(Thanks for 2K views already)
Welcome to the Samurai Arc! This is the prologue, to introduce the story of this Arc. Thanks for all the support up until this point, and I hope ya'll stick around to see the ending of this story!
There's only really one part you need to read in order to get the gist of this arc, so once you read it, click off.
A Few Hours after Airi's Departure...
Emora's horse was at full speed. Its hooves dug into the muddy trail, the galloping sound was fast-paced and consistent. The Warden was leaning forward, her ponytail flying in the wind as she rode through corn fields and past small villages. The rain was heavy, it poured down on Emora and her horse. Droplets of water seeped into her eyeholes and dripped off, causing her to flinch frequently during the bumpy ride.
The Warden's armor was soaked, her bandages wet, her chainmail and brigandines heavy with water. The horse's mane was slick, his saddle drenched. The dark gray sky would light up with a beautiful blue flash that cut through the sky every so often, followed by the roaring sound of thunder that followed the bright lightning.
The wind was cold, and the wind was heavy, causing the rain to fall sideways. The current weather in Ashfeld was not one to travel in, but to the Warden, it was nothing but a small disturbance. She rode past a small outpost that donned banners the colors of her home Legion.
As her horse came down the last stretch, she reached a fork in the road and turned right. Her horse slipped a bit when it turned, but managed to stomp past the mud and continue galloping.
Emora looked up to see the grand fortress she called home. She could hear distant yelling atop the walls as she approached, her horse beginning to slow down. Archers aimed their bows at her once she stopped in front of the gate. A familiar face peered over the wall with an angry expression.
"What do you want, Elio? How did you get past our guard outpost?" Cinder yelled down.
The Warden sat up on her horse, she placed her hands on her thighs and tilted her head up, to try and avoid raindrops that would enter her eyeholes and disturb her vision.
"Your guards aren't very bright!" She yelled up.
Cinder immediately recognized the voice. His eyes widened as he opened his mouth to speak. He stopped himself and quickly looked behind him. The Warden could hear his strong voice yelling down at the Gatekeepers.
"OPEN THE GATE! OPEN IT!"
She chuckled quietly as the sound of loud chains entered her ears. The large gate slowly opened up to full size, allowing free entry into the courtyard of the Fortress. Her horse slowly walked forward to meet Cinder and Cindra, both of them with eager expressions.
"No way! You made it back!" Cinder looked up at the Warden, his voice full of happiness.
"I expected nothing less from someone like you. Welcome back!" Cindra smiled.
The Knight jumped off of her horse and landed in front of the siblings with a thud. She placed her hands on either side of her head and removed her helmet, revealing Emora's smiling face.
"Your gate is getting rusted. Better hurry up and fix that." She joked.
Cinder scoffed and wrapped his arms around Emora, laughing profoundly.
"You're back...You're fucking back, holy shit." He said with a huge grin.
Cindra pushed her brother aside and fell into Emora's arms. The Commander laughed as she pulled on Emora's ponytail.
"My god! Your hair is soaked! Come on, let's get inside. Close up the gate!"
As the three Heroes jogged through the heavy rain, the sound of the large gate being opened caught the attention of the people in the Fortress. They looked out of their homes to wave and cheer for Emora, who they knew was coming back from Valkenheim.
Emora could hear two sets of rapid footsteps gaining on her. She turned around to see Rose and Daisy splashing across the courtyard, running at her full speed. They were squealing and waving their arms, huge smiles on their faces.
"EMORA!" The two said simultaneously.
They dove into Emora's arms, hugging her closely. The Warden held them both tightly, she giggled as they each kissed her cheeks, Daisy on the right, and Rose on the left.
"You two are going to get wet, come inside with Cinder and Cindra," Emora said with a smirk.
The two girls nodded, eagerly following the Warden inside the Conference Building. Once all of them were inside, Emora placed her helmet on the large wooden table in the lobby. It was dripping wet, covered with beads of water. She untied her hair and let it loose, shaking it up in an attempt to dry it.
"Emora...You have no idea how happy we are to have you back!" Rose said happily.
"Yeah! We missed you..." Daisy smiled with relief.
"Well, I'm back." Emora winked. She turned to Cinder with a grin. "Told you I'd make it back."
The Commander rolled his eyes and smiled. "I was getting a bit worried. Once I got the message saying that you guys managed to take out the Outpost Gate, Cindra and I couldn't stop thinking about you guys. We thought for sure that Einar and the rest of the Warborn were going to slaughter you all. But apparently...We thought wrong." Cinder crossed his arms.
"Yeah, it got pretty tense. If it wasn't for our dad always telling us: 'ReLax, mY cHilDrEn, eMOra ChOse ThoSe HeRoES heRSeLf. ThEy'rE tHe bEsT oF tHe BeSt, tHE tOp WArRioRs of THe aZUre lEGiOn. ThEy'lL aCComPliSh thEIr miSsiON, aND reTuRn hoMe. No NeED to WorRy.' We probably would've gone after you ourselves. But hey! You made it back just fine." Cindra put her hands on her hips and smiled.
Emora shook her head and sighed. "Well...I did. The thing is...I didn't even fight at Einar's fortress. That's why I'm back a little early."
Cinder and Cindra exchanged glances, both of them leaned forward, confused.
"Yeah, I was about to ask you...Where is everyone else?" Cinder asked.
"D-Don't tell me..." Cindra shook her head in disbelief.
Emora nodded her head, Rose and Daisy detecting the Warden's sadness. They began to rub her back to calm her.
"They're up there...Probably as we speak. I came back here for a different reason." She said firmly.
"Emora! How could you just leave the rest of your teammates up there! They need you! You're their leader!" Cinder yelled.
"Wait, Cinder! Don't you remember what happened yesterday? She's probably back because of that. I would do it too." Cindra said, placed her hand on her brother's arm, trying to calm him down.
Cinder's bright silver eyes were shining with passion. "Oh...I remember. But still...E-Emora...How could you?! How do you know they'll all even make it back?"
Emora took off her gauntlets and rubbed her hands together.
"Take off your armor Emora, those brigandines are soaking wet, you'll catch a cold." Cindra brought up.
"Alright," Emora said quietly. Rose and Daisy helped her unstrap her shoulder pads and chest pieces as the Warden looked Cinder right in the eyes.
"Emora. Answer my question."
"I trust them, Cinder. They're determined to defeat the Warborn, and I know they can do it without me. Cinderus even said it himself...I chose them because they're the best of the best. Just because I'm their leader, doesn't mean they can't handle themselves." The Knight said firmly.
