"I swear in the name of Goddess Ophelia, we didn't touch the food!"
John affirmed, screaming at the top of his lungs, struggling as they tried to break free from the grip of the deacons.
"Then how would you explain this mess?!"
Their eyes widened in horror as they gazed at the table, where food lay scattered, as if someone had eaten it has been famished for ages.
"But Father—"
Looking at the High Priestess's cold, gutted gaze towards them immediately sent a shiver down their spines as he simply watched John and the others being dragged out of the temple.
Night swiftly fell, and the commotion spread like a bolt of thunder, drawing various reactions from the people in the temple.
"Hey, have you heard? John was kicked out of the temple for theft!"
"I knew this would happen..."
They sneered as they whispered in each other's ears.
"Serves him right."
"I've hated him from the beginning."
Though some wanted him gone for good, there were some who opposed and doubted what happened.
"But I still don't believe John would do that."
Just like Viktor had thought, John's banishment became the hot topic of the temple, enough to make him feel anxious knowing that the truth would reveal itself in time and he would face a severe punishment if that time came.
'I think everyone is just as shocked as I am. But is it right for them to be punished like that? Since... that night I—'
"Viktor!"
The familiar voice of the priest left him frozen in his feet, quavering as he slowly turned around to look at him from behind.
"Ye-yes?"
His voice cracked, gathering everyone's attention, as murmurs and laughter prompted from the crowd.
To make matters worse, the priest's abrasive tone and demeaning, judging eyes with a hint of disgust made Viktor feel nauseous, with a pair of trembling hands and a ghost-like complexion on his face.
"Follow me."
He commanded, breaking the silence with a frosty tone of his voice, no different from his expression.
Gigantic statues of gods and goddesses faced Viktor as he followed the priest into a glamorous room, abundant with precious jewels and stones, buried in his own thoughts.
"Did they find out I was the culprit?! Will I be punished like him?! What will I do? WHAT WILL I—"
"Ahem!"
He nearly jumped in shock as they reached the door.
He was even lost in count for how many times he had swallowed his own saliva before the priest gestured for him to enter, trembling as he reached the door.
A pope as old as the hills welcomed him inside, quietly sipping tea before he set the cup down to speak.
"You might already know what happened to John, right?"
The shifty gaze in his eyes was enough to tell that the old man held the most authority in the temple, and if Viktor failed to show him the reverent action he wanted, it might put his life in danger.
"Uhmmm, yes, Fa—Father."
He stammered as he replied, anxiously pinching the back of his hands.
"Viktor..."
Seeing the look in his eyes petrified him.
'I should apologize for now! If I come clean right now, the punishment will not be that heavy... right?!'
"Father, I—"
"You'll be assigned as a priest from now on."
The pope proclaimed that left Viktor's jaw almost dropped in shock; he couldn't even hardly believe what he had just heard.
"Yes? Pardon?"
He immediately felt lost for words, unsure of what to say.
"I think it's time for you to serve the temple properly."
Hearing another word from the pope, Viktor could not help but question his sudden rise in position as he couldn't perceive the pope's decision.
"But Father—"
"That was already settled."
Seeing the pope's cold gaze, he knew there was no point in arguing.
"I... thank you, Father. I'll serve the temple properly from now on."
He stated with his head bowed down.
Although even with his newfound rank, Viktor, who thought he could finally breathe in peace, found himself still stuck in the cycle where his body stung from the bruises he got from people in the temple.
SNIFF!
'I thought everything would be different from now on.'
He thought as muffled cries could be heard in his room, hiding his face between his knees with bruises, scratches, and visible wounds marked on different parts of his body.
"What did I ever do wrong?! Why do they treat me like this?!"
He uttered in despair, sniffling as he clenched both of his fists in anger.
"If—if there's something I did wrong, maybe being born is my fault..."
Suddenly, a luminous light flickered outside his window, with Ophelia barging into his room without a care.
"What's all this drama?"
Ophelia sighed as she walked towards him.
"Every time I visit, I find you crying—"
Just when Viktor looked up, the candlelight in his room struck his face and body, visibly showing the hellish things Viktor had gone through in her absence, leaving Ophelia with an apologetic expression.
"I'm sorry if I look pathetic to you."
Her forehead wrinkled as she approached him, gently touching his bruised cheek.
Ophelia's single touch magically made his bruises and pain fade in an instant that even left Viktor in shock, leaving both of them with flushed expressions on their faces the moment they locked eyes with each other creating a sudden charge of electricity in their chest.
