309: 6.69 How To Kill A God

6.69 How To Kill A God

0Jillian opened the door to find two beautiful dolls perching on the couch that faced the fireplace. Honestly, it had been a long time since he had ever seen Lu Yizhou and Izher in their doll form that he couldn't help chuckling in nostalgia, the previous gloom lifted off his chest. 

It was just less than two months ago that he was dying in the middle of an uncharted forest and rescued by the most beautiful man in the whole universe. So why did it seem like half a lifetime had already passed?

He took the dolls into his arms, hugging them to his chest as he sat on the bed.

"What's wrong?" Lu Yizhou appeared beside him and brushed his bangs away. "You're sad."

Izher threw himself on the bed with a thump, arms crossed behind his head. "What else? He's a crybaby."

Whatever moisture was squeezed out of his eyes due to Lu Yizhou's gentle inquiry instantly dried up as he sent Izher a sharp glare. "Who the fuck is a crybaby? It's not me who cried when he saw a sword!"

"Hey!" Izher propped himself up by an elbow and pointed at Jillian's nose. "You'd better look at yourself first in the mirror, okay? Your eyes are as red as a rabbit!"

Lu Yizhou cleared his throat and the boiling battle spirit surrounding the two promptly crumbled like paper towels drenched in a bucket of cold water. Both turned away with a harrumph whilst secretly pinching each other when they thought Lu Yizhou wouldn't notice.

"So…" Lu Yizhou switched the topic with a helpless smile. "Are you ready to leave, Jillian?"

Jillian froze and his head lowered, lips moving in faint mumbles. 

"Hmm?" Lu Yizhou closed in to hear him better. "What did you say?"

"I said…" Jillian took a deep breath. "Can we wait… until Hayden's wedding celebration?" He averted his gaze, pink dusting his cheeks. "I have made a promise to him earlier that I will attend." Would he look ridiculous this way? It wasn't like he and Hayden had any sort of special relationship between them. But no matter what, Jillian had been prepared to take him as a brother before he even knew that Hayden was a Royal Prince so…

"Of course it's fine." Lu Yizhou stroked his knuckles along Jillian's nose bridge to stop whatever he was brooding over. "Take as much time as you need, Jillian. We will wait until you're ready."

"I'm a very, very impatient man. Just so you know." Izher piped in with a quiet voice which earned him a smack on his forehead from Jillian. 

Lu Yizhou merely huffed out a helpless yet fond laugh as Izher fiercely pounced on Jillian and the two rolled around in bed, clawing and yanking each other's hair. At some point, the two of them suddenly burst out in laughter and switched to tickling, eliciting more shrill giggles and amused yells. 

Looking at his lovers' smiling faces, Lu Yizhou felt his heart caving in to make space for them. It ached but sweet at the same time. 

He couldn't help but think that he was willing to forsake everything as long as he could hear this laugh. Forever.

  ***

Hayden's official wedding celebration took place just as the peak of spring began to overtake the whole country. 

Flowers budded out on thin branches, blooming across the trees lined up on the street. The air was still a little cold, but after a long wait, the murky sky finally parted to reveal the brightness hidden beyond. It was a brand new day filled with hope, happiness and peace.

Red silk hung over the street and citizens scattered petals along the royal procession, throwing excited wishes once Hayden so much as waved their way. He looked dashing today with his hair slicked back, the elaborate royal outfit drabbed on his tall figure, paired with a furry cloak that highlighted the width of his shoulders. 

By his side, Maia was clad in an off-shoulder white wedding gown with streaks of blue, showing her elegant collarbone that was decorated with a delicate pearl necklace. The dress tapered off at the waist, accentuated her slim figure before flaring at the bottom, flowy as clouds and long enough just to show an inch of her ankles. Her hair had been styled in a braid woven with flower petals. She looked stunning and happy. 

"Prince Hayden! Princess Maia! May you live happily ever after!"

"Princess Maia, you're so beautiful! Please look here!"

"Prince Hayden!"

Hayden didn't cry when he took in Maia's breathtaking appearance for the first time, nor did he cry when they arrived at the Royal Palace, held Maia's hand as they walked side by side along the red carpet to where His Majesty King Emeri and Chief Tribe Alain had been waiting for them. 

He only teared up when the King gave his passionate speech — in fact the King looked even more emotional than him, stumbling on his words and stopping for a while to take his breath — and his vision blurred when Alain finally beamed at him and patted him on the shoulder, entrusting him with Maia's life and happiness.

