Author's note: Omg, my Wattpad has finally been fixed! For the entire day, it was glitching out on me like "Oops, something went wrong..." until I literally wanted to puke blood. Sorry for the late update, at least this chapter is long. I can finally sleep peacefully 😂 (it's 2:35am here, my eyes are half open).

Anyway, have fun reading, everyone! I hope this chapter updates safely and completely *prays*

Cecil found her way to the healer's place, and informed her of the situation. The healer, who has known Zasiok for years, immediately set off for the hut. The entire time, Xue has been following her from the shadows, and Cecil had never once noticed him.

Before Xue noticed, he was already following after Cecil. However, even after he noticed it, he didn’t stop, still watching her from the shadows. 

Xue watched on quietly as Cecil conversed with the healer, her face anxious. His expression was indiscernible.

Kai: "Are you stalking Cecil?"

Xue: "..."

Kai: "...actually, thinking about it, I did stalk her as well."

Xue: "...what did you say?"

Kai quickly shut his mouth.

He felt that if he repeated what he said once again, and even admitted that he stalked Cecil more than once...the reaction from Xue wouldn't be good.

Alric, on the other hand, was too cowardly to tell them that stalking someone was completely wrong in the first place.

"Thank you so much!"

"There isn't any need to thank me, Zasiok is important to me too."

Cecil exited the house with the healer, their movements hasty.

Xue ducked out of the way, hiding. He continued to follow her all the way back to the hut along with the healer.

***

Odval, the healer, sighed heavily as everyone anxiously waited for her verdict on Zasiok’s condition. However, from the grim look on her face, they could feel their hearts sinking, especially Cecil and Zasiok’s parents. 

“The toxin is potent and spreads rapidly. A toxin like this is uncommon and the only way to cure Zasiok is to...fight poison with poison,” Odval advised, half of her face covered by a mask as she lowered her eyes. “However, Zasiok has sustained severe internal injuries when he was tortured in prison. He is also suffering from malnutrition, and the only reason he was able to carry on was because of the elixir provided to him and his own willpower.” 

“Are...are you saying, my son...will die?” 

“His chances of survival are very low,” Odval answered, sounding pained. “If his body wasn’t in such a terrible state, he would pull through, but now…” 

Cecil raised her hand to her mouth, her eyes growing wide as she glanced at Zasiok, who was lying on the bed, still unconscious and breathing weakly. 

Zasiok’s mother collapsed to the floor, heaving and wailing, with her husband sobbing quietly beside her. 

Hana shuffled up to Cecil’s side, downcast at the news and she glanced up at Cecil, whose eyes were fixated on Zasiok. 

“Cecil…” Hana called out sadly. 

Cecil felt her eyes watering, her lips quivering. 

Why...why was I so careless? If I had been just a little more alert, Zasiok wouldn’t need to shield me and he would still be…

However, a sudden thought occurred to Cecil, the system hasn’t warned her of any impending doom for Zasiok. She recalled the system warning her once, and she hurriedly called out to the system. 

[ What can I help you with, Cecil Lan?]

“Is...is Zasiok really going to...die?” 

[ His chances of survival are close to none. ] 

“Wh-what? Then why are you not warning me this time?” 

[ You are close to succeeding Mission #7, and you no longer require Zasiok’s parents and Zasiok himself. ] 

“...the robe was the final factor.” 

[ Yes. Since you have handed the robe to the correct person, you will only need to await the announcement of succeeding your mission~ ] 

Cecil squeezed her eyes close, not wanting to see the message anymore. The conversation with AI500 only made her more upset, and she started to reprimand herself in her mind. In the deepest part of her mind, a small voice reminded her there was a way to save Zasiok, however, Cecil didn’t want to mention it. 

Xue observed the upset Cecil with a frown, looking down at his palm and a familiar red marble emerged from it, gleaming brilliantly. 

If Zasiok were to die, he would exactly be like those corpses Xue met back at the academy. The soul would still be there for him to absorb, but their consciousness was completely gone.

Cecil exhaled shakily.

She knew, it was the same as being dead. 

Xue, who had been observing Cecil closely, suddenly felt someone resting their hand on his shoulder. The familiar voice of that person made his hair stand instantly.

“There is a way to save him,” Veau jumped into the conversation, pointing at Xue beside him. “Ask him to absorb that man’s soul.” 

***

Kian recieved the robe from his bodyguard, staring at it for a long time. He clenched his fists, and a vicious look flashed across his face.

"Finally, we got it," Kian hissed angrily. "This time, don't think you'll be able to escape."

Kian then became despondent, sighing. "My dearest son, me and your mother...we can finally get justice for you."

"...master."

"What is it?"

"Since we have found the evidence, I can finally tell you why the captain was captured."

Kian stood up, flaring up. "That's right, that was the only thing Zasiok didn't want to tell me about, what exactly happened?!"

