"Today is where it all ends, Eimira."
"My unrequited love, and sadly..."
"Your life."
Eimira's eyes widened.
Slash.
Whoosh.
Eimira flew backwards using Aeris.
Her breathing instantly became rapid.
She stood, slowly, still trying to make sense of what was going on.
Yunok attacked again.
His attacks grew heavier the more he lunged at her.
I watched… unsure of what to do.
No—
Actually…
I was scared.
Just then, Feona and the rest along with Zahir ran out.
Feona spoke.
"Hey, Zandren. What is going on?"
She froze the moment the question left her mouth.
The others did as well.
Thud.
Eimira came tumbling towards us.
Clang!
Clang!
Her sword struck the ground, bounced twice, and skidded to a stop.
"Pick up your sword, Eimira." Yunok spoke calmly. "I waited till you recovered from your illness."
Eimira spat out blood.
She groaned. "Urggh."
Feona crouched beside her.
I did the same, holding her head up.
"Hey, Mira. Are you alright?" Feona asked.
She turned around.
"What the heck are you guys standing for? Kill that bastard!" She yelled.
Chichi, Ryona, Tabbi and some other vanguard members engaged Yunok.
All charging in at once.
Yunok smirked.
"Tsk. How pathetic."
He reached for the second sword on his waist.
"Morvethis."
He unsheathed the sword.
"Bare your Fangs!!!."
Fwoom!
A wave of aura swept across the courtyard, sending the incoming attackers flying into the walls, or weapon stands.
Their groans and grunts followed.
A cloud of dust formed, and slowly spread.
Footsteps approached.
"Eimira..."
Yunok got closer.
"Do you have to bring others into private matters?" He asked.
He stepped out of the dust cloud and dropped his first sword on the ground. Approaching with the other pointed at us.
Only then did I really notice the weapon.
A longsword unlike any blade I had ever seen.
Its steel was pale, almost silver. The guard curved outward into the shape of a striking serpent. Its jaws were spread wide, fangs exposed.
The snake's eyes glowed a dull blue.
Not with a blessing.
But something else.
Something familiar.
A presence I had felt once.
But—
Where?
I couldn't explain what I was feeling at the moment.
But every instinct in my body screamed at me to run.
"F-Feona." I whispered, my voice trembling.
"Yeah?"
"That sword Yunok is holding... T-There's something off about it."
Eimira grunted. "Doesn't matter."
She picked up her sword.
"I'll put him do—"
Eimira's eyes swept across the courtyard.
"Ryona."
"Lysa."
"Everyone..."
Her head dropped.
She stepped forward, slowly.
Stopping before Yunok.
"You were right, Yunok..."
Yunok tilted his head. "Hmm?"
Eimira's grip tightened around her sword.
The air around her began to tremble.
"I shouldn't…" She muttered. "Bring others into something that's between us alone!"
A burst of Aeris exploded outward from her body, pushing Yunok back.
Both her eyes glowed.
She entered a Blessing Surge.
Dark clouds gathered over the courtyard, and rain poured heavily. Violent winds spiralled around her, as her feet slowly left the ground.
"I bring upon you the Judgment of the Primordials, Yunok." Eimira's voice thundered.
Yunok froze.
Then.
He laughed.
A low chuckle at first.
Then another.
And another.
Until he was laughing so hard he had to lower his head.
"Haha..."
"Hahahaha..."
He wiped a tear from his eyes.
"Finally!"
He raised Morvethis.
"There she is!"
His smile stretched wider.
"The Eimira I was madly in love with."
His grip tightened around Morvethis.
"Do not hold back!"
"If you're going to die today..."
"Then die as the strongest woman in Terrakan!!!"
Boom!
He vanished.
Darting towards Eimira.
SHING!!!
Their blades met with a thunderous clash.
BOOM!
A violent burst of energy erupted from the point of impact, rippling through the air and forcing the ground beneath them to crack.
Yunok gets sent flying backwards by the impact.
He landed on his feet, skidding backwards on the wet floor, before stopping.
A large cut opened on his forehead, and blood poured out of it.
"Tsk."
He chuckled, wiping the blood off.
The skin around the wound began to twitch and crawl. Slowly, the edges pulled themselves together, knitting the flesh back into place.
After, he let out a relaxed exhale.
Feona and I observed in shock.
"Did he just self heal?" She asked
Then turned to me.
"Just like how you did back at the verdant…"
We stared at each other.
I opened my mouth but no words came out.
Eimira started levitating, catching both our attention.
The winds spiralled around her, as the rain poured more heavily than it did earlier.
"Estr'ahYa e mar. Estr'eh Ya e Yyui!!"
(My Soul will fight. My Blessings will conquer.)
The moment the words left her lips, the world seemed to pause.
Raindrops froze midair.
Every droplet hung motionless above the battlefield like thousand suspended crystals.
Then they moved.
One after the other, the droplets rushed toward Eimira.
Water flowed across her body, hardening into a flowing azure armour.
The wind answered next.
Violent currents spiraled around her blade. The air itself condensed along its edge, sharpening it beyond what steel alone could achieve.
