Rain clouds were beginning to gather over Lungmen, courtesy of the city's weather control devices. And as the first droplets began to fall from the sky, a motorcycle was still making its way into the city. The wheels were almost tearing up the asphalt of the highway they were traveling on because of the speed. A highway that was deserted because of the hour it was. Sebastian was looking ahead of him, the map of the city memorized in his head to get to his destination, and Ifrit to avoid the air and the drops of water in her eyes, had closed them, and she was clinging with all her strength to the giant, the fear of falling seizing her as much as the one of dying because of the speed...
The good giant pulled a hand away from a handle on the bike, trusting his balance to grab his phone, immediately calling Kal'tsit who picked up in a second.
Kal'tsit: Doc what's going on? Why is there so much trouble in town?
Sebastian: Rhine did a Loken Watertank! I got one of their test subjects and they're after me and the kid! Don't trust anyone from them and don't let them anywhere near RI!
Kal'tsit: The kid, is she okay?
Sebastian: She'll be fine... Go get the Rhine members from our house, offer them to leave or stay. And go to my office, there's a number on a post-it note on the computer screen, call it and just tell it to prepare for the worst.
Kal'tsit: Got it. Anything else?
Sebastian: I'll do my own thing, I'll be back. Don't call me now, they might start bugging our lines.
Kal'tsit: I know...
Sebastian: And Kal?
Kal'tsit: Hm?
Sebastian: Stay all safe on your end. You too. They might send assassins for you or Amiya...
Kal'tsit: I have Gravel and Mont3r with me, Red is with Amiya, so we will both be safe.
There was a silence for a second.
Kal'tsit: Thanks for your concern.
Ifrit: No one ever told you not to use your phone while driving! Could you not call your wife now?!
Sebastian: She's not my wife! Bye Kal.
Kal'tsit: B-bye.
He said as he hung up the phone and gritted his teeth.
The giant was deep in his own mind, until he heard cars approaching. Curious he looked behind him, to see that four cars were approaching quickly...
The same model... All black... Tinted windows... As they got even closer to the bike, Sebastian could clearly hear the sound of automatic crossbows being reloaded. He sighed.
Sebastian: Hold on tight! It's going to be a bumpy ride in no time!
Ifrit: I'm already fucking holding on! *cough* I have a mosquito in my mouth!
Sebastian: Then shut up!
The cars came even closer, one passed the giant to stand in front of him, another one stood behind him, and more cars did the same thing on each side.
He waited a second more, and when the windows of the cars lowered, Sebastian with a sudden movement grabbed the girl and jumped off the bike. The vehicle on which the man and the girl were standing less than a second ago rolled under the wheels of the car behind, causing it to hit one of the cars on the side, and then generating an accident with the other cars, the pile-up destroying absolutely all the cars. As the giant gracefully lowered the girl to the ground in his arms.
He could see that one of the mercenaries got out of one of the cars although wounded and he raised his crossbow towards both of them in a split second to shoot. The doctor turned with his back to his opponent so that the arrows would hit his back, which he had strengthened by gorging those areas of his body with blood and metal, rather than risking hurting into the girl.
The sarkaz began to walk on her own and when she could see that her enemy's magazine had been emptied into the good doctor's back, she shifted from her meat shield and drew her flame thrower to immediately fire.
The jet of flames flew to the mercenary who was lying down, burning him horribly and making him scream in the same way. A smile came to the girl's lips.
Ifrit: Ah ah! Does it hurt?! I bet it does!
Instinctively, the girl continued to attack, pointing her weapon at the cars to make sure she roasted the people inside.
The giant frowned as he turned around and the cars went up in smoke, the screams of the still living occupants tearing through the air as the girl placed her flamethrower on her shoulder in satisfaction.
Her gaze turned to the giant and she raised an eyebrow.
Ifrit: What? What are you looking at me like that for?
Sebastian: Wasn't that a bit... Excessive...?
Ifrit: Pfft. I don't give a shit. Do you think I should feel bad about slaughtering all these assholes after everything they've done to me?
The good doctor might point out that she didn't feel empathy after slaughtering a bunch of people in a horrible way, but he remembered that she was a sarkaz, and that one of their properties as a race of ancients was not to feel emotion with murder...
And it would be the hospital mocking the charity if the good doctor pointed out someone else's psychological problems...
So the giant sighed and began to pinch the girl's ear.
Ifrit: Ouch, ouch, ouch! Stop it, it hurts!
Sebastian: Watch your language kid! I don't want to hear you talking like that in front of me.
Ifrit: Get the fuck off me!
Sebastian: What did I tell you?
Ifrit: P-pardon! Please let me go!
Sebastian: Well...
Said the man as he let go of the girl who gave him a murderous look.
Sebastian: I hope your mother doesn't hear you saying that kind of thing...
Ifrit: Mommy Saria taught me those anyway...
Said the girl with a defeated tone as the giant started to look further down the highway, seeing many more suspicious cars approaching. He gritted his teeth and took some time to analyze the situation as Ifrit clutched her flamethrower firmly in her hands.
He looked around and could see the city stretching under the highway.
If you could call it the city...
The highway passed over a thin area of the slums without stopping until it reached the other end of the "normal" city.
It was difficult to get in and out of the slums in large numbers or in vehicles as he had learned from the battle of Lungmen. So he smiled, grabbed the girl, and jumped off the highway to the thirty meters below.
The girl couldn't help but scream in pure terror, not daring to look where she was about to crash.
She heard the sound of fabrics being torn and then the concrete fracturing, she reopened her eyes to see that she was under a tent...? A tent, looking around she could see that all around her was a market and the two of them had just burst into the tent of a man selling cheap clothes.
The man in question stared at them as he sat on a stool selling his wares, he had just seen a man literally fall from the sky and strong enough to break concrete.
The giant put the girl in his arms on the floor and reached for his wallet to grab a small wad of LMDs and put it on the merchant's counter.
Sebastian: For the tent, and for the shirt.
He finished his sentence by grabbing a white shirt that the merchant was selling that was in his size before putting it on in two good seconds. He left, beckoning the sarkaz to accompany him through one of the slum markets.
The girl walked back and forth through the market aisles, admiring all the wonders she had seen. From things as simple as street foods, to more exotic items, like the various Sargonian accessories, ursus sword collections, Laterano bullet casings. The good people of the slums, although crushed by the misfortune of terra, seemed to be part of this kind of people who became decent human beings after having known suffering...
A man gave a griffin tooth necklace to the girl completely free of charge with a big smile on his lips, an old woman gave her a bag of Lateranian cookies free once again, simply because she thought the girl was cute.
People had smiles on their lips despite their misery, and this gave one to the giant who walked a few meters away from the girl, not taking his eyes off her for a second for fear of losing her.
It really did put a smile on his face.
This is what he had defended until he literally died?
Well, if he had to do it again, he would do it again without hesitation.
And ironically, no one tried to pick his pocket or steal his wallet unlike in downtown Lungmen.
He watched Ifrit eat her cookies with an amused look.
She may have been walking around with a flame thrower, but for the people of Terra this was not an abnormal thing...
Considering the fact that almost no mobile city in Terra forbade the right to carry any kind of weapon.
If only he had one...
?: Excuse me?
He turned to his left to see a young Kuranta.
She seemed to be holding a stand where nothing had been set up yet and yet she was sitting in a chair... The young woman had fine features, eyes and hair on her ears and tail golden blonde, just like her eyes which had the same color as the sun. She was rather beautiful, but in the same style the heart of the giant had already taken a favorite...
Sebastian: Can I help you?
?: Sorry, I don't speak the language very well.
Sebastian(Kazimierzian): Is that better?
?(Kazimierzian): Oh yes! Much better. Excuse me sir, but I couldn't help noticing that you didn't have a weapon...
Sebastian(Kazimierzian): Aye, unfortunately that's right...
?(Kazimierzian): You shouldn't be walking around without one... The city is dangerous.
The young woman took something from under the counter and put it on the table in front of her.
?(Kazimierzian): Here, take this.
Sebastian looked at the object she had just placed there.
A knife.
A straight, long, thin blade, looking ready to be used as a bayonet...
And yet.
It was old.
Terribly old, probably a few hundred years old, as Sebastian could see, skillfully. But he could also see that the weapon was made with the greatest of mastery, the noblest of materials and was incredibly beautiful. The guard of a metal with a texture made to reinforce the grip was strewn with fine veins of a white crystal and gilding. Just like the blade.
A weapon that seemed to be as effective as it was a work of art.
This object definitely looked like it belonged in a museum...
Or even worth a good billion LMD as it was so wonderful.
And Sebastian would have tried to buy it wherever he saw it so much he admired the work of a god in front of him.
Sebastian(Russian): Lord, Mary, Joseph...
He looked into the eyes of the young woman who had a smile on her lips.
Sebastian(Kazimierzian): How much do you want, madam?
?(Kazimierzian): You can call me Satawli. And it will be free for you.
Sebastian(Kazimierzian): Really?! But this weapon must be extremely valuable...
Satawli(Kazimierzian): No, believe me, it's not that valuable... But I insist, take it, I feel it will be useful to you.
Sebastian(Kazimierzian): Thank you very much miss!
He said while bending forward to take the object and inspect it quickly concluding that it was indeed perfect.
Ifrit: Hey come and see there is a woman who wants to read my destiny!
Sebastian: I'm coming!
He looked at the kuranta and gave her a final gesture of thanks before leaving. Once his back was turned he didn't notice the beautiful smile he received.
But suddenly he felt something brush his neck with the wind at his back, he turned around to see some kind of golden flower petals flying in the air, carried by the wind blowing on the giant's face. And for a little while, he felt that the west wind was calling him...
When he walked towards Ifrit and put the knife on his ankle, he didn't notice that the kuranta had disappeared behind his back... And at the same stand where he had just recovered his knife, an old liberi was putting down a case of liquor that he was going to sell when he noticed golden flower petals on his chair.
Sebastian heard Ifrit being counted by an old Samian woman who was looking into a Crystal ball.
Old woman: I see... That your life will soon take a great turn... That after the pain... Will come joy, carefree life but also new discoveries... Yes, that's it. Trials will follow one another in the near future but when you overcome them, life will give you back a hundredfold...
The young girl looked amazed, although slightly doubtful, she started to have a big smile.
Ifrit: Thank you very much!
The old woman turned her gaze to the giant and looked at him for a second before bursting into laughter.
Old woman: I wouldn't have enough of five lives to predict the future of yours...
Said the elafia with a terrifying look in her eyes, inspiring the feeling that she knew absolutely everything.
Old woman: I could just tell you that this is the hell that awaits you throughout your life...
The giant frowned.
Sebastian: Will this hell pay?
Old woman: For you? Much less than what you have suffered...
Sebastian: It's not me I'm interested in.
Old woman: Maybe? Maybe not... It is difficult to predict for centuries to come...
The giant sighed disappointedly, while the old woman seemed even more amused.
Sebastian: Come on Iffy. Let's go...
Ifrit: Hm... Hey wait, what did you just call me?
Sebastian: Iffy?
Ifrit: Hey who gave you permission to do that?!
Sebastian: Myself. I think it sounds good.
He says and starts to walk away with his hands in his pockets, the girl immediately follows.
Ifrit: The people here are nice...
Sebastian: They have no choice. Helping each other, kindness, is essential for them to survive.
The doctor turned his head to his back, seeming to spot a familiar heartbeat, but not one that looked familiar.
Ifrit: Survive what?
The giant stopped walking and looked at the girl.
Of course...
In a way she had been lucky to grow up in a laboratory.
Not knowing about oripathy, about the infected, about how Terra is just rotten, crushing those who try to live there.
Although he had only been with Rhodes Island for two months, it was already a culture shock for Sebastian, who lived under the oppression of the infected.
Sebastian: Do you see these black crystals on people's bodies and on yours?
Ifrit: Hm...?
Sebastian: This is a sign of a terrible disease. People who have this disease are hated by those who don't have it, in some countries like west of here, the sick are shot on sight or sent to mines to work until they die.
Ifrit: B-but that's horrible...
Sebastian: In this city, the sick are sent to these areas and they have to fend for themselves.
Ifrit: I really have this disease...?
Sebastian: Unfortunately yes. And I'm sorry to tell you this, but you are quite sick in this term... Even if you seem to be in excellent health beyond that...
Ifrit: And you? Are you sick too?
Sebastian: No...
The girl lowered her head and seemed to think.
Ifrit: Then why don't you hate me...?
Sebastian: Because for me there is no difference between the sick and the not sick. When someone has the flu or any other disease, you have to treat them, right? Well I think like that.
Ifrit: Wow... But are you really a doctor?
Sebastian: Yep, where I work there are many people who have this disease but also many like me who don't, and we don't hate each other, instead we all try to find a cure for the disease by going through all of Terra.
He said with a smile, the girl starting to get stars in her eyes for some reason.
Ifrit: Wow! I so want to go there!
Sebastian: *smiles* Nah, first I'll take you to your mom, then we'll see.
He said as he stroked the girl's head reflexively as she walked beside him, the girl smiling as she looked ahead.
Then he withdrew his hand gently, realizing that he had just done that by miracle but the angry character of the sarkaz could well be worth to him sorrow if he treated her like Misha.
Or maybe he should-
Behind!
The giant turned at the last moment, leaping backwards and dodging a knife wound inches from his neck.
The giant and the young girl had moved away from the market and into more deserted streets.
Sebastian without even looking at his opponent tapped his foot against the ground making fly his knife that he caught and Ifrit who remained nevertheless on the foot of war turned as well as a jump back recovering the tube of her flamethrower that she had hooked with the tank.
The giant saw in front of him a Lupo, rather young, redheaded but immediately he recognized her.
Crownslayer...
The vaguely familiar heartbeat he had spotted was her own...
The lupo seemed angry...
Sebastian: What are you doing here reunion...
Crownslayer: Where is Irina!
Said the lupo as if she had teleported, she reappeared right in front of the giant, her knife coming down on Sebastian's. And yes the good doctor parried without too much difficulty noticing how light the blade he had in his hands was... What he didn't notice though was that his blade was intact, but that the lupo's had been slashed. He gave a kick to the young woman who was sent backwards a few meters because of her light weight.
Sebastian: You came just for her...?
Crownslayer: I've been looking for her for hours...! Tell me where she is! And if you do, maybe-
Sebastian: Oh well, if that's what it takes...
He said in a calm tone of voice as he abandoned his fighting posture.
