Chapter29
14 hours earlier
Aenus penetrated into the village where Kanae sent him. With his guns, he loaded them with an unsure gesture…as if something terrified him about what he's about to discover there. And when he came closer, he understood that he was right to be definitely scared there. Around him, the village of Romulus looked like more to a ghost town…if he avoided the corpses which were lying down next to him. Aenus frowned…He grabbed his gun tighter, as if they were the only thing which reassured him. He moved on, realizing that Golvas didn't hold back himself…The entire village was destroyed…and people who lived around (the few who were still alive) were escaping in screaming of terror and pain, trying to search for their loved ones. Aenus felt a little heartache inside him…That's his entire fault after all…All of this…was his fault after all. He played with fire and now…Golvas lost the few of sanity left in him by stealing the only treasure that made him slightly sane…And he wouldn't be surprised if Kanae knew about it and if she sent him there willingly, giving some appropriate punishment to him.
….Why did he do this?
Why did he listen to Fu anyway?
"…"
Suddenly, he heard a loud noise behind him. He turned around, and then realized what it was…The house which was just there earlier…just crumbled into a horrible crash. He squared then rushed over there, thinking that Golvas wasn't very far…Dodging the parts of the house which just fell over him, he managed to find his own way amongst rubbles of the house then came closer to the part where a light shined him up. However, when he made another step, he realized that what he expected wasn't definitely better.
"Golvas…"
His colleague was standing up in front of him. However, he didn't look up at him…He was turning around the place (which was the previous garden of the house) like if he searched for something, so he didn't pay much attention to Aenus. This latter tried to calm him down, by talking to him softly.
"Golvas…I think…please stop!"
However, Golvas didn't listen to him. He was still looking around, searching for this something. Aenus didn't dare to come close, so he just held his guns tighter to him.
"Where is he…?"
"Golvas?" Aenus tried to talk but Golvas's voice raised up, louder.
"MY MASTER! THEY TOOK HIM FROM ME! THEY TOOK HIM AWAY!"
Then Golvas gave a violent kick into a tree which was near him. If he could, he could deracinate it in one sight. However, instead he kept searching around.
"Golvas…Please stop! You…You know what you are doing…?"
"SHUT UP YOU MORON! YOU DUMBASS!" Golvas turned around toward him, then Aenus realized that behind the hole of his mask which allowed his eyes to see, his eyes began orange…with some red areas in. And Aenus realized that the madness already invaded his mind entirely…not being able to listen to him or even thinking about what he was just doing…
"What…Golvas…?" Aenus tried to say.
"SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! THEY TOOK MY MASTER! They took my master again! THEY…"
Suddenly, while he was screaming out of rage without even trying to contain himself, Aenus realized at this instant that they weren't only two in this garden…One of villagers who was living in this house was hidden behind the tree that Golvas just kicked earlier…And when Aenus came closer to this villager…He missed to drop his guns…
That's actually a little girl…apparently her parents lived there in this house…If they were still alive…
She looked very scared by the scene which was happening around her. And Aenus could do nothing but understanding her feelings…even if he lost any shred of his humanity now. He could maybe understand her fear…
She looked so young…And if Golvas already killed her parents…
Watching her scared face, as tears which were running down on her face…Aenus felt something rather strange. Actually, he didn't want to harm her. (as if he ever wanted…) Instead, he felt a certain feeling…He wanted to drop his guns down then kneeling down in front of her…Then, watching her look toward him, he wanted to take her into his arms and hugging her tightly, as if he wanted to reassure her from all this horrible and awful scene which was happening.
As if he was behaving like a normal man…A human man…
However, he couldn't…
As instead, Golvas already noticed her presence.
"...!"
"No! GOLVAS! NOO!" Aenus cried out when he saw him lunging at her.
Crying out of fear, the little girl tried to escape but instead, she fell on the ground. Seeing this, Aenus kept screaming out.
"That's an innocent girl! That's a child! Won't you kill her, Golvas? Didn't you fall as much?" He begged him out of fear, but it seemed that Golvas didn't listen to him anymore.
