C175: Burned Ash, Seed of Wind (2)
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The cut thread is scattered in the air and Esmeralda, in her soul state, couldn't take her eyes off the scene.
She was finally free from the long lasting curse that bound her for a long time. She thought she could never escape except in death but the curse was broken now.
Tears flowed down Esmeralda's cheeks even though she didn't have tear glands in the soul state. What she was shedding were the tears of the soul in the image of all sorrow and lumps. It was a rare sight to see even once in a century.
[No! I can't do this!]
Quasimodo scratched the ground roughly with his hands. He, who no longer had a rope to hold on to, was dragged into the chain without hesitation.
The fire burning Crollo Fabius' body became stronger and the white chain and the fire that connected it burned strongly as he mingled with Quasimodo.
"Ahhhhh!"
The souls of Quasimodo and Crollo Fabius screamed together.
[This can't happen!]
"Quasimodo. First Order of the Black Dawn Society. Cryptid born in fire."
Rudger stood in front of Quasimodo and his magma-like eyes directed at Rudger.
[Rudger Chelici! All because of you! It's all because of you!]
"Become ashes and disappear with all the sins you have committed."
Quasimodo's body slowly began to crumble. The countless fireballs that made up his body were scattered and melting in the air.
"That's…."
"It's the soul."
Rudger replied to Joanna, who did not realize what was going on.
"The soul of the Roteng village bound by Quasimodo and burning with hatred."
The spirit was finally free from Quasimodo and was ascending. Quasimodo reached out anxiously, but it was a meaningless resistance.
[Power! My strength…]
Quasimodo's loud voice gradually decreased and the giant soon shrunk to the size of a child. Unlike the souls that escaped from the chain, Quasimodo could not escape.
[I… the whole world……To burn…]
With those words, Quasimodo completely disappeared along with the soul of Crollo Fabius.
The completely liberated souls shone white and the scarlet flames caused by Quasimodo scattered like white petals.
Two lights approached Joanna, who was staring blankly at the scene.
"………Mom? Dad?"
Joanna instinctively reached for the souls, but they flew high into the sky in the wind and disappeared with the light of firecrackers embroidering the sky.
Joanna stared at the scene in tears and Pierre couldn't keep his mouth shut at the sight.
"What a vivid beauty."
Even though he was blind, Pierre was vividly 'watching' the miracle allowed only at this moment as if he would not miss it. He will never forget this beautiful sight.
[It's over.]
Esmeralda, who was in the soul state, collapsed. The nightmare that she thought would last was over.
[But still……]
What was lost would never return. The scarred memories of the precious past that disappeared were still there.
[Sorry.]
Esmeralda apologized to the departing souls. Everyone died because of her.
[Sorry. I'm so sorry.]
She couldn't fully convey her feelings with her words. Nevertheless, this was all she could do right now.
[Because I'm weak. Because I'm stupid. I made everyone die.]
Tears didn't come out as if the miracle she just shed was everything.
[If I followed him from the beginning…….]
Her body slowly began to blacken and blur. Quasimodo disappeared, but her soul was already severely damaged in the aftermath of their long-lasting contract.
The damage to the soul is more serious than anything else and Esmeralda's gradually blackening appearance proved it.
At this rate, she will become a ghost, forgetting even the memories of her life but Esmeralda was not sad. Maybe it's because she thinks this is the end that suits her, who was foolish.
Rudger looked at the sight without saying a word. Now that he had exhausted his mana, Rudger had no way to help Esmeralda and even if he had mana there was no way to return a fallen soul.
To restore a truly corrupt soul to its original state, Esmeralda himself must be saved but she couldn't as there were no words to heal the wounds engraved on the soul.
'Is it a soul that can't even ascend?'
Unfortunately, there was nothing more he could do for Esmeralda but the moment he thought so, he saw a soul that showed unusual movements.
Unlike the other souls who were rising to the sky there was one light approaching Esmeralda against the flow. Esmeralda also stared blankly at the soul approaching her.
A white soul shone and soon turned into a person as Esmeralda opened her eyes wide.
[Nun…]
A nun led a small church in Roteng Village and the one who raised Esmeralda appeared.
