I FELL IN LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT

Episode 22

Eugene floated his black boat among the devoile corpses that were crisscrossed without the glow of darkness anymore. The smell of blood fishy mixed with the smell of charred around so pierced his nose that now poured black blood. Eugene felt his head heavy and spinning. Through the firefly's gaze, the devoile's red eyes continued to search for something.

Something that made anger explode in his chest, making him ruthlessly slaughter enemies as the war progressed earlier. The memory of King Zodic showing off Saber's severed head before the two armies finally clashed was still clearly lingering in his mind.

With a limp Eugene approached King Zodic's body lying on the ground. The devoile king who had always been in the puja now looked worthless, parched like trash, dry and black after King Atlura pierced his heart with the Escudo crystal through such a fierce battle. Eugene kicked the body into the face and turned around. His father's fingers still gripped what he was looking for.

Eugene's trembling hand picked up a piece of Saber's head. The always cheerful face of his best friend is now pale lifeless. With a sigh Eugene closed Saber's yellow eyes that were still open, then hugged her.

"Didn't you promise me." said Eugene in a trembling voice. "Hey, Stupid. You promised me!"

Silent. The sound of a fyriel-fyriel shoulder to shoulder helping the wounded was heard in the distance. The silence slashed Eugene's chest. This pain, this loss, Eugene could feel it.

"Stupid..., why can't you protect yourself..?"

Faye ran over to Eugene. The girl's body suddenly felt light when she found that the figure she loved still survived after this great war. He felt so happy that he forgot the corpses scattered all around.

"Gene!"

Step slowed. The young man did not look when he called. The smile on Faye's lips brushed. Slowly he reached out his hand, touching the broad shoulder of the young man. How relieved when the girl found Eugene's face turned to her, but she immediately choked.

Two tears in the corners of Eugene's red eyes seemed to sparkle in the twilight. Faye's purple eyes barely blinked. Eugene's figure, the darkness now seemed helpless, so fragile alone. The young man's lips were dry and trembling. Faye's heart felt like it was sliced into something when she saw the piece of the devoile's head in Eugene's arms.

Faye. The silver-haired Devoile was rather long with ivory-white horns. The Devoile was the one with Eugene when they first met in the forbidden section of the Deep Forest. Sabre.

"Eugene..."

Hugged the weak silhouette of the devoile prince. The pain in Eugene's chest, Faye understood it, felt it. Wearing Eugene's purplish black hair, he said that he understood what the young man was feeling. "I don't want him to end up like this." - Eugene whispered with a blank look. "I.i.e., I..."

"Ssh..," Faye sighed stopping Eugene's speech. The purple eyes were closed because of the pain that controlled his chest. Eugene's head was buried in his arms. "Saber died because of me..." Eugene. "He died helping me. You killed Saber because of me..." Eugene's tears seeped into Faye's chest. Feels warm, but painful.

"Goddess Freya knew, Saber did the right thing, Eugene," Faye replied. The fyriel's hand tightened the grip as if it wanted to protect Eugene from this harsh reality. Eugene nodded slowly in Faye's embrace.

I'm sorry, Saber....

Till any moment, you'll live in my memory. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you...

I wish I could be friends with you again in the next life... Can you hear me? If you hear me, promise me. We will meet again in the next life. Promise, Saber.

"With the fall of the Western Assyrian Kingdom in the hands of King Atlura, the supreme light, the Assyrian Continent again became a great unity under the auspices of the Goddess Freya. Fyriel and the devoile as the greatest nations of the continent will coexist in peace with the rest of the nations. Rebellion in any form after this ultimatum is read, will be followed up and eradicated to its roots based on the law in force, for the peace of the continent of Assyre, the king said. May the Goddess Freya bestow her well-being upon us all."

The royal envoy rolled up his parchment, followed by cheers from the people gathered under the balcony of the palace. After thousands of years of fyriel and devoile living in separate powers, surely the ultimatum just now is something that sounds "new" and still feels difficult to realize. But historical records have proven that it is not impossible to live that new life, in order to achieve the peace promised by King Atlura.

Faye and Eugene stared at the joyful crowd on the balcony. The hands of both of them tightly joined. Staring at the happiness of the many people, unconsciously a line of smiles was etched on Eugene's pale lips. "I never knew.., it turns out that I enjoyed this kind of peace..." Faye glanced at Eugene. "Sometimes there are times when we don't understand ourselves, and there's a time we have to go through to understand it. They called that time a quest for self."