"GET OUT OF MY WAY!" He heard him roaring.
Then…before Aenus could react to the slightest…the little child who was just standing up in front of him…just collapsed down on the floor.
Struck with terror to that show, Aenus felt himself moving back…If Golvas kept acting like this…the garden would disappear very soon…including himself too.
However…watching the girl that he just met earlier…Aenus felt a deep and painful heartache inside his being. He then realized that without his presence, she could have had a chance to escape from Golvas…No that's not even it…If he did something to help her…If he used his gun and had shot in Golvas…he could have taken his anger on him and not on her…
"…"
And instead…he did nothing. He just stayed there, unmoving. And let her dying…
Again.
How much this scene was so familiar to him…and he could know it very well…
He knew it perfectly well, remembering the face of a certain child that he knew and loved until his deepest being.
"Golvas…she…she did nothing…" He stammered.
Yet, Golvas avoided his words. Too much were in his mind…He needed to release it out…he needed to release out all of his rage, anger and pain as well…
So he just cut down the tree like he did for the girl…
"Golvas…she did nothing! SHE DID NOTHING!" Aenus kept stammering, feeling some tears running down on his face… "...She was just a child! She was just a child!"
This time, Golvas turned around him. And Aenus realized that his eyes became redder than before…in a dark red that made him shiver.
"I thought…having told you to SHUT UP, RIIIIIGHT?"
Then before Aenus could reply another word…Golvas didn't leave him some time…Aenus tried to shot him as he still could but instead, Golvas only lunged at him then without even using his magic power, knocked him out with one only punch in the head with one only hand…
"…Golvas…" Aenus felt himself dizzy then, before he could reach the ground while he was falling, he could catch sight of Golvas who was turning back and left the garden.
"I think…he looked like this, yes."
Samson studied the drawing that Scholastica just made. Despite his heavy bandage which covered the half of his head, he could still discern the little shape that the little one had drawn. Sebastianus, who was sitting down on a chair, glanced at Benedictus from the corner of his eye. This latter was between the awareness and unconsciousness, trying to struggle to avoid the pain caused by the injury. And even comics, books, or even candies that Scholastica brought back to make him better, it still didn't comfort him, and hardly paid attention to what happened around him.
"It hurt…" He kept repeating since he had entered in this hospital. "…Why can't I have a sedative or something?"
"You've already got three…" Sebastianus muttered; a bit irritated to answer the same question another time. "That's enough now."
"Maybe…" Benedictus began, clenching his fists out of pain. "…But that shit doesn't have any effect on me! Why the hell can't they give me something that works at least?"
Sebastianus let out a deep sigh, thinking that he would lose it soon if he didn't stop complaining. However, Samson glanced at him, meaning to let it slide. He stood up from the chair then headed for Scholastica, observing the drawing that she was making.
"…What is she drawing?" Sebastianus asked to Samson.
"She is trying to draw again the scene that she witnessed." Samson answered, a bit upset for making her doing such a thing.
Scholastica shivered to this sentence, but kept drawing as she could. Seeing this, Misao sighed.
"…She shouldn't do this. That's already too hard for her to have witnessed to this so…why are you making her do this?"
Benedictus frowned, showing in his way that he was agreeing with her. However, Samson responded, not hiding his sad look about this.
"But Georgius-sama told us to assemble every piece which could help Index to clear up about what happened there." Samson let out a deep sigh. "…Sometimes, I'm wondering why Georgius-sama obeys to them."
Misao nodded, agreeing with the fact that Georgius-sama blindly obeyed them without any resistance. She gave a little compassionate smile to Scholastica, encouraging her to continue if she could.
"With any luck, we could maybe find the culprit quicker in this way."
This sentence made Sebastianus shivering. He exchanged an awkward look with Elaine who was sitting down next to him. The two of them exactly knew what the thing which did it is…If they believed Sophia's words…But it looked like she didn't lie to them this time. She seemed serious actually…As a bit worried too. And for the very first time, Elaine wanted her to lie about this fact…or least for once.