The ground beneath her feet cracked.
Her eyes glowed brighter.
Yunok stared.
Then—
He laughed.
Not a normal laugh.
But a broken one.
One that sent chills down my spine.
His shoulders trembled.
"Good, Eimira." He muttered. "I have no reason to hold back anymore."
The grin on his face stretched wider.
He pointed Morvethis at Eimira.
"Now you can go out… a hero!"
His pupils slitted and flashed a crimson red.
"Morvethis."
The serpent sword vibrated.
"Take over."
A single word left his mouth.
"VEYR!!!"
CRACK.
Dark frost exploded from the blade. The serpent-head guard twisted. The metal, shifting like a living creature.
Scales erupted from Yunok's arm, completely shredding off the garment he had on. The scales crawled along his skin, locking in place.
His veins darkened.
Jagged grey scales spread over his neck, and finally, his face.
The serpent's eyes opened.
And blinked.
A cold pressure swept through the battle-torn courtyard.
Everyone froze.
Yunok lowered his stance.
Eimira did the same.
For a brief moment-
Silence.
Then-
BAAM!
The ground shattered beneath them.
Both vanished.
CLAANG!!
A bright light flashed.
Followed by a shockwave that rippled through the courtyard as blades clashed.
"Zandren!"
Feona grabbed my shoulder.
"Forget them, help me move the injured." She yelled. "Zahir, you too."
"But.. Eimir-"
"NOW!" She yelled.
She turned to leave.
"I'll attend to those deep within the battle of those two, you guys handle the rest on the safer side of the courtyard. Have your weapons with you just in case."
"We'll meet again inside the base."
She sprinted off using Aeris to boost her speed.
—-
BOOM!!
Dust fell from the ceiling, followed by another tremor.
The fight between Yunok and Eimira had been going on for a while now, and we were still tasked with moving the injured.
It surprises me how a single attack can cause so much damage.
BOOM!
BAAM!
I turned towards the door. Only wishing to sprint out and pull Eimira away.
But—
I'm... Just too weak.
"Tsk."
I lowered my head.
"D-Don't worry sir." A voice said.
I turned.
A member of Eimira's vanguard.
"Captain won't lose." He said.
"Against anyone Yunok, sure. Haha." Another beside him added.
I nodded.
"Yeah. I need to have a little more faith in Eimira." I thought.
Feona approached, an injured member in her arm.
"Uhm, that's almost everyone. I think, just one left." She said.
"What about Ryona, Chichi and Tabbi?" I asked.
She leaned against the walls beside me.
"Well, Ryona and Chichi are fine, but Tabbi wasn't so lucky." She answered.
She paused.
"She got sent flying into a pile of arrows and was too stunned to break her fall. Thankfully, the arrows didn't go too deep."
She forced a smile. "We managed to stop her bleeding. She will be fine."
I crouched.
"Ahh... Why's Yunok fighting Eimira all of a sudden?"
My hands dug through my hair.
"Eimira already rejected his challenge, so why?"
Feona scoffed.
"I don't think that's Yunok." She muttered. "Didn't you see that sword?"
She paused.
"He called it Morvethis. The sword moved. It was… alive."
I hesitated, but spoke.
"There's something about that sword that terrifies me..."
Feona chuckled. "Of course, dummy. Who wouldn't be terrified of a sword like tha—"
BOOOM!
The walls groaned, as cracks began to form on them.
Feona pushed herself up. Then she looked at the cracks.
"Ah… the fight's more intense than I thought."
She turned to me.
"As I was saying. It's normal for one to feel terrified after seeing a sword like that."
"No, I didn't mean that way. Just a fear that felt too familiar for some reason."
Feona crouched beside me.
"Hmm."
I sighed.
"If only I had a blessing."
"If only I wasn't standing there like an idiot."
"If only-"
"If only you just keep quiet, haha." Feona cut in. "It's not your fault this whole thing is happening. Don't blame yourself."
I scoffed. "Easier said."
My head lowered.
Footsteps approached and stopped right in front of us.
"Why's hubby looking down?" Chichi asked, holding the last person over her shoulder.
"He's sad about not being able to help Eimira." Feona replied.
Chichi giggled, then turned to me.
"If this is about the promise you made to us, don't stress about it. There's nothing much you could do now either wa—"
KRAK!
BOOM!
"Ahh, it seems the captain brought out the lightning whip, haha." Feona said, chuckling.
—-
Eimira's sword unraveled.
Crack!
A whip of blue lightning snapped across the battlefield.
Yunok leaned aside.
The attack missed him by inches.
The lightning whip carved a trench through the stone floor behind him.
Before the debris could settle, Eimira was already in front of him.
Boom!
The ground shattered beneath Yunok.
Eimira's whip became a sword once more.
"Why are you doing this Yunok?" She asked.
Clang!
"Because you are not mine." He answered, a smile across his face.
Shiiinnng.
"So?"
Yunok grinned.
"Well, if you aren't mine. Then no one else can have you!"
"Tsk."
Clang!
Clang!
Boom!
Eimira pushed Yunok back.
"Why do you always have to make my life so hard?"
Whoosh.
