The rain was getting heavier, and the fog brought in cold breeze and darkness. Ryu managed to carry Cecily inside the protective shelter of a cave despite being so weak himself.

Cecily passed out due to emotional trauma while Ryu was still suffering from the poison of the Vamperic wolf. It was a good thing that Cecily\'s body was absorbing mana to heal her wounds, though only little at a time. Slow it may be, Ryu was still thankful.

Ryu didn\'t want to close his eyes, for he was afraid that something terrible might happen to Cecily, who was unconscious beside him. But his world was slowly becoming a kaleidoscope of agony. It was almost beyond what he could endure.

Ryu grunted and took a deep breath, and refocused his thoughts. But he was sharply aware of the hot, stirring pain that radiated from his wounds, blurring his thoughts.

Her skin was turning violet, and his veins bulged as if it was going to tear his flesh. The blood that flowed within was no longer red but green.

Pulses of pain numb everything around the bite and claw marks, leaving Ryu unable to feel anything. That might be good.

With shallow breathes and sweat soaking his skin, he struggled to stay conscious. The paralyzing effect reverberated throughout his body, and he fought to remain upright as he lost feeling in his limbs and before his vision was swallowed by darkness.

.. .

.. .

Ryu\'s body spasmed. It was burning hotter and hotter as the runes in the pentagrams that revolved like a clock inside his body glowed. Soon the pentagram spans faster and faster, and Ryu\'s violet skin returned to its normal color. The bulging veins ceased to expand, and it reverted to its usual size as his greenish blood turned red.

Then the pentagrams slowed before they went back to their usual speed like nothing happened.

.. .

.. .

The rain was never ceasing, and the pitter-patter brought a temporary respite in the ears.

Ryu groaned and opened his eyes. The moment he realized where they were, he scrambled to his feet and searched for Cecily.

Panic overcame Ryu\'s mind when he didn\'t find Cecily at the usual spot where he placed her. And just when he was about to search her, he found her sitting not far from him. Her legs were pressed together, and her hands and knees hid her face.

Ryu opened his mouth but closed it again. Even without speaking, he felt was Cecily was feeling. It was not vivid as before but based on her posture and the shaking of her shoulders. Even he knew that she was crying.

Dozla was dead. Murok was Dead. She was all alone now.

With slow and careful movement, Ryu went beside her but offered no comfort. He just sat near her, hoping his warmth could protect her against the cold.

"You should have left me for dead. .. ," Cecily croaked, a fake smile on her tears stained face. "It was all my fault. .. I\'m too weak. . ."

If she was only stronger to resist that gravity. No. .. in the first place. .. if only she weren\'t overconfident.

She thought she was powerful enough to face any opponents as long as Dozla and Murok were by her side. But now that both of them were gone. .. Cecily felt that the world would swallow her whole. Who will protect her from now? Who will guide her? Love her? Spoil her?

Not her family and definitely not her sister and brother.

The family that she ever had left her and now. .. she didn\'t know what to do. In just thirty days, she lost everything she held dear, and she felt like proving herself as the best in the Byron\'s royal family became useless. .. an impossible dream.

She was weak. .. too weak.

"I. .. I will stay beside you," Ryu spoke softly.

Slow and without an ounce of emotions on her face, Cecily looked Ryu in the eyes. "Heh. What can you do? A halfbreed that doesn\'t even know how to manipulate mana.?"

"I. . ." Ryu shied away, aware of his weaknesses. "I-I\'m strong and. .. agile. I\'ll. .. I\'ll protect you with my life. I\'ll. .. take blows for you. .. I\'ll shield you from everyone who wants to harm you. .. I\'ll. .. I\'ll always take your side. .. and stand by you."

".. ." Cecily brows furrowed, but her chin quivered. She wanted to scream and be angry. But in her weakest moment. .. It was exactly what she wanted to hear, what she needed.

Cecily couldn\'t suppress her tears, and she wept behind her arms and knees.

Ryu didn\'t speak, nor did he do something. He just stayed with her until Cecily could no longer shed a drop of tear.

.. .

.. .

Rumble!

Rumble!

"We have to. .. meet with the others," Ryu said when Cecily stop crying.

They were still not safe, and Ryu was worried that the cold would get to Cecily in her enfeebled condition. Not to mention that there was still that monster above that they have to defeat.

Ryu wondered if Ferris already took care of it since it had gotten a lot quieter.

Cecily didn\'t respond, and Ryu wanted to shake her shoulder when his ears perked stomping sounds followed by faint gallops and neighs.

"Cecily!"