Sebastian: I don't know if she had time to make Chernobog Lungmen in such a short time but if she did she should be at the St. Peregrine Cathedral, they hide the infected there...
Crownslayer: Huh...
Sebastian: What?
Crownslayer: And uh... we don't fight...?
Sebastian: You were ordered to murder me...?
Crownslayer: No but-
Sebastian: Neither do I and I have other things to do so bye.
Said the giant as he turned to the next part of his journey, the girl beside him not sure if she should burn the person in front of her to ashes or follow her protector...
Crownslayer: Wait a fucking minute!
The young lupo as annoyed as embarrassed began to shout while clenching her fists. Sebastian, rather tired of this situation, turned around and sighed.
Sebastian: Well listen, this is how it's going to happen, we're going to fight for thirty minutes like ragmen, you're going to plant me and turn me into a sponge but I'm going to end up smashing your face, so what I propose is simple. We don't fight, I don't have to walk around in a shirt with holes in it and covered in blood, you don't have to walk all the way back to Chernobog with two broken arms and you can go see your girl. Deal?
Crownslayer: But we are soldiers...
Sebastian: If it were up to me I wouldn't fight reunion. And do you really think that mercenaries in kazdel fight all the time when their contracts don't require them to? Because we are not soldiers. We are mercenaries, dogs of war for our cause.
The young woman was not used to rethinking the orders she received. After all it had been so long since she had started fighting for the reunion... She couldn't afford to doubt. She gritted her teeth at the good doctor, aggression never leaving her eyes.
Her mind just couldn't grasp the fact that the doctor who was so aggressive there didn't want to fight...
And her mind made the following calculation. If she had won the last time it was because Patriot was there and she had the advantage of surprise for a brief moment... So if she tried again, the case Sebastian had described was likely to happen again. So slowly she lowered her weapon.
Crownslayer: Do you really intend to continue your way while your enemy is standing in front of you...
Sebastian: Yes. So listen, uh...
Crownslayer: Lyudmila.
Says the lupo instinctively.
Then she widened her eyes, surprising herself by revealing her real name so easily.
Crownslayer: 'What a fucking idiot! Why did you do that!' N-no! My real name is uh... Brigitte...
Ifrit: That's a shitty name.
Says the sarkaz with her heart on her hand and her flamethrower on her shoulders.
Sebastian: Really...?
He asked with a raised eyebrow.
Sebastian: Lyudmila is a beautiful name though... Well. Lyudmila, do you like your job?
His arms were crossed.
Crownslayer: ... What do you mean?
Sebastian: You specialize in murders. So do you like killing?
She lowered her head and seemed to think about it before raising it again.
Crownslayer: Sometimes. When I slaughter the members of the Infected Patrol I feel good. Or when I'm killing the people who are doing the same things to the infected. I feel good. Otherwise, I don't like it.
She couldn't figure out why and yet it was hard to lie to the giant. It was just natural, maybe his physique, or the imperceptible aura of confidence he gave off, but everyone was unconsciously directed to tell him the truth. And that whoever they were.
That included the lupo.
Sebastian: I'm about the same except you can add those fuckers like Mephisto to the list of people I want to kill. So excuse me, but when I can avoid it, I don't kill. Or at least try to.
The giant started to leave, the girl accompanying him, while the lupo remained motionless. Then she raised her weapon pointing it at the doctor.
Crownslayer: The next time we meet on the battlefield nothing will stop me from attacking you.
Sebastian: Except for yourself, no one is stopping you now!
He said as he left and shook his hand to say goodbye.
Ifrit: Who was that...?
Sebastian: A colleague from work... Sort of.
Ifrit: You have weird colleagues...
Sebastian: I know.
He says not very amused. The lupo stood there with her knife in her hand, frozen.
She felt...
Alone. And incredibly not taken seriously...
She lowered her weapon and put it away, before looking at the cathedral in the distance.
Crownslayer: But you never trusted to the Lateranian church, Irina... What did that guy put in your head...
Said the young lupo shaking her head. At least her ability to move almost as fast as Skullshatterer had allowed her to reach Lungmen in only three days... Now she just had to hope that her only friend was here...
Because she wasn't going to look for five thousand years since she had already run away without telling anyone about Chernobog, sooner or later someone would notice her absence.
Strangely enough, this was not how she imagined meeting the good doctor of Rhodes Island again.
Crownslayer: This guy is a total freak... But he sounded sincere when he was talking to the kid... At least Rhodes aren't hypocrites you can add that to them...
The lupo started to walk in the streets of Lungmen, on the other side the giant was walking the girl next to him who seemed to observe with wonder her griffin tooth necklace...
Ifrit: When will we arrive...?
Sebastian: If we walk fast we will be there in a good thirty minutes...
Ifrit: But my legs hurt...
Says the girl with an exasperated moan.
Sebastian: Do you want me to carry you?
She seemed to think for a moment.
Ifrit: Ok...
Without warning the giant grabbed the girl by the collar of her clothes before putting her on his shoulders, as he used to carry Misha. The sarkaz was at first frightened by the height she was sitting on the shoulders of such a big man, but when she could notice that she was well balanced a laughing smile could not help but leave her lips.
Sebastian heard this and smiled.
A few blocks away the lupo was walking with her hands in her pockets, angry at herself for having given up the idea of fighting so easily...
Crownslayer: Next time I'm going to kill that fucking raghead... Plus he smells like lupo... Yeah, I can't do it now... He was with his daughter, right? I can't kill him in front of his own kid-
?: Excuse me?
The lupo gasped when she heard a voice right in front of her. She looked up to see a fallen sankta, looking very strange, wearing two scepters on her back and a rather tall woman at that. She was holding a milkshake in her hand and still had crumbs on the corner of her mouth...
Crownslayer: Can I help you?
?: Do you know where I can find Pei-Ming Street?
Crownslayer: Uh... You go on behind me to the market street, take a left and keep going until you're downtown again... Pei-Ming is where the huge twisted building is...
?: Thanks eh eh... The city has changed quite a bit I'm pretty lost. Thank you very much, have a nice evening!
Said the sankta before leaving immediately.
The lupo turned around but felt something strange and the sankta had disappeared completely, as if by magic. Crownslayer shook her head left and right before continuing on her way.
Crownslayer: They are all strange in this city...
The giant had been walking for twenty minutes with the girl on his shoulders without feeling tired, thanks to his exceptional constitution. Ifrit seemed to be looking at the skyscrapers of the city and Sebastian was looking ahead of him, as he was walking in the middle of a deserted road of the slums. He began to hear engines approaching the two of them from downtown. So fast that a few seconds was all it took for Ifrit to hear the cars as well and for them to be visible at the end of the street.
The giant lowered the girl who took her flame thrower in her hands, already generating a flame at the end of it, Sebastian preparing to fight. What he didn't notice was that on the highway to their right in the sky, more suspicious cars arrived one after the other as a veritable army of mercenaries emerged.
The giant saw this only after the soldiers put their crossbows on the concrete ledges and the casters prepared their incantations.
His eyes widened and in a split second he took the girl in his arms and made an inhuman leap to the nearest alley, making all the gunmen miss. The giant put the sarkaz on the ground, who, although disoriented, pulled herself together and took her flame thrower in her hands and shot its flames across the street at the shooters, preventing them from preparing another volley. Unfortunately for both of them, Rhine's cars arrived just across the alley, so Sebastian kicked a dumpster, sending it waltzing into the cars, and flipping one over, preventing the vehicles from following them.
Ifrit: Get out of the way!
The giant rolled to the side as he felt the heat at his back. The girl lowered her flamethrower to the cars in the driveway not stopping to shoot to make sure she cleaned up everything in the line in front of her.
She put her weapon on her shoulder, a satisfied smile on her face as she saw a wall of flames in front of her.
But after a few seconds, infected hounds leapt through the flame and ran towards the good doctor and his protege.
Sebastian: Run!
He shouted instinctively as the girl started to run into the alleys, the giant started to kill some of the dogs to make sure that they would not focus on ifrit and especially that they would not reach him. But soon, when one of the soldiers shot a fire hydrant, the wall of flames went out and even more dogs, this time accompanied by soldiers, started to run after the doctor and the girl. The giant didn't need a second more to break the neck of the beast that was biting his forearm before running away behind the girl trying to outrun their enemies.
But the good doctor's face quickly changed to even more fear when he could see that the girl took a wrong turn to the right, heading into a dead end alley.
Sebastian: Not that way!
She didn't hear him, maybe because her heart was beating too fast...
But Sebastian followed her, after all he couldn't abandon her.
When Ifrit was literally facing the wall she turned around to see that the crossbowmen had already fired and that multiple grenades had been thrown.
The doctor stood in front of Ifrit, a last desperate hope to protect her, or at least make her survive...
And suddenly,
everything froze.
The time, the flames, the grenades, the beasts and the men. Everything stopped, frozen in time.
At the top of the alley on one of the roofs of the buildings stood a young woman. With her eyes she swept the street, looking carefully at the huge mess this good doctor had gotten himself into...
Sighing, she sat down on the edge of the roof seeming to think.
?: And we cross paths again and again...
She took a moment to look at the panicked face of the man below who just seemed to want to protect a child.
?: Is it fate that connects us every time?
The fallen sankta placed one of her hands on the white key and slowly began to fall with the speed of a feather through the air, landing right in front of the giant. She circled around, zigzagging between the projectiles that were in the air so she could look him straight in the eye. The fallen sankta still seemed to hesitate. She never wanted to stay in one place, never wanted to see the people she left behind.
A simple way of thinking.
Never get attached to someone so she would never hurt or be hurt when she parted with them.
To feel that connection with someone...
Compared to the constant need she had to travel, to see the world and discover each of its wonders, the need to be attached to someone in comparison seemed more pleasant to abandon.
Mostima told herself that she simply had no need for social ties. That she had no reason not to have, just as she had no reason to have.
But...
But she knew that for the man in front of her it was just the opposite. In a short time she had managed to find out about him back in Kazdel during the time she had stayed in the demon realm preparing to return to Laterano. The murder of Lemuen despite the reasons Mostima had was still a horrible crime between sankta and earned her a good reason to be pursued to her death by her dear probation officer...
But also to lose the connection and to be stared at by all the other sankta around...
Yes this man in front of her unlike the fallen one had a constant need to be with someone. Loneliness frightened him and will always frighten him more than the worst death. He simply didn't see the point of having existed in the first place if he had no one to kill or no one to protect or no one to simply talk to. And his greatest fear was also his greatest shame, for he found it hard to admit that he anguished like a little girl when he was alone in a room for too long...
Two opposites...
But yet Mostima couldn't bring herself to just leave him there.
He would most certainly suffer, but she knew that this suffering would be nothing compared to the immense sadness that the death of the girl he was trying to protect there would cause him.
She told herself that she could just leave him behind, as she had done so many times, but now her heart was screaming at her mind that she could not.
For her maybe ten minutes had passed, while nothing had changed around her. She stared again at the giant, who was staring straight at her.
Her thin demon tail moved to the doctor's face to brush his chin, and gently lifted his head slightly so that Sebastian's gaze was even more focused on her, his emerald eyes following with the movement of his head to not leave Mostima's blue eyes.
The doctor could move fast, much faster than biology would ever allow, but his eyes moved even faster, and that's how a weakness appeared on the sankta's power.
She wasn't stopping time.
She was slowing it down.
Of course she did it with such power that no one could escape. No one but one person in all of Terra...
The young woman's internal dilemma continued for a few moments before she sighed.
Mostima: How do you always get others to help you...
She returned to the giant's back and slowly taking all the time in the world she began to push the grenades redirecting them to the throwers, and she did the same for the crossbow bolts, turning them in the air with her fingers carefully.
The young woman turned to the giant with her back to Rhine's enemies before placing her hand on the black lock this time.
Time instantly resumed its course.
The crossbow bolts stuck in the dogs, as in the skulls of their shooters, the grenades exploded in the middle of the enemy troops sweeping them away with disconcerting ease.
Sebastian turned around as quickly as he could and thus faced the series of explosions coming from the grenades but especially a young woman who was smiling at him, her hair swept by the shockwave of the explosives.
Mostima: It's been a long time eh...
The giant looked her in the eyes for a few seconds.
Sebastian: ... Who are you?
...
...
Immediately the face of the sankta decomposed, Ifrit behind the giant hitting her face with both palms.
Mostima: Please tell me that you are messing around Seb...
She said almost desperately.
Sebastian: S-sorry ma'am I don't seem to know you very well... actually I have amnesia and my most recent memory is from two months ago... The first time I seem to have seen you was here in Lungmen three days ago.
The young woman took a deep breath.
Mostima: Great. Just great.
She said, incredibly disappointed by what she heard.
Mostima: My name is Mostima... We met in Kazdel a while ago... I made a big mistake, you saved me and helped me a lot...
Sebastian: Oh well then, I'm very sorry that I don't remember you...
Mostima: It's okay if you have amnesia... I guess.
Sebastian: Thank you for helping me Mostima, it was a rather delicate situation I was in.
All the embarrassment of his condition had disappeared and now the good doctor was standing straight, his usual aura radiating.
Mostima: I saw that. I have to go...
Without a second thought and in great disappointment the young woman started to walk away with her hands in her pockets.
But once he had glanced at Ifrit to make sure she was okay Sebastian turned back to the sankta remembering one thing.
Sebastian: Hey!
She looked away from the giant.
Sebastian: I have a message from Exusiai.
Her blue eyes opened a little wider showing her interest involuntarily.
Sebastian: She wanted to tell you that she has never forgotten you.
Mostima was startled.
Of course she told herself that she shouldn't get attached to anyone else, nor should she let anyone get attached to her.
But that was easier said than done. Especially when she had tried to leave such a past behind her...
The young woman lowered her head and seemed to think. Grabbing her hair in annoyance.
Sebastian: I don't know what connects the two of you, but I do know that Exia is suffering a lot because of you. I don't know if it's because she misses you or if it's because she hates you, but the fact is, I can't leave her like this.
Mostima turned back to the doctor. Her gaze no longer contained the kind of kindness that was written on her features.
Mostima: And who is Exusiai to you?
Sebastian: Exia- No. Lemuel is a person close enough to me that it hurts and makes me want to go crack skulls when she locks herself in her room all day to cry when she hears rumors about a fallen sankta with blue hair.
Mostima widened her eyes again. Few people actually knew the sanktah's real name, and she didn't like being called by it. So that was the reason why only Texas and Mostima knew the angel's name.