Cinder groaned and rubbed his eyes. "Yes, I know but...Emora...They need you—"
"They don't need me. We've lost some Heroes along the way...But the ones that made it Einar's fortress are the ones that will return. They put their trust in me...It's about time I put my trust into them. I believe in their capabilities, and I have full confidence that they'll make it out alive. The ruins of the Warborn will be burning behind them as they escape Valkenheim." Emora said proudly.
Rose and Daisy clapped as they took off loose pieces of the Warden's armor.
"Raise your arms, honey!" Rose said cheerfully.
"My bad," Emora answered. She raised her arms in the air as the two girls removed her final brigandine padding. The Warden was stripped down to a short-sleeve cloth shirt that was still fairly damp, her soaking wet pants, and her drenched boots.
Cinder put his hand on the table and sighed. "Alright...I trust you too, Emora. Hopefully, they all come back alive. Emora...You could get in trouble for this. It's treason."
"It isn't treason when she has a good reason, Cinder. If our father finds out, we can explain on her behalf." Cindra said sternly. She turned to Emora, her face serious. "I think I know why you're here. Yesterday...Something happened, and I assume you came to try and...I guess...Get your bearings?" The Commander asked.
Emora shook her head slowly. "Yeah...Basically. I came here to check if...If she came here at all. Apparently, she did. But...From the sound of your voices and the looks on your faces...She isn't anymore...Right?"
Cinder and Cindra looked at the Warden solemnly. They both shook their heads, confirming Emora's worst fears.
The table shook as Emora slammed her fist down on it, startling Rose and Daisy. She put her head down, her breathing heavy.
"D-Damn it! NO!"
"Emora...Calm down. It'll be okay. I-I don't get it...What happened? Why...Why did she come back here?"
The Warden looked up. "I don't know! W-What did she say to you?! Did any of you speak to her!?"
"Yes, we both did." Cindra nodded. "Even our father spoke to her."
Emora spiked up, she walked around the table, grabbed Cindra's hands, and pulled her close. Their faces were mere centimeters apart.
"What...Did she say...?"
Cindra's eyes were dilated with worry. She opened her mouth to speak but stopped when she glanced at Emora's lips, her warm breath on her face. It was a little too close for comfort.
"S-Sorry! I...I just...Cindra...Please tell me what she said." Emora stuttered as she backed away from the Commander.
Cindra huffed and composed herself. "Well...She...She said that..."
Cinder, Rose, and Daisy stood behind Emora, all of them looking dull and dispirited.
"She said that she's leaving the Azure Legion. She's returning to the Myre to...'Complete her duties'. She said she's not coming back...And that she's staying in the Myre..."
Emora shook her head slowly. She felt the suspense and tension suddenly become unbearable.
"Forever." Cindra finished.
Emora's body began to tingle, her eyes grew teary, her heart about to beat out of her chest. She grit her teeth together and glared at the ground. Her arms trembled as she clutched her fists tightly. Her face grew red, her entire body was veiny.
"Emora!" Cinder yelled.
The Warden's palms began to bleed, her nails digging into them from how hard her hands were clenched. Her face was the color of an apple; her breathing was short and rapid. She was quietly grunting, holding back her anger.
She slowly walked forward, past Cindra.
"Ggh...A-Airi..."
She placed her tense hand on the closed window sill. Hating its existence. She began to hyperventilate. After a few desperate breaths, she sucked in the air and opened her mouth wide.
"NOOOOO!"
The Warden punched through the wooden covers of the window, shattering them like nothing. She turned around and began to vent her intense anger on everything in front of her.
She smashed vases, threw chairs, and punched holes in walls. She flipped the table over and kicked it in half. She ripped nearby paintings apart, she stomped holes in the floor, she used her sword to sweep papers everywhere and rip up furniture and cloth. She knocked over a model set of Lawbringer armor. It shattered onto the floor loudly in pieces.
Rose and Daisy stood shaking behind Cinder and Cindra.
Emora turned to them, breathing through grit teeth. Her face was red, her eyes releasing endless tears. She let out a powerful yell as she charged forward.
"EMORA, STOP!" Cinder yelled.
"NOO! EMORAA!" Cindra cried.
Right as Emora was about to attack, reality hit her like a truck. She skid to a stop and dropped her sword, glaring at the siblings with eyes full of pain. She glanced at Rose and Daisy, who were on the verge of tears.
"I-I...I..."
Emora couldn't speak. She felt her as her body was seemingly completely drained of its life force. She collapsed onto all fours, crying loudly.
Cindra and Cinder quickly came to help. They held onto the broken Warden, soothing and comforting her.
Rose and Daisy slowly knelt down in front of Emora, their faces full of fear.
Emora looked up at them, her eyes filled with a grief that could kill.
"I'm...So...Sorry..."
The Warden dug her face in her hands as she slouched over on the ground. Rose and Daisy joined the two siblings as Emora cried in the destroyed Conference room, her heart filled with the grief Alfar had warned her about. The pain Emora said she would never feel...The pain she was now fighting against.
An hour later...
Emora sat in the lobby of the Conference Building. Rose and Daisy were upstairs; helping to clean and tidy up the room the Warden had destroyed.
The Knight sat on a long sofa-like bench. Its cushions were soft and fluffy. She leaned back and closed her eyes.
"Fuck...I failed you, Alfar...I failed fucking everyone...What does it matter anymore? She's gone...She's gone forever. I can't do anything...I'm nothing without her...I'm useless...I'm garbage..."
Cinder and Cindra came down the stairs, both looking at Emora sadly.
"How're you holding up?" Cinder asked.
Emora opened her eyes and looked up at the Commander.
"I've never felt more alone..." She whispered.
The sibling's sighed, exchanging looks of sorrow. Cinder nodded his head at his sister, who nodded back. She took a deep breath and took a step forward.
"E-Emora...I know you feel horrible right now...You feel hopeless, dejected, and abandoned."
The Warden dug her face in her hands and let out a small sob.
"Now I know how she felt...Goddamn it...I'm a fucking failure! I failed her! I failed Alfar! I failed to maintain a love that I felt so strongly! How the...FUCK DOES SOMEONE EVEN DO THAT?!" Emora lashed out with self-hatred.
Cindra shook her head.
"Emora. We were going to give this to you before...But...You already know what happened."
The Warden exhaled, her voice miserable. "I'm sorry..."
