Chap 18 – Frozen Blood
"So much to process." Administrator mocked with a smirky grin. "I would love to hear your inner thoughts." Kirito stood speechless as he stared at Administrator, everything he had just learned, reluctantly sinking into his brain. "Weren't you suppose to be a protector of this world? A proud devoted member of Underworld society."
"…"
"Kirito does care about this world." Alice said. "That fact that you're still here and…married…" she forced out the word, "… to Eugeo with a child on the way, is proof of that. None of that would be possible if Kirito wasn't protecting the Underworld from the outside world."
"I'm the one who makes my own future." Administrator contradicted the golden knight as she reached for the blonde's hand; pulling Eugeo to his feet beside her. "It all started with three simple words," She laid a hand on the blonde's chest. "…from his delectable mouth."
"Those words never should have been spoken." The golden knight growled. "Eugeo was foolish to say them again." She spoke harshly to the blonde. "Didn't you learn anything from the first time?"
"…"
"Such anger, little Alice-chan." Administrator chuckled; her hand glowing; instantly changing Eugeo's bed clothes to his familiar blue armory attire. "Could it be that you actually care about him?"
"My feelings reflect those of a friend." Alice answered plainly; her answer not siting well for the blonde.
"You ruined Eugeo's life." Kirito snarled; finally finding his voice.
"Did I now?" Administrator faked surprise. "If memory serves, you were the one responsible for his first death."
"I…"
"You just sat there; holding my other half as she transformed this attractive man into a sword." Administrator pressed a kiss to the side of the blonde's neck while her slender fingers grazed along Eugeo's lean chest. The blonde made no effort to move away from her touch. "Then you let him come at me, knowing he never had a chance."
Kirito grit his teeth, his breathing increasing tenfold. "I didn't know the extent of where things would lead. But if I did…" He looked at Eugeo, his expression full of regret. "…things wouldn't be like this." The blonde simply gazed back; his expression neutral as Kirito tried desperately to keep it together.
"I still wonder," Administrator tilted her head, giving herself an innocent demeanor. "… what really kept you from stopping Eugeo? Was it Alice-chan? She is quite beautiful. You must have wanted her for yourself."
"Alice had nothing to do with it." Kirito answered; his quick reply causing the golden knight's heart to break a little.
"Kirito, take a deep breath." Alice grabbed onto his arm. "Don't let her get you riled up."
"I know." Kirito said irately while shaking off Alice's hold.
"Eugeo," Administrator purred his name as she dropped her hand. "Call your Blue Rose Sword." The blonde did as he was told; the majestic weapon drawn instantly to his palm. Next, Pontifex spread her hands, a bright purple glow appearing between them. Seconds later, that light became her rapier, The Silvery Eternity.
"Kirito," Alice whispered. "Are we seriously going to fight a pregnant woman?"
"Why not?" Kirito shot the golden knight a sharp look. "She obviously has no problem fighting us."
"But if she dies then the baby…"
Kirito looked between the unborn child, Administrator, and his best friend. He'd come here intending to kill the Pontifex, but now? Although Pontifex deserved a fate worse than death, should the baby suffer as well? It was just an innocent; its father, his best friend. Kirito swallowed a dry lump, not sure how to proceed.
"Husband," Administrator began; making Kirito want to retch at her choice words. He still refused to accept the wedded couple before him. "You will fight little Alice-chan." The blonde tensed up, not liking this arrangement. "I promise you'll get your lost memory, but things must be done in a certain way."
"This isn't Alice's fight." Kirito stated firmly as he slashed the Night Sky Blade diagonally before him. "It's mine." Administrator narrowed her lilac eyes, then raised her hand; releasing a streak of black lightning from her fingertips. It hit the black-haired boy in the chest, pushing him hard against the back wall.
"Kirito!" The golden knight called out; her azure eyes following the raven-haired boy as he crumbled face first onto the floor.
"She will be a worthy opponent," Administrator told the agitated blonde, bringing Alice's attention back upon her adversaries. "…so your fight will not be a waste of time." Eugeo stared the golden knight down; her presence bringing nothing back to him. Alice held her head proudly; her body language emitting pure confidence. "When you are done, you will join me against your so-called friend."
