Noticing that something was wrong with Ellie, Eric challenged his worn out body and rushed to her . He descended down a crater that was created from her attack, and upon noticing her limp unmoving body, he felt a pain in his heart . It felt like someone gripped it to the point where it became numb . Small, yet countless, beads of cold sweat filled his entire body . His clothes became drenched in an instant . He could do nothing but stare at her with his mouth slightly opened .

'This is not the time!' Eric banished all the thoughts that flooded his mind and put his hand above her heart . The first thing Eric did was to infuse her body with QI . However, the QI didn't remain in her body and left it as soon as it entered it . Eric felt like he was trying to catch rain with a punctured pot . 'Is this what Ed felt…?' Seeing that nothing he did was working, and the fact that Ellie wasn't getting any better, Eric felt like giving up .

Death . Unlike most people in this world, Eric was fortunate enough not to experience it, nor have anyone close to him experience it . The only ones that he felt sorrow over losing were the three Elders that laid their lies down to create a brighter future for everyone . However, at that moment, a close friend of his was dead . A feeling of hopelessness and weakness took over him . He couldn't help but think about how useless his training was if he wasn't able to save his friend when she was in front of him .

Even though the fight was no longer, neither the citizens nor the soldiers dared to approach the castle grounds . The silence that ensued the battle felt even more dreadful . Only three people stayed where the castle was . The despairing Eric, the deceased Ellie, and Gazef's wife . Gazef's wife Aaus.h.i.+ and she had pure white hair . She wore an equally beautiful white dress . Her eyelashes and eyebrows looked like they were covered by frost, while her cheeks carried a natural blush . She was able to fly, which meant that she was quite powerful, yet because she detested her husband, she didn't join in on the fight .

Still, Aaus.h.i.+'s eyes produced a single tear once she confirmed her husband's death . She descended towards the crater at a slow rate, yet Eric didn't manage to feel her approaching . It wasn't until her feet hit the ground, producing a galloping sound, that he turned around to look at her .

"You are…?" Eric's face had two trails of tears . He asked Aaus.h.i.+ as he gripped his sword, showing his intention of fighting .

"I'm but a woman that will be forgotten, no need to know my name . However, know that I am not your enemy, and what I'm about to do, will bring no harm to your friend . " Aaus.h.i.+, with a soft yet powerful voice, spoke to Eric . Noticing that she has no intention to fight, Eric released his grip over his sword and watched Aaus.h.i.+ approach Ellie's body .

"You may say that you bring her no harm, but I'm not so stupid as to allow you to do with her body anything that you wish to do . " With a domineering voice, Eric told Aaus.h.i.+ before she could do anything . She looked at him and sighed .

"I'm going to save her, at the cost of my own life . " The first part of her sentence shocked Eric, but the second part made him feel worse .

"I'm going to save her, at the cost of my own life . " The first part of her sentence shocked Eric, but the second part made him feel worse .

"I'm not so naïve as to stop you from saving my friend while saying 'I won't let you use up your life' . If it was up to me, I'll let you do it anytime . However, due to knowing her long enough, I know that Ellie will say just that . " Eric explained his stance .

"Ellie Tigris…I've always admired her, even though the number of times we've met could be counted on one hand . She always seemed so alive…so free…Let me tell you, future king of Avalon . I love nothing more in this world than my life . Ever since I was born, I knew nothing except my future as the wife of Gazef . I've been in a cage even before I knew what a cage was . I've come to love my life, even though it was worthless . "

Aaus.h.i.+'s words started to confuse Eric . She told him how she loved her life, but she was trying to save Ellie at the cost of the very thing that she loved . It didn't make sense .

"Didn't you have a son…?" Eric asked her, as he remembered Ellie saying that she and Emilie killed the prince of this kingdom .

"That was not my son . I've never known the pleasure of having children, as Gazef wouldn't allow it . I was his last lifeline . Only I could save him if he were to die . That is the only reason he made me his queen . "

"That was not my son . I've never known the pleasure of having children, as Gazef wouldn't allow it . I was his last lifeline . Only I could save him if he were to die . That is the only reason he made me his queen . "

Aaus.h.i.+ continued, "This young lady, however, chose to return to the cage that she left, where her parents lost their lives, in order to free the other birds stuck in here . She chose death over turning a blind eye to the rest of the people . That is something I would never understand . " Aaus.h.i.+'s voice seemed so distant…so cold .

