Chapter 8 – Revelations part 2

  Since that day, they stopped seeing each other, and Patrick retreated into his own world. But a few months later, De

  Our clan opposed it, and a battle ensued that lasted... well, who knows how long. The point is, I still remember Patrick's shattered expression that stormy afternoon when we managed to rescue the princess from Devon's clutches. The sheer, unmatched pain on his face when he discovered that the woman we were saving to return her to the Kingdom of Light and prevent further conflict was the woman Patrick was madly in love with—Tult?en.

  “So, you're the princess of the kingdom?” Patrick asked Tult?en after the battle, hours later, as they stood face to face in her chamber.

  “I didn’t know how to tell you,” she replied, unable to meet his gaze.

  “I understand,” Patrick said, his eyes fixated on the cut on his beloved's lip.

  “I know how you feel about me, Patrick, but you and I... we can never be together.”

  “Just because you’re a princess doesn’t mean we can’t—” he protested, lifting his hand to wipe the blood trickling from her lips.

  “It’s more than that,” she interrupted firmly, placing her hand over his to stop him.

  “Alright,” Patrick said in a deep voice, understanding she wanted to draw a line. “Tomorrow, we’ll return you to where you belong.” He ended the conversation, turning his back to her and walking toward the door.

  “Patrick…” she murmured in a faint whisper, her voice strained as she fought back tears. She stepped closer, gently clutching his blood-soaked shirt from the earlier battle. “I can’t hide it anymore,” she continued, her voice breaking as tears streamed down her face. “I love you. From the very first day we met, I…”

  Hearing those words, Patrick’s heart began to beat again, as if brought back to life, as if he were human once more. He turned toward her and, with utmost tenderness, cupped her chin, lifting her face so their eyes met.

  “Don’t cry for me,” he softly pleaded, his gaze locked on her sorrowful face.

  Slowly, he leaned in and kissed her forehead with tenderness before finally pressing his lips to hers in a passionate embrace. Both of them surrendered to their hearts, and that stormy night, they became one.

  Days passed, and we returned the princess to her rightful place. Everything seemed perfect for Patrick. He thought their love could transcend all boundaries, overcome anything. But sometimes, the truth is far more brutal than we wish it to be.

  “Why don’t you want to see me anymore?” Patrick demanded one night as they met alone in the Forest of Lights. “Tult?en!” he shouted when she didn’t respond, her back turned to him. “I don’t want to lose you.”

  “You’ve never had me, so you can’t lose me,” she replied coldly without turning around.

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  “Why are you acting like this?”

  “If you’re here looking for an explanation... I’m sorry.”

  “Do you not love me anymore?” Patrick asked, confused, his throat tight.

  “I’m not asking for your forgiveness,” she said harshly, her voice cracking.

  “Tell me you don’t love me anymore.”

  “I don’t love you.”

  “I don’t believe you!” Patrick cried, tears streaming down his face. “Look me in the eye and tell me... tell me you’ve forgotten every moment, every second we were happy together. The times you wished to stop time just so those moments wouldn’t become mere memories in your heart. Turn around! Look me in the eye and tell me you’ve forgotten it all.”

  “How naive you are…” she said after turning to face him with a cruel smile. “I needed some entertainment, so I played with you... every second, every moment we were together. It was all a lie. Every kiss, every caress—everything! I could never be with someone like you. Just... stay out of my sight and out of my life!”

  Tult?en spat those words with fury. And though Patrick felt something didn’t add up, that she was suffering as much as he was, her words pierced the depths of his heart, reducing it to mere dust.

  “I understand. You’ll never hear from me again,” he said with a forced smile as tears poured from his emerald eyes.

  He turned away, and from that moment, months passed without Patrick making any attempt to contact Tult?en. You know how he is—one of those people who, once they’ve made a decision, won’t change their mind.

  But it must be said, he was consumed by despair—or perhaps by ignorance. He saw only Tult?en’s hatred and never questioned the reason for such a drastic change. Was his pride greater than his feelings?

  Blinded, he never realized the truth she was trying to convey that night of love. The reason for everything, the reason there was a division between beings of light and darkness, the reason their unconditional love was impossible... until it was too late.

  "What are you doing here?" Patrick angrily asked the captain of the royal guard of the sylph kingdom, who had come to visit him one night as he sat in his armchair.

  His name was Ilfirin, a handsome sylph raised from childhood to protect, care for, and guide Tult?en. It was amusing to see Patrick’s uncontrollable jealousy toward this being. Every time one of us mentioned Ilfirin, Patrick would turn into an enraged adolescent, lacking any sense of reason. It was only natural that Ilfirin’s very presence was unwelcome.

  "I love Tult?en," Ilfirin replied slowly. "And I hated the thought of you and her being together."

  "You already have what you wanted," Patrick retorted, avoiding eye contact. "Leave."

  "But that’s not the only reason I opposed your union," Ilfirin continued, ignoring Patrick’s demand. "Have you joined with her?"

  The young sylph’s blue eyes held resignation as he stared at Patrick, who was visibly taken aback by such a blunt question.

  "... The barrier separating our two worlds exists because beings of light and darkness cannot live together, only coexist," Ilfirin explained, recognizing the truth in Patrick’s overwhelming silence. "This is not a whim of the elders but a rule established to ensure harmony and uphold the balance."

  "Don’t give me stories," Patrick snapped.

  "Stories? What would happen if light were corrupted by darkness? That light would be consumed."

  "..."

  "It seems you’re beginning to understand. Tult?en couldn’t love you because doing so would put her in danger. And by joining with her, you’ve marked her for death. The darkness within you is consuming her."