"It's fine. But...Back to what I was saying. We were going to give you this before...But now seems like a better time to let you see it." Cindra said softly. She reached out to the Warden, a neatly folded piece of paper in between her fingers.
It was a note.
"Airi told us to give it to you when you came back. She asked us not to look at it, so we didn't. No one has unfolded this paper since Airi gave it to us yesterday. It's for you, Emora. Take it." Cindra nodded.
Emora slowly took the note from Cindra's hand. She held it tightly in both hands, her heart beating. She glanced up at Cinder and Cindra, who were both standing in polite silence.
"O-Okay..."
Emora gulped as she began to unfold the letter. She opened it up fully and immediately recognized the Nobushi's beautiful, elegant handwriting.
Emora,
If you're reading this, it means that you've returned from Valkenheim alive, and have destroyed the Warborn and their leader. I'm sorry that I wasn't there to fight until the end...But the amount of shame I felt was far too great...And I feel like being around any of you would only make me dangerous. I've returned to Fort Diamond and was given a little bit of time to write this for you.
Emora, listen...I'm sorry...For everything. I don't want to ramble about it again...But you know what I felt...You know what I did. I won't ever forgive myself for those dreadful events...And you probably won't either. I fully understand...And have made a very important choice that I feel you should know about.
Many years ago, I abandoned my old clan and my family. They had proposed an idea for me...The daughter of Emperor Atsuto, the leader of the Urutora Clan. The Urutora Clan was and still is the strongest clan in all of the Myre. Hakushi Atsuto, my father, wanted to join forces with the second strongest clan, the Seinaru Clan. My mother and father both wanted to go through with this, and so did the Emperor and Empress of the Seinaru Clan.
I'm sorry I never told you any of this, as I thought I would never fully return to the Myre. But as of late...I don't have a place in Ashfeld. My family has decided to wait for my return in order to complete the joining of the two clans. Finally, after many years, I've decided to accept the proposal.
The son of the Emperor and Empress of the Seinaru Clan, Daigo Kaneko, is the one who is going to inherit the Clan once his mother and father step down. In order to join my Clan with his...I am to marry him. In due time...The Urutora and Seinaru Clans will be combined to create the Saikyō Clan, the ultimate power.
I will be the Empress of this newly fused clan. And Daigo will be my eternal husband, as well as the Emperor of Saikyō Clan. I'm telling you this because I want you to move on, as I already am. Emora, please...Tell me how Alban is faring. Is he alive? Please...You must tell me! I didn't hit him at my full strength...I couldn't. I wanted him to live, so maybe you could move on as well...And be with him. He deserves you more than I do.
Thank you for everything Emora. The time I spent with you were the most beautiful years of my entire life, and I promise to never forget about them. I'll never forget about any of my old friends, I'll never forget about all the things we went through together, I'll never forget about you, Emora. The time has come for us to break away from each other, and go our separate ways.
Maybe one day, our paths will cross again. Until that day, I wish you luck with your life. Just know, Emora, that I will always...Always hold you close to me. I'll always know that you were the only person I've ever truly loved. You'll always be with me in my heart, I swear on it. I hope you feel the same way...And if you don't, then...At least I'm not there to hear your beautiful voice say it out loud.
Until the day we meet again. I love you, Emora.
-Hakushi Airi
Emora's lips were quivering. Her eyes were wide open. She felt her heart shatter and dissolve into nothingness.
"N-No...No...I-It can't be..."
"W-What's wrong Emora?" Cinder took a step forward.
"What did she say?" Cindra asked.
Emora slowly stood up and gave the siblings the note. Their faces turned into expressions of shock and denial as they read. When they finished, they put the note down and looked at the Warden.
"Emora..."
"E-Emora..."
The Knight tried to walk forward, but her heart was beating too fast. Blood rushed to her head as thoughts of Airi surged through her mind. She stumbled as she walked forward, losing her footing.
"Airi..."
"EMORA!" Cinder and Cindra yelled as they lunged forward.
The Warden hit the ground with a thud, completely unconscious. She fainted on the spot, blood leaking out from her nose.
Alfar's words seemed to faintly return to Emora's head. His voice was weak and quiet. But the Warden could hear what he was saying. His encouragement was all she needed. She remembered the Berserker's final words to her.
"The pain you'll feel will be unbearable. I couldn't recover from it...So I left. But maybe...Maybe you can withstand it...And keep moving forward."
With that single memory, accompanied by memories and thoughts of Airi, the words of Alban, the support of her friends, and her own willpower and determination...A small flame began to burn within Emora's heart. The flame grew larger as the Warden's resolve increased. Finally, Emora spoke to her own conscious, which was currently unconscious. She knew what to do. She knew what to fight for.
"Alfar...I'll keep moving forward. I can withstand the pain. I'll find her. I'll get her back. I still love her, I always will. I know I can fix everything. I know I still have a chance."
"Airi. I'll never give up on you."
The next day...
Emora looked in the mirror and blinked. She sighed and ruffled up her wet hair with a towel to dry it. After a long and hot bath, she armored up in her Warden's attire, tied her hair up, and finally grabbed her sword and slid it onto her back.
Before she left, she looked over her shoulder to look at the room she used to share with Airi. Instead of sighing or feeling discouraged, the Warden narrowed her eyes with intimidation.
"This isn't over yet."
Within half an hour, Emora was standing outside of the Conference Building. She leaned against the entrance with her arms crossed. She watched as the people of Fort Diamond went along their daily commute, going to and fro, place to place. She could hear the banging of the blacksmith's hammer, the yelling of the merchants, the bustle of the nearby market, and the animals in nearby barn houses.
After a few minutes, the door opened, catching Emora's attention. Cinder and Cindra were talking as the two walked out.
"I know, but what're we gonna do—Oh shit!"
The two siblings jumped when they caught sight of the Warden. They calmed down and looked at Emora with concerned gazes.
"Emora, how're you feeling?" Cinder asked.
The Warden shrugged. "I'm alright. I've decided what I want to do. But...I want to wait for the rest of the Heroes to return from Valkenheim first."
Cinder nodded his head. "Alright. I...I didn't expect you to be up and at it so early in the morning."
"Neither did I. After all that happened yesterday...With your tantrum...A-And the note, I thought you'd want to sleep in after passing out the way you did." Cindra agreed.
Emora shook her head. "No...I wanted to be up just in case the others came back. I want to be there to receive them. Not only that...But I want to get this plan into motion as quickly as possible."