"Do not assume he will win." Alice bit out.
"Do not assume you will win, little Alice-chan." Administrator said coolly. "Thirty-Two will surprise you."
"I'll be ready for anything."
"Keep things here." Administrator said while stroking the Silvery Eternity lovingly. "I don't want your skirmish interfering with mine." Her gaze went directly to her own target, Kirito.
"It won't." Eugeo answered.
"I will not guarantee the same as him." Alice narrowed her eyes.
"Don't take too long, husband. I can't promise playtime with irregular boy will last long." Pontifex snickered as she made her way towards Kirito; her elegant rapier at her side and a ball of dark lightning in her opposite hand.
"So, the reason you've allowed Lady Pontifex free access to your mind and body is because of a false promise." Alice spoke while sliding into an offensive position; her Osmanthus Blade held close to her body. "Eugeo, Lady Pontifex isn't known for her giving nature. She won't give you that memory. She only takes."
"You know nothing." Eugeo spoke frostily; wisps of icy air surrounding the blade of the Blue Rose Sword. He quickly bent his knees then pushed off the balls of his feet, heading towards the golden knight. Alice tilted her sword in anticipation of his attack; however, Eugeo didn't go for her blade. He went for her feet. Caught off guard, Alice fumbled backwards in a series of missteps, stopping only when a sharp, excruciating pain shot up her leg.
Eugeo continued straight into a combo skill, connecting a Vertical into a Vertical Square. His Blue Rose Sword hit her Osmanthus Blade hard and fast. Alice met his attacks straight on; the hold on her sword switching from a one-handed grip to a two handed one. The blonde continued to roll out attack after attack, keeping the golden knight on the defensive. It soon became apparent that Eugeo wanted this fight done and over with quickly.
"So that's how he wants things to play out." Alice thought to herself while blocking his array of attacks. "Alright, I'll play your little game." She decided to bait Eugeo into attacking her more and more; for eventually the blonde would overexert himself and exhaustion would overtake him.
The golden knight continued to duck, dodge and clash swords with Eugeo; binding her time until the blonde showed signs of fatigue. Her golden braid swooshing back and forth; the long strands by her ears becoming loose, each individual hair seeming to float in the air as if in a dance. Her footwork remained swift and elegant despite her broken ankle, but she knew it was only a matter of time before the pain escalated to where she was no longer able to fight.
"You don't seem all that worthy." Eugeo huffed out; his sword slashing out once more.
"I promise you, I am very worthy." Alice grinned before leaping back to create a wider space between them. "Release Recollection." She called out while holding her sword upward. Thousands of golden flowers appeared at the tip of her sword. Then, within a matter of seconds, Alice brought her sword straight before her, the gilded blossoms shooting out toward the blonde. Eugeo quickly performed his own Enhance Armament, locking her precious flowers within a thick sheet of ice.
Alice was momentarily stunned by how well the blonde had controlled the ice which stemmed from the Blue Rose Sword. She was expecting the frozen mass to cover every inch of the room; however, Eugeo had kept it contained to just the area encompassing her flowers. "I must commend you on your perfect weapon control; however," a smirky grin appeared on her face. "Bloom my Flowers!" She said, causing every tiny flower to burst within their icy prison. Ice shards shot out in every direction; causing both knights to turn away from one another as the sharp fragments bit into their backsides from head to toe. Streaks of blood appeared on both parties.
After things had quieted, Alice was the first to turn back around. "My plan worked. He's low on energy." She grinned as Eugeo's back met her azure eyes. "This is my chance!" The golden knight raced to close the gap between herself and Eugeo. Forgetting all about her ankle, Alice carelessly stepped hard into a Slant attack, causing all her body weight to fall onto it. She cried out from the immense pain just after the Osmanthus Blade cut deep across the blonde's upper arm.
