Hey guys, here is the next update of this fanfic.
Hope you have enjoyed the read so far.
Chapter Cover: Kaguya smiling up as she was dressed in a sailor outfit.
Chapter Twenty-Five
A Determination to Protect
Kaguya was awoken by the smell of freshly cooked food.
The young demon girl blinked slowly into awakening noticing that sunlight was already streaming into where she was lying down. the young girl glanced around herself for a few moments, confused for a while as to where she was before the memories of the past few days came back to her and causing her to smile lightly to herself.
She made out of bed and with her keen sense of smell she followed the scent of food straight toward the familiar dark-skinned woman that allowed to come here with her. Kaguya didn't make her presence known yet, observing the young woman's back. She had met humans before in the past year she had been staying on her own ever since she was Exiled from her village, but none of them ever had tried to help her and they had always assumed she was up to no good at all.
And yet, when she had met this woman, in the forest all those weeks ago, the Aesyr had extended a hand toward her and somehow, with Aesyr, she had found herself missing the moments she used to spent with her mother before…
Kaguya shook her head lightly.
There was something odd about Aesyr.
She didn't really smell like a normal human. Sure, she still smells like a normal human but at the same time she doesn't, if something like that even made sense in the first place but it what was made her curious about the woman.
"Finally awake huh," Aesyr spoke out pulling the young girl from her mind.
Kaguya looked up, finding Aesyr's blue eyes looking toward her. The young woman had a light smile upon her lips as she observed her. Kaguya couldn't help returning the smile as she approached toward her.
"Yes, I am," Kaguya answered.
"Come on," Aesyr told her, "I already prepared plate for you."
Kaguya nodded, approaching the woman and sure enough one plate was already there for her along with a spoon. The young girl took a seat at the small table that was on the side before she had started to eat. It would be the first meal she would eat that she hadn't hunted herself in the forest she had been staying for the past few months.
It was quite a change to wake up and not have to hunt for her own food. The young Demon girl glanced at Aesyr and noticed the thoughtful expression that was on her features. The woman seems to lost within her own mind.
"Is everything the matter?" she asked.
Aesyr blinked, glancing at her.
"What?"
Kaguya frowned lightly.
"It's just you seem…to be focused elsewhere."
Aesyr seems to be surprised for a moment, before her lips curved at the corners and she shook her head, almost as if she was amused.
"Just thinking about something that happened yesterday," she said.
Yesterday was when they first arrived in the village, Kaguya remembered. They were men in armor there and everyone had been on edge till the soldiers were gone.
"Was it about the knights that were here?" she asked.
Aesyr shook her head.
"No…not about them," she said, "Kaguya, can I ask you something?"
The Demon girl nodded.
"How long were you exiled for?" she asked.
Kaguya stayed silent for a moment, her hand going toward where the brand of the Exile had been burned upon her arm. She can still feel the heat of the magic that had branded her before she was thrown out of the village…
"Almost a year now," she said.
Aesyr was shocked.
"You were by yourself…all this time?" she said.
Kaguya looked up at her, noticing the concern that was on Aesyr's face.
"It wasn't all that bad," she said quickly to reassure her, "Before I left the village, I was already trained to be a Hunter. All of the young in our village are trained since we were young to be good hunters for the Clan. The fur I am wearing, I skinned the animal to take it and make it mine. I was not helpless."
Aesyr tilted her head in confusion.
"They train you since you were young?" she repeated.
Now, Kaguya was the one confused.
"you don't know?" she repeated, "I thought everyone in Atlasia knew about our kind and our culture."
Aesyr chuckled.
"Not me," she said, "I'm a foreigner from another land."
Kaguya tilted her head.
"Really?" she said.
Aesyr nodded, a light smile upon her lips.
"Yes," she said, "I made a promise with my teacher to come here…but since he died, I decided to come by myself."
"I'm sorry," Kaguya said, looking down.
Aesyr approached her and took a seat beside the young Demon.
"Thank you," she said, gently placing a hand upon Kaguya's shoulders.
The young girl looked at her, noticing how gentle Aesyr's eyes were. It reminded her of her mother…before she was Exiled…
Before…
"She cannot stay in this Village Evarl."
"Please…she is my daughter….she is all that I have left…,"
"And by raising her among us…you violated our lands and our honor… Your spawn is not one of us…"
"Mother…"
"Go South…," her mother whispered in her ear.
"Kaguya?"
She saw the concern that was alight within Aesyr's gaze as the woman stared down at her. It was then, that Kaguya felt the tears that were rolling upon her cheeks. She hadn't meant to start crying but just seeing that gaze had brought up the memories…
"Are you okay?" Aesyr asked, her concern loud in her voice.
"I…I'm okay," Kaguya answered her quickly wiping away the tears that were visible, giving the older woman a slightly wobbly smile.