"Your plan...When are you going to head out on...Whatever it is you're planning?" Cinder asked.
The Warden put her head back against the wall and sighed. "A few days...Maybe two after the rest of the teams come back. I want them to rest before we head out."
Cinder and Cindra exchanged looks.
"Emora...Our father won't be happy with some of his best Heroes heading out on a mission that isn't the business of the Azure Legion. Could you tell us what it is?"
The Knight shook her head slowly. "I'll explain it to everyone, including you two. Cinderus will understand...And if he doesn't...It doesn't matter. I know for a fact that I'll go through with this...Even without his permission." She said firmly.
Cinder and Cindra both sighed.
"Well...Alright. Have you eaten anything, Emora?" Cindra asked.
"No," Emora answered.
"Well, I can get Rose and Daisy to whip up something delicious for you! Come on inside."
The Warden entered the building with the two Commanders. Cinder brushed his hair up and leaned forward on the table.
"Well...We were on our way to check on the towers, but it looks like they aren't back yet."
Emora nodded, she watched as Rose and Daisy shuffled around the kitchen, cooking at a high speed and efficiency. She turned to the two Commanders, who were both reading letters and messages from other Legions and Fortresses.
"Can I ask you guys something?" She asked.
The siblings looked up from their work. "Sure thing." They said simultaneously.
"How long has it been since any of you have been in battle? You do know how to fight...Correct?"
The two Commanders seemed surprised at the question. They cleared their throats and stopped to think.
"Jeez...I haven't been in an actual fight for a really long time." Cinder mumbled.
"Same here...It's been a while. Why do you ask, Emora?" Cindra asked.
The Warden thanked Rose and Daisy for the eggs, sausage, and biscuits she was served. She began to eat while she spoke to the Commanders.
"I need you guys to train a bit. Get yourselves conditioned and fit to fight. Peak fitness is what we're looking for...But getting used to the weight of a sword could help." Emora explained as she drank from her cup of freshly squeezed orange juice.
The two siblings were taken aback. "W-Why?" Cinder asked.
"Yeah, Emora...What's going on?" Cindra asked, worry in her voice.
The Warden swallowed a huge bite of eggs and choked down a biscuit. "Ahem! Kgh—I'll tell you all later...But it's important, trust me—Ouh!"
"Slow down Emora. You'll choke." Cindra frowned.
"S-Sorry...But yes, it'll be helpful, trust me. When the others get back from the mountains, and once they're rested up a bit, we can train with them too. I need you guys to at least be able to tap into your martial art skills a bit." Emora said with a red face.
The Warden coughed a bit, swallowing her food. After a few seconds of silence, she let out a small burp that made Cinder and Cindra snicker. The two siblings exchanged glances but ended up agreeing.
"Alright. That's fine."
Emora flushed her mouth with water once they were outside. Rose and Daisy sat on benches that surrounded the large training yard.
"Good luck!" Daisy cheered.
"Have fun!" Rose whooped.
Cindra and Cinder had both changed into weighted training gear. Heavy leather laced and weighted with plates of steel. They were on their chest pieces, shoulders, wrists, hands, ankles, kneecaps, and shins. They moved around a bit, feeling the weight.
"Wow. I feel heavy as hell." Cindra said with irritation.
Emora nodded her head. "Just take a bit to warm up. Stretch, do some push-ups, and get ready to spar."
The two siblings shrugged. After warming up and getting a good sweat from the weighted gear, Emora told them to begin sparing. The two siblings were rusty, but still showed signs of knowing how to fight properly. With the weighted clothing, the movements were slower but needed more strength to perform. Emora watched as the two fought, hand to hand, one-on-one.
Cindra grabbed ahold of Cinder's arm and threw him to the ground. The downed Commander rolled onto his feet and charged back at his sister. He threw and missed a single punch, then packed up to block a hit he was anticipating. He whipped his arm forward, attempting to hit Cindra in the temple. She blocked the hit with her forearm, colliding with his.
"Ooh!" Emora grinned.
"You want some, Emora?" Cinder teased.
"Ha! You two wouldn't stand a chance." The Warden taunted.
"Don't let your guard down, brother!" Cindra laughed as she clocked Cinder on the side of the head with her fist. The Commander fell to the ground, groaning.
"Damn, did I hit you too hard little brother?" Cindra laughed. Emora was in the background with her arms crossed, smiling.
Cinder slowly got back onto his feet, he rubbed the side of his head cracked his jaw. "Tsk! As if!"
The Commander took a battle stance, as did Cindra. The two charged forward at each other. They both flailed and whipped their arms out at each other, blocking, dodging, deflecting, sidestepping, dashing, and parrying one another.
Cinder's knuckle collided with Cindra's, the brother took advantage and struck his sister in the shoulder, causing her to flinch and drop her guard.
"Ooh!"
Cinder lifted his leg in a round-house kick that struck Cindra directly. She gut out with saliva as she fell onto her side.
"Cgh...A kick?! Where the hell did that come from!?" She exclaimed.
"We have other weapons besides our fists, sister." Cinder chuckled.
"Of course..." She responded as she got onto her back.
Cindra performed a kick-up, shocking her brother. She jumped up into the air, her right leg soaring through the sky with stunning speed. She jump-kicked her brother in the stomach, causing him to stagger back, holding his gut.
"Aw—Fuck! Cuah!" The Commander coughed up a bit of spit, he wiped his mouth as he slowly recovered. "Goddamn...Take it easy."
Emora stepped up, her arms still folded. She was grinning, her hazel eyes shining.
"Emora...You want to try us now?" Cinder turned to the Warden, smiling.
"We're kind of warmed up. I think we can take her." Cindra said boastfully.
Emora shrugged, a smug grin on her face. "Alright...Fine! Try and hit me."
Both Commanders rushed forward. Cindra came first with a right hook that fell right into Emora's palm. The Warden caught her fist and threw it away.
Cinder rushed forward, attempting to tackle the Warden. Emora shoved Cindra into her brother, causing them to crash into each other and stumble everywhere.
"Gha! Come here!"
Cinder lunged upwards, his fist heading towards Emora's jaw. She moved her head aside, easily dodging it. She punished the failed attempt by sweeping the Commander off of his legs and sending him to the ground. As Emora turned around, a fist was hurdling towards her.
She swiftly stepped aside from Cindra's attack. She grabbed her arm and tugged back with immense strength.
"AAH—OUH!"
Cindra fell fast-first into the dirt, both siblings on the ground, down for the count. With grunts of exhaustion and subtle but irritating pain, they stood back up, grinning at each other.
