneliness as much as humans are."

"If you're so sure... I'll get going then!" you said. "But you can still come over whenever you like!"

___________________

Alatus heard a ringing in his ears as the sound of human screams and cries filled his mind. He stood there wide-eyed, his hands falling limp to his sides. He only meant to destroy the infrastructure, he really did. But somehow, some blood splattered across his clothes. Blood that was not his. 

It was only after he destroyed the last house did he realized what he had done.

'This... is (Y/N)'s house,' he thought, staring blankly at the ruins before him as if he had just witnessed some monster.

But the monster was Alatus himself. 

"The only time I came to visit... was to bring destruction."

He finally looked around at the chaos he caused. Every house had been toppled down, leaving nothing but dust clouds and debris. The sick villagers were on the ground, some crushed under large debris having to deal with serious injuries. But some weren't so lucky to survive it at all. 

He listened to everyone's screams, cries, and moans. It grew unbearably louder the longer he stayed. His whole body shook as he met the gaze of a young boy, sitting next to his unconscious sister. She was bleeding from the head, and she showed no signs of life.

Alatus' breath grew shaky as he gazed at the tears flowing down the boy's wide eyes. He was still alive, but those eyes were lifeless, just like everything else around him.

Just before the boy started bawling his eyes out, Alatus left the scene, as if running away from the destruction he caused.

_ _ _

"I've done what you wanted. Now let her go."

Alatus avoided your gaze as he glared straight at the evil god. He drowned out the muffled screams and cries coming from your mouth. He did not want to see the look of horror in your eyes. He did not want to see the tears streaming down your face. 

He knew how much you cared for the village. He knew how much of your heart and soul you poured for everyone there. He knew all that... but still chose to destroy it. Destroyed the lives of everyone you cared for. 

All he wanted was to ensure you lived, no matter the cost. 

...But was this the right choice?

The evil god gave a sinister smile. "Good, good," he chuckled. "You just destroyed this girl's home. How heartless!"

"...What?" Alatus' eyes widened. Why is he the one saying that, out of everyone else? "You're the one who made me do this! Let (Y/N) go. Right now."

Alatus' hands balled into fists, full of dust, dirt, and some blood from the destruction he had caused. 

But right before he could put himself in a dangerous battle, it suddenly grew quiet. 

He paused and out of the corner of his eye, he realized...

You had lost consciousness. 

"(Y/N)!"

Alatus scrambled to reach you. But he was stopped by the evil god, as he still held you in his sinister hands. 

"...Shhh, the human is still breathing, see?"