After the storm of tears finally subsided, Jay walked through the quiet halls of the royal archives alongside the Saint. They were there to select a parting gift—a book for her to take back to her continent. They moved in a comfortable silence until a specific spine on a mahogany shelf caught Jay's eye. He stopped, sliding the volume out to inspect the cover.
'This cover looks exactly like her,' Jay thought, a faint heat rising to his cheeks. 'I think she'll like it.' In his past life, he had almost never given gifts. The act felt foreign, heavy with a vulnerability he wasn't used to.
Saint Clarice stopped a few paces ahead, tilting her head with a puzzled look. "Jay, why did you stop? Are you alright?"
As she walked toward him, a realization hit Jay like a physical blow. 'Wait... every moment I've spent with the Saint feels like we've known each other for years. It's like we're dating or something.' His heart hammered against his ribs. 'Aren't we a little too close?!'
"Are you feeling sick, Jay?" Clarice asked, worried. "You're turning red!"
Jay thrust his arm out, offering the book without meeting her eyes. "Here," he muttered, scratching the back of his neck. "When I saw it, it reminded me of you."
Those words struck Clarice's heart. Her face turned a deep crimson and she fumbled for words. "R-Really? Ah, um... thank you."
"Well, shall we keep going?" Jay quickly changed the subject.
"Yes! Let's," Clarice replied immediately, trying to compose herself.
They walked toward the exit where Poul and Luis were talking. On the way, the Saint kept fidgeting with her hair and hands, shy and awkward.
'I'll just accept this,' Jay thought. 'I have to accept my father's departure for war. That's something I used to judge people for in my past life—never accepting what was beyond their control. I was one of those people too. But in this new life...'
A soft breeze brushed Jay's dark hair as they stepped out of the library, the book charged to the king's account.
'I hope I learn not to be such a hypocrite in this new life.'
"Jay!" Clarice's voice snapped him from his thoughts.
"Yes, Clarice?" Her cheeks were red, and she looked around nervously. Clearly, she was embarrassed. She extended both arms, eyes shut tight. "Here, take this. As thanks—for being my friend."
"Oh, thank you." Jay took the book and raised an eyebrow at the cover. 'This book is totally my type. Seriously, how does she know me this well when we just met today?! Now I feel like a creep.'
"D-Did you like it?" Clarice stammered.
Jay gave a short, awkward laugh. "Yeah, I liked it."
Her nervous expression brightened into pure joy. Without realizing it, Jay added, "I'll read it with excitement."
'Wait—why did I just say that?!'
"What's this little couple doing?" Luis teased, smirking.
Jay's face turned crimson. Clarice froze in place. They were relentlessly teased by Luis and Poul until Mary came out, pale and sweating, worried sick about the missing kids—and especially about the Saint. When she finally found them safe, relief washed over her. After a few words, they all headed home, except for the Saint, who stayed with the king to prepare for her return to her continent.
She fought to hold back her tears. "Goodbye, Saint Clarice. I'll miss you," Jay said.
Clarice couldn't hold it anymore and started crying. "I'll miss you too." She hugged Jay tightly.
Jay hugged her back, whispering in her ear, "You sure like hugging me a lot, don't you, Saint?" He smiled, genuinely and warmly. Clarice nodded shyly.
Then she stepped back, looked him in the eyes, and said, "We'll meet again, Jay!"
"We will. Someday, we'll meet again. That's a promise."
The Saint smiled brightly and gave Jay a quick kiss on the cheek. He froze, completely red, while she giggled at his flustered face before heading toward King Valerius Adélio. Jay waved back, still stunned, then turned to follow his family.
As Jay walked, he touched his cheek. 'Does she like me more than just a friend? Or is that just cultural? Either way... she cares about me. She saved me from the darkness. For her—and for my family—I have to be happy.'
Once home, he went straight to his room, placed the new book on his shelf, and lay down on his bed, exhausted.
