Episode 60. The Aura of Protection
Bercheria couldn't believe what was happening.
She'd often imagined the moment of death.
But that moment definitely wasn't one of being tricked into falling into the sea by a lizard with a man's head.
"How could this be?"
Beloveye, he'd said.
But now, she couldn't even tell if that was true.
"The fear of death."
Bercheria stared at the floor.
The sight of the rocky beach made her head spin.
If she hit that rock and shattered her head, even with her self-healing abilities, she wouldn't survive.
She could vividly picture herself lying on the beach with her head smashed, a spectacle.
It was a miserable death.
Even trapped in the tower, she'd never once considered death.
Surprisingly, throughout all those years of cursed life, Bercheria had never given up on life.
But dying now felt utterly unfair.
There were so many things she hadn't done.
Why had she been trapped in the tower?
What on earth was it all for?
Was her mother her real mother? Who gave birth to her? What on earth did that woman hope to gain by abusing her so?
And Lacrahan...
Bercheria recalled his dark, deep eyes.
When he smiled, they gently curved and sparkled like a child, and when he got angry, they burned with a crimson fire.
He was like a storm, swirling silently in the stillness.
You never knew when you'd be swept away, and before you knew it, your eyes were filled with a single person.
“I can't die.”
Bercheria summoned all the strength she had within her.
Her life was over because I took one wrong pill?
That couldn't be true.
She was Bercheria, the goddess of weather.
So this couldn't be her ending.
Bercheria's body ricocheted through the air, as if colliding with a transparent wall, before falling again at an even faster rate.
“Bercheria!”
Bercheria couldn't believe what was happening.
She'd often imagined the moment of death.
But that moment definitely wasn't one of being tricked into falling into the sea by a lizard with a man's head.
"How could this be?"
Beloveye, he'd said.
But now, she couldn't even tell if that was true.
"The fear of death."
Bercheria stared at the floor.
The sight of the rocky beach made her head spin.
If she hit that rock and shattered her head, even with her self-healing abilities, she wouldn't survive.
She could vividly picture herself lying on the beach with her head smashed, a spectacle.
It was a miserable death.
Even trapped in the tower, she'd never once considered death.
Surprisingly, throughout all those years of cursed life, Bercheria had never given up on life.
But dying now felt utterly unfair.
There were so many things she hadn't done.
Why had she been trapped in the tower?
What on earth was it all for?
Was her mother her real mother? Who gave birth to her? What on earth did that woman hope to gain by abusing her so?
And Lacrahan...
Bercheria recalled his dark, deep eyes.
When he smiled, they gently curved and sparkled like a child, and when he got angry, they burned with a crimson fire.
He was like a storm, swirling silently in the stillness.
You never knew when you'd be swept away, and before you knew it, your eyes were filled with a single person.
“I can't die.”
Bercheria summoned all the strength she had within her.
Her life was over because I took one wrong pill?
That couldn't be true.
She was Bercheria, the goddess of weather.
So this couldn't be her ending.
Bercheria's body ricocheted through the air, as if colliding with a transparent wall, before falling again at an even faster rate.
“Bercheria!”
A voice called her name.
But before she could respond, Bercheria lost consciousness.
Just then, a huge wave surged in, engulfing her body and swallowing her into the sea.
And at the same time, Lacrahan dove into the water.
The moment he saw the wave engulf Bercheria, Lacrahan's eyes rolled back.
Before he could even think, his feet were already diving into the sea.
Laurent had told him that if she fell into the sea, he should save her.
He would have thought he could save her without asking Lacrahan, and perhaps even win Bercheria's favor, but that was impossible. He said she needed someone who could swim and possessed the power of ice.
Only then could he save Bercheria.
"...!"
The moment he touched the sea, an extreme cold washed over him.
He wasn't afraid of water.
After witnessing the deaths of his brother and father, Lacrahan, who had participated in the war, spent the remaining year running around the battlefield like a madman.
He would do anything to win, believing his body was immortal. He didn't hesitate to get wounded, split open, or vomit blood.
As a last resort, he used the sea.
