Chapter 39: 39 Gentle Touch. 

A swirling wind gathered around, condensed itself into a wolf, and in just a moment, it generated a thick layer of barrier that protected the carriage before a collision and loud explosion happened.

The air trembled, and the earth beneath shook as the shockwaves travelled a mile and blasted everything in sight. It was the land of fire; the air was crisp and hot when it entered her lungs. Aria snapped her eyes wide. The cradle of life in her arms jolted before crying so loudly that it pierced her ears.

*Uwaa!

“What just happened?”.

Iris’ body leaned closer; her hand clenched tight to her bows and the arrow she held in others. Casting her gaze to the flame of the sea and the smell of charred flesh, she contorted her beautiful face.

“Bis sis, we have to…?!”.

When she glanced at the side, Iris’s body shivered. Aria sat still, her eyes vacant, looking at the violent swirling flame that burned her husband’s flesh. Iris’s heart jolted, sending an electric current through her veins, making her body tremble.

Dread washed away the colour on her face as she witnessed her brother-in-law, a human, toasted into charred meat. The horses were also engulfed, leaving only the stillness that hung in the air between the sisters and the crying baby.

“…Da, ryl?”.

Aria’s weak and monotone voice echoed inside the barrier, her trembling hand reaching forward. But, the cruel protective barrier became a force that blocked her attempt to cuddle his flaming body.

Her thoughts ceased to exist; she couldn’t accept the reality before her. Tears blurred her vision, wetting her cheeks. Her warm heart suddenly turned frozen by absolute ice, locking even her emotions.

“Get a hold of yourself, big sis! We need to get out of here first!”.

Iris jerked her sister’s shoulder to make her big sis recognize her existence. She looked downward to see Nina crying, and her heart tightened in grip as she saw the pitiful-looking baby.

“Big sis, let’s go?!”.

Soon before Iris could act, another tremor shook the ground. She looked to the source and noticed a huge mass of fireball, mixed with a blackish aura, landed in another place. ‘Impossible…!? ‘

One, two, three, the fireball as big as a boulder rained down the place. Iris never saw magic of this caliber, as she was also an Elves who lived in nature. The fire element is nothing but the natural opposite of their existence.

A blazing shadow hung above her as she saw a massive fireball gallop the barrier, swallowing it whole. Iris felt her scorching skin and burning lungs because of the fire that engulfed the barrier.

*Aaaeeehh!

Nina’s wailing cry pierced her ears and also bled her heart to witness such a baby in this perilous situation. Iris’ knees lost their strength due to the lack of oxygen; she dropped down and tried to lift her gaze upward.

“…Zephyros, let us out of this place!”.

Aria solemnly shouted, bringing upon a gust of violent vortex that sucked into the flame. The wind transforms into a figure of a massive green wolf carrying a hurricane on its limbs.

*Awooo!

The wolf howl carried a might that birth the storm that blackened the sky. Aria jumped toward the wolf, back followed by Iris behind her. Iris tightly wrapped her sister’s waist as the wolf accelerated up, forcing its way open from the flame.

‘I can finally breathe!’. Iris inhaled deeply and exhaled, sending much more oxygen to her system.

“Hooh, I didn’t think anyone would survive that blast!”.

A casual remark escapes the man’s lips as he stands dozens of meters away from the carriage. He is a bulky man with protruded, chiseled muscles that are thick as steel, under his simple outfit of a red tank top and black harem pants.

The man stood around two meters tall while his short crimson hair blazed under the carnage he created. His youthful face radiates a hot-blooded energy and ferocious nature that reflected in his violent act.

Surrounded by a sea of flames, the man casually walked under the fire that burned the land. His face was calm, or he was happy to see someone could escape his bombardment. At least he could continue the fight.

“…So, it was you!”. Aria’s voice was quiet, but the air around her twisted. The flame swirled in response, flickering as if sensing the raging storm hidden inside.

Iris’s body tensed, hearing her big sister’s terribly low tone. She tightened the grip on her big sister’s waist, hoping that she could cast aside the fire in her heart and prioritize fleeing. However, her prayer was stomped by her big sister’s stubbornness and rage, which painted her vision in red.

“Zephyros, take us down!”.

The wolf obeyed as it glided through the air before landing on the ground. Aria shifted her seat and soon faced her little sister, who stared dumbfounded at Nina, who was in her arms.

“Big sis, what is…!?”.

“Nina, I’m sorry!”.

Aria handed Nina to her little sister, bringing their body closed in her chest. She tightened her hug to savour the warmth and the voice of her beloved as she was jumping straight to face death.

Iris’s warm and trembling body, her daughter’s crying slowly soothed inside her wrap. Aria reluctantly parted away and then planted her lips on her little sister and her child’s forehead. She wrapped her hand around Iris’ neck, bringing their foreheads closer.

