Author's note: I rarely use note in the beginning, but this chapter is rushed and I would like to apologize beforehand. No time for proper beta. I hope you'll enjoy this fic. Thank you.


Trample[D] - Chapter 13


758 M.E.

A man in his forty seven dashed inside the small alleyway after he leapt from the car that brought him back to the the only living city in the world. He didn't care about his belonging as he left it in the car, he didn't bother it when he almost stumbled along the way, or when he almost collided with fellow hunters. He was definitely tired from the endless battle he had today. Staying in Old Lestallum for a night was actually his original plan, however his phone was ringing in the midst of his sleep, and at that exact second, he left the outpost and returned back to Lestallum, despite of the fact that the road was perilous.

Eira had opened her eyes.

For twenty months she was slumbering, for that long time he thought that it was the time for him to give up, finally there was a great news in this world of eternal night. He forced his exhausted legs to move in haste, stomped the ground until he reached the door of his destination then opened it roughly.

A pair of obsidian beads moved slowly at him as he made a ruckus when he slammed the door opened. The medic in the room then scolded him for being so loud, which then forced the man to avert his gaze from the raven haired woman he yearned to see and apologized to the medic.

The medic left the room after explaining the situation of her patient, which was unfortunately couldn't be fully grasped by the man as he was being shrouded by impatience to see the woman who was still lying on her bed.

He wanted to place his eyes on her alluring obsidian beads. He wanted to hear her mellifluous voice. He wanted to see her smiles and hear her laughter, since all of it was being snatched from her as she was slumbering.

Cor walked in his wide steps toward the raven haired woman, slightly panting because how fast he was driving and running few minutes ago.

"Eira…" his blue eyes were softened as he smiled unwittingly.

However, that smile was only in a fleeting moment since he caught her gazing at him in empty stares. Those orbs which color were the same as the night sky didn't emit the light. She only looked at him without giving off any expression, as if she didn't recognize him.

And a wry smile passed over his face, as he remembered how the medic explained that she would be like that for few days.


For many times, she opened her eyes to look at the same ceiling, observing the murky white, and gazing at the paint that was peeling off. The sound of her heartbeat on her left sometimes annoyed her when she regained her consciousness, since it was the only thing that accompanied her in this room most of time.

Waking up was not as horrible as the first time she opened her eyes. At that time, it was terrifying for she was unable to recognize anything. Even she didn't know about herself or anyone who visited her, or the man who was caressing her cheek as he cried and called a name over and over, which then she guessed as her own name.

She couldn't move her body, not even lifting a finger or moving her head. The thirst tortured her and she knew that something was inside her throat, making her uncomfortable but she couldn't do anything to complain since she was paralyzed.

And at that certain moment, she was shrouded in constant fear and dread. She was hallucinating, sometimes couldn't differ the dream and the reality. It seemed that there were shadows lurking in every corner of her room. It seemed that the people who entered the room were trying to kill her. And it happened for few first days after she leaving her comatose, before finally those illusion had completely disappeared and she knew that the people who visited her were human who didn't want to kill her.

But, another trouble started to emerge to the surface after that. She hardly remembered anything. Recollecting her memories was a struggle, even with the help of a man named Cor Leonis. She couldn't remember who was he, he didn't even say who was he to her, and the only time she knew his name was when the medic called him as Mr. Cor Leonis.

He always came to her room every day, showering her with lot of loves, caressing her head in gently manner, talking with her with his soft but hoarse voice, smiling at her, and looking at her with tender gaze. He told her lot of stories about herself, about her name, her favorite movies, her profession, her hobbies, anything but himself. But she couldn't ask about it, since her lips were paralyzed.

It was already two weeks after she woke up, having the tube leaving her throat few days ago, but she was still unable to talk yet.

This time she remembered how she saw a lot of things in her long sleep, some blurry memories which she didn't know whether it was actually happened or not. Today, being awake and alone for few hours finally gave her the time to recollect the pieces of her shattered memories. Her name was Eira Heallint, a witch who destroyed the time to restore the emeralds she loved. Her name was Eira Heallint, a witch who was being played with by the Astral who actually didn't want her to sacrifice herself to save the luminous green she wished to protect. Her name was Eira Heallint, a witch who betrayed the lustrous blues she loved.

Biting her lower lips, she was struggling to withstand the sorrow that trampled down her chest. The man she didn't recognize when she returned from her long slumber was actually the man she betrayed, the man whose feeling she stomped and crushed by her words before she was sleeping, the man who was supposed to be her husband but then being rejected by her since she had remembered all of her past.