Eugeo narrowed his emerald eyes at Alice; his blood spraying across her face and into her sun-kissed hair. The golden knight then collapsed to the ground in a folded heap. Eugeo looked down upon the Alice, his face devoid of any sympathy for the girl he once loved. "You should die for this…" he stated with disgust while dropping his bloody arm to his side. "…but…"
"You won't do it…"
"I never said that."
"You don't have to, it's written on your face." Alice took a deep breath; coming to terms that she couldn't continue this fight. Her broken ankle no longer allowing her to stand; the pain was just too much. "You'll always have a soft spot for me."
"That doesn't make any sense." Eugeo stated harshly while retrieving his Blue Rose Sword. "I don't even know you."
"Not now, you don't, but your heart will always remember."
"You lie!"
"If that is what you truly believe then kill me." Alice watched the blonde very carefully; not fully convinced that goading him was the best option here. "I'm at your mercy." The blonde stood motionless. "Well?"
"When I defeat him, I will ask my wife to correct my reluctance with killing you." Eugeo said; shocking Alice. First, the blonde openly admitted to Administrator being his spouse and secondly, Eugeo wanted Pontifex to correct him? Alice's face fell as she thought of Kirito. They'd gotten here too late.
OOooOOooOO
Kirito collected his Night Sky Blade on the way to his feet. He'd finally found Eugeo; his only obstacle: Administrator.
"There's the determined boy I remember." Administrator said. "You would have disappointed me if that lack luster attack had already taken you out."
"It'll take much more than that to stop me." Kirito said seconds before he and Pontifex heard the explosions from the other side of the Administrator's bedchambers. He paled, uncertain of his friends' safety and the outcome of their fight.
"Such powerful attacks." Pontifex smiled with enthusiasm.
"You're going to pay for what you did to him." Kirito's said, his eyes flashing gold; his avatar changing into his Midnight Cloak version; his wings flapping in eagerness.
"So, it's to be a repeat of our last fight?" She mused; taunting the raven-haired boy.
"No." Kirito gripped the Night Sky Blade; his feet spread allowing him a firm, steady base. "This time you won't be coming back." He spat.
"Such high expectations you have." She placed her hand onto her rapier; transferring the black lightning to the Silvery Eternity. "Too bad they won't be realized." Her blade grew in size as her feelings of crazed excitement and high levels of ambition amplified its length and power. "I told you before, this is my world and everything in it belongs to me."
"Not anymore!" Kirito's sword flared to life as he brought forth all his feelings of regret, resentment, anger and sadness surrounding his best friend's death and now 'new life.' His negative emotions channeling a different form of strength; black and purple sparks radiating from the Night Sky Blade.
Administrator wasted no time in delivering a Diagonal Sting; her blade thrusting high then low. Kirito blocked her attacks, successfully parrying against her second strike. This resulted in the black-haired boy switching from defense to offense. Kirito rapidly performed a faint attack; hoping to create an opening against the Pontifex. It failed as she pulled off a combo attack; joining a Folium into a Linear. Her blade curved upwards from the left then looped before slashing down. Her sword slicing along his right side, blood spilling out from its wake. Seconds later, the Silvery Eternity found itself embedded in the meatiest part of Kirito's thigh before being withdrawn.
Kirito pushed through the pain by delivering a skill set combo of his own. He performed a Snake Bite into a Slant. His blade moving quickly side to side then finishing up with a diagonal strike. Administrator danced back; however, she has hit by his final attack. The Night Sky Blade cut her across the swells of her ample chest.
"Do you intend for my baby to starve?" Administrator said sharply as she placed a hand against her fresh wound; her fingers instantly stained with her own thick blood.
"You shouldn't even be allowed to have a child." Kirito returned fiercely; his blade poised for another attack. "Much less Eugeo's."
"But that's what happens when people have sex, silly boy." Pontifex stated matter-of-factly. "I do so enjoy the pleasures of my husband's body." Administrator snaked her hand down her curvaceous body, spreading the blood further upon her night dress and onto her belly. "And the things he does to me…mmm…"
"Enough!" Kirito lashed out; stopping the tip of the Night Sky Blade inches in front of her face. "You will have that baby and when you do, I'm going to take the babe and Eugeo somewhere you'll never find them."
