Inside, Ash and Ri began the long, arduous task of piecing together Shu's lost memories, recounting stories of Raven's unwavering devotion, hoping to spark a flicker of recognition. But as they spoke, Shu's eyes remained distant, filled with a stranger staring back at them. The journey to bring back the Shu they all knew and loved had just begun, a journey fraught with uncertainty and the devastating loss of a love that had been erased.
The sting of Shu's words echoed in Raven's mind, a constant, agonizing reminder of the chasm that had suddenly opened between them. "Stay away from me," she'd said, her voice devoid of the warmth he knew so well. "I don't know you." Three years, erased. Their shared laughter, their whispered secrets, the intertwining of their lives – all gone, vanished as if they'd never existed.
He found himself on the bank of a deserted river, the desolate landscape mirroring the emptiness in his soul. He was alone. Truly, utterly alone. Shu, his Shu, the anchor of his existence, was now a stranger. The realization crashed over him in waves of grief. He had built his world around her, his hopes, his dreams, his very breath, woven into the fabric of their shared life. And now, that fabric was torn, leaving him exposed and vulnerable.
He imagined the future – a long, barren expanse stretched out before him, devoid of Shu's light. He would walk through it, haunted by memories, the ghost of her touch forever lingering just beyond his reach. The thought was unbearable. Tears welled in his eyes, blurring the already bleak landscape. He didn't even realize he was weeping until a sob escaped his lips, raw and desperate.
A hand landed on his shoulder, jolting him. It was Jihu. Raven quickly wiped his face, embarrassed to be seen in such a state.
"Bro," Jihu said gently, "we're here for you. Shu will remember, Raven. She has to. Have hope. Everything will be fine."
"You're not alone in this war," Fang added, his voice equally comforting. "It's a war of love, Raven, a war to make your loved one remember, a war to get her back. And you have to win."
Raven bristled. He didn't want their pity, their platitudes. He wanted Shu back, whole and remembering. "I didn't ask for your help," he snapped, his voice thick with emotion. "I don't need your sympathy. I'll handle this. This is between me and Shu."
Jihu recoiled slightly, hurt by Raven's harshness. "Just… be careful, Raven," he said, a shadow of concern in his eyes. "Don't do anything rash. You could make things worse." He and Fang left, leaving Raven alone once more with his grief and his rage.
Jihu's words, meant to be a warning, only fuelled the fire burning inside Raven. He felt a desperate need to control the situation, to regain what he had lost. "No," he muttered to himself, his voice trembling, "I won't let her go. I won't let her slip away. I'll get her back. I'll get Shu back, no matter what it takes."
A dangerous glint entered his eyes. He was driven by an overwhelming, almost primal need to reclaim Shu, to erase the amnesia that had stolen her away. "Be it through love… or by force," he whispered, the words hanging heavy in the air. His love for Shu, once a source of comfort and joy, had twisted into something possessive, something desperate. "I will get Shu back to me… any way. I love you, babe…"
The stale scent of cheap beer and regret clung to Raven's skin as he stumbled awake. Sunlight, a cruel reminder of the day he'd lost, pierced through the gaps in the curtains. He was in his own bed, but the sheets were twisted and stained, and a horrifying memory clawed its way to the surface. Shu.
He bolted upright, his head throbbing. He saw her then, lying beside him, half-exposed, her face pale. The events of the previous night crashed down on him, a wave of shame and disgust washing over him. The drunken descent, the forced intimacy, Shu's struggles… each detail was a burning brand on his conscience.
He sat on the edge of the bed, his head in his hands, paralyzed by the magnitude of his actions. He had violated her, the woman he claimed to love. How could he face her? How could she ever forgive him?
A whimper escaped Shu's lips, and she stirred. Her eyes fluttered open, widening in terror as she took in the scene. She scrambled away from him, pulling the sheet around herself like a shield.
"You…" she choked, her voice thick with tears. "You said you were my lover. A lover is never a rapist, is that right? What you did to me yesterday was… was nothing less than animalistic. I hate you. Get out of here, otherwise I am leaving! Don't worry. I will leave as soon as possible. You come back later." She dissolved into sobs, her body shaking with the force of her anguish. "Everything… everything has been stolen from me."
Raven's throat tightened. He couldn't speak, couldn't defend himself. He deserved her hatred, deserved her pain. He was a monster.
After a long, agonizing silence, he managed to croak, "Look, Shu, what I did yesterday… it was wrong. I know it's not easy to forgive. Maybe it's not possible. You don't have to leave here. I made a mistake. I will pay for this mistake. I am leaving here forever. You stay here. I will never come in front of you again. If you can, forgive me."
Tears streamed down his face as he turned and fled the room, the image of her broken form seared into his mind. He slammed the door behind him, leaving her to her grief.
Later, as he walked out of the house, he remembered Jihu's warning, the one he had dismissed in his drunken arrogance. Now, Shu would never remember his love, would only see a rapist. He had destroyed any chance of reconciliation.
He decided to say goodbye to Jihu and Fang. Walking into the bar, he called his father. "Dad," he said, his voice heavy with exhaustion. "I'm returning to Freedonia. But I have one condition. If I am free in Freedonia, no one should force me into any kind of marriage. I'm only coming to manage the rule of my kingdom, not to start a family."
His father, surprised and relieved to hear from him after all these years, agreed instantly.
Jihu and Fang arrived at the bar, their faces etched with concern. Raven hugged them tightly. "Forgive me, brothers. I've made so many mistakes. I've been arrogant and angry, but you never left me. You're my true friends. But I have to return to Freedonia."
Jihu frowned. "Why? You didn't want to go there while Shu was still unconscious. Now that she's woken up, you're leaving? Something happened. Tell us."
Raven avoided his gaze. "I don't know when Shu's memory will return. And how long can I avoid my responsibilities? I've spoken to my father. He won't force me to get married. I'm going back to my life. You'll be fine."
Fang embraced Raven. "Bro, you're really going to become the Vampire King? I'm happy for you! Best wishes! When's the debut ceremony?"
Raven forced a smile. "The date hasn't been fixed yet. I'll tell you when it is." He hugged them one last time, the weight of his actions pressing down on him.
He left them, a broken man heading towards a destiny he no longer desired. The crown of Freedonia felt like a lead weight, a constant reminder of his failure, his shame, and the love he had irrevocably destroyed. The bar, the city, the world, all seemed to shrink, filled only with the echoing sound of Shu's sobs and the heavy silence of his own unforgivable act.