The official ceremony passed in a blink of an eye. From then on, he and Maia had become a pair of husband and wife, together for a lifetime until death did them apart. He sealed his vow with a gentle kiss on her lips.

By then, Maia's face was already wet with tears. "I still can't believe this—" She couldn't choke back the sob. She had thought that the betrothal would be called off when her father reappeared as the demon and almost wrecked her future husband's country apart. Alas, a few days passed by and she found none of the things she feared happening.

The betrothal was still on going and King Emeri ended up hastening the process, in fear that his reckless son's temperament would send him to an early grave. 

(Later on, Maia only found out through a string of coincidences that one person had been responsible to see things to the end. Just like how they promised they would.)

Hayden wiped the tears on her face and smiled lovingly down at her. "My wife, my Princess and my future Queen, please don't cry. Isn't this one of our happiest days?" He murmured and Maia's face turned beet red, flushing beautifully under the new title. At least, Hayden succeeded and her tears stopped.

The congratulations came like a tidal wave, unending and relentless. Throughout everything, Hayden kept a moderate smile on his face but anyone with eyes could see that he was getting more and more disheartened by each second. Knowing what was on her husband's mind, Maia squeezed his hand and whispered when the ministers were preoccupied with each other. "It's okay. He said he will come and he definitely will."

Jillian Lacrosa had ceased to appear in public ever since the monumental event of his ascension. King Emeri still received regular reports from him, stating how the plague had been resolved and the upgrade in the safety protocol along the border. 

The latter had been Jillian's duty for years and King Emeri understood… he was currently preparing to step down from his position. His own reluctance notwithstanding, it's not like the King could do anything to change his mind anyway.

Jillian had become an immortal and the mortal affairs were no longer his business. It was generous of him to still give a hand here and there to ensure the country's prosperity.

King Emeri had no idea at all of the promise Jillian had made with his son, thus he was taken aback when a commotion broke out at the main gate. Following that his son Hayden had run forward — disregarding all etiquette, goodness! — to receive the new guest with an excited look on his face. 

Jillian still looked the same as always but at the same time, totally different. When he was a human he had been righteous and noble, and now he looked… divine as if surrounded by a faint layer of halo. And for a split second, King Emeri got the urge to descend from his throne and grovel under his feet.

He was spared from the act when Jillian broke through the crowd to greet him — respectful and humble as always. King Emeri's eyes flew wide in shock. He hastily stood up and rushed down the short flight of stairs to lift the deity's head up. "Please…" His brows were pinched in stress. "This is inappropriate. How could you—"

  Jillian straightened up with a smile. "Once my King, you will always be my King, Your Majesty."

King Emeri was very flattered at his remark. Exactly what sacrifice had he made in his past life to have such a loyal, exceptional retainer by his side and even witnessed him ascending to immortality? Maybe he was getting old, or maybe it was the feeling like his life was finally complete — there was nothing that delighted him more than witnessing his son's blissful life — King Emeri found himself getting sentimental for the nth time today. He discreetly turned away to wipe the tears on the corner of his eyes… hence it took a moment for him to register the loud hiccups and sobbing coming from his side.

Imagine how shocked he was when he found tears and snots running down Hayden's face uncontrollably and the man didn't even show any effort to stop that, eyes staring at Jillian unblinkingly. 

"Hayden?!" He exclaimed in disbelief. How could he…? This… This was the public, for God's sake! What would everyone say if they found His Highness Prince Hayden crying on his wedding day and most importantly, not because of his wife?!

"M—My apologies." Hayden hid his face in the crook of his arm, shoulders shaking minutely. "It's just that… Having General Jillian here in my wedding is…" He couldn't even complete his sentence, too shaken by the tears that were choking his throat.

Beside him, Maia rolled her eyes. "Please don't cry on our happy day, you said..."

Jillian let out a faint chuckle. He only stayed to offer the newlyweds his blessing. After paying proper greeting to the King, he made his way out with Hayden trailing after him like a lost puppy. With a helpless sigh, he patted Hayden on his head and leaned in to whisper into his ears. Somehow, it made Hayden cry even harder and the ceremony had to be cut short because he got lightheaded.

Jillian returned home with spring on his steps and a slight smile on the corner of his lips. When he caught sight of Lu Yizhou and Izher waiting for him, he instantly opened his arms to hug both of them. "I'm ready." He murmured. "Should we…?"

"Mn." Lu Yizhou held him tight, knowing that Jillian was barely keeping himself together. "Are you sure?"

