Chapter 36: The Trial
"Welcome back."
Frey heard Weisser's voice, and he knew without a doubt that he was back at the Crypt of Souls. His first instinct was to apologize, but the other man quickly cut him short before he could start.
"I understand," Weisser said. "But we have no more time. We have to do this now."
Frey nodded in understanding. "What do I have to do?"
"Just stay still," came the response. "Don't worry, you wouldn't feel a thing."
"Okay."
Frey felt a pair of hands clutching both sides of his head, and Weisser's contorted face hovered before his eyes. Frey briefly wondered what it must feel like, having no body of your own, having to use another person's physical form… The insight on how difficult life must be like for someone like Weisser kept him from becoming too revolted about the man's current features.
"You're doing fine," said Weisser after a moment's silence, one hand abandoning Frey's head to grasp for something. Then the same hand returned, now clasping a single stone, which he pressed unceremoniously against Frey's forehead.
"How long will I have to wait for my memories to return?" he asked after a while.
"Depends on how long Ryuu—"
The other man stopped abruptly, but Frey already got the gist. Of course it will all depend on Ryuu's endurance – on how long the man could survive given the degradation of his soul. Frey shoved all his guilt to the back of his mind, knowing that it was futile to do anything at this point. He needed time. He needed to be reborn.
He needed to find the other half of Ryuu's soul.
And if Weisser's suspicions were correct and Shinou was planning to take him to the same place where that other soul was…then, all the better for him.
Frey knew that he had to wait. He had to allow things to take their rightful course, and when the time comes, he would have to do his best to save Ryuu.
It was the only plan he had – the best that he could come up with now. He would live this life that Ryuu had wanted to give him, and when his memories return, he could finally repay Ryuu for all the sacrifices the man had made for him.
The only conceivable thing that could cause his plan to fail was if he would somehow get too emotionally attached to the other soul – or at the worst, fall in love with him or her. But that could never happen, Frey assured himself. Otherwise, he would never be able to bear with the irony of it all.
With that final thought in mind, Frey drifted off. The stone glowed before his eyes, and as Weisser pulled it away, he noted that it had turned into a bright green color. Frey closed his eyes, his mind growing blissfully blank – devoid of any memory or thought.
"Goodbye then, and good luck."
He heard the words, but found that he didn't know what they meant or even who uttered them. He opened his eyes and looked around him in confusion.
Where was he? What was he doing here? Who was he?
He shook his head, finding that he could no longer remember.
When Wolfram finally opened his eyes and woke up from his prolonged slumber, he was mildly disappointed to find that he was still alive.
For a moment, he lay still, staring at the canopy above while his senses adjusted themselves to the conscious world. His ears caught the sound of several voices droning in the background, but the words and their corresponding meanings didn't interest him in the slightest. He heard his name mentioned a few times but he found that he didn't really care much to continue listening.
Wolfram shut the voices out.
He stirred, clenching and unclenching his fists experimentally. It took a while for him to get used to the fact that he was actually moving, no matter how minute the action was. It seemed like an eternity ago when he'd last used his hands. The thought made him cringe, suddenly remembering the last thing he'd done with the said limbs. He had held a sword. He had killed. His fingers slippery with the feel of somebody else's blood.
Wolfram shut the memories away.
He propped himself on two shaking elbows and willed his leaden legs to move. The most that he managed was a weak wriggling of his toes. He sank down to the bed, exhausted beyond relief from that very short attempt to shift his legs. Wolfram felt tears stinging at the edges of his eyes, threatening to spill down his face at any given minute. He felt so helpless. So weak. So…fragile.
Wolfram shut those feelings away.
He looked down at himself, trying to attain a semblance of control over his current situation. So he was physically, and perhaps even magically, drained. So he was presently tied to the bed because of his (temporary?) incapacity to do something as simple as move…So what? Did it even matter?
Wolfram shut all his anxieties away.
He looked around the room, finding that he was in one of the lavish quarters that were usually reserved for high-ranking visitors. He was alone, but just beyond the half-opened door, he could discern two figures talking together in quiet tones. A mop of black hair told him that one was Yuuri. He recognized the other as Damien.
Wolfram nearly called out to them, but then a single word reached his ears and he stopped. The two boys were talking about a trial. The word registered in Wolfram's head and he remembered. His trial. Yes, he had betrayed the kingdom…had forsaken his family, his uncle, and his House…had briefly contemplated killing his king…his own fiancé…
He was a traitor, a deserter, and a murderer.