A stifled laugh slipping out from her lips when finally she gathered those shattered memories. Her dark orbs moving around, scanning the room to find the floating grimoire she hated the most. But it was not there, not showing its creepy face in front of her, not hovering to her front just like what it usually did whenever she opened her eyes while forgetting to lock it before sleeping. She shutted her eyelids when the heat stung her eyes, but even so, the tears kept flowing slowly to her scarred cheeks, no matter she tried to suppress her sadness.

She had remembered all of her past, all of it, from more than two thousands universes the Aion created for her. The time when she was a lover of the royal adviser, when she met him for the first time, when she learnt how to cook with him, when they waited for each other at night in citadel, when they kissed in the hallway, when he proposed her before leaving to Altissia, and lastly, when he proposed her once again in the throne room.

The flash of memories rammed into her head, changing from scene to scene which tormented her head. She remembered it when she sat in front of the marshal at the year end's party, when they spent time together at the movie or at the dinner, when she confessed her feeling at the man, and then when he proposed her in the hidden harbor in Cape Caem. The pain pierced her chest when she remembered the last thing she said at the man. She had betrayed Cor Leonis, just like what the cursed grimoire told her before all of these tragedies happened.

She had betrayed Cor Leonis.

There were lot of other memories that invaded her head. And she wasn't sure whether it was belong to another universe or happened at this one. It was all too much and she couldn't handle all of it at one time.

The raven haired woman couldn't lift her hands to wipe her tears, and she was still unable to talk. And there, she cried silently even though she really wanted to scream at the top of her lungs.

There was a guilt that engulfing her heart. A sin, which would never be forgiven.

She didn't deserve to breath, she didn't deserve to be awakened from the slumber.

Why should she open her eyes knowing that she lived in the world full of lies? Why would she breath knowing that every air she inhaled only suffocating her in guilt?

She had betrayed the one that loved her the most.

She didn't deserve to be alive.

But then what? What if she killed herself? What if she died again? The book would only need to repeat all of this again, over and over, right?

And she would betray Cor Leonis for thousands times? Just like what she did in the previous universes? Yes, Cor was her lover in those universes, and she would always destroy the seal of memories from the grimoire, betraying the man because she kept remembering the first universe she lived, before slumbering for years, which resulted in her failing to wake up, or waking up only to kill herself.

The tears didn't stop flowing from her eyes as the guilt stabbing every corner of her heart.

She hated herself.

She hated herself…

If only I had never been born…


Cor lifted the corner of his lips when he finished combing her long dark hair. Placing the comb on the bedside table, he tucked few strands of her hair behind her left ear. His lustrous blue met the black orbs that staring at him, and Cor was happy only to be able to gaze at her alluring eyes.

Eira turned her head and smiled faintly at him, whispering a weak gratitude with her quivering lips before averting her gaze to look at her own hands on her lap. The corner of her eyes caught the man standing up and moving to her behind, slowly pushing her wheelchair as he helped her to leave the small room where she slept for almost two years. Cor had told her that there were no sun nor the moon outside, still, just like the way the world was before she slept. But, even so, it was still better than being imprisoned in the small clinic forever.

He didn't ask her anything about what happened at her. He didn't ask her why she told him that she loved another man. He only stayed by her side, comforting her, taking care of her, as if she never stated those cruel words at him.

She didn't wear the ring he gave, he didn't even mention anything about it. Probably, Cor was only being considerate, judging that she hadn't recovered yet and those topics were too heavy for her. And Eira could only biting the inside of her mouth, having the guilt and sin made her suffer in every second passed she spent with him.

"Not a kind of world you wish to see when you waking up, for sure." he stated when they left the clinic.

The raven haired woman raised her head, looking at the vast darkness that veiled the world. It was darker than what she remembered, and she knew that it would be like this for the next eight years, until the king returned from his slumber inside the crystal and… sacrificed himself… to bring the dawn.

She looked down, silently staring at the dim ground as the man led her way. It was rather cold outside, even though the billowing steams escaping from the pipes along their way. Certainly, the absence of the sun was the cause, and probably, the people had forgotten how the golden ray cascading to the ground and spread its warmth to their body. Probably, she herself had already forgotten its heat, and probably, she wouldn't be able to feel it anymore.

"Eira!"

The Heallint raised her head when a familiar voice called her name. A teen girl with brown hair was dashing toward her way. Bowing down, she placed a bouquet of flowers to the woman on her wheelchair. Iris smiled brightly and stared at the raven haired woman with her damp brown orbs.

"I'm happy seeing you again…" Iris's voice was a brittle one, she hugged the woman and the tears abruptly leaving her eyelids as she told Eira how much she missed her.

"Iris…" Eira chuckled in her whisper, undoubtedly happy seeing how Iris hugged her in a sudden. "You had just… visited me… yesterday…"

"But you were not leaving your bed, yet." Iris moved her body away and wiped her own tears with the back of her fingers.

The next one who approached her was Talcott. Of course the young boy had visited her few times in these weeks, and he was definitely more cheerful than before since Eira had been given the permission to leave the clinic today.

The people she knew were gathering there in the middle of city, stating that they were happy seeing her opened her eyes, offering their help if she needed, and wishing for her full recovery.

"So, Eira will stay in Marshal's house, right?" Iris asked innocently, having no clue about what exactly happened between the two. "How if we have a dinner together there? I'll cook with Monica and I'll call my brother and others to come. How's that sound?"

Eira definitely couldn't answer the question. Right, she didn't think much when Cor asked her to go outside today. She thought that the permission to leave the clinic was only for her to stroll for a while and returned back later. However, seeing how those people congratulated her, she guessed that actually she was being discharged from the clinic. She had no clue, not at all. Perhaps, she had lost in her though she missed the information that was being told by the medics.

"That's great." Cor answered, which then made the Heallint unwittingly averted her gaze from Iris.

Shutting her eyelids for a split second, Eira tried to maintain her composure. Definitely, she didn't want Iris to notice the trace of sadness from her eyes. She lifted her head then faced the Amicitia who was jumping in excitement, trying hard to smile at the girl to hide the heaviness in her chest.

After confirming the plan, Iris suggested the marshal to bring Eira home, noticing how pale her face had became. Agreeing with a nod, Cor pushed the wheelchair as Eira waved her hand to Iris, Talcott, and others.

They stopped when they arrived in front of a certain house. Cor explained that he had lived there by himself these last ten months, and he stated his offer at the woman that she was welcomed to stay there since there was a vacant room on the first floor.

A vacant room.

Eira smiled wryly, guessing from the way he carefully stated his offer, telling her that there was a vacant room meant that she wouldn't stay with him in the same room.

Not like what they did years ago.

And that meant that they had officially broken up.

But then why he still decided to stay by her side? Why would he take care of her like that? Why?

Why…?

Cor opened the door for her, and while he doing so, she noticed how there was a board on the ground, he had placed it on the stairs to enter the house, so the wheelchair could pass through it.

The tears stung her eyes knowing the things he had done to her. She really didn't deserve his kindness. After all of cruel things she had stated at him, he deserved to be happy, and it was not with her, the woman who betrayed him.

She scanned her surrounding as they entered the house. There were two sofas and a coffee table near the entrance, and on the other end of the room, there was a wooden dining table with four tables surrounded it. There was a door on her left, soon after they entered the living room, guessing perhaps it was a bedroom. There was a small kitchen next to that room, which was connected to the dining area. And when she moved her eyes to the right side of the dining room, she saw a wooden stairs to the second floor. Perhaps, Cor's room was there since it seemed that there was only one bedroom in the first floor.

"I'll cook some food, if you want."

"Thanks..." she nodded, agreeing with his offer since she didn't know what else to do after being discharged from the clinic.

She leant her back against the wheelchair backrest, eyes following the man who was entering the kitchen, then watching his back as he swiftly moved his hands to handle the ingredients. She used to love his figure whenever he prepared the meal for them, but now, seeing it only brought the ache in her heart.

Cor didn't talk much, even after they started to eat. Her hands were still trembling when she held the spoon, and seeing it made Cor offer his help which then refused by her. She said that she should do it by herself, practicing, so her hands could move as she wished. Furthermore, she didn't want to bother him more than this, remembering all the things he had done for her, even after she said that she couldn't marry him two years ago.

Cor had finished his lunch, meanwhile the raven haired woman who was sitting next to him hadn't finished half of it yet. His blue eyes were fixated on her figure, observing every scars that marred her small face. The man tried hard not to clench his fists, holding his sorrow which piercing his heart whenever he looked at her.

