There's Nothing to Forgive

"No," Devin sighed. "It can't be. I-I need to go back now."

"We still have time left," Andrei said. "It's still our fourth day here and we can wait until Martin wakes up. By then it would only be at least 7 AM."

"I'm sorry," Penny said. "But father often skips weeks of sleep. He had always been focused on experimenting and improving us. He didn't even know that he was the one who was decreasing in power."

"What do you mean?" Andrew asked.

Wolfgang tried to stop Penny, but she continued. "He implanted a lot of his blood into us so we could be released from being savages. A lot of almost dying Stained Souls from the Purgatory, he kept on taking us in."

"I, for example, was a peacock-formed Stained Soul. I was dying fighting for food when Martin saw me. He saved me," Penny said and looked at Martin. "Right now, he's providing 5 Stained Souls with blood. It's taking a huge toll on him."

"Why won't he stop?" Devin inquired.

Wolfgang laughed. "There's no way anyone could stop father. After all, he's the only one who had helped us when everyone else was hunting us down."

Devin stared at the man, hardly believing the words that came from his mouth.

"Stained Souls have been killing humans for the past 700 years," Devin muttered. "Mrs. Berry, Mr. Coltrane, and a lot more people lost their lives because of your race."

"What do you mean?" Penny asked, her eyebrows meeting in confusion.

"You have preyed on humans like us. You have always been the evil that was dawned into humanity."

Wolfgang growled which made the twins step in between them. They gripped their swords that were still inside its scabbard.

"Shut up, all of you," Martin said and sat up. "I'm trying to sleep here."

"Send me home," Devin said with tears welling in his eyes.

Martin looked at him with tired, droopy eyes. "Have you reached Secunda?"

"Send me home,�� Devin repeated.

"Father is still unfit to use his ability–"

The cracks appeared beside Devin, cutting Wolfgang off. The boy bowed and thanked the man before exiting through the portal.

"That was unnecessary," he said to the twins after he got out. "Too overdramatic."

The twins snorted and watch the boy run through the closing portal. He saw Wolfgang and bowed, "I'm sorry. Let us talk again next time."

Wolfgang rolled his eyes and walked away, and Penny came. "Don't worry kid. Let's talk more when you come back. Good luck!"

Devin got out just before the cracks disappeared. He was in the hall while the others were camping there.

"Everyone, he's here!" Rodney yelled and ran towards Devin. "How are you, bud?"

Devin was silent for a moment. He stared at his friends and he realized that it was only a long time for him but only a couple of hours for them. 

"You didn't have to camp out," Devin chuckled.

"We have to wait for your return, you know," Kagura said and smiled.

"Have you reached Secunda, yet?" Morris asked that made Devin's smile fall.

When he didn't answer, the others gave him a comforting smile.

"Don't worry. It's been years since I started training but I'm still quite far," Morris said. "At least you get to train a lot."

"I can maintain Revelation for 15 minutes now," Devin said. Everyone cheered at him and clapped their hands, proud of their leader's achievement.

"It's too late to go to sleep now. Did you take a good rest there?" Rodney asked.

Devin awkwardly grinned, remembering that he was just in the middle of fighting when Martin came. It was noon when he returned, and his body just felt the exhaustion.

Sofia used her Sanctity to lull Devin to sleep. "It's still 5 AM. He can rest for a bit."

The twins excused themselves and walked out. There, they saw Xia in their suite. The guests from Team Asia like the twins and Xia shared a hotel suite with 7 rooms.

"She hates me," Xia said. "Stephanie really hates me."

Andrei walked towards her while Andrew went to the kitchen. He forgot to bring the food he made with him and he got hungry, so he planned on making another set of food.

"What happened now?" Andrei asked.

"I tried to talk to her, but she wouldn't even look at me in the eye. She said she's tired and now… I don't know anymore," Xia cried.

Andrei grabbed the tissue dispenser and gave it to Xia. "It's all going to be okay. Stephanie will talk to you soon."

"That's what I've been saying," Franco said from behind them. "It's a stressing time for Stephanie right now since she's going to file for retirement."

Andrew run to the living room of the suite after he heard Franco. "No way."

"She wants to live a normal life," Franco said with a bitter smile. "She said she'll live in Martin's cottage in Torus and raise a small garden there."

"Why didn't she tell me?" Xia sobbed.

"My plan was to surprise you." Stephanie's voice made everyone snap their heads to the direction where it came from.

"W-What?" Xia stuttered.

"I have no right to forgive you, Xia," Stephanie started. "There's nothing to forgive. You did not do anything wrong."

"B-But… Lemon's–"

"Death was an accident," Stephanie cut her off. "I had always known that. After my retirement, I wanted you to come with me. It's a perfect place to live."

"Really?" Xia asked.

Stephanie nodded and opened her arms. Her friend did not waste tie and hugged Stephanie as tight as she could.

"Thank you, Steph," Xia cried.

"Thank you, Xi."

–

"The final round of the Summit has come," Daniel started. "Today, after the announcement of the winner, the Summit will be concluded."

"The winning will be the home for all the Bearers of Exorcists just like what Ms. Tina Godfrey said in the opening," Michelle added. "So now, let us start our final round!"

"First up, the first match, Team Asia versus Team Europe versus Team South America!"

Devin sighed and walked over to the platform. He saw Liam and Dante there, smiling at him.

'I must win.'

"Make sure you get all of these matches today," Andrea said. "This will be the main event, and this will be the most brutal."

"Are you saying that–"

"Yes," Michelle cut Roy off. "This will be our main weapon. After this, the Union will fall and humanity will be saved. Thanks to us."