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Chapter 3 – Gentle Awakening
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After Ban left the Boar Hat tavern, he met with King and Elias who waited for him at the outskirt near the Capital of Liones. He sighed "Seriously?".
"I believe it's my line", a vein popped on Elias' head "You seriously wanted to leave us? Just like that?".
"Ban, do you think we're too dumb to realize it?", King floated down with a concerned look "I don't think the Captain would hate you, even after what happened between you and the Captain—".
"—Even if the Cap'n forgave me, do you think it's the same case with his kids?", Ban walked away, passing them by "I am unable to face them. Not for a while".
"You don't know Aunties and Uncles as I do. They are upset, no wonder. But as time passed by, they would stop giving a hard time for you. Even my mother, Lily does not angry, neither she's upset nor hate you".
"I know! They're totally the Captain's kids, but still... Instead, because of it...", Ban gritted his teeth. There was no way he could forget it. Guinevere's cold fury. Tristan's rage. Tristina's hurt expression. Merissa's disdainful icy glare. The pain and agony on Lily's bitter smile. The misery on Melody's eyes when she was f*cking absolving him. The understanding cheerful grin and clumsy attitude from Lancelot resembled his father. Covering his face, Ban could not help it. His guilt was crushing his heart. He really meant it when he said that he didn't know what kind of face he should show in front of those kids, other than his usual damned trashy facade. Looking behind over his shoulder, Ban sighed "Look, I don't care if you two want to follow me… But, how about your lovers? One of them hid nearby, even".
Jericho came out of the bushes "Fox Sin, it's so mean of you!".
Elias snapped his head, nervously "Jericho? What are you doing here?".
"Oh, I believe it's my line!", Jericho growled, walking closer to Elias. Poking her forefinger on his chest, a vein popped on Jericho's head "Do you seriously want to leave like this? Without words at all? What am I to you?".
"Well, I wanted to tell you yesterday, but…", Elias scratched the back of his head before he sighed in defeat "…I overheard your conversation with your older brother".
Jericho gasped and covered her mouth "Oh!".
Elias rolled his eyes before he sighed again. Running his fingers in between his hair, Elias closed his eyes "Look, I'm not angry at all. Your older brother was right. My depart today… It has nothing to do with you. So, be a good little sister and just go back—".
Jericho adamantly said "No!".
Elias groaned, tipping his head backwards "Jericho…".
Jericho's face scrunched in agony "No! How could you say that? You stole my first kiss and you said you will take responsibility. Does it a mere lie?".
Elias waved his hands "What? No! It's not like that! I won't take back my words, but what I could do when your brother disapproved?".
"Just because my older brother disapproved, then you would turn your back down on me now? You are such a jerk!".
"Jericho, please… it's not that simple".
As long Jericho and Elias were having a lover quarrel, King and Ban had watched over them from the beginning, standing (or floating for King's case) nearby.
King tapped his finger on Ban's shoulder "Hey, Ban".
Ban asked in boredom "Uh-huh?".
"What are we doing here, I wonder?".
"Watching over the lover's quarrel between your little brother and my soon-to-be little brother-in-law with his new lover~".
"I can't believe this time came—No, wait! What did you say? Who did you call as your soon-to-be little brother-in-law, anyway?".
Back to the lover's quarrel, Jericho snapped "It is not that simple, you said? You are the one who make it difficult, Elias. If you just want to play around with me, then do not give me hope from the first place!".
"I don't play around with you!".
"Then what? Are you still unable to forgive yourself and thinking that you don't deserve happiness… because of your twin sister's death?".
Lowering his head, Elias admitted, "…Yes".
Jericho pulled his collar "Oh, you… Why do you—?".
"I will revive Elaine".
Ban's words sounded like a bomb in the middle of this Chaos. Their attention now fully attached to the Undead Bandit.
"I've got a way to revive her. Now, let's go to the Fairy King's Forest~".
Fairy King's Forest
Jericho saluted and narrowed her eyes, looking around "Are we finally here? Because I can see nothing but the fog. I hardly can see".
Elias squeezed her hand to guide her "Be careful, watch your steps. Don't get tripped".
Jericho blushed and averted her eyes "…Yes".
She admitted inwardly, she was still mad at him. However, this…
The little attention and the gentle acts as a man which he gave to her, made it harder for her to not get mad for a long time towards him.
King nervously looked around "But I think the Forest has burned down into the ashes?".
"It was the old one~ Your sister entrusted me a seed before she died, and I planted it somewhere else~ Who would know that it's the seed of this Forest?".