However, at the instant where Scholastica ended up drawing, they heard a knock at the door. They turned around and realized that's Georgius who just came back. While he was heading for them, Elaine realized that he looked a lot more worried than earlier.
"So… What about the news?" Misao cautiously asked him.
"…" As Georgius stayed silent, they knew that they could only expect the worst. "…They aren't good…3/4 of people who were at the mass are dead…The rest is only injured, more or less critically."
Everyone stayed silent to this news. Even Benedictus stopped complaining and listened to him attentively. After all, they could only expect this…after the slaughter they just witnessed. That assessment would be everything but good.
"However…" Georgius talked again. "There are still others things that we must clarify about what happened…The only thing which is sure is that the one who did this wasn't so far an usual dark magus like we could see…"
"No kidding…" Benedictus muttered, feeling the pain inside again.
"But." Georgius then turned around toward Sebastianus and Elaine, a strict look appearing on his face. "…I may be wrong about this, and it could be only a coincidence. But I persist to believe that your return would be linked to that event."
"…Linked?" Elaine repeated, without looking up at him.
"Yes." Georgius nodded. "…After all, you came back only yesterday. The slaughter happened this morning…My hypothesis could be wrong but I wouldn't be surprised if you were involved in this."
"…" To this sentence, Elaine and Sebastianus exchanged another awkward look, as if they already knew what he was waiting for…and what their answer to this was…
"So. Elaine, Sebastianus…I would like you to tell me a bit what happened during your mission…and how they came back in Index." Georgius asked them again. "…It would be useful I think."
As Elaine had difficulties to answer back to his leader, Sebastianus talked instead and began to tell him everything which happened during their mission…How they met Thule, how they met each members in as the outsider Fu Manchu, who was supposed to not having activities in that faction anymore. Furthermore, he also told about the fact that Elaine lost her own sword, as he lost his magical powers too. He also told about the "contract" part they had with Fu…How he allowed them to go in exchange of bringing a certain box back to Index…that Sophia took, saying that's Index's responsibility and not theirs own.
Georgius listened to him with attention during all his story…However, more he went on, more Georgius's look became darker and bitter.
So…he could expect what his reaction would be.
"So…according to Sophia…it could be Thule who attacked?" He finally responded, not hiding his concern anymore.
"…" Elaine shyly nodded as for response.
A silence fell on the group which also listened to the story attentively. And she could feel all of the awkwardness as all the anxiety from her comrades. And to be honest, she understood them…
"…I see." Georgius only said.
Actually, there was no anger in his look. He was just anxious actually…as a bit disappointed too. And Sebastianus saw it very well. So, feeling the need to clarify their actions, he answered.
"…We thought that we didn't have any other choice…Georgius-sama. We thought that's the best way to accomplish this mission…"
"The best way?" Benedictus who was listening to them too, tried to sit up on his bed despite the pain which invaded him. "Do you call it "the best way"? Are you kidding?"
"Bene." Samson glared at him, giving him a warning for what he was about to say. However, Benedictus avoided him then kept on.
"The only thing that you two did was following your jailor's orders and doing what they wanted! Do you call this "the best way"? That's really a great idea! Look where it leaded now!"
Sebastianus looked down. He wanted to reply to Benedictus but actually, he didn't know how to respond. Instead, that's Elaine who responded.
"And what could we do otherwise? Huh? What could we do otherwise? We already aren't proud of this so useless to rub in it!"
Benedictus stayed silent to this. He looked like if he came back to his senses to Elaine's words. However, one second passed before he muttered as for response.
"Anyway, no matter what you do, you do this all wrong…If I had been the one who had been sent in mission…I would have never listened up to my own jailors. I would have killed them in once with my power. In that way, everyone there in Index wouldn't have been killed like that and would have been spared! "
Elaine expected a response like this actually. She ended up by standing up from the bed then headed for him, a rage burning into her eyes.
