Chapter 27 Chapter 27
"Just stay here for a while, Doc, I'll just get the sword so we can go home," Aurora bid the young man farewell.
Fiel was about to protest, but she immediately left him.
"This is too much!" Fiel grumbled to himself because instead of being helpful, he had become a burden to the maiden.
Aurora, on the other hand, wasted no time. The maiden punched and kicked the stone with all her might until it cracked. She tried again several times. She just smiled when the sword finally detached from the stone.
She admired the sword's beauty. She knew it would be incredibly sharp if used. She hadn't finished examining the weapon when the young man shouted.
"My love, we need to leave this place before we get caught in the sinking of this cave!"
When the maiden looked at the cave entrance, what was once just sand was now filled with water, and it was rising rapidly by the second, so she immediately teleported to the young man.
"Let's go, we've already achieved our purpose here."
"Let's take the man who's there." Fiel pointed to the man's location, whom she hadn't even noticed when they entered the cave.
"Wait, Doc." She stopped Fiel from taking a step.
"Why?"
"That might be a trap. I didn't sense that person's presence earlier, so it's impossible for him to truly be inside."
"I know that, but perhaps it's because of the disappearance of this cave's magic when you retrieved the sword," the doctor explained to her. "But it's still up to you whether we take him or not."
Could she really leave the strange man here?
No...
Her conscience couldn't bear it, especially since she wasn't even sure who the man was. She shouldn't judge a stranger based on her feelings alone.
"Let's take him."
They first went to the man, which proved to the maiden that her decision was correct because of his condition. The guy needs help. Aurora was alarmed when she saw the man because his injuries were severe, so he needed immediate treatment.
She was about to teleport them home when the doctor suddenly held her hand.
"Let me. I'll take you home. You're tired," Fiel offered. She just nodded at him because, truthfully, she was also tired. She didn't want to argue anymore. All she wanted was to rest.
She closed her eyes for a moment, and when she opened them, she was already on the shore.
Her dad immediately hugged her. "Are you okay, daughter?"
"Yes, dad."
"What happened to him?"
She turned to Yfraim when she heard worry in his voice. Fiel himself answered him.
"We found him in the cave. I need to treat him because he sustained severe injuries."
"Why? Sin—" Aurora's words were cut off when Ryuk spoke.
"He is Sapiro. He is your father, Aurora..."
"W-what?" she asked, stammering.
"Can't you spot the similarities, Aurora? He has your eyes..."
"HOW is he, Fiel?" Aurora asked immediately upon the young man's exit from the room where her father was.
"Don't worry, he's fine. He won't just die from such injuries. Older immortals are stronger than us. No matter how severe the injuries old immortals sustain, they won't die unless they are beheaded. Vampires do regenerate, remember? His body is returning to normal. Don't worry anymore. Rest first, my love."
She was about to object to what the young man said, but he was insistent. She only now felt the exhaustion. She was too worried about her father.
When Ryuk told her that Sapiro was her father, she almost hated herself for doubting him earlier. She planned to leave that man in that cave, and if she hadn't acted with kindness, he would probably be gone by now.
But she wonders what her father was doing there? Was he also like the previous ones who tried to get the sword? A big question for her too was where her mother was?
"Are you okay, Love?"
Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice she was already in front of her room.
"I'm fine. I'm just tired. This is my first fight, so I guess my strength was drained."
The young man brushed a few strands of hair from her face. "You need to rest for a few days before we embark again on finding those who can help us."
"No," she objected. "We need to act as soon as possible, Doc. I don't want us to waste any more time because many lives will be in danger."
"B-but you said you're tired?"
"I am, but it doesn't mean that we need to stop for a while. The day after tomorrow, we will start finding the others. I need to find my mother, Fiel," she said sadly. Her negative emotions mixed, and she didn't know why.
The young man kissed her on the forehead before speaking. "You know I don't like seeing you like this, right?" the doctor asked her softly.
She didn't know why, but there was some magic in the young man's voice. His voice promises a thousand of happiness. She nodded as a response and gave him a deep sigh.
"Why?" he asked her again. Worry was etched on his handsome face.
"Nothing. Just don't mind me." She just smiled at him to reassure him somehow.
"Let's have a date?"
She blinked first before answering. "When?" She looked at him to make sure he was just joking, but his face was serious.
"Oh!" She slapped her forehead and smiled. She took the young man's hand and felt it.
"So, do you agree, my beloved Aurora?"
"With you? Fiel, tell me, who has the guts to resist your charm? Of course. When and where?"
A mischievous smile appeared on the doctor's lips.
"Tomorrow, I'll pick you up here. Where? Well, that's a surprise, my love, but I'll see to it that it will be a memorable night."
She was about to speak again when the young man suddenly vanished in front of her. The young man really knew her well. He knew she would just pester him, so he left immediately. She just smiled.
She was about to lie down when there was a knock on her door. She immediately went to the door and opened it for whoever was outside.
"How are you, Aurora, my daughter?"
She couldn't speak immediately but hugged him. The maiden's chest was filled with emotion.
"Papa, how are you? What happened to you?" She asked a series of questions.
"It's a long story, my child. I'm sorry, child, if we weren't with you as you grew up, and I hope you understand the situation. If we had a choice then, we would have preferred to be with you, but no parent would want to put their child in danger. Please forgive us."
She felt the suffering and pain in his voice. Even if he didn't ask for forgiveness, she accepted it because, truthfully, her parents hadn't done anything wrong.
She had no one to blame because they were all victims of time and circumstance.
"You have nothing to apologize for, Papa. No one wanted what happened, so it's better for us to forget the past because what's important now is the present. Where is Mother?"
"She is still held captive by Morgana. I didn't want to leave her, but I ventured to get the sword because that was the only way to fight Morgana. But my action was foolish; I didn't think of the consequences. I had no blessing from Ezral, so I almost got into trouble. I tried to get the sword and kill the guardian serpent, but I was already weak when I went to the cave, so I couldn't do anything, especially after I was bitten by the serpent and its venom spread through my body. I thought then that my life would end and my breath would be cut short, but the dear God still listened to my humble wish. I just wanted to see you before I breathed my last."