103 Wide Open

Lichtenberg, Grittenhein Kingdom, 2028 ACE (After Chaos Era).

Grittenhein was one of the biggest Kingdoms under the rule of the Human Empire, Arthean Empire. Lichtenberg was its capital.

In the room of one of the best hotels in Lichtenberg, two people were lying their bodies on the luxury bed. The man was staring at the ceiling as if admiring the elegance of the room design, while the woman was embracing the man.

"You are overthinking more than usual." The beautiful woman whose hair was as purple as Hyacinth looked up, and spoke to the brown haired man.

"It's not overthinking when you worry about the hurdle about to pass you." The handsome man replied the woman.

"Thinking over the thing that will never happen is overthinking, in my opinion. Do you not agree to it, Sil?"

The man who was revealed to be Basil, looked down at the woman who was none other than Iliana. He sighed. He knew he was overthinking.

However, he couldn't calm his heart down at the thought of the upcoming battle, despite having been on the battlefield for a decade already.

There was something wrong about tomorrow's battle, and he couldn't explain what. Thus, he was anxious.

"Overthinking is a sign of intelligence. People who overthink tend to be more careful than the others. When you are careful, your chance of surviving will be higher."

"You are talking as if one of the two of us will die tomorrow," Iliana retorted.

"Well, as a Knight, our mortality rate is higher than that of a Mage. I may not be able to see you after tomorrow's battle," Basil replied calmly.

"It's been 9 years since we are together, and I thought you have already get rid of your pessimism. Also, why are you smiling? Do you think talking about death is funny."

"There has never been fun in talking about death. However, death is not a risk. It is our fate. We are destined to die right after we are born. We can't run from death. Therefore, it is better to embrace the fact."

"Now, you are saying you are not afraid of death."

"Yes, I'm not afraid of death. I'm afraid of the time when it comes."

Basil caressed Iliana's purple hair tenderly, while looking at her warmly. Iliana clicked her tongue at Basil's thought, but couldn't help to lay her head on his chest.

"You have already reached the Purple Core Stage, the highest stage in Body Forging. You are one of the strongest Knights if not the strongest in Arthean Empire. Someone of your caliber is not supposed to be afraid of a mere subjugation mission."

Basil hummed at Iliana's answer. "I'm not afraid of my demise. What I'm afraid is..." Basil didn't continue his word as Iliana was already looking at him intently.

"Hoh, now you are looking down on me?" Basil tried to retort, but Iliana didn't give him the chance. "In case you have forgotten, I am a Seventh Circle Mage. Although you have outclassed me currently, when I Carve my Eighth Circle, you will be far below me."

Basil smiled wryly at Iliana's rather aggressive answer. They had been together for too long, he had forgotten she had been his former mentor, and was a prideful woman.

"I'm not looking down on you or whatsoever. Your prideful nature makes me worry. I'm pretty sure you will still force yourself to fight, even after you are completely spent."

"I'm prideful, not stupid."

Once again, Basil chuckled and embraced her tighter. He couldn't say it. He couldn't say about his anxiousness. He knew his anxiousness was baseless, and Iliana hated baseless anxiousness. Therefore, he didn't say the truth.

"You are hugging me too tight. Just tell me if you want to have another round. I am still in the mood." Iliana smirked at Basil.

Basil shook his head faintly, then brought her on top of his body. Without saying anything, he hugged her tightly. Although Iliana liked it, she was puzzled by his action. He was being exceptionally cuddly right now. Therefore, she gazed at him curiously.

"I just want to hug you for the rest of the night."

Iliana merely smiled, and buried her face in Basil's chest. They remained that way, until the morning came.

Little did they know, it was their last time to be able to do it.

...

BA-22, 25 Miles from Lichtenberg.

BA-22 was the area where the 22nd Obelisk, the Obelisk of Astaroth was located. The area was a plain infested with Demons. The soil was as black as an ink, and the air was pungent. One look at it was enough to make one dub it as the cursed land.

This was the battlefield between the Demons and the Five Empires. Human, Elves, Dwarves, Fairies, and Demi-Human fought on this plain to subjugate the area near the Obelisk of Astaroth.

Ten years ago, the first Outbreak had occured. As it had been really unexpected, countless of people had died, and many areas had been seized by the Demons for a few days.

