Chapter 9
Chapter 9: The Boy’s Resolution
Hien sat quietly by the bedside, his gaze falling on the night scene outside the window, but his heart felt as if pressed by a heavy stone, making it hard to breathe.
His mind kept conjuring images of that other self – the one who had once indulged in illusory pleasures and escaped from reality.
That version of him had seemed shrouded in thick fog, forgetting Rufia’s existence, forgetting her pain, and forgetting the responsibility he bore as her only support.
Whenever Hien recalled those days, an indescribable guilt welled up in his heart.
That version of him had only cared about seeking brief happiness in that illusory world, ignoring the pain Rufia endured alone.
Her illness, her loneliness, her helplessness – he had cast them all aside.
Yet Rufia had never blamed him. Even after his return, she still looked at him with those gentle eyes, as if he had never left at all.
“How selfish I was…”
Hien silently blamed himself.
His fingers gripped the bedsheet tightly, his knuckles white from the pressure.
He couldn’t forgive his past choices, nor could he forget everything Rufia had endured during his absence.
Her smile, her strength, her gentleness – they were all like a sharp blade, repeatedly stabbing into his heart, reminding him of his past negligence.
Hien turned his head to look at Rufia lying on the bed.
She was already asleep, breathing steadily and softly, traces of fatigue on her face.
Her long hair spread across the pillow, looking especially soft.
Hien couldn’t help but reach out, gently stroking her hair with tender, careful movements, as if afraid of waking her.
“Rufia, I’m sorry…”
He whispered in his heart, his gaze falling on his sister’s slightly pale face, a pang of sorrow rising in his chest.
Rufia’s illness had never truly disappeared. She was just putting on a brave front in front of him, not wanting him to worry, while he had once escaped and nearly lost himself completely in that illusory world.
“If I hadn’t come back… If I hadn’t realized my mistake…”
Hien didn’t dare continue thinking.
That scene had already become his nightmare.
The sky was covered by heavy dark clouds, as if even the Goddess of Light had closed her eyes, unwilling to witness this tragic scene.
Twelve Saints floated in mid-air, their bodies shrouded in holy light, their white sacred robes fluttering gently in the wind like twelve divine beings descended to earth.
Their faces were calm and cold, without a trace of emotion in their eyes, as if everything in the world was irrelevant to them.
At their feet, Rufia’s figure appeared so small.
Her body had been corrupted by demonic energy, her skin covered with pitch-black markings, her eyes blood-red, her long hair wildly disheveled in the wind.
She held a broken sword in her hand, its blade stained with blood – traces of her battle with the church knights.
“This world… took my brother away from me…”
Rufia’s voice was low and hoarse, filled with endless pain and hatred. Her gaze was empty and desperate, as if she had lost all reason.
“Give my brother… back to me…”
Her voice echoed across the empty plaza, but no one responded.
The twelve Saints looked down at her coldly, as if watching a dying beast.
Each held a long sword radiating terrifying magical power, their blades inscribed with sacred runes and emanating suffocating pressure.
The Saints had simultaneously raised their swords.
Holy light gathered at the sword tips, forming a dazzling pillar of light aimed directly at Rufia.
The next moment, all twelve swords struck down simultaneously. Holy light poured down like a torrential rain, completely engulfing Rufia’s figure.
Hien from that other world stood in the distance, witnessing it all.
His body was rigid, as if bound by invisible forces, unable to move.
His eyes were filled with despair and anger, but his throat seemed blocked, unable to make a sound.
He wanted to rush forward, wanted to stop it all, but his legs felt as heavy as lead.
When the holy light dispersed, Rufia’s figure had vanished, leaving only a charred mark on the ground.
The twelve Saints slowly descended, their sacred robes still spotlessly white, as if the recent slaughter had been nothing more than an insignificant ritual.
One of the Saints waved her hand lightly, and the charred dust on the ground also scattered with the wind. The last trace Rufia had left in this world was completely erased.
Hien’s thoughts returned to reality as he gently grasped Rufia’s hand, feeling the warmth of her palm.
Her fingers were slender and cold, as if reminding him how fragile her life was and how much she needed his protection.
“Rufia, I swear I’ll never let you bear this alone again. No matter what happens, I’ll stay by your side until the very end.”
Hien lowered his head, gently pressing his forehead to the back of her hand, his voice low and hoarse.
His heart was filled with guilt, but also with determination.
Hien couldn’t forget his past self, but he could make up for past mistakes with future actions.
In this life, he would use all his strength to give Rufia a better life, to free her from the torment of illness, to let her live like other girls and have her own happiness.
Precisely because he had seen the Saints’ emotionless execution of heretics, he felt no psychological burden. He had already made his resolution.
Whether Saints or whatever else, I’ll use them all for you to see. Together, we’ll step into an ideal realm without sorrow.
“Brother…”
Rufia murmured softly in her sleep, her voice weak but clear.
Hien looked up to see her brow slightly furrowed, as if she was having an uneasy dream.
He gently patted the back of her hand, softly comforting her.
“Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”
Rufia’s brow gradually relaxed, and her breathing became steady again.
Looking at her, warmth flowed through Hien’s heart.
He knew that Rufia was the most important person in his life, a treasure he could never afford to lose.
And that version of himself who had once been lost was now in the past.
The present him would use all his strength to protect her, accompany her, until the end of life.
“Being able to return to this world is truly wonderful…”
Hien silently sighed in his heart. He knew he would never escape again, never lose himself again. Because Rufia’s existence was his greatest redemption.
Just as Hien was immersed in guilt and self-reproach over Rufia, a dreamlike voice suddenly rang in his ears.
The voice seemed to come from the distant horizon, yet also echoed directly in his mind, carrying an irresistible allure.
“Hien… come… here you’ll find everything you desire…”
The voice was soft and ethereal, as if carrying some kind of magic, gradually clouding Hien’s consciousness.
His eyelids grew heavy, and his body unconsciously relaxed.
Under the deity’s guidance, he slowly closed his eyes and fell into slumber.