He was still angry after all, about the curse from the book, about the things happened at her. He thought he could forgive it two years ago, but seeing her right now just reminded him with those excruciating emotions.

He really wanted to hug her, caressing her head while she leaned on his chest. He wanted to kiss her forehead, inhaling her scent while telling her how much he missed her.

But he couldn't, for she was not belong to him anymore. Even though now he was actually forcing her to stay with him.

He wanted her to stay with him, until she said that she wanted to leave. But he didn't ask what she wanted to do, probably afraid to hear the truth. He just didn't want to hear from her lips, that she wanted to return to the royal adviser's side―who never returned to Lestallum since few months ago.

Ignis didn't know about anything, Cor didn't tell him and he didn't want to. The man mocked the grimoire stating that its love was a selfish one, however he was the one who owned that kind of love. Moreover, would the Scientia accepted his explanation? About how this universe was created by the Astral so the adviser wouldn't be the witch's lover?

Cor was unable to do it, deciding that it was the best if he kept all the truth by himself, and also, by the witch herself. Eira didn't even say anything, probably she was not ready to tell him anything. Besides, Cor didn't actually need her explanation, since he was sure that she would cry while doing so, moreover, the book had told him everything, therefore, he didn't need to hear it from her lips.

It was only a month after she opened her eyes from her two years slumber. She couldn't talk clearly, only with faint whisper which seemingly exhausted her. She couldn't move her hands as she wished, it was still trembling and couldn't grip anything properly. She couldn't even stand, not mention walking. He wanted to give her all of her time to recover, supporting her even though he wasn't her lover. He loved her, and that reason alone was enough to make him choose to stay by her side. Unless, she decided not to see him anymore.

The food tasted horrible in her tongue even though she always loved to taste the meal cooked by the marshal, but she kept eating it until finish as she didn't want to disappoint him. Sleeping for two years had changed her life, and it was not the first time for her experiencing it. She knew exactly when she would be able to talk properly, or when she could move her legs. She remembered it, almost all of the memories from the past thousand universes. The food would not giving a pleasant taste for her about three weeks after having the tube leaving her throat, and it probably would take one or two months from now until she could stand up with both of her legs.

Cor led her to her room after she had finished her meal. Explaining that he had brought all of her belonging here, arranged her clothes inside the wardrobe, and all of her other things on the dressing table. She didn't even say that she wanted to live there, but Cor did it for her. Well, she didn't have a place to stay though, and she didn't want to explain to anyone else if she decided to live in another place. Of course, she could stay in the Leville where the refugee mainly reside, or she could stay in Iris's or Monica's place. But she was too exhausted to think about it, having everyone else knowing that she would live in Cor's place was a burden enough. Moreover, they planned to throw a welcome party here, surely, she didn't want to bring the gloom to the atmosphere.

"I'll be in living room, you can call me if you need something."

The pair of her black obsidian shifted to the man as he walked outside her room, leaving her to be alone there. Obviously, he had created the distance between them, and it was getting more clear after they arrived here. She wanted to end all of this, but with her judgement, she couldn't do it today.

She loved Cor Leonis. She really did. His kindness had made her fall for him all over again. She loved it whenever his lustrous blue staring at her. She loved it when he called her name. She loved it when she sensed his presence.

She knew it that he was waiting for her these two years, despite of the fact that she threw the cruel words at him. She knew it that he loved her still, even after all of the sin she commited.

But, currently she also loved another man from the faraway past. And she didn't want it if Cor thought that she loved him out of pity because all of the kindness he granted to her.

She just thought that she didn't deserve to be with him, and she couldn't simply run away from this circumstance. Both of her legs were crippled, she couldn't live by herself, she couldn't leave this place, and now she was being a parasite, a useless human being that should be taken care by others.

She was a burden… Yes, she should make it clear now.

Eira turned back her wheelchair, moved it toward the door but then she halted her movement as she saw the thing she hated the most, lying on the top of the dressing table. Clenching her teeth, she reached for it with her scarred and frail hand.

Her eyes were darkened as she saw the sleeping face of the broken grimoire. Both of her hands were shivering more as she gripped it. She pierced it with her nails as she clenched the thick cover of the book, trying to open it without her magic since she wanted to destroy it, ripping the pages inside it one by one, then stabbing it with the knife or anything she could find to crush it.

However it wouldn't budge, because the only way to open it was to use her magic. Yet, she didn't want to do it for she would hear its voice.

