Author's note: Turned out this chapter is more than 12,000 words... Glad I split it with previous one... Please enjoy the last chapter of this series :)
Trample[D] - Chapter 17
I thought that you'll hate me forever...
I thought that you'll never want to see me anymore...
759 M.E.
Eira looked at the mirror in her room, smiling again for many times this morning as she looked at her belly, which was definitely bigger than four months ago. She carefully caressed it, imagining the future where she would carry her children in her arms, where her beloved husband would play with them whenever he was not going out for his mission, or where they sat together on the sofa, singing to their favorite song or teaching them how to read.
The sun was still obscured by the dark clouds, but she could imagine herself playing with her children under the blue sky with the bright golden bead. They would sit on the green grass, having a picnic while chewing the meal that was cooked by her husband. After that, one of them would climb on Cor's shoulder, while the other sat on her lap. They laughed in happiness as the children ran around and played with each other. And then when the sun set in the west, they would return to their home together, holding hands while moving their feet slowly and admiring the beauty of the moon and the stars along the path they took.
She blinked when the door opened from the outside. The sudden movement made her being forced to return to the world and put an end to her reverie. Turning her head to the man who would be the father of her children, Mrs. Leonis gave a wide grin to her husband.
"Something funny?" Cor advanced his way into the room, hugging her from behind then looked at his wife through the mirror in front of them.
"Just remembering the story about when you crashed Regalia because the queen was suddenly entering into labour." Well, she didn't actually lie for she did remember about that story before she was drowning inside her reverie and imagining their future.
A soft chuckle escaped Cor's lips upon hearing her answer. Planting a soft kiss on her head, he then tightened his embrace. Looking at her sweet visage from the mirror, he spoke, "It would be worse if it was you who entered the labour."
She laughed then turned around to face the man taller than her. "Don't do that with your car, or any hunter's car."
"Won't go anywhere one month before the day."
"You still need to go and protect the people."
"You're my priority."
"I'm not impressed."
The chuckle slipped out from their lips before they stared into each other's eyes. Shutting their eyelids, the two brought their faces closer for a simple kiss on the lips.
"Daddy, hmm?"
"Weird, huh?"
You know?
It's okay if you'll always hate me…
It was a bliss when the cries of two sweet angels rammed into his ears, echoed to the entire room, and undoubtedly, to the entire clinic. It was indeed, the most beautiful cries in his life and he would never forget about this night for the rest of his life.
Surely, this past twenty four hours was the most terrifying moment in his entire life, looking at how pale her wife was, staring at her face as she withstood the excruciating pain, meanwhile he couldn't do anything but holding her hands as she fought to bring the life of their children to the world.
The man didn't stop praying even for a second, to the Gods, the Goddesses, to the Astral, to anything. Her scream made his heart tormented by the dread. Her tears brought the pain into his heart. He was afraid of losing her. He was afraid of losing their children. And he begged, for many times, for hundred times, so that she would safely deliver those tiny beautiful twins tonight, so that his wife and his children would survive, so that she would overcome the pain and gave the sweetest smile from her lips while hugging their children inside her arms.
When the hour hand of the clock was moving past the twelve, the man heard a first cry that escaped from a tiny human which brought a hope in his heart. The overwhelming emotion enveloped him when he saw the baby girl who cried loudly inside the arms of the nurse. He wanted to take a closer look at his newborn first child, but he couldn't do it yet. The fight was not over yet. Because his wife should deliver another tiny human to the world.
He let the woman stab his palm with her nails as she fought for bringing another new life she had carried for nine months. Biting his lower lips, Cor could do nothing but witness the scene in front of him. He could only pray, pray, and pray until finally he heard another loud cry in the room, from a beautiful little boy who was wiggling inside the arms of a medic staff.
The man kissed his wife afterwards, telling her that she was a great mother who succeeded to deliver their children safely. He really wanted to hug her, caressing her head, and showering her with dozens kisses. But the nurses asked him to leave the room and follow them to bathe the tiny twins while the other medics treated the wounds of his wife.
Watching the twins as the nurses cleaned them, Cor was amazed at how small their bodies were. They were so fragile, so tiny, even Cor who was eager to hold them in his hands now afraid to touch them. Their eyes were still shutting tight, and even though he didn't ask about it, the nurses kindly explained to him that they would surely open their eyes in the next few minutes.
The man didn't talk as he watched the nurses cover those tiny twins with warm clothes. He was astounded, still couldn't believe that he had become a father from now on. Even he didn't realize it when the nurses asked him to follow them back to the room where Eira was staying, since he was too immersed in scrutinizing the small figure of his twins.
"Oh… Cor… Look at them…" Eira smiled seeing the twins who finally were inside her arms. Feeling blessed, the woman still couldn't believe that she had given birth to the twins.
It was too beautiful to be true. Months before she was certain that she would never be by Cor's side, as his wife, or even as his lover. But, today she had given birth to his children, being the mother of their children.
"They are beautiful." sitting on the chair next to her bed, the man caressed Eira's head tenderly.
Cor felt so weak. Even his hands were still trembling when he moved it to gently stroke his wife's head as if the strength had been sucked out from his limbs. He didn't dare to say it out loud but he decided not to have another child since the dread still haunted him after witnessing the moment when the most beloved woman in his life fought to give birth to his children. She was in excruciating pain a few minutes ago, and he was sure that those pain hadn't completely gone, yet. He just didn't want Eira to experience the same pain anymore.
After mustering his courage, Cor finally agreed to hold one of the twins when they slept. Looking at the face of a sleeping baby in his arms, he was amazed at how pure the living being in front of him was. His slightly trembling hands were heavy as he carried the tiny human in front of his chest. He was absolutely restless while holding her, didn't dare to move his hands even for the slightest movement since he was afraid to hurt the fragile limbs of his daughter.
He didn't smile, only slightly parted open his lips while admiring his daughter. Cor Leonis was stupefied, because even after feeling the warmth of his daughter, the man couldn't believe that he finally became a father.
Raising his head, Cor moved his lustrous blue to the alluring obsidian that was staring at him. Eira Leonis gave a sweetest smile at him, while holding a sleeping baby boy in her arms.
Their children were twins, a girl and a boy. Being born with only ten minutes apart, at a few minutes past midnight. Absolutely, it was the most frightening night of Cor's life, but at the same time, it was the most beautiful night of his life.
The baby in his arms was a raven haired girl, definitely the hair color that was inherited from her mother. And even though her eyes were too small, before she slept Cor noticed that the girl had the same eyes as him.
The father was certain that the girl would grow up into a smart, strong, and beautiful woman just like her mother. He then wondered whether the girl would grow up as a medic, like her mother. Oh, of course, she was totally free to become anything she wanted. Cor would never force his children to do something they didn't want to do, unless it was for their goodness.
He averted his blue beads to look at the boy inside Eira's arms, whose hair color was the same as him. Fifteen minutes after being born, he opened his small eyes, and like what Cor expected, his eyes were the same as his mother, the beautiful obsidian orbs.
