A layer of frost swept through the battlefield after Amilia’s spell was cast. A dome of ice encased Athena’s body leaving only her head and outstretched arm untouched.
‘I managed… to do it…’ Amilia internally sighed with relief as she saw her spell imprisoning Athena. A massive wave of nausea overtook Amilia not long after causing her to collapse.
Seeing Amilia collapse, Yuuji rushed towards her side. Her skin was as pale as snow and a deep cut could be seen on her neck. ‘That was too close.’ Yuuji thought as he tore off a piece of his clothes. Moving her a bit further away from Athena, Yuuji had her lean back onto him while he put pressure on her wound.
“Yuuji… I can’t hold her for long.” Amilia said to him in a low voice. Hearing those words, Yuuji subconsciously looked up at Athena. Instantly, his entire body stiffened as their eyes met. Despite the calm expression on her face, her gaze could freeze the deepest pits of hell.
“Yuuji… Please, that hurts…” Amilia let out as the hand that held the cloth to stop the bleeding pushed even further into her neck.
“Oh, oh sorry!”
‘Did we just screw up…?’ Yuuji couldn’t help but think as he averted his eyes away from Athena. ‘She looks like she’ll kill all of us if she thaws out… We can’t even stop her if that happens.’ His head was pounding and his stomach felt like it was hit by a train. He looked towards Allen who was holding his stomach while in a ball. Meanwhile Kazuma was crumpled on the ground, unmoving.
‘What can we even do…?’
“I’ll kill you all…”
Yuuji’s breath was immediately cut upon hearing these words. Amilia began shivering as they both looked at the source. Athena’s eyes looked like that of a wild beast, while her mouth was in a deep frown.
‘We have to stop her…’ Yuuji tried to rack his brain, but the pressure on his shoulders sent his brain haywire.
“Even if you run, I’ll find you and give you a death filled with pain.”
“What if we kill you first?” Yuuji responded while trying to steel his nerves.
“Your intentions were clear from the start.” Athena tilted her head. “You had no intention, you wanted to stop me instead of killing me.”
”If you don’t stop we’ll have no choice but to kill you.”
“You’ll have to kill me.”
Yuuji gritted his teeth upon hearing those words. He had no intention of killing her, neither did his companions. But if it keeps going this way they would either have to kill her or be killed.
“Why are you even doing this?
“Why? I don’t need to tell you.”
“Is it because you’re trying to protect people?” Upon asking this, Athena’s mouth twitched.
‘That’s right… Her parents and little sister.’ Yuuji mentally faced palm as he finally remembered them.
“The people you are trying to protect are safe.”
Athena looked at him for a while without even responding. “What are you even saying?”
“Your parents and your little sister are safe.”
“What kind of nonsense are you even saying?! Do you think I’m going to believe what you’re saying?!”
“I’m telling you the-”
“THAT IS BULLSHIT!” Athena shouted as her glare intensified. “You don’t even know my reasons!”
“That story you told Amilia and I was true wasn’t it? That base we raided just before had your parents and sister in it!”
“That story was fabricated…” Athena clenched her teeth while an odd feeling entered her heart, a feeling that she hasn’t felt in forever.
‘That story wasn’t fabricated…’ Yuuji could tell that Athena lied, the fear and pressure he felt alleviated as Athena’s expression became less threatening. “Your father’s name is Nicholas and your mom’s name is Thea, right?”
Athena’s demeanor immediately went soft after hearing Yuuji. Her eyes were wide and her mouth left agape, after hearing the names of those she has not seen for 10 years. “How, how did you…?” No words could come to her.
“Like I said, we found your parents and sister in the base that was nearby.” Yuuji responded with a smile as he saw her expression soften. “Amilia, you can stop the spell. I think she has no intention to fight anymore.” Yuuji whispered into Amilia’s ear.
Without responding Amilia closed her eyes. A minute later, the ice that had imprisoned Athena fully melted, leaving her suit and her soaking wet. Just as Yuuji said, she lowered her arms before collapsing onto the ground with her mouth hanging.
“Please tell me, are they okay?” Athena asked with a voice filled with worry and fear.
“Yes…” Yuuji responded but his heart immediately began racing as he remembered Thea.
“Are, are they really?”
“Your dad and sister are okay… Your mother…”
“What happened to her?!” Athena exclaimed as she leaned in.
