Mahar Pura, Castle Halls
"King Minsitthar, the goddess of war has paid you a visit" The King didn't wait for another explanation. He stormed out of the room, administers from neighboring country followed him. The meeting which the soldier did not want to disturb was now held.
"Where is she?"
"At the castle's lobby. A warrior named Tigreal is with her. Irithel transported them here with the help of her tiger."
All of them bolted downstairs, rushing to see Freya.
"King Minsitthar." Irithel and Tigreal bowed down. Minsitthar's attention was piqued by the person that Tigreal carries.
"F-Freya? What happened to her? Who did this? And why is she...." Freya weakly smiled at him, a smile that calms and hurt them all at once. The goddess who used to look the mightiest of all warriors was now dressed in swaddling clothes, tainted with blood.
"Chief Lapu-Lapu, Gatotkaca, General Yi Sun-Shin, sorry for the impudent behavior and problem. We need to prioritize this matter. We'll disregard the topic for now and we'll talk about it tomorrow. You can all stay in my Kingdom to not waste your efforts coming here. Flow of trades and other concerns about this continent can wait. This condition can't" He commanded his people to gave Tigreal and Freya the treatment they need. They adhered to the King's order; caution raised in high level, their severed body needed to be handled with care.
"We understand everything, King Minsitthar. You don't need to explain yourself." Gatotkaca said. "It's the goddess safety. We'll be willing to help in every way possible."
"I dreamt before to see the mighty goddess, to fight along her side. I never thought I'd see her like this."
"Yi Sun-Shin, never have I ever expected to see her in this condition." Lapu Lapu worried for the goddess health when they saw her: pale as snow, skin slashed through, and unable to speak.
"Irithel" Yi Sun-Shin called Irithel's attention. She shifted her gaze to him then bowed her head to show respect to administers. "Can you tell us how did this happen?"
"First, I'll chase them to death, thinking they'll invade our fortress and put an end to the race of smilodon tigers. Turns out I'm wrong. From the shadows, I watched them to assure myself that they won't bring dangers, until I failed to keep up because they disappeared from my sight. I saw them escaping with a ninja named Hayabusa who begged me to take them to King Estes. Hanzo is the culprit behind those deep wounds of her. She was nearly killed, 2 centaurs in her team is currently missing too."
"Centaurs? Elder Hylos?" asked Gatotkaca.
"I suppose." Irithel replied. "I also brought them here to seek for your help."
"What kind of help? And why they need to see King Estes?" Minsitthar asked.
"They possess a rare kind of scroll, encrypted with runes that need to be translated."
"What can we do then? Use our galleons and ship? Tell us!" Lapu-Lapu demanded.
"Sorry if I'm asking for too much but I guess we should use that battle spell."
"Battle spell? "
"The portal."
"Are you in hurry and insane? That consumes a lot of magic power, a strong will is needed for this to work..." Lapu Lapu exclaimed.
"I am very well aware of that Chief. They are well-equipped with determination."
"We shall consider Freya's safety. She cannot leave this Kingdom tonight, not until she recovers."
"Full moon appears in less than 3 days, they need to reach Elven Kingdom before that." Irithel explained. The four administers fell in silent. They begin to form a resolution in their minds. "I have no knowledge about their purpose and their personalities. What I know is how determined they are to succeed in their journey."
"She's up to something again." Yi Sun-Shin said.
"Sorry to ask for help. I know it's too much but that can help. them reach Elven Kingdom in no time. I feel guilty, it's partly my fault for prolonging their journey."
"The waters that runs through the moon lake is too shallow for Chief Lapu-Lapu's galleon to work and same goes for your ship, General. Judging from the damage she took, Freya might still be recovering tomorrow. I can build a carriage to take them there but they can't reach it in time." Minsitthar discussed.
"Arrival is the only option left" He concluded.
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Meanwhile, in the pine glen located in the outskirts of Iga, the battle of Kagura and Hanabi against Hanzo continued. Deep cuts were disregarded as an excuse to retreat. No one faltered. Instead, they continue to fight for themselves even it starts to weaken them.
"The end is near..." Hanzo hissed, he is not wasting any blood that drops from Kagura and Hanabi's wounds. "All of this is to make myself stronger."
He saw an opening to blow an attack for Kagura, he strike her stomach with his demon sword, slamming her to the ground. Hanzo walks towards her, he stomped Kagura's abdominal area, seizing the affected part which made her scream in pain. He found an extreme satisfaction as he torments them.
