Path of the Extra

When a person decides to trust someone entirely—not just with casual details, but with the full weight of who they are—it’s one of the most vulnerable choices a human being can make. Trusting someone completely isn’t only about sharing secrets; it’s about exposing the raw, unfiltered parts of the soul. It’s granting another person access to one’s weaknesses, to one’s fears, to the memories one wishes could be erased.

It is one of the hardest things a person can do: choosing connection over self-preservation.

And Azriel—Azriel decided, for once, to let go of self-preservation.

Because he didn’t want to lose someone he loved again.

Because he didn’t want to be the reason.

Because he didn’t want it to happen again.

Because he didn’t want to be alone again.

So Azriel told Jasmine everything.

He told her about the name he once carried—Leo—in another world, and of the Karumi family, what had happened to them, and to him. He told her how being blessed by the Goddess of Death had changed his [unique skill]. He told her the truth of why he did what he did in the void dungeon, and why he had Zoran killed. He told her everything he knew about the book called Path of Heroes.

Azriel had never felt so naked. Even in the presence of those who could have crushed him like an insect, he had never truly felt threatened; or if he had, there had always been something thin and lacking in their aura, more annoying than frightening.

This, however, was different.

This made him wish he were back in the Forest of Eternity.

Azriel couldn’t bear to look at Jasmine—to see what expression she wore. He didn’t even know what expression he himself wore. He kept his gaze on his feet as they sat beside one another on the bed.

“And… well,” he finished at last, “that brings us to now. In short, I wasn’t going to let Pollux have his way, so I revealed my presence as the Son of Death, hoping someone would want to take his life—and the life of the Fourth Authority.”

He exhaled. Silence answered. The lack of response made his heart beat faster, like a nervous, stumbling rhythm.

He didn’t look at her.

There was only a quiet room, the soft sound of two people breathing, the smell of burned wood.

Azriel closed his eyes.

“I… will give you time to process all of this. Take as long as you need.”

He rose, or tried to. He would have walked away—if not for the weak grip that suddenly closed around his left hand.

Azriel’s eyes widened as he turned. Jasmine’s fingers were hooked around his, trembling slightly, her body faintly shivering.

“Now it finally makes sense…” she whispered.

“Why you did what you did. How you think. All of it finally makes sense.”

She looked up. For the nth time that day, tears gathered and fell from her reddened eyes.

“You…”

She pressed her lips together, then opened them again, steadying her voice against the urge to sob. Azriel kept his gaze lowered, already dreading what she might say—what she might feel, what she might think.

“You must have felt so confused,” she said.

“Huh? What?”

Azriel’s eyes widened again; he stared at her, dumbfounded.

“All this time you’ve been suffering,” she went on, “carrying memories of another life. The pain of that life, the pain of this one—you’ve carried it all alone.”

Her grip tightened.

’What is happening?’

This was not how Azriel had expected it to go. In truth, he hadn’t expected anything at all when he began to speak. Or rather, deep down, he had expected that she would still hate him. That she would be disgusted. That she would feel betrayed. That she might not even believe him.

And yet—

“You must have felt so… alone,” Jasmine said.

She wasn’t looking at him with hatred, or disgust, or betrayal.

“And still you tried to protect us,” she said softly.

“With what you knew from that book, you tried to keep people from… from dying in the void dungeon. All the while, while those so-called gods—no, those disgusting beings—toyed with you. Even you yourself… you were hurt so much that in the end you hurt yourself more. We’ve been here with our mundane problems—the Heavenly Church, void creatures, great clans, the underground world… all of it feels insignificant, worthless, ordinary compared to what you’ve been living through.”

’Why?’ Azriel thought.

“Why?” Jasmine asked.

“Why did you go through all this pain? How… how could there be any meaning in the suffering you’re enduring? I… I don’t understand. It’s so unfair. You don’t deserve this. You did nothing to warrant so much meaningless pain…”

Azriel stood there, not knowing how to react, and managed only one question.

“Why?”

Jasmine looked at him, and still it made no sense to him that she could look at him that way.

“Why don’t you hate me?” he asked.

“Hate… you?” she echoed.

Confusion crossed her face, then her eyes widened and trembled.

“I just told you… I’m not even your brother—why would—”

“Who decided that you are not my little brother?” she snapped, the strength in her voice rising as she gritted her teeth.

“Because some pathetic Apostle of Time was too weak to care about anything except himself? Because other beings, lost in their pride and their own heads, said so? That doesn’t make it true. I don’t care what they try to make you believe. What do they know about you? What do they really know? I don’t care what they think, or what their souls tell them is true. You are you. I know you.”

She rose and took both of Azriel’s hands in hers, looking straight into him with a steadiness that left no space for doubt.