Esmeralda bowed her head as she didn't want to face her. She still vividly remembers the cries of those who uttered hateful words toward her in her dreams. The dream always ended with seeing her mother, the nun.
The other person was fine but she didn't want to hear that from her. She didn't want to be blamed by her.
[Sorry, sorry. Sorry.]
Esmeralda kept saying the same thing over and over again with her head down.
The nun looked down at Esmeralda and slowly reached out to her.
The moment the fingertips touched Esmeralda's shoulder Esmeralda raised her head startled.
The nun hugged Esmeralda silently.
[Oh]
Esmeralda opened her eyes wide and soon sobbed, twisting her face with sadness.
[Didn't you have a hard time?]
[I… I……!]
[I'm so sorry I couldn't be with you]
Esmeralda's mother stroked her back and whispered that it was okay.
"Soul."
Esmeralda's soul, which had been dyed black, has changed. Like white petals flying around her soul, who had shaken everything off, soon regained its original innocence.
Rudger stared at the scene silently.
At this moment a soul that had fallen into the darkness was saved as Esmeralda and the nun's bodies slowly rose to the sky and joined the other souls.
[Oh]
Esmeralda, who was about to leave holding her mother's hand, looked at Rudger as if she had thought of something.
Rudger also stared at her until the end.
[Please take care of Selina]
Esmeralda smiled softly. It was a pure smile that didn't fit the name of the Witch of Fire, which was eroded by madness.
A strong flash burst out and the souls disappeared like a mirage. The sight he saw a while ago felt like a dream.
"Where would the souls that have been wandering for so many years go at the end?"
Rudger murmured quietly, looking up into the empty air.
"It's really far away. But one day, the end of my journey will definitely……."
At that time Joanna slumped down and breathed out the breath that Pierre had held back.
"It's over."
"No. It's not over yet."
Rudger said, staring at Pierre and Joanna.
"Joanna Lovett. No, Joanna, Roteng's survivor."
"……."
Joanna gulped down as she realized who Rudger was.
Rudger raised his hand and pointed out the warehouse.
"Leave."
"……What? What did you just say?"
"I told you to leave. Leave Theon and don't come here again. Joanna Lovett, the Second Order of the Black Dawn Society, died here today."
Joanna looked at Rudger with disbelief. Rudger ignored Joanna and told Pierre.
"Take her and leave. Can you still unfold the magic that deceives people's eyes?"
"Yes, that's possible."
"Then go. And don't let anyone know what happened here."
"Why?"
"Because it's all over."
Quasimodo, the souls of the suffering Roteng citizens and the two captured by the past, everything was over.
"Your story ends here."
Rudger muttered and held Selina, who had fallen on the floor in his arms.
Quasimodo disappeared, but the remnants of the fire were still burning the warehouse. If they stay here, they'll be crushed to death by the collapsing warehouse.
"Thank you!"
Joanna shouted at Rudger's back, which was moving away but Rudger did not reply.
"Let's go back."
"But, where?"
"Where would it be? To our hometown."
At Pierre's words, Joanna nodded, saying, "I understand."
Pierre's painting magic came into play and soon the images of the two disappeared as if they were melting in the air.
* * *
"Extinguish the fire!"
"The fire is so strong that we can't stop it!"
There were quite a few people gathered outside the burning logistics warehouse. Workers with buckets of water and some teachers tried to extinguish the fire in the warehouse by shooting water.
Casey, who was watching the situation, realized that the fire was weaker than before.
'What happened? The flame that was trying to escape from the outside just now seems to have weakened.….'
It was not an illusion and at the same time someone shouted.
"Look over there! There's a man coming out!"
All the eyes of the people gathered at the scene headed to the main gate of the warehouse as two people emerged through the burning flames.
Rudger came out holding Selina, who fainted.
"Mr. Rudger?"
"There's also teacher Selina."
His steps were slow and precarious.
Actually, Rudger was covered with wounds but strangely the people were overwhelmed by the sight.
It was Casey Selmore who came to her senses first.
"What are you doing? Help him, he's injured! The rest of us will try to put out the fire!"
Only then did the workers who came to their senses rushed to approach Rudger.
"Are you all right?!"
"This way!"
Supported by the crowd, Rudger headed towards the medical staff. After confirming that Rudger had escaped safely, Casey Selmore lifted the water curtain and poured it all into the warehouse.