"There was an actual witness. In order to protect that witness, the captain had no other choice."

"A wi-witness?" Kian gasped. "Why did Zasiok not tell me?!"

"He only told me not too long ago, he wanted to assure the complete safety of the witness. The captain threatened me not to let a word leak out, until the right evidence was gathered."

"Oh, Zasiok." Kian laid his forehead on his hand, shaking his head. "Are you telling me he went through all these just to protect a witness?"

"Mostly, yes...and another thing, master."

"What is it now?"

"The captain has been poisoned, and his condition is serious."

***

Everyone spun around to look at the blue-haired stranger standing beside Xue, and Xue himself seemed extremely gloomy, his expression twisting and he shoved Veau’s hand off his shoulder, keeping the marble back into his hand. Xue wanted to summon his spear back to him, only for Veau to stop him by gripping his shoulder harshly.

“You wouldn’t want us to fight here, do you, Xue?” Veau whispered, glancing meaningfully to Hana and Cecil. 

Xue stopped struggling, looking at the two women. 

“Veau.” Cecil muttered out softly, surprised. 

Meanwhile, Hana only hid behind Cecil, peeking at Veau. This was her first time seeing the blue-haired man, and he only gave her an uncanny feeling.

Somehow...this man, seems really scary.

Hana peeked once more and decided to hide, not feeling anything good from Veau.

Xue furrowed his eyebrows, shaking Veau’s hand off. “Don’t touch me.” 

“Hello Cecil,” Veau smiled lazily, looking at Cecil and Hana. “And hello Hana, haven’t seen you in a long while.”

Hana blinked curiously, wondering how Veau knew her and Cecil only regarded Veau with askance. 

“Don’t you dare talk to them.” Xue growled lowly, his eyes glinting  dangerously. "Especially Hana."

Veau seemed unfazed by Xue, and raised his eyebrows when he saw an elderly couple going down on their knees to plead Xue.

“Please save our son!” 

"I haven't seen this sight in a while," Veau remained smiling. "Ever the angel, aren't you, Xue?"

"Scram." Xue growled out, it was unclear who he was saying it too.

Cecil rushed forward to them, getting down on her knees as well, glancing at Veau. “Wait, please, do you understand what he is saying?” 

“He can save...our son.” 

“No, not in that way," Cecil shook her head, gesturing to Zasiok and Xue. "The...the Zasiok you see here, your son, will no longer exist. Instead, he will only exist within Xue, with his face, his voice, and his body."

"But, my son's soul will still be alive, right?" Zasiok's mother asked earnestly. "Within him?"

Cecil was stumped at that question before she finally answered. "...ye-yes."

His mother smiled at that reply, turning to her husband as they nodded, still on their knees. “That’s all we need to hear.” 

Cecil was taken aback by their reply, just like Hana. Xue only glanced away, indifferent.

Veau yawned, blinking sleepily. "Guess I can't see her ugly face again."

Xue gave Veau a look, his hand tempted to grab his spear.

“Why would you want this for Zasiok?” Cecil couldn’t help but question. “Even if his soul will still be here, it is completely different from existing as his own person.” 

“Do you know what kind of life Zasiok led?” his mother asked. 

Cecil slowly shook her head, there was no background story for Zasiok in the novel after all. She only knew Zasiok was the ex-bodyguard of the royal concubine, Kian, and his skills were unparalleled. 

“We were poor, extremely poor, and constantly sick, our son here had to...survive for himself and for us,” his mother inhaled deeply, her wrinkled face expressing a pensive sadness. “Days, months, years, he grew up in conditions that are terrible for a child and we were helpless, we were fortunate Zasiok grew up to be a good man.” 

His mother divulged more about their hard life, and eventually, Zasiok’s name spread throughout the commoners, some said he was unruly, some said he was an upright man, some said he was a thug. However, everyone agreed with one thing, he was undefeatable in fighting and he will never fall. 

These rumours were overheard by the queen when she was exploring the streets, disguised as a noble. The queen, knowing that she had to hire someone that she could trust to protect Kian, decided to approach Zasiok to hire him. 

Thus, from thereon, their life took a turn for the better. They had a proper house, a proper bed, and they could even afford daily necessities without Zasiok “stealing” them anymore. Alas, the happiness they felt only lasted for a short moment, when they found out being a royal concubine’s bodyguard is in fact, worse than living as a human. 

They had no identity, no face and they were simply shadows. They were to place their masters first, and their body would be a shield, nothing more, nothing less. They are not allowed to have a mind of their own, only obeying their master’s orders. Seeing Zasiok coming back with injuries every single time, as a parent, it broke their heart. 

Fortunately, Kian was still considered a better master than others, treating Zasiok with respect. Thus, Zasiok was even more loyal to Kian who treated him like a decent human being. 

