Blood.
Blood.
Blood.
Everything was drowned in it.
The sky above had turned a deep, suffocating red, thick fog rising as if the air itself had been tainted. The ground beneath Kael was no longer earth—it was a lake of blood, stretching endlessly in every direction.
He knelt at its center.
The surface trembled faintly, reflecting his image back at him. His pale face. His hollow eyes. A stranger staring from within the crimson mirror.
Not far from him—
A flower.
The one left behind by Licht.
Its petals, once soft and luminous, were now stained dark red. The blood clung to it, weighing it down. It looked fragile, as if it might wither at any moment.
Kael reached out slightly—
But before his hand could move further—
His consciousness snapped.
-----------------------------------------
Warmth.
Pressure.
A trembling voice.
"…Kael…"
The world shifted violently.
The blood vanished.
The sky cleared.
Kael blinked.
He was no longer in the crimson void.
He was in someone's arms.
Elric.
She held him tightly, her arms wrapped around him as if she feared he might disappear if she let go. Her body trembled slightly.
"You made me worry…" she whispered, her voice breaking.
Her hand pulled him closer, pressing him against her.
Kael remained still.
His eyes moved slowly, adjusting to the familiar surroundings.
His room.
Delcra Castle.
Not the nightmare.
Not the blood.
Just reality.
Slowly, weakly, he lifted his hand and placed it against her back.
"…I'm sorry…" he whispered.
His voice was faint, barely audible.
Robert stood nearby, watching in silence. He didn't interrupt. He simply observed, relief softening his expression.
Kael was allowing someone else close.
That alone—
Was enough.
Elric slowly loosened her hold, just enough to look at him.
Her hands moved to his face, cupping his cheeks gently. Her thumb brushed against his skin, wiping away the faint traces of moisture there.
"You look tired…" she murmured. "I shouldn't have come when you're not fully stable…"
Kael's hand moved weakly, grasping her wrist.
His grip was fragile—but firm enough.
He closed his eyes and shook his head slowly.
"…No… Stay here…"
Elric softened.
Her fingers brushed through his hair gently, careful, soothing.
She glanced toward Robert and gave a subtle signal.
Robert understood immediately.
He nodded once and quietly stepped out of the room, closing the door behind him.
-----------------------------------------
Silence settled.
Kael leaned against Elric's shoulder, his body still heavy, his breathing uneven.
Elric didn't ask anything.
Not yet.
She remembered Robert's letter clearly—Kael had woken up, but he was the same as before. Quiet. Withdrawn. Pushing others away. Just like the first time he awoke after years of coma.
Fragile.
Lost.
Trying too hard.
Kael's gaze drifted toward the window.
The memory of what he had just seen lingered vividly in his mind.
The blood.
The sky.
The flower.
It was the first time he had entered that nightmare while being fully conscious.
It felt real.
Too real.
He closed his eyes, trying to push it away.
Elric felt the faint tremble in his hand.
Without hesitation, she tightened her hold around his fingers, grounding him—offering her warmth, her presence.
After a long silence—
Kael spoke.
"…What… actually happened… to me?"
His voice was weak.
Barely above a whisper.
Elric stiffened slightly.
So it was true.
He didn't remember.
Robert's words echoed in her mind.
She forced herself to stay calm.
"What's the last thing you remember?" she asked gently.
Kael's eyes shifted, trying to piece together fragments.
"…That night…" he murmured. "When we parted…"
He frowned slightly.
"I don't even remember falling asleep."
His voice held confusion—honest, unfiltered.
"I really don't know…"
Elric tightened her hold on his hand.
"It's alright," she said softly. "I'm here now. You're here."
Her voice was steady, grounding.
"Just like before… you don't have to force yourself to remember everything."
She knew.
He had suffered before—pushing himself to recall memories that refused to come.
Now, he was weaker.
More fragile.
Kael remained silent, leaning into her shoulder.
"…I'm making everyone worry…" he whispered after a moment.
His voice trembled.
"Being weak… being a burden…"
His fingers tightened slightly.
"I just…"
Elric didn't let him finish.
"You're not a burden, Kael," she said firmly, yet gently.
Her hand squeezed his.
"We love you. That's why we worry."
Her eyes softened as she looked at his pale hand resting in hers.
"So don't think like that."
Kael slowly lifted his head.
His eyes studied her face—carefully, quietly.
Up.
Down.
As if searching for something.
He blinked.
Elric tilted her head slightly, confused.
"Is something wrong with my face?" she asked with a small, awkward smile.
Kael hesitated.
Then—
His hand moved.
Slowly.
He placed it gently against her stomach.
Elric froze.
Surprised.
Kael parted his lips slightly.
"…You're not pregnant?"
Elric's eyes widened.
"…What?"
She blinked, completely caught off guard.
"What do you mean, pregnant?"
Kael tilted his head slightly, his expression oddly serious.
"…Last night… when we slept together…"
He trailed off, his ears faintly reddening.
Elric stared at him for a second.
Then—
She laughed.
A soft, genuine laugh that broke the tension instantly.
Kael looked at her, confused.
"You're really that innocent?" she teased, still smiling. "How could I get pregnant just from sleeping next to you?"
Kael blinked, processing her words.
"But… they said that…" his voice faltered.
Elric reached out and gently pinched his cheek.
