Chapter 45: Believe In It

Lumi closed her eyes again and tried to follow Celestine’s instructions. She pushed aside the pain in her arms and focused on the strange sensation inside her body, forcing herself to believe that the healing ability was really there, even though she had never consciously used it before.

’Believe in it...’

At first, there was still nothing. Lumi frowned and concentrated harder, trying not to become distracted by the sounds of the battle behind her. Then, slowly, she felt something faint stirring deep inside her body.

It was almost impossible to notice, like a tiny warmth hidden beneath layers of darkness.

’There...’

Lumi’s breathing steadied as she carefully focused on that sensation. She tried to guide the warmth toward the part of her body that hurt the most, but then she remembered Celestine’s instructions and decided to start with her lungs. Every breath still caused a dull pain in her chest after Evan’s earlier attack, so she wanted to repair that damage first.

’Come here... come on...’

She concentrated harder, trying to draw that unfamiliar warmth toward her lungs.

For a brief moment, she thought she could feel it moving.

Then a tremendous crash suddenly shook the dungeon.

Lumi’s eyes flew open.

Raphael came flying across the room and barely managed to twist his body before crashing directly into Celestine. The two collided and were sent tumbling toward the dungeon wall, where they crashed heavily against the stone amid a cloud of dust and broken rubble.

"Ah!" ℴℴ𝘮

Lumi instinctively reached toward them, but her injured arms immediately reminded her of their condition.

"Celestine!"

Raphael groaned as he pushed himself up from the rubble, rubbing the side of his head. "I’m starting to think Number One really doesn’t like my face."

Celestine shoved a piece of broken stone away from her shoulder and glared at him. "It’s not like you’re more handsome than him..."

Raphael blinked, then frowned in disbelief. "Excuse me? Just for your information, Miss Pei, who was chosen by that stupid machine as my Fated Guide, I was voted the most handsome Sentinel of the year..."

Celestine rolled her eyes. "Self-voted, probably..."

She hurriedly tried to stand, but a sudden sharp pain shot through her side, making her stop halfway. Her hand immediately pressed against her ribs as she winced. "Ah..."

Raphael glanced at her. "Are you hurt?"

"I’m fine." She said as she slowly tried once again to stand.

"You don’t look fine." Raphael tried to offer his hand.

"I said I’m fine." Celestine ignored him and forced herself upright, but her movement was noticeably slower this time. She glanced toward Evan, who was still surrounded by flickering electricity, before turning her attention back to Lumi.

"Did you make it?"

Lumi frowned and shook her head.

"Make it what?" Raphael arched an eyebrow, glancing between the two sisters.

"You should go and heal her quickly before that angry rabbit turns into..." He paused, looking toward Evan as another violent surge of electricity crackled around him. "Well, whatever comes after the angry rabbit."

Celestine let out a harsh sigh, clearly growing frustrated with their conversation.

Meanwhile, Lumi tried to push herself upright despite the pain in her arms. She looked toward Raphael and Leon.

"Young Master Valen and Young Master Caesar, can you help hold Evan? I think I could try..."

Leon, who was currently struggling to keep Evan pinned to the ground, glanced toward her.

"Can you do that? Then come!"

He tightened his grip around Evan’s shoulders as Evan violently struggled against him, electricity surging across his body.

Raphael immediately flashed back toward Evan and Leon, grabbing hold of Evan’s other arm.

"Hurry up, Miss Pei!"

He glanced back at her with a grin.

"And next time, just call me Raphael. Don’t you think your way of addressing me is a little too long?"

Lumi tried to move toward them, but her injured arms made even the simplest movement difficult. She managed only a few unsteady steps before her knees nearly gave out.

’I can’t move fast enough...’

She gritted her teeth and tried to keep going, but the distance between her and Evan still felt too far.

Suddenly, Raphael appeared beside her.

"Looks like you’re going to take forever."

Before Lumi could even ask what he meant, Raphael bent slightly and grabbed her around the waist.

"Wait—"

The next second, the ground disappeared beneath her feet.

Raphael flashed forward with her, moving so quickly that Lumi barely had time to react before they were already back beside Evan and Leon.

"Here we are." He released her carefully.

Lumi stumbled slightly but managed to steady herself. "Why did you—"

"Because at that speed, we’ll still be here tomorrow." Raphael turned back toward Evan, who was still struggling violently against Leon’s hold.

"Now hurry, Miss Pei. Unless you want Number One to add us to his growing list of people he wants to kill."

Lumi took a deep breath and glanced toward both men. "Can you close your eyes?"

Raphael raised an eyebrow. "Why? Don’t tell me both of you are going to make—"

"Can you just shut up...?" Leon gritted his teeth, struggling to keep Evan restrained. "Hurry up, Miss Pei."

He closed his eyes.

Raphael glanced at him, then at Lumi.

"Fine." He reluctantly closed his eyes as well.

Lumi dragged herself closer, every movement sending another wave of pain through her injured arms. When she finally reached Evan, she carefully leaned forward until she could meet his eyes.

His hazel-yellow eyes were still cold and completely devoid of recognition.

Lumi swallowed. She placed both hands against his cheeks and held his face gently, trying to ignore the fear twisting inside her.

"Evan..."

He struggled against Leon’s grip again, but Lumi didn’t move away.

She leaned closer. Then, with her heart pounding wildly, she pressed her lips against his.

The moment their lips met, Lumi’s consciousness was suddenly pulled away from her body and plunged into darkness once again. It was the same strange place she had unconsciously entered during the Fated Bonding Ceremony.