The fog began to slowly dissipate as they left the gates of Null Womb Sanctuary. The city of Philistines now appeared clearer in the dim evening light. The damaged streets and the ruins of ancient buildings looked increasingly sorrowful, as if mourning the fate that had befallen them both.
Fitran and Beelzebub walked slowly, hand in hand, their steps feeling heavier even though their hearts were now filled with strong determination. The shadowy words of Rinoa still echoed clearly in their minds, a warning that was hard to ignore.
"Do you think what she said is true?" Beelzebub asked softly, her voice trembling, her gaze revealing deep unease. She gripped Fitran's hand tighter, as if hoping to draw strength from that touch.
Fitran turned to her, his smile faint but filled with steely confidence. "The truth is often hard to accept," his voice was firm, "But I believe, whatever awaits us, we will face it together." He gently touched Beelzebub's face, softening the tense moment between them.
Beelzebub fell silent for a moment, her whole body tense as she contemplated Fitran's words. "You are always so sure," she whispered, her eyes searching Fitran's red ones filled with tenderness, "Where do you get such strength?" Her voice trembled, revealing vulnerability behind the firmness she tried to show.
Fitran paused, looking deeply into Beelzebub's eyes, taking a deep breath as if absorbing all the anxiety surrounding them. "From hope," he said, his voice soft yet filled with an intensity that was suffocating, "From the belief that our love is not a mistake. That we deserve a chance to be happy." He could feel Beelzebub's heart racing, and that was why he didn't want to let go of that handhold.
They continued walking, finally arriving at an old park that had once been the center of the city. The park was now overgrown with wild bushes and flowers growing wildly among the ruins. An old fountain stood in the middle of the park, long since stopped flowing, yet still radiating a faint beauty from the past.
They sat on the edge of the fountain, enjoying the peaceful silence despite the uncertainty. Beelzebub rested her head on Fitran's shoulder, closing her eyes for a moment, savoring the warmth he provided.
"Do you really believe that the world will accept the life growing inside me?" Beelzebub asked gently. Her voice trembled, a note of doubt echoing in the silence around them, as if waiting for a very meaningful answer.
Fitran sighed softly, his breath heavy as if holding unspoken burdens. He pulled Beelzebub closer into his embrace, feeling her heart beating rapidly. "The world may never fully accept us. But I believe," he emphasized each word, "as long as we are together, we can create a place where we are accepted as we are."
Beelzebub lifted her face, looking at Fitran with a gentle yet serious gaze. Her expression was a mix of hope and doubt. "A place where we are accepted... sounds like a beautiful dream." Her voice was almost a whisper, as if afraid that those words could shatter the dream they were weaving.
Fitran smiled faintly, his fingers touching Beelzebub's cheek with affection. "I promise you," he said, his voice filled with sincerity, "we will make that dream come true." He locked eyes with Beelzebub in a deep gaze, giving strength and hope in every second, making that moment more than just a promise.
In that silence, they gazed at each other for a long time, their hearts speaking without the need for words. The gentle evening breeze blew softly, carrying the scent of wildflowers growing around them, as if celebrating the beauty of the moment.
Slowly, Fitran lowered his face, his face close to Beelzebub's, every second feeling charged between them. "You know," Fitran said with a trembling voice, his eyes still locked on Beelzebub's deep gaze, "I have never felt something that touches my soul like this before."
The soft touch of his lips on Beelzebub's became a bridge into a new world, where words were no longer needed. The kiss was so light, yet felt electrifying—a silent promise that burned between them. For a moment, all fears and doubts vanished, replaced by a sincere and profound desire.
As they kissed, time seemed to stop for a moment, giving them space to fully enjoy that moment. Finally, Fitran pulled back slightly, his eyes sparkling, "Do you feel it? A bond that we cannot deny?" His tone trembled, as if inviting Beelzebub to respond, adjusting to the rhythm of the emotions that surged.
When the kiss finally ended, they gazed at each other in silence, a small smile gracing their faces. Beelzebub felt warmth in her chest, her heart beating with an increasingly strong rhythm. "Fitran," her voice was soft yet firm, "I feel… I feel like I'm flying, I'm late to realize it. Why did I wait so long to feel this?" She herself was surprised by the sincerity that emerged from her words, a confession that shook her.
"I never knew I could feel something like this," Beelzebub whispered softly, her voice barely audible and filled with vulnerability. "And I never knew I could love someone so deeply." Beelzebub's eyes seemed to shine, the doubts that once existed now vanished, replaced by a blazing confidence.
Fitran gently caressed Beelzebub's cheek with his fingers, his eyes shining with concern. "Love is something that cannot be explained with words," his voice felt shaky, "It can only be felt—and I feel the same way."
They remained seated in that comfortable silence, keeping their gazes locked tightly. In the warmth of that interaction, tranquility felt so precious amidst this challenging journey. Yet, behind that peace, they exchanged meaningful glances, realizing that the greatest challenges still awaited them ahead.
"Do you believe that we can protect this life?" Beelzebub asked, her voice trembling with doubt, her hand unconsciously touching her belly gently, as if afraid of what might come. She waited for an answer, hope and anxiety mingling on her face.
Fitran smiled gently, but his eyes revealed deep tension. His fingers touched Beelzebub's hand resting on her belly, conveying a sense of safety. "I believe," he said firmly yet emotionally, "that as long as we are together, we can protect anything that is precious to us. Including the life within you."