From the look she was getting, Aesyr didn't really believe her.
"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked.
Kaguya shook her head.
"When you want to," Aesyr said after a few moments, "I'll be here to listen alright."
Kaguya nodded, not trusting herself to say anything. Aesyr didn't seem to want to have anything else to say for she returned to her food. The two sat together in companionable silence until they were finished and for Kaguya to regain control over her own emotions. She wasn't ready to tell Aesyr about the pain she was carrying within her, but the quiet presence of the older woman was comforting, just as how it had been when Aesyr took her into her arms back during their first meeting.
But the quiet moment was interrupted when Shinji appeared in front of them, drawing both of their attention toward him. The look on Shinji's face was completely serious as the blond man's eyes stared toward them.
"Shinji?" Aesyr asked, realizing something was wrong.
"The Golden Lions had made their move," Shinji said, "They've launched an attack against multiple towns."
Aesyr stood up.
"How long ago?" she asked, her tone all business.
"Three to four days ago based on what I heard," Shinji told her, thought there was something in the man's tone that Kaguya picked up.
"That would have put us back when we were dealing with the Behemoth," Aesyr answered, "We can't provide protection to three different towns…"
"That's not what drew my attention on their attacks," Shinji answered her drawing the woman's gaze, "In one of the cities, their attacks failed."
"Failed?" Aesyr repeated.
Shinji nodded.
"Yes," he answered, "Mellanvia town was part of Minotaur's territory, and if it had managed to withstand this attack after his defeat…"
"Could they still be loyal to Minotaur?" Aesyr asked him.
Shinji shook his head.
"No," he answered, "Because all of the other towns attacked were also part of Minotaur's territory. There is someone in Mellanvia who is fighting back against the Golden Lions and if we aid them in combating the Golden Lions…"
"Then we can make allies and spread our influence," Aesyr finished, understanding what he was getting at, "It should be a good way to start making people believe that the Dragon Knights have returned."
Shinji smiled.
"I know you'd gain the idea what I was going for."
Aesyr stayed silent thinking for a few moments.
"How long is it going to take us to get to Mellanvia?"
Mellanvia
The city of Mellanvia was a walled city that seat around a lone river that flowed through the middle of it. It was a large area filled with many peoples from all type of life from the old people selling goods to nobles going on about their business. The market town was a well-known place in this part of Atlasia that has a large source of incomes and it was one of the reasons why Minotaur brought it under his heel to fund his projects and forces.
Now with Minotaur no longer having them under his bootheels, the people of Mellanvia breathed a sigh of relief when the Fallen God had been defeated, now that they no longer have to pay some taxes to him.
However, the city of Mellanvia once again find themselves facing an uncertain future which had begun four days ago when they were suddenly attacked by the Golden Lions.
Their forces had been defeated by a young man from this town but the people knew that it was only a matter of time before they return…
"Are you okay, Big brother?"
The blue haired man turned his attention toward the young girl that was seating not too far away from where he was. A young healer was placing bandages upon his form from the battle that took place some days ago now. He gave her a light grin.
"Hey, don't bring me down yet," he said, "I'm as fit as a fiddle…ow."
The girl let out a small chuckle as her brother winced from the healer placing another fresh bandage against one of the wounds harsher than necessary.
"You should focus on resting than showing off to your sister Saul," the healer said, narrowing her eyes.
Madam Balma
Healer of Mellanvia
The young man, Saul, glanced at her.
"I have rested enough these past few days," he answered her.
Saul Marz
Former Minotaur Commander
"Stop being so reckless," Madam Balma told him narrowing her eyes at him, "Not only you took on thirty men all by yourself, but you also nearly collapsed from exhaustion from your wounds. You may be a strong wizard Saul, but you still just a human being with limitation."
Saul gave her a glance.
"So, I should let them do what Minotaur did to our city?" he said.
Madam Balma looked at him, her green eyes solemn.
"You failed against Minotaur remember?"
Saul turned away from her, gritting his teeth.
"The people are afraid again," the woman continued, "It seems now that just like how it was three years ago. The mayor is even talking about submitting to the Golden Lions again…if they are as powerful as Minotaur was…"
She let out a sigh, "They are even talk to ask the Imperium for help."
"It's a waste of time," Saul said, "The Imperium won't help. They never had in the past. It's up to me to defend this city and that's exactly what I am going to do and I won't fail…not again."
"Brother…," the girl said looking at him.
Saul returned his gaze toward her, the look upon his face softening as he took her in. Sharing the same blue hair he has, the girl soft expression looked at him in worry but he only smiled back at her.
"After all, I promised to always protect you… didn't I Leane?"
Leane Marz
Younger Sister
A former enemy...now a protector.
Next Time: A Young Man's Choice.
Jacques0 out.
R&R