'What is true happiness? Love? Money? None of that brings real happiness—it's all temporary. I want the real thing.'
Jay's eyes widened. 'I understand now. Since my...' But a sudden wave of sleep took him. 'Since my past life, I... I wanted...'
"You can't know that yet... not until your inner self truly desires it," whispered a mysterious voice.
Days later, it was time for Poul to leave for the battlefield. He woke early, packing quietly so as not to wake Jay or Kyrai. In the living room, he found Luis and Mary waiting.
"Morning, Poul. Ready to go?" Luis asked.
Poul looked to the side—and froze. Jay stood in the kitchen doorway, holding a glass of water and smirking.
'That brat... just because some Saint cares about him, he thinks he's hot stuff,' Poul thought, jealous.
"You're thinking how your amazing son can be both cocky and annoying at the same time, aren't you?"
Poul's jaw dropped. 'Right on the mark.'
"Dad, please be careful out there... and come back safe."
Poul gave a cocky laugh. "Of course I'll come back. After all... I'm the Ice Genius."
Jay's heart eased. "Yeah, Dad. That's a promise."
Mary tried to hold back her tears. One escaped as she covered her mouth. Poul hugged his son, then Luis pulled him into a brotherly hug.
"Don't die in this damn war," Luis muttered.
"Who do you think I am?"
"My little icicle."
Poul burst out laughing. Luis smiled and gripped his shoulders firmly. "I'll protect him."
"I know you will."
Then he turned to Mary. "Mary, you don't need to hold it in."
She threw herself into his arms, sobbing. "Don't go, please don't go to war..." Luis had to pry her off by force. Watching it all, Jay could only laugh softly.
"I'm off," Poul said, and with that, he left.
Hours passed. Jay was hooked on the book Clarice gave him. 'She truly knows me. I wish I could see her again.'
He went to change clothes. In his room, a masculine voice echoed in his mind. "I can't believe I'm sealed inside a guy who likes little girls," Roh said. "I thought you'd go for big boobs, but no... what a letdown."
"How the hell do you know my type, you blue bastard?"
"Oh, don't deny it, man. You're into lolis!"
Jay gritted his teeth and cursed Roh. He headed outside to the veranda. The wind swayed the trees under a gray sky.
'Good times... when my father wasn't in the army. Now, with blood still on my hands, I can finally say... I'm freeing myself from the darkness.'
"What are you doing out here in this cold?" Luis interrupted, sitting beside him. "You know, Jay, I can still taste it... that feeling. You must feel it too, right?"
"Yeah... I do, Uncle Luis," Jay replied.
"Yeah. It's normal. When you've killed someone."
Jay froze, anxiety in his eyes. "Have you killed anyone besides those soldiers?"
Luis looked at the sun. "Yeah... I have. I only kill to protect the people I love."
"I know," Jay gave a dry laugh. "You just noticed my maturity now?"
"Kinda, yeah. Especially after your dad left."
Later, they walked to the library. 'Who am I to judge Luis?' Jay thought. 'I've done the same... as an assassin.'
Flashes flooded his mind. "How could you do this?!" a girl shouted in his memories. Gabriel stood in a blood-soaked suit. "I'm sorry! Please, don't leave me!" "Don't ever come near me again, you monster!"
"Jay!" Luis shouted in his ear.
Jay clutched his head. "Huh?! What happened?"
"You froze up, whispering 'I'm sorry' over and over," Luis said. "What's going on?"
"It's nothing!" Jay insisted.
At the library, Jay searched until—'Found it! The book she was reading!' He and Luis both picked books and headed outside.
Suddenly, the ground began to shake.
"An earthquake?" Luis muttered.
"No... that's not an earthquake, that's—"
A yellow flash streaked across the sky and struck outside the city walls. A murderous aura filled the air as something enormous appeared in the smoke.
Luis looked at Jay with despair. "This is the end of our peace... and the beginning of hell."