EIITAB - Chapter 117 < Still Hestia >
Even if it is Trampled and Broken
Aslan wanted to jump on Hestia's body and shake her awake right now. So that the purple eyes hidden under the eyelids can completely capture him.
Did she really come to his side looking for a place to die? Did she really mean that she would die in his hands at any time?
He wanted to ask everything. He tried to contain all of his ferocious impulses and asked a question in a horrifyingly low voice as if he were going to tear someone to death.
"Where is the other Saintess you brought?"
There is no one with higher divine power than Hestia. However, the other Saintess, Anette, must have been in the same class as her. He didn't think Hestia would like it if she found out, but he had no other choice in this situation, so he had no choice.
As much as he regretted it, he planned to use Anette's power to bring Hestia to her senses. However, the High Priest spoke with a negative tone.
"Even if you bring Anette, the Saintess, it won't be of any use."
"What does it mean?"
Because he was unable to turn his head, Boswa caught a glimpse of Hestia's pale, lying face with only her eyes rolling.
"It was the great El Rafa who decided to take away this person's divine power and life. It's a decision he made. Didn't he tell her how to live? After the marriage, she will take a vow to live on the days of her husband."
So, it means that he shouldn't expect anything more. Aslan felt as if lava was boiling inside him. To regain his composure even a little, he consciously let out a long, harsh breath. And at that moment, the first piece came together in his head.
As Stephan Ceretto said, Hestia's health suffered because he and Hestia did not make the 'oath'.
No. He may have been spoiled. He can't be sure because she didn't show any signs before she collapsed. If divine power was a life force for the priests, Hestia should have let her body deteriorate as time passed.
'In theory! Of course, her body was thin, but that was only recently.'
She only lost weight rapidly but seemed to be in pretty good shape until then. It was likely that she was hiding it or holding back so that he wouldn't notice, but Aslan thought he wasn't so stupid that he wouldn't even notice.
That's because, even though he's denied it until now, his eyes have always been on Hestia. Besides, Hestia fixed Jerome's shoulder. No matter how much he didn't know, she could tell that it was not a power that someone who was losing her divine powers would have.
So, he thought there must be another reason why Hestia lost her mind and collapsed like this.
Usually, Aslan's intuition was always right. But despite this, the resentment in Aslan's eyes as he looked at Hestia did not disappear. Why didn't she tell him this whole story a long time ago...
Then Aslan mocked himself. Because he realized too late that he hadn't made any effort to make her believe in himself. He was rather busy pushing her away. So maybe this was the best thing for Hestia.
When he faced that fact, his breathing became tight again. Forcefully letting out a long breath, Aslan tried to shake off the feeling that was encroaching on him.
First of all, the most important thing is to save Hestia. Aslan asked with impatience as if he didn't need to think twice.
"Then what should I do with that oath?"
If only he knew how he would do it right away. However, the High Priest shook his head and answered calmly as if it was of no use.
"It's impossible here."
In response to the negative answer, Aslan's gaze implicitly turned to the high priest. He didn't necessarily ask out loud, but it was clear that he wanted to explain the reason.
The High Priest swallowed his silence and opened his mouth again.
"Since an oath is made to God, there must be a statue of God. But didn't you get rid of everything in the North?"
"... Shit."
Aslan responded with an insult instead. As The High Priest said, there were no God's statues left. This was because everything related to the temple was destroyed by the angry public sentiment following the Great War.
However, Aslan could not give up like this and asked him a question again.
"Isn't there something the pilgrimage group brought with them? Give it to me."
If they refused, he dared to turn the place upside down and rob it. But The High Priest shook his head again this time.
"Even if there is a new statue, it is impossible. Since an oath is a promise between two people, Saintess Hestia must also swear with her own voice. But now that she's unconscious like this... It's difficult."
Aslan's black sword, which was aimed at The High Priest's neck, lost its power. The tip of the sword slowly turned downward, and soon fell completely to the floor. Aslan gritted his teeth. Anyway, it seemed like no matter what he asked The High Priest anymore, he wouldn't be able to get a useful answer.