So, because he was a boy, and he was the boy of the Leonis, Cor wondered whether he would grow up as an arrogant and stubborn boy like him, remembering how he recklessly challenged the Swordmaster in his fifteen. But the man would never allow his son to do the same reckless things as him. He would thoroughly educate him well, so the boy wouldn't need to endanger himself because of a foolish judgement.
The man in his forty eight finally raised the corner of his lips, imagining the future where they grew up, and somehow he was a bit impatient to see it. However, at the same time he wished the time wouldn't move so fast because he wanted to savor every second he spent with them, slowly, unhurriedly, and creating a lot of memories with them.
"You cry…" Eira chuckled weakly, looking at the line of tears which streamed down on his cheeks.
Cor didn't reply but staring at her with his damp eyes. Unable to wipe his own tears because there was a sleeping angel in his arms, the man let the tears flow down to his cheek and his chin.
The way he looked at her actually made the woman want to laugh more, but the pain in her body prevented her from doing so. Cor Leonis was too cute. And the sight of him holding their child was definitely a blessing.
"Eira, thank you…"
Eira didn't stop her smile as she watched the man letting out his hoarse voice to express his gratitude. This scenery was too beautiful. She even forgot the painful memories that they experienced in the past, or in faraway past that was destroyed by the Astral. She even couldn't remember how the moon and the stars were still hiding beneath the stained clouds, or the fact that the dawn stil would not come to greet them today, and the truth that the sun would never give its warmth to their children until they were seven.
She was too happy, even the dim days could never hinder her to be happy.
"Thank you…"
Because I deserve your hatred…
Because I always make you suffer...
760 M.E.
"Rei! Reira! Come here! Look at me! Look at me! Look at Uncle Pom!" The blonde man crouched on the floor as he aimed his camera at the twins. Perhaps, it was the hundredth one today since the man didn't stop taking the picture of them, not even for a minute. Prompto couldn't help it but to fill his camera memory with their pictures because he rarely returned to Lestallum. Having the chance to see the children of his firearms teacher and the marshal was definitely the precious moment for him.
Not listening to Prompto's request, the little girl crawling away on the carpet while laughing.
"Ah, Reira, where are you going?" Iris who sat not far from the babies quickly formed a stance, raising her hands in the air and ready to catch mini Leonis anytime in case she went too far or tried to take things the baby wasn't supposed to take.
A smile blooming on Eira's face as she watched her daughter crawling around the room. Reira stopped in front of every guest who attended her and her brother's birthday party, observing their face one by one, and sometimes she softly tapped on their feet or begged them to let her climb onto their laps.
Unlike his sister, Rei sat quietly in front of his birthday cake, staring at Prompto who kept taking the pictures of him. The little boy seemed confused, being left alone without his sister for he always being together with her. He started to curve his lips and frowned before shutting his tiny eyelids and let out a stifled "Uu…"
"Oh, no, no, no." Prompto put his camera away, knowing that Rei would cry soon.
"Ahaha! Prompto! You scare the mini Marshal!"
The sudden laugh from Gladio who was actually behind him made Prompto flinched and turned his head to the bigger guy, "No! Definitely he's scared because of you!"
"But the Marshal is a lot scarier than me and Rei is totally fine with him."
"Marshal is his father!" Prompto scowled, then hastily turned his head to the tiny boy who began to wail. "Aa! He's crying."
Chuckling seeing the confused crownsguard, Cor sat behind his son then lifted his tiny body to put him on his lap. "Hei, hei, why are you crying, hmm? Sad because Reira leaves you?"
Gladiolus and Prompto turned their head to face the twins' father. They were amazed seeing the way the stern marshal handled his child. Of course, it was not the first time for them seeing this side of the Immortal, for they sometimes returned to Lestallum and visited the twins. Yet, the view in front of them was still so peculiar, Cor Leonis was so gentle toward his children, the man even smiled a lot and spoke with the babies in a weird—slightly higher—tone.
Cor raised Rei in the air, making the tiny human look at his father from above. The boy stopped crying and started laughing, moving his limbs in excitement then slapping his father's face. Cor chuckled, having the tiny hands of his son tapping his face and scratched his skin.
On the other side of the room, Reira halted her steps in front of the royal adviser who was sitting on the sofa. Sensing the tiny hands touching his knee, Ignis smiled then facing down, even though he wouldn't be able to look at the pair of blue orbs that were staring at him innocently.
"Daa daaa daaaa!" blabbering some noise, she tapped the dirty blonde's thigh with her hands.
Reira moved her legs and her waist in excitement. It seemed that she wanted to jump but unfortunately the little human couldn't jump yet.
"Can I hold her?" the man asked, sensing that Eira was nearby. He couldn't see her, but somehow he knew that the woman was approaching the baby in front of him.
"Ah, yes. Yes, of course." blinking twice, she answered hastily before holding the little girl and made her stand on Ignis's lap.
The dirty blonde man unwittingly lifted the corner of his lips when both of his hands held the one year old girl who was laughing and blabbering nonsense. He tried to make her sit on his lap, but the girl couldn't stay still and stand on his thighs instead. And before Ignis could say anything else, she had already snatched his glasses away from his face.
"Ah, my glasses."
"Reira…" Eira widened her eyes, and tried to take back the glasses from Reira's hands before she threw it to the floor—she loved throwing things. "No, do not take Ignis's glasses."
"Daaaadaaadadaaa!" she moved her hand faster, refusing to give Ignis's glasses to her mother.
"Reira, let's return the glasses to Uncle Ignis, okay?"
"It's okay, Eira. She may have it."
Not annoyed even for the slightest, Ignis gave off a chuckle, amused because he didn't expect those small hands would reach his glasses. The girl in his hands then started to dance, raising her knees up and down in excitement while laughing cheerfully.
Giving a soft sigh, Eira agreed then let her daughter play with Ignis's spectacles, as she promised to return it back to him after Reira got bored with it. Or if she broke it, Eira promised to buy another one for him which was of course being refused by the adviser, stating that it would be an impromptu birthday present for Reira.
Taking a seat on the other sofa, Eira watched the man as he began to talk with the raven haired girl who finally wanted to sit on his lap.
The warmth of happiness filled his chest when Reira kept talking gibberish at him. Perhaps, she tried to talk with him in her language but unfortunately the adult human couldn't understand their unique language.
"You like my glasses?"
"Yeaaa! Aaa daa daa daaa!"
"You like it a lot?"
"Naaaa! Dada bbbrrrruuub."
"How if you give it to your Mommy?"
"Nyaaaau!"
He laughed softly whenever Reira responded at any of his questions. It felt like they actually had conversation. Ignis kept talking with her and she started to give him longer gibberish, as if the little girl tried to tell him a story.
Ignis then talked to Eira, asking her the question about Rei and Reira, about their habit, their favorite food and toy, and a lot of other things. The two had a casual chatter, sometimes laughing together and Reira would join their conversation with her gibberish talk.
