RHH | Chapter 6.4

Unable to hide his joy at Leehwan’s permission, Absalom stepped into the ritual circle.

As he knelt before Leehwan.

“Is that all?”

Iella asked in a trembling voice. Leehwan didn’t even look at him as he retorted.

“What else is there?”

“For a dragon, the heart is the source of their power, the central axis of their physical form. With it damaged, the actual power he can wield is……”

Iella muttered endlessly, as if half out of his mind. Leehwan snapped coldly.

“What does that matter!”

The cold blade of the dagger cut through the ropes. Finally free, Leehwan immediately stood up.

“Let’s get out of here. If we stay, Iella will send me back to Earth.”

Absalom, who had been about to stand up after Leehwan, hesitated. His blue eyes wavered as he looked at Leehwan. Seeing the cautious hope and the will to suppress it in those eyes, Leehwan spoke without thinking.

Perhaps it was what Absalom had wanted to hear most.

“Let’s go back together.”

Joy began to fill Absalom’s haggard face.

“Why?”

At Iella’s voice, the lines forming the ritual began to glow faintly. The light, as if alive, shimmered and started to move.

The light, completely detached from the ritual, moved like ropes and wrapped around Leehwan’s legs. Sensing danger, Leehwan quickly tried to step back. But his legs, bound by the light, wouldn’t move. He reached out to dispel the light, but his hands only swiped at empty air.

“Leehwan!”

Absalom grabbed the light ropes. At that moment, white flames silently erupted. It was the same phenomenon as when Absalom had touched the birch tree in Weissvalt. This flame was proof of Iella’s power.

Absalom’s hand, burned, swelled red, but he paid it no mind. As he tightened his grip, the light slowly dissipated.

Only then did Leehwan tear his gaze from his legs and look at Absalom. His beautiful face was marred with pain. Before Leehwan could process the meaning, he was pulled towards Absalom.

“Let’s go, Leehwan.”

But before they could take two steps, several strands of light wrapped around Leehwan’s left leg. Absalom reached out again, but more light rose up, binding Leehwan’s right leg as well.

This time, groaning, Absalom dispelled the light ropes and scooped Leehwan up in his arms. He quickly began to move. But the moment they tried to leave the ritual, an invisible wall pushed them back inside.

Leehwan slid down from Absalom’s staggering hold. As he urgently checked on him, Iella’s subdued voice reached his ears.

“That light means the ritual is working properly. It’s fixing the target in place to ensure safe transportation. The target can’t leave until the transportation is complete.”

His tone was different from before, less affected. Absalom glared at Iella. But Iella’s eyes were fixed on Leehwan.

“Tell me.”

“What.”

“You said it doesn’t matter. Why?”

“What are you talking about……”

Leehwan, about to retort irritably, recalled the answer he had given earlier. Meanwhile, Iella continued.

“What use is a weakened dragon? He won’t be able to grant even one of your wishes.”

Several strands of light wrapped around Leehwan’s arms and torso. Unconsciously, Leehwan turned to look at Absalom. His face was as pale as wax, staring intently at Leehwan. Then Iella snapped.

“Answer!”

“Shut up! What the hell are you even talking about!”

Half his heart torn out, his power lost, his body weakened. To Leehwan, it was just a reminder of how much Absalom had loved him before the regression, and how much he had suffered because of it.

He could guess why Iella had kept the manipulation of bonds a secret. It was obvious what Absalom would think. But why keep bringing up usefulness and all that—

“Ah……”

Leehwan turned to look at Iella. His gem-like eyes were trembling. So that was the reason. In an instant, malice surged.

“You must have been treated like that, huh? Discarded when you were weak or useless.”

Humans turn to gods in times of need. Whether the gods answer or ignore them, they inevitably fade into the background of human minds.

Iella’s eyes widened. The ever-shifting colors in his eyes darkened momentarily.

That was the answer.

Leehwan ignored him and focused back on Absalom.

Several strands of light rose again. Absalom hugged Leehwan tightly. As if cloaked in magic, the light touching Absalom’s body slowly faded.

Leehwan stared intently at the white flames bursting around them. Knowing the burns covering Absalom’s body, he couldn’t bring himself to break free from his embrace. The scent of blood and something acrid brushed Leehwan’s nose instead of Absalom’s usual fragrance.

‘Acrid?’

The burns from Iella’s power had no smell. Leehwan urgently checked Absalom’s face. His already poor complexion had grown even paler. Just then, Absalom pulled him closer. It only confirmed his suspicions, so Leehwan pushed him away.

“Leehwan, please……”

“Stay still.”

The source of the acrid smell was his neck. A black stain, like charred paper, spread across his pale skin. Leehwan stared at the slowly discoloring flesh and asked.

“What is this?”

“It’s… nothing. You don’t need to worry about it, Leehwan……”

“Your skin is turning black, and you say it’s nothing!”

