Chapter 86: Chapter 86

“Shia, are you ready? It’s almost time,” Khailis called on her softly, reminding her that the ceremony was about to begin, and yet, she couldn’t tear her eyes away from the looking glass.

She wanted to look back at this moment once again after she had successfully set out to do her task. She wanted to tell herself that the decision to kill Sirion would be for the good of everyone who was suffering from a curse, just like her and Langrey. It doesn’t matter what the repercussions will be. She just has to emerge victorious from this, no matter what.

“Let me fix your hair a little bit,” Khailis volunteered. She adjusted the crown of baby’s breath and the veil on top of her head.

“I’m sorry, we can’t be there,” Khailis muttered, “but we won’t be too far off. We don’t know if Mage Silas would carry you both off, so we’ll just stay vigilant nearby.”

Shia laughed a little. “I don’t think he would try to, but thank you.”

Khailis smiled back. “Well, if I were him, the thought would have crossed my mind. We will just stay nearby so that we can watch you, even if it’s from somewhere not too close. God Templar would be there too, so we won’t definitely allow anything to happen.”

It seemed that her friend had really worried for them after telling Khailis what she had witness inside the head god’s chamber two days ago. Shia always felt like there was something she couldn’t fully trust about Galahad, and it seemed that her suspicions rubbed to Khailis too.

However, Shia knew that everything that Galahad might have been doing was in accordance to the wishes of his heart – something that might not be necessary bad, but still something she cannot fully say would be for her benefit.

The night before, Galahad had stayed with her as she took a stroll along the garden, asking her to back out from her plan regarding the wedding wish.

“I won’t ask you not to proceed with the wedding, just with the ritual afterwards… Won’t you reconsider again?”

This time, Galahad didn’t seem to be in a bad mood, unlike the last time they had spoken. It seemed that he had finally accepted the predicament they’re in.

“I have to. More than Langrion, many people’s lives could be saved if the prophecy isn’t fulfilled.”

“I thought you said you won’t be Freya in this lifetime, but how come you still think so much like her?”

Shia smiled. “Do I? Perhaps it’s the Freya in me who’s making all these decisions.”

Galahad had grown quiet. It seemed like he would never speak to her again, so it was a surprise when he did.

“Won’t you like to ask me for a wedding wish instead?”

Shia shook her head. “It’s enough that you’re here and that you’re helping me. I consider that as a great gift already.” She cannot indebt herself to Galahad more than she had already been.

Galahad snorted. “But what if I am not helping you for your sake, but for mine?”

“I’d actually prefer that... It’s all the more better so that I could finally repay you for everything.”

Now, she’s more nervous as she had finally gotten to this point – the day and the hour of her actual wedding.

Galahad will not attempt to break Teotroly’s protection seals even more by opening a portal leading to Sirion. The actual portal hole to him would be impossible to access, but Galahad had a plan that might just work.

“Prince Langrion, since Sirion can possess you, your body can act as a portal. Instead of Shia’s body travelling alone in the original path to hell, she could travel in spirit towards Sirion using your connection with him,” Galahad revealed.

“But wouldn’t that be dangerous?” Shia anxiously said. Langrey’s physical form seemed to be fighting a losing battle against the protection magic. His body may not survive if they choose this method.

“I could handle it.” Langrion said. “It’s better to do that than to send you alone in both physical and spiritual form.”

“That’s right,” Galahad said. “The danger is less for you, and I think Langrion could handle it. He can also call you back in swiftly if it becomes too dangerous for you.”

With this in mind, everybody made the necessary preparations. The wedding would take place at the hilly mound near the seaside where Shia and Langrion had first landed at when they reached Teotroly. Traveling back to Sirion would require dangerous and heaping amounts of magic, and, therefore, it would be unsafe for anyone. As such, only three people should be present while the wedding and ritual afterwards take place - that will be Shia, Langrion, and their wedding’s Royal Officiator, Galahad.

Now, as Shia had finally arrived to the place of her wedding ceremony, she braved herself and walked towards Langrion alone, her heartbeat resounding violently inside her heart.

“Are you sure about this? From here on, there will be no turning back...” Galahad said to her after reaching the end of the aisle. He was still pleading to Shia even at the very last minute.

Shia looked towards Langrion – the eyes of the one she loved and the one she would have given the world over to see safe and sound.

“I know. I am ready,” she replied.

Langrion nodded towards her. He knew there was no turning back at this point. This wouldn’t have been the path he would choose, but he knew this must be done. They were in this together after all.

“Very well,” the God of Time Passages and Reversals said in resignation.

He handed them a pair of rings that Templar had given to them that day.

“These wedding rings will link your thoughts wherever you go. You will be able to hear each other if you call earnestly wherever you are. This is my wedding gift to the two of you,” Templar said when they had given it to them.

They were both left speechless. Shia and Langrion had both agreed to use Langrion’s signet ring and the one that Shia made out of its likeness as their wedding bands. They didn’t think Templar would have done such a kind gesture.

They proceeded with the wedding rites. At this point, they spoke their wedding vows to each other. Langrion’s countenance felt sickly, but his voice and his grip against her hands were surprisingly steady.

“Shia Hyanessa Andry, in this lifetime and thereafter, I will love you and only you. I will cherish you always in my heart and will stand by you in times of peace and war, of happiness and sorrow, of life and death, always and forever, I swear by the gods!”

He put on the ring on her finger, and the large, silver band surprisingly contoured itself to her slim finger. Shia did the same using the other wedding band and spoke.

“Langrion Zephiry Romualdi, in this lifetime and thereafter, I will love you and only you. I will cherish you always in my heart and will stand by you in times of peace and war, of happiness and sorrow, of life and death, always and forever, I swear by the gods!”

Langrion cupped Shia’s face towards him and whispered. “You are as beautiful today as the first time I saw you. Who would have thought that the angel at Ylann would be my wife someday?”

Shia smiled, remembering how she had attacked him as soon as they have met. How can she be an angel in his eyes back then? “How is it possible that the boy whom I had undressed back then would stand here with me as well?” she said quietly back at him.

“Ah, so you admit that you had undressed me first back then?”

“It was only to save you back then, but who would have thought that I would continue to stand by your side this far?”

That’s right. If someone had told them that this was the path they had to take, they would have both hurried up by then.

Galahad – the Royal Officiator – began tying the red laces around their raised and intertwined wrists, symbolizing their union as husband and wife. He spoke in the Elder Tongue, making sure that the binding spells of their union are etched to break the spell that threatened Langrion since the first day they had been to Teotroly.

As Galahad spoke, the matching wedding rings that Shia and Langrion wore around their fingers lit up, almost consuming their entire vision of each other. However, Langrion held Shia’s tied hand tightly on his, and his free hand moved her closer towards him. Even if he would lose his vision to the light, he wouldn’t let her go. He wouldn’t want to be parted from her.

At last, the protection spell had broken away from Langrion. The only thing that remained now was the ritual to reach Sirion.

“Now,” Galahad said quietly, “the travelling ritual is about to begin. Starting this moment, you are husband and wife. If both of you agree, let this agreement be sealed with your kiss!”

Shia’s heart felt anxious and excited at the same time. She trembled beneath Langrion’s gaze – now her husband for life.

He moved his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him, planting his lips that would seal their fate.

Whether that fate is of life or death, one would never be able to tell...

As soon as their lips touch, Shia’s body crumbled beneath him. He was able to pull her in an embrace though, whispering his words as gently as he can before he too had lost consciousness.

“Sleep well, my love. I’ll see you really soon. I will be waiting…”