“Listen, Iris! This might be one of the most ridiculous and stupid decisions I made in life, but please hear me out…!”.

“No, big sis, please, you mustn’t!” Iris’s voice cracked, and tears started streaming down her cheeks as she witnessed her sister’s final moments.

“…You know, I’m madly in love with my husband and vow to join him in his grave when he passes away…”.

“But, that doesn’t mean you have to! Nina, should be your priority!”.

“I know, I’m sorry for this absurd request, but… Please take care of her with you, who loves her as much as we do. I believe you can raise her into such a beautiful girl, and you will have your wonderful meeting with someone someday. And I hope both of you will share the same sentiment to protect the girl with all of your heart!”. Aria rubbed her forehead, telling herself to dismiss the tears accumulated in her eyes.

“No, big sis, I can’t.” Iris’ hands faltered, and she almost let Nina slip from her arms, but a gentle warmth enveloped her hand and the baby. It thawed her frozen heart, giving her the courage to face the unknown.

“You can, Irisdina! Believe in yourself”.

Aria jumped off the wolf’s back as she faced the man who crossed his arms on his chest, calmly watching the heart-wretched exchange between sisters. She took out her bow and clenched it hard on her hand.

“Zephyros, lend me some of your strength, and please bring them to a safe place!”. Aria turned back and etched the picture of her family for the last time.

*Grrr!

“No, Big Sis, please. I was just getting started.” Iris reached her hand forward, but Aria replied with a fleeting smile that faded as she stomped the ground. A thin layer of barrier enveloped both her and the enemy.

“No, No….!”.

“Go, Zephyros! Don’t worry, Irisdina. Your Big sister will handle it from here!”. As the wolf began to move its legs for the last time, Aria flashed her white teeth, clenching her jaws tight to not let tears spill, and fear gnawed at her heart.

“Have you finished saying goodbye”.

A calm yet daunting remark echoed within the flaming sea and trapped space. Aria turned her head and witnessed the man’s composed attitude. Her face contorted while boiling anger reduced her sanity, turning her into a berserker.

“…I’ll kill you!” A monstrous aura spread on the battlefield, bathing the land in a violent green swirl.

The man’s eyes knitted before his lips broke into a fearless grin. A red aura shot up and clashed with the green, creating a chaotic atmosphere inside the barrier.

Meanwhile, Irisdina, already far away from the place, witnessed the green and red aura clash with a tightened heart, tears that flooded her cheeks, and the proof of her sister’s existence in her arms weighing down her consciousness.

“Big sister…”. Her weak sob flew across the atmosphere, dissipating into nothing as she witnessed a flame pillar that burned even the skies, parting the clouds apart like some might from God’s above.

*****

Returning to the present, Iris tightly gripped the cup in her hands. Her breath was rough, recalling the old memories she sealed within. Her eyes glittered with gritted teeth as she held the sob to leak from her lips.

“…” Jin sat still, his thoughts swirling in a flurry of concern. Words formed in his mind yet none of it passed his throat.

What could he possibly say? He knew best that empty words only bring nothing in this situation, but hollow. Furthermore, Jin was the one who replicated the same scene before Iris. Instead of comfort, Jin was weighed down by guilt rather than sympathy.

Jin lifted his head, his body flinched by the sudden shift of movement from Iris who downed the remaining water from the glass before exhaling.

“Oh my god, it’s that time already.” Iris glanced at the window behind Jin and noticed that the shadows were hung high above the surface. She exhaled and stood up from her seat. “Let me patch a simple meal,” she said.

“Ah, I will help!”. The chair scraped the floor below when Jin abruptly stood up and took the ingredients beside him.

“Hee, can you cook, Jin”.

Small smile crept up to Iris’s lips, her sudden change in demeanor was caused by the boy’s action, who was trying to ease her burden. She stood beside him and had to tilt her face up a little bit. ‘Huh, has Jin always been this tall?’.

“Well, if it’s a simple one”. Jin scratched his cheeks while trying to sneak a glance. His body jolted upon meeting with her emerald eyes that could peek through his heart.

“Fufu,”. A soft giggle escapes her lips, “I can’t imagine it”.

“Hey! Don’t underestimate me”. Jin pounded his chest as he flashed his white teeth; “I will cook you something delicious”.

“Hee, Now I’m curious”.

“Good, you can just stay still and also…”.

“…!?”.

Iris’s body stiffened upon a warm contact above her crown and his manly smell; it numbed her thoughts. Her heartbeat started to race, heating up her cheek. Unconsciously, Iris gazed down and felt something soft, and a large hand caressing her head tenderly.

Her breath was shallow, and tears started to well up in her eyes. In response, her hand covers her trembling lips as Jin keeps his hand patting the girl’s head tenderly.

“You did well, Iris”.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep