Trial Three~Birth354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmYO2747y0
The kiss wasn't very long, but it did linger. It wasn't full of passion or bitterness, but instead love and sweetness. When he caught himself, Nikiro was shocked by the initial action but soon melted into the kiss again. Whether he allowed it to continue out of pity or guilt, he wasn't quite sure, but he did know that at that moment, nothing else mattered. Absolutely nothing. It was just him and Sin. His hesitance was nowhere to be found when he wrapped his arms around Sin. Sin was quick to respond by moving his arms up and around Nikiro's neck. They held each other close like it was their last night on Earth and they'd never see each other again.
Before the kiss could grow any more intense than it already was, Sin pulled away and Nikiro let him go. Sin let his hands slip away from Nikiro's neck and with them, all the longing and love he felt for the man. A smile accompanied by the clearing of his throat to get rid of a sniffle is what Sin present Nikiro with. Nikiro didn't say anything, though his eyes were firmly fixed on Sin.
"Sorry...I just...sorry. I know there's no excuse for that, but don't worry. It won't happen again. I think I'm okay now."
Nikiro straightened up. Was that really it? All he needed to move on was one, out of the blue kiss and he was fine? He knew that wasn't the case. He could tell by the way Sin nervously played with his sleeve that he was nowhere near okay. Sin was, however, able to make eye contact now. He stared right at Nikiro and without hesitation said,
"Consider it a goodbye kiss. Goodbye to all the sad feelings, goodbye to the what if's and could be's and...goodbye to...my feelings for you. I'll be fine...really. Just need some time."
All Nikiro could do was nod. He responded quietly as if the mere sound of his voice could shatter Sin's resolve in an instant. "Okay..."
•~•~•~•~•~•~•
Sin didn't have to leave. They were in his room, to begin with. But he did anyway. And where did he run off to? Why to Dez of course. He had recently been finding solace in her company and if there was anything he needed right now, it was that. Solace. He knocked on her door and a disheveled and sleepy Dez answered. The sleepiness turned into concerned curiosity the minute she saw him.
"Oh my god, are you okay?"
The redness of his eyes had faded considerably, but still very noticeable. He had very prominent dark circles and his skin was as pale as a corpse.
"...I told him...I told Nikiro."
Dez didn't say anything. She just stepped aside to let him in. Sin slumped down at the edge of her bed and she followed behind him. He explained all that had happened and she listened quietly. The entire night was spent with her just letting Sin talk and as the sounds of the early morning graced the world outside, they had finally settled into sleep. Sin's head nestled in her lap and her fingers gently combing through his silky locks, lulling him to sleep. This was how the both of them drifted into the blissful nothingness of slumber.
•~•~•~•~•~•~•
Tobi stood propped up against a little pillar.
"Albus is coming to meet me! Don't tell anyone!"
Is what he remembered Astrid saying before running off, leaving him to stand guard. He was disappointed, to say the least when he realized that all she wanted to do was gush about Albus. Sure he was happy for her, but who was supposed to put up with his adrenaline junky antics now! A long sigh escaped his lips and he looked over his shoulder to see Ri-is and Yukimi approaching.
"Morning!" Chimed Ri-is.
Tobi responded with a peppy "good morning" of his own. "What brings the two of you out here so early?" He asked.
"I just wanted to show Yukimi around the herb garden we have here. She was teaching me about their medicinal properties and I was showing her their use in magic."
It was then that Tobi had noticed that Yukimi and Ri-is had their arms linked together as he led her around. Her little giggles and shy expression as Ri-is spoke, told him everything he needed to know about how close they had gotten. Tobi chuckled a bit and smiled.
"Glad to hear that at least some of us are having a relaxing time."
Yukimi smiled up at him. "It's been a crazy year hasn't it."
"You can say that again." Tobi laughed.
The three of them fell into a rather domestic conversation just as the sun began to peak over the horizon. They stopped and basked at its beauty.