Since no one was willing to jump into the sea in the dead of winter, he exploited the gap to attack his enemies.
It was a foregone conclusion that Lacrahan, who cared nothing for life among those desperate for survival, would seize the opportunity.
Initially, his swimming skills had been mere mimicry, but now he could find anything he desired in the sea and swim straight to it.
"Bercheria!"
He realized the moment he saw her sinking into the depths.
All the suffering he had endured up until then had been for this moment. All the struggles he had endured to save Bercheria.
He didn't want to lose her, even if it meant risking his life.
He stretched out his arms, embraced her, and closed her weakly parted lips with his own.
He prevented anything from penetrating between them and slowly forced his own breath into her.
Her still, frozen chest swelled with Lacrahan's breath, then sank with the breath he was taking.
And in that moment...
A red flame flared within Bercheria's chest.
The heat spread like fire, burning the skin beneath her.
The seawater was bubbling beside Bercheria, who was turning red.
"What the hell is this?"
Lacrahan reached out and grabbed Bercheria's arm.
But at that moment, he felt the pain of his skin burning.
Bercheria wasn't just hot to look at; she was actually boiling.
"...!"
Bercheria's body trembled, starving for air.
He reached out for her, but remembered the scorching heat and stopped mid-air.
But he quickly reached out and grabbed Bercheria.
The scorching heat didn't matter.
He was fine with the burns all over his body as long as he could save her.
What mattered was that Bercheria would get out alive.
Lacrahan, who had believed he would never feel such a feeling, was now worried that he might lose it.
He couldn't imagine his life without Bercheria anymore. How she had so quickly become so ingrained in his domain. It was unbelievable, but now all he could see was her.
For her, Lacrahan was ready to do anything.
He forced air through his overlapping lips.
The air that surged out of her burned his throat.
But he didn't run, nor did he hesitate to force air into Bercheria.
Lacrahan's breath seeped into Bercheria, who had hidden the fireball.
Then, little by little, the heat began to cool.
Lacrahan had momentarily forgotten, but he was a descendant of a family with the ice element.
Only he could save Bercheria, who had swallowed the fireball.
Her breath gradually cooled, and color returned to her face.
Lacrahan bit his lips, scorched from absorbing all the heat.
Away from the commotion, Lacrahan led Bercheria to a secluded beach.
Like the final scene from a favorite children's mermaid tale, tiny bubbles enveloped the two like a blanket.
"Phew!"
Lacrahan's breath burst first, followed by a short gasp from between Bercheria's lips.
Lacrahan, still holding her, ran a hand through her wet golden hair.
"Bercheria."
"Haa, haa."
Out of breath, her pale brow furrowed in surprise at Lacrahan's presence.
"Bercheria. What happened? I was in that castle..."
"Shhh."
Bercheria cut Lacrahan off and pointed to the sky.
"Ah."
White snow slowly descended from the deep blue sky.
"Have your powers returned?"
Bercheria's large eyes closed and opened at Lacrahan's question.
It was a different level from when her powers returned gradually and suddenly.
All her powers were moving steadily within her.
As Lacrahan gazed at the snow falling from the sky, he felt a power similar to Bercheria's flow into his body.
But before she could respond, Bercheria lost consciousness.
Just then, a huge wave surged in, engulfing her body and swallowing her into the sea.
And at the same time, Lacrahan dove into the water.
***
The moment he saw the wave engulf Bercheria, Lacrahan's eyes rolled back.
Before he could even think, his feet were already diving into the sea.
Laurent had told him that if she fell into the sea, he should save her.
He would have thought he could save her without asking Lacrahan, and perhaps even win Bercheria's favor, but that was impossible. He said she needed someone who could swim and possessed the power of ice.
Only then could he save Bercheria.
"...!"
The moment he touched the sea, an extreme cold washed over him.
He wasn't afraid of water.
After witnessing the deaths of his brother and father, Lacrahan, who had participated in the war, spent the remaining year running around the battlefield like a madman.
He would do anything to win, believing his body was immortal. He didn't hesitate to get wounded, split open, or vomit blood.
As a last resort, he used the sea.