Yuuji closed his eyes before answering her.
“She’s badly hurt, an organization member stabbed her in the stomach…” Yuuji explained in a low voice whilst looking down. ‘And she won’t live much longer…’ Yuuji internally explained while looking at the realization that struck Athena.
“No! NO! NO! NO! WHY?! WHY?!” Athena screamed while holding her head. Tears quickly formed in her eyes. Her screams quickly turned into sobs as she began to break down.
“Why? I followed their orders for so long…?” Athena mumbled after an unknown amount of time. “Just… Why?”
“They wanted to take control of you.” Allen’s voice sprang out from behind her. Looking behind her, Allen could be seen standing with a deep frown on his face.
“What do you mean?” Athena asked while furrowing her eyebrows.
“They never intended to let you go.” Allen responded while walking closer to her. “Their plan was to kill your family to break you and eventually gain total control.”
Both Yuuji and Athena were left with hanging mouths after listening to him. Yuuji was the most dumbfounded as he had never seen Allen act this serious before. Meanwhile Athena, felt a fire burn in her heart.
“Those bastards…” Athena clenched her hands, instantly causing her to cry out in pain. “They swore they’d set them free!” She exclaimed in between pained breaths.
“Here, let me wrap your wound up.” Allen offered while attempting to grab her right arm.
“Hk-!” Athena grunted in pain as she pulled her arm away. “Don’t…” Athena mumbled while gripping onto her wrist. Quickly, blood started to pour out of the wound staining her sleeve in just a few seconds.
“Stop being stubborn and let me wrap your hand up.” Allen said while grabbing her arm, this time Athena wasn’t able to put up a resistance. ‘This… won't be able to be healed.” Allen thought as he looked at the wound he caused. The ground and her bones were visible through the hole that Allen had created in her wrist. “We’ll bring you to your parents after I’m done here.” Allen explained as he wrapped Athena’s wrist and hand with the cloth. In an instant the cloth was drenched in blood.
Athena looked away awkwardly after Allen released her arm, as a result Allen smiled stiffly. “Alright. Hey Yuuji, me and Kazuma will bring her to her parents!” Allen exclaimed as he stood up.
“Are you sure you don’t need-”
“You already have your hands full.” Allen cut him off while giving him a wink.
Yuuji was left with his mouth open slightly by his response. Looking down he could see the still unconscious Amilia with her head resting in his arms.
‘Hm? Are those…’ 2 long slightly-pointed ears replaced Amilia’s normal ears. ‘She’s an elf?!’ Yuuji’s realization sent a massive shock throughout his body.
A dull thud reverberated through the area followed by an “ACK-!” Brought Yuuji out of his stupor. Turning his head, Yuuji could see Allen on the ground rubbing his forehead, Kazuma was sitting up on the ground and Athena was looking at them with her head lowered.
In just a few moments, Allen relayed the plan to Kazuma and the trio set off in a hurry.
“Phew…” Yuuji let out a long sigh of relief after a while. ‘That went better than expected.’ His vision started to darken and a shooting pain swam throughout his head as the adrenaline left his body.
“That head injury is nasty…” A familiar voice called out from behind him followed by a comforting warmth. The warmth flowed throughout his head, the pain quickly lowered only leaving a dull sensation inching through his head.
“Thank you.... Miss Maho.” Yuuji thanked Maho who stood behind him.
“You’re welcome, now let me see Miss Amilia’s wound.” Maho responded with a small smile on her face.
“Oh, here.” Yuuji turned his body so Amilia could be seen.
“She was an elf?” Maho blurted out, while raising her eyebrows. “Her wound isn’t severe thankfully.” She quickly said while trying to change the topic after seeing Yuuji’s face.
Both of them sat there in silence as Maho healed Amilia’s wound.
“Thank you again, Miss Maho.”
“No problem. I should be thanking you for stopping her…”
“We barely even stopped her, we just got lucky.” Yuuji responded while sighing.
“If it weren’t for you four, Suijin would be no more.” Maho said in a quiet tone. “Sir Yuuji, if your party requires anything, the nation of Suijin would be glad to fulfill whatever is necessary.”
“I will keep that in mind.” Yuuji responded with a small smile.
Written by: shehablasheen
Published at: 03-08-2024
