VII - The Story of Love: The Witness
With her hands on one knee and one leg folded under the other, a female in a worn-out, hooded cloak sat on a wooden stool outside the church doors.
The moon was with her, giving her light as the seconds went by. As irises of precious hue trailed the skies, Alvieha heaved a deep sigh.
Around this time, I have a feeling the first group of support is on their way.
It would be nice to be a spectator of the conflict, but, I may be dipping my feet too much into it. Then again... I can be there without really being there.
As the Rover lost herself in thought, someone emerged from inside the holy building. It approached Alvieha who didn't even budge at the sound of the door as it opened.
When a foreign limb landed on the mage's shoulder, her Earthly attachment shot up once more.
"O-Oh, I'm so sorry, Alvieha-san," cried the nun.
"D-Don't be, Sister," replied the other as she tried to calm the other person down. "What's brings you out here? Couldn't sleep?"
"There's that. Also, I'm here to thank you for volunteering to watch outside in case someone would appear and for helping us out earlier with calming the parents down." Alvieha nodded with a smile as a reply. "Most of them are now sleeping on the benches."
"They didn't want to go home, yet. They're too anxious about their children and their safety. I'm not a mother, but, I understand the pain." The nun agreed with a short head gesture. "I just hope whoever's doing this would answer to the crime."
The two ladies continued talking the night away, until the veiled woman returned inside the church after hearing her voice being called.
For a few more hours, Alvieha had her back on the wall, her head hung low with her hands still on her knee. Though her mind was clear and her senses numbed, a sudden rift in the fabric of space nearby got her to shoot up and float right into the church.
At the hallway, the unexpected sight of children left and right was a shock for Alvieha. Slowly putting her feet on the ground, she quickly ran and turned to a corner.
She saw a rift and through it was a line of children. Some had bruises, most had tear stains on their faces, and one had a black cloak on his shoulders. Beside the rift, a certain womanizer she knew was standing. Finral Roulacase.
It's nice to finally see someone familiar.
She walked closer to the brunet male and commended him, much to the nobleman's surprise.
"It seems the children are all back, thanks to you."
"A-Alvieha-san." Finral was genuinely pleased to see her. "It's you."
"I hope so, 'cause if not, I may be wearing the wrong bra." The male simply chuckled nervously. "I assume you didn't respond to this alone. Who went with you?"
"Captain Yami. He's still back there with Asta-kun." And Alvieha shot him a confused look. "He's a newbie." She, then, understood.
"Is there someone else?"
Finral nodded. "Gauche is inside getting patched up."
While Alvieha waited with Finral for all the children to pass through the rift, from the corner, parents began to flood. Little eyes which instantly lit to familiar faces began to water as tiny feet rushed to either their mother or father.
As more families reunited, more cries and wails echoed throughout the halls. The sight was wonderful for Alvieha. To see both a mother and a father wrap their arms around their child, enveloping their young blessing with warmth and reconnected love, it unconsciously let a conflicted smile ran across the mage's facial features.
Without her knowing, her left arm crept to hold her right. In the pit of her stomach, emotions began to boil. Melancholy. Faint Envy. Loathing. And the emerging sunlight from the nearby windows weren't easing her feelings either.
But, before it attempted to break through the dam, a completely uncalled for of a threat shuttered her thoughts and brought her back to reality.
"Don't you dare die, you old had!"
In the hall, Alvieha grew puzzled. "W-What was that?"
Curious, the hooded lady left the acquaintance and walked to the nearby room, her eyes peeking through the gap of the door. Inside, aside from more children, many healers were present, casting magic on three patients, a white-skinned person she hasn't met before, a cursing, slender, recognisable, young man who was kneeling beside a bed, and a woman in black veil who was on the bed. While one healer each took care of the first two people, three surrounded the nun.
Alvieha had no idea what really unfolded, but, as it appeared, it looked it the religious woman got herself in quite a predicament.
"Hey, wake up, old hag!" Gauche yelled. "You're supposed to be some immortal monster hag!"
From the hall, several children passed by Alvieha and rushed into the room, obviously worried about the older woman's state. Meanwhile, Gauche was tutting on the bed, evidently gutted by the situation.
As Alvieha glanced at the scenario before her, a certain nobleman decided to excuse himself into the room, worried about his comrade.
"Gauche," Finral noted. "You're hurt really badly, too, so you should worry about your own–"
"Shut up!"
Alvieha was half-shocked at the blunt response.