Elias bitterly chuckled "It does sound like what you and my sister would do".
Jericho felt her heart aching for the glimpse of a bitter pain in his eyes and tried to direct the topic "Oh, anyway… You look good in your new clothes. I just saw it. Does it from The Enchanted Woods, too?".
Right now, Elias wore a black tight and sleeveless shirt with a metal plate on its collar and a zipper on his back from the back of his collar down to the centre of his shirt in between the shoulder-blades. His black pants had several pockets to put the throwing knives, like his black boots. In case he was feeling cold, he even had the red blazer with the wide hood and large-sized cape.
Elias smiled thankfully to her "Well, we produced it in The Enchanted Woods. Its wide hood and large-sized cape are meant to hide the member's Clan's horns and wings. It's a different case for me, Oberon, and my mother, though. Mother and Oberon can hide their wings and horns, meanwhile, I don't even have the horns and just need to hide my wings".
King asked curiously "Now, you mention it… What does The Enchanted Woods look like? And what are the people look like? Do all members of the Fay Clan look like Lady Lily?".
"The Enchanted Woods basically is similar with the Fairy King's Forest, I guess. Not all people can enter The Enchanted Woods, because of its magical barrier. From what mother told me once, Five Spirits rest in that land and have been protecting The Enchanted Woods. Only the pure-hearted people who have been chosen by the Spirits can enter the Woods. About the people… Maybe, you can say that they're similar to our Clan members, partially. They carefreely live their life peacefully in the secluded area in the Woods with nothing to worry about the outside world. Though, when it came to the fight and the way they live, it's quite similar to Humans. They grow crops and trade to meet our daily needs", Elias scratched his cheek sheepishly "Well, sometimes I even got dragged by Spriggan to help when the harvest season arrived".
"Wow… I wish I can go there", Jericho said excitedly before she pouted in a disheartened manner "But humans are not allowed to enter, right?".
"As long as you come with me, I think it will be fine", Elias chuckled, ruffling her head "There's no way Spriggan and the entire Clan can say 'no' when my mother allows you to enter, right? But I think you don't believe that Fairies exist?".
Jericho pouted, trying to hide her blush "Don't group me with my brother! Well, I witnessed the Fairy and the birdy-like-winged Fairy like you and your mother do exist. Though, I wonder why your older brother does not have the wings, even if he claims himself as the Fairy King".
King was about to retort "That's—!".
When they heard Ban said, "Here we are".
The fog started to fade, revealing the Fairy King's Forest. King cried, thankful that the Fairy King's Forest still existed.
When Elias staggered, Jericho supported him "Elias! Are you okay?".
"…Fine", wiping a single tear that unconsciously cascaded down his face, Elias covered his eyes and tried to straighten his body. Still leaning a little from the weight of his upper body on Jericho who still supported him, Elias lifted his hand to Ban and King who stood in guard "I am fine, really… Just, a little shocked… I've heard from Aunt Neiva and mother's siblings who went to check Forest's condition. The supposed-to-be burned Fairy King's Forest does still exist, and when I saw this with my own eyes… I can't help it…".
Jericho had heard a little from Lily and Neiva about how Lily could adopt Elias and made him into the Prince of Fay (The Dark Fairy) Clan when Elias was practically the Prince of Fairy Clan (since his older brother, King Harlequin was the Fairy King). Snaking her hand around his waist protectively, Jericho let him lean on her more "Just tell us if you're not feeling well".
Elias sighed and gave her a shaky smile "…Yeah".
King narrowed his eyes with a pensive look. Be it was 700 years ago or now, he was such a sorry excuse of an older brother, he thought.
When the Fairy King's Forest members Clan gathered around them all, the Fairies admitted Ban as their King, instead of King Harlequin. It shocked them to the bones, how they treated Ban nicely and treated King as a traitor. Elias clenched his fist, clutching his midsection nervously, where the Red Demon had slashed his body into two.
Elias gritted his teeth "Calm down, damn it… It's only the past!".
Maybe because of his growth spurt, the Fairies didn't recognize Elias at first.
Jericho wrapped her arm around his bicep "Elias, are you sure, you okay? You look pale".
Covering his eyes, Elias sighed tiredly "Jericho, it's fine. I'm just a little tired…".
Ban threw the contemplative looks to them before asking them "Oi, King, Elias, come over here".
The Fairies perked on that and snapped their head to Elias before they screamed at once.
"Elias? King Ban, you mean it's Elias?".
