Going Against Destiny II

As Seraphine continues weeping, all Eric can do is keep embracing her.

He never dealt with a crying girl before, so he didn't know any words of comfort that he could say to her. The only solacing gesture that he came to know of was this - not only because he himself felt warm and soothed whenever he was being hugged, but also because he just felt the need to do it for some reason.

There's something about Seraphine that Eric can relate to. He can't understand it well, and all he knows is that he cares about her. There's this unfamiliar sensation that draws him to her - something close to affinity or similitude, perhaps. No matter what this is, he can't resist it, and before he knows it, he finds himself already embracing it.

"I don't get it. Why're you crying so much, Seraphine...?" Eric began once more and squeezed her tighter, already getting frustrated at himself for not being able to comfort her like the way he wanted to.

"They really did something very terrible to you, didn't they?"

"E-Eh?" Seraphine blurted out, stiffening at his dark, tyrannical tone.

"I knew it. I should have already ended that man's life, then-"

"N-No, no! Y-You got it wrong!"

She stopped crying right then, afraid that he might resume his killing spree because of this misunderstanding. Though it was true that she also broke down in tears because of all the atrocities that these evildoers did to her, she couldn't let him bloody his hands even more. Besides, the main reason behind her tears was him - his life situations made her cry.

"Then, why're you crying?" he asked again as he pulled away and started wiping her tears.

It was kind of cute to see him fumbling around and feeling her cheeks in search of her tears. Him doing so also cleared up something for her - he was still blind, after all. She thought he suddenly regained his eyesight when she saw him engaging in combat and inflicting pain on his enemies ever so mercilessly.

It seemed like he had activated something that only the blood running in his veins could explain.

"I'm fine now, Eric. Thank you for coming to my rescue..." Seraphine said with relief and gratefulness - and Eric could tell that she was smiling just by hearing her.

"I'm glad that we'll be able to make it out alive somehow-"

Then, she cut herself off.

She realized something at that moment.

With her expression turning into that of disbelief and enlightenment, she wonders if she is able to alter fate somehow. While she knows that she has long been rewriting the past ever since she went back in time, considering that she did not get adopted and all, this one is different. This is a matter of life and death, after all.

This certain member of the imperial family should have been dead, but right now, he was the one causing deaths all around. If they really make it out alive, she will probably be more convinced.

"We have to leave now, Eric..." Seraphine muttered firmly as she held Eric by the hand and stood both of themselves up, hell-bent and resolved on going against destiny.

"No matter what, let's survive."