As the seconds passed by, the healer tending to Gauche announced his near completion, saying that no fatal wounds were taken by the male. Instead of being grateful, the Mirror Magic user shut the person behind him to focus on the lying elderly woman instead.
He was gagging.
Gauche continued to threaten, demanding the nun to open her eyes. He was masking his worry, but it was simply not clinging by the skin of his teeth.
Until a weak, pained voice rebutted.
"Tone it down..." It was the nun. "I can hear you, idiot."
The children immediately sprang to life, though still uneasy about the patient. Gauche did, as well, as his face was contorted with emotions Alvieha never knew he had. To her, the male was a loner, couldn't care less of other people who weren't his sister, and a brute, to say the least, but, to see Gauche worry about someone else beside his sibling, it was a view to behold.
As the Mirror mage leaned over the nun, an aged, feeble hand slowly came to feel his cheeks. It was the nun's, and she was giving Gauche every magic she had left. From her fingertips, bright flame, as the woman's affiliation was fire, began to alight, but not scorching the male.
It was unexpected by Gauche, but the nun continued anyway.
"Take my magic. You're going to save them, aren't you? Asta and the others..."
"I never said I'd..."
"You changed... after meeting him. I'm counting on you, Gauche."
And as soon as the fire burned out, her limb fell back on the soft mattress, her weakness enticing more woes from the children. At the side lines, Finral and Alvieha stood strong.
"You're joking, right?" Gauche was taking none of it. "Who said you could die?"
In anger, the male turned around and pulled the mage behind him by the collar, demanding to resurrect the nun.
He was feeling abandoned, forlorn. He didn't want to admit it, but the nun grew on him, especially after all she has done to his sister. To see the old lady go, he couldn't accept it. This had to be a mistake, a grave fault.
Yet, Sister Theresa was lying down behind him, unmoving. He shook the healer to bring back the nun to life.
"Do something," Gauche commanded.
"B-But..."
"Marie's going to be sad, damn it!"
"She's alive."
Lucky for Alvieha, she was in the hall, not entirely in perfect view. Still, she tried to hold her laughter behind her cupped hands, to not earn any irk from the hot-headed male.
Meanwhile, Gauche returned to the nun, expressing his mixed emotions. Although, everyone felt it.
He was glad Sister would make it.
"I'm a monster hag, remember? I won't kick the bucket so easily."
"Relax and get over there, you sister complex freak."
Children then rallied around the mage, wishing to help the fight. They asked Gauche to use their magic, to help the Asta kid that was left behind. The man dressed in white clothing was first to offer his powers. Gauche's sister then followed.
"Everyone lives by supporting each other," Marie noted.
At that moment on, Gauche felt a breakthrough.
He has always focused on nothing else but his sister. To him, the rest could all go to dust and he wouldn't give any concern. But, when he met his captain, it was a calling.
To protect just what he wanted to protect. The words his captain said the moment they met. It rang in his mind. He has been living his life to protect only his sister.
But now, he can use his life to protect more. Not only Marie. But the others who matter.
"I know what I have to do now."
Eager to begin, Gauche marched to Finral, requesting for his help. He asked to be returned back to where they were before.
For Finral, it was a hard wish. They barely got themselves out of a precarious situation. They were up against an opponent that, according to him, had immense magical prowess. What's more, he had been transporting children back to town all night. Even if they could go back, he couldn't open a second portal back. He's almost empty.
It was a futile and foolish request. A death wish.
But, it wasn't the case for Gauche. He had a plan. Though not confident things would go his way, he was sure they can turn the tables.
"FInral, please..." Gauche pleaded. The brunet still thought otherwise, but, a bow from the usually headstrong and egotistical teammate caused him to waver.
He tried to voice his way out of it more. Until Alvieha decided to step in. With a soft clap, all eyes turned to the door, to the person in a brown hooded cloak.
The children had no idea who she was, but, a mixture of shock and relief ran across Gauche's face the moment he saw the smirk on Alvieha's face.
"Well, isn't this a splendid sight."
"Alvieha..." Gauche couldn't believe it.
"To think the usually unapproachable and completely selfish Gauche would lower himself to aid someone in battle," the belle uttered, with amusement laced in her tone. "What a miracle."
An agitated mage then rushed to Alvieha. He stopped in front of her, looking down at the woman whose height he surpassed by a few centimetres.
"C-Can you help us with this one?"
"It's not really part of my new job description, but you're this motivated. Let's see what I can do."