She hated it.

She hated it…

The tears cascading to her cheeks since she couldn't hold the overwhelming sorrow that clawed her chest. She wailed in her whisper, screaming in muffled voice, cursing her life and the book she held.

She used all of her energy to hurl the book to the floor it let out a loud thud, and the next thing she did was hiding her face behind her palms, sobbing while digging her nails to her hideous face.

"Eira?" Cor opened the door in hurry after he heard a rather loud thud from her room followed by her muffled cry.

Heart trampled by agonizing pain as he saw how she cried and hurt herself. He snatched both of her hands and prevented her to claw her face while calling her name over and over. He lifted her body from the wheelchair, made her sit on the bed then pulling her inside his embrace.

Her scream shattered his heart, her cry tortured him, in tormenting pain, in an unbearable ache. And what he could do was only to caress her head, telling her that he was there, staying by her side, while praying she would stop her cry.

It didn't matter for him if she loved another man. It was okay if she chose that man over him. He just wanted her to be happy, and stayed by her side as long as she allowed him.

"Eira…"

Hearing how the man called her name was only adding the sorrow in her chest. Even after she said that she loved another man, Cor still giving her every drop of his love at her. She cursed herself, blaming herself and wishing that she could just disappeared. Her existence only brought the sadness to him, and there was no reason for her to be alive.

"Eira… It's okay.. It's okay…" Cor clearly knew the reason why she cried. Eyes glancing to the sleeping grimoire on the floor, he guessed that Eira hated the book so much she threw it there. Gritting his teeth, Cor shutted his eyelids, building the fortress so that the tears wouldn't stream down to his cheeks.

She was wounded in her heart. Of course, having to woke up only to know that this universe was created by the Astral so she wouldn't fall in love with the man that was supposed to be her lover. Having to wake up while knowing that she had hurt him, Cor knew that Eira would blame everything on herself.

But she couldn't do a thing to prevent anything to be happened. The grimoire reminded her to the cruel fate befell her, so she cried, drowning herself in the lament that destroyed Cor's heart in every second passed as he listened to her sobbing whisper. He knew he was not the one that she truly loved, but at this time, he just wanted to stay by her side, hugging her, caressing her head, calming her heart until she finally stopped her cry.

"Eira…" Cor pulled his body away slowly when he couldn't hear her crying, guessing that finally she had calmed down.

She bit her lower lips when Cor slightly pushed her body so he could see at her face. The man gently wiped her tears, lifting her chin as he wished so she would look at him in the eyes.

"Eira… It's okay... I'm here for you…"

"Why…" it was hard for her to look at him in the eyes. It felt like she didn't deserve to admire the beauty of his blue orbs. "I… had betrayed you… Why are… you… doing… this…?"

Another bead of sadness cascaded from her obsidian pearls. Finally she moved her eyes to see how the man looked at her in deep affection. Even without saying a thing, she could see how much he loved her, how much he was being tortured by her, how much he was being engulfed by the unbearable sorrow. She wanted to blame the book for everything happened at him, at her, at them. However, it wouldn't deny the fact that she also the one who trampled down his heart.

She loved Cor Leonis. The man who was now wiping her tears in soft manner with his thumbs. The man whose alluring eyes gazing at her in painful love.

They didn't talk, only staring at each other's eyes.

Before the truth was being revealed to them, there was only the affection that was reflected on their eyes. Before the fact was being told to them, the love was the only thing they conveyed through the silence, as they admired each other's eyes, as they adorned each other's breathing sound. However, at this moment, there was a new thing that mingled with it. It was the sadness, heart-wrenching one, the unbearable one, the excruciating one.

There was a gravity in her eyes, the one that pulling the Leonis closer when she stared at him. He knew that he should withstand the urge, but his emotion had beaten his rationality. He knew what he was going to do was something unforgivable, yet, Cor couldn't resist the bursting love in his heart.

She didn't understand it when he claimed her lips, devouring her as slow as possible while he wrapped his arms around her body. The strength had been robbed away from her when the man slipped his tongue into her mouth, twirling it inside when he found her tongue in ablazing desire, pulling away in split second before sucking her lips in lust.

The heat coursed to her entire body when the man started to give the lascivious fondle on her, made her head swaying in pleasure that she thought would never be given anymore by the man she betrayed.

Wrong.

This all was wrong.

She wanted to end all of this with the man. Because she couldn't love him while loving another man. She couldn't love him like the way she did before the truth had been revealed to her.

