Tangled By Fate

Sebastian wasn't moving. Not one bit.

His motionless body shook their hearts to the core.

"W-what's happening?" Catherine's voice quivered.

She stepped forward with her shaky legs and sat beside Sebastian.

Afterward, she held his hand. She trembled after feeling his temperature.

Only dead people had this cold temperature.

"Se-Sebastian...?"

She called his name and started to shake him.

An unbelievable scene unfolded in front of her. She didn't know how to react.

Ironin reacted fast. He touched Sebastian's wrist and then placed his index finger in front of his nose.

After examining, he declared, "He's not breathing."

Catherine's heart dropped. Her head was blank.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"He... is dead?" Veronica couldn't believe her eyes and ears. "But why?"

Merlin moved forward and examined Sebastian's eyes, tongue and fingers.

He slightly frowned and stated, "He has been poisoned."

"Poisoned? How?" Veronica inquired.

Ironin thought of something. "It must be the arrow."

Veronica couldn't understand. "But I already healed him."

"It's probably because you healed his wound, not the poison part," Merlin commented. It's just my guess. I can't be sure."

"He can't be dead. Ver, heal him! Treat his poison!" Catherine begged her friend.

"Cathy," Veronica had no idea how to console her friend. "I can only heal people who are alive, not the dead..."

"He's NOT DEAD!! And you won't know unless you try!" Catherine shouted.

Veronica's heart hurt seeing Catherine so miserable.

The situation escalated worse day by day. Nothing was in their favor.

Not only Veronica but also Ironin and Merlin were feeling down. Only Catherine didn't want to give up.

To ease her mind, Veronica used her healing power.

The silver light engulfed Sebastian's cold body. His pale skin shone.

"Se...bastian...?"

20:38

Catherine called him with a shaky voice. Her eyes turned red as she kept staring at him in the hope A few minutes later, the light gradually ceased and left with nothing.

"..."

There was no change in Sebastian.

"Se...bastian...?"

Catherine called him with a shaky voice. Her eyes turned red as she kept staring at him in the hope there would be any changes in him.

Maybe he would open his eyes or move his fingers.

However, nothing happened.

Droplets of tears rolled down her eyes. She wept while holding his icy arm.

No one said anything.

In the murky world, even the gnats kept silent, let alone animals. The only sound they heard was Catherine's voice.

"Please wake up.... Sebastian..."

The silence was broken by her voice. She wiped her eyes and shook his body.

Veronica had yet to understand why Sebastian died. She was so confused.

Her heart wrenched painfully for her friend. Only she knew how she was feeling at that time.

She never saw Catherine cry like that.

Low voice, but the cry came from the depth of her heart.

'If you loved him that much, why stayed away from him?' Veronica thought mournfully.

She glanced at Ironin with a heavy heart. The death of Sebastian was so unexpected that she didn't know what to do.

Even worse, she disliked exposing her fragility in public. There was not just Ironin, but also Merlin and the strange boatman.

Ironin looked at her sorrowful eyes. Since she couldn't give him any order, he decided to carry Sebastian's body.

Catherine didn't want to let go of Sebastian's arm. She feared Ironin would throw his body.

"Where are you taking him?" she asked.

He stated coldly, "We have to get out of the boat."

He planned to bury the dead body.

The boatman said, "Do you want me to call the villagers and bring you a carriage?"

His journey with the young travelers was short but, in his eyes, they seemed like a good bunch. The unexpected death of the young fellow left him with sadness.

"No, thank you," Ironin replied.

They couldn't risk meeting their foes disguised in sheep's clothes. Sebastian's death left everyone vulnerable.

They bid farewell to the boatman and walked toward the dry land. Ironin stayed in the front. Veronica and Catherine were in the middle while Merlin was in the back.

Veronica hugged Catherine to console her. Catherine couldn't stop crying.

Her legs limped and she fell to the ground. She buried her face in her thighs and cried her heart out.

Veronica sat beside her and stroked her back.

Catherine's snivel was contagious. Tears threatened to fall from Veronica's eyes. She kept remembering Sebastian's face and actions from the moment they met.

This fellow was a hardworking, loyal person. He was sharp when it came to his job. At the same time, he was simple-minded when it came to his life or love.

He was someone Arthur trusted and so did she.

Ironin looked around and found a place. He placed Sebastian's body down and drew his sword. Afterward, he started digging the soil.

Catherine frowned as she noticed his action. She realized what was happening and quickly stood up.

While standing up, she stumbled upon the hem of her skirt and nearly fell.

Veronica caught her quickly.

"Cathy, be careful!"

Catherine held onto Veronica and asked, "What are you doing?"

She was looking at Ironin.

Veronica took a deep breath and said, "Cathey, we need to bury him."

It hurt her heart to say that but what could she do? She couldn't go against mother nature.

Catherine shouted, "N-no! You can't! He is not dead yet!"

"Cathy, I understand you are in pain but if we don't bury him right now, his body will start rotting soon and it'll spread smell," Veronica tried her hardest to talk softly to her friend.

Catherine interrupted, "No! We will take him to Arthur. He is a magician. He will be able to do something..."

Her voice turned mellow and she glanced at Merlin.

"You are a magician. Don't you know how to revive people?"

Merlin was flabbergasted. He was still digesting Sebastian's unanticipated death. Her question brought him back to reality.

"Revive the dead? That's forbidden. It's the Dark Arts. I can't do it," he replied.

Catherine's frown deepened. "Can't or won't?"

"It's impossible, Lady Catherine," he denied.

"Lie!"

Merlin quietly took the blame. Then, he thought of something and told them what he knew about reviving the dead.

"Except for the Dark Arts, there is another way to revive the dead. When I was in Louses, I did some research. They had information about the elves. Elves have the ability to revive people."

He glanced at Veronica.

"You must have an idea, don't you?" he asked.

Catherine looked at Veronica.

"Ver?"