•~•~•~•~•~•~•
Ea and Tah Min wasted no time in getting up for their usual morning stroll with one another. He beamed at the woman who eagerly walked up to him and off the went. They walked idly through the garden, neither of them quite aware or caring of the fact that at some point, their fingers had interlocked with the other's and that was how they greeted the next day.
•~•~•~•~•~•~•
Callisto and Illya awoke to the sound of their tiny newborn shuffling on the sheets to their bed. Callisto couldn't help but grin down at his newest bundle of joy and how she grasped at Illya's long hair with the biggest smile on her face. Like despite being blind, she knew it was her mother who was waking her up with kisses and snuggles and despite being blind, she could feel the warmth of the sunrise that casted its shadow of beauty over the three of them.
•~•~•~•~•~•~•
Just like her little sister, Astrid awoke to idle kisses and snuggles as well. Albus traced circles onto her shoulder as he held her in his arms, enjoying how the sunrise behind her casted an enchanting halo around her figure. Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled, in both of their eyes, the other looked like an absolute angel. Waking up to each other smiles really made their day that much brighter.
•~•~•~•~•~•~•
Nikiro woke up to a smile of his own. Kashino thread his fingers into Nikiro's hair. If it weren't for the plaster on the other side of Kashino's face, Nikiro might just have forgotten the events of the night prior. It was strange though. He didn't feel as bad as he did yesterday. Perhaps, Sin's kiss was really magic. As Kashino pressed his lips to Nikiro's and the morning sun ghosted over them, all the feelings he had stilled into one. Peacefulness.
•~•~•~•~•~•~•
Tekina and Kaito sat outside on the balcony, enjoying the early morning breeze as the sun rose. In basking in the serenity of their surroundings, Kaito was lucky that Tekina was unaware of the little book in his bag, otherwise, he would have awoken to a fierce scolding. Nevertheless, it was a very enjoyable morning for the both of them. Calm and quiet, in all their years of marriage, they welcomed the moment of well deserved rest.
•~•~•~•~•~•~•
Elsewhere, Diana was off drinking the morning away with her father. They laughed and partied. Sometime after Gilgamesh passed out Diana walked out to watch the sun peek up from its nightly slumber. She smiled as she too drifted to sleep in its warmth.
•~•~•~•~•~•~•
Over in Aruma An, Hideki beamed at the breakfast that his wife and daughter prepared for him. The family enjoyed their breakfast very much, unaware of the figure in the distance that watched them quietly with a sly grin. He vanished into the distance and reappeared in another land entirely. A dark, mystic one. He walked up behind a woman he knew to be Naera and the two of them silently watched the darkness fade in the face of the sun.
•~•~•~•~•~•~•
The elemental masters and priestesses that fought with Illya in the midst of Henaer's apocalypse were all up and about the capital, performing their daily rights to welcome the sun into yet another day.
•~•~•~•~•~•~•
In a once dreaded part of the world there existed a country by the sea, now known as Solaria. It was a land of vibrant diversity, where it's citizens lived in peace as equals. Far atop the volcanic mountain was a palace where a just and righteous Queen lived. She was more than a little flawed and more than a little unconventional, but she was loved by her people and even those from other lands sang her praises.
Her name was Illya.
And today she is on vacation with her family. An air of quiet fell over the land as the sun rose. It was a brief moment of serenity. There were no worries of vengeful family drama, possessed suitors or traumatizing births. There was just, calm. But the calm was never meant to last and soon another storm would be on their horizon.
Nevertheless, the time she had spent in life thus far, created many bonds and birthed many opportunities. Each one connected by fate. So the land enjoyed the calm before the storm and those that fate had yet to bring her way did too. For now, the clashing of swords and the cries of battle went unheard and the soft warmth of dawn coated them with hope.
Hope that was soon to be shattered.
Hope that was soon to birth heartache.
Trial Three-Birth
END
****Author's Note****
Thank you very much for reading Agu-Crown and sticking with it this long! I hope you enjoyed this final chapter. Please look forward to the sequel Devil's Crown354Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNaJRKzDat
