The Celestials [Taegyu]

Chapter 08 ; Aura

song ; glory (ogryzek)

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Lucien's heart shattered at the sound of Cassian's voice- soft, fragile, yet
undeniably his. The gentle whisper of his name, "Luci," pierced through Lucien’s fury, leaving him feeling exposed and vulnerable.

He took a deep breath, every fiber of his being aching to unleash his wrath on those responsible for Cassian's dire condition. The High Priest's minions stood frozen, acutely aware of the weight of Lucien's presence. They hesitated, caught between the choice to release Cassian or tighten their grip.

The blade pressed against Cassian's throat quivered for a moment, reflecting their uncertainty, but it remained steady, refusing to lower.

"Lucien," Eugene warned again, his voice now firmer, trying to keep the situation from descending into chaos.

"We need to think this through. You can’t just-"

Lucien's body moved on instinct, acting before his mind could fully grasp the situation. His gaze zeroed in on Cassian's trembling, battered figure at the podium. A fierce rage ignited in his crimson eyes, obliterating any trace of restraint.

His footsteps were nearly soundless, his movements fluid and deadly. In an instant, he was upon the first underling, his hands gripping the man's throat.

There was no room for hesitation.

With a sickening crack, Lucien snapped the man's neck, the lifeless body crumpling to the floor with a heavy thud. The sound reverberated through the podium, chilling the air, but Lucien was far from done.

Bloodlust surged within him, drowning out all other sounds- no warnings, no pleas- only the relentless beat of his heart and the fury driving him onward. The town square, once eerily silent, had erupted into chaos.

As Lucien cut through his adversaries with ruthless intensity, the spectators who had been passively watching the grotesque scene were jolted from their daze. A few scattered cries sliced through the heavy atmosphere, sending waves of panic rippling through the crowd like a shockwave.

Some townsfolk, their faces twisted in fear, turned and bolted, their footsteps echoing against the cobblestones as they fled into the shadowy streets. They rushed into alleys, knocking over market stalls and trampling each other in their desperate escape from the carnage.

The anguished screams of those fleeing echoed through the night, blending with the sound of Lucien’s last victim collapsing to the ground.

One of the Scotland Yard officers barely had time to react before Lucien lunged, baring his teeth in a primal snarl. His hand shot out, seizing the man's arm and twisting it with brutal force.

The sharp snap of bone echoed in the air, followed by a guttural scream as the man’s arm hung uselessly at his
side. Lucien pressed forward, unyielding.

With a primal snarl, he slammed the officer against the nearest wall, effortlessly pinning him there with a single hand. His crimson eyes blazed with unrestrained fury as he drove his other hand into the man’s chest with a force that seemed beyond
human capability.

Blood sprayed across Lucien’s face as his fingers tore through flesh and bone, wrapping around the still-beating heart within. The man gasped, his eyes wide with terror as they locked onto Lucien’s monstrous gaze.

Yet Lucien felt nothing- no remorse, no hesitation.

He crushed the heart in his grip, the warmth of blood oozing between his fingers, and let the lifeless body drop to the ground with a dull thud.

Standing over the two fallen figures, Lucien’s breath came in ragged gasps, his chest heaving as rage surged through him, threatening to pull him deeper into darkness. Blood dripped from his hand, staining the floor beneath him, but he barely registered it.

All that consumed his thoughts was Cassian- broken, fragile, and in pain.
He turned his attention to the remaining accomplices, who stood paralyzed, their eyes wide and trembling. Fear drained the color from their faces as they recoiled.

But Lucien was far from finished. He took a step forward, his gaze fixed on them, his body tense and ready to unleash another wave of merciless violence. As chaos enveloped him,

Viken stood frozen, his body motionless while his mind spiraled in turmoil. His heart pounded in his chest, not from the exertion of fleeing or facing conflict, but from a deeper, more profound sorrow that gnawed at his very core.

This is my fault.

All of it.

The realization crashed over him like a tidal wave, drowning every shred of reason he struggled to hold onto. He had crafted this world, created these characters, and woven every thread of this reality- every moment of pain, suffering, and fear.

He was the creator, the architect, the god who had breathed life into them. And now, they were being shattered by the very world he had built.

“Lucien! Stop!”

Eugene's voice cut through the chaos, but it barely registered with Lucien.
Terry, witnessing the devastation unfold, rushed toward him, grabbing Lucien's arm and pulling him back.

"Lucien, that's enough!"

Lucien yanked his arm free from Terry's grasp, his crimson eyes burning with the desire to kill, to make them pay for what they had done to Cassian. But Terry tightened his hold, his voice low and urgent.

"If you keep going down this path, we’ll lose everything," Terry warned.

"Cassian needs you alive, not consumed by this rage."

For a brief moment, Lucien paused, his gaze darting between Terry and the trembling High Priest's men and Scotland Yard officers. Every fiber of his being screamed for him to eliminate them, to unleash a brutal vengeance.

But then his eyes fell on Cassian; his Cassian- and the fury that had engulfed him began to dissipate, giving way to a profound, unsettling sorrow.

Cassian needed him. If Lucien gave in to his rage now, he would forfeit the
opportunity to protect him forever. With great reluctance, Lucien lowered his bloodied hands, his chest still heaving with the remnants of his anger.

He glanced down at the broken figures at his feet before turning back to Cassian, his heart weighed down as he knelt beside him once more.

With tender care, he cradled Cassian in his arms, his touch cautious as if he feared he might shatter him. His gaze softened as he drew Cassian near, gently sweeping the tousled hair from his face with unsteady fingers.

"You're safe now," Lucien murmured, his voice heavy with feeling.

"I’m here for you."