***
The weight of Speed's death hung heavy in the air, mingling with Soul's tears and muffled sobs. The others who mourned gathered behind Raiden as he stood before Speed's grave, carved into the earth of the mountain island's forest.
Raiden had anticipated Soul's rage, her curses hurled at the one whose hands bore the stain of responsibility. But silence. Only her muffled sobs gave voice to the grief.
Whether he wanted Soul to rage because he couldn't understand his own lack of guilt over Speed's death, or whether he truly cared for her in this mont, was unclear even to him.
Nearly an hour had passed at the graveside. Raiden would have gladly let them grieve all day if they could, but ti wasn't on their side.
He tilted toward Soul and pulled off the black skeletal mask Speed had given him. Studying her with calm detachnt, his pulse unchanged, he realized it would be best to let Soul go.
He had never viewed her as a hindrance or burden; Soul had always been his trump card. But right then, he wasn't looking at Soul anymore. He saw a shattered, hopeless child who had lost everything aningful to her.
Though his tears hadn't matched hers, he understood her grief. That crushing weight when everything aningful turns to dust—he'd been there before.
He closed the distance to Soul, placed his hands on her shoulders, and caught her eyes. Those golden orbs with cat-like pupils, trembling with moisture.
"I'm sorry about all of this, Soul." He watched her struggle against her tears. "Maybe you should return ho. Take ti to heal."
Her golden eyes widened in shock, tears spilling faster. Raiden's gentle dismissal seed to pierce her worse than Speed's actual death. The reason was clear to him.
She felt Raiden dismissing her, casting her aside. After Speed's death had already shattered her world, his rejection felt like the final betrayal.
"This has nothing to do with your abilities, Soul." His smile was gentle. "I need you to heal. Co back to us stronger."
His tone turned firm and unwavering, his smile disappearing. "I will return to you, whatever it takes… do you hear ?"
Soul's cries gradually subsided, her hands brushing away tears as she nodded through her grief. Raiden exhaled slowly and embraced her.
Though he might be the most cold-hearted or shattered among them, he wouldn't allow Soul to walk in the path he walked—no personal dreams, her entire existence circling around death.
With painful clarity, he understood his promise would crumble when he eventually returned ho, but until that day, he would try his hardest. Even if it ant inheriting Speed's burden.
He surveyed the group: MK and Leo nearby, Noelle at a distance with crossed arms, trapped in contemplation that seed worlds away from her pre-death urgency. Further back, Levi lounged against a tree, hands buried in his pockets, face a mask.
The group's response disturbed Raiden. He'd murdered their teammate and anticipated more than quiet acceptance. Buried resentnt? Or had they truly grasped the necessity of what he'd done?
In any case, he knew it was better to leave their reactions to them and concentrate on the present situation. Soone would have to take Soul back ho.
He ran through the options of who should accompany Soul back and who could protect her. The real question was trust.
Noelle had too much at stake to leave—her mother's life depended on this mission, and as Rulekeeper, she belonged with Raiden, the bookkeeper. With her inseparable bond to MK, her guardian was eliminated from consideration too.
Levi was compromised by his grudge against Raiden and his personal vendetta against Chrono, ruling him out entirely. That left Leo as the only viable choice.
The instant Raiden ca to that realization, his eyes t Leo's. The discomfort he saw there sent Raiden spiraling into doubt. At last, soone who appeared to condemn his choices.
His hands trembled and clenched as he pulled Soul into an embrace, his mind racing with a troubling question: why was he so fixated on earning others' hatred?
Even so, he knew it was better to speak up and settle this now. There were many more dangerous enemies he couldn't bear to face, like the Huntress.
"How about you take Soul ho, Leo."
Leo remained largely quiet, his eyes still studying Raiden's as though he was looking for so way to respond neutrally.
"I trust you to protect her until we co back," he added, knowing Leo was likely to soften when he heard him speak of trust.
The quietness lingered for a long mont before he finally said, "Okay."
The instant he spoke, Raiden pulled Soul from the hug, feeling compelled to offer her more reassurance. "Trust , I will return."
Soul answered with another quiet nod, and Leo stepped forward, offering his hand, which she gently accepted.
But before they could depart, Raiden paused them, his hand moving to the necklace at his throat.
He intended to co back alive since his mission and promises required no sacrifice of his life, yet he recognized the unpredictable nature of their situation. Just like the circumstances that had killed three of his comrades, he might not survive either.
As he lifted the necklace away, the weighty golden key ca to rest in his palm, its warmth flowing through his fingers.
"You're my apprentice, so you must serve as the bookkeeper while I'm gone," Raiden said, hoping to use the symbolic gesture to his advantage.
Leo's lips curved into a small smirk as he accepted the key, and together they headed toward the shore while MK and Noelle trailed after them. As soon as they departed, Levi approached Raiden, wearing his typical stoic expression.
"And how do you expect them to leave?"
"Chrono and the others will set up a teleportation circle for them," Raiden answered, his head cocking to the left as he puzzled over Levi's sudden chattiness.
"Your aura matches Soul's level now…" He stopped before Raiden. "How?"
Raiden let out a scoff and walked past him. He hadn't realized his evolution had triggered such a massive shift in his aura, but he was satisfied it could unnerve Levi.
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