Chapter 627: Rage.

Night shielded the capital. Public safety blocked access. Barricades of armored vehicles laid in wait. The public's attention was drawn to no avail. People were fascinated by death. Upon the news of a murder, the curious rushed for a sneak peek. Photos circulated the underbelly of the Arcanum. 

A white overlay hid the disheartening sight. No matter the fascination with the afterlife. When someone dies gruesomely, no matter their stomach or level of resistance, the pain fuels the fear for one's ultimate end.

Black cars rushed the riverbank. The latter was a park of the outer 'exercise' area. A running path turned attraction. Blonde hair immediately darted the grassy slopes, men in uniformed allowed entry, albeit nervously. What they protected was crude and vile, the investigators barely took a look and decided no. 

"Excuse me," said Julius.

"Lord Julius," said the detective, "-my name's Arlon from the homicide division. The victim is a member of the Haggard's dynasty."

"Yes," the heart raced, "-where's she!"

"Being hauled to the hospice," a pen roughly scratched his head, "pardon the tactlessness, will Phantom take over the investigation?"

"Are you serious?" the arms instinctively grabbed his collar, "-will the homicide division sit idly."

"Excuse me," he countered the grip, "-my job is to access the scene, don't let emotion run wild," he gawked.

"I apologize," the grip eased, "-got carried away. The girl's practically family to me. We had our differences… tell me, have there been leads?" stretchers carried the soul to the hospice. 

"The murder took place somewhere else. The killer purposefully dumped her here, they're mocking us." 

'Alicia…' the heart cowered, '-if only I intervened.' The sirens faded and so did the light. Yellow tapes surrounded the vicinity. Most of the scene was scanned. An attack on the Haggard dynasty, the message echoed through Phantom and the Dark-Guild. Imposing armored cars and trucks pulled into the hospice later that night. Julius lifelessly watched the ceiling, the regret clawed at the deadly mistake. Vorn and Xius arrived after prominent members. 

Lady Courtney and Elvira stormed the entrance in the company of highly armed fighters. They were armed to the teeth and didn't waver to pull the trigger. A raging inferno was set ablaze, the autopsy was handled by doctors employed by Phantom.

"Julius," said Elvira, "-I heard the gist from the detective."

"I've sent a team to investigate the area," said Courtney, "-we'll comb the whole capital if need-be to bring the perpetrator to justice." 

"What justice," frowned the prince, "-punish me too, I should have been more careful. I broke my promise…" 

"Alicia," sobbed Dei and Emi, "-s-she's r-really d-dead?" 

"Get a hold of yourself," gritted Suga.

"HOW," cried Dei, "-she's our friend!"

"Please," said an attendant, "-follow me this way." 

Enna's composed self crumbled, Vorn's inner sense of safety cracked. They spoke no words and sat silently. The culprit fled the country, a private jet escaped Phantom's watch before long, the nonchalant visit of a hotshot went amiss by the detection system. The attack surprised the nobles. The shock rattled Celina's uncertainty. She who strived to make a future had one of her morale pillars broken. Before dawn, Alicia moved to Rotherham at a better establishment. Vorn, Xius, and a few others stayed. 

Courtney and Elvira departed after landing. 'How can this have happened,' the mouth draped. No motive nor warning, hell, she didn't say a word about her activities. She died simply for the sake of dying, those closest were obviously distraught and on edge. The same couldn't be said for those acquainted; like the radio report on who died, Alicia was but a name to the populous. 

The inferno's flame would flare further, Igna landed. '-Barely a month,' the stairs carefully lowered. 'Origin, my other self,' he walked, '-I sense the rage seeping through my pores.' 

The bike burnt asphalt till a stoppie. '-the hospital,' he thought and vaulted without care for the expensive ride. Bodyguard barely caught the latter. The white building stood its ground. Draconis and Saniata left to the Shadow Realm on their own accord. Joking around wouldn't be the greatest idea. Vanesa remained her usual self.