Wolfram closed his eyes, ignoring the sound of Yuuri's and Damien's voices. What was he supposed to do now? If only he had enough nerve and power to finish the job back then. To just forget everything and do the right thing. To take his own life.
He lay still once again, staring unblinkingly at the pleated cloth that was draped artistically over his bed but not really seeing anything. There was the loud, intruding sound of a door being forced open, and the voices he had heard earlier grew louder as their owners drew nearer to the bed. It was a combination of several familiar voices – some curious, others concerned – but all virtually negligible to his already numb brain.
"He's really awake?"
"Why didn't you tell us sooner?"
"One at a time please…"
Then the footsteps and the voices stopped inches away from his bed.
"Wolfram?"
A lone voice, tentative and anxious, floated through his ears. Wolfram didn't bother to see who it was. It hardly made a difference anyway.
"Wolf? It's me."
He recognized the voice but he didn't respond. Then others joined in.
"Lord von Bielefeld?"
"Kakka?"
"Wolfram? Please…"
He ignored the voices, still unprepared to meet their owners' eyes, afraid of what he might find in the various faces of his friends, family, and comrades. Pity? Anger? Disgust? Wolfram didn't know which one he preferred, and he wasn't at all inclined to choose too soon. He wasn't prepared to face them all, knowing that he would have to say goodbye to every single one of them in the near future.
Wolfram closed his eyes and shut the entire world out.
"Heika."
Yuuri turned expectantly towards the person who had spoken, hopeful for a piece of good news. But Lady Cheri's expression hinted at nothing remotely close to what he had been wishing for.
"He hasn't spoken to you?" he guessed, already half-rising from his chair, wondering if he needed to barge into the room to confront an extremely stubborn fire Mazoku. The same Mazoku who had just woken up from a coma, but who refused to talk to anyone. Lady Cheri had been Yuuri's last hope of drawing any response – anything at all – from Wolfram, but it seemed that even she was unsuccessful.
The former Maou shook her head sadly, eyes drifting back to the room she had just emerged from. "Wolf seemed fine, but…I don't know. I don't think that he was even listening to me."
Yuuri had been on tenterhooks the entire time, too distracted to even keep up a conversation with the men around him, all the while wondering if Wolfram had finally uttered a single word. Yuuri understood that the boy had a lot of things to deal with, and Yuuri would have given him all the space he needed. But this apathy and silence were so unlike the Wolfram that he knew that he was becoming increasingly panicky. Also, news of Wolfram's recovery had already reached the leaders of the Noble Houses, and they had once again insisted that Wolfram be subjected to an inquisition.
As Yuuri no longer had an ongoing war as a reason to forestall anything, he caught himself wishing for a huge disaster that would hopefully distract the nobles' attention from Wolfram. He immediately felt guilty for thinking that, and he was forcibly reminded of the nobles' assertions during their meeting the day before. They had all said that he was letting his feelings for Wolfram get in the way with his decisions as a king. Back then, Yuuri hadn't seen anything wrong with that, but right now…perhaps there was something in their warnings after all? Was being Wolfram's fiancé detrimental to his being the Maou?
"Heika?"
Yuuri gave a start, realizing that Lady Cheri had been trying to get his attention. "I'm sorry," he said. "I was just thinking…"
Lady Cheri opened her mouth to say something, but then closed it again. She looked tired – more subdued than Yuuri had ever seen her before.
"It'll be fine," Yuuri said, trying to smile. "Wolf will snap out of this."
Yuuri thought that his assurance would have sounded better if he himself believed it to be true. But he couldn't find any certainty in that, and he knew that Lady Cheri could see the doubt in his eyes. He couldn't say anything else though. As of the moment, Yuuri had nothing else to offer.
The next few days following Wolfram's recovery turned into a whirlwind of activities for everyone involved. Wolfram's trial eventually commenced, and although only the king, the leaders of the Noble Houses, and some selected witnesses were present inside the cavernous throne room, the entire castle seemed to have ceased everything to gossip about the event and to await the outcome together.
The fact that the accused was Lord Wolfram von Bielefeld – an ex-prince, heir to the Bielefeld fortune, son of the previous Maou, and the current one's fiancé – was more than enough to draw the attention of the masses. No one could recall a member of the aristocracy being subjected to something like this in a very long while – at least not discounting the controversy surrounding Lord von Voltaire's cousin, Lord Geigen Huber Grisela, who was banished from the kingdom some years before.