Then, there is only one thing left. Aslan calmed his dizzy head and stomach with his deep breathing and opened his mouth heavily.
"Go back to the annex immediately and leave Kalathi with the delegation you brought."
The High Priest's face crumpled like a piece of paper at the sudden words.
"Are you asking us to leave in the midst of this? Even though Saintess Hestia has lost her mind?"
But Aslan didn't care one bit whether he expressed his displeasure or not. He just nodded his head as if there was no need to reconsider.
"The order to leave was already given before that."
"That's true, but isn't this too much of a case?"
"I heard that the low-level holy power won't be of any help to her anyway. So, even if you are around, my mind will only go wild."
Boswa got angry at the lackluster explanation as if shooing away an annoying fly. He has never been treated like this anywhere in his life. Even Yorgos, who had a higher status than Aslan, could not ignore him like this.
His displeasure was revealed without filtering. Perhaps the strike was possible because Aslan, who was aiming at the end of his own neck, bit his sword.
"Even so, we cannot leave Saintess Hestia here like this. I will take her to the capital."
At that moment, a deep vertical line appeared between Aslan's eyebrows. He responded sharply, turning his gaze from Hestia back to The High Priest.
"Whose will it be?"
When Aslan glared at him with fierce eyes, Boswa, who had raised his voice just a moment ago, closed his lips like a cornered rat and could not even make a sound.
"I left you alone because it was annoying, and then it started saying things that didn't even sound like words. What kind of sophistry is it to bring such a sick woman to the capital in this weather?"
The more excited and angry Aslan became, the lower his voice became. He's this guy and he's that guy. It was quite funny how he was acting like he was so anxious that he couldn't get this little woman away from him.
"But there is no way to leave it in Kalathi like this, is there?"
"Even if you take her back to the capital, there's nothing you can do about it. High Priest, according to what you said."
Aslan twisted his mouth. The smile on his lips was so cold that it chilled the hearts of those who saw him. He added a word to Boswa, who showed no signs of breaking his stubbornness.
"Or are you planning to risk kidnapping?" Boswa wrinkled her face in displeasure.
"Kidnapping! This person originally belonged to us. What is wrong with wanting to worship a Saintess in a temple?"
Aslan said coldly, looking down at Boswa with an expression that said,
"What should I do? I am the guardian now."Both legally and privately."
"Duke Kalathi!"
Boswa let out his anger, but Aslan didn't even blink.
"Don't you dare lay a finger on my woman."
Instead, he warned the high priest.
"If you're curious about what I can do, give it a try."
Aslan's cruelty was read as if he was trying to throw Boswa as food for the demonic beast, and it was quite effective. Because the loudmouth suddenly became quiet.
***
The High Priest was almost dragged out, and Aslan stayed by Hestia's side alone. He knelt by her bedside and gazed endlessly at Hestia with his deep eyes.
What should he say?
He wonders if she can even hear it. His mind was confused. The last word he finally got out was something so close to resentment that he found it absurd to even think about it himself.
"Why don't you open your eyes?"
Maybe she doesn't want to give him a chance. Isn't that why she's trying to run away from him by not opening her eyes?
Because he was so cruel to her. He was upset about that. He wants to quit everything now. And yet she is so kind....
Since she can't say hurtful things to him, isn't this why she's saying it back to him?
'But Hestia!'
Aslan held Hestia's limp hand as if to trap her and held his breath. He knows so it's really shameless, but can't she just lose one more time?
"Because I will do really well."
No. Because she doesn't have to give him a chance. Because this time, she can blame him for the rest of her life. Because he doesn't have to give up the seat next to her. So, please.
"Just open your eyes."
In a voice as murky as sediment had settled, he pleaded. He lifted the hand he was holding with both of his hands and placed his forehead on it.
That one day, the wedding day just for the two of them. Just as Hestia prayed alone on her knees in front of the God statue.
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