SANCTUARY [Nobledark | Progression | Apocalypse]

Vol. 1 - Chapter 103: Last Hope


Having witnessed Sophia's two painful future scenarios, Henry's heart was shattered. He realized that no matter how he chose to leave - disappearing without a word or leaving a letter behind - Sophia would be left with nothing but pain, hopeless waiting, and dangers on her path.

He couldn't let Sophia suffer any more. Nor could he selfishly choose his own path and abandon her in this perilous world. He had to find a solution, another way, an option that would both keep her safe and allow him enough time to overcome his challenges and return to her.

But what was that solution? He had no answer. All his thoughts and calculations seemed to lead to a dead end.

As the last images of the third hypothetical dream faded into nothingness, Henry returned to face Socrost in the Spiritual Domain, his eyes now hollow. "Sir Socrost," Henry's thought was trembling, almost inaudible, "I truly don't know what to do anymore. No matter how I choose to leave, Sophia will never give up on me. She will search for me and face countless hardships. I can't... I can't let her live such a painful and uncertain life."

Socrost looked deep into Henry's torn soul with the clinical precision of a doctor examining a deep wound. "Human love is a pure energy, Henry. It can bring boundless happiness, but it can also cause immense pain." His thought resonated, gentle yet heavy. "You have seen her love. So, after witnessing the possible outcomes, have you found another option for yourself? A solution that can reconcile everything, allowing you to fulfill the mission of the Sanctuary Enclave while keeping her safe?"

Henry sank into a long moment of chaotic thoughts, his mind spinning with countless ideas, hopes, and fears. He tried to cling to any glimmer of light, no matter how small, when a thought suddenly flashed in his mind - a solution that seemed to reconcile everything and bring peace to Sophia, even if he had to pay a high price.

"Sir Socrost," Henry looked up, his thought carrying a flicker of newly ignited hope, a final determination. "There's more. If I can't stay in Aerion, if my presence here will only bring danger to Sophia, then why can't I take her with me?"

He presented his idea rapidly, the thought becoming a lifeline to which he desperately clung. "Mythris is the Grand Master of the Celestial Accord, a powerful and prestigious organization. If I join him, can Sophia come with me? Under the protection of a Rank 7 Demigod and a formidable alliance, we would be much safer than in Aerion. It would also give me more time and opportunity to grow stronger and face Beleth."

It seemed like a plausible idea, a solution that could solve all their current problems. The Celestial Accord was a righteous force with enough power and prestige to confront the dark guilds and other dangerous threats.

If Sophia could be with Mythris, a Rank 7 Demigod and one of the strongest in Tehra, her safety would surely be much more guaranteed than staying in Aerion, where Beleth could be lurking and attack at any time.

But Socrost shook his head in denial, his blue light seeming to dim slightly, extinguishing the glimmer of hope that had just appeared in Henry's heart.

"That... would be difficult to do, Henry," Socrost's voice filled with regret. "It's true that Mythris might be able to protect both of you if you decide to join the Celestial Accord and always stay by his side. But do you think Aerion, do you think Zephyros, would so easily let a potential light mage like Sophia leave?" Socrost paused, letting Henry contemplate Sophia's true position, not just in his heart but also in the larger game of Zephyros.

" Furthermore, I sense that Sophia's destiny is inextricably linked to Aerion and the important events to come. She may play a crucial role in the future, a role that she herself may not even realize yet." His voice took on a mysterious tone, hinting at the secret currents of destiny that only those of his caliber could see. "If you try to force Sophia to leave Aerion at this time, it could disrupt the preordained currents of destiny, causing unpredictable consequences for the future of Tehra."

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Henry remembered the strange connection between Sophia and the little girl Luna, the "Moon" in the prophecy. Could that be the fated connection that Socrost had just mentioned? If he tried to change it, tried to take Sophia away, would it truly bring her safety, or would it just make things worse and more dangerous?

But if he left Sophia alone in Aerion, how could he ever be at peace? How could he focus on his training when the life of the woman he loved was constantly threatened by an evil enemy like Beleth?

As Henry was still lost in his chaotic, jumbled thoughts, Socrost continued, his voice growing more serious. "Besides, you should also know that the members of the Sanctuary Enclave, although they always cooperate for a common goal and a noble mission, mostly operate independently, each following their own path and mission that destiny has set out for them."

His blue light flashed, emphasizing his point. "Mythris, as the Grand Master of the Celestial Accord and a powerful Rank 7 Demigod, is also facing countless dangerous enemies and dark forces that want to overthrow the Alliance or use his power for their own evil plots."

Socrost looked straight into Henry's consciousness, logically analyzing the dangers that Henry had never thought of. "If you were to openly follow Mythris, appearing as a member of the Celestial Accord entrusted by an allied nation like Zephyros for training, it might make you an even clearer target, a fatter prey for Mythris's enemies, or for those who want to use you to fight against the entire Sanctuary Enclave. The danger would not decrease, but could even multiply."

Socrost's logical analysis was a bucket of cold water on Henry's crumbling mind, extinguishing the last bit of hope. A wave of shame washed over him at his own naivety and shallowness. This world was too complex, the web of power and dark conspiracies too tangled, far beyond what he could have imagined.

There was no perfect solution, no absolutely safe path. If he decided to stay in Aerion, Sophia would surely be in danger from Beleth's hunt. If he tried to take Sophia with him to Mythris, both of them would become even clearer and more dangerous targets for enemies even more terrifying than Beleth, and it could also disrupt the larger plans of destiny, causing unpredictable consequences.

And if he decided to leave alone, leaving Sophia behind in Aerion, she would surely sink into despair, wandering the world to find him in a world full of deadly dangers and traps.

Henry tried to search through his fragmented memories, through his meager life experiences, hoping to find a glimmer of light, a way out for both of them. Then, a long-forgotten memory flashed clearly in his mind. It was the image of Sophia's devoted care after the battle with the Dino Serpent at Loknezt Lake, when he was on the verge of death. Her warm, sincere words still echoed in his ears.

"If they never found my body... how long would you have kept looking? How long would you have held on to that hope?"

"Forever." she answered instantly, without a trace of hesitation. "I would have looked for you until the day I died. There was no other choice."

Henry swallowed hard, humbled by her conviction. "And what if they had found me, but damaged? Crippled? A vegetable, unable to speak or move?" The question felt cruel, but he had to know.

Sophia didn't flinch. She looked at him directly, her amber eyes blazing with fierce, unwavering love. "Then you would still be alive," she whispered fiercely, her words trembling on the verge of tears.

"You would still be Henry. Still here, by my side." Her grip tightened. "And then I would have taken care of you. Every single day. I would have been your shield, no matter what. As long as you were still here, breathing beside me, nothing else would have mattered."

"How can you be so foolishly loyal." Henry sighed, overwhelmed, gently stroking her soft hair, pulling her closer. "Sophia, you deserve better than a reckless idiot like me."

"Perhaps," she murmured, leaning her head gently on his shoulder, finally feeling the crushing weight of the past days begin to lift, replaced by the simple, profound comfort of his familiar warmth spreading through her body, chasing away the last vestiges of cold. "But this foolish girl only ever wanted you."

A crazy idea, an extremely selfish solution, slowly formed and grew in Henry's mind.

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