*Cherlaine’s Point of View*

My name is Cherlaine Relyzine Goldenbloom, a highly revered Saint of the Helius Fraction.

Everyone respects me not only because I’m a [Saint], but also because I’m a daughter of an Earl. Even so, my title as [Saint] is not only for show.

I have mastered the Arts of Holy Magic, acquired the True essence of Earth Magic (Nature), and control the water by my will with ease when I was still 13 years of age.

I have not met a person above me because of it. But also because of that, there is no one who dares getting close to me. Even Ghena who was once really close to be suddenly treated me differently when I became a Saint at a really young age.

But all of that changed by the appearance of a certain man.

This man was not only so rude in not revering me as a noble with higher prestige than him; he didn’t even show any respect towards me as a [Saint].

When I heard that he was a heretic, I immediately understood that he should have died during his ceremony. But I was surprised by the news that he came out of such predicament with only using sheer force of his own will. Never have I once heard of such thing before.

After I challenged him to a duel, I felt despair as I have been tricked by fate itself as my lips’ first was stolen by such a man and a heretic no less.

I thought that it was my end.

***

Two months have passed since then. And the idea of me thinking that my life had ended when he took my first kiss has disappeared as I have been exposed to many things because of him.

It wasn’t against my will, but because of it instead.

When I told him of my desire to live, even without him saying it, I noticed that he has taken serious action in making himself stronger in order to fight against the gods that have condemned him as Heretic.

He even defeated my childhood friend who I thought that was stronger than him. Even more, he spared his life even though he tried to kill him.

When I think about it, he has never done something rude against me or Matilda. In fact, he treated us with care and always gives us what we want and need.

When I looked into his eyes every day, for some reason, I can see myself have a future with him inside it.

I may not be able to admit it in front of him yet, but I love him.

Yet, this man suddenly changed after an incident.

From a magic circle of >, Key, Sora, Marie and the maid appeared.

For some reason, Key is wearing a violet armor. From what my > ability is telling me, this is the >. However, it’s also telling me it’s something more than that. It’s as if the magic itself is in chaos.

“K-Key-”

“Everyone…”

Just when I was about to talk to him, he overshadowed my voice by taking everyone’s attention. And for some reason, his voice sounded cold and heavy.

“We don’t know if there are still some assassins left so I want everyone to stay alert until I raised a barrier around the mansion. For the meantime, I want someone to keep watch. I suppose I can rely on you Sora on that part, but do some switching as it might be an annoying duty for you. For now, I don’t want anyone intruding inside my room.”

After saying those words, he walked upstairs while still wearing the armor, and because of it, we can’t tell what his expression is.

Everyone didn’t know what to say. Even Matilda who is supposed to be the one who can always start a conversation wasn’t able to do it. We only looked at each other while wearing worried expressions.

All of a sudden, the whole mansion shook with great tremor as if an earthquake has occurred.

Just when I was about to run upstairs, Sora blocked my path while wearing a worried expression.

“Just give him his space. I’ll do my best to keep the mansion intact while he’s going wild.”

“T-thank you, Sora.”

“I’m doing this for him because I am his friend so don’t thank me.”

Even though he showed a bit of his arrogance, I let it be as he was not my priority currently.

Since Key was venting out inside the mansion, Sora had to use his shadow magic to hold the mansion intact for almost an hour. Even though I’m well aware that Key has infinite mana to do such thing, I’m still surprised to the fact that he has the stamina to keep it up for an hour. And because of that, we had to stay in the workshop beside the mansion.

The shaking was so strong that even the farmer dwarves were disturbed by the small quakes Key produces.

***

After some time, Sora stopped using his shadow magic as the shaking of the mansion has stopped. Since he did it for a long time, he has exhausted most of his mana.

I can’t do mana transfer like Key does and Matilda can only do the opposite so he has to rest himself. I instructed Ghena to assist him. She became a bit flustered by my request for some reason, but she still accepted it.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m just going to check up on him. I’m worried about him since I can’t sense him or his armor because of the thick layer barrier around his room.”

Matilda wanted to come with me, but since she’s feeling weak, I insisted that I’d be the only one going. Surprisingly, she didn’t rebuke my words.

When I arrived in the front door of the master’s room, I stood while only looking at the door knob.

Probably because Key is using fire magic inside, the knob is red hot. I’m confused as to why the door hasn’t been burned down but the knob is heating up.

I shake my head to remove the unnecessary thought in my mind.

I summoned my golden staff from my [Light Space], an inventory which I could store large amounts of items.

“## ## # ### >”

I casted this magic to prevent myself from burning if the whole room is set on fire. This magic coats a very cold layer of thin but strong film of frost magic which negates the entrance of the heat.

“K-Key, I’m going inside.”

Since there’s no reply, I let myself in.