"You couldn't…No. You could never imagine the pain where Seba and I came through during that entire mission. Do you really think that if we had stayed for so long, with Thule members who kept a watch for us absolutely every time, that's for fun? That wasn't! If we could have killed them, we would have killed them without any other second! What could we have done otherwise? You don't have to blame us for having done what we could do to save our own lives! Nobody could have done better!"
She didn't seem to talk to only Benedictus…She actually talked to everyone actually, to stand up for their defenses…in the case where they would be blamed for having made the "bad" decision there…no matter if that's the Punishment squad or the Council of Index…
Samson looked like if he understood her words, then nodded in agreement with her.
"That's true, Bene. Nobody could have done better or not. Personally, I think that Sebastianus and Elaine fulfilled their missions very well. If I had been sent instead of them, I also would have made the choice to save my life too. "
"…" It made Elaine sitting down again on the bed, as if his words calmed her down. However, Benedictus stayed upset, probably because he thought he was never wrong no matter what. Nevertheless, Samson's warning glare invited him to not keeping on.
"If I understood well…Fu is an outsider of Thule." Misao closed his eyes, pensive. "Maybe that he didn't have the same intentions than his old colleagues had…"
"That's sure!" Benedictus growled. "That's a lot, a lot better indeed! Fu is a mafia boss. These people are the very first ones to make the most ominous contracts, and betraying people when they have the chance to do." He coughed. "And furthermore…who said that wasn't another trick from Thule? Maybe at the second where you accepted, they had followed you then in this way, they could have entered in Index in one way or another…In this way, they could have had the chance to slaughter everyone."
Georgius thought about his hypothesis. That wasn't a bad idea, but something was a bit wrong about it. To avoid any other argument, he cleared up.
"I'm not sure if that's something that Thule could do. They aren't the kind of killing everyone like that. Actually, they are more the kind to make cunning plans for taking Index down…with or without violence."
"That's true." Samson nodded. "…I think these monsters wouldn't ruin all plans they made like this. They are monsters…though smart ones."
"By the way" He talked to Sebastianus. "…Did you check what that box that you brought back contained inside?"
Sebastianus still looked down. As he didn't answer, Elaine responded.
"I'm not sure…Sophia talked about something…Something called Balor. Apparently it belonged to one of Thule members, Golvas… but I'm not sure" She said, recalling about what the book "The Other side of Holy office of Index" clearly said.
"…So." Georgius responded, turning back toward her. "That's actually this member Golvas who came there? Yet, Index's reports said that they never managed to stop him even if he's on top priority threats… Why would he come there now to slaughter everyone? "
"…I can't be sure." Elaine looked away from her leader. "But if that's truly Balor that we brought…"
"According to Index's results, it seems that only one person acted in this slaughter…I don't know if Thule acted together or not, and I wouldn't be surprised if Sophia messed up with you by telling this about him. "He muttered. "But…If that's true, Index would be interested by what kind of individual Golvas is…Maybe did you collect things about him?" Her leader asked.
"…No." She shook her head.
Georgius sighed, as this information could have been useful for them. However, even if Sophia was a Witch, she was the closest to Johanna. And if it didn't involve them personally…it involved Index itself.
"Anyway…If that's definitely Thule…Index adjourned every activities and others missions. They fear another attack so…They reinforced the security around Index."
"What did they do?" Misao asked.
"They required a curfew." He responded. "Every apostle is ordered to stay at home after a certain hour. They also advised us to never going outside alone, or staying up in group…I think that's the best way to do in these times…as long it wouldn't be controlled."
Scholastica seemed scared by these words, but Elaine put her arm around her, reassuring the little girl. "Don't worry about it. It would be alright…We will do everything to protect you." She comforted her softly, even if she didn't mean these words really.
"I see. It looks like I made a mistake." Georgius talked to himself, with a disappointed tone.
"Georgius-sama?" Sebastianus tried to explain himself but Georgius cut in.
"No…I think I definitely made a mistake by sending you there. In this mission…It didn't involve any other common people or factions that Index views as "sinned"… It involved Thule…One of darkest factions in the world as the Index's top priority threat in this world…"
Avoiding Sebastianus's ashamed look, he kept on. "…I was wrong to send you in investigation…that's too dangerous for you two…"
"…I'm sorry for having disappointed you in this mission…" Sebastianus said, as he meant these words. Georgius shook his head then sighed.
