4 Apology and Comfort

'I got it as an echo?!'

Tyrel's eyes widened.

Saphira looked into his eyes and smiled. Her left hand gently massaged his scalp as her right rubbed his back counterclockwise.

"Are you feeling better, little one? Are you okay?"

Tyrel replied as tears fell from his eyes. "Yes, I am. Thank you for comforting me. I'm sorry for lashing out at you. I shouldn't have blamed you for something out of your control. I realize I was a hypocrite."

Saphira shook her head and kissed his forehead. "It's okay, pup. I forgive you. Now, for the remaining time I'm alive, I'll spoil you. What do you say?"

Tyrel looked into her eyes and clung to her. "T-Thank you for forgiving me. I'm so grateful..."

Saphira sighed and rested her head on his. "You're welcome. Just relax in my arms and listen to my voice."

Saphira hummed softly as her tails wagged back and forth.

Tyrel rested his head on her chest and closed his eyes. 'She's so kind and forgiving.'

Saphira smiled. "Would you like to head to the bedroom? We can relax In the soft pillows if you want."

Tyrel's eyelids opened. "Yes. Um... Can you hold me closer?"

Saphira chuckled and pulled him deeper into her bosom. "Are you close enough?"

Tyrel's face turned red. "Yes, I am."

Saphira walked down the pathway. She smiled as one of her tails patted his head. "I have a better idea. Perhaps I can restrain many nightmare creatures, and you can kill them. It's a safe way for you to get stronger. What do you think?"

Tyrel shivered for a moment. "A-As long as you restrain them... I believe I should fight using traps instead. I'm terrible at fighting head-on."

Saphira sighed. "Okay. I'll help you create many traps to lure your enemies into. You'll need them to keep yourself safe when I pass on."

Tyrel nodded and looked at Saphira's tails. Some of the hair on them turned gray. "Saphira... Why are your tails turning grey?"

Saphira sighed. "I'm not sure. But I believe the rot your blood causes is affecting them. Luckily, very little blood got on my body. Perhaps I'll live longer than I thought." Saphira smiled. "Which means I get to spoil and care for you more."

Saphira giggled as she moved her tails toward Tyrel. Each one tickled a different part of his body.

"Hey! Hehe..." Tyrel laughed as his body twitched.

Saphira stopped and smirked. "Let's go. We can make traps later. Today, I'll restrain many different creatures for you to kill."

Tyrel nodded, closed his eyes, and thought. 'I should check my new echo. That horrifying dormant devil anomaly... Wait, I should tell Saphira first...'

Tyrel spoke. "Saphira, I have something I need to tell you. It's very important."

Saphira turned toward Tyrel and smiled. "What is it, pup?"

Tyrel took a deep breath and replied. "When I kill creatures. I'm not limited to inanimate objects. I got a copy of the knight back there. It's under my command."

Saphira tightened her grip and whispered. "What did you say?"

Sweat dripped from Tyrel's forehead. "I got a copy of the knight. Can I show you it?"

Saphira sighed. "Of course."

Tyrel smiled and summoned it.

The Amorphous Knight slowly materialized from tiny sparks of light before them. Once its body became physical, it kneeled before Tyrel.

Tyrel spoke. "Follow us, Amorphous Knight."

It got up and did as asked.

Saphira smiled. "At least it will be able to protect you when I die. Heh, I hope you get a copy of me when you kill me. Then I can protect you after my death."

Tyrel spoke. "I don't want to kill you, though."

Saphira sighed. "Now that I know you could get a copy of me if you kill me. I won't die by anyone else. I refuse."

Tyrel grimaced. "Saphira. Why?"

Saphira shook her head, smiled, and ruffled Tyrel's hair. "Didn't I already tell you silly? There's a possibility of you getting a copy of me. I just want you to be safe, Tyrel."

Tyrel whimpered. "But I don't want to kill you..."

A tear fell from Saphira's right eye. "Tyrel. Think of it this way. I'm going to die because of your rotting blood or your weapon. Will you be humane and kill me quickly or leave me to die?"

Tyrel's eyes widened as tears fell from his eyes. "I don't want either to happen..."

Saphira gently flicked Tyrel's nose.

"Ow..." Tyrel's eyes closed.

Saphira chuckled. "I know it's hard to do this. You never wanted to be the cause of my demise. And I'm not upset at you." Saphira frowned as tears poured from her eyes. "I just want to have a chance after my death to protect you, my pup. I can't bear the thought of you suffering without anyone to help you."

