Chapter 4
Seeing my surroundings, all I could think of is how everything that is happening is too much for me to handle. There are too many questions that need to be answered. I could almost hear my heart being crushed by the turmoil of emotions coursing through me.
Then, I snap. All of my composure crashed. With it, came my hoarse cry. I scream all of my frustrations out, my confusion and...grief. My knights are giving me worried stares. Even the people who were at the plaza earlier come out one by one to witness my dilemma.
The sky mirrors my grief. It turned dark and rain poured down. I am thankful for that. Even if it’s just a little bit, at least it washed my tears and Cassian’s blood on my hands.
My brain is in shambles. There is only one who can help me now...
Diem.
Diem help...please help me…
Diem please...he didn't deserve this...
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...My pleas are heard. In a blink of an eye, everything is enveloped in a warm ray of light. I know I am in Diem's presence. When I look down, Cassian’s limp body is still in my arms, bathing in his blood.
“Diem?” I softly call out.
A voice, echoing in my surroundings, speaks. It is gentle, smooth, and calming. It carries a touch of fondness with each word, using the name they gave to me that nobody else knows.
“My little Astraea…”
It is always like this. I’ve never seen the face of Diem, our encounters are always shrouded in light with Diem’s voice as an alluring echo that sounded neither male nor female.
“Y-you know, everything...you-you know what I want right?” In contrast to theirs, desperation clung to my every word.
“...of course,”
Hope fills me. “Then you can-”
Diem’s voice cut me off. “No, Astraea,” it isn’t scolding but the answer is firm.
Right, of course. It is my doing, I made the mistake. It is my hand. I killed him. How dare I ask for such a big favor from Diem just so that I can erase what I’ve done?
“Don’t think like that,” comes the soothing voice. “this child has always wished to die.”
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What?
“Before I send souls to your realm, I ask them how they want to die. I make them choose. However, souls that are newly born are innocent and want to experience the world, thus some ask for gruesome deaths, and some ask for the natural ones. I never fail to warn them, however, I have gifted them the right to choose.”
Then...am I allowed to ask...
“This child asked for a life filled with adventure. I believe you also remember him as a playful person,” Diem chuckles in fondness. “He was one of those souls filled with pure excitement, he wanted to experience everything in the world, but he chose a peculiar way to die.”
I could feel the smile when the voice speaks. “He asked me...if he falls into the wrong path, he wants to be killed by the person he loved most…”
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Me.
“But,” the voice said. “my most beloved creation has suffered because of this so I will bestow upon you something better than what you’ve asked.”
What could be better than giving him his life again?
“Oh come now, child. I can give him back his life with just the snap of my fingers, but how about I change his fate altogether for you?”
“For me?” I ask. “But...how?”
“I will turn back time for you. But remember, I will only do this once. I am already not being fair to my other beloved creations by just doing this, so, just this once.”
A tingling sensation blooms in my heart. “Yes! I understand, one chance...thank you Diem! I shall do my best in your will!”
I hear laughter. “Sometimes I wonder why my creations’ happiness is so shallow…”
I blink. Shallow? This. Is shallow?
“I have conditions, my little Astraea,” Diem says, causing my joy to be shaken.
“Yes? Please.” I reply with eagerness. “I will do whatever you ask me to.”
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