Chapter 26: Why It Hurts

A few days passes as usual... except everyone starts to notice Fay had been ignoring Trevor like he doesn't exist. They thought its just in their imagination for now. But Wain and Trevor knows Fay really is treating him like the invisible air....Seeing Fay is taking a nap, Wain went to visit Akasha. It's been a month or two since he last visited. He wondered if it's too long of a time. He shook his head. It doesn't matter anymore.He will completely break up with her this time. He doesn't want her to keep waiting.He knocked on the door. Akasha opened it. She is wearing her work uniform, probably she had just come back from work.Wain felt glad that at least Akasha is doing fine by herself now. His guilt had dimmed a lot seeing her fine. He came in.'I just came back from work. Have a sit', she spoke."I see. Glad to see you are working and living well now". He looks at Akasha. She had light makeup on, accentuating her beauty. She is no longer thin and look healthy. She had eaten properly now. He feels okay now, seeing her fine. She doesn't need him. She can just live by herself, and fine someone new.'Akasha....'.She perked her ears.Wain had to take a deep breathe."I, won't visit you anymore".A few seconds of silence prevail.Wain went to see her face, still afraid to see her emotions. She had tears pooling in her eyes. She looked down, quiet.Wain had to continue."You already I have someone else now... I loved Fay a lot. I can't betray him like this. I am sorry Akasha".Akasha is still silent. She had a tear dropping her down her face. But she is silent. Wain had spoken his point. He stood up to leave.'I am pregnant'.Wain perked his ears and had to turn around. He misheard something."What did you say?".'...'. Akasha is silent for a while.'I am pregnant. With our child'.Wain had his heart stop for a second. His heart racing hearing this."Are you serious?".He had to dashed to her and pull her up from her seat in disbelief. He went to see her belly, to ascertain the truth. He can't tell whether she gained a bit of flab or she's pregnant.'How long...?'.'It's been 2 months...'.Wain pushed her arms away gently and looked at her straight in the eyes."Can you abort it...?".Akasha looks sideways, avoiding his eyes and shed another tear. She already expected this could happen. She had run through different scenarios in her head and had prepared mentally. But imagination is far from reality.'You are so cruel to me... why can't you stay with me... I love you so much...'. She spoke with a more neutral tone."Akasha... I am sorry but... I don't love you. Please, abort it. I already have someone else".'I won't'.???Wain felt stressed hearing this."Why? Just abort it. I won't stay with you even with that thing. I won't care anymore. Just live your life alright? I know I did you wrong. I already apologised. And I already went so far to betray Fay for you. You can be fine by yourself. You don't need me. So please... Just abort it". Wain had tears pooling in his eyes as well, saying all this. He felt so cruel. But it's necessary.Akasha took a deep breath to calm herself down. She already half expected this to happen. It played out exactly like in one od her imagination. It didn't surprise her anymore. She's calmed and composed, and know what she wants now.'Its okay'.Wain is not sure what is okay.'You can leave... I will still keep the child. I will raise it on my own. You don't need to stay with me, or even visit me anymore. I already know you would leave eventually. I won't bother you anymore'.Wain is taken aback."That child is still mine... You can't just keep it". Wain had his face twisted. He doesn't like he has a child with someone he doesn't love."Please abort it".'No... Just, forget its yours. I don't need you to be a father. I can raise it on my own'.Wain is taken aback.'It doesn't concern you anymore. You don't have to care about me. And you don't have to care about the child either. So just... Leave. I can live on my own for my child. It's what you wanted right? You never cared about me. You are always like this. Just leave and get out of my house'. This time she doesn't look pitiful but she is serious about this. With conviction.She had readied herself for this for a long time she had been thinking about her baby.Wain squints his eyes. This woman is truly insane. Whether it's him that turned her insane is not his concern. He took a deep breath."Don't bother with me after this. I don't want to hear anything about it. That's not my child. I don't know anything". Wain coldly said. He doesn't want to give a fuck anymore.'I know'. Akasha is calm hearing it.She already knew, Wain is such a trash he will do this to her. But she already expects it. It's alright. Although she would miss him, it's alright. She shouldn't hurt herself anymore.Wain is slightly surprised that Akasha is really letting him leave and cut her off. He still felt it's wrong to leave her raising a child on her own. But it's her choice. He