And there it is again...
This ability to inspire trust. In a short time the doctor had already got Exusiai's. Who despite the fact that she was very open to others only let few people really get close to her. But after seeing her in the street with the good doctor she could suspect that it was as much trust as a deep love...
Maybe fate hated her?
Two people, the two she had found hard to leave behind since her new life, these two people in one way or another were longing to see her again.
For once Mostima sighed.
Sebastian: Go find Lemuel. I heard what you said to her on the street last time. You want to see her again, she wants to see you again, so go see her once and for all.
Mostima: Are you really doing all this for her?
Sebastian: Of course-
Ifrit: HEY !
The voice of the young sarkaz snapped the two of them out of their conversation, and the girl took the doctor's tie in her hand to pull it towards her and force the giant to look at her.
Ifrit: Are you done stopping every two fucking seconds to talk to every chick on the road about your stupid past I want to find my mom!
Sebastian: A-aye sorry...
He says before straightening up and looking at the sankta while rubbing the back of his head.
Sebastian: I'm sorry I have to go... I have important things to do.
Mostima: I can go with you too.
Sebastian: Oh?
Mostima: You look like you could use a little help... And I can tell you about our past on the way.
Sebastian: Well, I could use a little help... And wait a minute...
So quickly that even Mostima could hardly see him, the giant pinched the girl's ear with his two fingers, his facial expression showing his anger.
Sebastian: What did I tell you about your language, girl?
Ifrit: Ow ow ow ow! S-sorry! I promise I will stop!
He let go of her with a tear about to fall from her right eye and rubbing the tip of her ear from the pain.
Sebastian: Good. And don't forget I'm watching you.
He says before starting to walk again the girl following him as soon as Mostima following them with an amused look.
Ifrit: My legs hurt...
Without thinking for a second, although sighing, the good doctor received the message and made the girl climb on his shoulders again.
Ifrit: Thank you...
Mostima: I, who always thought that you would make a good father, see that I was right.
Immediately the two sarkazs looked at the sankta as if she had just said something stupid.
Mostima: What...?
Sebastian: Iffy how old are you?
Ifrit: Almost thirteen why...?
Sebastian: Hm. That means I would have had her at ten if she was really my daughter.
Mostima: Wait what?!
Sebastian: What do I start with? Why am I playing babysitter or is my age a brain burn?
Sebastian: So that's why I have this little imp on my shoulders.
Mostima: Wow it really took you ten minutes to explain that to me when it went by like a second.
Sebastian: Hm.
Ifrit: Am I the imp?
Asked the girl sulkily, and if the doctor's hair had been long enough she would have grabbed it to hurt him a little.
Sebastian: Do you prefer imp or Iffy?
Ifrit: Huh... Plague or cholera...
Sebastian: Then I would do both.
Ifrit: What?! No but-
The three members of the group arrived in front of a rather standard apartment building in the Columbian-inspired part of town. Then the giant made the girl get down, cutting her off in her sentence, before entering the hall of the building...
Breaking the lock discreetly...
They did not need a long time to go up the stairs and to arrive in front of the apartment. Sebastian put himself at the level of the peephole and knocked at the door. He heard noise on the other side, the steps of a rather light woman, so the doctor concluded...
He knocked again, but this time with more strength.
Sebastian: Doctor Olivia Silence I need to talk to you!
He heard footsteps approaching the door and someone peering through the peephole.
Silence: Y-you... I recognize you! You were at Rhine's building! You came to silence?! Do what you want, it's a vault door!
Sebastian: Huh... I did come to give you your kid back...
Silence: What ?
Sebastian: Ifrit. I could see what they were doing to her, so I brought her back to you...
Silence: Ifrit?! Where? Where is she?
Sebastian: Hey kid! Come on over here.
As the sarkaz approached the giant began to carry her so that she could be seen through the peephole in the door.
Ifrit: Hi mom!
Said the demoness with a big smile on her lips and her eyes closed. No trace of being forced, nor of being unhappy. The liberi on the other side of the door took a deep breath and almost fell backwards and with a quick movement she opened the door to see what she considered her daughter. The two could see each other again.
Silence looked exhausted and her eyes were red with tears. Ifrit also began to cry, but this time with joy.
The girl reached out her arms to join those of her mother Sebastian with a slight smile on his lips helping the girl to join her. As if to make sure she was there, the liberi hugged as tightly as she could, her human arms involuntarily turning into bird's wings as if to cover the young sarkaz with the nicest of blankets.
Silence: Iffy... I thought I would never see you again...
Ifrit: I was so scared! This morning you weren't there and mommy Saria wasn't there either and everyone was being mean to me!
Silence: It's ok, I'm here, everything is fine now...
Concentrated on the reunion, the good doctor did not hear the heavy footsteps of a person going up the stairs. And yet these were so heavy that even Mostima had heard them and turned in the direction.
She faced an imposing sarkaz that she thought she recognized as a wendigo, but only of impure blood, so large that its huge antlers dug into the ceiling and so wide that Sebastian looked frail beside it. Sensing the danger Silence immediately looked away from the wendigo and frowned when she saw him draw a one-handed sword that he used as a knife.
The giant this time heard the sound of steel and turned to the half-wendigo frowning.
Everything seemed to freeze for a second before Mostima put her hand on the white key and teleported herself, the liberi, and the sarkaz forward into the apartment away from the hallway.
The wendigo ran straight towards Sebastian at breakneck speed as the good doctor managed to draw his knife just in time before the wendigo swung his sword at the man with the emerald eyes. Sebastian parried the attack with his weapon, surprised by the terrible strength of his opponent at first sight, a drop of sweat beaded along the back of his neck and Sebastian finally opted for a dodge with a jump backwards.
All that to avoid that their fight sends the building in ruin.
With a quick glance the good doctor could see that his opponent was a columbian just by the way he was holding his sword, but then he could also see the traces of pricks and sarkaz rituals on his skin...
In other words, in addition to a powerful opponent in front of him, he was also drugged and on the verge of death as his body was screaming from the sarkaz witchcraft...
Just
FUCKING
Awesome...
thought the good doctor. And this one caught in his thoughts didn't have time to prepare himself when his opponent instead of attacking again with his weapon, just continued straight.
As if the sarkaz thought he was playing American soccer, he grabbed the doctor and started to run towards the wall at the end of the corridor. Sebastian looked away in panic to see that at the end of the hallway was a window and soon the two gigantic men reached it, falling through the brick wall with their power and crashing into a garbage can below. Sebastian, who was the first to hit the hard one, felt several of his bones break and his opponent above him ignored the pain to bring his fist down on the giant's skull.
Sebastian's brain flipped in his head and he thought he would lose consciousness, he could see his opponent about to strike again to finish off the good doctor.
Wendigo: I will slaughter you!
Sebastian began to stress intensely about his situation for once. In a flash his will took over his whole body and he grabbed his knife to attack the demon in front of him. He tried to attack the wendigo's neck with his right arm, but the colossus above Sebastian parried the attack without difficulty by grabbing the doctor's already weakened arm.
But where Sebastian lacked strength in this confrontation he made up for in skill.
He let his blade fall, catching it with his other hand and immediately planting the sarkaz in the sternum, breaking the bone with a sharp blow and driving the cold blade into his flesh.
The wendigo began to scream in an eardrum-piercing scream of immense pain, Sebastian frowning. He didn't expect to hurt a half-wendigo that much, especially when it was under the effects of cannibalism...
Sebastian struggled with the sarkaz trying to remove the weapon from his pain-ridden chest, but the sarkaz finally froze, convulsing, his eyes rolling back and screaming in pain, his head facing the sky. The sarkaz wendigo fell backwards into the dumpster motionless and dead.
Sebastian frowned as he looked at the dead man in front of him, then straightening up he grabbed his knife from the sarkaz's chest and pulled it out. He could see that the veins on the demon's chest had turned black as if he had been poisoned. And unfortunately for the emerald-eyed giant his intrigue didn't end there, when he could see that on the blade of his knife the blood was beginning to disappear, as if it was dissolved by the steel.
Wondering if his weapon was wrapped in poison, Sebastian put his finger close to the edge of the blade and pressed his thumb against it, thinking of cutting himself and analyzing the poison with his blood cells. But to his astonishment he did not manage to cut himself. Frowning he started to press even harder on the blade but still nothing, the blade here seemed unable to cut butter.
But still it had cut through the sarkaz like air...
Mostima: Hey!
The giant looked up to see Mostima leaning through the gaping hole the giant and the wendigo had left in their clash.
Sebastian: It's okay!
He said with half his skull broken and his spine in pieces.
With a sigh he put away his knife and bent his legs before leaping to land right next to Mostima... Jumping three floors as if it were nothing...
Ifrit: Doctor!
Sebastian: Nothing broken?
Asked the giant by reflex without thinking that he was the one who was obviously hurt right now.
Silence: N-no, we're fine... Go come in, it's the least I can do.
The liberi pushed herself open the door of her apartment to let the others in, Sebastian rubbed his face with pain and walked towards the door, glancing at Mostima.
Sebastian: You couldn't freeze time...
Mostima: Hey I'm not a goddess, I have a time limit on how long I can use this thing.
Sebastian: Hm... If you say so...
The giant entered the apartment followed by Ifrit, Mostima and finally the tenant of the place who closed the door and put the locks back on it. Sebastian looked at the apartment to see that it had nothing extremely luxurious for the district. On his right two doors seemed to lead to the bathroom and a bedroom while the rest of the apartment contained a dining table, a kitchen that looked almost new and a sofa that faced a huge bay window that looked out onto the posh avenue of Lungmen. And yet the thin layer of dust in most places indicated that either she had just moved into the apartment and the cleaning hadn't been done or that the liberi spent very little time at home. And with the workaholic look she had, the good doctor went for the second option. On the dining table he could see a bottle of columbian whisky already well started next to a glass already emptied. He grabbed the bottle and put it in a cupboard, just before the young sarkaz turned to him. He turned his gaze to silence to see her give him a slight smile in thanks.
The liberi approached the giant as the young demoness seemed to be carefully analyzing her mother's living environment.
Silence: I don't think I introduced myself properly, I'm Dr. Olivia Silence, nice to meet you.
Sebastian: Doctor Sebastian from Rhodes Island.
He said as he raised his hand which Silence also did for a handshake-
Before she realized that her arm was still shaped like a bird's wing.
Frowning, she shook it and it magically became a human's again and the two doctors shook hands.
Silence: You a doctor?
she asked, raising an eyebrow.
Sebastian: In neurology, I know I don't look like one...
Silence: They say that the clothes don't make the man... And you, madam?
Mostima: Call me Mostima. I am just a friend of that big man...
Silence: Sit down doctor, I will prepare some tea...
The giant nodded and came to sit at the dining table, Ifrit seeing this decided to sit right next to the giant with a big smile on her lips and excited as a child...
Ifrit: Mom? Why is your place so empty?
The liberi was startled.
Silence: I work a lot Iffy, I am not usually at home...
Mostima came and sat down at the table too, seeming to send messages with her cell phone, and from her face she seemed to be giving the person she was talking to a lot of trouble...
Silence: I don't think I can ever be grateful enough to you for bringing me Ifrit doctor... But I still have the question of why if I may ask?
Said the liberi, a look of inquisitiveness on her face. Simply because she could not trust the doctor so easily. She put down a teapot and served cups to everyone, which she filled before sitting down next to the doctor.
Sebastian: You want to know why? It's simple. I was in Rhine to make a deal. Since our company is close to theirs... Auckwood wanted to sell me weapons, and started talking about biological weapons before showing me what they were doing in Ifrit.
Immediately the girl lowered her head, the pain still fresh in her mind.
Sebastian: Neither I nor Rhode Island would let that happen for all the gold in the world. So I took out most of their men and got Iffy out of there. I brought her back to you because you were the one closest to her.
Silence: Really?
Mostima: Don't doubt him Doc, he's a real white knight that guy. And with a big softie heart when kids are involved~
The sankta had her smile on her lips the giant feeling a mix of annoyance and embarrassment her cheeks slightly red.
Silence: I guess it's not common these days for people to do this out of kindness...
Sebastian: Unfortunately...
Silence: Excuse me doctor, but have you ever seen or fought a white-haired vouivre with orange-tipped horns, rather tall and big?
Sebastian: You must mean Saria Stonelock. No. From what I know she must be in Columbia...
Silence: Saria, but why did you do that...
Says the doctor, taking off her glasses and rubbing her face.
Ifrit: Mom... Where is Mommy Saria...?
Silence: Iffy... Saria... You know Saria doesn't see you like I see you...
Ifrit: Huh?
Silence: For me you are like my daughter. But Saria never gets attached to people... And she follows the orders of the bosses at work more than she does anything else... So if they asked her to lock you up but you asked her to leave you alone, she would capture you.
Ifrit: Mommy Saria doesn't like me...?
Even if the liberi didn't want to say it, it was the only thing Ifrit could conclude.
The young sarkaz had tears in her eyes and started to cry with her face in her hands. The good doctor moved his hand forward and started to rub the girl's back to comfort her.
Sebastian: Shh... Go ahead. Let it all out...
The girl began to cry even more under the pained looks of the two doctors.
After all, sooner or later Sebastian was sure that Saria would come after them to get the girl back.
Silence: I'm sure Saria really appreciated all the gifts you gave her. She doesn't hate you Ifrit... It's just that Saria is a person that no one can understand... Doctor we won't be safe here for long. This mercenary is already the first evidence, they will surely come back here.
Sebastian: I know. I can offer you asylum in Victoria or any other country.
Silence: No... That won't do... You're from Rhodes Island, have you seen the state of her oripathy?
Sebastian: Hm. I gave her some emergency treatments on the way and also...
He put one of his hands in his pockets and took out the file of the girl and put it on the table, the liberi widening her eyes before checking it carefully.
Silence: Thank God you found it...
Sebastian: Then the only option I have left is to offer you protection on Rhodes Island.
Silence: That will be much better.
Ifrit: Is that where do you work doctor?
Asked the girl between two sobs.
Sebastian: Yes, you can be treated there, you can live quietly with Silence, it's like a small town.
Ifrit: Are there only doctors there?
Sebastian: No, of course not, most people are normal.
Silence: So a protected in Rhodes Island.
Sebastian: Hm. Indeed.
Silence: I already have some friends who were there on internships...
Sebastian: Oh who?
Silence: Joyce Moore, Mayer Stony, and Magallan among others...