"COMBINED ATTACK!" They yelled out at once.
They sprinted forward in perfect synch, their fists ready to strike down the Warden. Emora closed her eyes, her face with a wide, open-teeth smile. She extended her arms outwards, in both directions of the siblings.
"What the—"
"Huh?!"
With shocked gasps, both Commanders' found their fists tightly caught in Emora's gauntlets.
Rose and Daisy stood up gasping, both of them watching closely.
With stupendous strength and extreme precision, Emora pulled both of them inwards. Cindra and Cinder collided, their heads banging together. Both of them cried out in pain as they fell to their knees.
"It's all over!"
Emora crouched down and looked at the two Commanders. She chuckled as she placed her forearms on their throats, and spiked them back. Cindra and Cinder both fell back, panting for breath.
"Not bad! I panicked a bit when you both rushed. Let's keep going—"
Suddenly, the noise in the Fortress rose in the courtyard. The voices of the wall guards could be heard yelling, and the sound of the large gate being opened rang through the entire base.
"They're back!" Cinder cheered as he stood up, rubbing his head.
"Emora, let's go!" Cindra urged, fanning herself with her hand.
"They're back! They're back!" Rose and Daisy took off, out of the training yard and towards the courtyard, Cinder and Cindra both ripping off their armor and running after them.
"Yes! Finally...It's time!"
Emora took off with a powerful sprint towards the courtyard, her footsteps fast and rapid.
A few minutes later...
Emora's heart became filled with happiness as she immediately recognized the faces of the warriors that were walking through the door. Almost all of the people in Fort Diamond were out in the courtyard, cheering and howling for the return of the Heroes.
Emora smiled as she jogged behind Cindra and Cinder, who trying to get over to their father, who was waiting at the end of the courtyard, holding small golden medals.
The Heroes reached Cinderus and his guards. Cindra and Cinder stood on either side of their father.
Alban was leading the pack, Katsue walking next to him. Cyrus, Elea, and Apollo were all laughing with and high-fiving the villagers and workers of the Fortress.
Once they reached Cinderus, they were all asked to bow down. They fell onto one-knee, kneeling down in respect to their General.
"I'm very, very proud of you. All...Of you. Because of your efforts and sacrifices, we were able to stop the vicious attacks of the Elio Legion that were occurring all over Ashfeld, as well as put an end to the savage, feared, and destructive forces of the Warborn. We avenged every single one of the people that died in the attack on Fort Sapphire and all the victims of the Elio Legion-Warborn Alliance. Our enemy and rival Legion was once again put in their place, and are now enemies of Valkenheim. The Azure Legion will continue to prosper because of your efforts, brave and valiant warriors, and for that, we thank you!" Cinderus announced.
The people of Fort Diamond all cheered and clapped. The Heroes were humble, and only politely bowed and waved back. Excluding Elea, Cyrus, and Apollo, who all whooped and bellowed their own names in chants. The crowd reflected the chants, and the names of the three Heroes were loud in Fortress.
Alban shook his head and laughed. Katsue rolled her eyes, she had her arms crossed, trying not to laugh at the stupid-looking dance that Cyrus was doing.
"Xaltar Timuis, step forward," Cinderus said aloud once the crowd was silenced. The Lawbringer stepped forward and bowed once he was handed a golden medallion.
"Mayako Raju, step forward." Cinderus continued as the Orochi from Cyrus' team stepped forward, and was awarded her medallion.
The General continued, Cinder and Cyrus smiling and silently greeting every single one of the Heroes as they came up.
"Cyrus Isola."
"Elea Dormor."
"Apollo Stone."
"Alban Saldivar."
Cinderus held the final medal. He looked up and frowned.
"Emora Ryon...Come forward."
The Warden stepped out from the crowd, an embarrassed and shameful look on her face. All of the Heroes behind her were looking at her with small smiles, but a hint of worry could be seen on their faces.
"Emora..." Cinderus said slowly.
The Warden's heart picked up its pace. She swallowed deeply and slowly opened her mouth.
"Y-Yes...?"
The General glared at Emora, his deep silver eyes boring into her soul with harsh, unrelenting disappointment.
"Why should I give you this medallion, Emora? Don't think I haven't become aware of your...Early return to base. I was quite confused as to why some of the furniture in my Conference room was missing."
Murmurs of confusion could be heard from the crowd and the group of Heroes. Emora shut her eyes tightly and looked at the floor. Her face reddened with self-hate.
"I-I'm sorry, my lord! I take full responsibility...I apologize dearly...Please, sir...Forgive me for my foolish, idiotic actions...I beg of you..."
Cinderus shook his head. "That's not what I'm disappointed by, Emora. I'm disappointed at the fact that you abandoned your fellow Heroes, and let them attack the Kingdom of Magna on their own, without their leader. We're honestly lucky that most of them returned alive. Those who died should've been avenged to the fullest. You needed to be there, you lost your sense of respect and honor...And left the rest of these brave men and women to do the job for you."
The General's words struck the Emora's delicate heart with unforgiving power. Tears began well up behind her closed eyelids, slowly beginning to seep out from underneath.
"You don't deserve this medal. You returned here to search for another member who had decided to abandon the Azure Legion. You didn't have to chase after them the way you did. Your reasoning for treason isn't even a worthy one. Emora, I expected more from someone like you. From now on, you're no longer part of the Fort Diamond's Conference Board."
Emora opened her eyes with a small gasp; her eyes released the tears that were waiting to come out. They trickled down her red cheeks as she looked up at Cinderus with quivering lips.
"I...I..."
The Warden put her head down and nodded slowly, her hands at her sides.
"I understand...S-Sir..." She finished.
"WAIT!"
A voice came from behind the Warden. Emora turned around a surprised look on her crying face.
"I'm telling you politely sir...Ryon does deserve this medal." Alban said firmly.
More of the Warden's fellow Heroes stepped up alongside him.
"I agree with him. Lord Ryon deserves this medal more than all of us, sir. She's our leader, and she's the one who led us through everything in order to even reach the Kingdom of Magna in the first place." Katsue said sternly.
"I do too. Her leadership helped her own team and my team get past obstacles we couldn't handle ourselves. She's the reason we were able to defeat Einar's forces and bring down the Warborn." Elea said as she clutched her fist.
