CHAPTER 17: The Night’s Wanderer

That night, Kaziel lay stretched out on a crumbling slab of concrete, his hand resting behind his head as he absentmindedly took another bite of the mango in his grasp.

The faint mist drifted through the ruins, slowly swallowing the remnants of blood from the Greeds he had just slain. The eerie silence made the world feel hollow, as if time had abandoned this place.

But Kaziel’s thoughts weren’t on the ruined land—they lingered elsewhere.

He recalled the heated conversation with Anna just before nightfall.

"What?! Are you seriously thinking of inviting a stranger? What if she turns on us?! Strong is one thing, but do you really think we can trust someone that easily?!"

Kaziel, listening patiently, had only chuckled.

"Well, you had business with the Femilir Tribe, right? Something about your little ‘hobby’? It’s not my problem to keep up with, so I decided to explore a bit. And what do you know? I found something… interesting."

Anna had been furious.

"Yeah, ‘explore.’ More like ditching me to have fun slaying Greeds again! You weren’t even collecting the Enhanced Sapphire Heart like you were supposed to!"

Before he could defend himself, Anna had ordered her raven to peck at his head.

"Ow! Ow! But it’s true! The Enhanced Sapphire Heart is here—I swear!"

That argument had ended there.

Now, back in the present, Kaziel sat up, staring at the sky—or at least, what little of it remained.

A vast, dark emptiness. Fog. Hollowness.

"Not much of a view in this place, huh…" he murmured.

Then—a voice.

"You’re… still here?"

Kaziel turned, slightly amused at the tone of disbelief.

Maika stood a few feet away, her gaze flickering between him and the scattered remains of the Greeds he had just taken down.

It was obvious.

He fought them all—alone. Again.

Kaziel suddenly jumped down from his perch, landing effortlessly before strolling up to her with an easygoing smile.

"I was bored, so I had a little fun," he said casually.

Maika studied him carefully, still trying to figure him out. There was something off about this man—someone who smiled while surrounded by blood and ruins.

"I told you to leave."

Kaziel’s playful air dimmed slightly. His eyes softened with a quiet concern.

"But why don’t you leave?" he asked, his tone unexpectedly serious. "What’s keeping you here? You’re not obligated to stay, are you?"

Maika’s fists clenched. "It’s none of your business.. I want to stay."

Kaziel fell silent, watching her.

Then, his lips curved slightly.

"Really? You want to stay?"

Maika’s green eyes flickered up to him. "Yes. This is my home. My land. You’re the one trespassing here."

She tilted her head, her gaze sharp. "That makes you a thief. A robber. You should be feeling guilty."

At that, Kaziel blinked. Then—he smirked.

"A robber, huh? Does a robber get politely asked to leave? Sounds like a pretty bad one if you ask me."

His teasing tone made Maika frown.

"H-huh…?" she murmured in slight confusion.

Kaziel folded his arms. "That means you really are alone here, huh?"

Then, his smirk widened.

"Well, if that’s the case, then I guess it makes it easier for me to rob your place."

Maika’s brows knitted together. "What?"

"For example… I already stole some mangoes."

Her expression twitched.

She narrowed her eyes. "You stole my mango?"

Kaziel let out a nervous laugh. "A-ah… n-not exactly?"

He was horrible at lying.

Maika deadpanned. "You’re not very good at lying."

Kaziel winced. "...That actually hurt my pride a little."

Letting out a sigh, he finally relented. "Fine. I’m sorry. I was hungry."

Maika remained quiet, still watching him—still unsure what to make of him.

Kaziel stole a glance at her. She was hesitating.

Then, after a moment, she finally spoke.

"Would you… like to eat other fruits instead?"

Her voice was quieter, more reserved. There was a hint of reluctance, but also an unfamiliar warmth.

Kaziel’s gaze flickered with amusement.

Then—he smiled.

"Yeah. Sure."