Since no one was willing to jump into the sea in the dead of winter, he exploited the gap to attack his enemies.
It was a foregone conclusion that Lacrahan, who cared nothing for life among those desperate for survival, would seize the opportunity.
Initially, his swimming skills had been mere mimicry, but now he could find anything he desired in the sea and swim straight to it.
"Bercheria!"
He realized the moment he saw her sinking into the depths.
All the suffering he had endured up until then had been for this moment. All the struggles he had endured to save Bercheria.
He didn't want to lose her, even if it meant risking his life.
He stretched out his arms, embraced her, and closed her weakly parted lips with his own.
He prevented anything from penetrating between them and slowly forced his own breath into her.
Her still, frozen chest swelled with Lacrahan's breath, then sank with the breath he was taking.
And in that moment...
A red flame flared within Bercheria's chest.
The heat spread like fire, burning the skin beneath her.
The seawater was bubbling beside Bercheria, who was turning red.
"What the hell is this?"
Lacrahan reached out and grabbed Bercheria's arm.
But at that moment, he felt the pain of his skin burning.
Bercheria wasn't just hot to look at; she was actually boiling.
"...!"
Bercheria's body trembled, starving for air.
He reached out for her, but remembered the scorching heat and stopped mid-air.
But he quickly reached out and grabbed Bercheria.
The scorching heat didn't matter.
He was fine with the burns all over his body as long as he could save her.
What mattered was that Bercheria would get out alive.
Lacrahan, who had believed he would never feel such a feeling, was now worried that he might lose it.
He couldn't imagine his life without Bercheria anymore. How she had so quickly become so ingrained in his domain. It was unbelievable, but now all he could see was her.
For her, Lacrahan was ready to do anything.
He forced air through his overlapping lips.
The air that surged out of her burned his throat.
But he didn't run, nor did he hesitate to force air into Bercheria.
Lacrahan's breath seeped into Bercheria, who had hidden the fireball.
Then, little by little, the heat began to cool.
Lacrahan had momentarily forgotten, but he was a descendant of a family with the ice element.
Only he could save Bercheria, who had swallowed the fireball.
Her breath gradually cooled, and color returned to her face.
Lacrahan bit his lips, scorched from absorbing all the heat.
Away from the commotion, Lacrahan led Bercheria to a secluded beach.
Like the final scene from a favorite children's mermaid tale, tiny bubbles enveloped the two like a blanket.
"Phew!"
Lacrahan's breath burst first, followed by a short gasp from between Bercheria's lips.
Lacrahan, still holding her, ran a hand through her wet golden hair.
"Bercheria."
"Haa, haa."
Out of breath, her pale brow furrowed in surprise at Lacrahan's presence.
"Bercheria. What happened? I was in that castle..."
"Shhh."
Bercheria cut Lacrahan off and pointed to the sky.
"Ah."
White snow slowly descended from the deep blue sky.
"Have your powers returned?"
Bercheria's large eyes closed and opened at Lacrahan's question.
It was a different level from when her powers returned gradually and suddenly.
All her powers were moving steadily within her.
As Lacrahan gazed at the snow falling from the sky, he felt a power similar to Bercheria's flow into his body.
“The power of protection...”
It wasn’t just Lacrahan.
To Emperor Gerard, who was waiting for Bercheria’s return.
To Laurent and Beloveye, who were waiting for the two on the beach.
To Groovy, who looked exactly like Bercheria.
To everyone in Lacrahan’s castle.
To the inside of the magnificent carriage.
To the woman leaning back, her fan fluttering.
“...?”
Bercheria’s protective energy was permeating everyone in Periat.
The snow that fell from the sky melted away as soon as it touched the sea surface.
White snowflakes fell on Bercheria’s head and Lacrahan’s sharp nose.
“I can feel the protective energy.”
Right now, Lacrahan couldn’t even feel the biting temperature of the seawater.
It felt like steel had been poured onto his skin and hardened.
He hadn’t realized Bercheria’s protection was this powerful.
“...So that’s what it felt like.”
Since Lacrahan was born, Bercheria’s protection had never returned to Periat.
So all he could do was occasionally imagine what it would feel like, how it might protect him.
