Chapter 56: Blood-stained Hero

Estoff Wraith

“Elumina!” My shout echoed throughout the area. I immediately caught her before her head hits the ground. What is this? Her trembling hands…are so cold. Her heart gave up on pulsing. Why? Was it because of the repeated usage of Dracaryx!?

“…Estoff…” Tears from her eyes flowed to her cheeks and dropped to the dry asphalt. But she kept on giving a joyful smile anyways “…I’m sorry…I can’t keep the end of my promise to you…”

“N-No…” My mind turned blank. What should I do in this situation? How can I get her heart beating again!? I know! I should pump her heart!

I laid her down and put my two hands on her chest. As I was about to apply force, Elumina’s soft hands covered mine. “…It’s no use… Estoff… This is the end of me…” Her breath became a lot heavier, as if she’s having a severe asthma. “I-I’m glad…that we used Vesryn Pulse…even for just once…It made me happy…”

Elumina gave off the brightest smile I ever saw. The dawn sunlight shoved upon her face which revealed her innocent beauty. “…I love you…Estoff… I’ll…be waiting…for you…in the other side…”

Then the life of my love faded away. She passed away peacefully, eyes closed and a bright smile, as she turned her way to the sun. Her suffering finally ended. But I refuse to accept this! I promised her to be free, and to be happy for the rest of her life! This is not the ending I wanted to happen!

“ELUMINAAAAAAAAA!!!”

My vocal cords halted producing sound as soon as my throat has done dry. I kissed my love for the last time. A kiss that lasted for five minutes. For that span of time, Amphere and Airelina arrived the scene with grief on their faces. Airelina sat down and approached me and commanded me to keep a short distance. She morphed her hands to a defibrillator and shocked the corpse of my love for three, five, ten, twenty, fifty tries. But it never worked.

Soon, an empire soldier spotted us. He reached for his radio and muttered. “Baseplate this is Charlie Five. I have spotted Estoff Wraith. I need backup on my coordinates. He was with Amp-“

I never let him finish his sentence. I used the colt pistol to make a forehead shot to the soldier, which made his immediate death. And then I drew my broadsword and pointed it on Airelina’s throat.

“Let’s finish this, Amphere.” I said coldly.

Amphere’s face is certainly astounded. “W-What the heck are you trying to do!?”

“That soldier spotted us. It will be bad if they discovered us working together. Escaping would be useless either. So we’ll have to fight…to death.”

“What the fuck are you trying to say!? You’ve gone mental!” Amphere screamed.

And then he turned to the far south east side of the skies. It appears that he has sensed them too. From this distance, those fly-like objects look so tiny, but in reality, they are dragon knights. They must have known the coordinates that pesky soldier send earlier.

“Time is running out. Kill me, Amphere Harrison!” I shouted. Then I swung the sword, ready to cut Airelina’s neck!

Amphere has formidable reflexes, so he used it against me. He used his photon sword to block the blade and then kicked me aside, giving me distance away from the scarlet haired dragonoid. “I won’t fight nor kill you, Estoff!” Amphere cried.

“I will force you!” I bolted forward for a thrust, but Amphere twirled his glasslike sword and parried my attack! My sword got flying into thin air, but I caught it with my other hand and prepared a forceful blow! Amphere blocked it again with his sword. He stayed defensive in this deathmatch.

I have to convince him, or else everything we have worked for will be turned to dust. “You’re not a kid anymore, Amphere! Think about it, killing me in front of those knights will give you honor and charisma of a hero! It will be favorable for the Dragonoid Rights Bill if it is supported by the dragon knight that killed the revolutionist, Estoff Wraith!”

“I can’t!” He cried as he blocked again a deadly blow from me. “I won’t do it! I won’t kill a friend!”

“My life is over now, Amphere.” I said with a bitter smile. “You’re completely right. I erected the Arcadia for the sole purpose of granting Elumina freedom. Now that Elumina’s gone, everything may now cease to exist!”

Time became so slow as I drew my pistol and pointed it to the stunned Airelina. With this, I have secured my perfect plan. Amphere can’t stand to have his dragonoid hurt. Both his eyes turned red and his reflexes triggered, dashed forward with a speed of sound and pricked my heart with his glowing sword. But I never suffered pain, for the loss of my love earlier has already gave me the maximum agony possible.

Instead, my heart felt refreshed.

“N-No…” Amphere muttered. “I-I don’t want it like this…”

Blood spurted out from my mouth. “Yes… This is how it’s supposed to be…”

Several dragon knights landed in the area, witnessing the blood-stained knight impale a notorious villain that is responsible for a lot of murders and terrorisms. Their eyes are filled with amazement as they witness a hero being born in this particular highway on Twilight City.

I held my numb chest which was soaked with my own dirty blood. “I thank you…Amphere Harrison… You have been a damn fine student…and a friend… I was happy that your effort went so far that you granted a glimpse of my dream…”

Amphere closed his eyes, suppressing water from going out from her eyes. “I-I’m sorry…” he said. His hands was trembling, I felt it. “I-If only I was stronger…”

“Don’t be sorry, dimwit.” I smiled. Blood oozed from my lips. “Don’t you dare blame anyone. That’s how a dragon knight is supposed to think. Don’t blame your lack of strength, nor your enemy’s actions. Stand and man up, muster your courage to attain better honor.”

I reached his face with my blood-wet left hand and hugged him with the other. Amphere’s face was so agonized that he could be mistaken for a crying snotty kid who got his cotton candy snatched by a stranger.

“…Free the dragonoids… Do what I can’t do... Be their hero...”

A satisfying pain from my chest emerged as Amphere withdrew his sword from my body. My strength faded away. My hands were left hanging, and my feet lost balance. Coincidentally, I drop down next to the lifeless body of my golden-haired dragonoid. I slowly reached her hand. After a few seconds, my eyes failed to project vision even I’m certain that they’re wide open.

There was a bursting loud cry nearby. I’m sure that it was Amphere. I can imagine his lonesome face covered by his own tears.

When my consciousness faded as if I was asleep, a bright light welcomed me. Everything in this place is white as if I was in the nothingness.

There was a blonde woman wearing a perfect white wedding dress. Her innocent eyes made me feel eternally comfortable, as if she was the physical embodiment of heavens itself.

“Estoff… You followed me again. Are you sure that everything will be alright in the Alterra?” Elumina asked.

I scratched my head and made a childish smile. “Amphere have it all handled. There will be a lot of trials, and he may lose more in this war, but I’m certain…That wanker will get things done.”

“I see.” Elumina bowed down. After a few seconds, she lent her hand to me. “Shall we go, my love?”

I didn’t hesitate to take her hand.

And we, the two lovers lived happily ever after.

[Estoff Wraith – K.I.A]