Nienai, as they said, was indeed the gatekeeper. She held the power between life and death. She stood in between.
Although couldn't be looked at, she was a woman of charisma. Her dark hair reached the length of her waist. It was shiny and as dark as onyx itself.
So were her eyes. They were beautiful but there was no one to offer such a compliment. No one could see her beauty.
Everyone that laid eyes on her was cursed with instant death. She exudes the cold of winter. Not as mere aura or energy, but as a literal force.
She was always clad in a black shredded cloth that snaked her body. It draped around one shoulder to her waist, exposing her bare back.
The cloth was thick around the waist so as to cover her treasures and it reached the length of her ankle.
She was always known for her calm temperament amidst chaos. Along her came the storm of cold, chilling bones.
She had done well to keep this image of her, until that faithful day. The day Koul coveted her.
He had summoned her in a ruined temple and asked her to be his.
Nienai couldn't contain the anger that overrode her senses that day. Although she became his, she was glad to have rendered him impotent.
She hadn't heard from him for long now and had been living peacefully.
But now that she was here and realized her curse had been lifted, she wasn't happy but not exactly angry either. That was how she truly was. One able to control her emotions.
Plus, just because he was finally free didn't mean he'd get to have his way with her. She was strong and knew she could always kill Koul.
So she wasn't bothered.
As she spoke into Koul's ear, an unbearable cold came upon him. He trembled lightly with goosebumps.
Nienai pulled Koul away from Hera's grasp. Even when she would've liked to protest, Hera couldn't do anything.
What could she possibly do with her eyes closed? And that too, against a god?
Nienai threw herself into Koul's arms and started nudging her head against his chest.
"I haven't seen you in so long. You must miss me."
It was all to get on Koul's nerves. She didn't like him, didn't like touching him. But her touch brought unbearable cold.
So cold. Literally.
Shivering, Koul sighed. He didn't know how to feel about everything that was happening. He just wanted to save his dead wife.
"This isn't why I called you here." He said.
Nienai paused, then pulled away. Her gaze darted toward the lifeless body on the floor then back to Koul.
"Well, you know the price. A life for a life."
Koul wrinkled his brows as his mind replayed the earlier moments he sacrificed a life for himself.
Surely, not again.
"There must be another price that weighs as much, isn't there?"
"Hmm? Has not seeing me for so long deteriorated your brains? How can there be another price that weighs just as much?"
The atmosphere turned dense. Even though everyone's eyes were closed, they were in discomfort.
Because Nienai had just spoken so rudely to a king. Though she was the only one who could in that place, it still felt uncomfortable.
Koul's system moved near his ears.
[Just a tip. Bonding with supernatural beings like her gains you some special rights. In other words, you can ask her to do something without paying a price like everyone else.]
A smirk bloomed vividly across Koul's lips which confused Nienai.
"Ooh? You find this fun?" She drew near, caressing his jaw. "Just who are you hoping to sacrifice that got you smiling like this?"
"Sacrifice?" Koul questioned with a confident smirk.
The next thing Nienai knew was Koul's arm around her waist. He bound it right around it and pulled her to himself.
She was surprised at his audacity but Koul didn't even give her time to register.
"Why sacrifice anything when you can do this for this lovely husband of yours, huh?"
Nienai went silent. Her body ran colder, causing Koul more shivers.
"It's a wish I'd like you to fulfill. As your husband, you should do this much for me right? Bring her back."
Nienai's gaze turned into a glare. Although Koul couldn't see it, he could feel it and sense it by how profound the chill turned.
"If you go this way, then is it not right that you also fulfill a wish for me?" She questioned.
Koul's smile didn't fade. Instead, he held her tighter to himself, mindless of the cold.
"That's right. I'll be honored to fulfill your wishes."
While no one could see the scene, they could very well hear them. It seemed nothing short of flirting.
This made Hera a bit jealous.
"But…" Koul leaned into her ear. "I will not be breaking off our marriage."
Let's just agree to whatever she says first. Not like I'll fulfill anything that isn't within my powers.
I can think of that another day.
"Hihihi. You're still so corny."
She pulled away.
"Except you'll now make me give out one of my trapped souls," she whispered with displeasure.
Nienai pulled out the sword from Remi's chest, then healed the wound.
Then she turned to Koul.
"I will go find her soul and bring it back."
With that, she vanished.
Even while gone, no one wanted to risk opening their eyes too early. Only when the warmth started returning, did they finally open their eyes.
Some of the people present, including the vice captain, didn't really care for how flirtatious Koul and Nienai were.
He had, after all, seen worse.
But Hera on the other hand, couldn't take her eyes off Koul. She felt he hadn't been so sweet toward her.
But Koul was too distressed to notice her. His focus was solely on Remi.
After a while, Nienai returned. They all closed their eyes again.
She walked toward Remi, extended her hand toward her and a round ball like energy went into her chest. It was white and glowing.
At once, Remi let out a cracking raspy breath, followed by a round of dry cough.
Nienai moved away so as to not kill her when she had just brought her back.
"Then my love, see you… never I hope."
She disappeared.
The tall woman ran to Remi's side and hugged her. There was an emotional exchange for some moments before everyone went their various ways.
Hera didn't quickly leave. She thought Koul would call on her but to her surprise, he simply passed, not paying her any mind.
She was saddened by this, thinking Koul was ignoring her. But Koul was just too in his head with all that had happened.
As Koul walked, the vice captain reported.
"We couldn't catch the perpetrator, but I've stationed knights everywhere. I've told them to be more alert and we'll continue to investigate this."
Koul wasn't exactly listening to him. He was preoccupied with his own problems and how to find a solution.
He abruptly came to a halt, making the vice captain question him silently.
"I've decided," he said.
"Decided?" The vice captain asked.
"Yes. The academy, I will go."