Gate Guardian - Song of the Frozen Soul

PHASE 95 - FLAMES OF A CANDLE

PHASE 95 - FLAMES OF A CANDLE

As Tiara fell down to the ground, her nine silver tails evaporated into thin air, making Aeternos free once again. Now, the heavily armored man is walking towards me.

“...Tia...ra…”  I muttered.

Hopelessness and madness clouded on my consciousness. I was so astounded that I can’t decide what to do: To fight or to flee. I still have the unconscious Amy in my arm, and Tiara’s body is just in front of Aeternos. My legs won’t move.

“DESPAIR IS THE ONLY WAY FOR THE PROPHET KING!!!” Aeternos proclaimed loudly.

Enraged, all other Gate Guardians besides us cast their long-range spells! There are ten archers, twelve gunners, and one bazooka wielder that unleashed small meteors, rapid homing missiles, and lightning boulders! Aeternos didn’t even make any slightest effort to evade those attacks. He’s confident that his platinum armor can withstand any assault. After the explosions, he revealed himself, fully unscratched.

“<Frozen Gungir>!!!” A gigantic spear of ice went directly to the enemy, but all it just did was to push him several meters back.

The one who cast the spell is Lord Neptune in woman’s body. She’s wearing an ocean blue cloak with a hood, and she’s a beautiful blonde with sky blue eyes. She has a diamond crystal on her forehead, which matches the jewel on her staff.

Lord Neptune kept on spamming her ice spells to the enemy, which made Aeternos occupied for a while.

<>

Having my hand full, I used my teeth to drag Tiara’s collar and unleashed all my remaining strength to run away from the battle scene.

“Hnnngh!”

When I finally reached a safe distance, I looked at the unconscious Amy and shook her while casting a <Healing Touch>. Thankfully, she woke up, albeit she’s now as weak as a person who just woke up in a coma. She held her forehead and blinked fast to regain her vision.

“Tiara! Tiara!” Ayano cried as she gently slapped her fellow shrine maiden’s cheeks. “Wake up!”

Tiara still had her eyes open, but it’s empty. She’s still breathing and there’s still a pulse, but she won’t respond to anything we do. There isn’t even a fatal wound on her. It’s like… she's now a breathing ragdoll.

It seems like her soul… is no longer on her body.

“...Tiara…” I slowly held her cold hands and put it to my wet cheeks. “...Please wake up… please… I… I’ll treat you to an eat-all-you-can buffet at Christmas... So please...wake up...”

All the Aether Crusade flocked around us, circling the dead shrine maiden.

Her form right now is so pitiful.

She died right in front of my eyes just after professing her love to me!

Is… Is this really how it ends?

She sacrificed seven million lifetimes just to die like this!?

The worst part about her sacrifice is that she knows how it will all end. She knew that we are never meant to be with one another. She wished to change our fates, but she can’t. She kept on thinking “If I tried hard enough, I can change this.” only realizing in the end that she can’t. All for the sake of my love.

I…

… I can’t accept it!

I still have to return all the favor… all the sacrifices she made for me!