Sebastian: Ohhh... I see. They are also part of our operations groups so I know them well.
Ifrit: Auntie Mayer and Auntie Ptilopsis?! Are they there?!
Immediately the girl seemed to come out of her great sadness and looked up at the giant with expectant eyes.
Silence: Yes Iffy, they went to work where the doctor works...
Ifrit: I want to go!
The giant laughed slightly as did the liberi.
Silence: Then it's settled. We will go to Rhodes Island.
Sebastian: You can't go there like that. The mobile base is docked at Lungmen and they must have all of Rhodes surrounded. I'll need a diversion to concentrate their forces away from the point of interest. And then you can get in.
Silence: We're not in Columbia, but the presence of the mercenaries Rhine can hire is strong here too... Do you really want to draw their attention?
Sebastian: I'm confident enough in my fighting skills to get by. Now the question is, how can I get their attention.
Silence: I think I have an idea. Iffy has a tracking implant in her body. I don't know where, but I know it sends her location every day at six o'clock in the morning. When they get her location they'll send all their forces to her.
Sebastian: And then I could be a diversion. But that would mean using you as bait...
He said, turning to the girl with a sorry look.
Silence: It will take time for them to come to you. Time that Ifrit can use to hide. Once you have eliminated all of Rhine's forces you can return to Rhodes Island and with the equipment there we can find Iffy's tracker and take it away.
Sebastian: Aye, the plan works for me but...
The giant and the liberi turned to the girl who was drinking her tea quietly and looking at both of them.
Ifrit: As long as I'm with mommy Silence at the end, I'm fine with it!
The liberi began to smile as she stroked the top of the girl's head, who herself had resumed her innocent smile.
Until suddenly Ifrit's stomach started to growl with hunger, so loud that it felt like the walls were shaking.
Ifrit: He he... Mom... I'm hungry...
The famous words that Silence a few years ago never thought he would hear in her life...
Sebastian: You ate a packet of cookies at the market...
Ifrit: But I haven't eaten anything all day!
Sebastian: Oh sorry...
Silence: Sorry Iffy, I don't have much in my cupboards I don't think I can cook something for you...
Says the embarrassed liberi.
Mostima: And I don't think it's a good idea to order anything Rhine must have tapped your phones and I'm sure they have surveillance tools on the street or people posted.
Immediately another part of Sebastian's brain was activated, the cook. He got up from the dining table and walked to the kitchen.
Sebastian: Oh I'm sure I can find some things to do...
Silence: Uh doctor...?
Mostima: Don't worry. He could cook a festive meal worthy of the twin empresses of leithania with the ingredients of the charity soup.
Slightly uncomfortable that someone was rummaging through her cupboards, but deciding that it would be inappropriate to point it out to the man who had saved the most precious thing in her world several times today, as well as probably herself, she kept quiet. Leaving the doctor to get on with the cooking.
Silence: Make yourself at home Sebastian...
She wondered what he could cook when she knew that all she had was thicc slices of bacon, eggs, flour, an old onion and cream...
Mostima: I have a question for Mrs. Silence. Actually, several.
Silence: I think I can answer it...
Mostima: Why? Why did Rhine do an experiment like Ifrit? Why were you chosen to take care of it?
Sebastian: I'm curious too.
Said the giant in the kitchen as he began to spread out various ingredients and utensils on the work surface.
The liberi sighed as the young demoness finished her cup of tea, holding out her cup to have some again, getting ready for a long story.
Silence: Rhine is always specified in the armament more or less in secret. Especially when it comes to originium... Apparently the idea of biological weapons came from much higher up in the organization. I think they must have received inspiration from those casters who control infected dogs or Kazdel's mercenaries... I don't know who the surrogate mother was, so the father... But they implanted a sarkaz artifact as soon as she was born apparently...
Sebastian: Kazdel is a real sieve because of the current regent. It's not surprising that demonic artifacts get looted. And we really don't have any sources on her biological parents?
Silence: Nothing at all... I don't even know where she was born.
The liberi looked at the girl before she was startled to remember something.
Silence: Uh forget what I just said Iffy, don't pay attention to what I say-
Ifrit: Oh no you don't have to! Mama Saria told me how babies are really made! It's when a mommy and daddy love each other very much, so they go to their beds and take off their clothes to-
Mostima immediately put her hand over the girl's mouth to prevent her from speaking any further. The doctor, who seemed to be kneading something, also froze while looking at the sarkaz.
Silence: I swear this woman has no filter... Making myself busy with stories of birds and all and she just doesn't embarass herself…
Mostima: And is it the artifact that makes her tail and horns so strange?
She asked, looking at the bits of originium she had as horns, her tail still managing to move as if it was made of a crystalline membrane.
Ifrit: Huh... Mama Saria always told me that I should at least file my horns, but every time I do, everyone has to wear overalls because of the dust.
Mostima: I would have liked to have such shiny horns but if they are made of originium it would be really annoying...
Ifrit: Does that make me weird?
Mostima: For the sarkaz? Maybe. Just like me. But when you talk about a bigger group of people there are even weirder ones.
She said, turning to the giant who had just lit the fire under a large pot filled with water as he took out a frying pan.
Sebastian: I know one from sarkaz that has horns as red as blood. So weird... But who gives cares...
Mostima: By the way, this kind of artifact doesn't tell you anything, doc?
Sebastian: I'm a doctor, not an archaeologist. My knowledge doesn't go that far.
Silence: Are you interested in Sarkaz civilizations, doctor?
Sebastian: I am, actually. In addition to my impressive collection of books on the subject I spent a lot of time in Kazdel.
Silence: Really? I heard that Rhodes Island has its roots in Kazdel but I don't know why...
Sebastian: For my part, like many of my colleagues at the time, I was in the service of the queen.
The liberi immediately widened her eyes.
Sebastian: But wait, now that you mention it... I think I remember this book about the hundred demons that King Solomon imprisoned in fragments and hid them from being coveted by the other sarkaz... it's from the first unification of kazdel, so it's hard to get more information about it.
Ifrit: So that means I am the empress of the sarkaz, get on your knees in front of the great Ifrit!
She stood up from her chair and pointed at the giant who had just poured the contents of a bottle back into a pan. Raising an eyebrow at the girl who had a big smile on her lips.
Silence: Iffy don't say that-
Said the mother worried that she had offended the good doctor thinking he was a sarkaz who had cut off his horns and pointing out would hurt his feelings.
Sebastian: It's okay, Olivia. I'm not a sarkaz... and you're not the lord of fiends Iffy. So sit down and eat.
The giant approached the table with four plates carrying them like a waiter before placing them on the table overlooking the dish. Pastas with a brownish sauce and bits of bacon sliced in lardons in it with onions.
Sebastian: This is all I could do with what was there...
Silence: Oh… This looks good… What is the name of that dish ?
Sebastian: Something I invented… 'Italians would kill me…'
The three women looked at their dishes, silent in disbelief that someone had managed to cook something with the little they had and so quickly. Ifrit wasn't worried about that, but rather about the wonderful smell that reached her nose and how tasty her dish looked. And Mostima she... had a... strange face.
Mostima: You've really been making fresh pasta all along, and all this in what... two minutes...?
Sebastian: Hm... I'm getting slow...
The sankta looked at the sarkaz next to her.
Mostima: And why does she have more than me?!
exclaimed the stomach on legs.
Sebastian: Because she is a growing child. You still have crumbs from your previous meal on your collar...
The young woman seemed to sulk and removed the crumbs from the edge of her hood before grabbing her fork to taste her food and smiling, as did the other two women. Ifrit let out a loud noise of satisfaction.
Ifrit: Wow this is even better than Saria's cooking!
She looked up at her mother.
Ifrit: Didn't you want a husband who could cook?
Silence almost choked on her food and started to blush profusely, hiding her face with one of her hands.
Silence: I-Iffy!
The liberi dared to glance at the giant to see him with an amused smile on his lips.
Sebastian: Come on, stop it kid, you're embarrassing your mother.
Ifrit: Oh?
She took a second to look at her poor mother who was blushing like a tomato before going back to devouring her plate.
Mostima: Huh Doc?
The giant glanced at the sankta who had already finished her plate without leaving any trace of food but who was looking at her cell phone with a worried face.
Sebastian: What?
Mostima: Now we have two choices. Either I stay here to help you tomorrow morning... or in twelve hours we have three special operations squads from the notarial hall on our ass.
As soon as she finished her sentence, the giant's face broke down.
The idea of fighting against the elite forces of laterano was as appealing to him as facing a score of Emperor's blades naked and with one arm missing.
Even if he was very angry against ursus it was not the kind of thing to do...
Mostima: Or I'm leaving right now to go deal with my probation officer...
Sebastian: Well, go then... And thanks for helping out earlier.
Mostima: Yeah yeah, you're welcome.
Says the sankta as she stands up and makes her way to the door.
Silence: Goodbye Ms. Mostima
Ifrit: Bye!
Sebastian: And don't forget to go see Lemuel...
Mostima: Yeah...
She seemed to raise her hand to say goodbye without turning around before disappearing.
Silence: You have some strange friends, doctor...
Sebastian: Strange friends for a strange man...
Silence: I am curious, doctor.
Sebastian: About what?
Silence: You of course. You saved Iffy and you offer to save both of us without anyone telling you anything... So I'm curious who you are. You could tell me a little about yourself, couldn't you?
Sebastian: I'm flattered but I don't think there's much to tell about me Olivia. I have amnesia. My earliest memory is from last December 23.
The liberi's face seemed to show compassion for a moment. Perhaps she was imagining the pain of being an empty shell with no memories.
Ifrit: What does amnesia mean?
Sebastian: It's when you don't remember anything Iffy.
Ifrit: Nothing at all?
Sebastian: Nothing...
Ifrit: Wow that must be sad...
Sebastian: It often is... I was working for Rhodes Island a few years ago, and that's why they picked me up from Chernobog in a hibernation chamber during the fall of the city. We had to fight our way out. We almost died more than once, but we all managed to get out alive.
Silence: But why are you with Rhodes Island now? If you can't remember why you work for them, why are you still there? Shouldn't you be looking for a new meaning in your life?
The doctor felt at the time that the liberi was being slightly intrusive, but he soon realized that she probably didn't mean any harm. On the contrary, she was curious
Sebastian: I found one in Chernobog. I could see how much the infected were suffering. How Terra was overflowing with unhappiness. And I'm convinced that Rhode Island can solve some of those problems. And every day I spend there reinforces that idea a little more.
The Liberi looked at him in awe, Ifrit listening attentively even though the giant's words did not affect her that much.
Silence: Is everyone who works for Rhodes Island as convinced of their cause?
The giant laughed softly.
Sebastian: Most of them who have been there for a few years, yes. It's hard to stay in this business without a will of steel.
He said, putting down his fork as he finished the last bite of his meal.
Sebastian: Enough about me. I'm curious about your past too, Olivia.
The liberi blushed intensely.
Silence: Unfortunately I think there is even less to tell about me doctor... I grew up in Ironforge... I studied there, and after the incident and becoming infected I turned to originium research... Then Rhine offered me a job as soon as I got my PhD. So I accepted and worked for them for ... Five years I think now? I climbed the ladder until I found myself on the Ifrit project. I told you nothing interesting...
Sebastian: Don't say that, everyone has an interesting story to tell. For example, why did you specialize in originium right after the Ironforge incident? Shouldn't that have put you off originium?
Silence: No. I saw all the limits of originium at that time. I know of course that it is the blood of our civilization. So we have no choice but to deal with it. It is not possible for us to remove our foundations at this time. You know that the traces of originium go back to the beginnings of the ancients? Some archaeological digs in Sargon have even proven that the first men used originium to create the first fires. Can I really fight something that is as ancient and useful to us as fire? No. That's why I thought I had to find solutions. Either I had to find a replacement, or I had to find better ways to use it, better ways to protect against it. I had to study. To maybe push these researches just a little bit further in their advancement.
Said the liberi. Its magnificent eyes color hazel burning of determination.
The giant began to smile as he looked at her.
Sebastian: You see. Everyone is interesting. And you are, Olivia. There aren't many people with the sheer will to persevere like that to move the world forward.
Her flattery couldn't stop the red from spreading across Silence's cheeks, and in the soft orange light of the lamps in her apartment, she couldn't help but look into the good doctor's eyes. Two emeralds that hid a soul as precious as the gems. She began to wonder what other secrets this man, who had almost fallen from the sky, could still be hiding... She began to want to discover them by herself, to find out each one. Like an equation to be solved or a last mystery to be discovered, her mind, which only thought of learning, was plunged into a frenzy.
She didn't know how long she had been looking at the doctor's eyes, but she was brought back to reality when she felt her eyelids getting heavier and heavier... And by the time she realized what was happening to her it was already too late, she almost fell forward, before catching herself at the last moment.
Seeing this, the giant stood up suddenly, worried, making sure that the liberi didn't collapse.
Ifrit: Shit! Mom are you okay?!
Silence: Iffy language, and it's nothing... Sorry doctor it's my oripathy... It's causing me seizures... Of... Narcolepsy...
Said the young woman before closing her eyes and relaxing completely. The giant's arms and hands were the only thing preventing her from falling.
Incredulous the giant looked at the young sarkaz.
Ifrit: What?
Sebastian: Uh... how often does this happen to her?
Ifrit: Several times a day. I don't know how she lasted so long talking to you without falling asleep... hehe... Usually it's me or mama Saria who keeps her from falling when it happens...
The man sighed and moved his arms to carry the frail liberi in his large arms.
Sebastian: We just need to lay her down...
The young sarkaz yawned loudly, tiredness catching up with her as the doctor moved closer to her room to open the door, being careful not to let his eyes linger too long in a woman's room before placing her on her bed.
Sebastian: You should go to bed.
Said the giant to Ifrit who entered the room rubbing his eyes before sitting on the bed on the other side of the one where her mother was. It had been a long day for her more than maybe anyone else in this city. And all the tiredness had just caught up with her full stomach and adrenaline down.
Ifrit: I'm not tired!
exclaimed the demoness like all children who didn't want to go to bed, making the good doctor smile warmly.
Sebastian: You are...
He walked to the other side of the bed to face the girl.
Sebastian: Come on, lie down. You need some sleep iffy. I'll have to wake you up early tomorrow morning.
Ifrit: Hm...
The girl lay down on her side while facing the doctor.
Ifrit: Can you tell me a story...?
The giant was surprised what the girl seemed to notice.
