The Begotten Fiend

Chapter 3: The Ache Beneath The Heart

Nash’s arms went straight, mouth clenched from the sudden presence. "Wh-wh-what the hell! Lady Milan, what is this?"

Smiling, she let out a small laugh before reaching down to scratch the head of the girl on Nash’s lap. "It’s time to wake up, Sera."

"Huh..." Seraphine muttered. Slowly, she opened her eyes, rubbing them against the bright ambiance of the clinic. Then up at Nash, who’d been staring at her the entire time. "Gwahhhh!"

Hastily, Seraphine shot up, rolling out of the sheets. A powerful ’thud’ resounded from her impact against the floor.

"Ow...!" she exclaimed, rubbing her back. She’d landed squarely on her butt.

Nash, unsure of what to say, reached his hand out to ask if she was okay, but silently withheld. "Seraphine... did I do something to you? And how could I not remember it..."

Puzzled by his unnaturally blue skin and furrowed brows, Sera shook her head. "No, no, it’s nothing like that. It’s just that you’d been knocked out for almost an entire week, and I grew worried, so I decided to watch over you. And, well, the sheets just looked so comfortable that I..."

Nash’s eyes widened with realization. "Oh, I see." He breathed a sigh of relief, lowering his face. But he looked back up at Seraphine. "Wait, you said a week?"

Straight-faced, she nodded her head. "Yes. They say that the damage you took was impossible to heal, even by the A-ranks. They left you to recover on your own."

Nash narrowed his eyes, his skin knit in a web of frustration. "But did you see any healers enter my chambers?"

"Uh..." Seraphine was caught in thought, looking up at the ceiling. Despite ruminating for a few seconds, she only caught a blank. "Now that you mention it, I don’t believe I did." freёwebnoѵel.com

’Damned father,’ Nash spat to himself with clenched fists. It was only when he noticed the worried look on Seraphine’s face that he quickly shook off the anger, turning his attention to Milan.

"So, Lady Milan, have you caught news of when the ceremony will be?" Nash asked.

Milan raised an eyebrow, then realized what he was referring to. "Ah, you mean Sir Illias’ transfer of House ceremony. I haven’t inquired much into the details, but I believe I may have caught wind somewhere that they were holding it off for your recovery."

"They were what!?" Nash shouted, taking Milan by her shoulders unintentionally. "Uwah! Sorry, Milady!"

Milan smiled, patting his shoulder. "Don’t bother. You know that I’m never averse to your touch." Nash smiled back.

Seraphine looked at him, then placed the palm of her hand on his. "Nash, how are you feeling?"

He sighed. "I... I don’t know. I’m not even really sure what happened. It was all a blur. I thought I had him, but then, I didn’t."

He knew what it was. An illusion spell, meant to show him something that wasn’t real. He’d only heard of it before, but that must’ve been it.

It was a hologram of Illias, diverting his attention so the real Illias could strike him from behind.

In hindsight, the trick was too obvious, and yet, it’s what led to Nash’s defeat.

He exhaled in disappointment.

"Hm..." Seraphine hummed to herself, deep in thought. As if a light bulb flashed in her head, she raised her finger. "Say, you don’t think you’d want some fresh air?"

Nash looked into her eyes, then nodded.

*************************

The scene was a vast ocean of green and brown. Roughly an acre, the grass stretched farther than the eye could see, flowing along wonderfully in the breeze. Every few feet or so, there was a well-kempt bush decorating the field, moving along with the grass like a beautiful, yet graceful dance.

Along the outer edges were gray and silver walls and pillars of intricate architecture--hundreds of grooves and etches burrowing themselves a pattern.

This formed a vast wall--forming the estate of Borne. And the green was the courtyard, the place Nash visited most.

And at the very center was a tree, hundreds of feet tall and dozens of feet wide. Upon it rested Nash and Seraphine.

"So, how do you feel?" Seraphine inquired, brushing her hand against the tree’s deep grooves. "I mean, notwithstanding your injuries."

Nash sighed, looking up at the sky with his hand on his chest. "I just feel this kind of ’heartache’ that won’t leave. It feels like it’s deep--so deep that even if I tried to reach in and grab it, I could never reach it. It does this kind of rhythmic ’thump, thump,’ like a heart, but each one hurts. Just enough to remind me that it’s there, but not so much that I get agitated."

A tear streamed down Seraphine’s cheek. "Is it because you lost the fight for the House?"

Nash shook his head. "No, I don’t think so. It’s been going on longer than that. Years, maybe. It just feels particularly strong today."

With nothing else to add, Nash looked at Seraphine.

Today, in particular, she shone brighter than ever.

Her cheeks were round, dipped in pink yet still allowing their snow-white complexion to peek through. Her hair was long and pink, fluttering in the wind as freely as her spirit. free𝑤ebnovel.com

It invoked a feeling deep within Nash. Without intention, he found himself blushing.

"Is there something on my face?" Seraphine asked.

Nash moved his head left and right, returning a smile. "No, you just looked especially beautiful today."

Hastily, Nash pushed his hands to his mouth. ’Shit, I didn’t mean to say that out loud.’

Beaming, Seraphine rested her head on the tree, taking in its earthy scent. "You know, if you complimented girls like that more, they might be more inclined to hear you out on something like a date."

"Hah, like you’re one to talk. Aren’t you yet to be courted?"

"Huh!?" Seraphine blurted, raising her fists. "That’s no way to talk to a girl!"

"And yet it’s true~"

She began punching at him, to no avail, as Nash simply pushed his hand into her forehand, moving her far enough away that her fists couldn’t reach him.

Eventually, she settled down, resting again on the tree. "Jerk," she mumbled, crossing her shoulders and turning away from Nash’s direction.

Although usually, Nash would’ve been amused, another thought crossed his mind. "Hey, Seraphine, we’ve known each other since childhood, right?"

Turning to look at Nash, Seraphine nodded her head, confused. "Duh. Our fathers know each other, so naturally, we, as their noble heirs, would be acquainted."

"So, then, for you, isn’t it beneficial that someone you know wasn’t given the House of Borne? That way, you’re not competing with someone you know."

Seraphine’s breath hitched. For what felt like a minute, she fell silent. "Well... I mean..."

Nash closed his eyes, sighing. "So it’s what I thought. You’re happy that I lost, aren’t you?"

Seraphine quickly grabbed his shoulder. "No, of course not! Nash, you know that I am always in your corner... please, hear me out!"

"Save it. I just need some alone time." Nash shot up, stepping away from the tree.

"Nash, wait!" Seraphine continued, following after him.

He didn’t stop. Not for her. Instead, another presence stood before him.

A cloaked figure, tall and wide.

"Sir Nash, the Duke calls for you," it called out.