Chapter 250 - Her choice

It all happened the moment the two prodigies of Magierstadt ran away from the academy, nowhere to be found. 

"The official statement says that you kidnapped me…" Eulalia said to Jonathan, who was sitting in a chair in front of his desk, head buried in a book.

"Eula." Jonathan exclaimed. "I told you not to come here."

It's been nine months since they've run off to the tower in Zweite. The magician's tower is an unoccupied space. Jonathan and Eula combined their magic to glamour the place, making it look nothing but a ruin to those who do would not be permitted by them. And so far, only the two could see the repaired tower. 

"Why can't I come to my husband's office?"

Although it is unofficial, Eula and Jonathan had a sacred matrimony with a priest as a witness to their vow. The priest was a person that Jonathan knew well, and shortly afterwards he died several months later. But there was a proof of their marriage engraved in one of the memory stones. 

This tower they are hiding in is their new home. It was as good as new, and was functional enough to house the two of them. However…

"You know it's dangerous for you and the baby."

Jonathan glanced towards Eula's swollen belly. Even he would be the one to give birth to his wife—and even with the aid of magic, it will still be hard to do so, due to this being a new life. No amount of magic could ease the pain of childbirth. Jonathan stood up and sauntered towards Eula.

"You can't isolate in your office too often." Eula said.

Even pregnant, she was still so beautiful. Not that she had ever become ugly in Jonathan's eyes. Eula has always, and always will be, beautiful. He gave her a peck on the lips, and then he leaned to her belly and then kissed through the fabric of her dress.

"My delivery is within a week," Eula said. "But the baby doesn't even do any moving."

Jonathan smiled.

"It's a very calm baby." He smiled. 

"Say, Jonathan…" Eula started. "Is there any progress about the curse?"

The curse.

"No." Jonathan answered. "But I think I have answers to why it plagued me."

"Answers…" Eula exclaimed. "Can you tell me?"

Jonathan nodded.

"I looked up into the family tree of the Unsterblichs… and there was nothing to be found but only a clear bloodline of them." He said. "However, I did find something on my biological father's family tree."

"Somehow, there is a missing link. I think that it's erased deliberately. It dates back several hundred years ago; and I think it's where the warlock blood comes from."

"And that warlock blood may have come from the warlock who was the one to lead Zweite back in the great war… or his descendants; anyone under his genome pool."

"That warlock?"

"Yes," Jonathan nodded. "Nathaniel."

Eula's green eyes then darted towards Jonathan's fingers, which were bandaged yet again. But this ttime it was his entire hand.

"What happened here? Why are all your fingers bandaged?" Eula asked, holding Jonathan's hand. "Did you… test yourself over and over again?"

Eulalia stared at Jonathan's eyes. "Were the results… the same again?"

His ruby, red eyes were now looking more crestfallen than ever.

"Yes." He answered her with the gentlest voice possible. "I am no longer an Unsterblich. My blood components changed the moment he awakened."

Silence.

"Jonathan." She cupped his cheeks. "No matter who you are, I still love you. Both of us. We love you." 

Jonathan then leaned to kiss Eula's forehead.

"Thank you for cheering me up, Eula." 

**

Faustina's tears dripped down to her cheeks. Why was everything coming back to her now? Her memories as a child… her real memories were coming back to her.

"Mommy, mommy. I want to see daddy."

"Daddy's not going to come home this time either." Eula's voice was cheerful, but she looked sad. "It's snowing again."

--

"Mommy. Why are you crying?"

"Nothing, baby. I'm okay."

--

"She'll have to forget me…" Eula murmured, holding her staff. "Or else, if they knew she knew the truth… then they will kill her…"

"Mommy… why are you still awake?"

'I'm sorry, Faustina."

--

"I'm Eula. Your master! And you're Faustina, my apprentice. I helped you escape the slave market. Together we'll brew medicine and be mountain witches."

"Mountain… witches."