Ifrit: It's just that mommy Silence or mommy Saria always used to read me one before I went to sleep...
He sighed once more before smiling. Once more...
He sat down on the floor in front of the girl, putting his hands on the bed.
Sebastian: Well... Once upon a time, in an old kingdom... Lived a knight. This knight was smaller and skinnier than all the others, it is even said that he had a huge potato as a nose.
He said while mimicking the gesture of a big nose and making a grimace, extracting a light laugh from the girl.
Sebastian: This knight was in love with the princess of the kingdom. Like many other knights. Because it was said that she was the prettiest and nicest woman in the whole kingdom... But the father of the princess, the king, decided that only the knight who defeats the most terrible dragon in the kingdom would be allowed to marry her. And nobody succeeded for a long time. The knight with the big nose went to fight the dragon and everyone laughed at him. When he went up a big mountain on a dangerous path to face the terrible dragon... He lost. The dragon sent him back down the mountain and the other knights laughed at him again. But the knight with the big nose did not lose hope. He went to fight the dragon again and lost again. He did it again and again, and each time the dragon beat him, and each time the knights laughed at him, but each time he did it again. Years passed, and each day the knight went to fight the dragon only to lose again... Until one day, when the songs of the chickadees echoed through the kingdom like the sound of the wind in the willows, the old king died. All the knights argued about who should marry the princess, and in the end she chose the knight with the big nose.
Ifrit: But why...?
Said the girl with her eyelids heavier than lead.
Sebastian: Because he was the only knight who had fought the dragon several times... All the others didn't bother to fight it after more than once. But he had fought it hundreds and hundreds of times. That's how the princess could know that even if he wasn't the greatest, or the strongest, or the most handsome knight in the whole kingdom, he was the bravest and the only one who really loved her... Then they got married and had many children and lived happily ever after. And that's how the ridiculous knight of the kingdom became the brave king.
The giant looked into Ifrit's eyes, who seemed to be about to faint.
Ifrit: Your stories are good...
She closed her eyes.
Ifrit: You'll protect me from the bad guys, right?
Sebastian: I promise you that no bad guys will hurt you as long as I am here...
Ifrit: Thanks... Dadktah... Good night...
Said the exhausted girl, her numb mouth giving that sound to the word making the good doctor laugh very slightly.
Sebastian: Good night my imp...
He said with a smile as the girl began to breathe in a different way. More calm, her chest expanding and emptying, her face calm and peaceful.
And at that moment, Sebastian feeling the warmth of the girl's small and thin fingers around his much larger pinky began to smile. A smile that held a joy far greater than anything else could give him. He would be ashamed to say that she was the reason for this joy, and didn't even know if anyone else could understand it. He felt not only happy but also satisfied. And with that closed his eyes to fall asleep, more peaceful than any night he had spent since he woke up.
But on the other side of the bed, the liberi who had woken up from her sleeping fit a few moments ago had heard the conversation. And she curled up a little more and smiled warmly.
On the other side of town. In a building with cold, ancient white stone walls a young ursine dressed in nun's garments, walked as the light of the two moons passed through the stained glass windows of the place to illuminate the corridor in which the girl walked. The ursine arrived just in front of a large wooden door and opened it to reveal a collective dormitory, its soft warmth and the orange lights welcoming her pleasantly as well as the smiling faces of the other young women. Immediately the ursine removed her veil after entering the room revealing her white short hairs.
Skullshatterer: Hi girls...
Nun 1: Irina? Back already?
Skullshatterer: Already? It must be past midnight...
Nun 2: Father Montsut always gives the task to clean the whole first floor by himself to those who just arrived. When it happened to me, I finished at two o'clock in the morning even though I arrived at midnight...
Nun 1: It only took me ten hours... But you were faster than all of us Irina...
Skullshatterer: But why is he doing that? And the veil is making my bear ears itch and my tail is all choked up under the dress...
Nun 3: Apparently he's doing this so we can get familiar with the layout of the church... And wait, you haven't customized your dress yet?
Nun 4: I pity you...
Said one of the nuns who was known to have huge horns and a scaly tail that was almost the size of her body.
Skullshatterer: I didn't have time...
Nun 1: But it's the first thing I do when I get new clothes...
Nun 2: Same thing.
Nun 4: I also have no choice...
The young woman sighed before going to her bed throwing her veil to the nun who had already taken out a sewing kit, preparing to remove the rest of her dress.
Skullshatterer: This place is weird...
Nun 1: Not wrong.
Nun 4: Why do you say that Irina?
Skullshatterer: We're all infected, and yet the archbishop let us all in...
Nun 2: It's part of his strategy.
Skullshatterer: What do you mean?
Nun 1: Two years ago the cathedral was falling into ruin and he couldn't get any grants from Laterano, so he started taking people who were looking for protection... And with cute girls like us the donations during mass exploded!
Skullshatterer: I've never been interested in Laterano's religion but I'm not sure if it's in your book...
Nun 3: Don't listen to her, father Montsut is also doing this to help. Otherwise he wouldn't have let me in.
Said the feline with sadness, referring to the fact that her face was half covered with originium crystals making her not so cute...
Skullshatterer: That's right... What are you here for?
Nun 1: I stole some food from the market and almost got killed by the person I stole it from. The father got me out of that situation and offered me to come here.
Nun 2: My parents abandoned me when I became infected. He found me in an alley and took me in.
Nun 3: I was part of a gang in the city, but one day our boss left without warning and we were arrested by the L.G.D. I don't know what happened to the others, but the archbishop paid my bail.
Nun 4: I was a model for a fashion magazine... Except that one day a crazy guy in the street stabbed me with a fragment of originium so I got fired, left in the street. And since I was a believer I went to church and my father took me in without asking for anything in return. And you Irina?
Skullshatterer: I did... I did a lot of horrible things. I left the organization I was in, and a friend helped me find a place to go until I figured out what I wanted to do next. And that place was here. Apparently he knows the archbishop because as soon as I told him my friend's name, he let me enter.
Soon the other nuns began to smile and the vouivre slowly approached the bed where the ursine was lying with her eyes closed.
Nun 4: A friend~?
Nun 1: Ooh~ I can already imagine, a forbidden lover who helped you leave a secret and dangerous organization~
The young ursine opened her eyes, her two blood red orbs fixing on the nun who was sewing to customize her nun's dress before she started to laugh.
Skullshatterer: This guy I'm talking about, I literally cut him and his friends to pieces.
The other young women frowned.
Nun 2: Didn't you say he was a friend...?
Nun 4: You didn't kill them, did you?
Skullshatterer: They would have died if the guy I'm talking about hadn't healed them all with his arts. That was impressive... I've only seen arts that powerful twice in my life before.
Nun 3: You were a fighter then...
Said the feline.
Skullshatterer: Yep.
Nun 1: So this friend was hot?
The former leader of the reunion almost choked as she swallowed his saliva from the surprise.
Skullshatterer: You ask me that while you are nuns?!
Nun 2: We are nuns only the clothes. Tell that to Veronica, she's banging one of the monks.
Said the sarkaz looking at the feline who started to blush.
Nun 3: Alma stops shouting that from the rooftops!
Skullshatterer: One of the monks...?
Nun 2: They are a bit like us, you saw that they were all more or less the same age as us.
Skullshatterer: So he doesn't just take in pretty girls for donations...
Nun 4: But also pretty boys!
Skullshatterer: And you can still kiss him with the state of your face?
Said the ursine curious turning to the feline.
Nun 3: Mind your own business!
Nun 2: Not only kissing him...
Nun 3: But stop talking about it!
Skullshatterer: Hey I'm just curious. In case my oripathy gets worse I just want to know...
Nun 1: If you'll be able to kiss someone while your tongue is half covered in crystal ?
Skullshatterer: Yep. I'm not a nun either, I'm just a normal girl... And at the rate I'm going my little sister will find a boyfriend before I do...
Nun 4: So that guy you were talking about who helped you run away from the people you were working for? Couldn't you be interested in him? Maybe he did and if he helped you it's because he was interested in you.
Skullshatterer: I doubt it. I don't think he would be the type. And then the age difference, girl. I turn seventeen in two months and he's probably thirty plus...
Nun 4: What does he look like?
Skullshatterer: Very tall, like more than two meters tall, without race, very muscular, he has beautiful green eyes. He has a beard and short black hair.
Immediately the vouivre grabbed him by the shoulders, his face mad with rage.
Nun 4: You just described the perfect DILF and you tell me that you didn't jump on him?
Immediately the other nuns came closer to the vouivre to immobilize her.
Nun 2: Forgive Dorothy Irina... She has a certain taste for men... Mature...
Skullshatterer: I see that... But I don't want a guy who is ten years older than me... One or two years max would be nice-
Suddenly the young women heard a knock at the door.
Montsut: Irina, a friend has come to see you.
The ursine opened her eyes in surprise and embarrassment.
Skullshatterer: One second my father do not enter!
She said while getting up embarrassed to be almost naked and that it is at this precise moment that she has something to do she looked at the first nun to see this last one to return her veil and her dress to her that she hurried to slip on the clothes letting this time pass her small tail in the shape of white ball, and her ears of bear above her head.
She opened the door to see an old man with a frightening face that she recognized as the archbishop.
Montsut: There she is.
He said pointing with his head in the direction of the corridor before leaving in the opposite direction disappearing into the darkness.
Irina left the dormitory and turned her head to the right to see a lupo with red hair. She opened her eyes, surprised but filled with joy.
Skullshatterer: Lyudmila!
Crownslayer: Irina!
Immediately the two young women threw themselves into each other's arms.
Skullshatterer: What are you doing here?
Crownslayer: I came to see you of course, but what are you, doing here?
Skullshatterer: The doctor on Rhodes Island said I could have a place to stay here... So I'm going to stay here for a while until I figure out what I can do next... How did you find me? And are you sure you're doing the right thing coming here? The reunion must be on the warpath since we left...
Crownslayer: Hm... The mood is down... Mephisto is completely mad at you, Faust is exhausted from covering up his bullshit every time, Patriot and Yelena don't show it like they usually do but they're equally sad. And for Talulah... I have no idea... She's not like she used to be, she hardly talks to anyone... But Yelena and Patriot promised me that they would cover for me so I'll go and visit you.
Skullshatterer: I didn't expect so many people to leave at once... But how did you find me?
Crownslayer: I was looking for you in town and then I ran into the doctor from Rhodes Island. He told me where you were.
Skullshatterer: And are you okay?! You're not hurt?!
Crownslayer: No... actually he's the one who refused to fight me...
Skullshatterer: Oh... That's almost... disappointing...
The lupo laughed slightly.
Crownslayer: I know... it's good to see you safe.
Skullshatterer: What do you think I am? I can take care of myself...
Crownslayer: Irina, this world has been full of people who can take care of themselves.
Skullshatterer: As you can see I'm fine... And still the most beautiful woman in the world.
Crownslayer: Pfft... That's it... The most beautiful woman in the world... Anyway, nun's clothes fit you like a glove.
Skullshatterer: Oh, is that right?
She said while taking the pose earning a laugh from her friend.
Crownslayer: At least if you don't know what to do next you can always sell your pictures on the internet...
Skullshatterer: Hey, I know I'm better than that, I'm not going to sell pictures of my body to fat ugly old bastards...
Crownslayer: Seriously... What are you going to do next?
The ursine took a deep breath, afraid of the reaction of her closest friend.
Skullshatterer: I was thinking of going to Rhodes Island.
Immediately the lupo's face broke down.
Crownslayer: Why...?
Skullshatterer: Come on Lyudmila. You know as well as I do that nothing goes right with reunion, as soon as we had the idea to attack Chernobog.
Crownslayer: And you know as well as I do that Rhodes Island is too nice. That they think they're getting their way and making the world a better place by helping everyone as best they can and because they believe in what they do.
Skullshatterer: What if we are wrong? What if they were right all along? You've seen what they're capable of, do you think that people who are willing to burn themselves alive for their cause are really wrong if they believe so much that they can succeed?
Crownslayer: But you're going out there... You'll be my enemy... I can't join you... All my men... All the others, I'm counting on them, they're counting on me, and they're counting on the reunion. I can't leave them behind...
Skullshatterer: No. Even if I join Rhodes Island you will remain my most precious friend Lyudmila. No matter what my orders are over there, even if I find myself facing you on the battlefield, I will never raise my weapon against you.
Crownslayer: At least you will find your sister...
Said the lupo with a bitter smile on her face accepting the choice of her friend.
Skullshatterer: I already know that she is in good hands.
Crownslayer: Then I hope with all my heart that we will never have to fight...
Lungmen, desert, 6:30 am, clear visibility.
A giant was standing in the middle of the sands, a broken sword in his hand. The sun had just risen and yet he had already faced dozens and dozens of mercenaries, each one more useless than the last. He turned his head behind him to see Ifrit resting in the shadow of the rocks. He intended to let her continue her night before leaving with her...
He took a second to look at the dunes in front of him, dropping the sword he had taken from one of his enemies. The corpses were beginning to bleed in the sun, the blood running into the sand to a brownish color. But in the middle of the dunes in the distance he seemed to see a human figure. The said figure seemed to be walking towards him, a large shield in her hand.
The giant sighed. His body began to flash with red lightning and he bent his legs before propelling himself forward with a fist. As the distance between him and his enemy narrowed, Sebastian could see who it was. Director Saria, from Rhine Labs' defense division. Good...
It would be better if he killed her now, if Ifrit lost a mother figure in her sleep would be better than if she found out that the mother figure was after her to kill her.
Just as he was about to strike the face of the vulture, his fist hit something harder than the hardest diamond, his blow stopping dead in its tracks.
The explosion generated by such energy swept the sand around him and created the dry sound of a shock wave.
Surprised, the giant could see his surprise suddenly turn to fear. When he saw that his arm, trembling because of all the force that he employed, was stopped clear by the hand of Saria, the veins of his arm seeming hardly contracted...
Saria: Tch. Vermin.
Her cold voice rang out, and with a gesture so quick that he was unable to see it the vouivre struck the doctor in the face fracturing his skull and sending a cloud of blood flying before sending the good doctor himself flying like a cannonball dozens of meters away causing him to crash against a rock, every bone in his body shattering like glass.
Okay.
Now he was in trouble.
He didn't expect the vouivreto be so strong.
In the rank of dangerousness it had just gone up a very big notch.
Sebastian was in danger just like Ifrit during this confrontation.