"Hey, it's really him!".
"He's still alive!".
"It's a miracle! We've witnessed your body got sliced into two!".
"Wait, if you're still alive… then where have you been?".
"Okay, kids. You can stop there and gather up. I will explain everything~", Ban raised his hand casually and inwardly, he was thankful that their attention was no longer on Elias "Elias, we accidentally met in one of my missions. He was saved by… passer-by when he was dying. Then, when he woke up, he had lost all his memory. He didn't remember anything, at all, not even his name. He's lucky because there's a woman who adopted him as her son. Don't blame him for what happened 20 years ago, got it? And of course, that also applies to King~ Just live it down already. Stop calling me the King and treat your real boss like you used to be~".
Thanks to Ban's explanation, the Fairies settled down, for a while. They did not blame Elias because they did not think that he was at fault for everything. Instead, they welcomed him and felt glad that he was still alive and came back here with Ban. They even thanked Ban because he found him and brought him back, they said. It seemed like they thought that Elias was a victim, just like Elaine. Of course, it only increased their hatred and grudge towards King.
Having calmed himself down, Elias asked "Then, to where you want us to come, Ban?".
Even if he acted indifferently, Ban hesitantly directed them to the centre of the Fairy King's Forest. In the largest tree, they saw it in the clearing. Elaine's lifeless body was being laid down on the gap under the tree fulfilled with the flower petals. King trembled and averted his face. He would have run away from that place immediately, if not because of Elias.
Looking at Elias who froze at his place with that unreadable expression and shaky eyes, King reached out his hand "Uh, El, are you—".
Elias did not listen to him, neither he could focus on his surroundings. No, because right now, in his head, he reminisced his past life with Elaine.
He remembered how Elaine smiled brightly to him, waving her hand "Elias!".
He remembered how Elaine smacked her tiny, weak fists to him "Brother! You're so mean!".
In his head, he thought of how he and Elaine were dying that day. The difference was, he was lucky because he was still alive and survived. He was still alive, but his twin died. The ghost which haunted his mind all along this time, showing the most terrible sight. He thought that he saw Elaine, floating in front of him with her bloodied gown. There was a large hole in her body.
Cupping his cheek, Elaine asked him, spewing blood from her mouth and eyes "Elias, brother… We are twins. We should always be together. Why do you still alive and I must die?".
"ELIAS!", Jericho tried to catch his body when Elias collapsed, but she ended up supporting him again, as Elias dropped to his knees and palms on the ground. Stroking his back soothingly and wrapping her arms around his torso, Jericho called him over and over "Elias, can you hear me? Stay with us!".
Panting, the perspiration covered his face and body as Elias clutched his chest. When Elias started to hyperventilate, Ban and King had rushed to their side. Thinking that his shirt was too tight for him, Ban apologetically pulled down the zipper and took off Elias' upper shirt.
They could hear the collective gasps from their surroundings after Ban took off Elias' shirt. Ban's eyes widened and King jerked his head in shock. Jericho gasped in horror and covered her mouth when she saw Elias' body. Elias had stitches on several parts of his torso like someone had stitched his body back into normal (as normal as you could see it) after someone had cruelly torn his body apart into the shreds. When Ban wanted to help Elias straighten his body, so he could breathe easier, Elias started screaming in pain and agony, before a pair of grey bird-like wings came out of Elias' back. At this moment, as she saw Elias flapping his wings which started to burn with fire, Jericho remembered Lily's words about Elias' chance to transform.
"Elias is the part of the Fairy Clan, but he partially is the part of Fay Clan as well. If he ever got panicked or started to transform out of control, there's a chance that he can transform into a Phoenix. Phoenix is the true form of our Ancestor. Only those who have earned the blessing of Phoenix can change their form into the Phoenix. However, Elias is not a full-blooded Fay. If he ever changed into a Phoenix, he might not able to turn back his form and has to permanently live with Phoenix form".
"What should I do to prevent it?".
"Easy, Dear. Fay Clan members are sensitive to affectionate gestures. If he ever lost control and were to transform, you would know what to do… to stop him and let his bottled-up emotions out. I entrust my son to you, Dear".
Jericho wondered if Lily already knew this, about what would happen to her adopted son when they visited this place. Ban and King yelped, unable to come closer due to the fire around Elias' body.
Jericho gritted her teeth "Elias! Get yourself together already!".
Ban jaws-dropped "Oh, wow~".
King gawked "Again?".
