Arabella | totcf au

Interlude I: The Bereft of life

"Hey, Bella," Cale was once again inside the bedroom he frequents, but doesn't allow anybody else to enter.

The large bedroom could be divided in half with each side presenting the interests of almost adult twins. On one side for his younger twin sister, soft sky blue wallpapers with images depicted on varying sites around the country made her happy. Thin drapes of light blue touched at the hardwood floor as a breeze blew through the room; the window where his sister used to like to contemplate was open. Her four-poster bed was built with vari-colored cherry; the drapes were sky blue brocade; the cords pulling the drapes were braided. Dark-coloured flower paintings dangled over an old style writing table and matching chair, papers piled in order, books, and boxes full of souvenirs from her youth.

On the other side, owned by him, rich burgundy drapes furnished the window with a nice view of the landscaped gardens. An ornamental rug of the shades of crimson and brown was placed haphazardly over segments of the dark wood floor. His side possessed a grand carved mahogany four poster bed, and a rust and gold embroidered cover. The walls had hunting trophies and weaponry respectively hung on them, these being inheritance of counts for several generations. A large leather chair and footstool were placed next to a bookshelf decorated with different history, political, and sword history books, books that had been untouched for years.

His heart clenched at the sight of his sister's side of the room. It was like frozen in time. But hurts the most was the absence of that owner. His sister, Arabella Henituse, had died in her sleep on the same day he was beaten up by that black haired bastard, just a few hours earlier. He had said words that he wouldn't be taking back. Just like that punk is in grief, so was he.

He just lost his sister. The sister he had been waiting to wake up for ten long years, just to die like that.

'They should have just let her go if she was meant to die.' He had remembered crying by her side when she came home already unconscious, already in a coma. With their mother, dead, gone. It was too much for him, he had been silently grieving for the two most important women in his life, his father had neglected him. His father locked himself in his room for days, then left for a year. Just to come back with a new woman, a woman with a child three years younger than him.

It hurt.

It was like his father was replacing his mother and his sister so easily.

Sitting by Arabella's bed, Cale couldn't help but to chuckle bitterly; ignoring the pain from the wounds he got from that man. Arabella's dead. Ron and Beacrox's gone. His father was once again grieving. His stepmother, brother, and half sister are avoiding him(giving him space).

He was truly alone once again.

"Young Master-nim," He looked at Ron numbly.

Paerun had just hit Roan. Through the sky. His territory, gone. His entire family was gone. Because the fucking heroes were too slow. Too weak. Too ignorant of the enemies to come.

He had just watched those fucking Bears rip his people apart, he couldn't do anything. He could remember the screams his siblings let out.

Ron held him by the shoulders as he almost stumbled down to his knees. At that moment, he couldn't help but think. 'Thank Gods Bella died earlier. I don't know what I would do if she died the same way.'

He had surprised everyone when he managed to become a swordmaster at the age of 25. He had been using his desire for revenge as a motivation to train himself harder than any of the soldiers with him.

Age of 28, just three years later, he had become the only Aura Master of the Kingdom. The soldiers had been distancing themselves from him. Ah, jealousy is a fucking disease that even a war couldn't stop it from spreading.

It doesn't matter.

32 years, 8 months and 8 days.

'It had been so long since I've seen you, Bella,' He said as he looked up to the sky as he was buried underneath his comrade's dead bodies. Do they even consider him as a comrade? They seem to still hate him despite the fact that they had been waiting together for years now.

His entire body hurts like a bitch. He turned to the side, he could see White Star choking Choi Han to death. They had been the only ones left. The rest of the Hero team died ten years ago, five years ago when King Alberu died.

Ron was first to fall. He was hit with a mermaid poison bomb.

Beacrox was next, he died trying to avenge his father. But the wyverns had come and ripped him apart.

Next was Wolf King Lock. He was hit by a dead mana bomb and died painfully.

Last was Mage Rosalyn, she did her best to last that long. But the Lich King killed her too.

Choi Han had been in despair since then. He never approached that man, even after two decades, there was a bit of resentment between them. Do they give a fuck? No.

Five years ago. His Majesty, King Alberu Crossman went down fighting. The Dragon Halfblood cut him in half.

"Interesting. Your time is wrapped like mine," the bored voice of the White Star brought Cale's attention back to the fight. He hadn't noticed that the fight got so close to him.

'His time is what?' Cale thought, shocked. He saw the White Star choking the black haired hero and, with suspicion growing in his mind, there was no way that son of a bitch had that.

'This fucker has mother's ancient power!' He wanted to shout, to cry. His beloved mother's ancient power was taken by this bastard, the power that was supposed to be his! His and his sister's birthright, and that fucker stole it to destroy the kingdom.

Cale Henituse.

Huh. Who is that? There was no living person in the battlefield except for the three of them. Who was calling his name? Ah... Was he dying?

'Is my family waiting for me?'

Do you wish to live?

What's the point? He was dying. Even if he lived, where would he go?

If you make a deal with me, I can regress you to the time before this event happens... Before the war started.

What..? Who even is talking to him?

I am the God of Death, my child. Do you wish to take this second chance?

— What's the catch?

I'll be giving you a boon. Your sister, Arabella, soul was a mere broken fragment of the whole.

— What.

The boon I'll be giving you is making her soul complete again. In exchange for being my Saint when you regress.

— Just that?

There was no way that's the only thing he wants.

I have long lost my daughter, Cage, with this deal. I'll be getting her back, you as my Saint, you will have your family again.

— If I agree, should I tell this person, my new sister, about the regression?

You could trust the current Arabella in regards to your regression. God of Death assured him. Since to her perspective, she's a transmigrator.

— Would she still be sick?

There was a pause, Yes.

— I'll accept, in one condition.

Anything, my son.

— My talents as a swordmaster and aura master, I want to bring it with him. That way I could protect her and everyone else.

He didn't even realize that White Star sent a fireball towards the pile of corpses he was under.

Very well then. Good luck, my son.

'See you soon, Bella,'