Chapter 421: The Silent Truth
Xion stared at the unfolded letters scattered on the desk.
The deeper the darkness spread beyond the window, the heavier the words pressed down on him.
The attacks on Suniva, the province along the border, had begun far earlier than anyone admitted.
The governor had begged for aid from neighboring cities and provinces, but not a single reply had come.
No one wished to waste precious food on starving humans, especially not when the refugees began to sicken and collapse.
Entire cities had fallen to the sudden plague. Their demise paved the way for the Royal army to march in easily.
Considering the ease of the victory, they called Silas so he could use his own banner and declare the North free from the Devil’s grasp.
"There’s something terrible happening there, brother."
Noxian wasn’t any less shaken by the news, and it was evident in the deeply etched worry. "Those who stay dead are fine. It’s the ones who don’t... they attack anyone nearby."
What Noxian wouldn’t say, the letters spelled out.
Perhaps hunger had gnawed so deep that even in death, their only instinct was to eat.
They sank their teeth into whatever flesh was closest. Their children, their lovers, their kin.
It was almost as if they were becoming monsters.
No, not monsters.
"They are becoming Orcs."
The blade slipped from Noxian’s hand, clattering against the floor. His eyes widened. "What do you mean, brother? How can humans become Orcs?"
Just like how humans could turn into flesh-eating zombies.
Even if some orcs had shown similar traits to humans, they were still very different. Be it in the way their eyes looked or how some had horns or even tails.
It was like comparing rats to crocodiles. Both were alive, but no one in their right mind would claim they were the same species.
Which left the question: who had the power to twist humans into Orcs, and do it without leaving a single trace?
"Listen, Noxian. We need all the help we can get, okay? Pack your things, and I’ll pack mine. We leave for the border in the morning."
"But His Grace is leaving the day after tomorrow. We—"
Xion’s steady gaze silenced him. "Do you trust me?"
"Of course I do."
Who else could he trust, if not his own brother?
Xion suddenly smiled. "Good. If you want to follow Darius, I won’t stop you. But I have to leave as soon as possible. I need to see them with my own eyes. Only then can I help. The longer we wait, the worse it’ll get."
For now, the province of Suniva was sealed shut, every route blocked to keep the plague from spreading further.
But that also meant the soldiers trapped inside had no reinforcements, no supplies.
They were likely just barely holding back the Royal Army from breaching the gates and sweeping into the next province.
"Brother..." Noxian hesitated before sighing. "I know I’m not as smart as you. I can’t find cures like you do. But I don’t want to risk it. You barely survived, brother. What if..."
"What if I die there?" Xion reached out to pat the youngster sitting opposite him.
His blue eyes had the same gentle smile he wore when Noxian was just a little brat, causing a ruckus everywhere.
"I won’t. Goddess Myrthia won’t let me."
The straightforward answer left Noxian stunned.
"B-Brother..."
The remaining words felt heavy even on his tongue, as though saying them aloud gave form to the nightmare.
"You’ve always known it, child. I’m a little different from the rest of you, haven’t I?"
"No. You’re just like me. Those sweets and... and all those things, that was just my eyes playing tricks on me. They couldn’t have just appeared from thin air. Th-that’s impossible."
"Noxian!" Xion shook him by the shoulders. "What you saw was real. As real as you and me. I can’t make things appear from thin air anymore, but I’m still capable. You have to trust me on this one."
Noxian suddenly stood from his seat, then slumped beside Xion, wrapping him in a tight embrace.
"Promise me, brother. Promise me you’ll always stay with me. You won’t vanish like angels do."
Sakura Mei’s sudden disappearance had long since become a famous tale.
A story where the angels vanish after fulfilling their mission. Noxian feared Xion was the same.
And honestly, Xion couldn’t blame him.
"I will. After this war, I’ll cook your favorite food. Then we’ll have our little party. How about that?"
"Can we invite Aunt, Sir Ray, and Allen too?"
"Of course." Xion patted his back. "Invite whoever you want."
"Can we not invite His Grace?"
The meekness in his voice made Xion laugh. "Sure. Let’s not invite Darius."
After making sure the youngster was alright, Xion pushed himself out of the room.
Outside, the night had covered the entire North in its dark embrace. The sun would rise in a few hours, but the people in Suniva province might not be able to see it.
The time it took Xion from returning from Noxian’s room to his own was enough for a few more human lives to decay.
After entering, Xion didn’t look at the Archduke, who was sitting in the same seat.
He calmly went toward his cupboard to get a few sets of clothes. As the cold was heavy now, it was better to wear more layers.
So, Xion decided to wear the special robes embedded with mana crystals.
It would not only keep him warm but also not hinder his movements.
Thankfully, the system had used its skills to seduce him, and now Xion had a few things that could be used.
Like the briefcase that was indestructible, even against grenades, or the flasks that wouldn’t break.
Keeping his clothes to a minimum, Xion started packing important herbs and medicinal potions inside.
"Xion," Darius called.
When he got no response, he pushed himself off his seat. His steps echoed in the room as he inched closer to the silent healer.
"Xion, I know I shouldn’t have hidden it from you. I was wrong."
Xion pushed the wooden box filled with medical equipment inside before throwing a layer of clothes on it.
Padding like this would keep the things from breaking during the long journey.
Before Xion could turn around to get more things, Darius hugged him from behind.
The chill clinging to the Archduke instantly made Xion shiver.
"Hey, talk to me. Please."
"Let go, Your Grace. I need to pack."
The anger in his voice was evident in the way he gritted his teeth.
"I am sorry, Xion," Darius said, letting his forehead rest on Xion’s shoulder. "Please, talk to me."
Because this silence was much more terrible than any of those bloody letters.
"... I will go there."
However, the rage in his words had vanished a lot. That sudden ’please’ was enough to soften his heart.
What could he do when he was born with this stupid heart? There was just no way around it.
"I know," the Archduke sighed, his breath falling over the sensitive neck. "You are so stubborn, Xion. So very stubborn."
His mother used to say that too. Not that Xion ever thought of himself in that light.
"I am not actually. But I also don’t want to be left behind. I won’t be able to sleep, Darius. Just the thought that people are dying so horribly is making my heart ache."
Because this was the true nature of an angel.
Even if Xion had turned into a human, his core was still the same, and still brimming with the same compassion ethereal beings held for mortals.
"Fine. I will help you pack."
Darius’ sudden agreement made Xion’s eyes widen before a slow smile spread across his face.
"Thank you," the healer said, finally leaning back into the embrace. "Don’t worry, I will follow your orders and won’t try to play the hero."
Darius didn’t reply, only his grip tightened on the slender frame.
He wasn’t like Noxian, who could openly express all his worries. All he could do was to assign extra guards to Xion while taking more precautions than ever.
"You want to leave in the morning?"
"Yes, as soon as possible. I will go ahead, and you can come after settling everything."
Darius suddenly chuckled, rubbing his head over Xion’s shoulder like a puppy.
"The only reason I was waiting was because of you, darling. I just couldn’t find the right time to tell you."
"Ah," Xion tilted his head, his steady gaze lingering on the head buried in his neck.
He couldn’t help but lean down and gently touch Darius’ crown with his lips.
"Then, we should hurry up with the packing. I also need to talk to Allen about some medical-related things."
The Archduke hummed softly.
Neither of them said it aloud, but both knew the silent truth. No matter how careful they were, the border would give them challenges that would change their lives forever.