CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT: BURDEN

The underground dungeon of Aquarius Castle was dark and eerie. Damp stone walls sagged beneath old spider webs, and torches hung along the corridor at wide intervals, their weak flames casting long, crooked shadows that made the passage seem almost haunted.

“Gah! Where in the hell is the freakin’ exit?” Kazuo threw his hands up in frustration.

They had been walking for hours. Every corner led into another passage, every passage into another dead end. Eventually, the three men grew tired of moving in circles and decided to stop for a brief rest.

To Kazuo’s right stood Guy, sweating heavily as he struggled to catch his breath. One hand pressed tightly against his chest. The Black Stone Shinji had given him back in the cell had begun to wear off nearly two hours ago.

Guy glanced at his wristwatch.

Only one hour left.

When his vision had started to blur and split into two, he had finally admitted he needed to stop.

“You all right there?” Shinji asked, concerned plain in his voice.

After Guy had taken the Black Stone, Shinji had used a moderate amount of chi to heal most of the man’s wounds. Unfortunately, the deep injury across Guy’s chest still required proper treatment. Shinji had managed to close the outer layers, but the wound itself remained serious.

“I’m fine,” Guy coughed. “Or rather, I’d like to say I’m fine… but I know you two won’t fall for that.”

“Take it easy, bud. No need to force yourself.” Kazuo patted his friend lightly on the back. Throughout their escape, he had been the one supporting Guy the most, shielding him whenever necessary while Shinji led the way and kept watch for unwanted company.

Letting out a sigh, Kazuo turned to their leader, who was pressing the button on the communication wristwatch, Kazuo’s own, handed over after Shinji’s had been destroyed by the mad King.

“No luck with the Princess?” Kazuo asked.

“Nothing.” Shinji exhaled sharply. “I don’t understand. We managed to contact Mika not too long ago. Is this thing broken?”

“Or maybe it’s the signal,” Guy suggested. “The deeper we go, the harder it is to maintain contact. We are deep underground, after all.”

“Damn. Isn’t there a way through this place? Can’t you just break the walls or something, Shinji?”

“I’ll try,” Shinji rose to his feet.

Raising his hands, he began gathering his chi. Suddenly he spun and released the small burst he had formed towards the western shadows.

“Show yourself.”

“As sharp as ever, Lord Shinji.”

A short figure stepped slowly out from the darkness.

All three men immediately went on guard.

Shinji raised his gun and aimed directly at the intruder’s chest. Kazuo summoned his chained sickle and moved protectively in front of Guy. Then his eyes widened.

“YOU!” Kazuo growled. “You’re that son of bitch who nearly got us killed!”

Zero stopped a few steps away from them. His partner, Lisa, appeared behind him as if she had risen straight from the shadows.

“I’m honoured you still remember me,” Zero replied calmly. “However, it wasn’t me who tried to kill you. Have you forgotten?”

“Shut yer trap, bastard!”

Kazuo lunged, but before he could take another step Shinji caught his arms and yanked him backwards.

“Stop. What are you doing?”

“Giving that bastard everything he deserves!”

Shinji tightened his grip and hissed sharply into his ear. “Idiot. Don’t you remember what happened last time?”

The memory flashed through Kazuo’s mind:

The forest. Zero catching Shinji’s bullets between his fingers. The speed that had overwhelmed them. The moment Mika had turned into a berserk Spirit and nearly killed them all.

Kazuo stopped struggling. He shoved Shinji aside and stepped back, though his eyes remained fixed on Zero with open hatred.

Meanwhile, Zero seemed utterly uninterested in the tension between the two men. His gaze slid past them and settled on Guy.

“I can help you heal that wound.”

“Take one more step and you’re a dead man,” Shinji growled. “Got a name, midget?”

“Zero,” The young man jerked his thumb towards the woman beside him. “This is Lisa.”

“If you’re looking for Mika, she’s not here,” Guy muttered, trying to remain upright despite the pain.

“Oh, I know,” Zero said. “I know exactly where she is.”

Shinji narrowed his eyes.

Zero tilted his head slightly towards Lisa.

She nodded. In the blink of an eye she vanished, then reappeared directly in front of Guy.

“Stay away from him! GUY!”

Kazuo tried to move.

He couldn’t. His feet had sunk into the ground like quicksand. Even Shinji’s expression tightened.

Guy remained frozen in shock. Instinctively his grip tightened on his spear, ready to counterattack, but Shinji’s warning glance stopped him. Behind him, Zero held a thin needle against his back, positioned with unnerving precision over his heart.

Guy stayed perfectly still. His spear slipped from his hand and clattered to the floor.

Lisa placed her palm against the wound in his chest. A soft white glow spread from her hand. Within seconds the light sank into the wound itself.

“Gah!” Guy gasped.

“Don’t you dare touch him! Guy!” Kazuo struggled desperately to free himself, but the more he fought, the deeper his legs sank.

“What’s she doing to him?” Shinji demanded.

“She’s healing him,” Zero replied calmly. “Can’t you see?”

