Raziah’s eyes widened as she reached out to feel if the Witch was still alive when she noticed Kath’s body was dissolving into sand.
Two seconds and a small pile of sand sat in front of the Princess. The witch’s words kept repeating itself inside Raziah’s head, and she just stood there rooted to her spot. She had questions that needed answering, and she would not rest until they get to the bottom of this.
It was till someone took a handful of the sand and stared hard at it that she stirred a little. Bell had arrived to take a look at the situation, and as he stared at the sand he noticed something about it, "It seems she was already dying before she came here. Her powers had weakened, and she died off and turned into dust," He deduced and stood back to his feet.
As soon as he had arrived, Bell had read the minds of a few witches present in the scene and now knew what had went down. He also knew the words Raziah and the woman had exchanged. Kathryn had been one of the most powerful witches present in the witch’s Forest and he had once considered making her one of his close people.
But it seems she had strayed out of line. She was one of those witches that could leave the Amethyst Forest and return anytime at will. He does keep an eye on as many witches outside the forest as he can, but even the power of his eyes has limits. Kathryn too must have been careful enough to not get caught all this time.
What confused him about the woman was how she had gotten weak. It feels as if something had sucked most of her life energy away. No wonder she couldn’t put up much of a fight against Raziah and was easily defeated.
"Are you alright?" He faced Raziah, noticing the wound on her shoulder. With a simple wave of his hand around the area, the injury closed up leaving the area smooth again.
"Caius?!" Fabia said frantically from behind them, looking around with urgency and worry in her eyes, "Where is Caius?!"
.
.
Caius stood up to his feet, dusting his clothes. Everyone had gone speechless when he had spoken, and Tatiana pulled away from Aragon wondering how he had gotten here in the first place.
Caius walked up to Aragon like it was something he did everyday. He stood directly in front of the King and shook his head with pity, "Miserable. That’s what the both of you are." He stated ever so calmly then added, "We might as well talk now. I’m supposed to just watch from afar but it’s getting out of hand,"
Aragon’s eyes finally moved to look at the boy. There wasn’t an atom of fear in his dull-looking eyes. The eyes Aragon was familiar with were brown twinkling irises, not dull ones that had no light in them. Caius seemed like a completely different person now. Infact his aura was kind of explosive and dominating just like Aragon’s.
"You might as well excuse us," Caius looked at Tatiana this time, "Head back to the palace. I will bring him back in one piece,"
Tatiana’s eyes narrowed at the bizarre child that now spoke like an adult. She didn’t trust him being alone with Aragon who was looking so vulnerable at the moment, "No, I will not allow..."
"Excuse us, Tati," Aragon said to her.
She turned to him, "Your Majesty!" She exclaimed, eyes trembling, "I cannot just leave you alone with him."
"Head back to the palace, all of you. I’ll join you soon," He mumbled.
"But..."
"When did you suddenly start seeing me as some weak man?" He gritted in a low growl that had her taking a step back, "I can take care of myself by myself, so I’ll advise you to leave. Take everyone and head back to the palace!" He snapped at her dangerously, right before he took in a deep breath to calm his nerves, "Don’t worry about me, and just go," He groaned this time.
Tatiana nodded, even though she wasn’t fully convinced. She glanced at Caius, then turned and left. In a few minutes, she and the rest of the warriors were out of sight.
Aragon and Caius stood alone in the middle of the battlefield. Once they were sure there wasn’t any sign of a human close by that could listen or walk into their conversation, Caius broke the heavy and tensive silence surrounding them, "I do not understand you humans. No matter how strong you seem to be, your emotions always break you down."
Aragon looked at Caius through the strands of hair that had fallen over his face, "And what do you want?"
"I want to see what’s inside of you." Caius replied nonchalantly, "The beast that resides in you."
Aragon’s eyes narrowed at the boy.
"I’ve been well aware that you alone do not own that body. Well, I guess since you were born with it it belongs to you, but there’s something else in there living rent-free. That’s the being I came here to speak with. The both of you." Caius replied, folding his arms.
Aragon breathed, focusing all his attention on the child, "And How are you so sure about this?"
"Let’s just say... Just as he’s watching over you, I’m watching over her."
Aragon went quiet for a minute, his eyes closed. It didn’t even seem like he was breathing the whole time, but his body would grow tense and then calm down again. The silence of the night was so loud, even the occasional wind that usually came around had stopped. Nothing moved. No sound was made. Nothing could be heard.
"So, you also live rent-free in the body of a child," Aragon’s lips moved, but he wasn’t the one speaking. The voice was much deeper, a guttural sound that chilled to the core. It inspired fear and dominated the entire field they stood in.
"Rent-free?" Caius chuckled lightly, "This body is dying, almost dead infact. The doctor thinks her medicine still works, humans are pitiful creatures," He shook his head again.
"So, What did you want to see me for?"
"Both of you have become one, I see. I wonder what kind of creature you’ll turn out to be." Caius paused, "I’ll assume no one close to you can change your mind, so I’ll be the one to do it. Go and see her before you go berserk or turn into dust."
Aragon’s eyes twisted, but he managed to hold on. The next time he spoke, both his normal voice and the deeper one said in unison, "I already made up my mind, she can do whatever she wants,"
Caius glanced at Aragon’s fists. The veins of his arm were Popping out and he had plunged his claws into his palms, the edges piercing out through the other side and dripping blood. His knuckles had turned white like his skin was about to tear from the tension, "Are you sure your mind is made up? I do not think your heart agrees with it," Caius replied, getting a bit serious.
"It will keep suffering till it begins to listen!" He deadpanned, eyes getting red.
"And you alone feel the pain. I wonder how long you can hold on to your sanity, and I’m predicting you won’t last another week," Caius stepped closer to Aragon who was breathing hard, "The both of you, Aragon Odysseus, you need to really make up your mind. I will not tell you what’s really going on. You should be able to see it once you find her yourself."
"Whatever is going on is none of my business!" An image of some man getting married to Raziah flashed in his mind.
"I wouldn’t say that if I were you." Caius had gotten very close now. He was not more than two steps from Aragon, then fearlessly reached out and touched him on the leg. Caius closed his eyes like he was trying to reach into the king’s heart. The silent air was then cut off by a warm breeze that passed by, "You’re not alone...Do not be afraid to take that step. Reach out, don’t keep it in. Stop being... selflessly selfish,"
And those words struck a chord in the King. He could see a figure in front of him, someone that looked exactly like him with Ash eyes, smiling softly with his hands on Aragon’s shoulders, "You can always talk to me. Don’t be selflessly Selfish about what you feel or want the most,"
Aragon’s eyes widened as he recalled Elliot’s words. His mind was pondering, he felt torn, he felt alone and cold to the wind.
"I cannot go back to her!" Both voices burst out, sadness and pain lacing their tone, "She doesn’t want me there. She hates me!"
"You should not jump to conclusions. You haven’t gone there and heard her tell you that herself now, have you?!"
"Raziah Octavius doesn’t want me there. I know her enough to know this! She badly wanted to leave me, she would do anything to leave Erandell. I know what I’m saying!!"
"You do not understand!"
"I do. I am telling you this!"
"And here I am telling you still go and see her. Put your feelings first! Speak with her! If you want her so badly, compete with her! Let her know you love her as much as she hates you! Let her know you miss her as much as she doesn’t want to see you! Let her know you will hold her as tightly as she would want to push you away! If you do not make that clear to her if you do not fight for what you love, then Why are you even a King in the first place? Who the hell are you?!" Caius spat out with fire burning in his eyes.
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