Even, she hadn't explain anything at him, nor he asked her about anything. But why would he kiss her? Why he didn't feel any disgust toward her?

She was disgusting. Cor shouldn't be with her.

"I love you…"

But then he stated those three words, gnawing her heart with guilt, reminding her about her betrayal.

However, before Eira could reply his words, Cor had planted a kiss on her neck. Nibbling it, sucking it hard in such intimate way, he made her burning in heat through the pain he inflicted.

He still loved her, yet it added the burden in her heart. Even though she said that she couldn't marry him because she loved another man, Cor still saying those beautiful words at her.

"Cor… No…" she tried to move her trembling hands, shoving his body away with it. But she couldn't do it, even gripping a spoon had drained all of her energy, freeing herself from him was definitely impossible.

Cor heard how she pleaded at him to stop whatever he was doing right now. But, he didn't want to listen. It would be the last time he could embrace her before she decided to leave him forever. It would be the last time he tasted her warmth before she told him that she wanted to leave his side. Cor didn't want it to be happened, and so this time he pretended that Eira was still his lover, just like she was years ago.

The man felt how she struggled to shove him away. But just this time, he wanted to be selfish. Just this time.

He missed her. He missed her warmth. He tried to hold his desire, but he couldn't since he missed her so much. After twenty months waiting for her to open her eyes. After the painful days he spent without hearing her voice. After the excruciating nights he spent without perceiving her warmth. Cor now let his impatience to dominate his mind.

He pushed her body to the soft mattress, caging her between his hands before he looked deeply into her eyes. Another line of tears had fallen from the corner of her left eyes, as she saw him with the gaze that was stained by the sadness. The crimson hue had painted her cheeks that was marred by dozen scars, yet, those lips were trembling slightly.

"Eira… I wish you'd never leave me…" the brittle voice escaped from his throat as he stated those words. Bringing his fingers to her cheek, for many times today he wiped her tears. His thumb then trailing down the scars on her skin, one by one, perceiving the roughness of her scars with the tip of his finger. "But… Just this time… Just this one last time…"

"Cor…" it felt like she was choked when she called his name. The air suffocating her when those plea reached her ears. The beautiful blue orbs of him had been smeared by sadness as he looked at her. Her heart was broken, knowing that their story should be ended this way. Not by her having his last name, not by them exchanging their vow in their wedding.

It would be their last time making the love. The love that destined to be over. The love that was created by the lies from the Astral.

If all of this was only a lie, why the pain was too real?

The kiss he gave was the one of the grief. But, just for this one last time, was it okay for her to receive his love? For many times today she told herself that she didn't deserve to be with him. However, just this one last time, she wanted to be his lover, just like the time when she hadn't know the painful truth.

The soft moan escaped her lips when he started to fondle her breasts between their kisses. She didn't want to think about anything but him right now, pretending that Cor was the only one she loved in this world. Letting his intoxicating touch to fill her mind in pleasure.

She stopped struggling and let the brown haired man to unzip her dress, taking it off from her body before discarding it to the other side of the bed. His fingers were moving gently toward her undergarments, removing them while admiring her beauty. There were hundred scars all over her body, and it would always be there, not disappearing, as if they were the proof that the curse from the God was real, as if they were exist to remind him that she was not belong to him.

Cor glanced at her face, relieved knowing that she had stopped crying and her cheeks were getting redder in every second. Oh, he loved her. He loved the way she closed her eyes as she was shivering when his fingers trailed every curve of her body. He loved the way she wriggled and moaned in her quivering whisper when he begun to make the purple traces on her skin. He loved the way she looked at him in desire when his fingers made his way to her sweet bud. He loved the way she called for his name when he put one digit into her wet entrance, curling it inside her, digging her to reach her favorite spot.

She weakly clutched her pillow when he assaulted her in unbelievable pace. The throbbing in her chest were getting rowdy, telling her that she was alive in this moment. Her entire body was burning in heat, moreover when Cor stared at her in piercing gaze.

"Cor…"

He gulped when she called his name. Delighted, because it was his name that she called. Not another man. Not the man that was originally her lover.

A louder moan escaped her voluptuous lips when he pulled his finger. She panted, begging at him with her eyes. It was the look she usually presented at him whenever they conveyed their love, whenever the passion burnt their body, whenever the heat ran inside their vein, and whenever she wanted his presence inside her.