"You think to take my family back to your world?" Administrator asked smoothly. "Bold claim irregular boy; however, your intentions are unrealistic and you know that."
"…"
"My child and husband will stay with me." Administrator said while enacting a protective sacred art; a large purple translucent circle appeared, shielding her beautiful face and body.
"I will not leave Eugeo in your hands any longer." Kirito said furiously. "I don't care what you did to him or what kind of bull shit you've made him believe. I will bring Eugeo to his senses or die trying!" He pushed his blade heavily against her sacred arts. His strength so vast that Pontifex quickly realized she was being overpowered; her 'condition' not giving Administrator the stamina, speed and reflexes she was used to exercising in a fight. She cursed under her breath as she was forced to jump back.
"You must be very enthralled with my husband." Administrator said while catching her breath. She bent over, rapier at her side, her amethyst locks falling around her slender shoulders. "The power he gives you… it's incredible."
"Eugeo means more to me than you or anyone else will ever understand." Kirito yelled out seconds before the blonde came into view. His grey eyes tearing up as he caught sight of the heavy wound on his best friend's arm.
"Why are you crying?" Eugeo asked blandly of Kirito.
"For you…and everything you've suffered."
OOooOOooOO
"Do you remember the goal, Renly?" Cardinal asked the boy knight while standing outside the Pontifex's bed chamber. The boy knight growled as the young mage peeked through the ajar door. "I hope Kirito and the others are smart enough to stay out of Renly's way." She thought as she watched the two fights simultaneously taking place in the large room.
"A lot is happening in there, but you must remain focused on Administrator." Cardinal told Renly in a stern manner. "Once she is dead, you are free to do as you wish." The lie flowed from her lips; for in actuality, she was planning to 'put down' Renly the second after he killed Pontifex. She resented doing so, but the young mage knew Renly couldn't continue to exist. He was just too dangerous with that virus running through his veins; the desire to spread it to others, too tempting. She shivered at the mental image of the Underworld, overrun by people, or rather zombies, like Renly.
Just as Cardinal was about to enter the bedchamber, Renly grabbed her small arm. "What is the meaning of this?" she scolded the boy. "Let go of me this instant." The boy knight ignored her as he wrapped his other arm around her small frame, pulling the young mage tight against him. "Stop this, Renly." Cardinal stiffened when she felt the boy's breath on the side of her neck.
The boy knight licked the flesh between her neck and shoulder, covering it with thick, putrid saliva. Cardinal knew what would become of her, and for the first time in her many years of life, she felt true fear. "You don't want to do this." Her words didn't resonate with Renly. He just sank his chipped, mangled teeth into her, blood shooting out like a geyser; some of it coating Cardinal's simple dress, some the boy knight ingested greedily. "Wh…why?" she winced as Renly's hold continued to crush her. In fact, the boy knight's embrace was so strong, Cardinal could feel her ribcage begin to snap.
Renly briefly pulled away from his meal; the corners of a bloody sinister smile appearing on his bloody lips. "On my god," Cardinal's eyes widened. "…you've had your own plan this whole time." Seconds later, her bones did break, one bone piercing Cardinal's heart. The young mage was dead.
Renly continued to lap at the crimson wine and gnaw upon Cardinal's flesh until a new craving bubbled inside him. He wanted something different, and it was behind her caramel locks. He gripped a chunk of her hair with his teeth. The skin ripped easily enough, exposing more blood and her brain. Excitement stirred in his belly as he gazed upon her psyche; his tongue slipping out to wet his lips. This is what he sought; the one way to assure Cardinal wouldn't be able to come back and stop him.
OOooOOooOO
"I'm not in misery." Eugeo said flatly, while testing out his sword arm with the Blue Rose Sword. He stole a glance at Administrator; a scowl crossing his face as he took in the wound Kirito had inflicted on her. "But you will suffer…" He spun his blade then sank into a fighting stance. "…for harming my wife."