When I touched the door knob, I felt the heat in my hands, but because of >, I don’t get burned.

After I opened the door, to my surprise, the room isn’t on fire. Although the bed, furniture, the ceiling and wall papers are damaged, it seems that the room is still intact.

Immediately after that, I saw Key curled up in the corner of the room. Some parts of his armor still remain, but his dreadful looking helmet has disappeared and so does the long violet crystal claw from his left hand have disappeared.

“Ke--!”

Just when I was about to call him, he disappeared from where he was sitting.

Along with my halted breathing, the tip of a violet crystal claw suddenly appeared and is facing towards me. It was only an inch close to my eyes that it feels so itchy.

I don’t know how to react. More like, I forgot how to react. My legs weren’t able to respond to Key’s flickering movement. I’m afraid that if I move, I would tremble and drop on the floor.

After a few seconds, I then realized that I almost gotten myself killed. But those few seconds felt like hours because of the intensity in the air.

“Didn’t I tell you to leave me alone?”

While lowering his claw, Key asked in a very cold tone. I can’t see his eyes due to his long bangs, but I could tell that he’s feeling frustrated.

“Because I thought you might need someone to talk to.”

“I don’t need someone to talk to.”

He then turned his back on me and looked at the broken walls.

Right now, what he wants is something I cannot grant. Especially now, I can feel his magic going on a rampage inside him. He just isn’t showing it.

“I know that you’re currently in pain! Let me help you. Am I not your fiancée?”

As of now, I can still save him from his magic’s rampaging state by breaking it. But the magic itself is very complicated and it’ll take time for me to analyze it before I could break it. Since the composition is ancient runes, I’ll need his cooperation.

“What are you talking about? I’m not in pain.”

Huh? Is he not aware of it?

I didn’t answer his question. Instead, I rushed towards in front of him to see his face.

What I saw surprised me.

His face is completely devoid of expression, yet it isn’t the reason why I’m surprised.

What surprised me were his eyes. It’s glowing in violet light and for some reason, he’s crying, with blood. Because of that, I inadvertently covered my mouth to prevent myself from screaming.

It’s not the magic that’s in a rampage! It’s himself!

“Key…”

I reach out my hand as I try to touch him. However, before my hand could touch him, be made a step back evading my hand.

“Please leave, I’m still sorting out my thoughts. I want to be alone.”

I didn’t listen to his words and immediately hugged him, I hugged him tightly and for some reason, his breastplate disappeared into the space between us.

As I put my ear on his chest, I could feel his heart’s fast and strong beating. Thank goodness!

“I can’t leave you! There’s no way I’d leave you like this! Tell me, what’s your problem? I’ll do my best to help you.”

“Can you help a murderer like me?”

Murder?

“What do you mean?”

He doesn’t look at me. Instead, he looked at his hand and made a very sad expression.

“I killed the knights that took Marie and Jane. With the thought of them becoming a threat to my family, to you, to Matilda, my mind went blank. When I came to, my hand is dripping with blood, the blood of my enemy.”

I see. He’s feeling the guilt of taking another person’s life.

“But you were just trying to protect what is precious to you…”

“But the last person I killed was a woman. She wasn’t even trying to fight back, but still, I killed her.”

Key sobbed as he clenched his claw up in the air. I can feel that he hates himself from what he did. I can’t really say that everything is okay as I was once in his shoes.

When I look at him, I can see nothing but a boy who’s crying over something he didn’t mean to break.

Using >, I summoned a wooden seat and pushed him to sit there.

“It’s alright, you can cry as much as you want.”

I put his face on my chest as I pat his head. Although the blood from his eyes is making stains on my dress, I overlook it as it wasn’t really necessary.

After a few minutes of continuous crying, he finally calmed down. But since the rampaging of his magic hasn’t settle down yet, I kept on making him relax more.

“Will you still look at me the way you look at me before?”

All of a sudden, Key asked me with his face still buried in my chest.

Even though we’re in this situation, seeing him acting a little spoiled is cute.

“I will.”

I replied to him with a gentle voice while caressing his long silky hair.

“Will you hate me knowing that I might become a monster with my power?”

“I won’t.”

After hearing my heartfelt reply, Key raised his head and looked at my—he looked away. It’s adorable.

But I’m glad that his eyes have returned to normal and his claw disappeared. When I check his magic, it has calmed down now.

“As long as you do it to protect, I will not hate you over it.”

While saying that, I grabbed his cheeks and forced him to look at me.

“You will?”

“Yes I will.”

After clearing him of his doubts, I pressed my lips unto his and wrapped my arms around his neck.

In response, he put his arms around my waist and pulled me towards him, making me sit on his legs.

When I departed my lips, I look at his face that’s slightly painted crimson.

“I love you.”

-End of Chapter-