Alnea had experienced Death before. It was terrifying. The darkness… the loneliness… the pain… He did not wish to experience it again. But even more than death, he wished to never be helpless again. Watching the people he loved and cared about getting hurt right before his eyes, all because of him… That was the day he learned that there were things more terrifying than Death. And one of those things was regrets.

  So what if he was going to die? At least he did not have any regrets. Except, maybe the Oaths he had left behind. Or the Time he could have spent with her. With them. And how could he forget his master? His omniscient and omnipotent master. He had promised to meet her in the inner city. But it looked like he was going to break his promise again. Even though he was the one kept insisting on never breaking promises…

  Maybe, he could have used other methods. Less radical methods, those that would not have ended with him being devoured by the Origin Sea. But he was afraid. Not for himself, but for the people around him. It was not yet the end of Inkah’s month, and the Curse of his Fate had already thrown a group of Heterodox Wanderers at them. That too, ones who could use the Mysteries of Cause and Effect.

  It did not matter that the Mysteries were borrowed. If the Heterodox Wanderers could do it, so could the Orthodox Wanderers. Not through Heterodox Rituals, of course. But who said that Orthodox Wanderers could not use their own Rituals? The Lotus clan… Had he not taken the initiative to accept his Fate, he did not know what his team would have had to face next. Maybe, if his master was with him…

  Forget it, Alnea told himself. There was no point in thinking what could have been. It would only make him regret. And that was one thing he did not wish to have when facing his Death. Wallowing in regrets, while drifting in endless darkness, waiting to be devoured by his loneliness… Besides, so what if he could have avoided his Fate with his master’s help? Was she going to be there every time the Curse of his Fate flared?

  …It was for the best, Alnea told himself, as he accepted the Darkness devouring his senses. As he accepted the loneliness tainting his Spirit. It would not last for long anyway. Soon, his Spirit would be torn by the Darkness, and devoured by the Origin Sea, by the Heart of Rules he had dared to violate. He would not even be Enthralled. That was for when Wanderers could not accommodate the powers they had borrowed.

  Alnea, on the other hand, not only had perfect control over his Aspects and Mysteries, even the Sword he had taken up had been completely dominated by his Heart. It was, after all, a Clear Heart. Not a perfectly flawless Clear Heart, but a Clear Heart, nonetheless. He knew what he wanted, and he did not hesitate to follow on his thoughts. Except for what could have been, he did not leave behind any regrets. How then, could the Origin Sea Enthrall him?

  Then again, the Origin Sea did not care if it could Enthrall him. It only cared about devouring him. And that, no one could st—

  “Have you made enough trouble?”

  What?

  “Not all things can be solved by just throwing yourself to your Death.”

  That voice…

  “Did you ever think about the people you would leave behind? How would they live, knowing that you died for them?”

  There was no doubt.

  “When are you going to grow up, Alnea?”

  Master!

  “So, you still do remember that you have a master.”

  But… how?

  “What? Are you not happy to hear my voice?”

  Were you not in the inner city?

  “And? How does that stop me from reaching out to my disciple?”

  …As expected of master.

  “…Even dying cannot cure you of your cheekiness?”

  …That’s right. I am dead, aren’t I?

  “That is usually what happens to people who dare to play with their Roots.”

  …I am sorry.

  “Do you think a sorry will be enough? Do you even know what state your Roots are in? How dare you tear your Roots with your own hands?”

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  …I had no choice.

  “Everyone has a choice. We just cannot see it.”

  …I… But… That…

  “…I do not know what you are trying to say, but I am sure it must be something silly.”

  …I just don’t want to share my Heart with anyone else.

  “See, I knew you were thinking about something silly.”

  It is not. I am serious, master. That’s my Clarity. I will not share the people I love with anyone else.

  “…Forget it. I better send you back now, or Yuri will not be able to bear it.”

  Back?

  “What else do you think I came here for? To see you off?”

  …Am I not dead yet?

  “Not yet. But I cannot say what will happen once I send you back to Yuri.”

  …But…

  “How can you make a girl you love cry so much?”

  Wouldn’t that mean…

  “Is that what I taught my son?”

  No! Absolutely not!

  “Though the way you spoke out your Heart… As expected of my son.”

  Weren’t you guarding Yuri? How can you use your Roots for me?

  “Unlike you, Yuri can take care of herself.”

  But you are her Fate Protector!

  “Which is why I have prepared enough means for her to guarantee her life even in the face of Mystic Wanderers. But you…”

  No! You still cannot use your Roots for me. I… My Roots…

  “Silly boy, is that not what mothers are for? To take care of the troubles created by their sons?”

  …But my Roots are already gone…

  “They are not gone. Just a little tattered. It will be fine as long as you take a few more Oaths. Just try not to destroy them again.”

  …And what about the price of playing with the Rules of the Origin Sea?

  “It is alright. Those Rules are not as scary as you think they are. You just have to know how to deal with them.”

  …Would you really be alright?

  “Are you doubting your master now?”

  …But that’s ten times the price!

  “If you do not want me to pay the price for your actions, then just make sure that you do not play around with the Origin Sea until you can afford to pay the price on your own.”

  …But—

  “Why are you asking so many questions? Do you not want to live anymore?”

  …I want to live.

  “Then let your mother do her job.”

  …Thank you, mother.

  “If you want to thank me, then try a little harder to not kill yourself every so often.”

  …I cannot promise. But I will be careful.

  “…At least you are a bit more thoughtful than before. Forget it. I have already fended off the forces of Origin Sea coming for you. And that means it is time for you to go back. We will continue our conversation once you complete your Final Trial and return to the Lost City. Unless, of course, you do something stupid once again, and force me to—

  No! Never!

  “Good. Remember what you said. Oh, and you better start thinking about how you are going to apologise to the girls.”

  …How about saying that it was all a part of my plan?

  “That’s a good excuse. If you do not want your ears anymore, that is. I have yet to deal with you for being so reckless with your life, and you dare to use my name to justify your behaviour? Just wait until I get my hands on you, Alnea Oathkeeper.”

  …It was just a thought. I was not actually going to say it…

  “…Alright. It is really time for you to go now.”

  …Could I stay for a bit longer?

  “If I do not send you back now, then I am afraid that soon, I will have to save Yuri too.”

  Why? What happened to Yuri?

  “You, idiot. You happened to her. To think that she would let her emotions overwhelm her so completely… Just go back and stop her before she does something stupid like you.”

  …I will.

  “Good. Oh, and one more thing.”

  What?

  “You two have my blessings.”

  Wha—

  Before Alnea could complete his words, and think of ways to hide his embarrassment, he felt a sudden tug pulling him out of the Darkness, and into the light. Not literally, of course. He just felt his senses being returned to him. Yet, that in itself was the greatest light. And that tug was indeed real. But he did not have time to worry about those things. He did not even dare to waste time on unfurling his Spirit, afraid of what Yuri might do.

  Fighting against the dizziness trying to overwhelm his senses, and the weakness spreading into his limbs, bringing a strange cold to his extremities, he pushed himself to open his eyes, and search for Yuri. Thankfully, he did not have to search for long. The first thing he noticed after opening his eyes were the tears falling on his face, and the face that was just inches above his.

  “…How many times have I told you,” Alnea said, stretching out his hand to caress the wet, pale white cheeks. “You don’t look good while crying.”

  “…Alnea?” Yuri said, staring at him with wide eyes, before a wide smile creeped its way onto her face. But she did not stop crying. Instead, she lowered her face and pressed her lips against his. Maybe with a bit too much force. Not that he was complaining. On the contrary, he—