"I didn't know it would be like this."
He thought. It felt as if the energy of the land, sea, and sky was seeping into his entire being.
A special feeling, as if the world were moving for him, everything was soothing his heart, embracing his weary body, and revitalizing it.
“Tell me how it is.”
“You make me feel like a decent person.”
Lacrahan’s dark eyes gently embraced Bercheria.
Each of her narrowed golden eyes stared at him, then warmly entwined.
It was a gaze that brought comfort.
“It’s like you, Bercheria.”
Even the dullest of souls couldn’t help but sense the protective aura she radiated.
Bercheria’s protection, in particular, was warmer than that of other gods, making people feel gentle.
This was something only Bercheria could do in the world.
Lacrahan brushed away the wet blond hair that had fallen from Bercheria’s cheek.
“You make me feel like I dare touch you.”
Bercheria rested her head on his hand, then her forehead on his broad shoulder.
She felt exhausted.
“Then I’ll grant you this one special permission. Take me outside.”
A short laugh escaped Lacrahan's lips.
"It's an honor, Bercheria."
Despite his playful response, he carefully picked Bercheria up, as if he were touching glass.
As she had felt before, whenever she felt his touch like this, she felt the urge to sleep.
Though her mind was crystal clear, she strangely refused to move a finger.
She wrapped her arms around Lacrahan's neck and clung to him, and he held her tightly against his body.
Slowly, he swam out of the sea, his movements gentle.
"Do whatever you want. I'll do whatever you want."
The hand that supported her skinny back was large and strong, unwavering even in the surging waves.
It wasn’t just Lacrahan.
To Emperor Gerard, who was waiting for Bercheria’s return.
To Laurent and Beloveye, who were waiting for the two on the beach.
To Groovy, who looked exactly like Bercheria.
To everyone in Lacrahan’s castle.
To the inside of the magnificent carriage.
To the woman leaning back, her fan fluttering.
“...?”
Bercheria’s protective energy was permeating everyone in Periat.
***
The snow that fell from the sky melted away as soon as it touched the sea surface.
White snowflakes fell on Bercheria’s head and Lacrahan’s sharp nose.
“I can feel the protective energy.”
Right now, Lacrahan couldn’t even feel the biting temperature of the seawater.
It felt like steel had been poured onto his skin and hardened.
He hadn’t realized Bercheria’s protection was this powerful.
“...So that’s what it felt like.”
Since Lacrahan was born, Bercheria’s protection had never returned to Periat.
So all he could do was occasionally imagine what it would feel like, how it might protect him.
"I didn't know it would be like this."
He thought. It felt as if the energy of the land, sea, and sky was seeping into his entire being.
A special feeling, as if the world were moving for him, everything was soothing his heart, embracing his weary body, and revitalizing it.
“Tell me how it is.”
“You make me feel like a decent person.”
Lacrahan’s dark eyes gently embraced Bercheria.
Each of her narrowed golden eyes stared at him, then warmly entwined.
It was a gaze that brought comfort.
“It’s like you, Bercheria.”
Even the dullest of souls couldn’t help but sense the protective aura she radiated.
Bercheria’s protection, in particular, was warmer than that of other gods, making people feel gentle.
This was something only Bercheria could do in the world.
Lacrahan brushed away the wet blond hair that had fallen from Bercheria’s cheek.
“You make me feel like I dare touch you.”
Bercheria rested her head on his hand, then her forehead on his broad shoulder.
She felt exhausted.
“Then I’ll grant you this one special permission. Take me outside.”
A short laugh escaped Lacrahan's lips.
"It's an honor, Bercheria."
Despite his playful response, he carefully picked Bercheria up, as if he were touching glass.
As she had felt before, whenever she felt his touch like this, she felt the urge to sleep.
Though her mind was crystal clear, she strangely refused to move a finger.
She wrapped her arms around Lacrahan's neck and clung to him, and he held her tightly against his body.
Slowly, he swam out of the sea, his movements gentle.
"Do whatever you want. I'll do whatever you want."
The hand that supported her skinny back was large and strong, unwavering even in the surging waves.
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