"Absolutely. Sir, Emora was there when all of us couldn't do anything to fight. Whether we were injured, scared, terrified, or simply...unable to move and defend ourselves...She was there to protect us. She was there to do the job we could've done ourselves. She helped us, she defended us, and she was the one to complete the key aspects of every mission." Apollo nodded his head, his gaze resting directly on Cinderus.
"It's true! She was always the Hero to finish the job. Every single time, she was the last one standing on her entire team. We all watched her take out the objective all by herself, without our help. All of our dumbasses just sat there and watched her, feeling useless. We don't deserve these things sir, but Emora? She does. She's our leader, she was our inspiration."
The rest of the Heroes stepped forward, knowing that the Warden's qualities and pure heart were things to admire. Xaltar and Mayako stood side by side with their arms crossed on either side of Alban, along with the other Heroes.
"So...Your actions out on the battlefield make up for your treason?" Cinderus asked.
Emora stayed silent as her friends stood forward.
"They do, sir. Back near the start of our mission, on our mission to take out Gunnvor...He almost escaped us. I had failed to capture him...And so had Hakushi and Katsue. He was about to make his getaway on a boat, and we almost didn't make it if it wasn't for Emora. She leaped onto his boat and took the fight into the frozen lake! She nearly drowned, sir. If it wasn't for her, Gunnvor would've escaped, delivered his plan, and the Warborn would've ravaged Ashfeld." Alban brought up.
Cinderus looked at Emora, his eyes wide with shock.
"Not only that General! When we attacked Caldurn...The Warlord, she saved us ALL! We were unable to fight him...All of us, all of our attacks, all of our forces combined, and we couldn't beat him. We were all too injured to fight, and I'll let you guess who saved all of our asses, sir. We watched as Emora single-handedly defeated Caldurn, and won the entire battle for us." Elea said respectfully.
"Even on the Outpost Gate, Emora stood out, General. Sir...I'll admit...We were weak during the fight against Mildred Azouf. Everyone was occupied taking care of each other, Alban was injured, and I was...Completely out of it for a reason I would like to keep private. We were all hopeless, weak, angry, scared, and desperate for help. We felt useless, and miserable during that fight. But as if we weren't the ones in need, Emora was the one crying at the end of it."
"What do you mean?" Cinderus asked.
"She felt what we felt. I'm telling you sir; she deserves every ounce of credit for this mission. All of us simply accompanied her and supported her when she needed it. We lent her our emotions, and it fueled her with a fury we've never seen from her, EVER. Her strength was the strength that got us through that Outpost, and allowed out armies to enter Valkenheim to assist us in taking down Einar." Cyrus grinned.
"We were determined, brave, courageous, and strong enough to take down the Warborn because of her, General. All throughout that fight, we were thinking of her and making it back home alive. Her words echoed in our heads, her words of encouragement and care. And sir...I would like to respectfully say...That the cause for Emora returning her early is very...Very important to her." Alban protested.
"Hakushi is very important to Emora, father. That's why she returned early. She wanted to prevent her from leaving." Cinder said sternly.
"Their bond is very strong, and Emora didn't want to lose it. She desperately tried to prevent Hakushi from abandoning her team, and she definitely would've stopped her from leaving the Azure Legion as well." Cindra said calmly.
Cinderus was staring at Emora, the medal in his palm.
"Emora Ryon. Is all of this true? Did you really, honestly lead your team to the ultimate victory? Were you the leader that they deserved?" He asked.
Emora had her head down. She was sobbing quietly, it was almost completely silent. She wiped her tears from her eyes and looked up at Cinderus.
"I...I don't know. I did the best I could...Everything I did...I did it for their well-being. I tried my best to be the best leader...I don't even see myself as a leader! It's their choice to decide whether I was good enough for them..." Emora cried.
Cinderus' stern face slowly turned into a smile.
"That's what I was looking for. If you had been arrogant and prideful and responded to my question by completely stating that you were the reason these Heroes achieved their goal, I would've thrown his medallion away, and kicked you off of the Conference Board. But as I expected, you were humble and pure with your answer. I'm starting to see more of this 'golden heart' that you possess, Ryon."
The crowd cheered as Cinderus handed the medallion to the Warden, who slowly took it from him, and fell onto all fours, crying heavily.
Her friends crowded her, comforting and helping her calm down.
"Did we take it too far, Emora?" Cyrus laughed.
"We're sorry!" Katsue giggled.
Emora shook her head, wiping tears from her red face. "You guys are too much...I don't deserve all of this praise...You could've been fine without me...I'm no one to look up too!"
"Don't say that, Emora. Don't believe that for a single second. We're all honored to be so close to you. The entirety of Fort Diamond is happy to have you among them. You're a blessing, Emora. You're our blessing."
The Warden couldn't speak. The put her head down and sobbed loudly, Cinderus and his two children watching with smiles on their faces.
"She's really something...Ain't she?" Cindra laughed.
"I always knew she was special." Cinder said smiled.
"She's a peculiar one. From what I've seen of our dangerous and war-torn world...There aren't many people like her. There are limits to a human's purity. But apparently...There are exceptions in the universe's rule for mortals. Those with good hearts are the ones that suffer the most in a world like this. It's not safe."
Cinder and Cindra frowned, knowing their father was right once again.
"But...She has people who help her. She's strong with them. They all love her and support her. She can make it through this world." Cinder closed his eyes and smirked.
"Indeed. I doubt her way of thinking will ever change. Her perspective of the world is different than ours, and her effect on people is...Confusing. She changes them...She brings out their softer side. The true nature of humanity and the beauty of her morals is what makes her such a magical person. Emora is truly one to cherish. Who knows what one would have to do in order to make her say she doesn't care." Cinderus said with arms crossed.
Cindra and Cinder exchanged worried looks. They turned back to Emora, who was finally standing, her eyes bloated; the look on her face was soft and gentle.
"Damn. How could Airi leave someone like her...?" Cinder whispered.
"We don't know if she wanted to. Maybe she's suffering because of it." Cindra whispered back.
The Commander nodded his head. "I don't doubt it."
A few hours later...
The people Fort Diamond enjoyed a packed festival in celebration of the Warborn's defeat, all of the people socializing, eating, drinking, and dancing. Cinderus sat at a table with Cinder and Cindra, discussing future plans for the Fortress.
Emora, Cyrus, Apollo, Elea, Katsue, and Alban all sat a large table, sharing drinks and laughing at stupid jokes.
"I'm being serious though, it was great. I went out there wearing only my underwear, and I jumped into the snow. It was hella cold! I felt like my balls were about to fall off." Cyrus shook his head.