Sebastian's fighting skills activated by themselves when he felt the danger. His muscles filled with blood and his nervous system overloaded. The good giant stood up, broken but not defeated. The vouivre seemed impressed.
Saria: Hm. You're not that pathetic.
He took a big swing and flexed his muscles again, ready to go on the attack. When his opponent blinked he ran forward and as he was right in front of the vouivre who had just raised her shield, he pushed his muscles further and further, and broke the sound barrier to create a feint, moving quickly to the vouivre's back while she still had her shield up. As he prepared to strike between the vertebrae, the tail of the vouivre moved even faster than the giant and the star-shaped, rock-hard tip of the tail slammed into the doctor, tearing the skin of his belly and causing him to spit blood.
The doctor gnashed his teeth and insulted himself inside.
PRTS: Warning, the doctor's sanity is dropping dangerously low. It must not reach zero.
He wouldn't lose. He couldn't lose. He grabbed the vouivre's tail with his hand and wrapped it around his arm before breaking it with an elbow, causing Saria to scream in pain. She turned towards him giving a wide bash of her arm and her shield, surely in the objective to cut the good doctor in two. Sebastian withdrew his arm of the tail of the vouivre and although this one had contracted its muscles in the organ the doctor succeeded in being released at the price of leaving the skin of his forearm there. He grabbed the shield of the vouivre with both hands blocking it using all his strength.
Saria gave more force than she should have in her attack and that is why her shield broke, just like the rock on which the two combatants walked. Saria did not stop her fist and let it continue straight towards the face of the giant to smash his skull again sending him back only a few steps this time.
The giant's fangs extended as if to tear at the flesh he would bite. He threw the plastic pieces of the shield he had in his hands, and he could see that the vouivre was now angry. She threw herself forward as did the giant, but this time it was he who had the advantage of speed, striking directly at the head of the vouivre.
Or so he thought. Saria moved back her head to give a a headbut to the fist of Sebastian, the shock resounding in his arm making the splinters of bone piercing the muscles of his arm.
Far from giving up in spite of the pain he gave a kick on the knee of the vouivre not seeming to make him hardly more than a simple distraction, before striking it with his other fist.
Unfortunately for him Saria was not a fighter from yesterday.
She moved her torso back slightly to dodge the giant's blow before grabbing his fist and with a single knee strike on the elbow of his left arm broke it, the bone sticking out of the elbow.
Although Sebastian had turned off his pain receptors when he received too much pain, it still reached his brain. He gritted his teeth even harder and could not protect himself from a kick from the vouivre right on his chin, sending him about ten meters away.
He got up, seized by pain and feeling his strength leave him.
From the rocks he could see Ifrit start to scream.
Ifrit: Doctor!
She was worried but did not have the courage to raise her flame thrower... And the giant could not blame her...
Saria turned to the sarkaz, spotting her target not even bothering to look at her for more than a second.
The giant rose to his feet with his arm back in place.
Broken, but not defeated Sebastian raised his fists.
PRTS: Indicator, the doctor's sanity has dropped below ten units, it must not reach zero.
He took a deep breath before throwing himself forward again.
He struck with all his strength but the vouivre parried again with her arm before retaliating.
The punches flew between the two adversaries at a speed so absurd that it was almost impossible to see them if it were not for the immense shockwaves which they created.
Each time Saria struck, harder, faster, and had a greater martial mastery, parrying most of the blows. And each time the good doctor became more and more enraged. Why was he so weak, so slow, so dumb.
He struck and injured himself over and over again as his energy waned and it seemed he hadn't even touched a tenth of his opponent's energy.
Deciding to try something, the doctor grabbed Saria's horns before moving his head back, concentrating all his strength and energy in his back, arms and neck, he hit his skull against that of the woman. But only a few centimeters away from his head hitting the vouivre's and crushing it to a pulp, the skin of her face and skull seemed to be covered with rock and it was the doctor who exploded his skull and face on a material much harder than anything he had ever seen before.
His brain cut off from most of his abilities, he did not protect himself from the vouivre that grabbed his throat, before making him turn like a vulgar rag doll to finally throw him against the rocks where Ifrit was, the young girl not being an incompetent dodged the doctor's body with a roll while he fell to the ground motionless.
Saria: No, finally he is worth nothing...
The giant clenched his fists, tears streaming down his face.
Why did he keep losing...
Why was he so weak?
He had to be stronger.
But how? He didn't want to use it... And yet it was the only way he could brutally increase his power.
He clenched his teeth, silently crying even more.
He hated this world, he hated its inhabitants
And there was this person he hated and will always hate more than anyone else...
Himself.
He hated himself for being so weak. So incapable, unable to do what he wanted to do, to save people that is the only thing he wanted to do.
The fact that he was almost immortal?
He didn't give a damn about that. Because surviving the worst things didn't mean that the others he wanted to protect could also survive.
The sky that was still clear a few moments ago began to be covered with dark clouds.
So weak...
Gravity seemed to go crazy... Objects began to levitate while others began to be weighed down...
So pitiful...
The air became so hot that any plant would burn on contact. And so dry that water could evaporate.
So ridiculous...
Slowly the giant started to get up while screaming.
A scream still for the moment perfectly human, borrowed of pain and fear, of a scrambled gesture he unhooked his knife which had suddenly started to burn him horribly the skin.
Sebastian didn't want to resort to it, but he felt that part deep inside himself, that core of his soul that he kept isolated resurface, stirred by something in Ifrit right next to him without him understanding why.
Maybe it was because of the tear he had seen fall to the ground.
That solid heart and core of destruction, of bloodlust, of the will to burn everything began to escape.
The giant's skin began to cover itself with a black, viscous mist, the sky became so black with clouds that one could have thought it was night, if it wasn't for the red lightning bolts running through the clouds and hitting the ground. Its limbs gradually lengthened, becoming absolutely monstrous, as did its head, which became that of a four-horned beast, appropriate for the demonic monster that was now taking shape.
Gravity began to grow crazier and crazier, as the worst demon in the world opened its eyes with blood red flames, letting out a growl that would have terrified anyone to their core.
PRTS: Warning, the doctor's sanity has reached zero. Communications will be cut off.
Like magma a boiling liquid began to flow from the beast's mouth.
Seeing this Saria...
began to smile.
She was not just anyone.
She took off her heavy coat, to stay with her sports bra and shorts, showing her sculpted body of muscles.
Maybe this demon could give her the interesting fight she'd wanted for a century.
The beast rubbed its claws against the ground, before throwing itself on the vouivre while pushing a howl.
Saria in a flash placed herself between the legs of the creature and raised her fist to strike this one just under the jaw. The beast did not miss the opportunity and swept its paw against the ground in the hope of slicing the vouivre with its claws but she dodged with a jump above the gargantuan member of the monster. Rhine's defense director went to throw another punch, but the beast leapt with its hind legs heading much further away.
The beast stood up on its hind legs, its belly glowing as did its mouth, before it began to spit a beam of high pressure plasma straight at the vouivre.
Seeing this, Rhine's director solidified her entire skin with her arts, her body covered in a light gray rock. The beam hit her head on, but when the beast stopped its attack she could see that it had no effect, despite the fact that everything behind the vouivre had been reduced to atoms.
Saria removed the rock of her head to be able to see again and began to smile.
The beast started to howl and ran straight towards the vouivre its horns pointed forward with the idea of impaling it like a bull.
The vouivre opened her arms wide with an almost sick smile on her lips. As the horns of the beast came closer to the vouivre, she let them hit her as she started to contract each of her diamond muscles, the horns of the monster were stopped by the carapace of the terrifying vouivre, and the latter grabbed the horns of the demon, tackling its head to the ground before following up with several punches, fracturing the ground under the head of the beast.
She grabbed the horns again and using all her strength began to move the beast of several tens of tons in a circle, making it spin and finally throw it against the ground.
The rock fractured, the vehicle infrastructure in this part of Lungmen also threatening to collapse.
In a flash the beast rose up, bringing down its claw horizontally on Saria who this time did not have time to dodge the attack and instead concentrated her arts on the left part of her body and raised her arms to protect herself from the shock. The sharp talons of the monster hardly notched the adamantine rock of the vouivre, but its weight which remained light enough to be manipulated made that the director of Rhine was projected at an absurd speed in the airs, like a vulgar stone ricocheting on a lake, the young woman ricocheting against the ground before landing on her two legs at a good hundred meters of the giant.
Ifrit: Stop it!
Tears streamed down the girl's cheeks but the two fighters could no longer hear her, too thirsty for blood.
The demon stood on its two hind legs preparing to spit its laser again and thanks to the delay this offered, Saria covered her entire body with rock again before running straight towards the monster, directing herself with her memory even with all her isolated senses.
The beam of plasma of the beast was drawn and with a demonic cry which still caused the ground to tremble, its plasma struck Saria, but to make her as much damage as a blowpipe, the vouivre continuing its course whereas what was behind her was quite simply annihilated. Saria jumped in the air, its fist in front coming out of the beam what made close its mouth immediately to the beast so that it starts to bring down its long claws on the alive statue that was the vouivre which had depetrified her eyes. Saria was crushed against the ground, her body more unbreakable than the will of the doctor not having the least scratch. Instead of remaining there just immobile in spite of the shock she gave an impulse in her arms and flew her foot hitting right on the skull of the beast.
The impact was such that the black crystal horns on the beast's head cracked but still the beast did not stop and instead while Saria still hadn't reached the ground, she was grabbed by the beast's large hand which raised her above it's head, to crush her to the ground repeatedly, the steel and pipes of the city's infrastructure beginning to appear due to the monumental damage. The monster threw the vouivre into the air, this one motionless because of the impacts, and it opened its jaws wide to swallow Rhine's director in one bite.
But just before she entered the monster's throat, she seemed to do a flip in the air, the rock becoming more and more thick on her leg that she brought down with immense force on the demon's skull. And if someone could think that the force was in their blows was already immense during their confrontation, then it was necessary that this person looked at the consequences of the kick of Saria.
Like an explosion of what would have reminded the doctor of the atomic bomb, everything was swept away.
The sand on which they fought had been cleared around them on several tens of meters, certain parts of the vehicle of this district collapsing as if a catastrophe had fallen.
The black clouds that had covered much of Lungmen had also been dispersed in a flash, giving the view of blue sky again. The temperatures returned to normal, as did the air quality, and everything that had begun to fly away fell heavily to the ground.
Saria looked at the beast in front of her to see that its eyes had stopped glowing and that it was starting to emit a fine golden dust that was flying away.
The vouivre gave a light mocking snicker before turning around and taking a few steps when suddenly-
Ifrit: Mom!
She felt the girl start to hug her at the waist. Saria lowered her head, her face impassive, feeling the tears of the child running on the rock of her skin. She clutched the shoulders of the girl and moved away from her.
Ifrit began to look Saria in the eyes, her large orange orbs inflated of tears of sorrow.
The vouivre tightened her hands around the neck of the girl. Her face still and always cold.
And in what she thought was her last moments, Ifrit closed her eyes and leaned her head to the side, smiling despite the streams of tears that flowed from her face.
Ifrit: I love you mom...
These were the last words Ifrit wanted to say, with a smile.
Saria looked at her, and in front of her eyes replayed a memory. A memory that dated from almost a century ago. A young girl, who looked so much like Ifrit... Her young daughter... Why did this memory hit her now?
She did not know...
But through Ifrit for a moment she thought she saw another girl.
Saria could remember that it was at her death that her life had become what it was now.
A century, to traverse the world, to kill people for other people, and sometimes to make research. All emptied of any emotion. Except for the excitement of a good fight.
An empty shell, made for war.
Saria looked at Ifrit, and tears began to fall from her eyes.
She didn't want to make that mistake again.
She didn't want to lose a daughter again...
Why had she been so blind? Why hadn't she thought that this girl didn't have to be of her blood to be hers.
Her rocky fingers that wanted to wrap around the back of the girl's neck began to lose their rocks as she shook...
She had been a horrible person...
For so long.
And it was at that moment, when she was about to kill the only thing that would have been able to give her back her joy of living that she realized it.
Saria fell to her knees, the rock on her arms disappearing. Her fingers loosened as her eyes began to weep in torrents of tears. Ifrit opened her eyes again, surprised that she had not felt pain and the reaper's gentle embrace but to see Saria crying in front of her.
It was the very first time Ifrit had seen her mother cry.
No, rather the first time she saw her feel any emotion.
Quickly realizing that she had not decided to kill her yet Ifrit took her mother in a hug.
She needed this.
All she wanted to feel and make feel even if she was about to die was that, love.
Saria was surprised that the girl despite the fact that she had tried to kill her still loved her... The guilt gnawed at the vouivre and made her cry more and more as she began to hug her daughter tightly in her arms that had lost all their rocks, the vouivre almost unable to cast her arts.
Saria: Iffy... I-I am so sorry... Forgive me Iffy, please forgive me...
Her voice was as broken as her soul which was shattered at that moment by guilt.
The girl moved aside to look at her mother, and at that moment she could see that she really cared about her.
Ifrit: I love you Mom... Please don't hurt me...
Saria: I'm sorry Iffy... I didn't realize what I was doing... I promise I will never hurt you again... Just can you ever forgive me...?
Asked the vouivre with a face so full of pain that it would have been too much for anyone to bear.
The young demoness smiled and looked at her mother's face with the only purpose to reassure her.
Ifrit: Of course! You'll always be my mom!
Saria: Oh Iffy...
Slowly the vouivre also began to smile before without thinking to take the sarkaz in a hug so much she was happy, without really paying attention to the force that she put there.
Ifrit: Ouch, ouch, ouch! Mommy stop you squeeze too hard !
Immediately the vouivre stopped with a mortified face.
Saria: S-sorry...
Ifrit: I'm already not used to you holding me-
*Shink*
The sound of the edge of a blade splitting the air was heard, and the two young women could see that the emerald-eyed giant was standing behind the vouivre. His knif, which he had miraculously found, had its point close to piercing the vouivre's skin.
Ifrit looked at the doctor in horror to see the crystal horns on his skull disappear into a fine golden dust in the wind.
Saria: Go ahead doctor.
Ifrit: No!
Saria: It is fine Ifrit.
She says looking at the girl with a sad smile on her lips.
Saria: I did a lot of bad things... I have to pay...
Ifrit: But I don't want to!
The girl seemed to despair.
Sebastian: Iffy, this woman a few moments ago would never have seen you as her daughter. Are you sure you want to see her alive when she was trying to kill you?
Ifrit: I don't care!