"Follow me!"
Casey wanted to ask Rudger what happened inside right away, but the situation was not favorable. Even if the fire has weakened for now it could suddenly spread again, so now was her chance to put it out.
People followed Casey in her footsteps and entered the warehouse. Moments after she entered inside, the burning fire in the warehouse gradually subsided.
"Are you feeling well? Oh, my God, your arms are like this……!"
"That's all right."
"That's all right?"
"Do you have any recovery pills?"
Rudger showed his half-baked right arm.
"I think we need treatment urgently."
"I'll bring the people right here!"
Rudger breathed a sigh of relief as he looked at the distant worker.
"It's finally over."
Only then did Rudger feel his whole body relax and Selina, who was lying on the stretcher, also came to her senses.
"Teacher Rudger?"
"Are you awake?"
"Yes."
Selina nodded her head with a vague look. She, who raised her upper body, opened her mouth with a painful face.
"I had a dream."
"A dream?"
"Yes. It was such a sad and painful dream."
"I see."
Rudger responded moderately while watching the slowly dying warehouse fire.
Selina asked.
"Why did you save me?"
"……."
"I did something bad. Not me but the other me."
"…… You knew. Since when?"
Selina nodded and did not deny Rudger's question.
"I met her. When I lost my mind, in the endless darkness of unconsciousness she was waiting for me there."
"What did she say?"
She said, [I'm sorry. You've had a hard time.] And she told me this too. [Keep going]."
"……."
"She's…she's gone, right? How was the last time you saw her? Did she leave happily?"
"Yes, she went with a smile."
"That's a relief."
Selina bit her lip while trying to say something. Then she plucked up her courage and asked Rudger.
"You know, Mr. Rudger?"
"Yes."
"Why did you help me?"
Selina faintly felt what she did in her nightmares. She committed an unforgivable sin and hurt somebody. Even if something else did it she was also at fault. Still, Rudger saved her.
"Like me……."
"You promised."
"……What?"
"Let's enjoy the festival together next year, too."
Selina stared at Rudger with her eyes wide open, as if she had never expected such an answer.
Rudger turned his head to Selina, who was lying down, and looked at her. At that moment fireworks exploded embroidering the sky.
They were Bigger, grander and more colorful than any firework symbolizing the end of Theon's Magic Festival.
"That's why."
"Ah."
A splendid light shone on the two of them.
Selina was speechless at Rudger's gentle smile and twisted her face as if she was about to shed tears.
Tears were actually flowing down her cheeks but instead of being sad, Selina raised her mouth and smiled at Rudger. It was powerless and pitiful, but that's why it was the most beautiful smile.
"Yes!"
* * *
Soon the medical staff came and Selina was stretchered away.
Others made a fuss about Rudger's need to rest, but Rudger stopped them and left. No one was able to stop Rudger's momentum and he walked away.
The fire calmed down and some students even came nearby to see as they heard the news of the fire. However, the festival ended safely.
A communication came to Rudger, who sat alone a little away and watched the scene.
[Brother, you did a great job. I'll leave with Seridan now.]
"Yeah. You did a great job, too, Hans."
[I ordered the rats to erase the evidence, but I don't know what will happen]
"That's enough."
Rudger, who finished communicating with Hans, breathed a sigh of relief inside, thinking that it was finally completely over.
The moment he thought he could have a really good night's sleep.
"Hmm. I came here to see the festival, but something interesting must have happened."
A voice came from behind Rudger's back and a chill flew down his spine as the hair all over his body stood on end.
No one talked to Rudger because everyone is concerned about fighting the fire. Even more approaching him without him sensing it.
The other person spoke in a voice still full of ease.
"Is it the monster of fire that has completely disappeared in the colorful fireworks? Hmm…This is so different from the original plan."
A cold sweat ran down Rudger's forehead. There's no way he wouldn't know this voice.
– Join us and we'll help you do what you want. What do you say?
He saw parts of Esmeralda's memory and after hearing the voice and feeling this sense of pressure he realized who the other party was.
'Zero's order!'
The founder of the Black Dawn Society was now behind his back.
"So. Can you explain what happened now? John Doe."
Zero Order's eyes were on Rudger's back.