"Yes." Eula smiled sadly. "Do your best, Faustina."

~~

"Don't…" Faustina exclaimed in between her tears. "Don't hurt my father…"

His beautiful sapphire blue eyes looked like it dulled in color. The king's expression changed from surprised to cold.

"Father?" He asked coldly. And even with the fire, Faustina felt a shiver run down his spine.

"Were you hiding this from me for a long time, Faustina?" He asked, his sword dragging down to the floor as he ambles forward.

Jonathan then lifted Faustina using a barrier that carried her away. 

"You…" Noah murmured as he stares at Jonathan. "You're the one who killed my family."

"The one who had murdered my father."

"The one who had killed my mother."

"The one who ate… my unborn, little sister."

Noah's voice was tremulous, and his eyes were screaming pent-up rage. Jonathan looked at him—the moment Faustina was born was the time when the Feuerkriegers were killed. It was also the same night that Eula and the newborn Faustina flew to Nebel, which Jonathan had concealed and locked in time. 

"I will not let you take her away."

Faustina's eyes widened upon hearing this. She then turned to the king, whose gaze was locked unto Jonathan. 

"She will stay with me." He said. 

Jonathan knew that this child had all the right to be angry with him. His parents were murdered with the use of this body, and his powers were awaken too soon, and progressively getting stronger, making his body unable to keep up.

"I will lift you off from the pain." Jonathan said. "My daughter… will no longer have to sustain your life."

Jonathan knew that the ninth king of Feuersturm was feeding on her daughter's mana to supply the empty spaces he had lacked. To temporarily repair the compromises. 

Jonathan was more than thankful that the king did not bind Faustina's life to his own. Because if that was the case, then there was a point of no return to the two of them.

"I can't undo the curse, but I can have your body readjust properly." He said, and then in a split second, Jonathan's hand had evoked a blue entity. "With this, you will be fine."

He then propelled his hand forward—the entity then wrapped around Noah. Faustina watched as all the gaps, the spaces, and the strength he should've had all came back to him. The pain he was bearing for years disappeared, as if it wasn't there on the first place—and as the entity exited the body, it extracted a purple-colored wisp.

Jonathan crushed the wisp with his bare hands, and Noah's pain was all long gone.

"With this," Jonathan said. "Faustina… is not of use to you anymore."

The king then lifted his sword.

"No." He swiftly ran towards Faustina. He then swung his sword down, and cut the barrier open. Faustina's eyes widened as the king seized her by the waist, taking her away from Jonathan with just a split second.

Jonatha stared intently at the king. Now that he no longer endures pain, no hindrance comes to his way.

He closed his eyes.

Even so… he was still no match for the warlocks.

Faustina would not be safe in here anymore.

"My daughter." He said. "Will not come with you."

Jonathan then conjured black magic. Without even chanting, the chains of darkness then crept towards the ninth king. But as expected, the sword of Feuersturm, which was infused with a holy seal that was meant to ward off warlocks' dark magic, broke the chains in a matter of seconds.

"She will be with me." The king said. 

Before they could converse even further, a burning pillar fell in between them, separating the king and Faustina from Jonathan.

This was the perfect opportunity to escape.

The king held her tightly.

"Stay with me," he whispered as he ran carrying her with one arm. He then broke through the wall with magic, and landed towards the courtyard of the castle. She had hold on tightly to his body, afraid to even let go or see his face.

The king knew he had to take her somewhere safe.

The royal city, nor the capital, is no longer an option.

They had to go somewhere far…

Somewhere no one will be able to find them.

"Faustina." He then parted away from her for a moment. In that very instant, their eyes met. Ruby gems looking through sapphire ones. Two different worlds connected through war and peace. Turmoil and beauty. Death and life.

"Will you come with me?" He asked. 

Faustina stared at the king's honest, blue eyes. There was no wall in him now. 

Slowly, she nodded.

And with that, he claimed her lips once again.