"What?! Mevron took the fruit?? But how??" Viktor almost had his eyes pop out in shock since he thought Seraphina had safely transported the fruit away so that Mevron could never lay his hands on it.
He thought he did hear Seraphina say something along those lines to Mevron, but after that, it was like a blur in his mind. Since he was suffering from so much excruciating pain at that time, he couldn't clearly recall what exactly happened other than wishing for the pain to go away.
After waking up, he felt relaxed, thinking that Seraphina's realm was safe and that all his efforts and the pain he had to endure were worth it. But now, it felt like everything that happened was for nothing.
Seraphina lowered her head in a pitiful way as she said, "Everything happened so fast, and I-I...it was my fault. I can't do anything right. Maybe I don't deserve to be their Allmother...I put my own realm in danger. My daughters would be so disappointed in me...hiccc...I let them down...hicc..." Seraphina broke down in tears silently as she covered her face, unable to look Viktor in the eye since, feeling guilty for wasting his efforts and putting him through so many difficulties.
Viktor's expression became complicated seeing her cry. For some reason, seeing such an innocent and naive beauty crying was making his heart melt. He knew she wasn't someone who was used to fighting or any situation involving such things.
It was no different than taking an innocent woman along for a top-secret infiltration mission. But despite all that, she risked the safety of her own realm to not abandon him, even if the logical choice was for her to escape on her own.
Because of all this, Viktor couldn't bring himself to scold her nor say anything to make her even sadder since he knew that she must already be feeling heartbroken after not being able to get her realm out of danger.
"Sera, come here," Viktor gently said as he hugged her into his embrace and let her head rest on his chest as she silently wept.
Yannah let out a deep sigh as she looked on with a thoughtful expression. She could understand Seraphina's pain since the situation of her people was similar to hers.
Viktor knew getting back the fruit was hopeless now that Mevron must have safely tucked it away. He also learned that even if he somehow managed to defeat Mevron, it won't guarantee that he would get the fruit back, and instead, he might have to face the wrath of the entire Winter Dragon race.
It just didn't seem like a hopeful situation, especially when they were all alone in this realm.
"It's fine, Sera. Don't lose hope. There is still time for us to find a way. I will help you find one no matter what it takes," Viktor said to comfort her.
Seraphina tried to calm herself down as she slowly sat up and said in a tired voice, "There is only one way now...I have to...I have to sacrifice my odic force so that the Fruit of the Blessed One may be reborn at the right time."
"No...No way. I am not going to let you do that," Viktor adamantly said as he held her arms, "You are not thinking straight now. We still have time."
Seraphina looked at Viktor with a sad smile as she said, "If the fruit isn't ripe at the right time or even gets late by just a few days, then..." Seraphina couldn't bring herself to complete her sentence, but Viktor understood that if she delayed it, then her daughters would die out before the fruit could be reborn.
"Uhhh, I can't keep watching this. What if I said there was a way for your realm to go on until the next fruit is naturally reborn?" Yannah suddenly suggested, drawing the attention of Viktor and Seraphina right away.
"You really have a way?" Viktor doubtfully asked since he felt that this dangerous beauty was up to something, especially by the way she was looking at him as if she was looking at an enticing meal.
Seraphina wiped her eyes as she also attentively listened, believing that Yannah really had a solution.
Yannah shrugged as she said, "Well, actually, I was planning to use it to cure the poison that had been plaguing you. But since you are alright now, I figured this solution will help you save her realm."
Viktor knitted his brows as he asked, "You mean this solution will require me to help her? What kind of solution is that?"
"Right before His Eminence, the Devil went into hiding, it was said that the Devil left behind forbidden treasures and arts he had personally created so that even without his presence, the worthy ones could acquire them and carry on his legacy. As countless centuries passed, all these treasures and arts were scattered and hidden, while some were said to be lost forever. However, my ancestors had been passing down an heirloom for generations, from the previous queen to the next," Yanah said with a nostalgic look.
"And I suppose this heirloom is one of the forbidden arts left behind by the Devil?" Viktor asked with a raised brow. He momentarily remembered the long-lost memory he had just experienced where he learned about the forbidden art named Void Arts and still remembered how tremendously powerful it was and how it even felt.
Yannah subtly smiled as she said, "You are right. It indeed is a forbidden art created by the Devil himself. Of course, it won't be flashy and strong like the infamous and ancient Void Arts that have already been lost, but it isn't no joke either."
"Well then. Tell us what kind of forbidden art it is exactly?" Viktor said with a curious gaze as Seraphina also keenly listened.
Yanah smirked and said with a teasing glint in her eyes, "It is a forbidden art that requires a man and woman to become one in the most profound way. I am afraid you might have to help Sera understand what this means, Azu."