Leehwan checked other areas. His arms, feet, sides—all were blackened. His expression darkened. Finally, Absalom had no choice but to speak.

“It’s just… because I’m a dragon. My power and body are tied to this world. So this is a kind of warning that leaving this world means death.”

“And you’re still doing this?”

Leehwan pushed Absalom away. But Absalom only clung tighter. No matter how many times Leehwan pushed, Absalom wouldn’t let go. Leehwan shouted.

“Get away from me……”

“You want me to leave? Do you even know what that means?”

“Rlom!”

“You want me to be left alone again? I’d rather die!”

Just then, light wrapped around Leehwan’s arm. Absalom quickly pulled him into an embrace, dispelling the light. But the speed at which the light disappeared had slowed compared to before. If this continued, Leehwan would be sent back to Earth, and Absalom would meet his death.

Was there no way out? Leehwan scanned the surroundings anxiously. The glowing ritual, the half-melted relics, the scattered chairs, Iella staring blankly into space.

Seeing Iella, anger surged. While Absalom suffered, covered in blood, Iella, who had orchestrated this, seemed perfectly fine.

‘If only Iella were the one burning like this.’

Absalom wasn’t the only one who couldn’t leave this world. If he could drag Iella into the ritual, he might understand even a fraction of the pain Absalom was feeling.

But even then, Leehwan would still be sent to Earth. He knew it was impossible, but if only Iella could be the one banished from this world. Just then, Absalom muttered.

“I’ll kill Iella.”

“What?”

Leehwan looked at Absalom. His eyes held a determination Leehwan had never seen before. In that moment, a realization flashed through Leehwan’s mind.

“How do you plan to kill him?”

“Somehow……”

“What power do you have to say that?”

Even Leehwan, who knew nothing about magic, could tell how weakened Absalom was now. And yet, he was talking about killing a god. Where would he get the power to do that?

“Are you planning to use what’s left of your heart?”

Absalom clenched his lips. Seeing the answer in that, Leehwan’s eyes widened.

“You idiot! I’d rather go back to Earth!”

“But……”

Absalom, about to argue, closed his mouth at Leehwan’s sharp glare.

“That’s not the only problem. Even if Iella dies, there’s no guarantee you’ll be safe. You said dragons were created to watch over Iella……”

The reason Absalom couldn’t leave this world. Along with that, a thought flashed through his mind.

“Rlom, lend me your ear.”

After hearing Leehwan’s words, Absalom blinked. Impossible? Leehwan whispered, and Absalom answered in a hushed voice.

“I’ve never tried it, so I can’t say for sure, but maybe……”

Absalom’s voice wavered with anxiety and faint hope. But doing something was better than just sitting still and taking it.

“We don’t have time to hesitate.”

Leehwan spoke as he watched the light rising from the ritual. Absalom closed his eyes tightly, then opened them. Gathering his silver hair in his left hand, he moved the dagger in his right.

Snip.

The long silver hair was cut short in an instant. Absalom placed the cut hair in Leehwan’s hand.

“It’s imbued with magic, so it should hold for a while.”

Absalom’s deep blue eyes were filled with hesitation. But he turned away. Unlike when he was with Leehwan, he smoothly stepped out of the ritual circle and began to examine the lines.

Leehwan stared at Absalom. What he had said was just a spur-of-the-moment idea. If luck was against them or the timing was off, this could very well be the end.

He fought back the dizziness threatening to overwhelm him. If this really was the end, he wanted to see Absalom as much as possible, even if just a little more. But even that wish wasn’t granted. The slowly shimmering light flew toward Leehwan.

Leehwan hurriedly dodged the light. But the light, as if it had a will of its own, changed direction and targeted him. Several strands wrapped around his limbs, but the light that touched Absalom’s silver hair lost its power and faded. However, in exchange, parts of the silver hair instantly burned away.

Leehwan glanced toward Absalom. He saw him standing with a dagger, drawing something on the ground. Leehwan swallowed the urge to rush him. The only saving grace was that Absalom was outside the ritual circle and wouldn’t be harmed.

At that moment, the light struck Leehwan. He had let his guard down for a second. The light wrapped tightly around his head, and without realizing it, his vision was blocked. His grip grew lighter, and the last strands of silver hair crumbled away.

Leehwan frantically clawed at his face. But there was nothing to grab. He gritted his teeth in frustration. The light around his head loosened and slid away. His vision cleared just enough to see Absalom running toward him, arms outstretched. Soon, a familiar warmth enveloped Leehwan.

“It’s done.”

Absalom panted. Suddenly, Leehwan remembered the effect the light had on Absalom and quickly looked down at his body. But the light had already disappeared without a trace.

“Over there.”

Absalom pointed somewhere. Countless strands of light were converging on a single point. At the end stood Iella, his face gloomy.