"Let's get him to bed first," Aurora said, seeing the sadness in Kausphore's eyes.
Sophie was about to help, but Kausphore took Axeden's arm and slung it over his shoulder to support him. Both Sophie and Aurora watched quietly as he helped Axeden.
Then Kausphore turned to Sophie and asked gently, "Can we talk now? Alone...?"
Aurora looked at Sophie and shook her head slightly, concerned. Kausphore noticed and gave a sad smile.
"I won't hurt her. She's- – I just want to explain everything about what she's about to do."
"You can talk in front of my friend. She knows everything," Sophie said, her voice empty. The love, care, and concern in her eyes were gone. She looked at him like a complete stranger.
"You've changed a lot," he smiled sadly.
"Do you really believe I killed you?" he asked.
Aurora gulped nervously, not wanting to argue with a Demon God while Axeden was unconscious. She opened her mouth to ease the tension, but Sophie spoke first.
"I don't believe it. And I can feel you weren't the one who killed me. I won't judge you just because you're a Demon God. But the truth is, I don't really know you or Axeden. I'm still confused, and everything's happening too fast. I don't want to give anyone false hope."
Kausphore finally smiled, seeing a small flicker of hope, she wasn't judging him by his status.
"I just want you to know this mission isn't as simple as it seems. The curse you're dealing with was born from a 'Bound to Evil Heart' spell. It's not easy to break. If it were, other prominent gods would've done it already. I don't want you risking your life."
Sophie sighed and smiled faintly. "I appreciate your concern, but you don't have to worry about me. I promised Axeden I'd help him with this mission. I don't even fully know what I'm supposed to do yet, but I'm ready to face it. I also gave him a blood oath. I can't back out."
"Blood oath?! Craysophy, why would you do that? Do you even know the consequences– –"
"I'm Sophie," she cut him off, making him freeze.
Seeing the courage and determination in her eyes, Kausphore couldn't continue. When it came to saving others, Craysophy always gave her all. Even if it was just one life, she would do anything.
"If you truly want this, then I'll respect your decision. You said you'll divorce him after everything, and I have no problem with that. I've waited hundreds of years, I can wait more. I'll help you complete this mission without letting you get hurt. And whatever you choose after it's over... I'll accept and support you."
_______
By morning, the pain returned. Axeden winced as he woke up in a familiar room, his body still aching from the night before. He squinted his eyes and covered his face with his palm to block the sunlight coming through the window. He was lying on a hard crystal bed he had created for them. He remembered telling Sophie about Craysophy before he fainted.
He got up from the bed, hissing in pain, as he could feel his ribs breaking little by little. His body was burning hot, and his clothes were drenched in sweat. His face had lost all color, and his lips were pale and chapped. Everything around him was blurry, and he couldn't focus on anything. He tried to control his breathing and concentrate on the healing core situated in his brain to heal himself. But it immediately backfired,he felt like the veins in his head were about to explode.
He sat down on the ground and focused his breath in his core to meditate, hoping to reduce or stop the damage for a while. But in the next second, he spat out blood and started breathing heavily.
Yeah, he knew it. That was the price he had to pay for going inside the vacuum of energy. Not only had he taken damage to his own soul, but also Sophie's. He had shielded her soul with his to protect her.
Sophie opened the door of her room after hearing him cough. She hadn't been able to sleep at all last night. Aurora had gone to her room, but Sophie had sat on the wooden bench in the living area, thinking about everything that had happened in a single night. For hours, she couldn't believe it was all real. And she wouldn't have, if Axeden weren't sleeping on her bed in her room.
The moment she heard him coughing, she got up to check on him.
"What happened? Are you feeling uncomfortable? Do you want me to take you to the healers?"
She asked, walking toward him with a gentle gaze. He smiled weakly and wiped the blood from his lips. He shook his head and replied in a husky voice,
"I'm fine. I just need a few minutes, and I'll be okay."
"It's going to take longer than you think."
Kausphore appeared behind him and corrected him. Axeden and Sophie both widened their eyes, surprised to see him standing there like he had never left.
"What are you doing here?"
Axeden asked, trying to control his rage.
"I promised Sophie I'd help her with this since it's something she wants. Then you two will get divorced, and I'll woo her again. I know once she remembers everything, she'll come back to me. Until then, I'll make sure no one can hurt her and wait for her answer."
Aurora came inside after sensing the commotion and stood beside Sophie. She opened her mouth in surprise and commented,
"Well, you're really good at waiting. You've waited for hundreds of years, and you're still ready to wait. What a nice man you are."
Axeden scoffed, shaking his head.
"Waited for hundreds of years? He was literally sleeping peacefully for 220 years. It was me who was drinking myself to death, just to forget how he ruined her life."
Aurora almost laughed at Axeden's words before clearing her throat.
"Anyway… since he's here and offering help, then Axeden can complete the mission more easily, right? Just like last night, there was a need for someone who could protect you all from danger. Maybe we'll face situations like that again, and someone will need to keep you safe. We need someone who can still use their powers. I heard Axeden can't use his for a while, so we need another immortal person to protect her and Axeden. Honestly, it's impossible for a girl like me to do that. But since… he loves Soph– – I mean, since he cares about Sophie, then he'll protect both of you with everything he has. We were lucky this time, but who knows? Someone might try to harm you again."
Aurora hardly made sense in Sophie's opinion, but Axeden thought she had a point. Craysophy didn't have many enemies, but there were still some people in Heaven and Hell who envied her. And during the mission, Axeden and Sophie might need to leave their bodies at some point, so Kausphore was the best person to watch over them. And right now, Axeden didn't know when he'd be able to heal himself or use his powers again.
"Okay… I agree. But you'd better keep your distance from my fiancée. I don't think I need to repeat myself, she already made that clear."
To be continued