"You, blithering fool with your blood sucker sword..." Hanabi enraged. Hanzo turned his head to face her; he looked her intently in the eye. "Strongest female ninja, they say? A trash." Hanzo incapacitates Hanabi, making her cling into the ground.
Kagura fliched. She managed to stand when Hanzo headed for Hanabi but someone suddenly lurched at her back and covered her mouth, assuring she wouldn't shout for help. The shadow reverts to his body facing Kagura at the moment. He gently puts his index finger to her lips and looked intently in her eyes, silencing her. He darted forward and throw a shuriken to Hanzo's body.
"You're making me laugh, boy!" He snapped Hayabusa's neck and held it tighter, lifting him up in the air. Screams of pain---- Hanzo yelped, releasing Hayabusa from his hands, heaved for air.
Hanabi grinned as she watched how the blade of umbrella cuts through his flesh. Kagura became one with her umbrella, stunning Hanzo. However, two seconds quickly passed by. Hanzo held the spiritualist on her arms, burying his nails to make her bleed. Hayabusa shifts to his shadow form,rescuing Kagura. He held her in his arms as he gave him a deathly glare, enraged of what he did to his childhood best friend.
Hanzo grinned and seated near Hanabi, enough for him to talk to her. "Seems like something torments you more than the damage you took from me." Hanzo stated. "Look at them, Hanabi. Helding each other, savoring their moment in the midst of our battle, not thinking about you.The guy you love didn't even noticed how much help you need. Instead, he saved Kagura. Such a touching love story." he blurts out to add more fire to Hanabi's feelings, inflicting her with wounds that emptied her heart.
"Hanzo ENOUGH!!" Hayabusa shouted, resting Kagura on the tree nearby.
"Why? I'm just enjoying a romantic show. Oh let me guess, tragedy, isn't it?"
"Stop worsening the situation, Hanzo. You're the evil here." Kagura said.
"It's easy for you to say, Kagura. You're not alone. The one you love chose you... Lucky enough. Unlike you, female ninja..." He lifts Hanabi's chin so she could face him "How is it to wake up in the morning knowing the person you love doesn't love you back? Or even worse when you have to witness him happy with some other woman."
Hanabi's painful thoughts start to cloud her mind. She cannot hear anything from them. She wandered herself into her thoughts, trying to find the greater good.
All those moment she caught a glimpse of his genuine smile whenever he's with her.
The tears she held back to display a smile.
Tears rolled down her cheeks. Heart beats anxiously.
Anyone will be jealous of Kagura. She has a good personality, beautiful, cute--- the way she glanced with her umbrella is too graceful for someone's sight. More importantly, the man she wants, fell in love with her.
She has all reasons to get angry with her until she came and shielded her from Hanzo's attack from before.
"Hanabi..." Kagura called out for her. She blinked seeing Hayabusa desperately trying to stand up and disregard the pain he felt. To him, it was incomparable to Hanabi's sorrow; he's aware of her feelings for him but he never shown affection to the lady, preventing to give her false hopes. And being aware of that made him more careful to not hurt Hanabi's feelings.
"HANABI !!!!!!! "
"Hanabi don't listen he'll use you to take advantage of us."
"I know. Hayabusa may not love me back the way I wanted him to. Well at least I have friends, unlike you." Hanabi managed to stand with Kagura's help. "Hanzo, you might inflict wounds in my heart but your words will never taint my heart with darkness as it corrupts you."
Hanabi fires a massive amount of sealed scroll to Hanzo. He noticed that the demon blood he obtained was draining out, disabling him to enter in his soul state.
Speed slows down, making him more vulnerable to their attacks.
"I won't let you get away." Hanzo was too hard to deal with. The strongest ninja indeed. Their aim wasn't to kill him, but to weaken him until he cannot even twitch. They are planning to return to their village and cast a spell that'll forbid him to attack Iga.
He caught Kagura and Hanabi when they tried to walk towards Hayabusa, trying to save him. Hanzo slammed them at the ground, breaking their bones, restraining them from fighting back. Kagura bats her eyes to prevent herself from losing consciousness. Visions starts to get blurry--- Hanzo stepped on them. He let out an insane laughter "Now, Hanekage would be delighted."
"Not quite." A man appeared, flickering in the air. Hanzo felt a jolt go straight to his core, leaving him breathless.
