Chapter 31 : So I set out to Fix My Mistake

I arrive at the main gate of the palace. It's already night. I jump from the chariot. Guards already have opened the gate. I run inside of the palace. Lukemir is standing in front of me with an expression of despair. He says something, but I don't pay any attention. I run past him. 

There is a crowd at the door of Vaelya's room. Servants and maids quickly stand aside after seeing me. I run inside.

Please God, let Vaelya be safe. I have many things to tell her. Please God, let her be...

Vaelya is sitting on her bed. Vaelya becomes surprised and says, "Agni Why are you..." I hug Vaelya and say, "You are safe. Thank God. You are safe."

"Agni, you are breaking my bones." Vaelya says with a suffocating voice. 

I quickly release her from the hug. She gasped for air. I say, "Sorry, Vaelya. I got information that an assassin from the Sanctus Dominion would sneak into the palace, and... I guess that information was false." "No, that information is true." Vaelya says with a serious voice. I say with confusion, "What did you mean by that? Oh! That means you defeated that Assassin? Ah! I guess I was worried for nothing. You are Vaelya after all." 

Vaelya lowers her head. She is crying! I ask, "What happened, Vaelya?" Vaelya says with a tearful voice, "Why am I this weak, Agni? Why? After my father died protecting me, I trained myself every day to protect the weak. But the irony is, I am still a weak girl who can't even protect herself. And irony didn't stop there. Those who are weaker than me are now about to die because they were protecting me. Tell me why, Agni? Why can't I protect anyone? Why can't I protect myself? If I could protect myself, my father would still be alive. And they wouldn't get hurt today." 

My body becomes cold. I say, "What happened, Vaelya? Who are they?" Vaelya says, "Eight guards, Nordial, Ferminaka. They got hurt protecting me. And Eriei..." I ask, "What happened to Eriei?" Vaelya says, "He took her away." I say, "What! Who took her?" Vaelya replies, "Ronvil. The one whose life you spared in Norheim's auction house."

I can feel my blood boiling inside. I say, "Tell me everything, Vaelya."

From what Vaelya told me. 

This morning, Ronvil sneaked into the palace and attacked some guards. He tortured them to tell the whereabouts of Vaelya. But they didn't say anything. But hearing all the noise, Vaelya came to see what was happening. Then he attacks Vaelya. He was more powerful than last time. He soon overpowered Vaelya. He was about to kill Vaelya, but Nordial interfered. Nordial fought Ronvil until he had his senses. When Nordial lost his senses, he was covered with blood. Then Ferminaka came to protect Vaelya. But she didn't have a chance against him. After that Ronvil tried to kill Vaelya. Suddenly Eriei came there wearing the black suit of Vaelya. Eriei introduced herself as Vaelya and asked Ronvil why he was attacking her maids and servants. Eriei also mocked Ronvil that he didn't even recognize the body double of Vaelya. Eriei told Ronvil that her beloved Agni made a mistake by sparing Ronvil's life in the Elora Kingdom. 

That statement convinced Ronvil that Eriei was the actual Vaelya. Ronvil attacked Eriei. Eriei fought hard but eventually got overwhelmed. Since Ronvil thought Eriei was one of the Black Demons, he took her alive to the Sanctus Dominion. 

Vaelya's demon blood completely healed her body before evening. Eight guards, Nordial and Ferminaka, are in serious condition now. Nordial may not live.

After hearing everything, I am feeling someone inside me wants to tear my body apart. I always respect the events of my ancestors and try to learn from them. But I made the same mistake that Yudhishthir made by sparing the life of Jaydrath. That outcome ends up with the death of Abhimanyu. And in my case, the outcome ends up with risking the lives of the people I want to protect.

Vaelya says with a tearful voice, "If I wasn't weak, this wouldn't have happened. Everything is my fault." I clench my fist and say, "No, Vaelya. This is my fault. And I'll fix this. Wait here; I'll be back after seeing Nordial and Ferminaka." I walk to the door and stop. I turn around and say, "No. I'll meet them after fixing my mistake and coming back with the price of their pains."

Vaelya says, "What will you do, Agni?" I say, "I'll bring back Eriei. Vaelya, open the portal to the Demon Realm." 

I lock the door. Vaelya opens the portal. We enter the portal. After arriving in the Demon Realm, Vaelya tells the gatekeepers to open a portal near the Sanctus Dominion. They are surprised but obey Vaelya's order. 

I say, "Wait here, I'll be back with Eriei." Vaelya says, "I am coming with you, Agni." I say, "No, Vaelya. You should...." Vaelya interrupts me and says, "You can't carry her while fighting. And who will open the portal when you return with her? Let me come with you, Agni." She is right. Vaelya again says, "Eriei protected me. Let me do this for her." I say, "Let's go, Vaelya. Let's bring Eriei back." Vaelya says with a smile, "Yes, Agni." We enter the portal.

We find ourselves in the middle of a city. Two middle-aged men see us coming through the portal. They get scared and run away. 

So this is the capital city of the Therian Kingdom. Where everything started. The city itself isn't special or anything. Average houses, roads. The king isn't very concerned with the capital city, I guess. We hardly find anyone walking on the road. The city is covered with silence. Seems like the city is sleeping. 

Vaelya points to a white building far ahead and says, "See that tall white building? That's the fortress of the Sanctus Dominion." I say, "Let's pay them a visit." 

We start walking towards the fortress of the Sanctus Dominion.