"Then why save her?" Eric asked .

"Because I don't understand it . Because I would never be able to understand it . Because unlike her, I was never truly alive . " Aaus.h.i.+ stopped talking and silence ensued over the crater again . After drawing in some air, she continued to speak .

"The king is dead, and the people are free . The people wouldn't allow me to live anyway, and if I were to flee, afraid of being found by the beastmen, it wouldn't be any different than being dead . So, at the very least, I want to make my life useful . I want my life, which was meaningless, to have some worth . " Aaus.h.i.+ had finished her speech, so she put her hand above Ellie's chest .

A strong wave of pure white energy surged out of her body and went into Ellie's body . Ellie's complexion started to change immediately . Her face regained a pale color, while her whole body was losing the purple hue . Her legs started to regenerate as well, putting Eric's heart at ease .

"The king is dead, and the people are free . The people wouldn't allow me to live anyway, and if I were to flee, afraid of being found by the beastmen, it wouldn't be any different than being dead . So, at the very least, I want to make my life useful . I want my life, which was meaningless, to have some worth . " Aaus.h.i.+ had finished her speech, so she put her hand above Ellie's chest .

A strong wave of pure white energy surged out of her body and went into Ellie's body . Ellie's complexion started to change immediately . Her face regained a pale color, while her whole body was losing the purple hue . Her legs started to regenerate as well, putting Eric's heart at ease .

"KUH!" A scream drew Eric's attention back to Aaus.h.i.+ . He noticed her biting her lips so hard that blood started to flow, dropping on Ellie's body . She dropped down to her knees, and once Eric tried to help her, he noticed something horrifying . Aaus.h.i.+'s legs were no longer there . He then noticed something else . She was turning into a state similar to Ellie's before she started healing .

"Are you exchanging the damage with her?!!" Eric couldn't believe what was happening . His brain couldn't process the idea of someone going through the pain of death, willingly .

"It's the sole cultivation technique that our family had ever learned," Aaus.h.i.+ spoke while bearing with the pain . "Please, tell her not to dwell over me . Tell her to watch over this kingdom . And tell her that her parents' last words to Gazef were 'I love you, Ellie . '"

Just as she finished those words, Aaus.h.i.+ dropped down to the ground with a smile on her face, and blood dripping from all over her body . Next to her now dead body, Ellie's eyes opened up as she coughed a mouthful of blood .

