226 I Guess, I'm Selfish Too

Therius looked at Xion in disbelief. Now it's not only Xion whose face was filled with a disappointed expression, Therius too. The man felt betrayed because his best friend had feelings for Emma, the girl that he loved.

For a moment, both of them were silent. Xion felt disappointed with Therius for hiding his ability as a sanomancer. He should have been able to help Haoran, but he chose to be a bystander who did nothing. At the same time, Therius felt angry because he thought his friend stabbed him in the back by falling in love with Emma.

"I don't know how to deal with this situation ..." Therius said finally. He clenched his fist and punched the wall next to him. The wall cracked, and his knuckles were bleeding, but the man didn't seem to feel any pain.

"If you want to hit me, you shouldn't have hit the wall," said Xion in a cold voice. "I'm right here."

His words made Therius furious, and all of a sudden, the prince raised his fist and hit Xion.

The Time Master dodged with lightning speed and blocked Therius' fist with his left palm.

CRACK

Therius was surprised to see his hand frozen as soon as he touched Xion. He quickly raised his other hand and hit Xion with the hottest fireball he could create. Xion tilted his body and extinguished the flames from Therius' hands by sucking out the oxygen around them. 

Therius immediately created new fireballs with even more power and attacked Xion from various directions. Xion, who didn't want to damage such a beautiful palace, immediately darted into the air. Therius immediately chased him.

The two men fought in close range altercation up in the air, above the crown prince's palace. People who saw them fighting could only see flashes of fire and ice attacks one after another.

Therius intentionally didn't let Xion have enough time to concentrate and muster up his mind to stop time. He kept attacking Xion fiercely so that the man had no choice but to dodge and block his attacks.

The two moved so fast in the air that the servants and soldiers who saw them could not recognize their bodies. They only saw two shadows, with flashes of ice and fire, followed by loud noises as the fireball met the ice ball, causing explosions in the air.

The fight went on for a while, as both men were equally powerful and none of them seemed wanting to stop.

"Your Majesty ...! We have received orders from General Moria to immediately meet him at the base...!" Avato's shout fifteen minutes later, finally made the two men who were fighting in the air stop their movements.

Therius put all his strength into his palms and held Xion's ice fists with all his might. Xion moved back a little as his fists were met by two very powerful palms.

His body staggered, and he felt his hands become numb. A moment later, the two men drifted in the air with gasping breaths and disheveled appearances.

"I have to save Emma," Therius said. "I'll deal with you later."

"Therius ..." Xion shook his head. "You're my best friend. I don't want us to fight over a woman. I WOULD NEVER approach the woman you love. You should know that."

Therius fell silent at Xion's words. He knew his best friend very well. Inwardly he admitted that Xion was not a petty person, and he would not stab him in the back.

Earlier, Therius just felt surprised and disappointed because he thought Xion's harsh words over him not wanting to help Haoran was because Xion was jealous. Therius thought Xion dislike the fact that Therius will be the one to marry Emma, when in reality, Therius hadn't even got her heart.

Therius looked away at Xion's words. He knew Xion was right. Why did the two of them fight because of Emma? He realized that his anger was actually not directed at Xion, but at himself, who was disappointed because whatever he did, Emma didn't seem to love him either. 

How could he possibly let Haoran live when he knew exactly that Haoran would take Emma away from him? Even now, without Haoran around, Therous still had a hard time getting her love.

The prince knew his actions were selfish, but he felt he had no other choice. He could not love another girl after he reunited with Emma. Now, to him, that girl was everything. Emma was even more important to Therius than the Akkadian throne.

"You don't have to criticize me for being selfish, you think I don't know that already?" asked Therius in a bitter voice. "I only did what I had to do. If you don't agree with it, I can't make you understand."

Xion closed his eyes and took a deep breath. 

"I understand how you feel. Trust me, Therius. I understand very well. I just feel disappointed because you have been selfish and let Emma suffer," the young man said finally. When he opened his eyes, he touched Therius' hand and shook his head. "I don't want us to fight over women. After all, you are my best friend. You are like a brother to me and I'm willing to die for you."

"You are the most important person to me ... besides Emma," Therius said hoarsely. "I have no one in this world apart from the two of you. I would be very sad if we become enemies."

Xion nodded. "I will not be your enemy. You are my best friend forever. But ..."

He grabbed Therius' shoulder and gripped him tightly. "If you make Emma suffer, I will not forgive you. I just want to see Emma happy. If you promise to always take care of her and make her happy ... I will support you from afar."

"I promise," said Therius. He was starting to look relieved. "Emma's happiness is paramount."

"Good," said Xion firmly. "I'm not going to tell Emma about this. But this is your last secret. I don't want to be lied to again."

Therius nodded. After a moment of silence, he went down to his palace, followed by Xion.

Avato and Therius' other bodyguards just looked at them with astonished faces. They did not know why the prince and his friend were fighting so fiercely just now.

However, now both of them seem to have reconciled. They could only guess what had happened between these two men.

"We are going now to meet General Moria," said Therius.

Avato, Ran, and the others immediately bowed respectfully. They walked briskly out of the palace and then ushered Therius and Xion onto the travs which would take them to Milestad. It was the satellite city to the east of the capital, the military center of Akkadia.

'Are you really going to support my relationship with Emma?' Therius asked using telemancy to Xion, who was sitting next to him in the travs. 

Xion nodded. 'I know you really love her and will take care of her. You also met her first. I don't want our relationship to be ruined because we fight over a woman. After this mission is over and everything is sorted. I'll immediately return to the mountain.'

Therius frowned. 'You think I'm afraid she'll fall for you first if you stay in the capital? Hey .. I'm not that bad, huh. After she is no longer mourning, I am sure she would be able to open her heart to me. I don't need your pity.'

Therius felt a little offended with Xion leaving, it was as if his best friend had relented and just handed Emma over to him. Xion resigned from their competition for Emma's love. As a man, Therius felt his ego nudged.

Xion shook his head. 'No. I don't do it out of pity for you ... but for me. I can't stay and see you two get married and living together to build a family. My little heart couldn't take that much pain. That's why, I should go. I am sorry... I guess I'm selfish too.'