But Lord Grisela had been pardoned by the Maou, and had even been given a piece of land for him and his family. In view of the accusations leveled at him, which included consorting with the human and Ryuzoku leaders, would Lord von Bielefeld be accorded the same judgment?
Inside the throne room, Yuuri could feel the entire population's curiosity about what was about to take place. He hated being in this position, hated having to sit in his throne atop the platform while Wolfram stood in the center of everything, alone and vulnerable. Yuuri would have preferred to stand next to him – to do anything to show his support. But the boy had stared at him blankly when he suggested it and said the first three words that he had ever directed at Yuuri since he had woken up – "Leave me alone."
Disheartened at Wolfram's distant attitude, Yuuri was reduced to watching him from afar, wondering if they could ever go back to the way things used to be. Wolfram just seemed so…far – physically within Yuuri's reach, but always seeming so disconnected to everything.
Yuuri bit his lip. Wolfram's silence had only confirmed what he'd feared all along – that the boy somehow blamed him for Ryuu's death. Yuuri could only shake his head at that. Some time ago, he had cried over Wolfram's desertion, silently wishing that Wolfram would choose him over Damien or Ryuu. But now that Wolfram had, Yuuri didn't feel any bit happier. On the contrary, he felt terrible to have been chosen this time around.
Yuuri didn't know exactly whether Wolfram blamed him, but he had already run out of reasons to explain the boy's coldness towards him. Did Wolfram hate him? Yuuri couldn't be sure. Did Wolfram love him still? Yuuri desperately hoped so, but again, he couldn't be sure of anything anymore.
Yuuri tried to catch Wolfram's eyes, but the boy stared straight ahead, eyes focused on the wall. Wolfram was dressed in plain clothes, refusing his usual blue uniform which the servants had brought to him earlier. He stood stiffly in the center, like a soldier on attention. He was flanked on one side by the aristocrats, and the witnesses on the other, but even with the several pairs of eyes boring a hole on him, Wolfram gave no indication that he was uneasy or afraid or even the slightest bit worried.
Wolfram's face was blank, his eyes empty, the fire within tempered with strain and sorrow.
"Lord Wolfram von Bielefeld."
Yuuri jerked into attention, realizing that everything was about to start. He glanced at Gunter, who began the proceedings by enumerating the various charges that Wolfram was being accused of. The man had explained to him that the trial procedures in Shin Makoku tended to vary from one ruler to the next, and that the other nobles had relented that Yuuri could dictate how he wanted to go about this one.
Yuuri hadn't seen a trial before – both on Earth and in Shin Makoku – so that in the end, he opted to have it in the simplest way possible. The charges shall be read, the accused will be allowed to speak up to answer and explain, and then witnesses shall be called in to validate events. The aristocrats could then ask their questions if they wished.
It all seemed so simple, and Yuuri felt okay with it knowing that Wolfram would be able to provide some logical explanations to his actions. But looking at the boy now, Yuuri's doubts were resurfacing. Did Wolfram even intend to defend himself? Could he?
"Well? What have you to say for yourself?"
Gunter's voice drew him back to the present, and he sat up straighter, waiting. Wolfram didn't look at anyone. Without tearing his gaze off the opposite wall, he answered, "Everything was my fault. I take full responsibility for my actions, and I accept any punishment that you will give to me."
The nobles glanced at each other, then their gazes shifted to Yuuri. Yuuri was as surprised as anyone, and it took him a few beats to recover.
"Wolfram," he called out in censure. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"I don't deny anything," the boy continued. He looked gaunt and sickly, but the stubborn gleam in his eyes was back, indicating that he would stand by what he had just said and will fight for it with his life. "I betrayed everyone. I deserve to be punished for my crimes."
Yuuri's eyes narrowed, anger eclipsing all his anxieties. But he stopped himself from bursting out, instead turning to the witnesses who had been called in for this particular event.
"I'd like the witnesses to speak," said Yuuri, ignoring the glare that Wolfram had just thrown at him. "Damien? Please start."
Damien stood up at once and began to address the entire room. He testified that his departure from Shin Makoku with Wolfram had no political bearing, and that everything had just been a huge misunderstanding. Without going into the details, he mentioned that Wolfram had been tricked by one of Lord Ryuu's companions into leaving, and that their meeting with the Ryuzoku hadn't been premeditated at all. Finally, Damien asserted that Wolfram's actions in Bielefeld Castle were primarily driven by a desire to protect Yuuri, and should not be seen as a deliberate attempt to harm anyone.
