Chapter 53: If you need a reason to love someone, then you don’t really love them
Kristian blinked. "Huh?"
"It is me who will confront the Venom Clan for the antidote", declared Daemon, arms crossed.
Kristian immediately shook his head. "It is dangerous. I am coming with you."
Daemon clicked his tongue, annoyed. "Just let me take my responsibilities. Victoria was injured because of me. I no longer need that, Kristian. We are not children anymore, let me handle the problem."
"Yes, but you are quite emotional right now, I am afraid you will make the situation worse—"
"Stop, damn it!" he exploded. His voice echoed against the walls, and even Katelyn jumped slightly. "You make me look ridiculous! You belittle me as if I were incompetent. Stop.... You take responsibility for everyone except your own!"
Silence fell over the room... The flames of the fire crackled softly, the only ones daring to make noise. Katelyn looked at her feet, Victoria closed her eyes, and Kristian stared at Daemon without saying a word, his face impassive but his eyes betraying a deep emotion.
Daemon lowered his head. His voice became calm again. "I thank you for everything, Kristian... But it is time for you to live your life. Do what you want to do. Carry the burden of your own responsibilities and not mine."
Kristian remained silent for a long moment. Then he nodded slowly. "You are right", he finally said. "As the heir, my duty is to find Pandora’s box before the Spear Clan."
He extended his hand toward Daemon. "I apologize... Since the day you accepted the five hundred lashes from the patriarch, I should have known that you no longer need my help."
Daemon took his hand and shook it firmly, his fingers gripping those of his cousin. "I apologize for being such a coward all these years", he murmured. "I caused you quite a bit of harm. Never vouch for my stupidities again."
He released Kristian’s hand, passed by his side, and placed a hand on his shoulder as he crossed him. "You are more than a cousin, Kristian", he said in a grave voice. "You are my brother."
Kristian looked at him, his face still neutral. He nodded in a calm tone. "We will meet outside when everything is over."
Then he turned on his heels. Katelyn followed him after giving Daemon one last look. Their footsteps faded in the corridor, then silence returned.
Daemon turned toward Victoria. She was still sitting on the ground, leaning against the wall, her bandaged hand resting on her knees. The pallor of her face had intensified, but her black eyes were still sharp.
"Can you walk?" Daemon asked as he knelt beside her.
Victoria nodded. "Yeah. The poison has not yet attacked my Chi Core. But we will have to move fast."
Daemon stood up, then he held out both hands to help her up. "Good. We are going to find those bastards."
He helped her to her feet, supporting her weight when she swayed slightly. The contact of his hand against her back was firm but careful. Victoria leaned against him for a moment, the time it took for her legs to stabilize.
Daemon hesitated, then asked, his voice lower: "Why did you put your life in danger for me?"
There were a few seconds of silence.... Victoria looked at him. "Because I love you", she said simply.
Daemon looked away. "Why me and not him?"
Victoria shrugged, then grimaced when the movement pulled on her wound. "Because it is you."
Daemon shook his head. "That does not answer the question."
"Love is an illogical feeling", Victoria said in a calm voice. "If you need a reason to love someone, then you do not really love them."
Daemon remained silent for a long moment. They started walking, slowly, Daemon supporting Victoria by the arm. Their footsteps echoed on the tiles, alone in the darkness of the corridor.
Finally, Daemon murmured: "In this world, love is the worst of weaknesses."
Victoria nodded. "I know... Better to avoid it."
They advanced a few more meters in silence. Then Daemon added, as if to himself: "Fortunately, I think I am too young to fall in love."
Victoria turned her head toward him. A mischievous smile lit up her pale face, and she looked at him from the corner of her eye. "What do you know?"
Under the flickering light of the torches, they plunged together into the darkness of the Catacombs, with Victoria giving the direction from where she had spotted the Venom Clan hours earlier.
***
POV : Kristian
I had been walking alongside Katelyn for nearly twenty minutes now. Our footsteps echoed in rhythm on the damp tiles of the Catacombs, and the silence between us was not unpleasant, but it weighed a little.
"You look upset", she said suddenly, without looking at me.
"Not at all", I replied quickly.
Katelyn turned her head toward me, one eyebrow raised. "Yet you remain silent. You who usually never stop talking to annoy me with your advice and strategic analyses."
I exhaled softly through my nose. "I... I am just thoughtful."
"I see", she said, nodding. She paused, stepped over a piece of stone that had fallen from the ceiling, then added: "And what are you thinking about?"
I did not reply immediately. My eyes got lost in the darkness of the corridor ahead. Memories were resurfacing... "About that day", I finally murmured.
Katelyn did not ask any further questions. She had understood. After all she was there too, that day.
...
A decade earlier.
The Sword Clan domain was covered in a thick blanket of snow.
I was eight years old, maybe nine, I do not remember very well. The age when you believe the world is big but not dangerous if you listened to our parents.
I was training in the Clan hall with wooden swords, in the company of Katelyn. She was already fast at that time, her rapier flying through the air with a precision that impressed our instructors. I preferred the two swords, the balanced weight in each hand. Now that I think about it, she was always by my side... Who knows why...
Our breaths formed small clouds of steam, and the sound of the wooden blades clashing set the rhythm of our training. Katelyn had just disarmed me with a fluid movement when the door opened abruptly.
Daemon entered with a cheerful air, his black hair disheveled, his eyes shining with excitement. He always had that excess of energy, which automatically made him tiring... "Kristian! The patriarch is calling us! The elemental water house has come to visit us!"