The garden was quiet, nestled in the shadow of twisted, ancient trees. Their gnarled branches stretched toward the dark sky, standing as silent witnesses to the ruin that had swallowed this land.

"..This is where I usually grow trees."

Maika’s voice was soft as she glanced around, searching for a suitable spot.

Kaziel trailed behind her, his sharp blue eyes studying the area. "You seem to know a lot about Elyssence." He mused, hands tucked in his coat pockets. "Most think of it as a healing ability, but it’s clearly more than that."

Crouching down, Maika pressed her palms against the soil. Elyssence pulsed beneath her fingertips, spreading like a ripple through the ground. A faint, glowing pattern formed beneath her as the energy took root.

"This land was once blessed," she murmured. "It was meant to be fertile for eternity, ever since the late Divine Oneness walked upon it. But now, it's only cursed."

Kaziel listened intently.

"I've heard the curse can't be undone," he said.

Maika shook her head. "It’s possible."

As if to prove her point, the ground trembled gently beneath them. Within seconds, a tree rose from the earth—its leaves lush and vibrant, its branches bending under the weight of golden pears.

Kaziel’s gaze flickered with genuine amazement.

She did this without using a Sapphire Heart?

Most Elyssian magic users relied on Sapphire Hearts to amplify their abilities, yet Maika carried none.

A smirk tugged at his lips. "You sure you’re not hiding a Sapphire Heart somewhere?" he teased.

Maika’s expression remained unreadable.

"No. This is just a light ability I used."

She glanced down, her fingers fidgeting slightly, as if the words carried more weight than she let on.

Kaziel chuckled. "You’re really talented. Maybe you should teach me how to use Elyssence, too."

At those words, Maika froze.

For a brief moment, her mind flickered back—to another time, another voice.

"Maika, teach me too!"
"You’re amazing, Maika!"
"How do you do it?"

The girls.

Their voices—gone.

Her fingers tightened against her sleeves, but before Kaziel could notice, he changed the subject.

"Ahh… these pears look delicious."

Maika glanced at the tree, her thoughts snapping back to the present.

"Which one do you want?" she asked.

Kaziel pointed at a random fruit.

She followed his gaze, eyes settling on a pear that hung just out of reach. Tiptoeing, she stretched her hand up, her fingers barely brushing the skin of the fruit.

Kaziel watched quietly.

To him, it wasn’t that high.

Yet as he observed her small frame struggling to reach, realization struck him.

She’s really… small.

A gentle smile crossed his face before he easily plucked the fruit from the branch.

"There. Got it."

Maika paused.

A strange feeling bubbled inside her chest. In that moment, she felt like the shortest person in the world.

Her pout deepened, frustration flickering across her face as her expression hardened—disappointed in herself.

“You… can have it.”

Kaziel chuckled at her reaction. Without a word, he reached up again, plucking another pear.

"Here. One for you too." He offered it to her.

Maika hesitated for only a second before taking it.

Kaziel then studied her quietly. "You’re pretty small and fragile." He smirked. "I wouldn’t be surprised if all you’ve been eating these past years are just fruits."

Lifting a hand, he hovered it above her head as if measuring her height.

"Yes."

Kaziel froze.

"Wait. Seriously?" He lowered his hand, looking genuinely shocked. "Just fruits? No wonder you're tiny! You don’t get sick?"

Maika’s fingers curled slightly around the pear, her gaze lowering.

"I see… so that's why." The realization settled in as she mumbled to herself.

Kaziel raised an eyebrow. "You’re just figuring this out now?" He let out a sigh. "You need real food. You can’t just survive off fruit forever."

Maika turned away slightly, her shoulders stiff. "You don’t need to worry about me."

"Of course, I do," Kaziel argued, arms crossing over his chest. "I can't imagine how you've been living here alone. You’re strong, sure, but what happens if something goes wrong?"

She didn’t answer.

His words lingered, pressing against her thoughts like an unbearable weight.

"You don’t have to talk like you know everything about me."

