Chaos' Heir

Khan headed back to the main city after updating Colonel Norrett and Major General Arngan, calmly strolling through the air while Baoway's night sky cleared.

The conversation with the two warriors wasn't over, but Khan couldn't push them any further for now. Colonel Norrett and Major General Arngan needed time to absorb the overwhelming revelations and adjust their mindsets. Khan would talk with them again before departing, but their interactions were over for that day.

The imminent trip didn't need additional preparations, either. Khan had already laid a solid foundation and conveyed his orders. He would have to do check-ups and cross-reference his strategy with specialists later, but that topic didn't require his attention now.
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As for the Nognes family, Khan believed nothing else would come. The evolved warriors had always been its biggest and scariest card, and Khan had eliminated its efficacy. The Excellencies lacked other weapons to deal with him now.

Of course, the Nognes family could still wage an all-out war. After all, Khan was only one man, while Miss Christen probably was on the weaker end of evolved warriors. The Excellencies had better and more soldiers at their disposal, so eliminating Khan was still technically possible.

However, Khan's Lordship was bound to prevent that eventuality. An all-out war would involve the Thilku Empire, adding its soldiers to the fray, and the Nognes family couldn't deal with them.

In short, Khan had finally removed the last glaring variable, allowing him to sort out his mind while gazing at the brightening horizon. He barely had any time to absorb the news of Anita's pregnancy and George's request, but the opportunity had finally presented itself.

Khan couldn't help but smile as he absentmindedly walked through the sky. George wasn't his oldest friend, but he definitely was his closest. Watching him grow from an unapologetic womanizer to a soon-to-be father and husband was almost comical, but Khan couldn't be happier about him.

After all, that was what life was all about. Nothing trumped falling in love, building a family, and taking care of it. People were wired to pursue that small but incredibly rewarding goal, and Khan wanted his brother to enjoy it to its fullest, even if it meant waging a secret and solitary war to protect it.

Khan stopped at that thought, lifting his head to watch the almost clear sky. His eyes saw far more, but he didn't linger on those details. Khan focused on his feelings and his role in all that.

'Maybe one day,' Khan thought, 'Once I'm free from all this.'

Unknowingly, that was the same mindset from years ago when Khan had acknowledged the limitations his curse imposed on him. He had tried to fight them as much as possible, even relying on his element's unreasonable urges to find a solution.

Yet, the reality opposed Khan, or rather, those limitations weren't only up to him to overcome. That simple but rewarding goal involved other people, and they had limits of their own, which Khan's selflessness and inclination to self-sacrifice would protect over his happiness.

One of those limits, probably the closest to Khan's heart, appeared in his view when he approached the main city's usual terrace. That area had become his typical landing spot, so finding Monica leaning on the handrail there came as no surprise.

Monica was waiting for Khan, and his landing on the terrace brought her between his arms. She clung to his neck without saying a word, and he dug his face into his curls, bathing in sensations he had long since burned to his memory to reaffirm his feelings.

Khan knew without a shadow of a doubt that he loved Monica. He would give her the world if she asked or destroy it if it dared to become a threat to her. His life was hers, including all the sad decisions that might imply.

Monica was in the same situation, albeit her problems were more physical. She loved Khan from the bottom of her heart and would do anything he asked or might need, but her body opposed her.

The level difference had never been more apparent. Khan had become too strong too quickly, and his element was violent beyond reason.

Monica knew she was safe and felt the safest between Khan's arms. However, her body sensed his overbearing pressure and felt crushed under it. His violent, unrestrained love had become too much for her existence.

It was a strange feeling, really, and a conflicting one at that. Monica's heart knew the truth, but her survival instincts rang to no end. Everything had started with Khan's first training session with the toxic pool, culminating in his current, terrifying state.

Moreover, Monica knew things would worsen. Khan would only get stronger, and her ability to understand him would terrify her even more. Monica didn't have heightened senses, but she might as well have them when it came to Khan, and that awareness had become a burden.

"Stop," Khan whispered to Monica's ear.

Monica teasingly groaned before breaking the hug, lowering her arms to take Khan's hands. The doctors had wrapped both of them in bandages, but Monica was already aware of that.

"I just heard," Monica revealed. "Is it over now?"

"Yes," Khan confirmed. "One way or another, it's over."

"I hate it," Monica said, shaking her head. "They keep hurting you. Maybe you should have just killed them all."

Khan chuckled, escaping Monica's grasp to reach for her cheek. The bandages tried to hinder his touch, but both Monica and Khan felt it.

"She didn't hurt me," Khan revealed. "This was my element. I guess I'm using extreme induction's power while my body still can't handle it."

Monica's eyes widened, focusing on the source of the blue glow on her face. She knew what she wanted to say. Her mind begged her to voice those words, but how could she? Monica wished nothing more than for Khan to stop suffering and hurting himself, but his goal demanded that power and its drawbacks.

In the past, Monica had been able to help or at least contain those drawbacks. She was able to share part of Khan's burden, easing his suffering in various ways.

However, the distance between Monica and Khan had never been more evident now, and he was about to depart for his most dangerous journey yet. Khan wanted her at his side, but she knew she would hold him back.

Precisely because of love, Monica didn't want to become Khan's burden.

"I-," Monica began to say, stepping back to escape Khan's grasp before a sob interrupted her. Khan reached for her, but she lifted her hand to stop him, covering her mouth with the other.

"I can't come with you," Monica announced, tears accumulating in her eyes.