"Fuck…" he grunted and quickly taking off his shirt, harshly discarding the pants he wore, then crawling back above her.

She closed her eyes when he devoured her lips in such ferocious manner while his fingers rubbing her lower mouth, circling on her sensitive bud roughly before entering her with two digits. The Heallint couldn't think anymore since the man had her mind busy with the pleasure he showered at her. He gave pauses between their kisses only to call her name over and over, as if tried to let her know that she was the only one he wanted.

"I love you, Eira…"

Her body was moving roughly when Cor thrusted her with his hardened member, pounding her while he gripped both of her crippled legs, and savoring her while gazing at the expression she made. The scars didn't stain her beauty, as for Cor, she was the most beautiful woman in this world. He didn't want to think that it would be the last time he could feel her, didn't want to acknowledge the fact that when he poured all of his love into her, everything would be over.

Chanting the words of love at her for many times, Cor called her name over and over as if it was the only word he knew. While the woman on his front was moaning, panting, and also, calling his name in her whisper.

He pulled out his member before spilling the warmth on her skin, as he didn't wish the unwanted thing to be happened since they would end the relationship between them now.

It was over.

Cor was no longer her lover right now.

He stood up, taking the tissue on the dressing table and proceeding to clean her body before helping her to wear her dress while she was panting still. After he finished wearing his own clothes, he sat on the edge of the bed, eyes looking at the grimoire which hadn't he took from the floor.

"You'll stay here until you recovered." Cor didn't turn his head as he talked. "When you can move your legs, you're free to go anywhere you want."

Digging her teeth onto her lower lips, Eira closed her eyes so the stinging tears wouldn't make their way to her cheeks. She moved her trembling hands, trying to support her body so she would sit on the bed.

It was over.

Eira was no longer his lover anymore.

She filled her lungs with the air, trying to maintain her composure then opened her eyes to look at his wide back. "But… I don't want… to be a burden…"

"You'll burden me if you leave before you're fully healed."

"Cor…"

"It's my last wish. Stay here until you can move your legs." he stood up, walking to the sleeping grimoire then looked at its sleeping face.

"The book told me all of it. About you and him, and the truth that it turned back the time so you won't be with him. You don't need to explain it anymore."

It was a painful throb that she perceived in her chest when the man threw those statements. Mouth agape, eyes looking at him in disbelieve. Oh, so that was why Cor didn't ask her for explanation. Because, he no longer needed it, since the book had explained anything at him. She didn't know what kind of truth that was revealed by the grimoire, but from the sentences he threw at her few seconds ago, it seemed that the book didn't lie at him.

Cor knew everything, yet he still stayed by her side. Wasn't it better for him to leave? Wasn't it better if he find another woman who would never hurt him like the way she hurt him?

If only she would never wake up from her long slumber, probably, it would be easier for him to forget her, right?

"Cor… I'm sorry…" and what could she mutter was only the apologize, for she dragged him to all of this mess. It was her fault after all. If only at that time she didn't decide to change the fate to restore the light into the emerald orbs she loved, probably, the Astral wouldn't do unnecessary things like this.

Saying that everything it did was for her. But, at the end, what it did was only torturing her, and the innocent man who was trapped and being used as its pawn.

Her shoulders were trembling as she sobbed. She was powerless, couldn't do anything to fix all of this. Destroying the seal of her memories two years ago had depleted most of the pieces of her soul. She would never be capable to destroy this universe and change the fate, where everything was not broken nor stained by these kinds of sorrow.

Cor turned his head when he heard her sobbing cry, glancing at her for a swift moment before placing the grimoire on the dressing table. He clenched his fists, digging his nails to his palm, hurting himself as he tried to hold his emotion.

He closed his eyes, inhaling the damp air of the room before sighing deeply then walked back to sit on her bed.

"It's not your fault…" he knew that he shouldn't touch her anymore. But, seeing how the tears streaming down from her eyes forced his hand to reach her head, caressing it gently as a form of habit whenever he saw her weeping.

"I'm sorry…" the warmth on her head usually calmed her whenever she shed her tears. The serenity would be brought by him whenever his calloused thumb rubbed her cheeks to wipe the trace of sorrow stained her skin. And when he pulled her body into his embrace, enveloping her in his arms, she would close her eyes, inhaling his scent which would ease her pain.

But, it was not the same anymore.

Because when he hugged her right now, his warmth only added the guilt and the misery in her heart.