Kirito recoiled at his friend's threat but remained calm. He knew Eugeo was the better swordsman, but as the blonde swung his blade around, Kirito noticed his friend's arm movements were rigid and jerky. He assumed Alice had contributed to that. The black-haired boy said a silent thank you to the golden knight, happy to have any type of advantage against the gifted fighter.
"Eugeo…" Administrator spoke, "Your lost memory is within your grasp. Defeat him and it's yours."
"I don't want to fight you." Kirito raised his sword, mimicking the blonde. "We're supposed to be partners, not on opposite sides."
"You lie just as she does." Eugeo spat.
"She?" Kirito blinked his grey eyes. "You mean, Alice?"
"That girl told me the strangest things."
"Is she…alive?"
"For now…"
Administrator grimaced, not liking the blonde's response.
"She wasn't lying." Kirito said with resolve.
"It doesn't matter." Eugeo countered. "I don't want only words; I want the memory that goes along with them. I want to see that one moment play out in my mind."
"I can't give you that." Kirito sighed reluctantly before sending an evil glare toward the Pontifex. "She's made it impossible to do so."
"Then the only way to gain my memory is to best you." Eugeo said as he extended his wings. "Now, fight me. I'm growing impatient."
OOooOOooOO
"I promised Kirito I'd help him, and this is how I follow through on that?" Alice muttered while sitting on the floor; annoyed with her broken ankle. "I'll never forgive myself for losing that fight." The golden knight closed her eyes, reliving the battle against the blonde. "I still can't believe Eugeo beat me," she chastised herself, "I'm embarrassed to be the third ranked Integrity Knight in Lady Pontifex's militia." Driven by her will to still help Kirito and restore her dignity, Alice attempted to stand once more; her ankle having hindered her long enough. "Damn it!" She hissed, falling back to the floor; her ankle still paralyzing her with pain and agony. Tears threatened to fall upon her cheeks, but they were quickly dried as someone Alice thought she'd never see again came into view.
"No…" she whispered bitterly as her eyes fell upon Renly. "…who invited you here? Where's Cardinal? Isn't she supposed to be your chaperone?" The boy knight didn't give her the time of day as he walked past her; determined to carry out his agenda. He was drenched in wet and congealed blood, something stringy dangling from his bloody mouth. His clothes were covered in gore, the remains of flesh, muscle, and ligaments sticking upon his visible neckline and all along his menacing collar and the wires which sprung from it.
Alice had to delay him. She couldn't let Renly interfere with Kirito and Eugeo's fight. But what could she do sitting like a doll upon a shelf? Suddenly, an idea came to mind. "Looking for your Twin Wing Blades?" This got the boy knight's attention. "I know where they are." Renly growled in response; hopefully this meant he was now interested in what she had to say. "They are locked in a small room on floor fifty-eight, the Geographical Records room, to be precise." The boy knight stared at the golden knight. It looked as if he was trying to commit this information to memory.
"You should get them." Alice pressed on. "No honorary Integrity Knight is without their divine weapon."
It appeared Renly was going to change directions; however, as soon as the blood of his real target hit his nose, the boy knight had zeroed in on the battle across the room.
"Stay away from them!"
Renly snorted at the golden knight then continued forward.
"I have to warn Kirito." Alice's face was full of worry. "I'll never forgive myself if anything happens to him." She began to humbly drag herself across the floor; using every ounce of strength to get to the one she loved.
OOooOOooOO
Eugeo and Kirito were locked in an air battle, the Night Sky Blade clashing against the Blue Rose Sword. "You're fighting the wrong person." Kirito ground out. "Your blade should be turned against the Administrator." Kirito swooped up then dove at the blonde; his blade ready to strike. Eugeo effortlessly deflected the attack, sending Kirito spinning head over feet. The blonde then rushed at the raven-haired boy, thrusting his sword into Kirito's right shoulder.
"Damn it, Eugeo!" Kirito gripped onto the blonde's sword and flapped his wings backwards; eventually freeing himself from the blade. "Why'd you go and marry her?" He fluttered his wings; quickly steading himself in the air. "What even possessed you to sleep with the woman who killed you? Are you even ready to be a father?