already asked her to abort it. It's no longer his problem, he chanted it to himself.Wain left the house without any more words. Akasha silently watched his back as he leaves.Why did she expect anything from him before? She thought about how stupid she was. At least she's not now.She had a little smile, feeling glad it's over with him. She wants to move on forward. And she looks forward to the future with her baby. She imagined herself, playing around. Maybe she should look for a baby clothes now? But it's to early what if she bought the wrong colour?She thought and imagine about things. She feels hopeful for the future. She really had given up on Wain at this moment. It doesn't matter anymore.She does wonder why did she care so much about him admitting he lied before? When she had got what she wanted – to hear him admitting he lied and sorry for it – it becomes easier to let go. But she really don't have to hear the apology. Why did she have to place her happiness on him anyway? She cursed herself.'I hope, he doesn't treat him like he had treated me'. She make a little wish in her heart for Fay who she only knows face and name of from their brief meeting months before. She don't want anyone to be hurt like she did....Wain returned to see Fay is still napping. At least it's over now. Right. He can just pretend the baby didn't exist. Akasha had said she would raise it on her own. It's no longer something he should care about.He took a deep breath, relieved somewhat. He ended things with her completely. That child isn't his. It doesn't concern him. He spoke in his mind.He went to hug Fay. He's sorry for what he did to him. But it's over. He can love him fully now. He held his hand, feeling how soft it is. Seeing Fay's sleeping face, he's really cute and pretty.He leaned over to kiss him his lips."I am sorry Fay.". He whispered to Fay's ear. He's still napping so he didn't hear it. Wain fell asleep next to him, feeling relieved....Nothing significant happens for another month. Except... everyone is convinced something is wrong again."Trevor. Why is Fay ignoring you again?". Elvis asked. What is it this time. Just what is the problem now???"You don't do anything to him right?".Trevor kept quiet. He's not sure himself. And it really broke his heart to be treated like the invisible air again. Although, it's just Fay who treats him like this.'No... It's because, I liked him'."Huh? But isn't he, fine before with you?".Like he's sure Fay had been greeting him after he had forgiven Trevor. And it's obvious Trevor had feelings for him and he still greeted him and talked to him just fine.But out of nowhere he completely ghosts him again. Just what is the problem?'I don't know...'. Trevor too doesn't understand why.Elvis went to ask Wain too, but he said he didn't know.He collected his courage and asked Fay the next day directly about the reason.Fay had to look at the side.'I just... feel uncomfortable around him'. Elvis frowned."Why? What did he do?".'He liked me. I don't want him'.Elvis frowned deeper."But you had been greeting and talking to him when you knew before, right? Why are you... ignoring him entirely now?".'I don't want to hurt Wain'.Elvis is taken aback. What reason is that. Wain had told him he didn't know. So, what is this? What's the relationship? Wain definitely knew the reason doesn't he."Alright. I understand". Elvis just ended the conversation with Fay. He approached Wain at later time."Wain, what happened? Why is he saying he doesn't want to hurt you?".Wain is silent.'I don't know'. It was never Wain's intention to make Fay act like this. He felt bad seeing Trevor being ignored by Fay completely, for no good reason.Sigh. Elvis is convinced Wain knew. He just doesn't want to talk about the specifics....Fay went to hang out with Lisa often once Amber was gone from the party.Fay shared his fanfiction based into the popular smut novel series."Hahahaha. Why did the demon lord and the hero hook up to save the world?". Lisa is twirling her toes reading the sexy hot scene between the hero and the demon lord on the throne of the demon lord written by Fay.'You know. Because you can only hope if you despair. And you despaired only if you had hope. Hihihi'.His toes twirled remembering this scene as well.'By the way. Why are you ignoring him again?'.Fay fidgets his fingers before preparing to answer."I don't want to hurt Wain. He thought I liked him back. I don't want him to get that idea".Lisa thought for a moment. Is he? Is that the problem?'Do you like him?'. Lisa asks because maybe that's the problem? It's not that he would judge Fay badly. Feelings can change, or added over time.Fay is quiet for awhile."He's attractive to me. But I really don't like him that way... maybe physically, a bit, but I don't want to reply to his feelings. I had to make it clear".'But... I think you are stretching it too far. You can treat him like usual you know, just as friend'."I don't want Wain to get hurt".'Did he get hurt over this?'