[BL] Guardians of Fate
Chapter 70 - 18: Curses and Sacrifices [10]

Chapter 70: Chapter 18: Curses and Sacrifices [10]

Actually, now that he thought about it, he couldn’t remember a time when he had felt this desperate before.

It didn’t mean that he never had to work hard for anything back in his original world. There were things that just came naturally to him, like drawing, socializing, and casual dating. There were also things he had to achieve through hard work and diligence, such as sports, studying, and juggling multiple responsibilities at once.

The only times he could remember feeling even remotely the same were when his mother fainted from overwork one day and he rushed her to the hospital, and when his sister called him out of the blue one night and asked him to pick her up quickly from the bus stop because two men seemed to be following her.

At those times, he had felt desperation or a sense of urgency, but this sensation felt so different. It was like a new feeling altogether.

It was illogical to feel this way about a stranger he had never met in person before. It was like believing in love at first sight when it was realistically untrue, because who in the world would fall in love with someone just by one look? How would that even work if you didn’t know that person at all? It was just ridiculous. Ardyn couldn’t understand such a thing.

And the time they crossed paths last night during the festivities didn’t count! He had barely gotten a good look at the man.

I don’t even know what the heck to say if I ever do find him! Do I just greet him normally and say: ’Oh hi there, I think you’re my Summoner, so I searched around the entire city for you like a madman even knowing that I might get killed any second’?

He might think that I’m a crazy person and run away!

Right?

Or am I just in a state of denial?

Ardyn swallowed. It suddenly dawned on him that he would actually meet his Summoner face-to-face, and for real this time.

That is, if he ever found him in this big city.

The mere thought of it made his heart pound in his ears. His cheeks heated up for some reason, and he found it difficult to breathe properly. The sensation was so puzzling that it distracted him for a moment from his search.

Sheesh. Get a grip! he scolded himself, shaking his head vehemently. Let’s cross that bridge only when we get there.

He dutifully searched every house in the area until he was back at square one. Ardyn stared at the next district where he could still cross an intact bridge.

He didn’t know how long he had been searching. He couldn’t comprehend the flow of time at all.

But when he saw the tendrils slithering back into the city, wreaking havoc wherever they went, Ardyn quickly ducked into a nearby alley, panting heavily.

If I ever get through this alive, I’ll never complain about my life being boring ever again!

At that moment, a memory surfaced in his mind. A memory of a peaceful time, a recollection of being with his friends and having fun.

He was walking through the festival grounds with his friends. People were passing by with smiles on their faces, and only a few of them looked as if they had been forced to come here.

He and his friends were admiring the lanterns that floated in the sky, creating an ethereal scene that would be etched in his mind for quite some time. As they stared in awe, one of his friends, Ryan, suddenly asked a question.

"Hey, if we ever see a shooting star tonight, what would you guys wish for?" he asked curiously.

"Me?" Ardyn’s other friend, Jon, said. "I’d wish for that new console. I really want it, but it’s too expensive!"

Ryan shook his head. "No, not material things. Something that you can’t attain."

"What’s with you all of a sudden?" Jon laughed. "All right, then. I’d wish for a girlfriend!"

Ryan sighed in exasperation before turning to Ardyn. "What about you, Adrien?"

"As for me..." Ardyn’s expression was unusually calm, a stark contrast to his earlier enthusiasm and playful comments here and there. "A little adventure, maybe."

"An adventure?" Ryan repeated.

Ardyn shrugged nonchalantly. "Just something that breaks the monotony of everyday life. It gets pretty boring at times, you know."

"You do get bored easily, Ardyn," Jon said with a smile. "That’s just like you."

"What kind do you want? Like the dragons and magic kind of adventure?" Ryan joked.

Ardyn laughed. "Sure, why not? Imagine having that kind of adventure! It won’t ever get boring, that’s for sure."

"Uh huh, sure, until you realize that your life is always at stake!" Jon pointed out. "I don’t see the fun in that at all!"

"That doesn’t matter as long as I’m good at fighting," Ardyn countered with a smug smile. "I’d like to have awesome magic, too. That would be epic! Imagine being a powerful warrior in a fantasy world, huh?"

"Something that unrealistic can only happen in a dream," Ryan said, laughing.

They joked a bit more after that, and the topic was quickly forgotten and replaced by another. Ardyn hadn’t thought much about the conversation after that, but it was uncanny how he suddenly remembered it at a moment like this.

How ironic.

He got up and finally left the alley, heading for a nearby house. It was unlocked, so he entered easily, though his mind still wandered.

Looking back now, he had lived a good life. He was happy even though he felt that something was missing, a piece of the puzzle that would complete the whole picture.

But sometimes he wondered... why was it that life tended to be slow and dragging? No matter how much he tried to fill the slight emptiness in his heart, no matter how much entertainment he indulged in, he would still feel that missing piece, and it stuck out like a sore thumb.

It was as if he was never fully satisfied, even though he knew it was unfair to think that way. He had a wonderful family and many good friends. He was doing well in everything, and yet he dared to think like this?

But after entering this new world, everything changed for him. He missed his old life, but his past aspirations now felt like a distant dream. Despite his regrets, he gained a new sense of purpose instead. It was as if he could finally see the missing piece of the puzzle, and he only had to take a few steps to get it.

He tightened his grip on the butterfly wings, the only physical connection he had to his Summoner.

He was now determined to protect this stranger in his heart and make a difference this time, as if he wanted to make up for his unfulfilled past.

Not here... Not here as well... Ardyn thought absently as he checked room after room. Nobody was there, and there was no sign that anyone had entered recently.

As he left the house, he stopped in his tracks, stunned.

There, in the distance, was a small figure that he could make out from afar. It was like a beacon in the darkness, the only shining bright light in the dreary surroundings. Ardyn couldn’t help but gape at it, watching as the clouds above slowly parted to shine light upon the ruined city.

Is that... a person?

Ardyn winced as he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his forehead. He immediately pressed his fingers against the painful area, hoping it would go away.

...What the hell?

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