~ [Music Recommendation: "Always On My Mind" by Yōko Shimomura (Orchestra version by Berlin Virtual Symphonics) - available in Youtube] ~ Please listen to it in loop while you read this part to experience the utmost beauty of this chapter T_T ~

After the huge revelation was given to Selena, Clavis decided to train her further with regards to magic. So far, she only knew intermediate level skills. Since there would be a journey that she would have to take with the chosen ones, he thought Selena would need to learn more complex and advanced skills in order to protect herself and aid them. Selena agreed and Illumináire offered her help in teaching her. And so, their special training began.

​​

Meanwhile, Rania, Elliot, Ducis, and Luna just finished the most dreaded 7th gate. Exhausted from everything that just happened, especially the emotional roller coaster, they returned to the Forbidden Chambers to rest, and also for Elliot to practice his new found powers. But before all of that, Elliot had to deal with something first.

It was night when they returned. As soon as they set foot in the Forbidden Chambers, Elliot grabbed Rania by the hand.

"We need to talk," he said with a serious face.

Rania was surprised while Luna and Ducis were puzzled.

"... Alright," Rania nodded, "About what?"

"Come with me".

The seriousness in Elliot's face didn't change. Still holding Rania's hands, he led her outside, towards the pavilion where they usually talk. Elliot remained silent along the way which made Rania nervous.

"I wonder what I did wrong?" she thought. "Or maybe it's something else? Hmmm … but he excluded Luna and Ducis so it's probably something I did. But what is it? Oh! Maybe the Supreme told him something?" Her mind wandered from one thought to another. "Also, why are we walking? We can teleport, right?"

Indeed, Rania was right. But Elliot needed time to think. As to what he was thinking, Rania didn't know. Not long after, they reached the pavilion. Elliot gestured for Rania to sit on the soft couch, and he sat beside her. Then, he raised his arms and cast a barrier around the whole pavilion. The barrier was different than usual - it was opaque as compared to the transparent ones they use in battle to protect themselves. Rania wandered what this type of barrier could do. But seeing as it clouded the beautiful view of the flowers around the pavilion, she was convinced that she probably did something bad, thus, the reason why Elliot was secluding the area.

"Ahhh … I'm doomed," Rania bit her lips and averted her eyes from Elliot. Somehow, she felt guilty over something even though she didn't know what it was. "Think, Rania … what else did you do?"

When Elliot finished setting up the barrier, he turned to face Rania and looked at her intently. His gaze was piercing and it made Rania nervous for some reason. Her heart pounded on her chest as she waited for Elliot to speak.

A moment of silence passed by.

"Ahm … Elliot," Rania spoke up first, "W-what is it? You're making me nervous".

"Rania ...," his tone, still full of weight, "I love you. You know that, right?"

Rania was startled. Her face immediately turned red the moment Elliot said the words 'I love you'. It was sweet and heart pounding but the sternness of his gaze was nerve wracking. She felt unsure since Elliot kept on giving mixed signals. But from the context of his words alone, Rania figured it was probably because of "that".

"Y-yes," her voice trembled. Lowering her eyes further, she mumbled, "I … I love you, too".

"Don't look down. Look into my eyes".

"Ack!" Rania was surprised yet again. In her mind she thought, "This is a different side to Elliot. I think this is the first time I'm experiencing him being so .... commanding. Ugh, please don't be angry at me. Please have mercy". She slowly looked up and returned Elliot's gaze towards her. "This side of him is gonna kill me. I think I'm getting a heart attack".

"Do you know what you did wrong?"

Rania averted her eyes, making her head turn sideways.

Elliot touched her chin, pulling it gently to look at him again.

"I'm sorry!" she blurted out.

"Sorry for what?"

"Ahm …," she gulped, "for … trying to save you?"

"Great that you know".

"But … if I didn't, who knows what could have happened? I can't possibly just let you die!" Rania argued. Her trembling voice was no more, instead, it grew louder. Her eyebrows frowned at the very thought of it.