"So Lord Wolfram was being manipulated by one of Lord Ryuu's minions?" Lord von Wincott asked after Damien was done. He turned a questioning eye at Wolfram. "Why didn't you tell anyone about this? More importantly, why did you allow yourself to be used that way?"
For a moment, Wolfram looked like he would lash out at the man, but then he seemed to pull back his emotions, and he answered dully, "Like I said, it was my fault."
"But when you were captured," asked von Karbelnikoff, "why did you leave the dungeons and set out with the Radford and Rochefort armies?"
Yuuri answered before Wolfram could utter a word, "Greta will answer that. Greta?"
His daughter stood up, looking so small amidst the grown-up men around her, but looking as serious as anybody inside the room. She began to relate how Lord von Radford took her out of the castle, and how he blackmailed Wolfram into going to the battlefield. She also gave evidence about Lord von Radford's attempt to dispose of Wolfram and her, and how they managed to escape from the melee.
"Wait," said von Gylenhaal. "You managed to escape because Lord Ryuu came? What did he say?"
Greta paused for a moment to look at Yuuri, before replying, "I didn't…I didn't really hear…but I thought he said something about us escaping…"
"Lord Ryuu told you to escape?" clarified von Gylenhaal. "In short, he rescued you? Why would he do that?"
The question seemed to be directed at Wolfram, but the boy didn't answer. Eventually, it was Damien who spoke up. "I think…I think my brother had feelings for Wolfram."
The others murmured to one another at this response, and they all stared at Yuuri, wondering perhaps what he thought of that. Yuuri chose not to comment on the issue, instead saying, "Let's move on. I'm sure you're all curious about what transpired in the battle?"
Then before any could interrupt, Yuuri went on with his own account – how he learned that the Radford and Rochefort armies were missing, how he was informed that Wolfram was also gone from his cell, up to the point where they had set out to stop a confrontation with the Shimaron army from taking place. He also attested, against general disbelief, that Wolfram protected him from Ryuu during the battle, finally citing as proof the fact that Ryuu ended up dead through Wolfram's hands.
After he was finished, several people came forward to validate his story. There was Yozak, who attested that it was he who discovered that the armies and Wolfram were missing. There was also Saralegui, who testified about Wolfram's behavior in the battlefield. Then Gunter, Gwendal, and Conrad gave their separate accounts about what took place in the confrontation, and through their collective descriptions, they were able to convey a picture of the gruesomeness and brutality of the encounter that had claimed the lives of many.
The other aristocrats listened with varying degrees of emotion. After a moment, von Wincott asked, "Lord Wolfram? As I understand it, now that Lord Ryuu is dead, the leadership of the Ryuzoku had now passed onto you. What do you intend to do with them?"
Wolfram's entire body turned rigid. "I…I don't know."
Von Gylenhaal grunted in discontent, but he let that pass and instead proceeded to another topic. "I think there is something that you are still not telling us. Back to the whole blackmailing business, I cannot believe that a trained soldier like you had been unable to break out of Lord Ryuu's control. Lord Damien said that Lord Ryuu had feelings for you, but did you also harbor feelings for Lord Ryuu?"
Wolfram seemed to be gritting his teeth as everyone leaned forward expectantly for his response. For the first time, he sought Yuuri's eyes, his expression near desperate. He answered evasively, "Ryuu and I…knew each other."
"Knew?" von Gylenhaal repeated. "How could you have known each other?"
"Where did you meet him?" chimed von Wincott.
Von Karbelnikoff added, "Did you have any prior communication before he—?"
"My lords."
The interruption came from Murata, who stood up from his corner to address the room for the first time. Beside him, Shori shifted and glanced at Yuuri worriedly. Yuuri frowned at the two. He had initially asked them to give evidence against Ryuu's character, but both had refused, claiming that Ryuu's identity and connection with Wolfram should be kept a secret. However, despite the fact that they couldn't contribute anything to Wolfram's defense, both had insisted on attending the trial anyway.
Yuuri suspected that the two had some hidden agenda for being here today, and now that Murata had broken his silence, Yuuri guessed that he was about to find out.