Sure enough, the deep wound on Guy’s chest began closing before their eyes. In less than a minute it vanished completely, leaving not even the faintest scar.

Lisa stepped back.

With a snap of Zero’s fingers, Kazuo was suddenly free again and the needle disappeared from behind Shinji.

Lisa returned to stand beside her Captain in the blink of an eye.

“Why did you heal me?” Guy asked quietly, still catching his breath.

“Because I need all of you alive,” Zero replied.

“Why?” Shinji asked.

Zero let out an annoyed sigh. “Do we really want to waste time with explanations instead of finding our way out of this maze?”

“I’ve got time.” Shinji reloaded his gun. “And bullets. Now talk.”

“You say that,” Zero smirked, folding his arms, “but you’re not really trying.”

“The Princess plays an important role in a missing puzzle. Which is why I need her to remain strong emotionally and physically — for what’s coming.”

“What puzzle?” Guy asked.

Zero tilted his head slightly.

“Of course… now that she has finally regained her long-lost memories, there is little left for me to worry about.”

Silence fell instantly.

Shinji froze.

His eyes widened.

“What… Did you say?”

Kazuo stepped forward and grabbed Shinji by the shoulder.

“Shinji—”

“What did you say?” Shinji repeated, his voice turning cold.

“TELL ME!”

Zero watched with faint amusement as Shinji’s composure cracked.

“You’re scared, aren’t you?”

“He’s messing with ye,” Kazuo growled. “Don’t let him get into your head.”

Zero continued. “You’re terrified of the day her memories return. Terrified of explaining why you left her at the gates of Luyas.”

Shinji’s jaw clenched.

“Admit it. Part of you was relieved she forgot everything, because that made your burden just a little lighter.”

“Shut up…” Shinji muttered.

“After all,” Zero said calmly, “it was you who caused the Princess to lose her memories in the first place.”

“SHUT THE FUCK UP!”

Shinji raised his gun again, ready to pull the trigger, but Kazuo caught his wrist.

“It wasn’t your fault!” Kazuo snapped. “You did what ye had to do to protect her!”

“Is that the truth?”

The voice came from Guy.

He stared at Shinji with an unreadable expression.

“Is that true, Shinji? You’re the reason why Mika lost her memories?”

Shinji’s teeth remained clenched. Slowly, he lowered the gun.

His shoulders sagged.

“…Yes.”

Guy gasped softly and stared at him, his eyes narrowing.

“It happened three years after I found her trapped in the Enchanted Forest and brought her home to live with me. I was fifteen. Mika was twelve.”

****

“That day was supposed to be a peaceful one for both of us. For weeks we had been dragging ourselves through endless meetings and duties, so I brought her — along with a few guards — to our summer residence.”

Shinji exhaled slowly. “It was meant to be a quiet day… until one of the many assassins who wanted me dead managed to break through our security.”

He paused.

“He cornered me on the balcony of the mansion… together with Mika,” Shinji’s voice grew quieter.
“The guards who had been protecting us were already dead. The assassin had killed them all before reaching us. He was a professional — skilled, precise, and very good at what he did.”

Shinji sighed heavily.

“As my Chosen Apprentice, Mika had undergone training to protect me. That was her duty. She understood it well. But even before that, I gave her a choice.”

He looked at Guy.

“She could remain a Spirit Princess… or she could walk a far harsher path and become my Chosen Apprentice.”

Shinji lowered his gaze briefly.

“She chose to be the latter when she was nine. A year and a half later, after completing every test and trial, she officially became my Chosen Apprentice.” His voice hardened slightly. “Even at that age, she took her responsibility seriously. Mika was prepared to die protecting me.”

He lifted his eyes and met Guy’s hard stare.

“But I wasn’t.”

“I wasn’t willing to lose her. I couldn’t — and wouldn’t — allow anyone else, let alone a child, to die in my place. Never again.”

His jaw and fists tightened. “Not after Kai’s death.”

Shinji inhaled slowly.

“Mika had already become important to me. She was family. A companion. A friend. So instead of letting her protect me… I pushed her aside just as the assassin lunged at me with his dagger.”

For a moment, Shinji’s eyes darkened with memory.

“I truly thought that was the end.”

“But I forgot something.”

“Mika is a Spirit. A superior being with greater speed and reflexes than any human. In the blink of an eye — after I pushed her away — she bounced back…and took the blade.”

Guy gasped quietly.

Kazuo lowered his head, his fists tightening until his knuckles turned white. He remembered the aftermath all too well. He had not witnessed the attack himself, by then he had already walked away from Shinji and the White Wolf Clan after Kai’s death.

Across from them, Zero stood with his arms folded while Lisa covered her mouth in silent shock.

“When the dagger struck her, time seemed to stop,” Shinji continued quietly. “She staggered backwards… pulling the assassin with her. The two of them fell from the balcony.”

His voice dropped even lower.

“By the time I reached the ground, the assassin was already dead. Mika… was barely alive. Blood everywhere. She had struck her head when she fell.”

Shinji’s hands clenched.

“I had to do something. I gathered every ounce of chi I had and began healing her. I poured everything into that wound… not caring if it killed me.”

