MONSTER MMORPG: Mayhem Online

"Soul Nourisher?"

"What?"

"Uhm, nothing."

Ena looked at me with puzzled eyes, and I stared at the screen in front of me.

"Can you give me a while? I think I'll go and rest in my room for some time."

I asked Ena as I wanted to check a few things out.

"Oh, sure. Feel free to call over the servants if you need something. I am going to meet my father."

Ena looked at me twice before turning around and leaving, not wanting to bother me.

I walked back to the room that I had been given, and then sat on the bed as I went through the notifications again.

[Soul Nourisher (Consumable)

Type: Active Skill

Rating: Legendary 7 Star

Cost: 99% mana and 50% of the total health of the user.

A skill that can nourish a soul to full health, even if there is just a shred of it remaining. A forbidden skill that goes against the laws of life and death.]

[This skill is only available for one-time use. The skill will disappear after usage.]

"...."

What the heck is wrong with my luck these days? I feel scared that I am getting too lucky.

'Don't jinx yourself bitch!'

I shook my head as I stared blankly at the screen in front of me.

First, I got the fruit of unification and now this. It was like even the world itself wanted me to bring back Jeze.

"I have to go to Rewan."

I had to go to the abyss as soon as possible to see if I was lucky enough to bring back Jeze.

But the problem was that I had my engagement coming up. If I were to disappear on the day of my engagement, I don't know what others would think of me. Especially Ena who had been so caring of me since the beginning.

Well, I'll deal with her if worse comes to worst. But I should be back on the land before the engagement if nothing unexpected occurs.

'I should still inform the duke and princess.'

Sighing, I resolved to slowly clear up all the scars that had been etched into my heart, starting with the guilt of Jezebeth's death.

***

After a while, I came out of my room to go and meet Ena and discuss engagement rescheduling if need be.

'I still feel like I am forgetting something. What is it… ah! The letter!'

I had completely forgotten about the letter given by Lucas. Since I was already at Wenselm, it was better to complete his task.

I had to deliver the letter to someplace called Roan's Alchemy House.

After a while, I was inside the main hall of the castle where the duke has his audience and court.

"Shura! Come, come. How come you are here? Is something the matter?"

When I entered, the duke was notified by the guards beforehand. He was currently talking to some officials regarding the affairs of the dukedom and the current state of the Sahhan Empire. Ena was sitting just beside him and was rummaging through some documents until she heard my name out of Harold's mouth.

"Ah, no. Everything is fine. I just had some things to discuss with you and Ena in private, if you don't mind."

Harold's brow creased as he gestured with his hand, and everyone inside the hall left it, leaving me, Harold and Ena behind.

Faking a smile, Harold asked.

"What is it that you want to discuss?"

"There is someone I like."

As soon as those words left my mouth, Ena, who had stood up just now, stumbled back onto her seat with an unbelievable expression on her face. Harold on the other hand remained composed as he stared at me directly with a straight face as if asking me to explain what I had just said.

"I am sorry to be playing with Ena's feelings, but there is someone I like. She was already gone by the time I actually realised it. That was the reason why I declined the marriage proposal earlier, and wanted to give myself some time by making it an engagement."

I said as I looked at Harold and Ena simultaneously. Before they could say anything, I continued.

"I am not backing off from the engagement, as I know you have to show your face to your people. But I have just learnt that there might be a way to bring her back, and with that in mind, I can never be at ease until I have tried my best. So I have come here to tell you that I'll be going to the abyss for some time. I would try my best to return at the earliest, but if some unforeseen circumstances appear, then we'll have to postpone or cancel the engagement, whichever you prefer."

A sense of lightness took over me as I finally felt unburdened after saying what I had to. Looking at Ena's heartbroken face sent another pang of guilt to my heart. But this was for the best.

'It's my fault for even agreeing to this engagement with a messed up heart.'

I was an idiot to go along with Lynch's suggestion, which led to this situation where a girl had tears in her eyes because of me.

After a minute of silence, Harold finally opened his mouth as he rubbed his face with one hand.

"You should have said so if there was something like this going on. It is also an oversight on my part that I rushed the engagement too much. I want to say a lot of things, but I don't want to make the same mistake that I previously did. You both should talk it out yourself."

He looked at Ena who was weakly sitting on her seat and slowly rubbed her head, as if telling her everything is alright, before he walked out, leaving us both alone.

"Y-you fucker!"

Words that I never expected came out of Ena's tender yet quivering lips as she bit them and looked into my eyes.

"I am sorry."

"You should have told me before. Get some fucking balls!"

"I… don't have any explanation to offer you. Take your anger out on me if you must."

I stared deeply into her hazelnut eyes as they trembled and turned moist. Before I could say anything more, Ena stood up and hugged me tightly. I moved my arms around awkwardly, not knowing what to do before I gently rubbed her head with one hand.

After a few minutes, she left my embrace and calmly stood there staring at me silently, her blonde eyelashes fluttering in between.

"Although the time we spent was short, I started to like you, especially considering the fact that we were going to get married. Most of the credit goes to your pills though, so don't be too full of yourself. Now, tell me about this girl. I at least deserve a proper explanation, right?"

She smiled as she said that. It was like all the sadness from earlier was just my eyes playing tricks on me, and that Ena had always been this elegant, calm and graceful lady that she was right now.

I started telling her about my story of how I fell into the abyss, how I met with Jezebeth, how she died and how I turned into the being that I was now. Of course, I skipped most of the parts, but I told her a detailed gist.

"I have found a way to bring her back to life. Although the chances are slim, I still want to bet on them instead of giving up."

I said with determination.

"Poor Jeze, I never thought you had gone through so much. But what are you still doing here? Souls are very volatile and don't stay in the waking world for long. You should already be on your way."

Ena said seriously. She seemed to be sympathising with Jezebeth a lot.

"I am so sorry for everything that I have done. I promise I'll make it up to you somehow."

"If you want to make it up to me, then take me with you. Is there a way to do so?"

Ena's question left me puzzled and hopeful at the same time.

Was there a way to take someone with me to the abyss? But…

"The abyss isn't a safe place. The name isn't just for show, I learnt it the hard way myself."

There was a lot of risk in taking someone to the abyss, especially a princess who was a former saint.

"Don't worry, although I am not a saintess anymore, I am still powerful enough to defend myself. I want to see to it that you succeed. Don't forget, this is you paying back for not telling me about her beforehand."

I sighed and looked at Ena with a helpless smile. I wanted to refute her but I knew better than to provoke her again.

"Let's ask the duke. If he agrees, you can come with me."

"Deal!"

Ena smiled from one ear to another as if Harold had already agreed.