Her voice was quiet but filled with something deeper—resentment, doubt.

Kaziel uncrossed his arms.

"That’s not what I meant." His voice softened. "I just think… maybe it’s time you realize you need to take care of yourself too."

Maika’s hands clenched.

"I don’t care about myself at all."

Her words stopped him in his tracks.

She kept her gaze on the ground, as if the weight of her thoughts was too heavy to lift.

"I was made to be thrown away. Abandoned. I’ve met people—people who died because of me. I can’t love myself… not after what I’ve done."

Kaziel’s expression hardened.

She suddenly looked up, her eyes sharp with anger.

"Stop talking like you know everything! After all… you’re just an outsider!"

The words cut deep.

Kaziel’s hand twitched.

"…An outsider."

A small, bitter chuckle escaped his lips.

Maika’s breath hitched at his bitter chuckle as she snapped,

"You don’t belong here. Trash like you never do."

She hadn’t meant to say it. But the words—the very ones the Warden had always hurled at her—slipped out before she could stop them.

And they hit him harder than they ever had her.

Kaziel went still.

For a long moment, neither of them moved.

Maika’s fingers flew to her lips, her eyes widening, regret crashing over her like a tidal wave.

"I…"

She looked at him—and froze.

Kaziel wasn’t angry.

But he looked wounded.

And behind her—

Shadows stirred.

Kaziel’s sharp gaze flicked past her just in time to see the Greed begin to form.

Maika’s emotions—her despair, her self-loathing—had taken shape.

"Then… I guess I can’t be your friend either. So please leave already."

Her voice was hollow as she walked past him, leaving him alone to face the monster.

Kaziel let out a slow breath.

The Greed fully manifested in front of him.

He pulled his sword from its sheath, but his mind was somewhere else.

A memory.

A distant past—his childhood.

His little brother beside him. Their hands covered in dirt, a shadowy figure saying the same words

"You don’t belong here. Trash like you never do."

The words echoed—the same words Maika had just said.

Kaziel’s eyes darkened.

The Greed snarled, but he was already moving.

A flash of silver.

The night filled with the sound of slashing Greeds.

Meanwhile, Maika sat alone in the chamber, arms wrapped around her knees.

Regret.

Kaziel had been kind. But kindness was dangerous.

She couldn’t afford to lose someone again.

And so, she would keep herself locked away—just as she always had.

The next day, she went up to the surface.

He was gone.

Maika let out a sigh—somewhere between regret and relief. Part of her felt lighter knowing he wasn’t here anymore, yet a lingering sadness clung to her, gnawing at the edges of her thoughts.

It was her fault.

“Then… I guess I can’t be your friend either. So please leave already.”

The words echoed in her mind, hollow and heavy. She had pushed him away, and now, he was truly gone.

Her gaze lingered on the empty space where he once stood, as if expecting his figure—his smile—to still be there. But there was nothing. Just the silence he left behind.

She clenched her hand against her chest, forcing herself to swallow the ache.

"It will be gone soon… I’ve been through worse."

With that, she turned away and made her way back to the field, trying to bury the feeling along with the past.

As she surveyed the land, she noticed it—the Greeds were spawning again, rising from the earth, their twisted forms now trampling over the garden she had once nurtured.

A sigh escaped her lips. With a flick of her wrist, she summoned her sword.

"It’s happening again… They just keep appearing these days."

She had a feeling.

Last night, when he stood behind her, there was something in his eyes—something that told her he had figured it out. He knew.

She was the reason the Greeds existed.

Born from her despair, they manifested endlessly, a cycle she couldn’t seem to break. Maybe that was why he left. Maybe, after realizing the truth, he could no longer stay.

But it didn’t matter anymore.

Pushing the thought aside, she stepped forward, sword in hand, and cut down the creatures without hesitation. The sharp hum of steel met flesh, the air filled with the sound of her relentless strikes.

She fought alone.

And this time, she would protect her garden with her own strength.