The sage said, "Lord Ryuu's past is a matter of grave significance to something much larger than this world. His connection with Lord von Bielefeld is part of that, so I must advise you therefore, not to pursue your line of inquiry."
Von Gylenhaal looked confused at this. But then he wasn't the only one. Lord von Karbelnikoff chimed in, "But Geika, we came here to extract the truth—"
"And I dare say you already have it," replied Murata. "Everyone here had spoken the truth. Lord von Bielefeld was merely manipulated and misled to do things which resulted into these dire circumstances. He is clearly innocent."
Von Gylenhaal didn't look satisfied. "Geika, forgive me but you speak as if you know everything, but you were hardly ever here when these 'dire circumstances' you speak about, took place."
"Yes, but I speak on behalf of Shinou," said the sage, "who was watching over everyone the entire time."
"Watching?" von Gylenhaal scoffed. "I'm sure he enjoyed watching his people suffer."
Yuuri glanced at Murata, wondering how the sage would react. A smile crept into the boy's lips, and he answered pleasantly, "Well, I cannot say for sure. Did you?"
The noble began indignantly, "I wasn't—"
Murata cut him short. "I wasn't talking to you, my lord."
Yuuri straightened up, feeling that something in the atmosphere had changed. He couldn't pinpoint what exactly, but then after a moment, he realized it. Someone unseen had entered the room.
Watching Murata's smile, Yuuri instantly knew who it was. Shori seemed to sense it too, for he turned his head towards the unseen being's direction – at the center of the room. Wolfram stiffened on his spot.
It took the others a longer time to know that somebody else had joined them. It wasn't until that somebody showed himself that they gasped aloud in surprise. Yuuri leaned forward with interest, intrigued at this new presence.
Shinou had come.
Shinou had come.
Wolfram watched the deity suspiciously, wondering what the Shinou's presence could possibly mean, given his situation. He glanced at Yuuri. Was this part of the boy's idea of a trial? But Yuuri looked as shocked at Shinou's arrival as anybody else, and this only fueled Wolfram's wariness.
What was the Original King doing here in the first place?
To his consternation, Shinou stood nearer to him and placed a translucent hand on his shoulder.
"I was told that witnesses were being called in to stand in defense of Lord von Bielefeld," the deity said in a clear voice. "I come today to support him as well."
Murmurs erupted all across the room. From his seat atop the dais, Yuuri's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"Shinou-Heika," Wolfram said in a low tone. "What are you doing?"
Without looking at him, the Original King responded, "I was watching, and I could not help but feel disappointed at the course you are taking."
"What course?" he asked, although he knew that the deity was probably referring to his willingness to be convicted, to receive punishment for everything that had happened. Wolfram didn't feel any need to apologize for wanting to be found guilty. If he had to die, he might as well do so after suffering for the deaths and damages he had unwittingly caused.
"You need not die," said Shinou, speaking so quietly so that nobody else could hear them.
Wolfram's eyes widened, and then he scoffed bitterly. How dare Shinou say that, when he knew perfectly well that it was he who caused everything? Shinou created Ryuu, which in turn caused the Crypt to create him. How dare he speak so calmly, as if he knew what Wolfram had just gone through? How dare he speak as if there was still hope?
Wolfram answered, also keeping his voice soft, "You must know why I had to. You know everything, don't you?"
Shinou looked at him then, and he replied, "I am sorry, but…I think I can help you this time."
Wolfram didn't answer, unwilling to trust, reluctant to hope again. Especially Shinou. Definitely not the being who had caused Ryuu so much pain and suffering.
The deity seemed to sense his disinclination, for he said, "There is still a way."
Wolfram stared. A way. There was still a way. Was Shinou telling the truth? Could there really be one…?
"Are you…serious?"
Shinou looked satisfied at his reaction. He said, "Let us get you out of this situation, and then we shall talk."
Before Wolfram could protest, Shinou turned to everyone again. The nobles, the witnesses, even Yuuri, looked baffled at their whispered conversation. But if they were expecting an explanation, they were sorely disappointed.
Shinou said, "Lord von Bielefeld is innocent – I can assure you that. As my sage said a while back, there are aspects of this situation that must be kept secret, as it concerns things beyond mortal reckoning…"
"But Shinou-Heika…"
Wolfram couldn't help but admire von Gylenhaal's nerve. Going against a god required a lot of courage – or, he amended mentally – a load of stupidity.