However, the two would never know that a pair of blue beads casually glancing at them from the other side of the room. Giving a faint smile, Cor Leonis averted his gaze to the boy in his arms who was watching Prompto and Gladio, who tried to make a funny face to the boy they called as little Marshal.
I'm sorry…
I couldn't say any other words but… I'm sorry...
761 M.E.
"Hi, it… has been a long time." The raven haired witch looked at the face of a peculiar grimoire that was floating in the air. She clasped her hands in front of her chest, fiddling with her fingers as she spoke.
It had already been three years since the last time she talked with it. For those years, she asked Cor to keep it away from her since she would always cry whenever she saw its figure. For three years, she tried to make her mind busy, with her marriage, her pregnancy, and it got a lot easier when the twins were born because she would forget everything and focused her mind solely to take care of her children.
For three years, she buried the unpleasant memories, forgetting about all the things that would make her shed the tears. But, whenever she was alone with her thoughts, she couldn't help but remember the faraway memories, the bitter truth, the heart wrenching fate, and the curse from the book.
"Eira…" the voice escaped from the shutted lips of the book. He couldn't make any expression for his face was only a dead bronze statue, but anyone who could hear his voice would know that his voice was being tainted by sorrow.
The book had been waiting for three years inside the old drawer in the room on the second floor. The book couldn't see anything, only the darkness because without her spell it couldn't open its bronze eyes and look at the world. Unless, it went to the blue realm where His corpse was hugging the clock of the universe. But, it avoided doing so since it didn't want to see the Draconian and let the wicked Astral know that the Aion was still alive and had the power to turn back the time. Thus, it spent three years in the dark, alone, without any light that touched its surface, while regretting the things it had done. But, even those three years in loneliness would never be enough to atone all of its sins.
The grimoire thought that it would spend the rest of its life, in this time, drowning in the dark, silently waiting for the end of her life before being free from their blood contract. It thought that the woman would never want to see it anymore. It thought that she would never want to hear its voice anymore. But here it was, floating in front of her while hearing her mellifluous voice.
"I…" she turned her head slightly, averting her gaze to anything but the book.
She should admit that it was still uncomfortable after all. There was a trace of hatred in her heart that began to burn her in ablazing wrath, getting stronger and stronger in every second passed as she sensed its presence.
The witch couldn't stop her mind from traveling into the reminiscence of her past. Shutting her eyelids, the memories played the scenes she had buried these past three years, the excruciating sorrow, the agonizing misery. And all the things that happened and made her suffer was the grimoire's fault, the grimoire with a broken bronze face that was staring at her with its dead eyes right now.
Biting her trembling lips, the witch took a deep breath as she didn't want to lose her composure. She didn't want to wail in sadness, to weep in sorrow, nor to scream in anguish. The twins were sleeping on the bed behind her, and she didn't want to wake them up only to have them find their mother was drowning in the lament.
"I'm sorry…"
A muffled chuckle leaving her throat when the book suddenly uttered those two words.
"It's… It's okay… You don't need to apologize…" stuttering, she raised her head to face the hovering grimoire.
"Eira…"
The guilt in the grimoire started to prick its … heart.
Zeit didn't know whether the pain was in its heart or its mind. It was the emotion, the sadness, the grief, the pain, something so human that was now torturing it.
It was happy to see the beautiful smile of her from the wedding picture she placed on the dressing table. And surely if it could curl its lips, the book would smile when it saw another picture next to it that showed her figure with her husband, and the newly born twins inside their arms.
However, behind those happiness that was being captured for eternity on the piece of photographs, Zeit was the one who tortured her, her lover, and her past lover years ago. And the Outcast Astral couldn't stop feeling the guilt, for His sin was too much and unforgivable.
"You know, I… got married… with your pawn. Not because I wanted to please you, nor because I pity him."
The book didn't say any words, as it wanted to let the woman talk. Also, it wanted to hear her voice, because the book really missed it.
"I love him. I love Cor Leonis."
The pair of her obsidian beads were moving to the pictures she put on display on the wooden table. A thin smile passed over her face as she caught the sweet memories in the pictures. Taking a deep breath, she turned her head to the two sleeping children on the bed afterwards. They were hugging each other, and the warmth sipped into her chest when she saw how peaceful their sleeping faces were.
"... and look at them. They're my children. They're cute, aren't they?"
The book gave a few seconds pause before finally replied, "Yes…"
A single line of tears had streamed down from her right eyes, for the woman couldn't hold her emotion anymore. She turned her head, looking back at the grimoire then speaking with her quivering voice, "Please… let me be the last of your selfish desire. Don't… don't hurt my children… Like the way you hurt me."
The book didn't want to see her tears anymore. It only wanted to see her smile and to hear her laughter. But it was the villain in her life who trampled on her heart, and on the heart of the people she loved.
It had already made the promise with Cor Leonis years before. To stop all of this madness. To give her the happiness. To protect her and the people she loved. It just needed to make another promise to her. The same promise it made to her husband.
"I promise."
Hearing its answer, the woman gave him a smile, pleased by the two words it said.
"Thanks… Zeit." she whispered and looked at the broken face of the grimoire.
It was over.
The suffering was finally over. The curse of the grimoire had met its end.
The Astral wouldn't break His promise, right?
Inhaling another deep breath, the raven haired woman wiped the tears from her cheeks. The sigh of relief slipping out from her lips, as the weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
Tapping her cheeks for a few times, the woman looked at the clock on the wall then walked out from her room without saying any other words.
"Where are you going?" the book asked, curious because the woman didn't lock it down and let it hovered on her left side.
"Cooking. Cor will come home soon."
"You won't lock me down?"
She halted her feet then looked at the eerie grimoire. Another smile passed over her face...
...and the witch shook her head afterhand.
Thank you for letting me stay by your side…
Thank you for trying to forgive me…
762 M.E.
A three years old girl moved the pen in her hand to draw a circle on a piece of paper. She frowned, looking at the same circle that had been drawn beforehand by her mother on different paper. She pouted when she had finished the drawing, not impressed because she had few mistakes and the circle was a bit different from the example that was given by her mother.
"It's okay. Here, just use mine. Do this with your finger." moving closer to her daughter, Eira took Reira's right hand, guiding her tiny forefinger to touch the paper.
"Like this, slowly." She made the girl touch the circle she drew, from the outer part, the inner part, to the words engraved inside it, one by one until nothing left untouched.
"Follow my words." still holding her daughter's hands, Eira whispered the incantation on Reira's ear.
Looking straight to the circle on her front, the raven haired little girl chanted the spell, word by word. She frowned after her mother stopped whispering the words then tilting her head because the girl didn't understand what was going to happen.
Gasping, a wide smile passed over little Reira's face when the paper started to float. She hastily turned her head to her mother and raised her voice in excitement, "Mommy!"
"Great! You can, Reira." caressing her daughter's head softly, Eira looked at the sparkling blue orbs of the tiny girl who grinned at her then looked back to the floating paper which then fell suddenly to the floor.