"Uhmmm... So, what are we going to play today? Hahaha."
She laughed nervously while Viktor remained silent, still processing what just happened.
Seeing Viktor with no response, Ophelia decided to lend a hand, providing Viktor with her power.
"I told you to just play with me, and I'll take care of everything for you. You just need to make a wish, Viktor..."
On that day, Viktor had no idea he would find himself relying on Ophelia, just as she realized how desperately Viktor needed her aid to survive.
Years passed, and Viktor became everything he had ever wanted. He was appointed as a new pope and gained respect and power, thanks to Ophelia's support. But as his success continued...Ophelia's light seemed to dim, making her feel weak as the darkness eats her whole body slowly.....
"Congratulations, Viktor, you've got everything you wanted."
Viktor didn't answer but continuously caressed her hair as she sat on the balcony in his room.
"What are you saying? I got all this because of you. You helped me become who I am now."
"That's..."
The look in Viktor's eyes made her face flush in red.
Just like before, both of them felt something in their chests, aware that it only grew stronger the more they got close to each other.
"Viktor, I..."
"I love you, Ophelia!"
She gasped as she tried to avert the intimate look in his eyes.
"Don't you feel the same?"
In that moment, Viktor tucked her hair behind her ears as he slowly caressed her cheek down to her chin before he gently pressed his lips onto hers, feeling its warmth.
"...."
When all of a sudden... Ophelia caught her breath and broke free from his touch.
"No-no. We can't!"
Viktor frowned.
"Maybe you're just as confused as I am! We can't be doing this... we—"
Just then, a tear dropped from Viktor's eyes, almost piercing her heart, seeing it slowly run down from his cheeks blurring his sight.
"I know what I'm feeling, and I know it's love..."
His voice began to crack, holding onto her hands, which she slowly removed, avoiding any possible physical contact with him.
"Viktor, you don't understand!"
"What—what is it that I don't understand?!"
This time, the words she uttered left Viktor crumbling into pieces, as if millions of thorns had pierced his heart.
"I'm leaving..."
Viktor fell silent; he couldn't even move from shock, just like a statue.
"I won't be able to visit or play with you anymore. I've been here to help you, but it's time for me to go back where I belong..."
Hearing every word she said made Viktor realize that he wasn't actually living in his dream but in the perfect illusion he had created in his mind, knowing that he had loved a person he knew he couldn't have.
"I don't belong in your world, Viktor. Gods and mortals can't be together."
That night, something struck him.
"Can you stay for a while?"
The crestfallen expression on his face turned into a garish smile, which she didn't find odd but left unease in her heart.
As night fell, Ophelia stayed by Viktor's side, and for the last time, as she was deep in sleep, he kissed her forehead with such an amity look in his eyes, oblivious to the fact that the firefly she had once taken care of had already touched the fire....
CRASH!
As morning came, Viktor was eaten with worry as he found himself hurriedly running towards the room where he found Ophelia crying on the floor. The room was a mess, much like her appearance; even her once mellifluous tone of voice had turned somber.
The gem on her forehead was gone, making her look like just an ordinary girl, like a star that had just lost its spark.
"This time, let me help you."
Viktor affirmed as he embraced her in his arms.
As days turned to weeks, Ophelia lived in Viktor's world.She accepted Viktor's love and promised to live with him as they found joy in their shared moments together..... But as the saying goes, no secrets could remain hidden forever.....
Just now, Ophelia's expression could not be painted nor described in words as she unveiled the secrets Viktor had thought he had buried forever.....
"This—"
Her eyes widened in shock as she found the gem she once thought she had lost, perfectly hidden deep in the drawer of Viktor's room.
"After all I've done to help you, you just betray me?!"
Viktor now looked at the withering Ophelia.
With her simple black raven hair and dull eyes, her light had completely gone.
"But I didn't want any of this! I....I Just want you, Ophelia..."
He cried and begged, trying to reach for her hands, but this time, no matter what he did, she would never be swayed by his words.
"You're the only thing I've ever wanted... please... I love you! I beg you, please stay with me, marry me, so we can be together! Hmm?"
This time, she finally snapped, knowing that the person she once loved and had sacrificed her light for in able for his dreams to come true would betray her.
"Love?"
His eyeballs shaken, as tears streamed down her eyes.
"It's not love, Viktor. It's greed."
Khalid affirmed, echoing Ophelia's words.
In that moment, Viktor realized that the fairytale he had created had finally comes to an end, unraveling before his very eyes...