The King's Beloved

[Music Recommendation: "Dearly Beloved" by Yōko Shimomura (Orchestra version by Hikari) - available in Youtube] ~ Please listen to it in a loop while you read this part to experience the utmost beauty of this chapter ~

As Rania commanded, the two quarter cores on her palm combined together, forming a bigger sphere. 

Like two balls of fire mixed into one, it crackled and sizzled, and produced a blinding light that made everyone cover their eyes.

Out of the blinding light, came forth a silhouette of a woman with blazing red hair, wearing long, white goddess robes appeared before them—the same one they saw during their trip to the past. 

King Calum was alerted as soon as he saw her, same with the others. Only, they remained calm and observed what would happen.

When the woman opened her eyes, instead of a silvery golden color, her eyes were pure golden—like Lunaflora's, and Ducis', and every other Guardians. Along with that, was the warm and gentle presence that seemed to surround the air around her.

"A-Amare?" Lunaflora asked longingly. Her eyes, tearful yet overjoyed for seeing her best friend after so many years. Her voice trembled, so as her words. "I-Is that you?"

Indeed, it was Amare… but also not quite. For she didn't carry that evil madness and ominous darkness which caused the whole Gaia to be cursed. Instead, she looked kind and gentle, and her eyes gazed at them with loving care, much to their bewilderment.

"What is the meaning of this? Shouldn't she be sealed inside the Holy Crystal back in Gaia?" Clavis asked with a worried expression. "But why… is she here?"

No one was able to answer him… for they only knew as much as he did.

The kind-looking Amare bowed her head towards Rania.

"Thank you, Chosen Maiden."

"It's nothing. Please rise," Rania said in a smile.

Turning to Lunaflora, Amare smiled dearly to her.

"Flora, my dear friend."

"Sniff… sniff… Amare!" Lunaflora ran to her and embraced her. "Is this really you? Or are you a clone? Or something else? How—why… sniff… sniff."

"It is me," she answered her with a smile, and hugged her back.

Then she turned to everyone, wanting to say her piece.

"Everyone, do not be alarmed. I know you have a lot of questions right now and I shall answer all of them to the best of my capabilities. For there are more truths that you ought to know."

Her voice was like a gentle stream. Hearing her speak, who in their right mind would be angry? Despite the hundreds of questions floating in their heads, they all agreed to listen.

"Thank you for lending your ears to listen. First of all, I would like you all to know that indeed, it is I, Amare, the one and only Guardian of Love. But… I am incomplete. This body and spiritual core that I have right now is merely half of it. The other half lies deep in a slumber back in Gaia. That other half of me… is none other than the result of my weakness."

Amare waved her hands and an image of the other Amare inside the Holy Crystal could be seen floating in the air. This one had darker hair, red like blood. And unlike the one they were talking to at that moment, a great darkness surrounded her.

"As you may all have known by now, it was through my powers that Gaia is suffering right now. No amount of apology can erase this great sin that I have committed. Due to my weakness, I have allowed hatred and revenge to overtake my heart. But as the Guardian of Love, I cannot let it stay that way. For this world, or any world in that matter, cannot exist without the light of love. And so, I gathered the remaining piece of my soul that was uncorrupted by hatred, and separated myself from the darkness."

She waved her hand again, and from the sleeping Dark Amare, came forth a silhouette of another, Light Amare. As her body separated into two, the Light Amare was able to free herself from the Holy Crystal.

"The one you see before you is none other than myself that was corrupted by hatred. Her name is 'Vindicta'."

Everyone gasped from yet another shocking truth.

"There's… two of you?" Lunaflora asked. "Then how did your core end up inside me? And inside this other human—Selena?"

"That's…" Amare hesitated. Then she chuckled and decided to say it. "That's because my precious friend sacrificed herself due to my mistake."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"The day that you dispersed all of your spiritual energy for Gaia to survive, I made sure to gather half of it so you won't cease to exist. Though weakened because of the splitting of my soul, I could still do a lot of things. It may not be as effective as when I was whole but, I cut my half core into two and gave one as a means for your spiritual core to recover. Since we are both guardians, it is easy for me to—"

"You did what?!" Lunaflora shouted at Amare. "That's very dangerous! What if your core combined with mine? Then you would be the one who will cease to exist!"

"That's why I only tried with half of my remaining—"

"That's so stupid! You shouldn't have done that!"

Amare chuckled. "Then, we're both stupid. We only know how to sacrifice for the people we love."

Lunaflora cried again and embraced Amare. Amare in return, patted her back, trying to calm her down.

"There is no need for you to worry about me. Even if I don't have a spiritual core, or a body, I will not cease to exist. My soul will carry on as such is the destiny of the Guardian of Love."

"Is that why you also gave your remaining core to a human?"

"Indeed. To be honest, I didn't plan it but it somehow happened. When I was weakened after trying to patch your spiritual core, I planned to teleport back to my realm. But for some reason, I ended up on Earth. And that was when I met this child."

Amare turned to Selena, and reached out her hand.

"Yes, I remember you," Selena took her hand. "You're that ghost… when I was a child."

"That's right. Wanting to know why I was suddenly brought to the place where we met, I tried to peek into your future."

"Right. I still remember what you said."

"You will get lost… but will be found again. When all the pieces are put back together… You will join the chosen ones on their journey."

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Hello Beloved Readers!

I apologize for the delay of my chapters. Still working on that stockpile for this one. 

Hope you're all doing well.

Lots of Love,

Macy_Bae