140 From One God to Another (1/2)

KIHO couldn't help but stare at the dark sky.

He could feel in every bone in his body that it was going to rain heavily. Well, it was pretty obvious that it was going to rain judging by the clouds. But the ominous feeling that was prickling his skin was telling him something else.

I need to go home.

Right now, he just got out of the cave in the deepest area of Forest of Enryu.

Once a month, he would visit the snakes in the cave and just… hang out with them.

He knew that it was weird but that was already a part of his routine. And it wasn't like he was just wasting time there. Whenever he would visit the cave, he would train to master the water technique that he had learned a few months ago.

”Now I know why it stinks here.”

Kiho turned around to find a huge guy with golden hair.

What a weird fellow.

The stranger wore nothing but a pair of white pants. But even though it was freezing cold, he looked as unbothered as him.

Normal people would be shaking by now.

”You probably smelled your own breath,” Kiho said coldly.

The weird fellow laughed loudly. ”Your memories were sealed but your terrible personality remained, huh?”

”I don't know what you're talking about,” he said. ”Enjoy your alone time.”

”Are you sure that you're choosing the right side, Black Serpent?”

He wasn't sure if he heard it correctly because of the sudden loud roar of thunder followed by lightning.

The sky seemed angry for some reason.

I really have a bad feeling.

”Hey,” the golden guy said. ”Let's fight again when you ”wake up,” `got it?”

”I don't have time for you,” Kiho said, then he immediately ran to his waiting horse. Tilly, please be safe.

***

TILLY WAS humming happily while putting flowers in the vase.

Right now, she was decorating the tea room because they were expecting Luna and Captain Denver to visit their home tonight.

Miss Luna wants to check on me and so, Captain Denver will escort her.

Kiho went to hang out with his snake friends and to train, but he called her a while ago and told her that he was about to come home.

The only one missing in her life now was her father.

Lord Prescott went to the North with Marquis Denver a month ago. Her father never failed to call her every night. She was sure that she would receive another call from him later.

I really miss you, Father.

As if on cue, the spirit stone in her ear ”rang.” Yes, the earring served as a communication device that was connected to her father's device.

”Father,” Tilly greeted him cheerfully after she tapped the earring to receive his call.

”Tilly…”

She froze when she heard her father's weak voice. ”Father, what's wrong? Are you okay?”

Her heart thumped against her chest painfully. She could feel it in every fiber of her being– her father was in danger. And worse, she couldn't do anything to help him. She was scared for his life. ”Father, where exactly are you and what's going on?”

”My daughter, please forgive me for breaking my promise,” her father said in a sad voice. ”It looks like I can no longer meet your son…”

”No,” she whispered, her tears rolling down her cheeks silently. ”Father, please don't say that. Where are you? We'll come as fast as we could.”

”Once our little Winter is born, please tell him that his grandfather and his grandmother love him very much,” he continued, still ignoring her questions.

”No, Father,” she said between sobs. ”Say that to Winter yourself…”

”Tilly, thank you for being a good daughter to an awkward father like me,” he said, his voice softer now despite the pain that she could feel from it. ”I'm sorry that I'm not good at expressing myself. But please know that I love you. That I'm proud of you– and I'm sure that your mother would feel the same way if she was still with us.” He took a deep breath before he continued. ”I want to be with you when you give birth to your son, Tilly. I want to see you become a good mother like Marianne. But I know that even if I'm no longer here, Kiho will take care of you and my grandson.”

Her knees gave up and before she knew it, she was already on the floor while sobbing uncontrollably. ”Father, why do you sound like you're saying goodbye?”

She knew that he was.

But she refused to accept it.

”Please tell Kiho that I love him as well,” her father said. She could feel a faint smile in his voice despite his shallow breathing. ”Please tell him that I'm thankful and blessed for having a son like him.”

”Father, please tell that to Kiho yourself…”

”I would if I could,” Lord Prescott whispered. ”Tilly, remember this: you should only believe in Kiho's love for you. No matter what kind of blood runs in his veins, don't forget that his heart belongs to you and no one else. Don't believe people who would say otherwise. Just love, believe, and trust Kiho with all your heart and soul.”

”Father, did you find anything about Kiho's identity?” she asked between sobs.

His father took a sharp breath.

”There you are, old man.”

She froze again when she heard an unfamiliar voice that seemed to belong to a young man.

The next thing she heard sent shivers down her spine.

Lord Prescott screamed as if he was in deep pain while the stranger in the background laughed loudly– obviously enjoying her father's torment.

”Stop it!” she screamed angrily. ”Who the f*ck are you?!”