Noticing that something was wrong with Ellie, Eric challenged his worn out body and rushed to her . He descended down a crater that was created from her attack, and upon noticing her limp unmoving body, he felt a pain in his heart . It felt like someone gripped it to the point where it became numb . Small, yet countless, beads of cold sweat filled his entire body . His clothes became drenched in an instant . He could do nothing but stare at her with his mouth slightly opened . This is not the time! Eric banished all the thoughts that flooded his mind and put his hand above her heart . The first thing Eric did was to infuse her body with QI . However, the QI didnt remain in her body and left it as soon as it entered it . Eric felt like he was trying to catch rain with a punctured pot . Is this what Ed felt…? Seeing that nothing he did was working, and the fact that Ellie wasnt getting any better, Eric felt like giving up . Death . Unlike most people in this world, Eric was fortunate enough not to experience it, nor have anyone close to him experience it . The only ones that he felt sorrow over losing were the three Elders that laid their lies down to create a brighter future for everyone . However, at that moment, a close friend of his was dead . A feeling of hopelessness and weakness took over him . He couldnt help but think about how useless his training was if he wasnt able to save his friend when she was in front of him . Even though the fight was no longer, neither the citizens nor the soldiers dared to approach the castle grounds . The silence that ensued the battle felt even more dreadful . Only three people stayed where the castle was . The despairing Eric, the deceased Ellie, and Gazefs wife . Gazefs wife Aaus.h.i.+ and she had pure white hair . She wore an equally beautiful white dress . Her eyelashes and eyebrows looked like they were covered by frost, while her cheeks carried a natural blush . She was able to fly, which meant that she was quite powerful, yet because she detested her husband, she didnt join in on the fight . Still, Aaus.h.i.+s eyes produced a single tear once she confirmed her husbands death . She descended towards the crater at a slow rate, yet Eric didnt manage to feel her approaching . It wasnt until her feet hit the ground, producing a galloping sound, that he turned around to look at her . You are…? Erics face had two trails of tears . He asked Aaus.h.i.+ as he gripped his sword, showing his intention of fighting . Im but a woman that will be forgotten, no need to know my name . However, know that I am not your enemy, and what Im about to do, will bring no harm to your friend . Aaus.h.i.+, with a soft yet powerful voice, spoke to Eric . Noticing that she has no intention to fight, Eric released his grip over his sword and watched Aaus.h.i.+ approach Ellies body . You may say that you bring her no harm, but Im not so stupid as to allow you to do with her body anything that you wish to do . With a domineering voice, Eric told Aaus.h.i.+ before she could do anything . She looked at him and sighed . Im going to save her, at the cost of my own life . The first part of her sentence shocked Eric, but the second part made him feel worse . Im not so naïve as to stop you from saving my friend while saying I wont let you use up your life . If it was up to me, Ill let you do it anytime . However, due to knowing her long enough, I know that Ellie will say just that . Eric explained his stance . Ellie Tigris…Ive always admired her, even though the number of times weve met could be counted on one hand . She always seemed so alive…so free…Let me tell you, future king of Avalon . I love nothing more in this world than my life . Ever since I was born, I knew nothing except my future as the wife of Gazef . Ive been in a cage even before I knew what a cage was . Ive come to love my life, even though it was worthless . Aaus.h.i.+s words started to confuse Eric . She told him how she loved her life, but she was trying to save Ellie at the cost of the very thing that she loved . It didnt make sense . Didnt you have a son…? Eric asked her, as he remembered Ellie saying that she and Emilie killed the prince of this kingdom . That was not my son . Ive never known the pleasure of having children, as Gazef wouldnt allow it . I was his last lifeline . Only I could save him if he were to die . That is the only reason he made me his queen . Aaus.h.i.+ continued, This young lady, however, chose to return to the cage that she left, where her parents lost their lives, in order to free the other birds stuck in here . She chose death over turning a blind eye to the rest of the people . That is something I would never understand . Aaus.h.i.+s voice seemed so distant…so cold . Then why save her? Eric asked . Because I dont understand it . Because I would never be able to understand it . Because unlike her, I was never truly alive . Aaus.h.i.+ stopped talking and silence ensued over the crater again . After drawing in some air, she continued to speak . The king is dead, and the people are free . The people wouldnt allow me to live anyway, and if I were to flee, afraid of being found by the beastmen, it wouldnt be any different than being dead . So, at the very least, I want to make my life useful . I want my life, which was meaningless, to have some worth . Aaus.h.i.+ had finished her speech, so she put her hand above Ellies chest . A strong wave of pure white energy surged out of her body and went into Ellies body . Ellies complexion started to change immediately . Her face regained a pale color, while her whole body was losing the purple hue . Her legs started to regenerate as well, putting Erics heart at ease . KUH! A scream drew Erics attention back to Aaus.h.i.+ . He noticed her biting her lips so hard that blood started to flow, dropping on Ellies body . She dropped down to her knees, and once Eric tried to help her, he noticed something horrifying . Aaus.h.i.+s legs were no longer there . He then noticed something else . She was turning into a state similar to Ellies before she started healing . Are you exchanging the damage with her?!! Eric couldnt believe what was happening . His brain couldnt process the idea of someone going through the pain of death, willingly . Its the sole cultivation technique that our family had ever learned, Aaus.h.i.+ spoke while bearing with the pain . Please, tell her not to dwell over me . Tell her to watch over this kingdom . And tell her that her parents last words to Gazef were I love you, Ellie . Just as she finished those words, Aaus.h.i.+ dropped down to the ground with a smile on her face, and blood dripping from all over her body . Next to her now dead body, Ellies eyes opened up as she coughed a mouthful of blood .