Tyrel paused and whimpered. "O-Okay... I'll do it... but it'll haunt me forever..."

Saphira kissed Tyrel's forehead. "Shh. Go ahead and rest. I'll use my telekinesis to grab many dormant creatures, and you can kill them."

Tyrel closed his eyes before they opened. "Saphira. I can get weapons, items, and copies of creatures if the Amorphous Knight kills them, too."

Saphira whispered as she walked out of the cave. "Alright. Now relax in my arms as I hum to you."

Tyrel nodded, turned around, and summoned the Amorphous Knight's runes.

Echo: [Amorphous Knight].

Echo Type: Devil.

Echo Core: Dormant.

Echo Attributes: [Devious Tenacity], [Flesh Rending Field].

'What are these attributes?'

Tyrel looked at the descriptions of the attributes.

Devious Tenacity Attribute Description: [Each part of the Amorphous Knight's body can fly and move independently. It won't die until all pieces are destroyed and is fully immune to soul and mind attacks.]

Flesh Rending Field Attribute Description: [Each part of the Amorphous Knight's body can produce vibrations that slowly liquefy flesh.]

'So that's why this thing was so hard to destroy. It can survive and recover if even one piece gets away. Wait, it tried to liquefy my insides?'

Tyrel grimaced and sighed.

Saphira spoke. "Are you okay, Tyrel?"

Tyrel nodded, and his gaze lowered as he looked at the Amorphous Knight's description.

Echo Description: [An ancient fiend trapped by the Nebulous Fox. Their Rivalry, spanning centuries, was ended by Tyrel's suffering.]

Tyrel frowned and thought. 'That experience was traumatizing... Wait, they both are abnormally strong for dormant devils.' Tyrel closed his eyes. 'The Amorphous Knight was an anomaly, and I'm the Anomaly Progenitor. Are Anomaly creatures stronger than they should be for their rank?'

Saphira gently kissed Tyrel's forehead. "Are you doing okay, pup? What are you thinking about?"

Tyrel replied. "I'm alright. And my thoughts are nothing important."

Saphira sighed. "Tyrel. I'm worried you will rely too much on traps and the copies of creatures you kill. What happens if you run out of traps? You should learn a melee combat style."

Tyrel grimaced. "I'm not cut out to be a melee fighter, Saphira. The experience of fighting the Amorphous Knight taught me that. I don't have talent when it comes to normal battles. Traps will be my main fighting style. If I have no choice, I'll use the spear and tip it in my blood. It works against multiple types of flesh anyway."

Saphira looked around the meadow and said. "Tyrel. Are you going to be a trap layer as your main combat style? Don't you want to fight the creatures head-on?"

"Of course, I'll be a trap layer. Perhaps I'll even specialize in that. It's the path with the least battle risk. I could hide behind the Amorphous Knight in battle and support it. Or let it lure foes into the traps. And I know it's cowardly, but I don't want to face my foes directly."

Saphira said. "It's not cowardice to preserve your life. I'll support whatever you decide to do, Tyrel."

"Saphira. I wish we could find a healer. I don't want you to die..." Tyrel said as tears fell from his eyes and he thought. 'Nightmare Spell, please let us find a way to purify and heal Saphira. I don't care about leaving the nightmare. I don't care if I become trapped here. I don't want her to die!'

The spell didn't answer, and Saphira petted his head. "Oh, my poor pup. My precious pup. I promise you, it's going to be okay."

Saphira floated into the air as she buried Tyrel in her embrace. She smiled as tears poured from her eyes. "Oh, my precious little pup, I'll always be there. Know that even after I pass away. Remember me in your heart. And on the off chance you acquire a copy of me. I'll watch over you once more. I know you're scared and sad. But it'll be okay."

Tyrel's tears wet Saphira's Kimono, and she sighed. She rubbed his back with her left hand while gently scratching it. Her right hand massaged his scalp.

"Oh, my pup. Let it all out. You're safe with me." Saphira kissed his forehead.

Tyrel thought while his head was lying on her chest. 'I'm so grateful that she's here in my nightmare. There's no one as nice as her I know in this world.'

Tyrel smiled as he listened to her gentle heartbeat and breathing. He enjoyed being held and protected.

Saphira spoke. "Tyrel. Go to sleep. I'll wake you up if anything happens."

Tyrel's eyelids slowly closed, and he fell asleep.

(Does everyone like the wholesome scenes involving Tyrel and Saphira?)