"Are you joking?" she said with a soft laugh. "How can you be this cute?"
Kael looked even more confused.
Elric leaned closer and pressed a light kiss against his cheek.
"Are you feeling better now?" she asked softly, her hand resting against his face.
Kael stared at her.
For a moment—
The heaviness inside him eased.
Just a little.
He nodded slowly.
"…I'm sorry…"
Tears slipped down his cheeks again.
Elric wiped them gently, her touch careful and warm.
"There's nothing to be sorry about," she whispered.
And for the first time since waking—
Kael felt like he could breathe again.
-----------------------------------------
The hall was filled with voices.
Servants gathered from every corner of Delcra Castle—maids, butlers, guards, even the kitchen staff. Their chatter echoed softly beneath the high ceiling, a mix of curiosity and concern.
Some stood with hopeful expressions.
Others looked anxious.
They all knew.
Their lord had collapsed.
Five months of silence.
And only recently—he had awakened.
Now, they had been summoned.
No one knew why.
At the top of the staircase stood Sebastian.
His posture was as proper as ever, hands clasped behind his back, his expression calm. But beneath that composed exterior, even he could not hide the tension in his eyes.
This summons…
It had come directly from Kael.
And that alone was enough to unsettle him.
Then—
Footsteps.
The murmurs below slowly faded.
All eyes lifted.
Kael appeared at the upper hallway.
He was supported on one side by Robert, who held him carefully, making sure each step was steady. His movements were slow, measured—every motion controlled with effort.
Behind them, Elric followed quietly.
The moment the servants saw him—
Silence fell completely.
Their gazes locked onto him, filled with relief, worry, and something deeper.
Loyalty.
Sebastian moved instinctively, stepping forward to assist—but then he hesitated.
A memory surfaced.
Kael, rejecting him.
Pushing him away.
For a moment, Sebastian stopped.
But then—
Kael turned his head.
Slowly, he lifted his free hand.
Offering it.
To him.
Sebastian's eyes widened.
His expression softened instantly, the tension melting away.
Without hesitation, he stepped forward and took Kael's hand, joining Robert in supporting him.
They walked together.
Toward the stairs.
Kael paused at the top.
He looked down.
At all of them.
Every servant stood below, watching him with unwavering attention. Concern was written across their faces—but so was something else.
Hope.
Robert and Sebastian slowly released their hold.
Elric stepped forward instead, standing beside Kael. One hand rested gently at his back, steadying him, while the other intertwined with his.
She glanced at him.
And gave a small nod.
Kael inhaled.
His fingers tightened slightly around hers.
Then—
He spoke.
"I'm here… to say I'm sorry."
His voice was soft, but clear enough to reach every corner of the hall.
"For not being able to be your master…"
He lowered his gaze slightly.
"For showing you all… my weakness."
A brief pause.
"I'm truly sorry… for these past five months."
He bowed.
Just slightly.
"…And—"
Suddenly—
The world shifted.
Red.
The hall vanished.
Kael's eyes widened.
He was standing in the lake of blood again.
The servants were gone.
Elric was gone.
Only silence.
And in front of him—
The flower.
Wilted.
Dead.
Kael's breath faltered.
His chest tightened violently.
"Kael?"
A voice cut through the distortion.
The world snapped back.
The hall returned.
The servants.
The light.
Elric.
She stood beside him, her grip tightening around his hand.
"Are you alright?" she whispered urgently.
Kael blinked.
The vision was gone.
Only the echo remained.
He forced himself to steady his breathing.
Then—
He nodded.
A faint smile formed on his lips.
He turned back to the servants.
"…And…"
His voice resumed.
"I will recover quickly… so I can properly become your true master."
His gaze softened.
"Once again… I apologize to all of you."
Silence.
Then—
Emotion broke through.
The servants knelt as one.
"No, Your Grace!"
"You don't need to apologize!"
"You are our true lord, no matter what!"
"As long as you are safe, we will do anything for you!"
Some of them cried openly.
Others bowed deeply, their voices trembling with sincerity.
Kael stood still.
Watching them.
Elric smirked faintly beside him.
"See?" she murmured softly, just for him. "I told you. They love you no matter what."
Kael glanced at her briefly.
Then back at them.
The image of the blood lake still lingered in the back of his mind.
But—
He held himself steady.
He had to.
For them.
Kael turned slightly.
His gaze moved to Robert.
"…Robert."
His voice softened.
"I'm sorry… for being a burden to you."
Robert's eyes shimmered instantly.
But instead of crying, he smiled.
"You don't need to apologize," he said gently. "It's my duty, Master Kael."
His voice trembled—but it was full of warmth.
"I promised to serve you for the rest of my life."
And he meant it.
Kael held his gaze for a moment.
Then turned to Sebastian.
"…I'm sorry… for pushing you away before," Kael said quietly. "And… thank you. For taking care of everything during these months."
Sebastian stepped forward immediately.
He knelt.
Took Kael's hand.
And bowed his head deeply.
"Your apology is not needed, my lord," he said with unwavering sincerity. "You are my master. There is nothing wrong in anything you have done."
Kael watched him.
Then spoke again—
This time, his voice carried a quiet firmness.
"…Then help me become a better lord."
A pause.
"I still need your guidance."
Sebastian lifted his head slightly.
And smiled.
"As you command, my lord."