Hero of Darkness

While talking with Kassandra, Kahn came to realize how similar their situations were after Kassandra started expressing her pain and suffering little by little. 

In his life as Elric… It wasn't like he never tried to appease his parents or gain their recognition. He was born with a weak body and hence had many disadvantages when it came to sports or any athletics. 

There were times when he used made the best use of his eidetic memory and topped in school competitions. But what use was it if your family didn't even bother to come to cheer you up? 

He was like an unwanted child born out of mistake to his parents.

Hence, as Elric grew up, he never had real motivation or urge to excel in these fields. Because no matter what he did whether it was sports or academics… it was never enough for them. The standards his parents set for him were too high.

Instead of trying to understand their son and accept him for being different than their first two children, what his parents did was only compare him and then act like it was his fault. 

They cared more about what would the society think or what their relatives would say about their fake prestige than actually trying to encourage their youngest son. 

For Kassandra, it was the same. However, the only difference was that she really did achieve most of it. But now… they found out that all of her efforts were futile in the end as her parents and her family thought of her as nothing but livestock that they could trade for some gains or political favor. 

If it wasn't Kahn whom they decided to offer Kassandra to… maybe her fate would've been sealed if it was some noble clan or some powerful figure. 

Instead of having such a talk when she had broken down… Kassandra would probably have to endure even worse suffering. 

In a way… their current circumstances turned out to be at least better than what they failed to recognize. 

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Hours passed under the moonlight while Kassandra let out all of her sadness, sorrows, hatred, and even cursed in words Kahn hadn't even heard in both his lives.

After Kahn offered her to be the person she could vent out all of her misery and anger to… Kassandra who no longer wanted to live was calming down little by little. 

Her rambling and cursing the entire world resounded in the surroundings and she wasn't holding back. Bringing even the events that happened years ago and cursing every single member of her family who betrayed her. 

Kahn on the other end felt relieved. Neither did he judge her nor made fun of her. He was simply there… 

As a person who listened to her story and true feelings. 

At this moment… Kahn realized one thing. 

That he and Kassandra… 

A man born on Earth and a woman born in Vantrea, from two different worlds… 

Had much more in common than he ever imagined. 

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A cold breeze passed by both of them while Kassandra finally took a deep breath. Her turmoiled mind finally regained control over herself and she closed her eyes to contemplate her life. 

Even Kahn wondered if he could've managed to come out of that trance state as Elric this quickly like Kassandra. 

Although he lend a helping hand… coming out of the mental state of wanting to kill yourself was no joke. 

"Thank you…" spoke Kassandra. 

Her disheveled hair and puffy cheeks appeared in front of Kahn. 

The princess-like Kassandra now looked like a girl who had messed up her makeup. And her once crying figure now seemed to be recovering a bit from her depressed state. 

"I don't think I would've managed to feel… less burdened if you didn't stop me." she said with a thoughtful expression. 

Kahn nodded but didn't say anything. It had been nearly 4 hours since Dr. Kahn started the session and Kassandra went through many emotional phases. 

From sadness to anger, from hatred to loss, from helplessness to wrath. She had expressed so many things and how she felt like a worthless being after she was traded off like some goods. 

"You're welcome." replied Kahn in a gentle tone. 

"So does it mean you no longer want to jump down?" asked Kahn with a coy smile. 

Kassandra then gave him a suspicious look. 

"Who knows… I still might." she said. 

"Why?... Now I feel as if I wasted 5 precious hours of my life. Man, what a waste of time." said Kahn and shook his head. 

Kassandra suddenly looked at Kahn and gave him a deathly look. 

"Asshole!" she said and looked away, a sense of playfulness appearing on her face. 

"Oh, now I'm the bad guy? My my… some people really don't know how to appreciate kindness. 

You should be indebted to me for life after I stopped you." spoke Kahn sarcastically. 

Kassandra turned her face towards him and glared at Kahn. 

"Is that so?... Then why didn't you start with that instead of going along with my act? 

Tell me… you enjoyed that, didn't you?" asked Kassandra. 

Kahn quickly turned her head around and looked at the scenery in the surrounding. 

"The night feels very beautiful." he said. 

"Hey! You opportunistic rascal! 

Take responsibility for playing with a maiden's honor." said Kassandra as she lightly punched him on the right shoulder. 

"I don't know what you're talking about. All I remember is a woman undressing me out of the blue and after that… I don't remember anything." joked Kahn. 

"Hya! Do you think I'm an easy girl? If not for my situation, you think I would be in the same room as you? 

Hundreds of marriage proposals are queued up for a beautiful girl like me." spoke Kassandra as she adjusted her shiny raven hair. 

"Beautiful girl?" asked Kahn and looked around him and Kassandra with a suspicious gaze.

"Where?" 

He asked nonchalantly. 

"You bastard!" said Kassandra and started a barrage of fists and punches with her weak and soft hands. 

Kahn got off the sofa and slowly ran away. 

"Hey, come here!" said Kassandra and ran off after Kahn. 

He on the other end started avoiding her incoming punches as both of them started a little play of catch. 

Both Kahn and Kassandra knew that this was just a childish act to lighten up the mood. 

But to them… this was a gateway to forget their worries and problems for a while. 

After going through such a mental breakdown, Kassandra finally regained her old self and Kahn, on other hand, felt relieved. 

And this little shenanigan… was their moment of peace.