"Why do you care about any of that?" The blonde narrowed his eyes.
"I'm your best friend…" Kirito whipped his blade around before settling on his next move, the Sharp Nail. "…that's why." The black-haired boy flew towards the blonde; Kirito's sword held vertically above his shoulder. He lifted the Night Sky Blade vertically, bringing it from his left shoulder and striking down on Eugeo's right side. Next, Kirito raised his blade high above before slashing vertically, hitting the blonde's left side. Finally, he flapped his wings, giving him a boost higher up before cutting vertically at Eugeo's center. Kirito's attacks were strong but they were not as severe as they could have been.
"You're doing it again." The blonde stated with resentment; his blue attire swiftly becoming deep red in color.
"Doing what?"
"Holding back."
Kirito blinked his grey eyes in disbelief, not wanting to get his hopes too high.
"Fight me like your life depends on it…" Eugeo said, his voice laced with wrath. "…because it does." The blonde went into a Deadly Sins attack; however, it was messily done and incomplete. The Blue Rose Sword slashed out at Kirito, executing the proper first skill; however, the timing was slow and off. It was becoming evident that Eugeo was succumbing to his injuries and the after effects of using his perfect weapon control earlier.
Kirito smoothly blocked the blonde's attacks, resulting in Eugeo becoming flustered; his nerves rattling. The blonde stared at Kirito, his breaths deep and slow, as he tried to recover. Eugeo had pushed his body to the brink; but he wouldn't stop fighting until he got that lost memory. Kirito had claimed to be his best friend. But if that was true then where had the raven-haired boy been all this time?
"Eugeo," Kirito said justly while holding the Night Sky Blade at his side; rivers of crimson running down the midnight sword. "…I'm not fighting for my life…I'm fighting for yours." The blonde's eyes widened seconds before Kirito sprinted toward the blonde, ready to put an end to this fight.
OOooOOooOO
Back on the ground, Administrator was becoming irritated. The fight above was taking longer than she'd hoped. She recalled how the irregular boy's words had affected Eugeo before, could the same be happening again? No. She shook her head. The blonde was hers; tied forever to her due to wedlock and the multiple children they'll have. "You're to be the first of many, young one." She grinned while rubbing her belly. Suddenly, she felt a strange sensation. Administrator looked down and noticed a small amount of wetness upon her nightdress.
Seconds later, Eugeo crashed before the Pontifex; his wings twisted at an awkward angle as the blonde hit the ground hard, upon his back. Blood spewed from Eugeo's mouth as his head followed suit in colliding with the marble coated floor. The blonde lay there in a daze, covered in blood; his wings sprawled haphazardly beneath him within a crimson puddle as he still gripped the Blue Rose Sword.
Administrator gazed upon her husband, not making any effort to help him. "Was I a fool to believe a lost memory would give you the motivation to win?" Eugeo struggled as he pushed himself onto his elbows. "I don't care how you do it, but you will kill him."
"Is that how you got Eugeo to consent to your selfish demands?" Kirito said furiously while landing between the blonde and Administrator. His midnight cloak was caked in blood, his right arm hanging at an odd angle. "By ordering him with a direct command?"
Administrator ignored Kirito's question, her face alight with the boy's ragged appearance. "You still hindered his wings? Even though you knew they are attached differently than yours?" She took a step towards Kirito; however, as she did, Pontifex felt an increase in moisture pool between her legs. She frowned; deciding it best to stay where she was. Kirito saw her hesitation but still, he watched her closely. "I do so love the anatomy of a human's wings, how the bones interweave with those of the shoulder blades and spine. I could only image how much pain Eugeo's in right now."
"He'll recover." Kirito challenged. "I didn't hit anything critical."
"Are you sure?" Administrator raised a brow. "There's an awful lot of blood ruining my floor."
"You see, Eugeo?" Kirito faced his friend. "She's doing it again. Openly admitting she cares for nothing but her conceited self. Why do you put up with this?"
"Because…" Tears fell onto the blonde's cheeks. "… she saved me…" Eugeo thrust the Blue Rose Sword through the black-haired boy's chest. "…something you failed to do." Kirito stumbled back; surprise on his face as blood dribbled down the sides of his mouth.
