DARKNESS engulfed the entire cave. Adarmus couldn't see anything but the dirty smell of rotting flesh and mold made him uneasy. He called for Mathilda to light a fire and the woman did without any word. They spent the whole journey in silence. Adarmus thought Mathilda must be thinking of ways how to help him. Though Joachim has stayed dormant for years, he's not the type who's going to remain silent after taking a huge blow from him.

Adarmus had caused him a lot of damage. This time, he won't be spared.


'Am I supposed to feel scared?' He knew he should. When Joachim called him that day, he sound gentle and there's no hint of anger can be felt around him. But Adarmus had already experienced going out with the ghost king. His warm demeanor could mean the opposite of what he really means.

He's deceptive. He'd been acostumed to lying for a very long time.

"I can't sense anything in this wretched place, Adarmus. Are you sure he's here?"


"How can I be mistaken about this, Mathilda?" Adarmus pursed his lips. "This is where I buried my son's father."

He thought she's being her usual self— demanding and spoiled. It alarmed him when Mathilda turned to grab his wrist. "Adarmus, I'm serious. I can't feel a spirit around. Not a single entity around here."


"I built a safe space for him below. You wouldn't be able to feel his aura here. We need to go down further."

"Ah... that explains it. The lack of his presence surprised me for a second. I really thought you accidentally killed him with all those years you locked him in this place."

Adarmus chose not to respond to that and made his way to where he last seen Joachim's urn. "How can a weakling like me kill him? I'm no match to his power."

"Which is a surprise how you managed to corner him." Mathilda sighed. The air coming from her mouth was moist and cold. Adarmus couldn't believe that there would come a day where he will see her scared. "I remember the first time I saw him, Adarmus. He's young— and unbearably handsome. But I set my eyes on you. Because you're Adarmus. The blue wolf that I was supposed to marry. And 'til this day, I never regretted liking you."

"… I liked you back then. You're a gentleman and you never lose your composure when you're doing your task. A reliable man, and an ideal husband. Everyone used to envy me because I was betrothed to you."

Adarmus couldn't feel anything with her words. His face remained unchanged as he listened to Mathilda. In the end, he smiled.

This was the difference between Mathilda and Joachim.

Mathilda liked what he's used to. She didn't know that what he project was the image that everyone expects from him and 'not' the way he really is.

Adarmus didn't want to be polite everytime.

Adarmus can feel angry too. He's entitled to hate and be irritated.

All of those emotions he can't let anyone see because he's pressured to be the epitome of the 'righteous' wolf.

He thought Joachim understands this.

Joachim often tells him how beautiful is it to experience his rage. How no one can compare to him because he's brilliant with the way he handled everything.

'Joachim is the real deal. He's the most crafty liar I have ever met.'

"If you still think I'm an ideal husband, feel free to talk to Joaquin and ask his opinion of us two. Although he grew up with no mother, it's better to be late than never. He can have you." Adarmus teased her. She has been poking him with these memories he longed to forget.

The problem with Joachim made him think of these unnecessary thoughts. It's time to pay her back.

"Although I think I am no longer capable of loving someone, I'm sure I can make an exemption for you."

A burst of wind clashed with Adarmus' words. He twisted his face to the right and closed his eyes. Mathilda screeched eerily. The light orb on her hand extinguished as she flail for help. "Get this rat off my dress!"

Fear of the darkness made Adarmus reach for something to hold on. He came in contact with a thin wad of cloth and a hard chest.

Adarmus paled but his hands roamed steadily as he tried to find the unknown person's pulse. His scalp tingled when he realized that the man's heart is not beating.

A loud huff stopped his thoughts from running for miles. Cold breath fanned his face. It made Adarmus aware that the man he's against is a lot taller than him.

"I keep waiting for your presence to grace this forsaken tomb, my love. But it saddens me to see that you brought your bitch along instead of our son." Joachim's monotonous voice caused Adarmus' ears to ring. "This could be a happy family reunion, Adarmus. Why do you insist in making everything difficult for ourselves?"

Mathilda couldn't take his words easily. She respected Adarmus' request only to be insulted by Joachim— again!

"How did you get out? Who helped you?"

Joachim went silent. Adarmus dreaded to hear his reply. He can't speak. It was as though Joachim took his right to voice out his mind and left him with nothing.

"Ask me, Adarmus. We have a lot to say to each other. Why do you keep your silence now?"

He moved out of Adarmus' range. Joachim's presence now occupied the whole narrow space. Adarmus felt it hard to breathe just by being in the same room with him.

"Our son, he grew up lonely. Turns out, you can't make anything right without me after all, hmn?"

"Shut up!" Adarmus finally found his voice and rumbled, "You won't be able to touch my son, Joachim! Just stay here— stay here where I won't be able to see you!"

The air stagnated for a split-second. Chill gathered on Adarmus' side. It was too late for him to react. A violent rush of air thrusted him to the wall.

"You don't mean that. Don't make me mad."

Adarmus coughed repeatedly. His eyes stung with the dust but the fear in his heart made it difficult for him to retort. "… y-you."

"Sir, everything has been settled." An old man entered the room just as Mathilda lighted another ball of light in her hand to check on Adarmus. "You can now go outside freely."

His dazed expression conjured an idea in Adarmus' mind. 'Looks like Joachim took some lengths to possess this man.'

He looked familiar. Adarmus investigated those who gets in contact with Joaquin and this old man was one of the survivors in the annihilation of the Roselir clan.

"Joachim, did you orchestrate the death of the Roselirs'?" Adarmus gritted his teeth. He stood upright with the help of Mathilda.

Joachim's familiar laugh made his presence even more vivid.

'He's back.' Adarmus felt his head starting to ache.

"Do you think I'm that evil, love?"

"Answer me!"

"No. But I saw the chance and decided to help this old man. Am I not lenient, Adarmus? See, I can forgive. I know how."

Mathilda gripped Adarmus' wrist and called his name in a whisper.

"I can always try to forget, Adarmus. But when it comes to you... I think nothing will go easy." He chuckled without mirth. "After all, you decided to kill me."

"I did not!" Adarmus tried to reason with him. "I didn't—"

"But it felt like you did," Joachim intercepted, "the wait has been so long that I finally realized that you have a heart of stone. Seeing my son's situation under your hands, I confirmed it. You... only think of yourself, Adarmus. It always has to be you and no one else."