"Ah… No… It fall…" she pouted then looked back at her mother who giggled softly at her.
"We can try it again later."
"Mommy…" her son —who was actually hugging Eira while she taught his sister —finally opened his mouth. Rei clutching the back of Eira's dress then snuggling on her back. The boy had stayed there for ten minutes, quietly, and perhaps he had spent all of his patience or bored because his playmate was learning the magic spell meanwhile he couldn't.
"Yes, my dear?" Eira moved her body then gently pulled the boy to sit on her lap.
"Rei want protect Daddy… Reira can magic… Rei can magic..." Rei crooked his brown eyebrows, curling his lips while complaining to his mother.
"Of course you can protect Daddy. Not only Daddy, but you can protect Reira too…"
"But… But... Mommy no teach Rei."
"Rei can no magic." Reira replied innocently.
But the boy pouted more hearing the answer from his sister. Looking at her mother with his damp eyes, Rei asked, "Mom, why Rei can no magic?"
"Because…" rolling her obsidian beads, Eira glanced at the floating grimoire on her left side that giggled in a playful manner.
"No, I don't know the answer!" the book replied then hovering away until it escaped her field of vision.
Biting her lower lips, she moved her eyes to see the curious face of her children. Sometimes, she couldn't find a good answer to explain difficult things to them. And finally, after giving a few seconds pause, she replied, "Because… Daddy can't use magic."
The two looked at her in puzzlement, seemingly they didn't quite understand her answers. She then continued, "Dad can't use magic, but he's strong. He can't use magic, but Dad can protect us."
"Then… Why Mommy said Reira should protect Daddy? Daddy can protect us. Why Daddy no protect Daddy?" Reira tilted her head, looking at her mother with the blue beads that sparked in curiosity.
"He can't fight alone. So, we should help him." she answered, trying to find the simplest one to be given to them.
However, the two kept showering her with other questions one by one. Eira occasionally bit her lower lips whenever she gave a pause to find the proper answer. And at that moment, Zeit hovered to her front, observing the confused look of her, teasing her but kindly helping her to answer their questions afterwards.
Their thirst for knowledge would never be quenched, not until they were satisfied after throwing their mother with hundred questions that made her exhausted. And seeing how the witch looked at the book in confusion whenever she couldn't answer their question was enough to amuse Zeit.
You shouldn't have to forgive me...
A little boy who was holding a twig pouted at the taller man in front of him. Raising the twig higher with his little hand, Rei hit his father's leg with it while yelling at the man.
Cor who was talking with a hunter glanced down to the boy then apologizing after he asked Rei to be quiet. Sighing, the marshal resumed his speech even though there was a yelling boy in the background—the boy didn't want to listen to his father.
"Thanks, Dave. Sorry for Rei." Cor uttered after their conversation met its end.
"Ahaha. Don't mind it. It's great seeing how energetic he is." Dave bowed down to pat the boy who was still hitting his father before excusing himself.
"Slay daemon! Rei protect Mommy! Rei protect Reira! Rei protect Daddy!"
Of course, Cor didn't feel anything when Rei hit or stabbed his leg with the twig. Looking down at the brown-haired boy, Cor chuckled then crouched down. Placing his palm on Rei's head, the boy finally stopped hitting him but glaring at Cor.
"Hei, hei. Why were you hitting me?"
The boy curled his lips, "Reira learn magic. Rei learn sword."
Ah, that was why he held the twig. Cor stroked Rei's head, chuckling because of how cute the tiny boy was. Staring at the shimmering obsidian that glaring at him, the man then held the little Leonis boy and stood with him in his arms.
"Rei wants to learn sword fighting?"
"Um…" he nodded. "Like Daddy."
Carrying his son, the marshal walked away from the city's previous entrance to a certain alleyway, advancing his way to the only clinic in Lestallum. The man took his steps as slow as possible because he wanted to talk more with his son. "Why?"
"Rei... Rei... Rei want to protect Daddy, Mommy, and Reira." Rei moved his black orbs to the twig in his hand and fiddled with it. "Mommy say Reira shud protect Daddy. And… and we shud help Daddy because Daddy can't fight alone."
Cor frowned, trying to digest the information he just got from his son. He knew that Eira had started to teach Reira the magic, even though the man thought that it was still too early for Reira to learn it. But why would she tell them to protect him?
Because in the end…
Eira gave a thin smile when she gazed at the sleeping twins on her lap. The girl clutched on her dress while the boy hugged her right hand. They asked her to tell them the bedtime story and it only took fifteen minutes to make them sleep —they didn't even hear half of the story.
Closing the book, she placed it on the table next to the sofa where she sat. The woman then looked down at the carpet, finding out that their father had also slept after listening to the fairytale she read. Staring at his sleeping face, the woman let out a small chuckle. The stern looks, the crooked brows, and the unrelaxed forehead, Cor was always like that when he slept. But, this time he had the rival, for the little boy also wore the same expression as his father when he slept.
She actually wanted to stay there, observing those three Leonis as they slept. However, the old man would strain his head if he slept like that. Also, his husband was in the way because Eira should put the twins to their beds. She didn't want to jump over his body while carrying the children in her arms.
"Cor…" she whispered, as soft as possible not to wake the twins up. Bending her body forward, she stretched her free hand to touch Cor's face and tapped it gently for a few times. "Cor…"
"Mmm…" the man frowned before opening his eyes slowly then blinking for three times. He raised his head to see the smiling figure of his wife then giving an inaudible gasp realizing that he had just slept. Who could blame him? His wife's voice as she told them the bedtime story was so soothing he couldn't help but sleep after listening to it.
"I need to put them on their beds." she whispered before shushing the twins since they moved in their sleeps. It would be another struggle if one of them wakes up, because the other tends to follow. They would forget how to sleep then ask her to continue the stories. Or worse, the twins would play until midnight, exhaust themself before they decided to sleep.
"Oh… Right… Sorry… I fell asleep…" the man whispered with his hoarse voice then getting up from the floor. He softly unclasped Reira's tiny fingers from her mother's dress then brought her to the small bed in that same room.
Freeing her hand from Rei's arms, Eira held him, shushing him to prevent him from waking up then walked to the other bed in the room. Placing him on the soft mattress, she covered his body with a blanket, caressing his head for a few times then moving to the other bed and did the same thing to his sister.
Lifting her head to see the half-asleep man who was waiting for her, she smiled then left the room with him.
"Eira."
She turned her head when they arrived on the first floor. Moving her obsidian beads to the lustrous blue of the man, she replied, "Yes?"
"Don't you think that it's too early for Reira to learn the magic?"
The smile disappeared from her face upon hearing his question. Realizing that Cor saw how she flinched by it, Eira quickly smiled then averted her eyes from him. She made her way to their room while answering, "No. I learnt my first spell when I was three."
"When you were seven, Eira."
She halted her steps right before the door. The hand that was raised in the air stopped midway as she wanted to turn the knob. Digging her teeth onto her lower lips, she decided not to give any response to his sentence and proceeded to open the door.