"That's alright…You weren't up for it."
The curfew was pointed for 7:30 pm. However, even at 7:00 pm, there was already nobody who walked around Index's corridors anymore. Sebastianus also noticed that Misao, Georgius and Scholastica were already gone. Benedictus and Samson were required to stay in hospital for the night at least, as there injuries were still painful. As her brother stayed there, Scholastica spent the night at Misao's place, even if he could guess that this idea was rather enjoyable for her despite all events which were happened to her.
"…Won't you come back home too, Seba?"
He turned around toward Samson, who wasn't sleeping like Benedictus did in the next bed. He smiled friendly to him, but Sebastianus only shook his head.
"No. I'm waiting for Elaine. She said that she had something to do so…That's safer if we came back together."
Samson nodded, thinking he was right about it. He turned in his bed, but actually, he had troubles to find any sleep. He smiled, as if he wanted to ease the situation.
"Tehehe…It wouldn't be for tonight that I could sleep...that bandage at the head is rather heavy to carry."
Sebastianus didn't smile like he did. Instead, he just asked.
"Do you want a sedative?"
"Oh no…" Samson smiled again. "Furthermore, I can snore during the night so…I don't want to awake Benedictus either."
"Hm…I see." Sebastianus just sat down on the chair next to his bed, and then quietly stared at this latter. It looked like that the words that Georgius told him earlier still invaded his mind, and Samson could see it perfectly.
"…You know Georgius." Samson shrugged, making Sebastianus turning around toward him. "…Benedictus is still a child but sometimes, Georgius-sama is as clumsy as children when he's concerned…I'm sure that he didn't mean to hurt you."
"That's okay." Sebastianus closed his eyes, pensive. "…I'm not hurt. He's right after all. I wasn't up for it."
Samson sighed, blaming his leader a bit for this. When something overwhelmed Sebastianus, it would stay in his mind for a long time. However, while he was sitting up on his bed for talking to him, Sebastianus told him.
"…By the way…Samson." He began, ill at ease. "I wanted to thank you for earlier."
To this sentence, Samson looked up at him, surprised.
"Thanking me?" Actually, he didn't expect these words…Especially not these words from Sebastianus. "Why?"
"That's just…" Sebastianus sighed. "I'm glad that one person, at least, told that we fulfilled the mission. I'm glad you didn't share the point of view of others."
"Oh." Samson understood what he meant by this. So, he just kindly smiled to him. "You're welcome. But you don't have to thank me. Actually, I wouldn't have done better if I had been sent instead."
"Yes…but still…Thanks you." Sebastianus didn't care about his modesty. He meant these words, and he needed to tell them.
Samson sighed, but kept smiling to him. He knew that his comrade wasn't really talkative about these things. While Sebastianus gave a glance at the door, wondering how Elaine would come back, Samson kept on.
"And you know…I think that's normal that you two reacted like it…After all, you had other business to think about, beside the mission."
It surprised Sebastianus that turned around. "Other business? What do you mean by this? I only thought to the mission."
"Tehehe! Don't play with me." Samson paused. "Georgius-sama told me about the good news."
"…Good news?" Sebastianus tried to understand what he meant by this…However, he didn't have to think any longer as Samson cut in.
"Tehehe…So. What is it? That's a boy or girl?"
Then, he understood…So, Georgius-sama told him that Elaine was pregnant. No wonder why, as these two were close and shared everything with each other. However, this topic still made him upset.
"I don't know. To be honest, I even didn't think about it"
Samson felt that he wasn't thrilled with this topic, but he tried to keep joking. "But…I'm sure that you want a son, don't you?"
"…No." Sebastianus only responded. After all, it didn't matter to him actually. "I don't want a son."
"Oh." Samson looked a bit surprised by this response. "I didn't expect this. Do you want a daughter?"
"No. I don't want a son or daughter…I don't want any children." Sebastianus answered back, without looking up at him.