"You're a fucking idiot, you know that?" Apollo laughed.
"Pfft, tell me something I don't know!" The golden Warden replied.
"Quick maths," Apollo smirked.
"Hey, fuck you pal. I can count to fifteen alright? I just...Need more freakin' fingers." Cyrus scoffed. The entire table burst out laughing, Elea almost spitting out her drink as she would usually do.
Emora took a sip from her cup of rum and looked out to the rest of the plaza, where she spotted two townsfolk standing underneath a market stand, kissing discretely in its shadows. Both of them were women, one with blonde hair tied in a ponytail, the other with loose black hair.
The Warden became jealous. She didn't even know who the girls were, but she felt anger boiling up from deep inside her. Thoughts of Airi flooded her mind and left her paralyzed. She snapped out of it when someone put their hand on her shoulder.
"I didn't think you were the type of person to stare at other people kissin', Emora." Elea teased.
"Pretty damn hot." Cyrus snickered as he looked at the two women go at it.
"Cyrus! You're such a dumbass!" Katsue slapped the Golden Warden, who only laughed and winked.
"I'm just playing, calm down. Emora, you alright?" Cyrus asked.
The Warden sighed. "I'm fine. I just...It reminded me of Airi. But...It also reminded me of what I want to do. Guys...She isn't here at Fort Diamond...Obviously. She...She's gone."
"Do you know where she could be?" Alban concerned.
"Yes...I do. I fainted when I found out. Just...Read it..." Emora muttered as she gave Alban the note Airi had written. His face turned from calm to shocked as he read.
"Well? What did it say?" Elea asked.
"She left...She left the Azure Legion. She's...She's returning to the Myre to marry the son of another clan in order to unite her clan with his. She's staying there forever...She wants to move on..." Alban said quietly.
"Holy shit...It's true..." Apollo shook his head in disbelief as he passed the letter to Katsue.
Emora was nodding her head, on the verge of tears.
"But...She still loves you, Emora. It makes no sense...She wants to move on...She's going to marry someone she doesn't truly want...Just to please the two most powerful clans of the Myre? She should be able to do what she wants!" Katsue shouted.
"It was her choice...Her decision. She wants to go through with it...Even though she doesn't even know the guy she's marrying. She just wants to move on...Or at least try to. But...But I know for a fact that I can't move on! I won't let her go! I can't...I wouldn't be able to be truly happy without her! Guys...I...I want to..."
The Warden's friends looked at her in anticipation of her next words.
"I want to go after her...I want to tell her everything! I want to make things right, I want to tell her I'm sorry, I want to tell her that I want her, that I need her! I want to let her know that we've all forgiven her, that I've forgiven her! She's wrong about herself...She's confused! I want to tell her...Once more, that I love her! And if she doesn't love me...If she rejects me...Then I just want one more...Single kiss...To remember her by..." Emora cried out. She was standing up, and she hadn't even realized it.
"Emora, she does love you. She just wants to try and move on. She wants you to move on as well, but as you've shown us, you can't. Emora...We'll help you." Alban said firmly.
"For sure. We'll go into the Myre and find her so you can tell her how you feel. We know how important she is to you...So we'll come with you." Elea said warmly.
"A rescue mission almost...I'm in. We all want to help you be happy, Emora! Airi is the love of your life, and I know for a fact you won't rest until you get some leverage with her. Trust me, after what you're gonna say to her, she'll be falling all over you!" Cyrus said with enthusiasm and hype.
"But...What about the clans...And her parents? What's gonna happen with that?" Katsue asked. "They're going to be angry at us for trespassing and attacking their clans just to get to their future Empress. Airi is basically royalty now. And they don't know she's in love with you either."
Emora clutched her fist with power. "I'll do whatever it takes. I'll fight my way through their forces if I have to! I have to get to her...I just want to hold her one more goddamn time! I'm not expecting her to want to come back with me...I just...I just want her to know how strongly I feel about her."
The Heroes all nodded. "We understand, Emora. What's our plan?" Apollo said firmly.
Emora took a deep breath and signaled for everyone to stand. She walked over to Cinder's table and leaned forward on it.
"Cinder. I'm here to tell you that plan I was talking about." The Warden said sternly.
Cinder and Cindra nodded their heads. "Our father would like to hear as well."
Cinderus sat silently, his hands together with patience. "When you're ready, Ryon."
Emora bowed in respect. "I...I want to go after Airi. Into the Myre, and into the territory of the Urutora and Seinaru Clans. I need to get to her...It means the whole world to me."
Cinderus' eyes widened.
"No! Those two clans are the most powerful clans in the entirety of the Myre! It'll start a war between them and the Azure Legion, and we don't want that! We don't need another war!" The General shouted.
"We don't need to let them know it's the Azure Legion, sir! My allies and I want to do this for our own cause...We'll wear colorless robes...All black, signaling that we're rogues! We'll be completely separate from the Azure Legion, and keep everything in Ashfeld completely safe. Cinderus, please...I need to do this...I need to!"
The General was shaking his head. "I don't get it...Why? Just tell me, why?"
Emora paused; her eyes darted around, looking at Cinderus' questioning face.
"B-Because...Hakushi...A-Airi Hakushi..." The Warden began.
"What about her?!" Cinderus yelled.
Emora flinched, but she took a deep breath and made eye contact with Cinderus.
"I love her."
The General went silent. He looked at his two children, who were nodding.
"You're doing this...For love?"
Emora nodded. "It's for my own sake. If I don't do it...I'll live in misery for the rest of my life. A person can do crazy things for love...This is one of them. It's a suicide mission...But I'm willing to do it."
"So am I." Apollo huffed.
"Same here." Cyrus crossed his arms.
"As am I." Alban nodded.
"I am too," Elea grunted.
"Make it five." Katsue frowned.
"All of you...?" Cinderus asked.
"I'm willing to do it too, father. Emora is very important to all of us, and I've been friends with her for a very long time. She's a beautiful person, who doesn't know much about love. But now that she has someone she truly loves and wants to have one last chance with...I'm going to help her with it." Cinder said sternly.
"I'm want to go too. I know how Emora feels...About what a person can go through for the person they care about. A connection like that is deep and down to its core...Unbreakable. A bond will always be there...And is rarely lost. But now...It's about to be lost, and I'm not letting that happen to someone like Emora." Cindra looked at her father with a serious expression.
The General was looking at all of the Heroes in shock.
"I...All of you...Just to go save one person...Who might not even want to come back to us?"