Every attack of him made Hanzo weaker; it deals more damage to him. He failed to kill his prey and what's good? He also failed to obtain demon blood.
He dashes at the enemy; casted a roundhouse kicks and chases him up the air. A boisterous shout heard meant to respond the series of blow, knocking down the ninja.
"Phew! Learn when to give up especially when you're this weak." He leered at Hanzo's body, now unconscious.
Tears of victory glistened in their eyes. Hand in hand, Kagura and Hanabi smiled with one another. Hayabusa's hand rested in each of the girl's shoulder, enveloping the two in a warm hug.
"Thank you" he mouthed to the man who rescued them from Hanzo. .
"Uhm... a bit---awkward?" Hanabi giggled. "Kagura, I'm sorry. I used to hate you and everything. I was jealous, filled with anger and hatred but I----"
"Hanabi, that's okay. I don't care what you think of me before. I'm your friend, aren't I?"
"Hayabusa." The man who saved them came closer to the group as they rejoice. "Why don't you confess properly?"
He looked at Kagura's face "Oh yes, I----WAIT WHAT NO! CHOU!!! what are you thinking?
"And why are you shrieking?" He chuckled. Hayabusa blushed; once again he managed to look at Kagura who stares right through his eyes. "Do I still need to do that?"
Their face grew closer and closer, Hayabusa disregarded the crowd and the fact that they had just won after a distressing battle. 'So the slow-motion scenes in movies are true.' Hhayabusa thought. He lifts up her chin and planted a kiss on Kagura's forehead and his heart felt relieved. He thought his going to lose a friend and the woman he loves.
Hanabi and Chou watched the two. Hanabi felt a pinch in her heart but she's giving up. The two deserve each other and even she's lost in resonating pain, she's still happy for the two
"Do all men like cute girls?" She asked.
"Well, if you are then that's true."
"What did you say?".
Chou didn't answer her question instead he coughed to bother Hayabusa and Kagura as they stare at each other. "Sorry to break in but we need to get out of here before that binge-farmer regains his consciousness"
"Chou, how come you're here and why did you saved us?" Hanabi asked. Chou looks at her with a little smile in the edge of his lips. "I don't want to see you in danger." Chou frolicked then runs in such speed.
Kagura's face is shadowed with a puzzled look "Where is he going?"
"I don't know but let's go back in the village." She noticed Hayabusa was looking around, shifting his head as if he's finding something. "Snot-nose, what's bothering you?"
"Have you seen a centaur?"
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Two days after that night was full of people who's worried for Freya's recovery, Irithel came back at Mahar Pura when she heard the news that Freya has awakened. She approached the third room in the west wing and sees the goddess combing her hair.
"Freya." she came rushing to stand beside her. A knock was heard. Gatotkaca peeks at the door, not wanting to disturb them.
"Oh, I'm sorry for not noticing your presence."
"King Minsitthar waits for you in the crystal fort, the portal's ready."
They immediately followed Gatotkaca. As soon as they reach the crystal fort, Freya stands next to Tigreal and showed respect and gratitude to administers.
"Are you ready to go?"
"Yes" Tigreal and Freya uttered.
"Let's meet in Moniyan Empire when we got time Tigreal." Lapu Lapu said.
"Move forward, Freya."
"Your highnesses, these efforts are heart-whelming, thank you for aiding us your help even though I interrupted the royal assembly for the continent. May the heavens bless you with more power and glory." Freya bowed down her head. "Iriithel, thank you. Sorry for causing you too much trouble. I don't know how I can repay you."
"Tell Nana I said hi and I miss her."
"That's it? No worries, I will."
"Redirect them to the safest turret." Yi Sun-Shin immediately followed the King's command.
King Minsitthar activates the portal. A circle appeared and surrounds them with light that extends up to the skies.
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In broad daylight where the water's calm and the wind is at peace, the elves were disturbed by the ethereal whirlpool that appeared in the sacred grounds near the northern tower. It became shrouded by arctic blue glow that gradually increase in brightness. They alerted their forces, curious of what the light will reveal. Until a rare leonin and the moonlight archer went there to check ou the commotion.
"Stay away from the light, it'll transport you somewhere unknown." the leonin said, preparing her boomerang.
"Nana, it's been years since that battle spell has been used."
The glow faded. The ethereal whirlpool dramatically disappeared and reveals two person: Freya and Tigreal.
"How have you been, Miya?"