"Do you honestly think that 'I' would be happy living a life at the cost of my beloved?" Elliot's face furrowed. There was anger in his voice … anger rooted from worry … and love.

Rania sighed. "And you can't possibly think … that I would be happy letting my loved one die knowing there's something I can do to prevent it, right?"

"So is that what you've been prepared to do all this time?" Elliot's worry heightened, "Is that the reason for all those times you looked sad before? The reason why you held back? Because you think that if something is to happen, you will sacrifice yourself just to keep me alive?"

Truly, Elliot's wits was not something to be taken lightly.

"Elliot …," Rania called him endearingly. She reached out her hand to touch his wretched face who looked like he was about to cry. "Please hear me out".

"No!" he shouted, profusely disagreeing. "If someone's gonna die first, it will be me, not you!"

But Rania shook her head. "No, Elliot. You are to be king. Your whole planet needs you. So it has to be me who -"

"And 'I' need you! … Please don't do this, Rania".

Rania breathed deeply and sighed.

"I'm sorry, Elliot. But that is something I cannot promise".

Elliot smiled bitterly. "I see … Well in that case, try to beat me to it".

Rania's eyes widened. "No! Elliot don't -"

"- You're not listening to me, so why should I listen to you?"

"Elliot …"

"If you're gonna be stubborn about it, then I'll do the same," a sad smirk escaped Elliot's lips.

But Rania had the upper hand for she knew when her 'sacrifice' would be needed. Knowing this, she silenced herself and refused to continue the argument.

Heavy breathing and deep sighs filled the pavilion. The place that had become special to them … now filled with sadness.

"All this time that you've prepared to sacrifice yourself …," Elliot broke the silence, "Does this mean that you're prepared to give me to another woman as well?"

"...!" Rania flinched.

Elliot hit the mark. Indeed, from the moment Rania found out about her being the "Vessel", she thought hard who would be the best queen for Elliot for she knew very well that she wouldn't survive until that day. And as her mind brooded over it for months, she could only think of one person who she knew had the best qualities, befitting a queen.

"Tell me, who?" Elliot's heart broke seeing Rania's reaction. "To whom are you willing to give me away?"

"Not give you away - I would never … but," Rania didn't know how to explain it. Tears gathered in the corner of her eyes. Deep inside her heart, she was never ready to give Elliot to someone else. Of course, who in their crazy mind would do such a thing?

But then she thought again.

'If my destiny is to die, who will take care of him after? Surely, he would be too sad. And I don't want him to be like that for the rest of his life! He needs someone … someone to make him happy again. And besides, he will be king. Whatever happens, he'll need a queen, and to continue his lineage. So … even if it breaks my heart … he needs to find someone else.'

And who was it that she knew had the qualities of a queen?

Rania bit her lips before she answered, "... Azalea".

Elliot scoffed. "I see …"

"She's a very kind and wonderful and brave woman. She's the one who saved me before and if it weren't for her, I wouldn't even be here right now. I … would have died from the very first day that we were captured," Rania tried to put a good word for Azalea but her tears betrayed her. They flowed like a river down her cheeks, and fell to her hands. She couldn't look at Elliot anymore so she bowed her head instead.

"I will remember that name".

Alas, Rania's heart broke into pieces.

"Yes, that's right. Accept her. She's the queen that has been prepared for you … not me," Rania thought as she tried to convince herself. "I really … shouldn't have fallen in love. And I shouldn't have let you fall in love with me. I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. I shouldn't have been swayed by emotions. I knew it from the start but … I just … sniff … sniff".

Elliot lifted up his hands to caress Rania's cheeks as he pulled it to look back at him. He gently wiped her tears away and looked at her endearingly. Deep inside, he knew that this was hurting her as well and that she never really wished for things to be that way.

"Rania … remember this," he softly whispered to her.

"..." Rania simply nodded at him.

"I will not accept any other queen than you".

Rania's eyes widened. After he said those words, Elliot pulled Rania closer, embracing her tightly. And with his lips, he kissed her with the warmest kiss he could ever give.