"Eira." Cor caught her hand when she entered the room. Softly closed the door, the man held her shoulders then turned her body so she faced him.
"What's wrong?" he asked, looking at the damp obsidian beads of her. There was a glimpse of sadness through her gaze, Cor knew that something bothered her and made her worried. He didn't want the woman to bear the worry alone. He had promised to be by her side, to make her happy, to make her smile. He knew that she kept another secret from him, and he wished the woman wanted to share it with him.
"I… I am just worried…" the brittle voice escaped from her slightly quivering lips.
The man didn't speak, for he wanted her to finish her sentences. He shutted his lips, staring at her face as she told him the other things.
"I… I always died in those past… I often failed to wake up from those slumbers… And when I woke up… I always killed myself… or..."
Seeing the line of tears slipped down from the corner of her eyelids, the man bit the inner-side of his mouth. He didn't expect that the woman was actually having those kinds of thoughts all this time. And she kept it alone by herself, without sharing it with him.
But he didn't blame her, for the man also had one or two secrets he never told to the woman.
"These kinds of things are the first for me. I'm afraid… I just… I'm afraid I can't protect them… I'm afraid I can't protect you…"
"Eira…"
"I… At least by teaching Reira the magic… She can heal you… She can heal Rei… She may protect herself and her brother."
"But, she was only three…"
"It's for her future…" she raised her voice, even though she maintained it not to be too loud. Giving a pause for regaining her composure, another brittle voice leaving her lips, "I… I won't force her if she says that she doesn't want to learn magic anymore… "
The man gave a heavy sigh, heart shrouded by the uneasiness after hearing her reason. Pulling her body inside his sturdy arms, the man caressed her back, kissing her forehead then shutting his eyelids.
The long forgotten pain pierced his chest when she cried on his chest. The way she quivered in her lament reminded him of the promises the grimoire made to him and another truth it told him. The forgotten truth from the grimoire that was floating on her left side. From the grimoire that couldn't be seen by him. From the grimoire that was staring at them silently.
Everything is my fault...
763 M.E.
Cor walked down the stairs after putting his children to the bed. Finding out that Eira was sitting on the dining chair with a pile of documents in front of her, the man sighed then walked to his wife. He placed both of his hands on her shoulders, massaging it gently then whispered, "You're not tired?"
"Umm… Just a little more."
Cor moved his blue orbs to the documents containing the new recipe of potion she wanted to create with Kimya. There was a slight possibility that it would be capable of protecting the people from the starscourge which is more contagious these days, and increasing the immunity so the infection rate could be decreased. Since that day, she kept researching the potion, looking at the records of her failure attempts and writing the new formula every night which she would experiment the next day.
"Are you okay?" pulling the chair next to her, Cor took a seat then faced the raven haired woman who didn't lift her gaze from the documents. He took a few strands of her long hair then tucked it softly behind her ear, observing her serious expression as she wrote down on her paper.
"Yes." she smiled while glancing at him for a second before returning her gaze to the sea of words on the table.
"Monica said you fainted yesterday, in the clinic. And turned out it was the third time this month."
The hand that clutching the pen stopped moving when Eira heard his sentences. Turning her head to her husband, she looked at him with a dumbfounded expression.
"You didn't tell me. Why?" Cor asked, crooking his eyebrows as he begged for the answer from his wife.
"I… Just don't want to make you worried."
"But knowing that you hid it from me just makes me worried more, Eira."
Giving off a long sigh, Eira looking back at her documents then continued to write. "I'm just tired that time."
"Three times, Eira?" Cor placed his hand on her right hand, stopping her from writing. "Please don't force yourself. Okay?"
She gave a slight pause before finally placed her pen down then turned her body to face her man. "I'm okay, Cor."
Sighing, Cor tucked another few strands of her hair behind her left ear. He rubbed her cheek with his thumb, observing how pale her skin was. "Taking care of the twins by yourself while I'm going on the mission, helping Kimya, helping the clinic, healing the glaives and hunters. You already did so much."
Chuckling softly, Eira reached for the hand that gently stroked her cheek. "Don't you forget that I was overwork Heallint."
"You're Eira Leonis now." moving his palm to the top of her head, Cor caressing her head. "Come on. Let's sleep."
She gave a few seconds pause before finally responding to him with a simple nod. Turning back her body to face the table, she moved her hands slowly to tidy up her documents.
Cor watched the way those slender fingers moved to reach the documents and papers, and organize them into one big pile. The man didn't open his mouth even though he noticed that those hands were trembling as she moved.
...and he realized that soon their beautiful life would come to an end.
Just like what was told by the book, after it made the promise with him.
But, even though it was only for a fleeting moment...
The dead eyes of the broken grimoire were watching the two children not far from it. The raven haired girl was chasing her brother. They ran around while laughing and the boy sometimes hid himself behind the people nearest from him.
"Ah! Rei! Be careful!" Vyv exclaimed when the boy suddenly jumped onto his table and pushed down a pile of magazines from there. Fortunately, Rei didn't bump into his camera and dropped it to the ground.
The little marshal jumped over to the weapon shop and he almost bumped to the man who then yelled at the boy. But even so, the old man wasn't angry because actually their laughter brought joy in the atmosphere. He just worried that the kids would stumble, fall, and get injured.
Under the vast murkiness without the warmth of the sun nor the beauty of the moon and stars, the people often forgot how to smile or to laugh. However, listening to the laughter of the twins, and looking at how wide their smiles were, those people unwittingly lifted the corner of their lips. Those innocent souls proved to them that even the tainted sky would never prevent those tiny angels to smile and laugh. And, even though sometimes those kids would make a mess—like jumping to the table and dropping the things from it which they did to the Vyv's stand—, or bump onto them, they were unable to get angry at them.
Eira who was in the middle of her conversation with Monica could only apologize to those men. She called the twins and asked them to stop, yet, those little Leonis didn't want to listen and kept playing instead.
Rei ran toward Uncle Cid, hugging his leg and used it as a hiding spot. Chasing her brother, Reira then hugged Cid's other leg. They played peek-a-boo there while the old man laughed then yelling at them to be careful when they ran to the other spots.
When she finally finished talking with Monica, Eira scurried to her children hastily. The grimoire followed her slightly behind while silently staring at how the witch moved her trembling legs and forced them to speed up their pace.
"Ah!"
The book looked down at the woman who suddenly fell to the hard ground. The twins stopped laughing and widened their eyes when they saw their mother. And the loud thud made the people nearby stop their activity and looked at the medic in worry.
"Mommy!" The two ran toward their mother in a hurry, afraid because it was the first time for them to see their mother fall like that.
"Eira, are you okay?" being closer to her position, Monica left her post and crouched beside the woman who struggled to sit up.
Zeit didn't talk, it was only observing the twins who crouched in front of her.
Rei had cried seeing the small graze on Eira's knee, while Reira tried to make a magic circle to heal her mother which of course failed to be done by the little witch.