"You mean..., this is the real me?"

"I hope so." Faye nodded as she shrugged her shoulders slightly.

"Gum!"

One loud, far-fetched demeanor distracted Faye and Eugene. Kyrion with her face folded when she saw Eugene next to Faye approaching the two of them with wide, calm steps.

"King Atlura wants you to face immediately" he said. For a moment Faye and Eugene looked at each other in wonder, before finally moving from the balcony to the king's halfway room. Kyrion just glared while turning her golden eyeballs because she saw the devoile prince did not take off the arm from Faye's hand in the slightest.

"We are facing His Highness Atlura, the light of the great Assyrian Continent." Eugene bowed in reverence followed by Faye. It was a bit strange for him to say hello and respect to a fyriel like this, but he had to get used to it from now on since there was no longer the Western Assyrian Kingdom, there was only one great Assyre.

King Atlura nodded, receiving the respect of the two.

"First, I want to thank you for all your help during the war, Eugene." Eugene smiled, bowing again with his right fist placed on his left chest.

"After the war, we all knew that fyriel and the devoile could live together in peace as long ago as before Hayden used the Escudo to pit these two great nations." King Atlura raised his voice. "Living together, respecting and tolerating each other on the land of the Assyrian Continent, that's what we need to underline."

Without any previous hesitation, Eugene and Faye glanced at each other. "What exactly does His Majesty want to tell us?"

Eugene's bold question invited the gazes of dozens of pairs of eyes that were in the room. Some of them impinge on the devoile's speech.

King Atlura smiled knot. "Alright, I won't linger, young man. As a symbol of peace between the fyriel and the devoile, I want to accept you as a member of the royal family. As the honorary representative of the devoile nation, you will be responsible for the balance and well-being of your people on our common continent." Faye glanced at Eugene beside her with a proud flowering heart.

"Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty."

"There's one more thing you should know," King Atlura suddenly changed the subject from "Eugene" to "you". Realizing that, Faye reflexively looked down at his back. "It's about you two..."

Eugene and Faye fell silent, waiting for the continuation of the king's sentence. Kyrion, who stood in the ranks of the palace officials with his father, also took the pecking order, anticipating what the old fyriel would say on the golden throne.

"Do you two really love each other?"

Faye's cheeks flushed at that moment. He lowered his head and tried to ignore the eyes surrounding him. Embarrassed, it felt like he wanted to hide in Eugene's hand if only he could. Eugene smiled at Faye's nervousness. "Yes, Your Majesty. No doubt about it."

"Peace between fyriel and devoile does not mean affirming the love relationship between the two nations. In the days before Hayden divided us, fyriel and devoile, lived without inscribing notes like you."

"Note?" Eugene hissing. "Do we need historical records to continue our relationship? Me and Faye are okay, don't you see? It's weird, but we're completely different, we don't hurt each other. We just love each other, does that hurt you?"

Eugene's tone that began to sound higher made the atmosphere in the room slightly sultry. King Atlura was only bearded while closing his eyes. "Try you guys to think longer" he replied calmly. "If your relationship continues far and seriously, don't you think about having offspring? Ah, maybe it's unthinkable considering your age is still green."

"What if I think about it now?" All eyes were on Eugene.

"We're thinking about it now." The Devoile tightened his grip on Faye's hand. "What about having offspring, it'll bother you?" Faye looked down, biting her lips. Her heart was pounding at Eugene's loud and confident voice regarding their relationship. The fyriel took a deep breath, then returned Eugene's grasp.

"That's the big deal" pressed King Atlura. "We do not know what will be born from the mixing of the blood of fyriel and devoile. It's never been written in the historical record about it, just...." Sudden silent atmosphere.

"just?" Eugene's red eyes probed.

"Mentioned in past records, an astrologer gets the 'view' that there will come a day where red and black blood is mixed. The light and darkness that meet will produce a great shadow. Later the shadow will swallow all the darkness and will leave no light on this continent...." King Atlura crossed his wrinkled fingers with Escudo rings.

Eugene laughed wryly. "Then your historian and psychic analogized the prophecy to us?"