"Julius, don't beat yourself up," said Malley.

"Shut it, Malley," the break room echoed, "-I can't calm down. I'm frightened," the face paled.

"Why, are you the murderer?" inquired Suga.

"No, I'm not."

"Then calm it," said the man drenched in snot and tears courtesy of Dei and Emi. 

A menace barged into the morgue; the silence sufficed to freeze bravado. Tall guards glanced to lower their heads. 

*Click,* 

"Igna…" the prince gasped. An ominous presence glued to his back. No exchange of pleasantries or care for a hello, he toppled a chair and firmly glared. 

"Who's responsible?"

"Igna," intervened Malley, "-Julius' traumatized, please understand the situation."

"I'm sorry, did he lose someone or?" he side-glanced, "-Priestess, I say this in good faith. Don't interrupt me." 

"Son," said Courtney, "-don't blame him," others entered.

"I never said I blame him," murderous intent overflowed his person, "-tell me, who's responsible?" Guards flooded the room; Elvira led the charge.

"I'll reveal it only if you promise not to cause trouble," fired Elvira sternly.

"What trouble?" he took a step-in confrontation, the guards jumped to make a wall, "-I see my aunt's reluctant in speaking one on one." 

"Promise me," pleaded Courtney.

"Promise?" he kicked a metal table through the walls, "-listen to me closely," the hair parted, brown bleached to white, canines sharpened, "-there's no such thing as a promise. Tis my fault for thinking Rosespire to be a peaceful place. Alphia was supposed to be the dangerous endeavor, not a job as fucking manager." 

"DON'T MOVE!" exclaimed the guards.

"Out of my way," *Blood-Arts: Extria,* they flung and struck to the walls. "-Mother, Aunt, tell me who's responsible." 

"Let them go," glared Courtney. A sword manifested, *Death Element - Daemonum Gladio Variant: Unleash Aura.* 

"Is this how you treat your family?" Elvira snapped, her nails sharped, her raw strength pulsed throughout the building. 

"Family," he gritted, "-am I suppose to take the blatant attack lightly?" their auras fought to scrape the room.

"Cousin, don't do it!" 

"Don't stop me," palm clenched and knocked out the guards, "-I'm in the mood to destroy an entire continent." 

"My son," she fell through the floor, "-don't make us fight," *CLANG,* he countered her strike. Unable to keep pace, Elvira tore into his stomach, floating dagger snapped and nailed his feet. *Cough,* '-strong,' consciousness wavered. 

"Enough, Igna," whispered Courtney, "-listen to me. I know you're in pain."

"We're trying to save you," said Elvira.

"Listen to them," *Creation: Astral Binding,* five pentagram-shaped swords restrained his movement. 

"Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha," jovial laughter escaped, "-my safety?" the struggle eased, "-how very generous. Tis the level of protection I expected for Alicia. Look where she's at, in a morgue, lifeless and miserable. I regret not telling her my feelings. I should have confessed. I'm but human, I can't manipulate the fate of another." 

"Don't lower your guard!" fired Julius.

"What happened, happened, I'll avenge her in my own way."

*Knowledge known to only the watcher, I, master and inheritor of Origin, beckon thee; Mantia, Library of the all-knowing.*

"Calm down," four portals opened.

*Demonic-Arts: Restraint of a thousand Aedric ,* a pool of purple sludge solidified, "-can't allow our master to go berserk," winked Lilith.

*Divine-Arts Chaos Variant: Unfounded Calamity,* skull-shaped chains climbed to stroke the jugular and weak spots. "-Such a big baby," said Gophy.

*Hands of the moving clock, come to a stop for I, guardian of time, order so. Azure-Dragon's roar – Freezure.* "-we're even," smiled Miira.

"So rash sometimes," murmured Intherna, "-listen here, Igna," a small-size phoenix perched on her arms, "-do anything stupid and we'll pull the trigger." 

"Seriously?" the shoulders slumped; "-I yield." 