.Fay had tears pooling in his eyes. Lisa is taken aback.'Hey. What's wrong?'."Wain... He... He noticed I took a glance at him, back then and... He asked if I liked him... he said he didn't mind if I liked Trevor. It's as if, he is mocking me. He keeps saying he doesn't mind if I like him... I... It hurts when he says that...". Fay cried out."I didn't mean to look at him... I really...". He has to admit in his little heart he did feel something seeing Trevor's body. He is hot objectively speaking when he got naked with his sculpted body and big size that would make anyone feel protected. Fay has his own guilt.Lisa had to pat his back. He understands his view somewhat.And she doesn't understand why Wain would let someone else be with Fay. She knows Trevor is his close friend, and if she had to say it herself, she won't feel it's a bad thing for Fay to end up with Trevor seeing how Trevor is these days. He's not a bad person or anything, if she excludes the one mistake he made that Fay already forgiven. But Wain is still there.Doesn't it imply he does not love Fay enough that he doesn't care if another man likes him, kisses him or touches him? And if Wain doesn't care about it, then it implies Wain doesn't care about Fay enough.That's why Fay is hurt and treats Trevor like that. She finally understood from her own thinking process.She's not sure what to do though. Given the info, she still thinks it's unnecessary to treat Trevor like a ghost since Wain himself shouldn't care. It's really Fay feeling insecure over Wain's lack of, love(?), or that he doesn't want Wain to think he likes someone else other than him, and that he felt hurt knowing he doesn't care whether or not Fay would like Trevor back.She sighed. She changed the topic to the demon lord and the hero kissing scene from Fay fanfic. It's a difficult topic to keep going on....Trevor can only look at Fay from afar these days. He missed when he greeted him. He doesn't even bother to look at his eyes now. He tried to not mind it but it really hurts him badly.He missed it when he would cheer with him after they had done quests. He missed it when he would talk to him here and there.Fay...He muttered his name while laying down in bed. It really hurts him a lot.Why does it hurt like this.He muttered his name again. He remembers his touches back then. He remembers the smile he had given him before. He wanted to see it again. He held his own heart, feeling the pain inside.What can he do, when he doesn't even know how to fix something that he don't even know the cause of.He's already happy just to be his friend. He really, feels enough to stay as a friend to him. Why does he have to treat him like this... Why is he so harsh...?Just when Trevor was indulging in his sadness, the whole room shakes vigorously.*Grumble*3The ground vibrates and shakes as a sudden earthquake shook the entire inn, causing objects to fall. Even Lisa who had been making tea can't keep herself stable, dropping the tea cup in the process while she fell down herself.Wain and Fay had to hold their bedframe and each other as the whole room shook, even causing dust to fall from the roof. The lamp fell down the drawer. The closet opened and fell down as well from the continuous shaking.They hugged each other tight, while Wain covered Fay's body.The building has no sign of shaking. The wooden and stone structure has signs of collapsing as they hear more and more cracking and breaking.Fay channelled his mana and cast Ice Wall all over the entire inn, trying to protect it from collapsing.After a minute, the shaking stops. With few seconds of silence, Wain let out a sigh of relief."That earthquake seems so strong...". Wain commented.'Yeah... Let's check outside'. Fay thinks if he hasn't supported the inn just now a part of the building might have collapsed.They went out of their room, to see Trevor and Elvis also went out. Fay rushed to Lisa's room.'Lisa!'.Fay found herself trying to stand up. He can see she bleeds as sharps of sharp porcelain from a cup sticking to her arm."I am fine- it's nothing". Lisa tried to give him assurance.Seeing everyone is fine, they all went outside of the inn to look. They are quite surprised to see outside.The surrounding is heavily affected. All buildings are still standing, however. And only few seem to have cracks and broken parts. The roads have a little crack here and there. The pedestrians are mostly fine.Fay looks at the inn surrounded by ice. He disintegrated them. He watches closely and the building seems fine as he let a sigh of relief and keep watching the surrounding.He wonders where the earthquake originates from."Wain, how often do earthquake happens here?".Wain thought for a moment."Emm... Throughout my life, it's my first time".Fay is a bit surprised hearing this. He looks at Elvis, because his age is the oldest as much as 200 years something."Me too... At least in the Elven continent I never experienced it". Elvis too haven't experience earthquake. Although