The sarkaz screamed in anger and hugged the vouivre even tighter, glaring defiantly at the doctor.
Ifrit: I don't care what she did! No matter what she says about me! She's still my mom!
The giant looked the girl in the eyes.
Goddamn this girl...
He said to himself before lowering his knife.
Saria: They're going after her...
Sebastian lowered his head, knowing that the vouivre was right, and that Rhine Labs would continue to try to catch their biological weapon.
Sebastian: I have no way to make her look dead so Rhine will keep chasing her-
Ifrit: Cut me a horn!
The girl had separated from her mother to look at the two older people who both shared the same dumbfounded look upon hearing the girl's words.
Ifrit: As for the animal trophies! Cut me a horn and Saria can take it back to Rhine to make it look like she killed me! Mommy Saria always has healing vials in her dress! You can heal me right after!
Saria: No. There's no way. The chlorophyte won't grow your horn back.
Sebastian: I have medical arts. But Iffy the medical arts won't keep you from feeling that pain. So there's no way we do that.
Saria: I was asked by Rhine's higher-ups to bring your body back to Columbia Iffy...
Said the vouivre while looking away, still ashamed.
Ifrit: So what? By the time they realize that my body isn't there, if you provide them with false proof that I'm dead, I'll be long gone.
The sarkaz didn't seem to give up on her plan even though it seemed completely hopeless.
Sebastian: It's too dangerous Iffy we can't do that.
Ifrit: Do either of you have another idea? Anything at all?
The vouivre and the giant looked into each other's eyes, both uncomfortable with the idea of not being able to give the girl a counter argument other than it would hurt.
Saria: This is not a good idea...
Sebastian: Definitely...
The sarkaz knelt down, turning her head to the side showing one of her crystal horns.
Ifrit: Do it, it's the only way we can get out of here quietly. You both know it will work, and I can take it. I am a sarkaz after all...
The giant had the uncertain face, he put a knee on the ground passing one of his hands on the blond hair of the girl taking a great inspiration and his knife in his hand he approached the horn of Ifrit who already closed her eyes and calmed her breathing. Saria looked away biting her tongue to avoid having to look.
The doctor seemed to tremble as his blade came within a centimeter of the girl then he froze continuing to tremble before turning back taking his breath that he had cut.
Sebastian: N-nah I can't do that...
He said as if he was asked to crush a kitten in his hands.
Saria looked at the scene and reached for the knife.
Saria: It is good, I-I will make it...
The giant gave him voluntarily the knife itself starting to look elsewhere. Saria replicated the same gestures as the doctor but in mirror mode, unable to do the step and hurt the girl even if she was close to kill her a few moments ago.
Saria: I can't do it either...
The sarkaz took a deep breath and faster than lightning grabbed the knife by herself.
Ifrit: You are the two strongest people I've ever seen so why are you such pussies?!
With a quick jab she swung the blade to the side of her skull, cutting her horn as if through the air.
It took a second for the vouivre and the giant who were wide-eyed to realize what the girl had just done.
Ifrit let out a howl of pain, the bloody piece of originium falling next to her as she herself collapsed to the ground from the terrible pain. Without thinking Sebastian threw himself forward catching her before she hit the ground and grabbing his knife without even thinking, from his whole body strings of light condensed to travel to Ifrit's wound whose facial expression quickly calmed down as the pain began to disappear quickly. The blood stopped flowing and on contact with the solid light it disappeared, light that took the shape of the horn of the sarkaz to shine even brighter before disappearing to reveal a brand new horn exactly like the old one...
The sarkaz reopened her eyes and although she was still tense from the pain that had quickly faded she brought her hand close to her horn to feel it there again.
Saria had not moved at all because of the shock. The worried giant looked at the girl with a sad look, and the sarkaz seeing it began to smile to reassure him, a big smile with closed eyes, in spite of the tears which still ran on her cheeks.
Ifrit: Did you see? I am the most courageous!
Sebastian: Yes... I saw Iffy...
He said with difficulty to speak, without warning he started to hug the girl, simply reassured that she was okay, his reflexes taking over.
Sebastian: You're braver than me, that's for sure...
The good doctor was surprised at the efficiency with which he had treated the girl, but he quickly concluded that his arts must have progressed with experience... And he also concluded that his knife must have been infused with originium because it had allowed him to cast.
The young sarkaz turned her gaze behind her to see the vouivre kneeling on the ground but still smiling at the girl, the traces of tears still visible on her face and on the stone that still covered parts of her skin.
Starting to smile as usual, one of the arms of the girl put itself around the neck of the giant with the eyes of emeralds to continue the hug, but its other arm extended around the head of Saria to draw her towards her taking her also in her embrace. Having in her embrace the giant and the vouivre the smile of the young girl was at its peak, even if the two adults remained relatively embarrassed on their side... Surely because of the fact that their faces were so close to each other while they were killing each other without mercy a few seconds ago.
A part of the giant was still bitter against the vouivre, not only for having shamefully blown his face off during their fight, but also because a part of him was still reluctant to grant forgiveness to a person who would have killed the girl in his arms only a few minutes ago...
And Saria on the other hand...
Had no fucking idea who exactly this man was. Of course she had done some quick research, doctor from Rhodes Island, former general for the queen of Kazdel, became a competent fighter recently...
But nothing she had seen on the little research she had done pointed to the best fighter she has ever met capable of turning into an apocalyptic demon reducing his environment to hell all around him is capable of prowess in medical arts. All the while he got close enough to the girl that she agreed to take him in a hug...
In fact the two fighters had hit each other in the face without knowing anything about each other...
Sebastian heard the phone in his pocket ringing, a sign that communications had been restored.
Sebastian: Excuse me Iffy, it must be important...
He managed to free himself from the girl's embrace and instead focused all his attention on the voucher.
The large draconic tail of Saria which had healed itself began to surround the body of the small Ifrit in an affectionate gesture.
The giant immediately picked up the phone when he saw the number of the oni calling him, he cleared his throat to have the most sympathetic tone of voice possible.
Sebastian: Hey Hosh-
Hoshiguma: What the hell was that in the desert?!
The doctor took a deep breath. He didn't know that on the other side of the city in an office of the L.G.D. tower was the oni who couldn't miss the sound and light show that took place in the desert...
Sebastian: Hmmm...
Hoshiguma: I want to cover you, but I can't do that!
Sebastian: Relax... I have a plan...
Hoshiguma: I hope so!
Sebastian: I feel you are a bit on edge...
Hoshiguma: Can you tell me what just happened before I come to you and break your legs and take you to our cells?
The giant got a shiver down his spine when he heard the oni.
Sebastian: I got in my face against someone very strong to protect the kid, more than the leader of the reunion the other time. So I got carried away and it had some fallout on the surroundings...
Hoshiguma: Like what?
Sebastian: Like worse than last time...
Hoshiguma: *sigh* And you're okay...?
Sebastian: I'm glad you're worried about me.
Hoshiguma: I'm always worried about you...
She said embarrassed from the other end of the phone, her voice calmer.
Sebastian: Thank you, that makes me feel good... But I'm fine. I'm just exhausted and I've been badly beaten up... Again...
Hoshiguma: Are you sure you're okay? And where is the one you fought?
She asked the giant without meaning to, as she was twisting the metal plate of her desk in frustration.
Sebastian: Huh... She's on the good side now apparently...
Hoshiguma: Oh...
Ch'en: Oh shit, there's the intervention order, Hoshi, get your ass over there and get your squad!
Swire: Why the hell are you always running around with those big legs?!
The oni looked towards the door of her office from where she had just heard the other two leaders of the L.G.D. talking.
Hoshiguma: Did you hear that? You have to move before the whole L.G.D. comes.
Sebastian: Yep. A tip says them that you didn't know about it.
Hoshiguma: I was counting on it. Well, I'll have to go. Take care of yourself for once and stop putting yourself in danger...
Sebastian: In other words, stop being myself...
Hoshiguma: You know what I mean... See you tomorrow...
The giant raised his eyebrows remembering that tomorrow night he would be a member of the L.G.D...
Sebastian: See you tomorrow Hoshi.
Hanging up the phone, Sebastian put his cell phone in his pocket.
Sebastian: Iffy! It's time to go !
The girl looked at the vouivre who smiled and let go of the sarkaz to let her go.
Saria: Go.
Ifrit: We will see each other again...?
At the moment Saria's mind didn't know exactly what to answer. She was still racked by guilt and was almost sure that Silence would never want to see her again...
Then it was the heart until then petrified of the vouivre which answered.
Saria: Of course Iffy.
She said while starting to caress the blond hair of the girl. Who got up abruptly once the vouivre had finished to leave to run towards the giant, not forgetting to turn over to make a big goodbye with her arm.
Ifrit: see you later mom!
At this moment Saria was so happy for so long in the depths of herself that she had the tears which returned to her eyes. Tears that she let fall when the giant and the sarkaz left, disappearing behind one of the dunes.
The vouivre turned to see the girl's horn still on the sand. With a twitch in her face, she walked to her dress to get her phone and take a picture of the demon part in her hand. She sent the thing to her employer and immediately received a call.
M: Director.
Saria: The work has been done.
M: Well, we'll wait for you to bring the rest of the test subject's body back to Columbia, after which you should-
Saria: I would like a break from my assignments.
M: ... Right. I can understand that. Goodbye Saria.
The other person on the other end of the line hung up and Saria immediately threw down the horn. And as she lowered her head she realized one thing.
That since her rock was formed on her skin so underneath her clothes that had been vaporized by the lasers she had taken full force. She sighed definitely tired before putting on the large jacket which was also used as a dress to hide her naked body.
Then she stopped abruptly in her steps as she was leaving.
... Since when she had no more rock on the rest of her body...?
She asked herself relatively worried.
At a good distance from the vouivre the giant was walking in the desert, the backlash of fatigue from his actions was hitting him and making him walk slower, until suddenly he felt someone grabbing his hand.
He turned his attention to his left and looked down to see that Ifrit was holding his hand, the girl began to look at him, and she gave a beaming smile.
Happy, the fatigue of the giant disappeared very slightly. His walk in the desert continued with a lighter step to return to Rhodes Island.
A few tens of minutes in the coolness of the morning and the doctor had already arrived to Rhodes Island, a tired Ifrit sitting on his shoulders.
As he arrived in front of the mobile base that was still docked at Lungmen, he approached the boarding bay as the ramp slowly began to descend.
Without warning, the girl looked down to look the doctor in the eye before asking a peculiar question.
Ifrit: Can I call you my dad?
The giant suddenly jumped when he heard the girl and looked up at her, embarrassed.
Sebastian: Certainly not!
The wide ramp of the boarding bay touched the ground to reveal the people standing in the room waiting.
There was of course Kal'tsit and Amiya, the cautus looking as exhausted as the last time the giant had seen her. He could quickly see the interlocutor of the lynx, the liberi of Rhine who had already arrived at Rhodes Island. Moreover the giant could also see the interns of Rhine who were in Rhodes Island... Magallan, Mayer, Ptilopsis all three were also there waiting in the bay to the great surprise of the giant. But what did not surprise him was two familiar ursines that stood near the entrance door of the bay. Misha of course who seemed to have shed some tears given the irritated state of his eyes, who was standing near Rosa who was biting her nails.
During the half second that the giant used to spot everyone present, Misha could finally notice that the giant was standing perfectly well and was finally arriving much later than he had initially announced.
Sebastian: Yo! Kid delivery!
Once on the same level as everyone else he caught their attention with his words, earning many looks of relief. Finishing his sentence with a smile and giving a thumbs up, the girl on his shoulders replicated the same gesture.
Misha: Uwaaa! Doctor!
Misha ran over to throw herself at the doctor and hug his leg glad to have him back.
Touched, the hand of the doctor who showed his thumb in the air came to caress the top of the head of the young girl.
Sebastian: Hey, watch it girl, you're going to make me fall...
He looked up from the ursine as he heard the footsteps of Dr. Silence who was looking at her daughter with reassured eyes... Although tired.
Silence: Thank God you're okay, Iffy, and you too, doctor...
Sebastian: Oh~ You're gonna make me blush Olivia.
Amiya: Dokutah!
Kal'tsit: Doctor... Finally back. We got a PRTS alert on your-
Sebastian: Not much happened except that I got violently beaten up by an angry vouivre... But this time I didn't end up in ashes...
Immediately he looked at the face of the cautus to see her almost as worried as during the fight against Skullshatterer.
Sebastian: But hey, in the end all's well that ends well. By the way, girls, what are you all doing here?
he asked, turning to the other Rhine members who were still in Rhodes.
Magallan: Mrs. Kal'tsit told us that Rhodes had gotten into a big fight with Rhine and gave us the choice to leave or stay.
Sebastian: And you all want to stay?
he asked almost incredulously.
Mayer: I could only make one Meeboo at Rhine and the rest I had to work on weapons! Of course I'm staying!
Magallan: Rhodes has already helped me more with my expeditions than Rhine ever did, and I won't have to work for old men who don't understand the point of my research!
The two young women both said in an energetic tone and when he turned to the almost robotic liberi.
Ptilopsis: Rhodes is a much nicer place.
Mayer: We were just surprised to see our dear Olivia again and with such information. But here you are and with our little imp!
The anaty approached the giant and miraculously managed to tiptoe around Ifrit and tickle her slightly, the girl moving on the shoulders of the giant who was holding her tightly.
Magallan: Doctor I'm just worried about my family...
Said the liberi girl seeming to have some reluctance.
Sebastian: Did you call the number Kal ?
Kal'tsit: Hm. I gave the phrase it hung up immediately.
Sebastian: Good. So don't worry. I had a plan in case one day with Rhine it doesn't work out at all. All your families should arrive with new names in Victoria within two hours.
Everyone present was of course surprised. But the three Rhine women were reassured.
Sebastian: Give me a few more hours and I'll make sure your family is safe too.
He said, looking sincerely into Silence's large hazel eyes, and the liberi began to smile.
Silence: Thank you so much doctor Sebastian...
Sebastian: Heh, call me by my first name Olivia.
Silence: I-I see...
She said embarrassed at the idea of giving up the facade of work with someone when she was only too used to keeping it. Rosa who until there was silent looked at the liberi of a doubtful gaze before approaching the giant slightly annoyed. The young woman seemed to have got rid of most of her noble paraphernalia to finally wear only her shirt, her tights, her boots and her skirt, giving her a much more relaxed look...
Despite the fact that she still seemed angry.