Life moved on, and if it couldn’t get better, it can only get worse. A huge tragedy befell the entire kingdom, the young prince was murdered, and the murderer was none other than the bodyguard of the royal concubine. 

“My son, who helped countless people, who placed others before himself, who tried to right the wrong,” his mother looked sadly at her pallid son lying on the bed. “At the end of the day, he was hurt by the very same people he tried to protect.” 

“I only want my son to live as his own person, with his own mind and not live for others.” she approached her son, taking out a dirty handkerchief.

She caressed Zasiok’s face lovingly, wiping away his sweat with the dirty handkerchief. “We had always wished for someone to take our son far, far away from this place. To forget about his duties, his loyalty and for once, to live for himself. To be happy.” 

She turned to look at Cecil, bowing slightly. “As long as he is alive in this world, and far away from this place, that’s all we want.” 

Cecil didn’t know how to respond and Hana only covered her mouth, her eyes watering. Xue glanced to the spot where Veau previously stood, narrowing his eyes. Apparently, halfway throughout the story, Veau excused himself with a bored expression. 

The healer excused herself as well, seemingly emotional.

"Mother."

Zasiok grabbed his mother's hand gently, blinking his eyes open. He had been awake the entire time, but he didn't have the strength to move until now.

Everyone gasped, except Xue.

“Don’t you think you should have asked me first?” Zasiok asked with a wry smile. 

His mother sobbed, stroking her son’s cheek tenderly. “You’ll just say no, you’ll say that we still need you here, and you will continue saying that until you have grown old like us.” 

“I can’t deny that.” Zasiok chuckled weakly, gradually sitting up. “And I will continue doing that until I die.” 

His mother raised her fist, wanting to smack her son but she only exhaled shakily, letting her tears fall. She embraced her son, and the father stepped in to embrace his family. Hana sniffled, hugging Cecil who only watched on with a troubled frown. 

“But yes, Zasiok, my son, we will still ask you…”

“What do you want to do, son?” 

They separated from the hug, and his parents questioned him, leaving Zasiok dumbfounded as he stared at them. He hadn’t expected his parents to actually ask him. 

“...I will go with whatever...the two of you wish--” 

His mother glared at him, reaching out to lightly pinch him on the cheek. “For once in your life, don’t think about your duty as a son, as a bodyguard, as a person of this world, but for yourself! What do you want to do, Zasiok?” 

His mother released his cheek and Zasiok raised his hand to rub at his cheek gingerly, befuddled. Eventually, he began to think. 

If I remain in this body to die, this will be my last moment here before I cease to exist forever. 

If I choose to merge my soul with Xue, my soul will remain alive but I will not be in the same body--

At that moment, Zasiok felt the strange, unexplainable pull yet again, the “pull” telling him nothing more than to merge with Xue. Moreover, this time, the same pull has grown stronger and Zasiok lifted his head up, looking at Xue. 

“Hey, you...Xue.” 

Xue had his eyes closed, resting while waiting for the family to reach their decision. Since, either way, he will still be taking Zasiok’s soul. 

Xue opened his eyes, looking at Zasiok with cold eyes.

“Attack me.” 

“...?!” 

Everyone widened their eyes at Zasiok, except Xue who only straightened himself, taking his spear that he kept on his back, giving it a spin in his hand. Surprisingly, Xue did not reject Zasiok’s request, getting ready to attack him. 

“Wait, Zasiok! Why are you doing this?!” Cecil rushed forward to Zasiok, an anxious look on her face. “You wouldn’t be able to beat Xue in--” 

Zasiok smoothly leaned towards Cecil, his sitting position allowing him to easily unsheathe the dagger hanging on her hip. 

“I’ll be borrowing this for a moment, Cecil.” Zasiok clutched the dagger in his hand, smiling. “Thanks.” 

“Wha--” 

Zasiok zipped past Cecil and his parents, rushing at Xue. Xue didn’t hold back either, speeding towards Zasiok and their weapons clashed loudly.

Zasiok started to widen his eyes in realisation and he glanced up at Xue.

“Th-this is what you are…?”

“You should have your answer now.” Xue simply stated, withdrawing back and keeping his spear. 

Zasiok began to cough blood, due to him exerting his strength and his parents grew flustered. He only spit the remaining blood out, wiping his mouth and continued staring at Xue.

*** 

Pt. 1

《 start 》

"You are a part of his soul."

"You are him."

Those words clearly echoed in my mind, with my own voice.

I...I am a part of this guy's...soul?

...this explains it, the unpleasant feelings I had when I first saw this guy.

《 stop 》

***

Pt. 2

《 start 》

Stalking? It wasn't what I wanted at all, or to even leave Hana's side.

It's just...

It's annoying.

It's annoying how uneasy I feel, if you aren't by my side.

...why am I even hiding?

《 stop 》