Adira’s POV
“How many had Sinandaya sent?” I asked Tyler, Sinandaya’s second-in-command, while I stand on the military camp reserves’ portion.
“Five platoons under His Highness’ order,” he answered with his hands crossed behind him.
Right, from the moment Sinandaya has been brought back on Claveria’s map and its existence to the other territories’ eyes, Felipe Homura finally was crowned as the prince regent and should’ve been formally Sinandaya’s Emperor if it weren’t because of me who pulled another war.
If it weren’t because of Tyler, I couldn’t have known the reason why Felipe left abruptly.
“Does it include the fourth?”
“Mayari’s?” he cleared.
I nodded in response and took one of the newly polished rapiers settled on the table.
“Since you left, the entire fourth platoon became your personal army. His Highness already regarded that. So, no, it was not included in the five.”
Felipe was summoned by the Senate. And no matter how we wanted to decline, we have no other choice but to obey. Sinandaya had breached the treaty. Violating the most important part of the accord, joining a war involving the wolves or against any territory.
They see Sinandaya as a major threat and a traitor all over the vampire kingdoms, and Daghum was also exposed to joining the battle. That empress Louisan, she holds a powerful yet fragile position in the Senate. I wonder how long she can keep it.
The other vampire territories excluding Daghum, they all believed in the Senate’s lie. However, I wonder who took over Vander’s position. I don’t believe he still is breathing, every corner of the blade I have stricken on him was filled with deadly venom.
“Some of them had already returned,” he added, causing my forehead to crumple.
“Some? Hadn’t they all returned the other day?”
Tyler shrugged and raised his head, looking at me. “Why? Have you already seen Mayari’s platoon?”
‘I didn’t.’
I keep my answer in my head. Great, I’m starting to lose my brain.
No more words spouted out of my mouth and helped him polish the remaining blades. All were silent except for the sound of clanging and crashing weapons from the trainees. Not until he initiated a topic.
“How’s your son?” Tyler grilled.
I looked at him. But he didn’t bother lifting his head. So I returned my gaze to polishing the swords. “He’s nice. Warm and—” I paused.
“And breathing,” Tyler continued, still not raising his head.
I hauled a deep sigh and diverted my eyes away from him again. “We’re staying. Going back to a place that once inflicted a deep scar is torture.”
“But you know there is a reason why you have to return. Are you sure you can keep that a secret forever?”
“My son is not and will never be the only candidate for that position. After he can completely forget everything about us, he will have no other choice but to have another successor with another woman. It’s not a problem for him,” I blurted continuously.
“Is that how you see him?” he asked.
I again stopped and look at him. This time, he lifted his head and met my gaze.
“Because if it were, I suppose I have to run away from here as soon as possible.”
The gap between my brows completely disappeared and my fore formed a crumpled map. Sometimes, I really couldn’t understand Tyler and his words.
But I gradually realized what he wanted to imply the second a gentle breeze blew past me and a significant aura invaded the air around. And everything went silent, no one dared to talk or even move.
I wanted to turn around, but my head says not to. I wanted to move and walk away, but my heart says not to. My body remained nailed to the ground, but my sanity screams. I no longer know what to do.
Maybe because…
That someone, standing behind me… was the person who inflicted the worst pain in my life. Yet, still, the same person whose name couldn’t be erased in my heart.
“What are you here for?” a gloomy question that slipped off my tongue with my vision starting to blur and my head gradually drooping down as the rapier in my hand slips from my grip.
“I want to talk to you,” he replied casually.
I don’t. I don’t want to talk to him at this state. I’m afraid.
My feet automatically moved and tread the way past him without looking into his eyes that I may change my mind. “We have an agreement. Dare breach it and you will never see him forever,” I threatened. Keeping my voice and my stance as tough as I can.
But I know it won’t stand for long as long as he does not leave inside my territory.
I walked the fastest I can and tightly shut my eyes. I have to get away from him. I have to forget him to heal myself. Besides, the war still isn’t over. The war I have to end rather than thinking about the matter between us.
“I’m not here to force you to go back. I just want you to hear me out,” words that emanated out of his mouth.
I tried shutting my ears, closing my head to words he may say. I don’t want to hear him. Because I fear it’s another promise or worse… a lie that I might again believe carelessly.
“There’s nothing we should be talking about between us,” I blurted. And boldly raised my head as the sinister smile painted my lips. “Unless you still want to join the next war.” That I think he would not.
I shrugged and continued walking on the grassy ground away from him. What should I expect?
“Please.”
My eyes suddenly widened when cold arms entangled across my waist. Clasping… and grabbing me tightly. So gentle and sincere that I couldn’t help but shed tears in sudden realization. From my shoulder, I can feel how his head rested with a deep sigh.