That sudden response stunned Samson. Then, he stopped joking. And his smile turned into a frown, more serious look. "…Really?"
"Yes. I didn't tell Elaine about this but…that's the truth. I don't want any children…And I will never." Sebastianus crossed his arms, not wanting to face Samson's look about this revelation. Actually, it half-surprised him. He could guess that Sebastianus wouldn't be ready for this now (as they still were rather young after all). But…still. He didn't expect such a cold answer like this.
"I think it may be normal firstly, thinking like that…" Samson tried to reassure him. "That's all new so…I can understand that you aren't ready for this."
"No." Sebastianus shook his head. "No, that's not like I'm unsure or something…That's just this… I don't want any children in my life…I like being with Elaine and I care for her very much. I don't deny this. But…that's not the same if she is pregnant now…"
Samson stayed quiet to this sentence. Actually, Sebastianus didn't ever show all his thoughts about his relationship, like Elaine did. He thought that he loved her too but…apparently; it didn't seem to be the same.
"You know…you may not love Elaine in the same way that she does…But I guess you can love your child at least." Samson tried to say, thinking that he could still get this possibility. However, it looked like Sebastianus wasn't convinced by this.
"…No." Sebastianus just answered, coldly to Samson's response. "I may be cruel by saying this but…I even don't love my child, no matter what it is."
Samson frowned. He didn't know if Sebastianus was sad, upset by saying these words. He still kept an emotionless face, not wanting to show his true feelings about it. As Samson stayed silent, he went on.
"Yes…I'm horrible by saying this but…That's the truth. I don't love my child. When I touched Elaine's belly the first time, I felt nothing. I thought it would pass but it didn't. I feel no love or something about my child. Even not any affection for this…Nothing."
"…" Samson was unsure of what to say now. It wasn't his business but he could guess that Elaine would be heartbroken if she heard this. "You know…It doesn't mean anything. Can you really say that you don't love your child while you even didn't meet it yet?"
"…" As Sebastianus stayed silent, Samson asked him.
"…What are you planning about it?"
"I don't know." That's the truth as he didn't even know about the decision to take. "…I thought first to leave it to Elaine, and let her raising this child by herself but actually…I couldn't. I couldn't do this to her while she looks like happy to have this kid. Furthermore, I would be a monster if I did that. But…" He paused, and Samson could feel a hint of incertitude in his yes now. "…I don't know. I feel trapped…That's not this kind of life that I want actually…Furthermore, this child deserves someone to love it beside Elaine. And I'm not this person."
"…You don't know anything about it yet." Samson shrugged, smiling in comfort. "You know…maybe you will enjoy this life. Maybe you will love your child when it would be born. You can't predict the future about this."
Sebastianus nodded, thinking he may be right about this point. "Probably…Maybe I will. But…if I love this child like I love Elaine…I can't really predict what kind of father I would be…"
To this point, Samson didn't seem to be worried about it. "Tehehe. You will learn on the job. That's a bit too soon to guess about it." He paused, taking his serious face again. "But…before making another snap decision…Even if you decide to leave away…you just should see the face of your child at least once…In this way, you wouldn't have any regret…even if your view don't change."
"…" Sebastianus stayed quiet, as if he wasn't convinced about it. After a long pause, he just nodded, thinking it would be probably for the best, seeing this child at least once maybe. However, he couldn't promise anything…If he would change his view about it or not…
However, before he could respond to this, someone knocked at the door, before opening it up. They turned around to see Elaine, who was standing up on the doorstep.
"That's done. We can go now." Elaine smiled to Sebastianus. "Sorry if I had been long."
"That's okay…Let's go in this case." He stood up from his chair before heading for the door where she waited for him. "See you tomorrow, Samson." He just said, not wanting to face his look anymore.
Samson sadly smiled, thinking that it wouldn't change anything, even if he tried to talk sense into him. "See you tomorrow, you two"
After all, that wasn't his business…He should maybe let them dealing with their own problems…He just hoped that it wouldn't end bad however…