Cupping his cheeks, Jericho kissed him. Elias' eyes widened, but he reciprocated. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he dominated her. As if he tried to devour her gently, kissing her passionately. Pulling her closer to his body, Jericho moaned as he settled her on his lap. Feeling his bare-chested skin, she welcomed this pleasant feeling as they continued kissing. Panting, they broke the kiss due to their lungs' need for the air.
Leaning her forehead on his, Jericho asked in between her ragged breath "You okay?".
He did not answer, slumping into her embrace. Jericho caught his head, which she rested on her lap as he lay on his side.
Covering his eyes with his forearm, Elias asked "…You don't want to ask anything?".
"Do you want to tell me?".
"…I want to, but I'm not ready".
"No problem. I can wait patiently", Jericho caressed his head gently "Just remember this. Even if all people in this world blame you for your sister's death or turn their back on you, I will choose to stay by your side, because I…".
Leaning up, Elias cut her off with a light peck before he confessed despite the tears still visible on his face "I love you".
Leaning her face down, Jericho could have cried in joy or squealed in delight. Wiping his tears, Jericho blushed madly "Dear Lord… What could I do to you? I love you, too".
"Action first, confess later, huh?", Ban whistled "Nice one move, kid… Though, I wonder what's that supposed to mean?".
King turned his head, covering his blushing face "…Next time you want to kiss, do it in another time and place where I can't see, please".
Thanks to Jericho's alluring touch, it lulled Elias to sleep. Looking to the side, Jericho waved her hand and chuckled sheepishly, lifting her forefinger to her mouth "Well, sorry about it. Also, he can't hear you because he's asleep now".
While Elias was asleep, Ban thought it was the best time to finish his business. In case he failed, it was only him who would be disappointed. Ban remembered Merissa's words to use this pearl.
"This is the Pearl of Life, the Oceanus Kingdom's Nation Treasure. It can heal any diseases and it can even bring back the dead to life. However, there are two conditions which you have to fulfil when you want to bring the dead back to life with this method. First, give it mouth to mouth. Second, the one who makes the dead devour it must be the one who loved the dead sincerely. If you do not meet one of these conditions, not only you will fail, but you also will die. Only putting this pearl into your mouth, can turn into a poison for you".
Ban could have laughed it off. He loved her sincerely and he would make her devour this Pearl of Life mouth to mouth. What else the conditions he hadn't fulfilled yet?
After Ban put the Pearl of Life in his mouth and made Elaine devour it mouth to mouth, Ban hoped in his heart that it would work. Praying, even.
Slowly, Elaine's eyes fluttered open and she smiled brightly. Lifting her hands, she tearily said "Ban! I'm back!".
He would really owe Merissa and the Captain's family for the rest of his life. Pulling Elaine into his tight embrace, Ban kissed her passionately "I promised you that I'd steal you away. Now, I fulfil my promise".
"…Elaine?".
Looking behind Ban's shoulder, Elaine gasped and teared up at the sight of her twin brother, alive and well. Ban turned his head and chuckled. Seemed like Jericho had woken him up. The twins reunited in a heart-warming hug. Elaine jumped to Elias and they hugged each other's body, lying on the ground. They were crying in happiness, hugging each other's body while apologizing to each other. Elias, for failed her and forgot everything, he said. Elaine, for leaving them and died after she only could witness his body torn into two.
Elaine cried harder "Forgive me, El! And thank you, because you're still alive! I thought you have died! I desperately searched for you in the Necropolis!".
"No, I'm still alive. We're still alive. From now on, let's live our life to the fullest in our way, together", Elias chuckled tearily, kissing her forehead "I think it's been a long time… Since the last time I heard your voice, little sister".
Elaine broke the hug, sitting in front of him "What? I am your older sister, El".
"No, you are our little sister now. You passed away 20 years ago, which meant you stopped ageing and deprived 20 years old. Meanwhile, I've been turning older 20 years compared to you", Elias smirked smugly, poking her nose "Not to mention, I'm bigger now. So yeah, I am older and you are our little sister!".
Elaine smacked him several times with her tiny fists "Elias! It's so cunning of you, as usual! How could you do this to me? Besides, what's wrong with this growth spurt of yours? How could you grow so much bigger only with these past 20 years?".
Jericho and Ban laughed in mirth before Jericho crouched beside the twins "Hello, Elaine. I've heard a lot of things about you from Elias. Nice to meet you".