Beelzebub sighed in relief, but there was a glimmer of anxiety in her eyes. She leaned her head back on Fitran's shoulder, seeking comfort. "I believe in you," she said softly, her voice trembling, "I believe in us."
However, before they could enjoy that tranquility any longer, the atmosphere shifted dramatically. Something began to feel strange around them, making their hearts race. The air suddenly became colder, piercing their bones, making them both alert, their bodies tense like strings ready to be plucked.
From behind the ruins of a building across the park, a dark shadow slowly emerged, its steps heavy and filled with hatred. Umbra-Khalid was back, his eyes glowing red, signaling deep and burning vengeance. His voice, as he continued to approach, was like a chilling hypnotic sound, adding to the tension that had settled in the air.
"You think you can find peace?" Umbra-Khalid's voice sounded cold, each word like a dagger piercing. "You think the love you have created can withstand the true power of darkness?"
Fitran quickly stood up, his body trembling with tension, pulling Beelzebub behind him to protect her. His eyes, sharp and filled with determination, stared at the approaching figure. "We will not stop now," his voice trembled but was full of conviction. "No matter what you do, we will endure."
Umbra-Khalid laughed mockingly, his steps drawing closer, the atmosphere becoming increasingly oppressive. "You will soon realize how fragile the love you pride yourself on is, Fitran." Each word was spoken with an urgent tone, adding to the fear that enveloped them.
Beelzebub stepped forward, standing beside Fitran with a determined stance. "This love may seem fragile to you," her voice was firm, then there was a brief pause to absorb the tension in the air, "but for us, this love is the greatest strength we have." Her face showed anger and courage.
Umbra-Khalid glared at Beelzebub with hatred, his lips curling into a sneer. "You are too confident, Beelzebub. You forget that you are merely an emptiness trying to be human." Each of his words contained mockery, creating a moment of silence hanging in the air.
Beelzebub stared at him unflinchingly, appearing calm but with a fire burning in her eyes. "I may have once been emptiness. But now I have a heart—" there was a pause, her breath felt heavy, "and this heart is filled with real love." Her words were like thunder in the dark night.
Without warning, Umbra-Khalid attacked them with a powerful wave of black energy, as if he could no longer wait. Fitran immediately raised the Voidlight sword, holding back the attack with all his strength, his muscles tense. The clash of energy occurred again, shaking the entire park until the ruins around them trembled violently, adding drama to this thrilling battle.
But this time, their strength felt stronger—as if the love they felt together provided an extraordinary boost to their defense. Beelzebub stood behind Fitran, gripping his hand tightly, their fingers intertwined, channeling the growing power of love within her. "You feel it, right?" she said with a trembling voice, each word like a flow of energy through their bodies.
"I will not let you destroy what we have!" Fitran shouted firmly, his voice echoing in the air, while his face was filled with determination, his eyes sparkling with the red light from his sword that grew brighter. He felt his breath catch as if the whole world depended on his words.
Umbra-Khalid slowly retreated, his face showing shock but interspersed with a cold smile, as if belittling their spirit. "You may win this battle," he whispered in a piercing tone, his soft voice creating tension in the air. "But the real war has not yet begun. I will return—and this time, I will not be alone."
Every word of that threat seeped into Fitran's soul as Umbra-Khalid began to fade into the shadows. With his last words, Umbra-Khalid slowly retreated, leaving a trail of uncertainty hanging over their hearts.
Fitran took a deep breath, slowly lowering his sword, his body trembling from the adrenaline still coursing through him. He turned to Beelzebub, a weak smile gracing his face despite the deep exhaustion in his eyes. "We made it through this together," he said, his voice trembling, filled with longing for a better future.
Beelzebub looked at Fitran, her smile faint yet deeply moving, as if trying to convey all the unspoken feelings. "Yes. We are together—and that is enough for me," she said, her tone low but filled with hope, placing each word with biting certainty. A moment of silence enveloped them, hanging in the stillness broken only by the sound of their heartbeats.
They held hands tightly, realizing that a great challenge still awaited them ahead. But for now, they chose to enjoy this brief tranquility—savoring the love they had, a love that had no roots in the past but would continue to grow strong in their future together.
"I… I'm scared," Fitran said, his voice trembling as he gripped Beelzebub's hand tighter, as if afraid of losing her. His usually confident eyes were now filled with doubt, and his breath seemed slightly interrupted.
Beelzebub looked deeply into his eyes, emphasizing every word, "Don't. We have been through so much, haven't we? Every step we take, every battle, brings us closer." Her voice was calmer, though there was a firm note in it, as if reminding both herself and Fitran.
Fitran nodded, but a small whimper escaped his lips. "But… there are so many things that could go wrong. I don't want to repeat the mistakes we made before." He lowered his head, trying to hide his worries behind his disheveled hair.
"Look at me," Beelzebub insisted, gently lifting Fitran's chin. "We are not the same people we used to be. We are stronger, wiser. My love for you… it will protect us." Her voice trembled with emotion, conveying the depth of her feelings. She leaned closer, and for a moment, they fell silent, just listening to each other's breaths.
Fitran felt a vibration in his chest, as if every word from Beelzebub was building a solid wall around him. "You promised you would always be by my side, right?" he asked, his gaze filled with hope.
"Always," Beelzebub replied firmly, but there was longing in her deep baritone voice. "But remember, we must also be ready to face all the hard times. Our love is a strength, but that strength can be tested."
Both fell silent, feeling the weight of time pressing between them, but at the same time, there was an unspoken agreement—they would fight together, no matter what happened.