Shinou turned a fierce eye on the noble, and although his tone didn't change, Wolfram could feel a certain coldness emanating from him. He was sure that everyone – especially von Gylenhaal – could feel that unnverving chill.
"I already gave you my word, Lord von Gylenhaal," said Shinou. "And if that is not enough for you, then perhaps you might as well leave my kingdom."
My kingdom. Wolfram thought it a bit rich for Shinou to still claim Shin Makoku as his. Indeed he was the founder, but his time had long passed, and the kingdom was now under Yuuri's rule. Without even thinking, he glanced at Yuuri to see what he thought of the deity's statement.
Yuuri only looked amused at this, and finding Wolfram's eyes on him, he grinned. Wolfram flushed, realizing that this was the first time that he'd been able to look at the young king without Ryuu's image popping in front of his eyes. Wolfram regretted having to avoid the Maou ever since he woke up, but he found that looking at the young king brought to mind too many images of Ryuu.
It still hurt. Yuuri's voice reminded him too much of the sound of Ryuu apologizing to him again and again. Looking at Yuuri brought to mind Ryuu's dying face. Yuuri's touch burned him, making him recall the feel of Ryuu's skin against his. Made him remember how easy it had been to kill Ryuu.
And it was all too much to handle. Wolfram could take the pitying stares directed at him by his friends and family, but he couldn't so much as look at Yuuri without feeling an onslaught of pain, guilt, and humiliation.
Wolfram broke the eye contact first, feeling the familiar pricking surges inside his chest that signaled another unwanted memory of Ryuu. But the accompanying pain was duller this time, certainly not as suffocating as before. He looked at Shinou, wondering whether the deity had anything to do with his sudden ability to cope. Or perhaps it was the promise that there was still something he could do that made things a little less agonizing.
Wolfram didn't know, but he welcomed this feeling of hope and allowed himself a few moments to be relieved. He vaguely noticed von Gylenhaal's stammered apology or Shinou's proclamation that the trial was over. The next thing he knew, Murata came forward to announce that he was exonerated of all charges.
Wolfram could only watch in stunned disbelief as, one by one, the nobles finally departed. Only Gunter and Gwendal remained of that group, and both came forward to bow deferentially before Shinou's feet, and then give Wolfram a friendly tap at the shoulder. Conrad came next, smiling at him and – in an unexpected move – pulling him in an embrace. He was gone before Wolfram could react, and somebody else was hugging him, arms wound tightly around his waist.
Greta looked like she would never let him go, but after whispering something that sounded like "I'm sorry" and "Thank you" and "I'm glad everything is okay now," she backed off to give way to the others.
Damien came forward, hesitating for a second before finally throwing his arms around Wolfram too. Saralegui was hovering behind Damien's shoulders, making an impatient sound when the boy still held on after a few beats.
And then somebody else was making an impatient noise, adding an irritated, "Damien-san, you can let go now."
Damien released him with a laugh and stepped away, but not before answering jokingly, "I know. Taken. I remember."
And then Yuuri was standing before him. Wolfram hesitated, taking in the boy's face, his eyes, his smile… He waited for Ryuu's image to intrude into his thoughts again and twist everything into a nightmare. It eventually did, but Wolfram found that it was a lot more tolerable.
"You're free," Yuuri stated. "I'm glad that's over. You made us all worry, you know."
Ryuu's voice came too, but Wolfram found that it echoed more in the background rather than dominated his ears. He swallowed hard, waiting, wanting to see if the boy's touch would no longer burn as much.
But Yuuri stayed on his spot, smiling. Wolfram realized after a moment that Yuuri was waiting for him to make the move. He nearly took a step forward, but then he felt his legs weaken and he froze.
Yuuri looked disappointed but he refrained from commenting, instead turning his attention to Shinou.
"If I had known that you were going to be that convincing," Yuuri said, "I would have asked you to come earlier."
Shinou's face was blank. "I would not have done this if I did not need to," he said smoothly. "Now please leave. I need to talk to Lord von Bielefeld. Alone."
The request obviously caused another bout of confusion. Yuuri looked like he would protest, but then he met Wolfram's eyes and he nodded in understanding.
"Let's go," Yuuri said, starting to usher everyone outside the room. Shori and Murata left of their own accord.
Wolfram watched them all go. He caught Yuuri's eyes again and managed to smile in gratitude. The boy smiled back, but there was a hint of sadness in his eyes as he slowly closed the door behind him.
