Chapter 179: A Heart Felt Love
The old man shielded his eyes from the intense light, and when it finally faded, he saw Ty's body lying motionless on the ground, apparently unconscious.
In a surreal turn of events, Ty found his spirit ripped from his body, hurtling through a tunnel of shifting lights. He traveled endlessly through this kaleidoscopic passage until he abruptly came to a stop above what appeared to be Earth's atmosphere. He then swiftly descended toward the planet, his spirit's journey taking him closer to the ground.
As Ty's spiritual form collided with Jade, they were both suddenly enveloped in a white void. Jade, caught off guard by this abrupt transition, stumbled and fell into the snow, momentarily passing out from the shock.
Regaining her bearings, Jade spun around, her confusion and frustration evident as she cursed, "What the fuck is going on now?!"
"Jade! It's me," Ty called out, this time not appearing as a skeleton but in the form of a 6'0" tall guy with black hair and crystal blue eyes.
Jade, recognizing him despite the drastic change in his appearance, remarked in surprise, "Weren't you some skeleton the last time we spoke?"
Ty, acknowledging her unasked question with a sense of urgency, expressed his remorse. "I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you against Erebos, and I'm sorry I haven't figured out how to get back to Earth yet. I can't even say I've made good progress," he admitted, then added, trying to lighten the mood slightly, "Though I have to say, your new hair makes you hardly recognizable."
Jade's demeanor shifted from one of cold confusion to a mix of tears and a warm smile. "It's taken you long enough to at least check in with me, you know. I wasn't sure if you'd died somehow or what!"
Ty, looking down with his hands clasped together, continued, "I apologize. It was never my intention for that to happen. It feels like it's been 2 years now since I've been gone. How many days has it been since 'I died,' by the way? I was told time moves differently depending on the dimension."
Jade's voice was filled with a mix of disbelief and determination. "It's been 4 months?! And for you, 2 years... that's so long. Just know, no matter what, I won't stop fighting until you make it back here. A lot of stuff we never knew about has been happening!
There are monsters and other creatures, and I've been doing my best to keep up, but it's so draining." As she spoke, she rushed into Ty's arms, burying her face, seeking comfort in his presence.
Ty, feeling the weight of her struggles and their separation, gently placed his hand on her head. Lost for words but wanting to offer reassurance, he finally said, "It's okay, just keep doing what you can and stay alive no matter what." He then planted a soft kiss on the top of her head, a gesture of affection and a silent promise of his return.
In the brief moment of silence that followed their embrace, the void around them continued to crumble, a visual reminder of the fleeting nature of their reunion. Jade looked up at Ty, her eyes filled with concern. "And what about you? Are you any closer to getting back here? What have you been going through, you know?"
Ty took a deep breath, realizing the enormity of his journey and how much he had to convey in such a short time. In the next few minutes, he summarized the whirlwind of events that had defined his experiences.
He talked about Nana, Elithira, Todd, and the Demon King. He described his adventures across different planets, the sudden loss he had faced, and the unexpected companionship of the blue fairy. He briefly mentioned the other Demon King's daughter but carefully omitted the details of her advances towards him.
Jade's understanding and insight touched a deeper chord in Ty. "I see, so even in your troubles and anguish, you've made a good habit of making good friends along the way," she observed. Then, with a hint of teasing in her voice, she added, "This Nanako seems to have strong feelings for you."
Ty was taken aback. "Wh-what? I didn't even mention any of that," he stammered, surprised by her intuition.
Jade, still nestled in his arms, responded softly, "Yeah, but everything she did for you up to this point means she has strong feelings for you."
The void around them continued to fragment, signaling that their time was running short. Jade, sensing this, spoke earnestly, "Listen, I don't know when we will get to talk next, but I want you to do whatever it takes to get back home. If you have to win a couple of hearts along the way, I won't complain. Just know I love you no matter what and get back home, okay?"
Stunned by Jade's heartfelt words, Ty felt a surge of determination. "Of course, anything to get back home," he affirmed, his voice strong with resolve.
But their moment was abruptly cut short. The spiritual void around them began to collapse, its fragments dissipating into nothingness. As the space cracked and fell apart, Ty was torn from Jade's arms. His form started to fade, but he had one last crucial piece of information to share.
"I forgot to mention before Erebos punched a hole in me again, he mentioned that he saw a vision of you and the red-haired girl being killed. There's an invasion of Earth coming, so, whatever you do! Don't die, you hear me!" he shouted, desperate to convey this vital warning.
Jade, absorbing the gravity of his words, focused intently on Ty's fading form. In a swift, decisive movement she noticed she had a crystal in her hand in this form, she extended her palm open, and a pink glowing crystal shot out, sticking to him falling into his skin.
Her eyes softened into a warm smile, imbuing the crystal with a sense of hope and connection, even as everything around them faded to black.
Jade slowly regained consciousness, finding herself back on the snowy ground. A woman and a man were by her side, helping her to her feet with concern etched on their faces. "Ma'am, are you okay?" they asked. "We saw you pass out from the other side of the street and came to check on you real quick."
Regaining her composure, Jade replied, "Oh, sorry about that, it happens sometimes. How long was I out, anyway?"
The couple exchanged a glance. "Oh, uh, it was maybe a minute at most," one of them answered.
"Ah," Jade murmured, nodding her thanks. "I'm fine now," she assured them before walking towards the café.
As she approached the café, her eyes caught sight of a blue-haired female acting extremely awkwardly in the spot where Ashiki was supposed to be sitting. This unusual sight piqued Jade's curiosity, hinting at another twist in her day that was already filled with extraordinary events.
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