Like it was out of deep thought and restlessness. Why? Why has his warmth disappeared?
“D-Diego,” I hardly mumbled.
I didn’t move. He didn’t move. No one moved that only our voice was the thing alive.
“May I take you somewhere?” he asked. So calm and seems to have no tension between us.
And even inside of me. I no longer feel that resentment. That hate I have felt towards him. All gone, disappeared when his hands touched mine. It was… too cold.
I rashly took off his hands around me and turned my face to look at him but his grip simply diverted my head, keeping my eyes away from his.
“Shall we?”
Even if I can’t see his face, I know he talks with a smile on his lips.
My tears constantly rolled as my head nodded in response. His hands were cold. There was no warmth in his body and even the beating of his heart… I could no longer sense it.
“How—why? Why have you—”
“Ssshh,” he cut my words and I felt his glacial cheek on mine. “The time’s ticking, Darling. There might be no next time if we waste it.”
My legs started to shake and felt weak. I couldn’t help but hold him tenser as he treads a step alongside mine.
“How long w-will you stay?” I asked in an almost inaudible voice.
I know I shouldn’t be asking him this for I know it would break me even more, but I have to. Even if it turns out to be hundreds and thousands of poniards stabbing my heart.
“The moon became ungenerous this time,” he chuckled. “She only gave me a day.”
Hearing it became the most painful words that I have ever heard emanated out of his lips. My legs eventually gave in that I weakly kneeled on the ground like a fragile glass shattering into pieces. And the tears I have been hindering broke the barrier and gushed out unstoppably.
I can’t utter words and all I could do was cry helplessly. He’s here. In front of me. But I hate it that there’s nothing I could do even knowing the fact that by any second he might…
“Adira.” Around my shoulders wrapped a sweet embrace. “I suppose it was never too late to show how much I love you.”
This time, his hand was the one to lift my chin up. And those ocean eyes I’m greatly captivated into seems to have dragged me deeper towards the depths of his persona, and I know I can never get up anymore.
Deeply, dotingly head over heels in love with the man I have met on the other side of the battlefield.
“Not too late to say the words I will never get tired of repeating over and over again.”
A simple smile blossomed on my lips amidst the bitter tears shedding from my eyes.
“F-Forgive me, Alfarro,” I apologized and held his hand on my cheek. “For not regarding your side of the situation. I-I’m so sorry. If only I have stayed and did not leave you,” my voice cracked as I utter the words in my head.
My legs remained kneeling on the ground and both of my hands clutched his arms tightly. My wails and regrets didn’t end up with a plan to stop. I could not ignore the fact that part of me blamed myself for being that self-centered one.
That I did not even ask for his side, for his explanation and everything. If only I had never left, if only I chose to stay and be with him, then maybe he didn’t end up like this. That maybe, I could’ve shared his burden.
Despite the situation, He still managed to smile warmly and gently caressed my face, wiping the waters away. “I understand. I should be the one saying that to you. For lying and saying words I knew that would hurt you.”
Diego lifted me up and gently slithered his hand around my waist and the other on my hand. “But I want you to know that I don’t regret that decision in my life. I do not regret lying to you because I know such a thing would keep you safe. I want you to live the rest of your life to the fullest. I want you to achieve those dreams you still haven’t.”
Along with the blow of the wind, the mellow sound of the river, and the imaginary rhythm, he dragged me closer to him and started waltzing around the grassy plains. Under the ancient arch and the magical lights from the tiny creepers of the night.
We’re in a dream. Or perhaps, a mind-created scenery.
Dancing in the dark, with me between his arms. He whispered underneath his lifeless breath that caused me to shed tears even more.
“Your smile, Darling. They’re so captivating that I don’t want you to lose them again. Can you promise me that?”

“How could you talk to me so calmly, Diego?” I asked with my voice cracking and the waters from my eyes couldn’t stop gushing out.
His eyes never departed from mine and that smile on his face didn’t fade away.
“I don’t want to waste the last chance I could be with you,” Diego answered with his voice like a piece of music to my ears… a heartbreaking one.
“Who am I to you?” he asked with his most amiable tone.
His eyes stuck straight at mine, those tantalizing blue orbs that I will never get weary admiring for the rest of my life.
That question was composed of only a few words, that same question he asked from the moment we met. And the same question I asked him the second I opened that forbidden door in Laxon. Perhaps I could now answer him.
“You.” With the answer, he’s waiting. “You are my mate, Diego Alfarro.”
“I love you too,” he muttered as his soft lips pressed on my forehead. “Until the legends reach the end of the skies.”
And he disappeared along with the wind.
Along with the mellow blow of the wind.
He left off my grip no matter how tight I hold on. Leaving me with his last words stuck replaying in my head.