"Oh, I know you. Jericho, right? I've been watching over everyone in Necropolis, after all. I've always wanted to meet you. You're such a lovely and cute girl!", Elaine covered her mouth and giggled "I can't believe that you fixated your eyes on my twin brother. He's a reckless one, but take care of him, will you?".
Jericho liked Elaine, she decided it, lifting her thumb "Yup, I already know it".
It felt like they had forgotten about something, before Elias stated "oi, Harlequin, where'd you want to go?".
It seemed like King thought that he had been forgotten and it would be better for them if he just went without traces, so King planned to go back to the Liones Kingdom. However, King was busted by his perceptive little brother.
Elaine ordered, "Oslo, Ban, catch him!".
Oslo bit King's hood and Ban was using his Fox's Hunt to catch King. King protested, flailing in Ban's iron grip. After Ban threw King to the floor, King tried to apologize to the twins, but Elias smacked his head and Elaine patted his head instead. When King burst out into a crying mess and pulled the twins into a bear hug, both Elaine and Elias patted King's back, telling him that they forgave him already, but it only made King cried harder. From the side, Jericho and Ban smiled as they saw the reconciliation between the brothers and sister.
Unfortunately, in the middle of their heart-warming reunion, there was a gate that appeared from the Enchanted Woods (Gerharde confirmed it).
"Oi, Elias!", Oberon jumped out of the gate and caught Elias' wrist "Brother, you've got to go home, now!".
"Whoa, there! Calm down, Oberon. Take a deep breath. Inhale and exhale. Good", Elias waved his hands up and down, asking him to calm down "Now, tell me. What happened?".
After taking a deep breath, Oberon informed "Mom's ill. She's got a heart attack and I mean it literally. She's in a total bed-rest for now. Go home, now".
It sounded like a bomb in Elias' ears before he freaked out "…What? How? She's fine the last time we met!".
Lily was his adopted mother, indeed. However, she was his life-saver, the light who guided him these past 20 years, as long as Elias lost his memory. If something were to happen to her…
"Well, what do you hope? How could she not be shocked, to the point of having a heart attack, when she saw her long-time dead husband came back to life even if we never resurrected him?", Oberon scratched the back of his head. Next second, he covered his mouth after he saw how King, Ban, Elaine, Jericho, and Elias gawked in shock "Oh, damn… I should not blurt it out…".
Elias furrowed his eyebrow "…Come again? How?".
"Uh, guys… before that…", Jericho gulped in fear, pointing her forefinger up "What should we do… to that creature?".
Looking up, they saw the white greenish giant, far bigger than the ordinary Giants.
The Enchanted Woods
Lily opened her eyes, trying to regain back her consciousness from her deep slumber. She sucked in a deep breath when she felt the warmth of a pair of arms wrapping itself around her torso.
Giving a lovely kiss on her forehead, Dahlia greeted her "Good morning, Love. You looked distraught when you were sleeping. Do you have a nightmare?".
Lily buried her face on the crook of his neck "I do not even know… Am I dreaming or not right now?".
"This is real".
"But you're already dead".
"And I've come back to life, for you", lifting her hair, Dahlia kissed her hair passionately "What? Do you hate it? Or, are you afraid?".
"No, I'm not afraid of you", wrapping her hands around his torso, Lily leaned up to kiss him, inhaling his masculine scent and savouring it "I am just afraid that I'll have lost you one more time… If it were to happen, what should I do? I don't think I can bear it for the second time. I am not as strong as my parents".
Pulling her head into his chest, Dahlia tucked her head under his chin "No. I will never leave your side from now on, my Dear".
From outside, Silky and Spriggan peeked into the chamber, praying that their Queen would regain back her sanity and logic, hoping that Oberon would come back in time with Elias and the others.
The Oceanus Kingdom
Merissa froze and stood up from her throne unsteadily "…Are you fricking kidding me?".
"I do not think it's something you should say to your husband", a blue-haired man entered the throne room with a confident smirk plastered on his face "Merissa".
"Aquila", Merissa breathed, before she contacted her subordinates with telepathy "Close all the access to the throne room and keep Meghan safe in her room. Now!".
After all access to the throne room had been closed, Merissa sat down on the chair of the throne again, leaning her chin on the back of her palm "Now, since it's only the two of us… Shall we discuss what happened, my dead husband? How could you be still alive? Last time, I checked… you are not an immortal".
"Yes, I am not an immortal, unlike your father".
"I believe we are not speaking about my father right now. We are speaking about you".
"Then why do you not just ask your father? Regards his old comrades".
Merissa's eyes widened "Don't tell me…".