His eyes flickered.

“I would have died doing it… if someone hadn’t stopped me. My guardian at the time was Hiira. She arrived with her bodyguards the moment word spread that an assassin had attacked me. She pulled my hands away and took over healing Mika.”

Shinji paused. His voice softened.

“As I watched Mika lying there… barely breathing… a thought began to grow in my mind. What if another assassin came? What if she tried to protect me again? What if next time… I couldn’t save her?”

He closed his eyes briefly.

“Mika is a Spirit, yes… but she isn’t immortal. And I wasn’t strong enough to guarantee her safety.”

Shinji opened his eyes again.

“That was when I made my decision. I had to set her free from my world. To do that… I ordered Hiira to erase her memories.”

His voice remained steady.

“I took away everything she knew about her past, so she could build a new life. A stronger life. It was cruel. It was selfish. And I will carry that burden for the rest of my life. But it was the only way I knew to protect her. So that one day… when we meet again… we can stand as equals. Protecting each other. Not just her protecting me.”

Shinji exhaled slowly.

“My only condition was that she would remember her name and her identity as a Spirit. After that, I brought Mika to the gates of Luyas Castle myself. Then I waited. For the day we would meet again.”

Shinji looked down at his boots, a weary smile touching his lips.

For the first time, he had revealed the secret he had guarded for years. Strangely, the weight on his shoulders felt lighter.

Now all that remained was to see how the others would react.

“Shinji.”

Everyone turned towards Guy. His voice was quieter now.

“Were you ever planning to tell Mika the truth?”

“Of course.”

Shinji met him in the eyes.

“I was ready to tell Mika everything… but then Andania happened. I saw her world collapse in front of her, and I refused to let her break even further. I wanted her to grow stronger — emotionally and mentally — before facing the truth. When the Clan ordered me to take Mika to the Red Line… I believed it would be the perfect opportunity for her memories to return.”

Shinji lowered his gaze.

“I never expected it to happen like this. I’m sorry… for what I did to your little sister.”

Guy studied him for a long moment. Then, unexpectedly, he raised his hand and patted Shinji firmly on the shoulder.

“I get it.”

He nodded slowly. “I truly do. Your intention was always to protect her. We’re not that different, after all. If it wasn’t for you… I would never have met her. So thank you, Shinji.”

Shinji blinked in surprise.

He had expected anger. Perhaps even a punch.

Instead, Guy treated him like an ally.

Relief softened Shinji’s expression.

“Hey! Where do you think you two are going?”

Kazuo’s shout broke the moment.

Zero had already turned to leave. He stopped and glanced back at them.

“Our job here is done.”

“You said you could help us get out of here!” Kazuo snapped.

“Huh. Did I?” Zero smirked.

He raised one hand. A small blue flame appeared in his palm.

“This will guide you.”

He flicked the flame forward.

“Better follow it before you lose it,” Lisa chirped with a laugh. “See you, handsome boys!”

Then she vanished.

****

The next morning arrived with pale light spilling through the cave’s entrance.

Mika had woken early and had just finished packing their belongings. Beside her, the fire was dying out, leaving only faintly glowing embers.

While she busied herself with the supplies, Ren had stepped outside to conduct a brief surveillance, making sure no guards were lurking nearby.

After the heart-to-heart conversation they had shared the night before, the two of them had reached a temporary truce: they would keep each other safe until their mission was complete. Still, Ren had been noticeably more cautious around her since then.

Bracing herself against the cold, Mika stepped out of the cave and immediately shivered at the sudden drop in temperature.

The fierce blizzard and raging winds from the night before had subsided, but the air remained well below freezing.

Mika flinched as the icy wind brushed across her face and instinctively hugged herself.

A familiar voice called out.

“Morning, Your Royal Highness.”

Ren approached her with a faint smile.

“Good morning,” Mika replied. “Did you sleep well?”

“Yeah. Though it’s a bit cold today.”

“A bit? I’m freezing over here.”

“Well… I’m used to the weather here.”

Mika nodded. “Right. Any sign of uninvited guests?”

“None that I’ve seen,” Ren replied. “But I’ve set a few traps around the forest. If anyone comes near, we’ll know.”

“Good.”

They walked for a few more steps before Mika gradually slowed to a stop.

Her sudden pause made Ren turn around.

“What’s wrong?”

Mika met his gaze.

“About what you proposed last night… I thought about it. Long and hard.” She inhaled softly. “And I want to do it. No,” Mika corrected herself. “I would be honoured to assist.”

Ren stared at her for a moment, surprised. Then a wide grin spread across his face. He extended his hand.

Mika placed hers in it.

Ren bowed slightly and pressed a respectful kiss to the back of her hand.

“Then it will be my honour to fight alongside you, Your Highness.”

Mika returned the gesture with a serene smile and lowered her head politely.

“The pleasure is mine, Commandant,” Mika straightened and turned towards the snowy forest ahead.

“Let us go. We don’t have much time to waste,” Ren said. “The Huzzar will arrive tonight. There is much we need to prepare before then.”