"The result of the mixing of the fyriel and the devoile would later destroy both nations themselves. Of course we don't all want that to happen." The fyriel and the devoile in the room whispered in agreement. The sight was so heartbreaking for Eugene and Faye, as if everyone had now agreed to give up all their hopes after their struggle to unite the two nations.

"W-what if we guarantee that it won't happen?" Faye spoke up in a trembling voice.

"Faye...?" Eugene's eyes looked at the girl in disbelief. Faye's lungs were pinched when she found that look. Eugene stared as if he had betrayed the confidence of the two of them.

"Just let us be together. Please, consider that, Your Majesty," Faye pinta as she tried to ignore Eugene's unacceptable face. Simple, Faye just doesn't want King Atlura to separate her from Eugene right now. He doesn't care about people's predictions or concerns as long as he can stay with Eugene, even if there are limits to their relationship Faye will try to support him whatever it is.

"I'm sorry, my daughter. But all can't guarantee that. We don't know what's going to happen, it would be wise for this matter to be suppressed from its roots."

"What problem??" fierce Eugene hard. " You can easily think of our feelings as a problem!? What if you're in our position?"

"I understand your high temperament, Eugene. But can you keep him here? We're talking about the interests of many now...."

"Many parties?? I don't want to interfere with a lot of people! It's just between me and Faye! I've been patient enough to let you interfere in our affairs!" grit Eugene. "Fuck that stupid prophecy! Faye will stay with me, that's what I expect most from the peace of the devoile and the fyriel!"

Faye mencelos's. Eugene believed in her so much and had such strong expectations for the future of their relationship, while he was only selfishly thinking about himself. The girl felt guilty that she had said something that disappointed Eugene's spirit. The Devoile thought further and mature in addressing their relationship than he did. Faye secretly felt moved and loved the young man more and more.

"Don't you care about your people, Devoile??" the tone of King Atlura also rose. "You are their highest hope. Can't you sacrifice a little for the benefit of your people!?"

Eugene. The turmoil in his heart grew more violent. That feeling made him even more disgusted and hated.

"Sacrifice...?" her thin lips sizzled. "No. I have lost my mother and my best friend to this day. I don't want to lose the people I love!!!" Eugene.

"Whatever you say, I won't change this decision. This is a mutual agreement, representing the entire people of Assyre." King Atlura remains on the stand. "If you insist, it means defying the laws of the kingdom."

Eugene's face displayed an arrogant smile.

"I don't think I have any choice but to go against it."

The pointed tips of Escudo's spears were fixed on Eugene and Faye. Kyrion stared tensely at the sight. Unknowingly his hands were on standby in his sword sheath, no matter who the fyriel was going to side with.

"There's still time to change your mind, Eugene." King Atlura gave us a last chance.

"Oh, so this is how you guys fight two swords with dozens of spears?" Eugene patted the sword on his back. "Unfortunately, I'm not a sycophant who draws the words I've spoken."

The gaze of King Atlura turned cold.

Shouttt!!!

"Yugene!!! Ah!!"

Faye falls near Eugene's feet. The Devoile froze as red blood seeped from Faye's back shoulder into her ivory white dress. The fyriel used her own body as Eugene's shield from the surprise attack. Groaning flowed from Faye's orange lips. The pain from Escudo's piercing arrow was like twitching his stab.

Seeing that Faye was injured, Kyrion could no longer remain silent. But Emerio held back the young man's steps.

"How dare you!!!" raung Eugene hard. The glint of the devoile's red eyes slightly dampened the bravery of the besieging guards. Eugene quickly slashed all those spears with his black sword. Unsatisfied, the devoile prince started hunting the bodies of the bodyguards for his sword prey.

"Eugene.., no..." Faye reached for Eugene's hand with the remnants of his consciousness, trying to stop Eugene's anger. But still the young man did not budge, continuing to slash at the bodies of the bodyguards who were trying to stop him.

"Gene!!!"

Eugene turned. The shout came from Kyrion who was staring from the middle of the crowd. Eugene caught the reddish lip move of the fyriel saying something. Then Kyrion turned his head towards the open balcony door.

Eugene inserted one of his swords together with his darkness which formed wings on his back. His one free hand immediately grabbed Faye's almost unconscious body. The devoile moment stared at Kyrion, before finally flying away leaving the chaos in Asyre Palace.