"Mommy… Rei is sorry… Rei play too much… and Rei not protect Mommy…"
"Mommy! It's okay! Reira will heal the wounds!"
Glancing to Monica who had already chuckled seeing the twins' reaction, Eira laughed softly then patting their heads. "Mommy is fine."
"But Mommy bleeding…"
"Reira can heal Mommy!"
The book chuckled seeing how the little marshal was such a crybaby while the little witch was such a confident one. Rei hugged his mother, hiding his face inside her arm and sobbing in his whisper. Meanwhile, Reira kept trying to make a proper magic circle while chanting a random incantation. But after failing for many times, the little witch began to cry, saddened by the fact that she couldn't heal her mother yet.
"What troublesome kids." the book couldn't hold its true nature as it gave its comment. Eira didn't scold the book for its mock, instead, the woman glanced at the broken face of the grimoire then letting out a muffled giggle.
It watched her as she patted their head then asked them to stand up, staring at how tender her eyes had become whenever those obsidian reflected the figure of her children. There was a happiness that enveloped its consciousness, because of the lovely scene she gave into its sight.
Of course, the book couldn't stop feeling guilty, even after it finally being given the chance to return by her side like this, and even after the woman finally forgave it. It wished that her sweet smile would never disappear. It wished that their happiness would always go on forever. It wished that she could see them grow up.
But, the woman had lost most of her soul fragments, because it was the price she should give for breaking its curse years ago. And what was left would be destroyed one by one, crippling her body slowly, until nothing was left and the woman would sleep for eternity.
I'm glad that you can show me your smile…
At the end of this time...
A pair of her alluring obsidian were moving as she followed the movement of two children who were playing in the dining room. They had moved the chairs away and were now sitting under the table. There were picture books scattered around them and they used his father's flashlight as a lamp. The two talked endlessly, and it seemed that Reira taught something to Rei because she was speaking while pointing at one of the books. She tapped the book for many times and babbling nonsense meanwhile Rei who sat next to her could only nod, rubbing his chin, crooking his eyebrows, and staring at the book in a serious manner.
A smile passed over her face as she caught their figure, and the pleasant warmth seeping into her chest when she heard their laughter.
Cor who was standing near the stairs and having the conversation with someone over the phone finally bidding his goodbye and ended his phone call. Putting the phone into his pocket, the man crouched down to see the twins and asked them what they were doing.
"Daemon!" Rei shouted then ran out from the table while holding his small wooden sword. The brown haired little marshal dashed toward his father and pretended to hit him with the sword.
"Aagh!" pretending to be hurt by his son, Cor fell to the ground. The old man then smiled seeing how Rei jumped in merriment.
"Rei kill daemon!"
Chuckling, Cor sat down and pulled Rei inside his embrace then tickling him. "Tickling attack!"
"Nooo! Ahahaha! Reira! Help Rei! Ahaha!" laughing loudly, Rei was struggling to free himself from his father.
Reira took her empty water pistol then scurried toward her father. "Go away from Rei!"
She imitated the gun sound while pretending to shoot his father. And once again, Cor pretended to be attacked and fell again to the floor.
"Your husband." the grimoire on Eira's left muttered, and the witch only replied to it with a soft chuckle.
The twins then played by themselves after Cor stood up then patted their heads. He asked them to be careful as they played and made sure not to hurt each other before walking toward his wife who was sitting on the sofa in the living room. The man took a seat next to her then leaned his back against the soft backrest of the sofa.
"How's it?" she asked, knowing that Cor had just been talking with Gladiolus, discussing the plan to retrieve back the Crown City.
"They had decided to build the base inside the underground station. The other options are too vulnerable." he answered, taking out his phone from his pocket then placing it on the coffee table in front of them.
"Is it okay... for you… not to help them?"
"I put my trust in Gladiolus. He should be capable of leading them. Also, I need to protect this city." the man was giving a thin smile as he looked at his wife, "And you… and those little twins."
Eira let out a weak chuckle then turned her head to watch their twins. Rei was still holding his wooden sword and now he pointed it at Reira. Reira aimed her small plastic pistol at her brother and they started to have a fake battle. The two ran around the dining room, hiding between the chairs and table and pretending to attack each other.
"I wonder... if you were like that… when you were… four years old." moving her obsidian orbs, the woman looked at her husband. Reaching his cheek with her trembling fingers, she caressed him while a smile bloomed on her face.
"Hmm… I'm not sure. But, Reira is hundred percent your clone." the man shifting his gaze from the twins to the woman who was staring at him with her tender gaze.
"Really?" she tilted her head slightly, not believing the statement he said.
"Physically yes, but, you were a shy kid. Like, Rei. He often hides behind you when someone he doesn't know talks to you."
"Was I… like that?"
"You hid behind William whenever I was nearby."
She giggled hearing his answer, imagining herself hiding behind her father when seeing Cor. She was too small at that time and honestly the woman couldn't really recall it. Raising the corner of her lips, the woman thought that it was funny, remembering how her husband was her father's best friend. The twenty nine years old Cor at that time would never imagine that the five years old Eira would be his wife in the future, indeed.
The woman scrutinized his face, moving her eyes to the unrelaxed eyebrows of him even in his most relaxed state. Observing his face, the woman tried to visualize his younger visage, the young marshal in his twenties who visited his best friend's house and met the little raven haired girl.
"Perhaps… that was… because you're scary. Stern look… crooked eyebrows…" she tapped on his forehead, "... and you never smiled."
A man gave off a chuckle then looked at her as she leaned on his shoulder. Cor gazed at her, admiring the way she watched the twins who couldn't stop laughing and running around in their house. This kind of scenery gave a pleasant warmth in his chest, a sense of serenity and peace.
In the deepest of his heart, the man hoped the time would stop just like this, never moving on, with him staring at her smile as she saw their children, with him feeling her warmth that enveloped him in overwhelming happiness.
The man circled one of his arms around her shoulder, gently stroking her head then fiddled the strands of her long hair. He specifically asked her not to cut it extremely short anymore, since he knew how much she loved her long hair, also, he preferred it long. Oh, but, he didn't hate her short hair at all. Well, Cor just loved her, no matter what kind of hairstyle she chose. Perhaps, Cor only loved the sensation when he played with her long hair like this, twirling it with his fingers, fiddling with it, and tucking it behind her ears.
"Sometimes… I'm sad... knowing that... they had… never seen… the sun…"
Blinking, the man stopped fiddling with her hair. Her words just reminded him that these pleasant moments were only temporary because when he opened the door, he would be thrown back to the harsh reality.
The sun was not spreading its warmth to the world. The blue sky was not there when they looked up above. The twins would never see them, nor the gracious moon and twinkling stars, unless the King returned from his long slumber and brought back the light to their world.
They grew up without the warmth of the sun. They never saw the golden bead rising on the east and setting on the west. They never played under the heat. They never admired the beauty of night with the moon and the stars.
"They will, won't they?"
"Yeah… Soon…"
Of course the woman knew exactly when will the dawn come. But she didn't want to tell anyone about it. She couldn't let them know the harsh truth about the future, about what would be sacrificed in exchange for the sun.
