Pillar of Yita

”Hudi, have you forgotten our covenant?” Hes finally caught her breath and looked at him weakly and helplessly, her face pale as she said, ”I can’t last much longer, hurry up...”

With gritted teeth, Hudi turned around to grab the dagger from the altar.

But Diket stepped forward and blocked his path with a sword.

”She’s deceiving you,” the older knight looked at Hudi and said calmly, ”You’re chasing after nothing more than a phantasm of the past, young man. Besides lies, she will give you nothing.”

”Don’t listen to him,” Hes said weakly, ”He’s sowing discord, he and those Dragon Worshippers are cut from the same cloth. Don’t forget that the only ones we can trust here are each other, Hudi.”

After glancing at Diket, she continued, ”Don’t be afraid of him, Hudi. You’re recognized by me, and no one here can harm you. Step forward and do what you must.”

Then Hudi turned back to look at the tip of Diket’s sword and took a step forward.

The knight’s blade seemed to pass through his body like a phantom, a sight that made Parker watching from behind gasp in shock, ”Good heavens, what is happening!?”

Diket shook his head at the young man before him. ”This Phantom Realm is Miss Hes’s dream, protected by her Shelter. Indeed, I cannot stop you, young man,” he said slowly. ”But that woman behind you, she is not Hes. You know who she is—”

”I know, she is Dragon’s Golden Eyes,” Hudi lifted his head slowly and answered. ”I’ve always known, and Miss Hes has never tried to deceive me. Whether it’s Miss Hes or Dragon’s Golden Eyes, they are one and the same, past and present—Mr. Knight, if you are Ade’s friend, please tell him I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to deceive him.”

He glanced at the sword on the ground: ”But Hes has done nothing wrong. She shouldn’t have to endure such a fate. Having the power of Dragon’s Golden Eyes is not her fault, and those responsible for all this are not her, but those people.”

Hudi raised his head and looked coldly at the Dragon Worshipper behind Diket.

The Dragon Worshipper sneered, ”The whining of a pathetic weakling.”

He spread his hands and said, ”Since you’re so obsessed with Lord Nikopolas’s power, you should join us, kid. Her soul is but a part of the great Lord Nikopolas; the Dark Giant Dragon is the true master of Dragon’s Golden Eyes. You must understand this, not pursue these erroneous shadows—”

”Hes is not a phantom. She was born with the power of Dragon’s Golden Eyes, but that doesn’t mean she will submit to you,” Hudi, looking at everyone, said with emphasis, ”Thirty years ago, you destroyed everything, but I will not allow the tragedy to repeat after thirty years. Hes—she is not the Dark Giant Dragon Nikopolas!”

”Dragon’s Golden Eyes doesn’t represent everything—”

Diket sighed.

He lowered his sword and looked at everyone present—even those Dragon Worshippers, and said, ”She hasn’t told you the truth, young man. Miss Hes is indeed chosen by Dragon’s Golden Eyes, but this is all part of its plan. Dragon’s Golden Eyes is the source of the Dark Giant Dragon’s Strength, the Golden Star Fire, the calamity of Aithelin—Young man, if you release her from this Sealing, you will cause Miss Hes’s soul to be utterly destroyed.”

”Strength resides in the heart, Hudi. Strength itself is neither good nor evil; it’s about the person who wields it,” Hes spoke, ”Do you believe I would use the power of Dragon’s Golden Eyes for evil?”

After hearing this Hudi looked up at Diket and shook his head, ”Mr. Knight, all things considered, I would rather believe Hes.” With those words, he stepped forward, his body passing through the knight, who seemed but a Phantom.

But just as he was about to reach for the altar’s dagger, a faint Phantom emerged from behind Parker, spreading its arms to block his path.

”Stop, Hudi, Mr. Diket isn’t lying to you—”

The blurry Shadow, with a voice Hudi knew all too well, made him suddenly lift his head in disbelief.

The fragile figure was the brave and strong daughter of the pottery workshop owner; the last student who disappeared from Holite Academy thirty years ago.

The girl gently shook her head, her ghostly form becoming clearer, but unlike the ’Hes’ behind Hudi, there was no zealousness or impatience in her eyes.

Only endless concern for the person before her and a semblance of inner peace.

Hudi instinctively turned back, glancing at the former, then at the latter. The two girls looked identical, yet a trace of uncontrollable doubt flashed through his heart.

”Do you remember what I told you, Hudi?” the girl said softly, ”Don’t chase after the phantoms of the past. Although it gave us the chance to meet through thirty years—seeing such a righteous and courageous you, but Hudi, some things are destined to have passed—”

”But...” Hudi’s heart skipped a beat.

”Don’t believe that woman,” the ’Hes’ behind him looked at the suddenly appearing girl in surprise, saying in a panic, ”She’s a fake, a trick those people conjured up!”

Hudi faintly thought it might be possible.

But another voice inside him said otherwise.

He couldn’t help but look towards the latter.