they are there in theory.'The Dwarven land is surrounded by Ring of Fire and they do have earthquake more frequently and it's normal there. But in other places it's not'.Fay nodded at the trivia. Seeing Lisa injured, he opened up a portal to go to Eli behind her house.He saw a few villagers had already lined up to her clinic for few minor injuries. The village is relatively fine, since the stability of low building is not so affected. Although a few objects here and there may injure a few.He lines up behind the 4 villagers queuing up. Eli transformed to her magical girl power and simply used AOE healing magic as she shook her bell flower causing phantom greeneries and green butterflies forms. She finished healing everyone instantly. Her power at healing seems to be improved.Everyone thanked profusely and gave her 50 copper coins or a small magic crystal. Eli happily takes it.She already noticed Fay and invited him in.Fay saw grandma Anise is sitting on a brand-new sofa, also greeting him."Eli, Lisa is injured and, some people also need healing back in Angis. Will you come?".'Sure!'. She starts to get a new idea in her head at how Fay and her can go around the world with his portal and she can get a lot of money with clinic opened all around the world.She shook her thoughts away. She waved her hand at grandma anise and stepped into the portal.She saw Lisa with her arm bleeding from shards piercing her arm. She looked around and saw a few people in the streets also have minor injury.Many went to the apothecary or nearest physician clinic or even the one and only church nearby to get treatment. There're a few options to go for, although healing from the church is the best immediate treatment but it's also the most expensive and limited because the priest can only heal less than 10 times in a day due to their limited stamina.Eli walked over to the spacious square, and suddenly a stall made out of wood appears. There's a sign 'Eli's Clinic - Heal Fast like Priest Does'. Eli shouted for everyone to hear, calling out for anyone who's injured seeking immediate healing for only 50 copper or 1 magic crystal or any size.Where did the stall come from? Of course, it was Kyubey who had a mini spatial inventory that holds those things for her.Few people flock at her, wondering if she can heal them. Also because they noticed her big mushroom hat.She rang her bell and suddenly phantom grasses grew over the 4 people including Lisa and all of their minor injuries instantly healed. Those who haven't seen it opened their mouth wide.Isn't she the Saint Eli from the humble village not far from here? The mushroom hat and the bell on her hand is her signature.Of course, her clinic is extremely popular because of a particular successful businessman who spreads her name like crazy, calling her a benevolent Saint who heals out of her kindness and refuses generous golds and that she has healed his incurable disease.Many nobles had pestered her, but thankfully the town lord sent a few guards to the village to avoid trouble. Her presence benefits the town too, and unless it's the King or the Emperor he won't let anyone take Eli away. Although he had offered her to move into town with her grandma, she refused so she had stayed there all this time. A king from a small kingdom even went to travel for weeks to visit her incognito just to cure his disease and reward her with 1 platinum coin for it.Eli has in fact become one of the big names in the human continent and her mushroom hat is her trademark. Although a lot of people wonder why she wears something so goofy but no one comments on it.Eli easily used her AOE healing to heal everyone. Everyone realised they haven't asked her to heal them yet but she already did and so they still had to open their wallets to pay.More and more people flock to her as she uses magic crystals to recharge her soul gem and heal them.After some time, everyone nearby seems to be healed so she and the party decides to move to different area of the town.They eventually come into a residential area at the far end of the town. The buildings are low so they aren't damaged much and no one is injured much except a few scratches. Wain thoughts wandered for a while, wondering if Akasha is fine. Even if he doesn't want anything to do with her, she still carried his child although he hates to admit it. It's his biggest sin, and his biggest secret. Right. He shouldn't care... He said to himself in his head.But she's nowhere to be seen. He assumes she's fine and won't put any care into it anymore.Eli healed everyone that was injured that she came in contact with as they walked around the whole town while asking for copper coins or a magic crystal. The party wants to ask her to stop being so embarrassing as she had the title of Saint but they had to keep quiet.But suddenly a soldier hurriedly went to Fay to tell him that...The emperor wants to see him.Everyone had their mouths open hearing it, while Fay the main subject almost faint.