"I am." Jillian sniffled and lifted his head only to realize that he had two additional guests on his balcony. "Oh, I apologize for not noticing you sooner, Sir Cyrus and Sir Luan."

Luan inclined his head briefly while Cyrus offered his usual serene smile. "It's nothing, General. We are just discussing the best way to leave this world. You have arrived at the right time."

"The best way…? What do you mean by that?" Then, Jillian felt Lu Yizhou tense ever so slightly. He turned to him in confusion. "Lu Yizhou?"

"Let me explain." Izher cleared his throat. Weird, Jillian thought. Why was he avoiding Lu Yizhou's eyes? Had he done something bad behind Lu Yizhou's back again? But he knew that Izher wasn't the kind of man who could ever repent so… what was happening? "We are currently stuck on choosing the best method because previously… I can only leave when I die."

Jillian stiffened when he finally registered the meaning in Izher's words. "So… we need to die? All of us? Me, Lu Yizhou and you?"

"No, no, Lu Yizhou doesn't need to." Izher waved in dismissal. "He has special privilege for that. That leaves the problem for both of us."

Jillian nodded slowly. "So? We should just use whatever method you have used in the past. I don't see the problem with it." Izher looked even more guilty at that, confusing Jillian to no end. Asking Lu Yizhou to explain thoroughly is a no-no, thus he could only turn to Cyrus. 

The ivory dragon smiled awkwardly. "In the past, your honor has either died because of natural age, sickness or… accidents."

"Accidents." Jillian echoed flatly before snapping to Izher in shock. "Don't tell me—hmph!!"

"Shut up!" Izher had pounced on him like a cheetah and clamped his mouth shut forcefully. Their faces were merely an inch from each other. Izher's wholly black eyes bore down at him in silent threat and there was… panic? Fluster? Izher dragged him to the corner of the room before letting him go, earning him a venomous glare from Jillian. 

"Shut up, I swear you don't know anything!" He groaned in annoyance before Jillian could protest. 

"Is it true?!" Jillian hissed and demanded in a low voice. "Did you kill yourself?!"

"It… It was just one time, okay?!" Izher threw his hands up in surrender. "It was my first time, I didn't know anything! I have lived for more than two decades after Lu Yizhou's departure. Do you think you can endure it any longer than I am?!"

Jillian fell silent at that. Two decades was… He couldn't even imagine a day without Lu Yizhou. "Does he know?" He asked quietly.

"Oh, he knows." Izher let out another tormented groan. "Even if he didn't, he will know now after this. Fuck, how can I look at him in the eye after this?"

So that's why Lu Yizhou looked so upset. "You should take responsibility." Jillian advised. "Just admit you're wrong." After that, he dragged the reluctant Izher in front of Lu Yizhou and pushed him forward like an encouraging and cool-headed partner he was — and definitely not because he enjoyed seeing Izher suffer.

Izher shuffled from one feet to another and fiddled with his fingers nervously. His face resembled Jillian's soldiers everytime he visited to announce the new training regimen; the helplessness and meekness of a man waiting for his death verdict. "I'm sorry." He mumbled with a voice as small as a fly. "I know I was wrong."

Jillian would have barked out a laugh if the situation hadn't been so serious.

Izher wilted under the disapproving curve of Lu Yizhou's lips. He might even be trembling ever so slightly but in the end, Lu Yizhou didn't say anything except for bringing him into his arms. "I know I have said this before…" He said into Izher's ears, too soft that Jillian would have missed it if not for his enhanced senses. "...but I'm sorry that I left you behind. I'm sorry that I have forced you to make such a decision."

"Alright!" Jillian clapped his hands to break the low atmosphere before Izher could do anything stupid — like burst into tears, for example and Jillian knew he definitely would because he was just that sappy. "Let's save the past for later. We have to discuss the future, remember?" He pretended not to see when Izher used Lu Yizhou's sleeves to wipe his snots. He still recalled Izher saying that he was a crybaby. Who was a crybaby now? How embarrassing!

"The most important question is," Jillian swept his gaze around. "I understand that we have to die but… does anyone know how to kill a God?"

.

.

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A/N: What Jillian whispered into Hayden's ears was, "You will make a good king someday. I'm certain of it." He couldn't exactly say it in public because it was deemed blasphemous to talk about a new King when King Emeri was still alive and well, thus he could only whisper. Who could have guessed that Hayden would cry until he almost fainted lol

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