Chapter 141

Chapter 141
All she wanted was to be fought for.

I don’t want to look back anymore. I am physically, emotionally, and mentally drained. I am on the verge of bursting into so many emotions I’ve been trying to hold back.

I have lost enough.

Enough now, please?

“She’s resting now,” Randolf announced. There was a hint of relief in his voice. I could picture him smiling while staring at her peaceful face. “Finally…”

She’s finally free.

I heard Nigel cough heavily. The wounds he sustained from the enemies rushed back into my mind. I quickly stood and approached him. He was lying on the grass, staring at the sky.

A frail smile twisted on his dry lips as he looked up at me, gasping. There was still blood on the side of his eye—where his tears had flowed earlier.

He looked so vulnerable.

I bit my arm and lent him some of my blood. Though it went against his will, he couldn’t resist the scent. I was also drained, but he needed it more.

I could still bear it. I barely fought, unlike them.

“Thank you, Nigel,” I told him.

“S-shit. Sorry...” he muttered, as though suddenly snapping back to reality.

I shook my head and wiped the blood off his face. As soon as his body accepted my blood, his wounds slowly healed, and the red in his eyes returned to its intense hue.

When I finished helping him, I went over to Erikson. He was sitting with his eyes closed, cuts all over his arms, face, and body. But I noticed—he wasn’t healing.

I offered my blood.

He grabbed my arm to stop me.

“Don’t,” he said, sitting up and shaking his head. “You’re also exhausted, Astra. If you keep giving blood, you’ll weaken.”

I know that well—but I don’t care anymore.

“Save it—”

“I’d rather run out of blood than lose another one,” I cut him off, slowly bringing my arm closer to his mouth. “Take my blood, Mr. Nadija.”

“Astra—”

“Take my fucking blood!” My lips trembled. I gasped and steadied myself. “You’re right. I’m tired. But not because of giving blood. I’m tired of losing people!”

A little drop of blood wouldn’t kill me. It would make me weaker, sure—but I wouldn’t die from it. Unlike Erikson, whose body was visibly failing.

“Please?” I pleaded.

He couldn’t refuse me. Unlike Nigel, Erikson controlled himself. He only took a little blood—but it was enough for his wounds to start healing.

I smiled as his injuries faded. I exhaled in relief.

“T-thank you, Astra...”

“You did great, Erikson. Thank you.”

I stood and turned to Oscar. He stood still, expressionless. There was no emotion in his eyes—but that didn’t mean he wasn’t feeling anything.

He was holding it all in.

I wanted to be angry at him—for not fighting for Celeste, for giving her up too easily. I wanted to blame him because she never felt loved in return by the only man she ever truly loved.

I wanted to blame him for taking away the only thing she asked for.

“Why are you here? Where are the others?” I asked instead.

He looked at me—and I gasped. It felt like he wasn’t seeing me at all. Like he didn’t recognize me. I couldn’t even remember what his eyes used to look like.

Was I still looking at the Oscar I once knew?

“Brix asked me to help you here.” Even his voice sounded strange. “I think I’m a little late. I only managed to help Mr. Wenson. I couldn’t help the rest of you.”

That confirmed my fear.

“What did you say?” I asked.

“I will escort you out of this castle. I’ll make sure no one else gets hurt,” he said blankly. “I have to return once I’ve ensured your safety.”

I stepped closer, hoping I had misheard him. I was exhausted. Maybe I misunderstood.

“Oscar...” I called him, wishing he would laugh, say I’d been fooled—that he was a clone sent by witches to trick us. “Why are you here again?”

He sighed heavily. “I was assigned to escort you safely out of the castle.”

That’s not what I wanted to hear.

“Guys...” Randolf called out. He was carrying Celeste in his arms. “Aren’t you leaving yet? I’ll go ahead. I need to place her somewhere safe.”

“Go on,” Oscar replied.

My lips parted. I couldn’t be wrong this time.

Randolf left with Celeste.

“Are you good now, Mr. Wenson? Mr. Nadija?” Oscar asked. “I have to escort you out so I can return.”

“Ask Astra, Lord Oscar,” Erikson groaned.

Oscar turned to me. “Are you good now?”

Instead of feeling annoyed, I felt... sad.

“Astra?” he repeated.

It felt like he was already drifting away.

I nodded slightly. “Y-yeah...”

“Good. Let’s go.”

He walked past me. I could only watch as he walked away.

“I’m sorry...” I whispered.

I had no idea what was going on inside his head.

Maybe full of regret.

Probably a sea of what-ifs.

I knew what went wrong—he ran out of time.

The love left unspoken would haunt him for the rest of his life.

Her death cursed him.

“He needs time,” Erikson came up to me. “Things happened too fast.”

Time? I don’t think so.

Time can’t undo this.

This... this is something even time can’t change.

Oscar didn’t look back. It felt like the moment we lost her, we lost him, too.

“Let’s go?” Nigel offered.

We hadn’t walked far when I felt a sudden chill. I shuddered, gasping loudly. I grabbed Erikson’s arm as my chest pounded.

What’s happening?

My chest—it hurt. Like being stabbed by a thousand swords. Right where I couldn’t take it. Right where it could kill me.