Since then, rather than waiting to be attacked, the Five Empire had decided to actively clear the Obelisks. After ten years of the first Obelisk Clearing, they had cleared ten Obelisks so far. Surely, it hadn't been without cost.

"Iliana will join the north side, and assume the role as the leader of the Mage team. Basil will join the West side, and command the Knights." A blue haired man with a handsome face, and muscular body spoke to Basil and Iliana.

"North side? That is the closest place to the Obelisk. Sending Mages to the closest place to the Obelisk is the same as sending them to Death," Basil responded harshly.

"Calm down, Commander Basil. I'm not sending your lover to death. The north side is the area with the least Monster. She will be safe there. Furthermore, I will be there too. I will assure your lover's safety." The blue haired man smiled.

"I believe in Iliana more than I believe in you, Eugene. I remember all the kinds of trouble you have caused ever since I know you."

"That's hurt, really. You knew I was just messing around." Eugene put his hand on his chest dramatically. "Don't worry! I will never mess around with someone's life." He smiled brightly.

Basil deemed Eugene's word as insincere. Therefore, he wanted to retort him once again. However, at that moment, Iliana held him back.

"Didn't you say you believe in me? Why are you so afraid of letting me fight alone."

Basil couldn't answer. He merely looked at Iliana's eyes deeply, before eventually sighing to himself. Then, he tugged the pendant on his neck.

Tak!

He presented the pendant that was now off his neck to Iliana.

"Why are you taking off the pendant I have given you?" Iliana asked curiously. She couldn't help it. They had the same pendant, and it was symbolic to them.

"Bring it back to me." Basil said calmly.

"Okay." Iliana merely nodded, and took the pendant. She knew what Basil meant. Come back safely.

No words were exchanged. Basil merely encased her with his embrace, and kissed her forehead. Then, he turned to Eugene.

"I will have your head, if anything happens to her, Eugene."

Eugene merely nodded his head, and smiled amiably. Basil let go of his hug, and went to the post he was designated too. Surely, at that time, he didn't think that would be his last day to be with Iliana.

The subjugation started, and an unexpected Outbreak occured in the middle of the Subjugation. Everyone was startled, especially Basil, who was leading an entire army of Knights.

Iliana sacrificed herself to save the extremely injured Basil.

...

Present time.

A memory of the past passed through Basil's head. Looking down at Iliana who was embracing him, he couldn't help but clicking his tongue in distaste.

If he had managed to kill Eugene before Iliana and the others had managed to break [Blood Decree], Eugene's death would be considered as an "accident". Now that he had been stopped by everyone, he couldn't forcefully kill Eugene.

If he did so, the Church would be hot on his arse. He knew Eugene was sponsored by the Church. Therefore, he became even more eager to slay Eugene. Even in his past life, he had never had a good relationship with the Church.

He hated them for their hypocrisy, and they hated him for his "unfaithfulness".

"Have you calmed yourself down?"

"I am always calm, and have always been."

"No calm person will go on a killing spree."

"It's a fair and just Battle, not a killing spree."

Iliana looked up to Basil. She frowned her forehead. No matter how much she talked to him, Basil didn't seem to be willing to let go of the matter. She was curious as to what kind of feud he had with Eugene.

Still, it didn't matter now. Basil needed to go to the Medical Room to be treated.

Woof!

Deacon who had arrived beside Basil, tugged on his pants. He was looking at Basil worriedly. Iliana and Basil looked down at Deacon. While Iliana was curious, Basil developed a small smile.

"Come here, Buddy. I am okay."

Deacon swiftly latched onto Basil's shoulder, and rubbed his head to Basil's cheek. Iliana let go of her hug, and merely watched the two in interest. A Mage having a Beast Companion was as weird as a Knight having a staff.

However, since it was Basil, she couldn't think it was weird any longer.

"You will need to explain yourself after this, Sil."

"I know."

Right after that was said, Lawson came at Basil, along with the other Council members. While Lawson was looking at him in an extreme puzzlement, the Council members were frowning.

Although they had managed to stop a tragedy from happening, they couldn't be happy. They couldn't tolerate a rule breaker.

Surely, Basil faced them unwaveringly as usual.

"We will have a talk over this later," Lawson said.

And, talk they did.