"Kirito…teach me how to use a sword." Eugeo asked his best friend beneath the Gigas Cedar. It was a beautiful day, the sun just beginning to set. They had already reached their quota for strikes against the massive tree. Eugeo was hesitant to ask at first, but ever since he watched Kirito attack and cut through that wooden post, just inside Rulid, the blonde knew he wanted to be like Kirito, a swordsman. Eugeo clenched the sides of his head, an insane amount of pressure building beneath his forehead.
"It appears you have received your lost memory." Administrator smirked. "Just as I promised. I do hope you found it… enlightening." She laughed.
"Eu…geo…" Kirito's strained voice forced the blonde to look at him. "You…remember…" The black-haired boy smiled; his clothes changing back to his armory ones. He then pulled his friend's blade from his chest and dropped it. "I'm sorry…I failed you…I never…should have let you… go alone…" He crumpled to the ground in a mass of blackness.
"Ki…Kirito?" Eugeo spoke his friend's name with terror; his eyes wild as he watched a bloody Blue Rose Sword fall to the ground. Only he and Kirito could use that weapon and if it was lodged in Kirito's chest then the person responsible for doing that was…."Kirito! Kirito!" The blonde cried out.
Eugeo attempted to get up, but couldn't because two decayed hands had planted themselves firmly on his shoulders; pinning the blonde to the floor. Eugeo's emerald eyes shifted upwards; coming face to face with a frightening sight. There was Renly, leaning over him. Milky white eyes bore into the blonde as the boy knight snaked his greyish tongue around his decayed mouth and lips. Contaminated saliva dripped down Renly's chin and onto the blonde's face. If even a drop had entered the blonde's bloodstream, Eugeo would be in serious trouble.
Just as Renly was about to snap his jaws, a muzzle had appeared around the boy knight's lower face. One leather strap going deep within the boy's mouth, another formed over it; giving the muzzle a second layer of restraint. A third strap then wrapped itself around the boy's head, locking the constricting apparatus in place. The boy knight growled in rage as he stood. His hands tearing at the muzzle as his wings flapped heatedly.
"Don't even think about it." Administrator said, her voice full of venom. "I will find out how you escaped but now is not the time to be dealing with you." She quickly cast two sacred arts; one which bond Renly's wings to his back and his arms against his sides. The other, it had slammed into Renly and then pushed the boy knight out one of the enormous windows. If Administrator was lucky, Renly would perish as he met the ground, one hundred floors below.
Eugeo quickly got up and made his way towards his friend. "Kirito!" The blonde called out; desperate to hear his friend's voice. "I…I…didn't know what I was doing." He dropped to his knees; tears flowing freely. Kirito lay still; his eyes closed, his breathing shallow. Eugeo felt sick to his stomach, bile wanting to come as he saw Kirito's body start to fade. "Don't die, Kirito!"
"Such sadness, husband." Administrator appeared behind Eugeo; the endearment not registering with the blonde. "This is why I allowed you only one lost memory." She knelt beside the blonde; a smile crossing her face. "He will be dead within minutes." She said flatly; earning a look of defeat from Eugeo.
"How I hate seeing you like this…" Administrator spoke, her words coming out as very unsympathetic. She reached out to cup Eugeo's chin; bringing his gaze to look upon her. "I will help you forget, just as I have before." She smiled sweetly before leaning in to capture his lips; kissing him with a hunger for the man she married. Not surprisingly, Eugeo kissed her back, his mouth moving roughly against hers. It was as if he'd done this dozens of times. It felt so natural, so automatic.
Administrator gripped the blonde's shoulders, bringing the two of them closer; for she wanted Eugeo's attention on her, not on his soon-to-be deceased friend. Suddenly Administrator came to a stop. She glanced down, water gushing between her thighs. "It seems your baby is ready to come out." Pontifex grimaced at the bad timing.
"What?!" Eugeo turned white.
"Eion. Our son's name will be Eion."
End Chapter 18