"I merely want to see her again...But she's about to become an empress...They won't let me come in peace...I know it. They're Samurai...They're serious about this type of thing. But...I don't care. I need to see her again. I want to try. I want to try and get her back...At least try to..." Emora urged.
The General shook his head.
"All of you fine Heroes...And my two children...Going on this independent mission into the Myre? For a cause so...Strange and...Hard to understand?"
Emora leaned forward.
"If only you knew what I'm feeling. Sir...General Cinderus...I need her. She means everything to me. I want...Nothing...More..." Emora said slowly.
Cinderus closed his eyes. He sighed and rubbed his eyes.
"This is your choice. All of your choices. It is not my, nor the Azure Legion's fault...If something happens to any of you out there. My children...Are you sure you want to do this?" The General asked his offspring.
"I'm sure, father." Cinder nodded.
"Thank you, father. I'm sure as well." Cindra smiled.
"Very well. You must notify me when you all take your leave. Take your time in preparation."
Emora stood up tall and bowed. "Thank so much sir! Thank you! Thank you!"
"Just be warned, young ones."
The Heroes nodded, paying close attention.
"The Samurai are relentless. Their battle techniques are like none other. Faster, cleaner, more agile fighters. They'll be dangerous enemies." Cinderus warned.
Emora nodded her head. "It'll be taken into account. Thank you again, sir."
And with that, the Heroes went off to begin their resting, and in preparation for the rescue mission. They all began to train, getting conditioned for the terrain and enemies in the Myre. Any wounds they had were treated and almost fully healed. Their robes were dyed fully black, and their armor shined silver.
Within three days, the group of Heroes was ready to depart towards the Myre.
"You're leaving again?!" Rose cried.
"You just got back!" Daisy wailed.
"I know...I know. But...It's important. Really...Really important." Emora said softly.
The two girls hugged Emora tightly; they reached up and repeatedly kissed the Warden's neck and cheeks.
"We'll miss you..." Rose said quietly.
"Be careful...Okay?!" Daisy yelled.
Emora nodded. "I will. Don't worry. Take care you two."
The Warden walked out of Arun Steel's old house, which now fully belonged to Rose and Daisy. She walked out onto the courtyard, where her other allies were waiting.
"You ready for this, Cinder, Cindra?" Emora asked.
"We both are. That training really helped us get back into shape, and into the fighting groove. The question is...Are you ready, Emora?" Cinder answered, his sister placing her longsword onto her back.
The Warden sighed and nodded her head. "I sure hope so."
The Heroes all mounted their horses and looked back at Cinderus and his guards, who were setting them loose. A small crowd of people had gathered, confused as to why their Heroes were leaving again.
"Good luck on your mission, Heroes. Take extreme caution, and do your best to return back home." Cinderus said loudly.
"We will, thank you, sir!" Emora nodded.
"Very well. Until we meet again!"
With that final farewell, the Heroes all took off on their horses. Emora could hear as the gate closed behind her, and her horse picked up speed. She led the way onto the trail that led into the Myre.
"Alright. I'm coming, Airi...Please...Please be okay."
In the Myre...
Hakushi sat across from Daigo Kaneko, her future husband. He was a handsome, young fellow. His black hair was shiny and smooth to the touch. His deep brown eyes were always clear, his well-toned face and perfectly chiseled jawline and nose made him quite attractive. His voice was silky and gentle, but deep and powerful when it needed to be. But even with these stunning physical qualities, Hakushi knew nothing of his personality, and of the type of person he was.
The two drank tea in silence, occasionally looking at each other and smiling.
"You are so beautiful, my dear Airi. I'm happy to be taking your hand in marriage. Tell me, what took you so long to return to your family? What was there in Ashfeld that kept you from returning to the beauty of the Myre?" Daigo asked.
The Nobushi sighed. "It was nice over there. The people were nice...The views were nice...Everything was just...Really calm and simple. There wasn't much to worry about...And I wasn't on missions, I...I had someone to be with. I enjoyed them a lot...I miss them."
Daigo nodded his head. "Ah, I see. Your way of speech has changed. It is much...Smoother, and quicker. A trait of the Knights, I suppose?"
Airi nodded her head.
"I understand. Oh, and I'm dearly sorry about the person you so dearly miss. I'm sure they're doing fine now, wherever they are. You mustn't worry, for once our two clans are united by our marriage; you can visit!" Daigo said with a smile.
"I...I don't want to. I'm trying to move on from them..." Hakushi murmured.
Kaneko raised his eyebrow. "Why? Did they treat you badly? Do you not like them?"
Airi began to get tense.
"N-No! I love—I MEAN! Fuck! No I-it's not that! I'm...I'm..." The Nobushi was stuttering profoundly, her flustered movements nearly made her spill her tea.
"Are you okay, my love?" Daigo asked.
Airi's heart sparked with rage, but she managed to control herself.
"Y-YES! I'M FINE! DAIGO...I NEED TO GO! I'M SORRY!"
With those panicked words, she abruptly stood up and sprinted towards her quarters, leaving Daigo sitting alone, confused and silent.
Airi ran to her room and slid open the door. She nearly pulled it out, not yet used to the different structures of her people back in the Myre. She took out all of the jewelry that littered her hair and cleaned off the paint on her face. She removed earrings, rings, necklaces, and bracelets. She untied her hair fully and let it run loose. She panted as she leaned up close to her mirror, staring deeply at her reflection.
"He called me his love...No...I can't do this!"
The Nobushi put her head down; she shut her eyes tightly, trying not to think of anything.
"This is so hard...Too hard! I can't...I don't want too! I have too...It's my destiny...My job as the daughter of Atsuto Hakushi! I am the Empress of the soon-to-be SaikyōClan! I am...I am!"
Airi looked herself in the mirror and realized she was crying. She let out a pitiful sob as she shook her head and leaned against the mirror.
"No, I'm not! I'm not! I'm Airi...Plain, old Airi..."
The Nobushi took one more look at herself in the mirror.
"Daigo won't help me when I'm like this...He won't think I'm beautiful without all of this...Stupid jewelry and makeup...Only one person thinks I'm beautiful without all of this shit! Only one person would help me when I cry...Only one person truly loves me..."
Airi slowly fell to her knees. She put her head down as she fell onto all fours, crying.
"Emora...Where...Are you now...?"
Fuck me, man, it takes hours to come up with this dramatic crap. Hey, I still like writing it though! I mean what can I say...I'm cheesy.