One time, Cor asked her about whether she knew about the future or not. But the woman refused to say, not only because she didn't want him to know, but also because she was afraid that if she told him, the future would be changed and she would destroy everything. Again.
Shutting her eyes, the woman tried not to think about it then opened her eyelids to stare at those tiny figures who brought laughter in the atmosphere. Somehow, there was a glimpse of sadness that tainted her mind. There was a dread, a premonition, and there was someone in her head who was whispering the things she didn't want to hear.
She was afraid of being unable to see them growing up. She was afraid that she would be unable to protect them, or to protect the man she loved the most. She knew about the future, and the knowledge itself was piercing her heart and shattered it into pieces.
There was another harsh truth that was waiting to be unveiled. And the woman always tried hard not to admit it.
But, before she sank deeper inside her dread, she felt the warmth on her head, from the large palm of the man's hand that was caressing her tenderly.
She took a deep breath, filling her aching lungs with the air that mingled with his scent. Ceasing the bad thought that permeated her mind, she brought her gaze to the twins who sat down on the chairs. They had opened a story book and read it together, perhaps, finally they had already tired and sleepy. Even, Rei rubbed his eyes a few times and was not as lively as minutes ago.
"I'm happy… to be their mother…" she muttered suddenly, in her weak whisper as she smiled while capturing the moment with her eyes.
Cor slightly furrowed his eyebrows. The faint trace of sadness was emitted from his lustrous blue which reflected her figure as she stated those words. He kissed her forehead and smiled when the woman glanced at him.
"I'm also happy to have you as their mother. They're the greatest gift in my life. Thank you."
Eira replied to him with a thin smile from her pale lips. Moving her obsidian beads, she looked back at the twins, watching them in silence while snuggling on Cor's chest.
Cor didn't lift his gaze from the woman inside his embrace. Her face was pale, more than usual, and even her lips were losing its pretty color. The hands on her lap were quivering slightly, and these past weeks, the woman couldn't hold their children for a long time.
It was already hard for her to walk, and she spent most of her days in the house. She stopped helping the people in the clinic, and she hadn't visited Kimya to make the potion they were researching. It was getting hard for her to use her magic, even one spell could make her pants heavily and almost losing her consciousness.
Cor also stopped taking the mission far from Lestallum, focusing on patrolling around the area while training the new hunters. He didn't want to be away from her, honestly, not even for a second. But he had duties and responsibilities, also, he needed to protect humanity's last stand from the vicious daemon.
But, the most painful thing was explaining about it to the twins. They kept asking why their mommy was sick and pale. In the morning they would ask their mother whether she was healed or not. And, when Reira promised them to study hard about the magic and healing spell, they could only tell her their gratitude while suffering because… she could never heal her mother.
Biting the inside of his mouth, the man struggled not to let the excruciating sorrow create the tears and made it fall from his damp blue. He always knew that nothing would go on forever, and even, the bliss he had would eventually meet its end.
It was one of the last secrets he kept from the witch. The heart wrecking truth the grimoire gave at him after he forced it to make a promise.
I'll fulfill your promise… to end all of this… to stop hurting her… just like what you wished…
But…
She had lost most of her power…
And, even if she opened her eyes at this time…
She wouldn't have it long…
The bitter memories made its way into his mind, as he deliberately closed his eyes. His head played the scenes from the past that tortured him until this day. The things that he wished would never happen, the scene that stabbed his heart every time he caught the figure of the woman he loved.
In these last few months, the woman sometimes cried in the middle of night. Unconsciously pulling her hair and clawing her scars, she screamed with her weak whisper, as if she was being tormented by an excruciating pain. And when it happened, Cor could only wrap her body with his arms, caressing her head and whispering the words to calm her until she stopped crying and slept inside his embrace.
The other time he found her unable to respond and staring straight in emptiness. She didn't answer him when he called her name. And at that time Cor brought her to their room, hugging her while crying and prayed she would regain her consciousness.
The hardest part was when it happened in front of the twins. Couldn't find any other appropriate reason, Cor finally told them that their mother was sick and she needed their help. He asked them to always obey her mother and not to make her sad. And the most painful request he made to the twins was to keep it secret from their mother, because she would be sad if the twins knew that their mother was sick.
After stating his request, just like what he expected from the twins, they asked whether their mother could be healed or not. And at that time, even though he didn't want to, Cor was making a lie as he stated that her mother would be as healthy as before.
Her soul was shattered into few pieces of fragments. Most of it was destroyed when she broke the seal of memories from the past…
And when it was only one left… she would be…
Cor didn't want to believe those words, he refused to accept the truth. Even after being tortured for many times, her suffering wouldn't stop just like that. And Cor decided, to bring the smile on her face, to bring the happiness in her life, even only for a fleeting moment.
Eira was fine until one year ago, and at that time he was too naive to think that everything was going to be fine. He thought that the book was lying to him. But then he noticed how she gradually lost her health and strength, from the trembling hands, the quivering legs, and the way she lost her voice until finally she said that she couldn't use her magic anymore.
"I love you…"
It was a faint whisper, from her lips which suddenly let out those three beautiful words. She didn't know why there was an unbearable urge to state those words. There was a feeling, a whisper in her mind which told her that probably she would never say it anymore.
The witch had lost almost all of her soul fragments. She knew that she would not be here anymore. She knew that anytime could be her last time, and it was the more reason for her to appreciate the moments.
Perhaps, when she closed her eyes tonight, she wouldn't wake up inside the man's embrace. Perhaps, tonight was the last time she could see the twins' smile and hear their sweet laughter.
She didn't want to think about it. Wondering about the unknown future, speculating about the end of everything.
The thought of never seeing them grew up surely made the tears well up beneath her eyelids. But, for today, she didn't want the sorrow to surround her, to make her sink in the bottomless misery.
A long deep sigh escaping her throat as she tried to shove away the thought that smeared her mind. She was tired, more, more than usual. And the air gradually became colder, even though she was inside her lover's warm embrace.
"I love you too…"
She loved how his hoarse voice gave a pleasant ring in her ears, how he gently stroked her head, how he planted another kiss on her forehead. It was so comfortable and pleasant.
Shutting her heavy eyelids, she listened to the steady breathing of the man she loved the most and the faint laughter of their children.
"Thank you… for loving me…"
Cor stopped moving his hand, as he heard her whisper. It was too soft, and almost imperceptible.
At that exact moment the dread shrouded his mind. The heart inside his chest began to beat in tumultuous thud. Even he couldn't hear the laughter of his children anymore since the fright haunted him for his bad premonition.
She had closed her eyes, no longer staring at the figure of their children. He wished the woman was just sleeping, as usual, just like the night before, and she would wake up in the dark morning to greet him with her lovely smile. But, something was different today.
Glancing at the twins who were still busy with their picture book, the man looked back at her and softly called her name, "Eira…"
But the woman was not responding. She kept shutting her eyelids, even though there was a faint smile on her face.