Yunok dodged a swing.
"I hate you!!!!"
Eimira swung wide.
"Ahhhh!!!!!"
She screamed.
Crack!!!
Her blade struck the ground, missing Yunok by a few inches.
Yunok blinked backwards.
A smile on his face.
"Say…"
He spoke calmly, as if the fight wasn't taking a toll on him.
"You've been in a blessing surge for quite a long time now. I'm sure you're getting tired, aren't you?"
Eimira stopped.
Her heavy breathing showed visibly due to how her body heaved after every breath.
"Tsk, he's right. But I'm sure he's tired too. Despite that cunning smile on his face, I'm sure he is. He has to be." She thought.
She chuckled. "Is that so? Guess we have to end it."
The sky darkened. And the clouds rumbled
The wind screamed around Eimira.
Yunok laughed. "Shall we?"
The broken scales reattached themselves.
Frost spreading around Morvethis.
Then…
Eimira lunged.
Yunok charged.
Neither of them slowed.
Neither hesitated.
BOOOOOM!!!!
—-
The building trembled. More dust fell from the ceiling as the cracks on the walls grew.
"T-That was a loud one." I said, moving an injured member to a new place.
I turned to Feona.
"Do you think she's fine?" I asked.
Feona groaned. "Zandren, calm yourself. The captain is never going to lose to someone like Yunok..."
"But, you also saw him. How different he is-"
Chichi placed a finger on my lips.
"Shhhhhh. Don't think about it too much, hehe." She said.
She continued. "When you drop off Lya, come help Yareth carry some items."
I nodded.
Ryona approached, limping. She placed her hand around me.
"You really are worried about Eimira uhn."
"Well, yeah. Of course I am." I replied.
She laughed. "More worried than anyone else here I would say..."
I exhaled.
"You have no idea how much it hurts being the one that's supposed to protect her, but I'm being protected here instead."
She knocked my head.
"This is Eimira's own battle. One she has to overcome on her own, it'd only be trouble if you intervened."
I chuckled slightly. "I suppose you're right."
I pondered on what Ryona had just told me.
Then.
I noticed the silence.
I jumped up from my seat, grabbing everyone's attention.
"Zandren, What's wrong?" Feona asked.
"Nothing. I-It's just that, it's been a bit too silent for the past few minutes."
"Too silent."
I glanced around, and saw that they all just noticed too.
The silence.
No more tremors.
The cracks hadn't gotten worse.
"..."
Feona looked up.
"I guess it's over then?"
Silence.
"Captain won, right?" Someone asked.
Nobody answers.
Then
Thud!
Tabbi came crashing through the door, her back bloodied, and her clothes soaked and mixed with dirt, mud and blood.
Feona rushed over, lifting her.
I followed.
Feona spoke. "Hey, hey, Tabbi. What are you doing here? You're supposed to be resting?"
"E-Eimira." She whispered, struggling to put her words together.
Then she suddenly grabbed onto Feona's shirt. Tears rolling down her face.
"I can't feel Eimira anymore... I can't feel her blessings anymore."
My heart sank.
"W-what?"
The door to the base suddenly slammed open.
Someone ran in.
A member.
"Feona! Come quick!! Captain's down!!"
I wasted no time, and darted out.
Feona followed, after carefully placing Tabbi down.
I approached the exit, fast.
The light blinded me as I got closer to the door.
I froze, just outside the door.
My breath, heavy.
I wasn't tired from all the sprinting I just did.
But because of the sight I was greeted with.
Eimira was down on both knees.
Her head down. Blood poured out of her mouth and cuts on her face.
Her armour shattered and her sword lying beside her, snapped in half.
Yunok stood over her.
"You caused this, Eimira." He murmured.
"All you had to do was be mine forever."
He sneered.
"Now. Look at you."
He slowly raised Morvethis.
"The third captain. The lost Aegis. The first dual Blessing-wielder of Terraka and the land of Caramien…."
"...is now kneeling before me, about to meet her end."
"You only have yourself to blame for this, Eimira."
Yunok glanced at me, then back at Eimira.
"You fell for him."
Morvethis raised over Eimira's head.
"Now watch him fail to save you."
Morvethis descended.
I ran.
Fast.
Too far.
Tears streamed down my face.
I was too slow.
Eimira looked past the blade.
Past Yunok.
Past the battlefield.
Her blue eyes found mine. They didn't shimmer like they used to.
But…
She smiled.
The same smile she always wore whenever she told me everything would be okay.
"No..."
Then.
Darkness.
"..."
"I'd always thought that it was all just a dream."
"An endless sea of pain. Silence. And. Despair."
"Then she appeared."
"The girls whose eyes were so serene that getting lost in them felt natural."
"The lost souls whispered a single word."
"Awaken."
"And for the first time..."
"I wanted to wake up."
A voice echoed through the void.
"I failed to save you once."
"But."
The void trembled and cracked.
My eyes snapped open.
"Never again!!!"
BOOOM!!!
Crimson flames erupted around me.
The courtyard exploded beneath my feet, heat swallowing the air around me.
ROOOOOAARRRRR!!!!