“No matter what life you lived before, no matter what memories you carry, no matter what face you’ve worn, no matter how badly you’ve screwed up—no matter what! Just as their souls and yours may remember, mine remembers too! I see you! You are my little brother! That is a fact no one can take away!”

Her grip faltered.

“And yet… I… to you… I was so mea—”

She cut herself off.

“…!”

Before Azriel could move, she pulled him into a tight embrace.

“J-Jasmine…?!”

She began to sob—loud, unguarded, childlike—and refused to let him go. She didn’t say anything more; she only cried, holding on to him as if he were the last solid thing in a collapsing world.

Azriel still wore his bewildered expression, and yet tears were streaming down his face once more.

…Eventually, he wrapped his arms around her too.

*****

“I think… that’s enough crying for today, don’t you think?”

“Mhm… for today.” Jasmine hummed to Azriel’s question as she lay sprawled lazily on the bed. Azriel, meanwhile, sat on the floor with his head tipped forward, resting against the mattress. Both wore drained, tired expressions; their faces were tear-streaked, and their eyes were redder than their crimson irises.

“Hey, Azriel…”

“Mhm.”

“This time—for real… despite everything—I’m happy you told me the truth.”

Azriel was quiet for a moment before his lips curved, involuntarily.

“Yeah… me too.”

Jasmine sighed.

“Still… if you’re comfortable, I’d like to talk in detail about that book—the one you learned so much from. There… there are a lot of problems we’ll need to handle in the near future it seems…”

“I’m… comfortable discussing it. And yes, that’s a good idea.”

“Mhm.”

Then Jasmine frowned.

“Though there’s one pressing matter from that book I still can’t wrap my head around.”

“Which one?”

Azriel turned his head slightly, and Jasmine did the same, so they faced each other.

“That…”

She made a strained face, like she was trying to spit out a stone.

“That… lo—… me and…—ine…”

Her voice fell so low Azriel couldn’t make out the words.

“Can you speak more clearly?”

Hearing his request made her face burn for some reason.

“I… I’m talking about… that I… harem… Lumine…”

Azriel’s eyes widened, understanding dawning.

“Ohhh. You mean how you were in love with Lumine and ended up part of his harem in the book, right?”

“Don’t say it so plainly!”

Without warning, her foot thumped the back of his head. He winced; it didn’t hurt, but it was annoying.

“You’re the one who asked!”

“That doesn’t mean you just blurt it out!”

“Huh? Then speak clearly next time!”

Jasmine turned away, her face bright red with embarrassment, and clicked her tongue.

“You… you really don’t understand…”

Azriel rubbed the back of his head.

“So? What about it? What’s so hard to comprehend—that you were in lo—”

She snapped her gaze to him, eyes narrowed, and he shut his mouth on instinct.

“That you were… close to Lumine,” he corrected.

“Yes, that. How could I—the heiress of the Crimson Clan—end up with someone like him? Ugh! It doesn’t make sense, Azriel! How could I have done that!?”

Azriel looked away, awkward.

“Well, apparently he was an idiot who kept trying to help you after I died, and eventually he melted your ice-cold heart.”

He shrugged.

“It’s not like it’ll happen this time, since I’m alive now—unless he’s your type and you’re willing to sh—”

“Don’t you dare say those words ever again.”

Azriel shivered at the chill behind his head and the even colder gaze—colder than his ice affinity.

“The moment I even think about something so horrendous—which I assure you I will never, ever, never ever do—and if I fail to take my own life, it will be your responsibility to take it for me.”

Azriel stared at her blankly while Jasmine glared at the ceiling with open disgust. He sighed inwardly and nodded.

“…Sure.”

A smile bloomed across her face. She pointed at him, suddenly brighter.

“And don’t worry, little brother. The moment you even think about becoming part of a harem, I will personally give you a painful death!”

“When did I ask to die? And why does mine have to be painful…?”

Scratching his hair, Azriel narrowed his eyes.

“Besides, I’m a boy, and I’m definitely not in love with Lumine—or thinking about joining his harem.”

Jasmine sat up and shook her head at him.

“No, not Lumine, you idiot! I’m talking about a girl’s harem—one girl with multiple boys. A reverse harem!”

“A reverse… harem?”

This time Azriel’s face twisted in disgust. Jasmine nodded, placing a hand on her chest.

“Yes. So, little brother, don’t you worry. I’ll make sure you get out before you fall too deep.”

Azriel could only give her a blank look.

“…You certainly know your terms, don’t you?”

Jasmine flinched, looked away, and coughed.

“A-anyway. It’s been a long day, hasn’t it? We’re both exhausted.”

Letting the subject go, Azriel nodded.

“I guess we are, yeah…”

“There’s still a lot about this scenario I need to catch you up on. You’ve been through enough, so… we’re taking a week to rest. And after that—now that I don’t have to rely on the others, since you’re here…” She met his eyes, her face turning serious.

“We’re getting out of this scenario once and for all.”