I will not die a Villainess's death

"Keep holding on for now. The pain will blow away in a second."

Noctis's voice was like melted sugar in Elysia's ears. It soothed her soul and allowed her to focus on her condition. The pain was starting to fade away as well by now. The curse was finally losing its hold over Elysia's soul.

She coughed to get her airway clear and to make breathing easier. It was such a simple but difficult thing to do in her condition.

The worst part was that Elysia could feel her bond break apart under Noctis's magic but she could not stop this interference. She could feel Adam's magic reaching out for her but there was nothing in her hand.

"I-It hurts. Please stop."

Elysia was begging for that bond to come back. It made her feel cold and desperate to get that comfortable warmth back.

Noctis's hand was warm as well but it was a different warmth than the one Elysia was seeking for. The sky above her was finally beginning to clear out and the combination of red and gold was beginning to show.

It was all being reflected in Elysia's eyes as she looked at the sky above her.

"I know that you are disappointed with the loss of your connection with the emperor but it is a small sacrifice to make for a better future. Don't think too much about it and just focus on yourself."

Noctis's smile was like a devil's snare. The more he spoke, the more he was convincing Elysia to abandon everything and come with him.

But Elysia's self-control was strong and she slapped Noctis's hand away from her face. She even growled at Noctis to make him go away from her.

"Don't you dare come near me? I don't care that you have Noctis's face or his soul. You are a stranger to me."

Elysia's mind was finding it hard to accept this situation. She hated to be used but it was a different hurt to be used by someone with that face.

Noctis seemed to not be hurt by Elysia's harsh words. His smile didn't fade even when Elysia was looking at him with such hard expressions.

"I know you are confused and hurt by me appearing out of nowhere but there is no need for you to feel bad because of it Elysia. Everything will become clear once I explain it all to you- look out."

Elysia ducked her head and Noctis shielded her body with his own. The debris that was flowing down toward them was so hard to dodge for Elysia.

"Get away from my sister…."

Lucas stood in front of Elysia and Noctis, his anger fading into confusion and then back into anger as he took in Noctis's image.

It was obvious that Lucas would be the one who would find this situation the hardest to comprehend since he was the one who had a relationship with Noctis. But it had been a long time ago.

"Lucas, I was not expecting to see you so soon. And it seems like I have overstayed my welcome."

Noctis started to inch away from Elysia as soon as he noticed how Lucas was looking at him. The look in his eyes was akin to murder and Noctis had a destiny to achieve before he could die.

He was almost out of Lucas's reach when Lucas's sword was embedded in his path. It caused a small curse to escape Noctis's mouth and Elyisa had a feeling that she was not supposed to hear it.

"I don't care who you are and why you have that face, but I will not allow you to escape here alive. You will be killed off just like your companion up there was killed off."

"Don't you dare try to flee away from me? You will tell me how you acquired that face and then you will pay for harming Elysia."

Lucas had his weapon held at ready. Elysia could not even begin to imagine what he felt as he looked at Noctis's familiar face.

And even Noctis looked worried when he faced Lucas. Had Elysia not felt his aura and his magic coursing through her body and reacting with the redundant magic he had left behind in her, even she would have had a hard time believing this man's authenticity.

"Lucas, wait. This man is really-"

"You don't need to say anything to me right now Elysia. We will have this conversation once we are in a safe environment again."

Lucas looked unwilling to hear Elysia out on this matter. He looked mentally disturbed and it was obvious who the real culprit was.

Elysia tried to solve this situation by making Noctis back down but the man was not even looking at her. The two men in front of her were letting their auras out.

"I see. It is time for me to take my leave."

Noctis jumped over Lucas's sword, using his flexible body to make it easier for him to run away. It enraged Lucas even more.

"Elysia, are you alright? Can you stand up and move now?"

Sorias reached Elysia's side as well. Since Head Priest Akane was nowhere to be seen, Elysia could only assume that he had been taken care of.

"Where is Akane? Did you manage to kill him?"

Elysia was no blushing maiden and she did not shy away from blood and violence in her life. She was sure she would be able to swallow whatever fate Akane had been dealt with.

Sorias turned his head away from Elysia, likely ashamed by something.

"He's alive for now. I left him detained for the time being and came here to help you out. Where is my brother right now? I have things to ask him."

Sorias was impatient and for good reasons. He had lost his brother such a long time ago and now he was finally reunited with his brother.

It would take time before Sorias was able to come to terms with his brother still being alive. And it would not be until he had a solid conversation with his brother that this situation would be acceptable to him.

Elysia understood his struggles well since this was a topic she had passed as well. When Lucas had called Elysia for the first time, it had been tough for her to accept that decision.

And Sorias had a much longer connection to his brother. So it was a given that he was feeling even more shaken.

"Sorias, catch him."

Lucas's voice came out all of a sudden and Sorias tried his best to keep Noctis in check. But Noctis was in possession of some weird powers.

Not only did he manage to phase through Lucas's hands but he also managed to avoid Noctis's lunge and landed at Elysia's side.

"Come and find me when you are ready to know the truth about this world and yourself. I will always welcome you."

Elysia clasped her hand on her ear to stop the tingling sensation she felt. Noctis's breathing on her ear had caused goosebumps to appear on Elysia's arms.

But he was too fast for even her to act against. Before she could touch Noctis, his image was fading away from everyone's eyes.

The darkness around them was also starting to clear up and people were beginning to wake up.

"W-What happened here? H-Head Priest Akane, are you alright? Is your body hurt?"

Someone finally found Akane bound in the place Sorias had left him. People were freaking out at seeing this image of their well-respected Head Priest.

Akane had a lot of influence over this region so it was clear why people felt betrayed by his actions.

"Hey, don't help him out. It is all his fault anyway. He was the one who messed up the ceremony."

"B-But maybe he did not do it on purpose? What if the Head Priest is being framed?"

"Where are the royal guards? They should have been here long before now."

Confusion refined supreme everywhere. No one knew who they should believe and who was to be blamed. And the absence of the royal family was an even bigger factor that contributed to this confusion.

And then the final bomb exploded.

"T-The queen! She's dead."

Someone finally found the dead body of the queen that had been pierced through. It was an intended murder and the body had yet to stop bleeding.

The queen had a horrified look on her face that stopped everyone's breath. Finally, Lucas could not take it anymore.

"Everyone, clear the way. I will investigate this incident and provide you all with a satisfactory end report."

The commoners and the nobility, both looked hesitant to leave but one word from Lucas was enough to make everyone give him space.

Elysia wanted to stay behind and help in the investigation as well but Lucas did not seem in the mood to indulge her.

"Elysia, return to the palace for now. I will talk with Lucas and give you a status report later."