One would have sufficed to restrain Igna. The sight of their friend burning in the unforgiving flame of vengeance forced a collective response. The revolt left him tired; Origin's anger joined Igna's bloodlust for the briefest of time. They must never be allowed to walk said path. He apologized and took to the empty apartment. 

Her funeral was soon hosted without an official ceremony. The autopsy concluded the presence of narcotics. Elvira knew the murderer. Thus, with eyes glued onto her pretty visage, the realization sank. '-I'll never see her again,' the heart sank, '-Alicia's really dead…' she rested on a metal table, most in attendance were asked to stay behind a one-way mirror. "Excuse me," Igna reflectively made for the door, "-can I perform her last rites?" The handlers paused on the unusual request. 

"Cousin, was the punishment, not enough?" 

"Let him be," said Elvira.

"He deserves at least that honor."

'Cold,' he caressed her battered face, '-you're pretty even in death,' he smiled tenderly, '-you grew on me, Alicia, I can confidently say it now, I fell for you. My feelings grew and I chose to ignore them. I didn't wish the responsibility of another human in my life. You gave me more than companionship, thank you for everything. I wish I could revive you…' he blinked; '-your soul has been reborn plenty. Tis the final journey, the heavenly plain awaits. May thee choose wisely.' *Souls lost to the world; souls trapped by regret. Forgo the worldly barriers and depart joyfully. I, Igna Haggard, wielder of the death element, wish upon thee a graceful future,* he pressed her forehead, *-Neae.* 

A semi-transparent figure hovered; the faceless skull nodded in gratitude. *Mana Control: Light Variant - Serenade.* The blocky entrance shut; a peaceful glow covered the body. Angel-like creatures hovered with harps and flutes, they serenaded her departure. 

The evening showed on the clock. The representatives of many factions and companies gathered inside the skyscrapers. Elvira led the homage to Alicia. Reputable people of law to the worst of the scum, no discrimination. Prince-consort Piers acted as the Queen's proxy. The party flowed; the guests were deeply sympathetic to the grieving family. 

"Cousin, I apologize for failing to keep my promise," he lowered his head.

"Julius," he stopped the shameful act and gave a tight embrace, "-we share the blame. Don't trouble yourself," three loud pats appeased the guilt. The last rite was a thing of beauty. He conveyed the deepest regret and sorrow to the fallen, of which, they left serenely. "I'll excuse myself for the night." 

The wind blew harshly, '-so pathetic,' he lit a cigar outside the three arrows, '-how hopeless can I be?' he smoked shy of the massive entrance under a little wet bench. Rain shyly showered the region. 'They found the wonder drug in her body. I can guess who killed her, it's obvious. My prior outrage was a long-time coming. Damned Ziu Patek. As Aunt and mother warned, I can't attack them directly. I'm helpless, the politics are conflicting with my way of vengeance. I want to run my sword through his stomach, there's nothing more that'll make me happy. Why even bother, the bastard doesn't deserve a painless death,' he curled against the marbled walls, '-reviving her should have been an easy job… What was it about Staxius being the better vessel… he would have done anything to get what he wanted. I can't compare to how I was, am I weak or strong, I don't know anymore.' 

Footsteps exited the left, he side-glanced without much thought. The crimson shine of hate bleached to one woefully white. The heart pained, the limbs were numb, the mind flooded in macabre thoughts. 

*Clop, clop,* a feeble figure rested against his shoulder.

"Celina?" he puffed. 

"…"

"-are you ok?" 

"…"

"Fine, do as you wish."

"She's gone," her face buried into his shoulders, "-she's gone. Who am I going to talk to at night? Who's going to give me advice. Alicia taught me so much, I knew nothing about making friends… I-I-I w-was able t-to s-start a n-new life."

"Alicia was an awesome person," he watched the moon melancholically, "-her sharp tongue and refreshing personality. I'll miss her."

"M-me too," she wept, "-I w-w-wanted t-to play in a c-concert and r-repay her kindness."