Shinou did not know where to begin so he decided to be blunt.
"I've thought about everything," he said. "And I think there is one way left to save Ryuu's soul."
Lord von Bielefeld returned his gaze levelly and asked, "You do know that I have already absorbed Ryuu's soul?"
"Yes, but in my reckoning, it will take at least a month for your souls to merge. That is enough for us to prepare."
The boy narrowed his eyes at him. "Prepare for what?"
Shinou paused for a moment before beginning to outline what needed to be done. This was the third time that he had relayed his ideas to someone – first to his sage, then to the Maou's brother, and now, to Lord von Bielefeld himself. The expression in the boy's face was very similar to that of Murata's and Shori's when Shinou had first told them the plan in its entirety.
"Is that even possible?" Lord von Bielefeld asked doubtfully.
"Possible? Yes," Shinou replied. "Successful? I am not entirely sure."
"But…it's my only viable option, is it?" the boy asked. "Instead of killing myself after a month, I mean."
Shinou nodded. "Speaking of your remaining month…there are a few things that you need to keep in mind."
Lord von Bielefeld stared at him in resignation and said wryly, "Of course. It just never ends, does it?"
Shinou could not look at the boy anymore. Turning away, he said softly, "I am terribly sorry."
The boy did not respond, but his silence and his sorrowful eyes were all the responses that Shinou needed to know that 'sorry' would never be enough.
"What are they talking about in there?" Yuuri asked, addressing the question to Shori and Murata. "You guys know something, don't you?"
"It's between Shinou and Lord von Bielefeld," answered Murata. "But if you really want to know…"
The sage left the statement hanging and Yuuri scowled. "What? What's going on?"
"Yuuri," said Shori softly. "Maybe you should come with us."
Yuuri frowned at his brother, confused. He could feel that Shori was keeping something from him, and he couldn't understand what could be so important for his brother to do that to him. Was it about Wolfram? Or Ryuu? Or about where he and Murata had disappeared to that time that they volunteered to stay behind on Earth?
With his conjectures going nowhere, Yuuri sighed and relented. "Okay. Lead the way." To the others, he said, "I'll be right back. Please tell Wolfram…" He trailed away, changing his mind. "No. I'll tell him myself."
Yuuri followed Shori and Murata down the hallway, out of sight and hearing of the others. Then they continued still to another corridor. It wasn't until they had stopped in front of a familiar door that Yuuri began to suspect that something was wrong.
Shori and Murata had led him into the Royal Bath.
"What are you doing—?" Yuuri yelped as his two companions grabbed him by each arm and led him straight through the door and into the waiting water.
"I'm sorry Yuu-chan, but you really do need to come with us."
And his brother's apology was the last thing Yuuri remembered before the water enveloped them all and dragged them into the other world.
Wolfram tried to process as much of Shinou's warnings as he could, but he found that he was having trouble with most of them.
"So you're saying that I will really have to keep my distance from Yuuri?" he asked again. Although he had been avoiding the Maou for the past day, the thought of having to do that for an extended period of time was a bit daunting. He wasn't entirely sure if he could bear that.
"Yes," Shinou answered. "When you absorbed Ryuu's soul, you have taken his burden as well. Ryuu could not go near the Maou without experiencing pain, which would mean that you cannot do so without suffering too. You are starting to feel it right? Earlier, you tried to go near him."
Wolfram remembered attempting to move forward and touch Yuuri, but he attributed his retreat more to his own cowardice rather than some other explanation. Most certainly not this explanation.
"At least the good thing is that you will not have to absorb the souls of others in order to survive," continued Shinou. "Ryuu only did that to prolong his life, but as for you, I think you will be able to hold on for a month."
Wolfram nodded. At least he wouldn't have to worry so much about being around his friends and family. Which would also mean that the only person he would really have to keep away from was…Yuuri.
Maybe they weren't really meant to be together, Wolfram mused. Either him or Ryuu, or him and Yuuri. There were too much events that went against their being in love, that it must surely be a sign from the universe that they should just call it quits.
Watching his despondent state, Shinou said, "The Maou loves you. You two are good together."
"It doesn't matter now, does it?" Wolfram remarked bitterly.
The Original King was silent for a moment. Then he said, "I was watching you two…at the dungeons…before the battle started."
Wolfram's head shot up, and he snapped, "Can't anybody get any privacy around here? First Weisser. Then you. Who else was watching that happen?"
