486 The Long Lost Tale Part XXXII * (1/2)

Alex was still there, kneeling as he held her in his arms. She was gone. His sun was no more. She would never shine again, leaving his world into total darkness forever.

He was broken, in and out. His complexion was ashen, so lifeless as if his heart and soul had died along with her.

The blazing furnace continued eating the castle, but the chaos didn't even bother Alex anymore. He couldn't hear anything. He would no longer care even if the world would crumble right then and there.

After staring at her face for an immeasurable amount of time, Alex's hands moved, and he gently brushed the strands of hair away from her pale face. And then, he pulled her up and hugged her. His body shook as he cried, calling her name over and over again.

Zeres, who had just escaped the fire after confronting his mother, landed behind Alexander. Zeres was still bleeding. The futile confrontation he had had with the witch queen finally made him realize that his very own mother had lied to him. And he saw it with his own two eyes, how Alexander gave his everything to save Abigail, that Alexander was never here to kill her.

Clenching his fists, Zeres walked closer to them, dragging his wounded body. His eyes filled with nothing but grief and guilt, knowing that Abigail was dead. This all happened because of him, because he believed his mother's words. The girl he loved had died because of his betrayal, and he would never forgive himself for that.

He looked at the raging beast in the sky before his gaze fell to Alexander's shaking body. He too, wanted to hug her one last time, just one more time. But he felt like he didn't even deserve to touch her anymore. His regret and guilt were killing him.

After just standing there and watching Alexander's agony, Zeres noticed that the color of Alexander's skin had become greenish, indicating that the poison had already spread in his body and that he was now beyond saving.

However, when Zeres thought about Abigail, he moved again and crouched behind Alexander. Thinking about Abigail made Zeres realize that Abigail would definitely wish for this man to stay alive. He knew that if Abigail was around, she would definitely beg him to save Alexander. Thus, he decided to do it. This way, he could at least do something even though this will never be enough to atone for his sin.

Zeres knew about this poison because witches originally created this. He knew that Alex couldn't even feel his body anymore, so Zeres didn't hesitate to touch him. He placed his hands on the huge wound in his back as he closed his eyes.

A chant began to roll out from his lips, and green and silver light began to glow from his palm to Alexander's wound. Zeres frowned as he gritted his teeth, as if he was in pain. Alexander was supposedly beyond saving, but there was a spell powerful enough to save him. But like all of the powerful spells, this would also require something huge in return – the life of the spellcaster.

The green and silver glow intensified. Alexander still didn't notice anything. He was still numbed, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

As the raging rain and fire fell around them, the green and silver glow from Zeres' hands seemed to have exploded before it slowly disappeared.

Alexander's skin was back to its normal pale color, but Zeres' skin turned greenish. The poison had been transferred to him.

Utterly weakened, Zeres' forced himself to stand and quickly left. He didn't want Alexander to see him. He hid behind a wall and fell on his knees. He sat and leaned on the wall, smiling bitterly as he clutched his chest. 'What a damn fate.' He murmured as he closed his eyes. 'I'm sorry, Abigail. But no… don't ever forgive me.'

Zeres didn't know that Alexander had seen him leave. Alexander could feel his body again, and he saw his wounds had healed. But that didn't even make him feel a little better. He just stared at the wall where Zeres had disappeared from for a long while before he looked at Abigail again.

He was swallowed entirely by nothing but pain and agony. His tears wouldn't roll down, and no sound could even escape from his lips anymore.