"Eira… Are you sleeping?" bringing his hand to her cheek, he stroked her pale skin with his thumb, hoping that she muttered or moved her body to snuggle at him. Just like what she usually did whenever she slept inside his arms.
"Eira…?"
There were a lot of things they hadn't done. The dawn hadn't come yet, and she hadn't accompanied their children to play under the sun, yet. She hadn't seen them grow up, as a teenager, as a young adult, as an adult. She wouldn't know their faces when they grew up, when they found the love of their life, when they built their own families meanwhile she grew old with him and watched them in happiness.
But the woman just stayed there, unmoving, and not replying to his voice that called her in worry.
The man begged, in his heart, that she was only sleeping. She was only sleeping. She was only sleeping. She wouldn't leave him alone, right? She would open her eyes tomorrow, right? She was just too exhausted today and slept inside his embrace, and when tomorrow comes, she would wake up first and stare at him while waiting for the man to open his eyes, right?
Cor opened his lips to call her name for once more, but a magic circle was drawn in front of his chest. It gleamed in white light before shattering in the air and disappeared.
Cor frowned, wondering what was that and when he looked on their front, a grimoire had been floating there, facing him with its broken face.
The book stared at the woman who had shutted her eyelids. She smiled, and for the book, her smile was the most beautiful one in this world. If only it could raise the corner of its lips, surely Zeit would also smile, because the book finally could make the woman happy at the end of her life in this time. It meant that even though the Aion was cruel at her, he was successfully making her happy, wasn't he?
The grimoire moving its dead bronze eyes to the man who was staring at it with his lustrous blue that had been stained by the sorrow. Cor should have remembered its words. When the book appeared in front of them, it meant that their time had met its end… and Zeit would fulfill its promise.
But, perhaps the book should wait for a moment because the twins had dashed to their father who was struggling to hold his tears as his children asked him the question.
"Mommy is sleeping?" Rei who was hugging his chocobo plush walked to their parents, asking the question with his innocent tone.
"Ssshh! Rei, don't be noisy or Mommy will wake up!" Reira bumped her twin and scolded him in her whisper.
"Ah… Yes… Mommy… Mommy is sleeping." there was a quiver in his hoarse voice as Cor answered Rei's question. Giving a quick glance at the reposing woman in his hand, Cor moved his trembling free hand to pat the head of the twins. "So… Can you go to sleep by yourself?"
Rei quickly nodded while Reira frowned seeing her father. She thought that her father was being weird, but she didn't understand why.
"Good night, Daddy. Good night, Mommy." Rei whispered softly as he smiled to their parents.
Seeing it, Reira did the same and smiled at her father before staring at her mother. She wanted to ask something but her brother had tugged her hand. And even though she was reluctant, the little girl followed her brother to climb the stairs to their bedroom.
Cor clenched his fists as he waited the twins went upstairs and disappeared to their bedroom. And by the time he heard the sound of the door being closed, the line of tears streaming down from his blue orbs.
Not giving a damn care about the grimoire, Cor was hugging his wife. Weeping while calling her name, the man tightened his embrace, clenching his hands and surely if she was not shutting her eyelids she would complain that his nails were stabbing her skin.
"Eira…"
He called her name over and over, wishing that she was only pretending to be asleep, wishing that she would open her eyes and chuckling at him.
"Eira… Don't leave me…"
The man pleaded in his cry. He had known that this day would come. He had known that she wouldn't have it long even though finally they were enveloped by the bliss. But, he wasn't ready, yet. He would never be.
He wished she would see their children grow up. He wished she would grow older with him. He wished she would see their children laughing under the warmth of the sun, calling her 'Mommy' and pulled her hands to play with them.
But... those wishes would never be granted.
"Eira… Don't leave me… Please…"
Those frail whispers would never wake her up. Those voices would never reach her anymore.
"Eira…"
The woman would never call his name anymore, with the overflowing affection she conveyed as she stared at him.
"Eira… Please…"
She would never stare at him with her alluring obsidian anymore, with the love that sparked from her enchanting eyes whenever she called his name.
"Eira…"
It was useless… no matter how loud he called her name, no matter how many times he begged, she wouldn't return to his side, she wouldn't open her eyes anymore.
"Eira…"
...because their fleeting moment and their sweet story had met its end.
Eira...
I'm sorry…
Because in the end…
I hurt the man you loved...
768 M.E.
The dazzling sun spread its warmth to the world, cascading the golden ray from the blue canvas above. The white billowing clouds were travelling with the wind, gracefully, without any black stain that smeared their purity.
The chirping birds were leaping from branch to branch, as they sang a beautiful song from a distance. The green leaves were swaying as the wind breeze. And the small colorful flowers were blooming on the ground.
A pair of lustrous blue beads were gazing at a picture he pinched between his thumb and forefinger. The tenderness was being emitted from his eyes as he caught the figure of a woman in her wedding dress, standing next to him that was being captured for eternity on a piece of paper. He loved her alluring obsidian orbs, her short beautiful hair with the same color as the night sky, and her lips that curved into the sweetest smile.
Seeing it, his mind travelled to the reminiscence of the past, when the woman stood on his left side, stating her vow to love him until the death do them apart in front of the priest on their small wedding in the city of the light. He would never forget her smile as she held his hand, and put the ring on his left fourth finger. And he would never forget the softness of her lips as they kissed at that time, when finally she took his last name and officially became his wife.
The man raised his head, looking at the two kids who would turn nine this year. They were sitting under the canopy tent, in front of the blonde man crownsguard who told them the funny stories about his old days when he went into the journey with the King and his other retainers.
Cor Leonis was smiling as he saw them laughing and begging the Argentum to tell more stories. He gave another look at the picture, reading the words engraved on the back of it before keeping it inside an old grimoire with the broken bronze face on its cover. Keeping it in the large pocket inside his coat, he then intertwined his fingers, placed his hands on his lap and watched the twins who gave the most beautiful laughter in the world.
The book had fulfilled his wish. To stop trapping them in the eternal loop of time. To give the woman the true happiness she deserved in her life. To protect their children and let them grow up without the curse of the grimoire.
Even though the man could only be by her side in a fleeting moment.
Even though the man would never be by her side anymore.
Inside the sleeping grimoire, there was a picture of their wedding day, the happiest moment in his life, the most treasured memory in his life. Behind it, there was a small handwriting, which would always bring the smile on his face whenever he saw it. Three words that she wrote, before their story met its end.
The three words that couldn't be heard by him any longer...
"I love you."
The three words he always treasured for the rest of his life…
Eira…
Thank you for the memories…
I love you…
… and I will always do.
Eira…
We love you…
...and we will always do.
the End : Until [D]eath do Us Apart
Author's note:
Unsatisfying end, indeed. I'll give the epilogue for this series, of course.
Thank you for reading this fic. :) I'm open to criticism, I would love to hear your thoughts about this story. Will really appreciate the love.
Special note for Crystalcrown Leonis: Thank you for giving the name for the twins :)