For some reason, Shinou's mouth twitched with amusement. "I think a lot of people eventually did." And the deity proceeded to tell him about the demon mirror, and how everyone – Yuuri, Greta, Damien, Gunter, his brothers, and even Saralegui – saw that scene being replayed.
"What else did they see?" Wolfram demanded, heart going at a thousand beats per second. "Did they see—?"
"They saw some of Frey's memories…but nothing too telling," said Shinou in reassurance. "You woke up before they could see or hear anything about who Ryuu truly is."
Wolfram's heartbeat slowly returned to normal. "So Yuuri…everyone…they don't know that Ryuu…?"
"No."
"And you haven't told anyone?"
"I was forbidden by the Crypt," Shinou answered. "But the Maou's brother and my sage had found out the truth. Unfortunately, they too, were forbidden to mention anything."
"And they really can't?" Wolfram pressed. When the deity nodded, Wolfram muttered viciously, "I'd like to see them fall – Gottfried and the Crypt."
Shinou seemed to share his sentiment, although he didn't voice them out. Rather, he continued, "Speaking of the Crypt, they will certainly keep an eye on you. But I am guessing that they feel pretty confident that nothing can be done right now that they will leave you alone for at least a month."
"And then someone would check up after to see if I'm dead?" Wolfram guessed.
"I'm afraid so."
"So I'm free to be me? For at least a month?"
Shinou nodded.
Wolfram turned his gaze towards the door, where he knew Yuuri and his loved ones were waiting. "Can't I tell them? The truth, I mean?"
"If you choose to, I cannot stop you," answered Shinou. "But until Gottfried remains in control of the Crypt of Souls, be careful whom you confide into. Gottfried has no qualms in destroying people who are in possession of this knowledge."
Wolfram frowned. "But you know. And Shori and Geika do too."
"The Crypt couldn't touch me because of Gottfried's folly. And he would not dare touch my sage because he knew I would retaliate." Shinou smiled. "As for Shori…he is the new Earth Maou, and I suspect Bob had made a few arrangements for his protection as well. Both of them are secured from the Crypt's wrath, but the ones they hold dear – especially Shori – would surely suffer if they defy Gottfried."
"But what about Yuuri?" Wolfram persisted. "Shouldn't he at least know?"
"I plan to let him know," the deity answered. "In due time."
"But what do I tell him in the meantime? What do I tell everyone?" said Wolfram in agitation. "I can't go out in there and face them…face Yuuri…"
"For now," Shinou said, "you need to only think about talking to your family and friends. I have arranged for the Maou to return to the other world while you fix your affairs here." Wolfram couldn't help but feel thankful at that, but then the deity continued, "If you wish to end it this way between the two of you, then that is your choice. But I can also give you another option."
Wolfram was curious enough to ask, "What option?"
"Remember that day in the dungeons?" asked Shinou. "The promise you made to the Maou?"
Wolfram did, and he could remember Yuuri's voice with painful clarity.
"I want you to promise that you would never escape—er—leave again. At least not without my knowledge."
The guilt rose to his throat and he glared at Shinou for reminding him that. "What about that?"
The Original King explained, "If you also remember, Ryuu had been able to stay near the Maou for a time. I suspected that Weisser had somehow been bestowing his protection over him to enable him to do that." He paused, looking sincerely at Wolfram. "I will be able to do the same for you."
When Wolfram made no response, the deity went on, "I can give you a day at the least. Protect your soul enough to be near him. Painlessly."
Suddenly, there was a lump in his throat that prevented him from speaking. Wolfram understood what Shinou was giving him. An opportunity to keep his promise. To say goodbye properly.
That much he owed Yuuri.
"It's the least I could do," said Shinou after a second, "to atone for my sins."
Wolfram still couldn't form a response, and with no other means to convey his answer, he bobbed his head in assent.
A/N: Thanks to everyone who have reviewed this story so far, especially to SangLeGuira and lilgurlanima for giving their feedback to the previous chapter! Thanks also to everyone who added this story to their list of favorites. I could not be any more grateful for the support and feedback.
Okay, I guess some are getting frustrated with the fact that Yuuri and everyone still hasn't found out the entire truth. The thing is – they won't, at least not in this part. And in my defense before you all start throwing stuff at me, I did write Part 1: The Soul Hunters at the VERY beginning of this story. Which goes without saying that there is a Part 2. :)
Next chapter – time to say goodbye.