Rosa: Sebastian... Will you realize how reckless you are? You put one of the biggest powers of Columbia on your back, you disappeared for a whole night and from what little we could see from here your fight was even harder than the one against this leader of the reunion. I was concerned, as was Dr. Kal'tsit or Amiya.
Kal'tsit sent a murderous look to Rosa when she heard her speak, while Amiya just nodded.
Sebastian: And your point is? I saved a kid and for nothing in the world would I regret it, or for nothing in the world would I think if I had to do it again.
He said with a smile and without hesitation.
The bear sighed, although the doctor was so intelligent, he was also perhaps the most stupid and stubborn of all men on this planet.
Even if it was one of the things she liked about him...
Silence: But doctor, one question is bothering me... That vouivre you fought against was...
Ifrit: Yep, it was Mama Saria who kicked his ass!
Silence looked angry, and sad, but also puzzled, wondering why the girl remained so cheerful if there had been a fight.
But what Ifrit did was also to draw all the attention of the others to her.
Misha: Doctor...? Who is that girl...?
The young ursine stepped away from the doctor's leg to look at the sarkaz. Her doctor batteries seemed recharged for the moment...
Ifrit as well as Sebastian looked at Misha, even though the giant was inwardly begging for one thing.
Sebastian: 'please... don't say I'm your f-'
Ifrit: I am his daughter!
...
...
Kal'tsit/Rosa/Amiya/Silence/Misha: Huh?!
Sebastian: I knew it...
Ptilopsis: Hypothesis. Ifrit still hasn't learned the concept of biology.
Mayer: I'm not sure she cares...
Kal'tsit seemed to be already angry before shaking her head after doing some math. Amiya seemed confused about her own feelings but also felt that anger. Rosa closed her eyes but seemed to emanate a murderous aura, and Silence she seemed the most embarrassed, her red face hidden by her hands.
And Misha...
Misha seemed shocked at first
Then her brain began to think intensely in a logic that only she could understand at the time.
She felt jealous, confused but also determined she clenched her little fists and looked at the sarkaz.
Misha: I'm his daughter too!
She said, her bear ears rising on her head to gain a few inches. The witnesses of this particular scene were embarrassed and above all wondered how the doctor would react.
Everyone looked at him, and they could see that he was not blinking and was looking straight ahead.
He sighed and lowered the sarkaz from his shoulders before walking down the hall.
Sebastian: I'm going to bed.
Ifrit: Hey!
Kal'tsit: Doctor, you still have a lot of work to do.
Sebastian: Nope!
He closed the door to the hallway behind him and disappeared, leaving the young women behind him incredibly disappointed and Kal'tsit even more upset than usual.
The two girls looked at each other not knowing how to act.
Misha: Why do you call him your daddy?
Ifrit: Because he saved me and he is so nice to me, last night he even read me a bedtime story! Even if he pulls on my ear when I say bad words...
The beginning of hersentence was enthusiastic, the girl's crystal tail wagging vigorously, before she felt a pain in her ear at her second sentence.
Ifrit: And then he gets along great with my mom!
She said, pointing at Silence who was yawning, and the liberi flinched as she felt the murderous glances that were being thrown at her.
Misha: Oh... He's very nice to me too! The other day he read me a story at night and he makes me food! He doesn't scold me but I don't have a mom that he gets along with...
Just like the demoness, the bear was at first enthusiastic and then came down from that joy.
Misha: I think he gets along pretty well with my sister...? But that would make him less my daddy...
Ifrit: Does this mean we are sisters now?
The demoness had regained her enthusiasm and looked at the ursine with stars in her eyes.
Misha: I think so...
Ifrit: Yeah!
Without warning the sarkaz took the ursine in her arms and started to lift her in the air without paying much attention to her strength.
Ifrit: Hey I have a sister now!
The sarkaz seemed to be very happy with her not so correct understanding of the family concept and the ursine didn't seem to be very embarrassed contrary to what some people could have thought, on the contrary she also seemed to be happy about this novelty.
Misha: And now I have another one!
Rosa: My head hurts trying to understand...
Silence: I want to go to sleep too...
Feeling a seizure from her oripathy, Silence yawned.
Silence: Joyce please go give Iffy some tests while I find a place to lie down...
Ifrit: Hey, who's that donkey over there, is she one of his daughters too?
Amiya: ... Four more years Amiya... Four more years…
The doctor returned to his quarters, all the fatigue hitting him like a train, the aftermath of his transformation, the many fights and everything else having literally drained all his energy.
And unless he wanted to start burning again to get that delicious energy he needed so much, the only option he had was simply to go to sleep. Keeping in mind that he still had things to do tonight.
He climbed the stairs to the upper part of his apartments with difficulty, before removing his shoes and finally collapsing on the bed.
He took a deep breath and felt every muscle in his body finally relax.
The sweet smell and feel of the cotton of his sheets on his skin and just then he thought he could already fall asleep.
But he felt the heat source right next to him start to move too on the bed.
This person he had seen but not spoken to stuck to him, starting to hug him with affection.
Specter: It has been a long day my love...?
Sebastian: Very, yes...
He says his voice as exhausted as his mind.
Specter: But it's not just because of this day, is it?
The doctor would have let out a laugh if he wasn't so tired.
Despite the fact that he closed the mental connection a long time ago, the aegir seemed to keep a good place in his mind.
Sebastian: That's it... it's getting harder and harder...
Specter: Isn't this life?
Sebastian: Maybe... I'm just afraid that I can't keep up with what I'm doing... I feel like no matter what I do, some people will die sooner or later and I can't do anything to stop it...
Specter: Do you doubt yourself?
Sebastian: It is not me that I doubt. I know perfectly well what I am capable of. What I doubt is what will happen to me in the future. I fear that whatever I face will be far beyond my strength.
The aegir hugged the giant a little tighter, her broad chest pressing against his back her hand making its way to the giant's heart.
Specter: Maybe that's the whole problem. You think you know your limits, you think you can't go beyond... Maybe you're just wrong...
Sebastian: I wish it worked like that... And I wish I was wrong...
He felt Specter press her forehead against his back getting closer and closer.
Specter: The nightmares are getting more and more frequent...
Hearing this, the doctor could hear the aegir's distress as well. He raised his hand and placed it on the aegir's hand, which she had pressed against the giant's heart.
Sebastian: They're just trying to take you back... Don't let them get you...
Specter: I'm just afraid...
Sebastian: There's no reason to be afraid. I won't leave you to them. So please stay strong...
Specter: Would you come and look for me in the depths of the abyss? On the other side of Terra?
He turned his head slightly and opened his eyes to look at the aegir who was like any other scared young woman.
Sebastian: Only you and I in this world can understand the pain you are going through. So whether it's in the depths of the ocean, on the other side of the planet, or behind the stars, I will go to save you, and I will never let them take you away, Laurentina.
The aegir squeezed the colossus' hand a little tighter.
Specter: Thank you... I love you.
Of course her last words gave him no surprise. After all, the nun hadn't been hiding her feelings all along. The giant closed his eyes as he felt the affection and warmth cradle him.
Specter: It's getting harder and harder to wait for the wedding...
she said, her breath getting heavier and heavier and her hand moving down the giant's body. Sebastian understood immediately and began to stress intensely, his body sending him a little spike of adrenaline to wake him up as he felt the danger coming.
Sebastian: Y-yes... You'll have to wait for that moment...
Specter: I know... Unfortunately.
A poor excuse to prevent the aegir from smashing his pelvis into a thousand fragments with her own...
Columbia.
Saria had returned to her native land, walking among the stone steles with a bouquet of flowers in her hands, the sun still high above her head, the sound of birdsong the only sound despite the city only a few dozen meters away.
Her steps were heavy, just like her mind and heart. Something that would have been normal for a person walking in a cemetery.
But here it was much worse for the vouivre.
She stopped in front of two graves, old and damaged by time.
One was larger than the other and had a pot of wilted flowers on it.
On the larger grave was written, David Stonelock 943-989, and on the smaller grave, Lilia Stonelock 978-989.
The vulture felt tears welling up in her eyes.
There was a reason she hadn't been to their graves for almost a year.
The pain was simply too great.
She knelt down and removed the flowers from the pot on the small grave and replaced them with the ones she had with her, a tear rolling down her cheek.
Saria took a deep breath, feeling her diaphragm tighten.
She stood up and looked at the graves.
Wiping the tear from her cheek she told herself one thing.
That life goes on. And that hers would be long. So no matter how many scars life wanted to impose on her, she would have to deal with it and move on.
Reaching into her pocket she pulled out a black crystal horn.
In a way it was what Ifrit had taught her.
Saria placed the horn on her daughter's grave, next to the flowerpot.
She would never forget them.
But she would go on until she died, even if it was centuries away.
That's why she had taken flowers that would last a long time without fading.
She turned and left the two graves.
She would not be back for a long time...
Saria left with a light heart and a light step. A new and very precise objective in mind.
After a good rest and a good shower the giant had left behind his tie and his beret in spite of the fact that he was currently outside.
More precisely he was in one of the parks of Lungmen, the sun starting to set over the city giving a golden hue to the sky.
The good doctor looked at his phone to check the time, waiting for someone. And of course to check that the person he was waiting for was not late for their appointment, and unfortunately she was late by a good five minutes.
What a air head the giant said to himself while leaning against a lamp post and smiling.
Exusiai: H-hey! Sorry I'm late!
The giant looked up at the young woman and was paralyzed.
Exusiai: It took me a while to get dressed...
Sebastian: ...
Exusiai: Seb? Why are you staring at me like that...? Do you think it doesn't suit me?
She said, looking at what she was wearing.
Sebastian: To say that your outfit doesn't fit you now would be like saying that fire is wet.
The angel started to blush even more intensely than before as the doctor continued to look at her as if he was confronted with the eighth wonder of the world.
Exusiai: T-thank you... Are you coming? There are many places I'd like to show you...
She said while starting to touch the jewels that she had on her hands of embarrassment.
It should be said that it was her very first date...
The giant began to smile and approached the young sankta.
Sebastian: Let's go Lemu.
Exusiai was startled and started to blush even more when she heard the new nickname she had just obtained. The two young people started to walk through the crowded streets of Lungmen, while a few meters away, standing discreetly behind a wall, Mostima started to smile.
Mostima: Sebastian you little sneak...
Maybe she should postpone her reunion with the sankta.
A sankta who lived a memorable evening. Between the small fair of the park that she visited with the giant coming out with a stuffed animal of a black rabbit with green eyes that the giant won her in a game of archery. Familiar with the city, she took him to the main tourist spots until the sun was completely down. The many laughs and smiles mixed with the feeling in her belly engraved all these scenes in the memory of the sankta.
And the evening ended at this famous Victorian restaurant that Exusiai knew...
A tête à tête, some candles, good food and some good wine.
And Exusiai could have thought she was in one of the movies she had watched so much.
Just her and the person she loved...
Sebastian: So how many times have you done it?
Exusiai: Four good times... I was in all the newspapers of Laterano like the schoolgirl who blew up her school~.
Sebastian: I don't think I would have liked the school, but for God's sake, only you or W would have done that...
Exusiai: Nah~ W would have stolen the explosives instead of making them.
The giant finished his glass of wine and put it down. A waiter arrived a second later.
Waiter: Madam, sir, would you like a dessert?
Sebastian: I'll have the millefeuille.
Exusiai: Hm... The cream pie looks good. I'll have some...
The giant could see the waiter who was stopping himself from smiling. While he started to smile openly amused by the innocence of the young woman.
Waiter: A millefeuille and a cream pie okay...
The waiter left and the sankta was surprised to see the giant smiling so stupidly at her.
Exusiai: What?
Sebastian: So you wanted to end up with a cream pie... I was always told to wait until the third date.
Exusiai: Wait what?
It took her three seconds to understand with the little degenerate knowledge she had (mostly taught by W and Andreana), before her face turned the same color as her hair.
She hid her face with one hand, looking away as the giant started to laugh.
Sebastian: Don't blush like that... Don't tell me you're imagining things anyway? Maybe I should call the LGD and tell them my age~
She wasn't imagining the scene... At least not before, but the giant's words were a spark that caused her usually pure mind to go into a tailspin... Blood running down her nose as she tried her best to calm herself.
The good doctor was both sorry for the young woman but also so amused.
He handed her her towel and gave her a small smile.
Sebastian: Any hope that you will forgive me?
The young woman finally dared to look at him again as she wiped the blood from her nose.
Exusiai: But why do you want to embarrass me so much...
Sebastian: Sorry, I can't help it. When someone has a beautiful flower in front of him, why wouldn't he want to see it bloom? It's the same for you...
The red of her cheeks remained in place.
Exusiai: You always find your way with words...
Sebastian: Aye... I can't deny it... If you want to change the subject I was wondering why you were blowing up your school so often...
Exusiai: I wanted attention. At that time my sister often went abroad for operations and rarely came back... So when I wanted her to come back, a big boom and for a few months she was with me...
Sebastian: Do you have a sister?
Asked the giant, surprised because he had never heard of the family of the sankta, who herself never spoke of them.
Exusiai was startled and the giant could see her facial expression change immediately to sadness.
Exusiai: Had.
Sebastian: O-oh sorry I-
Exusiai: That's okay. I guess I can tell you about it. One day my sister left for an operation in Kazdel. And I never saw her again. Her friend, my friend, came back years later, as a fallen sankta... She thought I was a fool, thinking I don't know what she had done so that my sister never came back but she came back after obviously killing a sankta... Disappearing and reappearing for months or years without ever giving me an answer...
He could see Exusiai clench her fist and lower his head. Her eyes were hidden by her hair but soon the giant could see a tear that reached the chin of the young woman. He moved his hand slightly forward and wiped the tear with his thumb.
Sebastian: I am sorry about your sister. I'm sorry to hear what that woman did to you. But please stop crying Lemu... If the happiest angel on this continent started crying it would be the world turned upside down, wouldn't it?
He said saddened, but not wanting to stop smiling at the young woman.
Exusiai began to smile, quickly wiping away her tears.
Exusiai: You're right, I know who I am. Sorry for the blues~.
And there it was as usual, the giant started to smile. Because the joy of this angel was indeed a thing that allowed to forget all the problems of the world.
The waiter arrived and put two plates on the table before leaving.
Sebastian: That's it, enjoy your cream pie with a beaming smile...
He said as he himself took a bite of his dessert. And despite the fantastic taste that the sankta had on the palate she almost choked when she heard the giant. Starting to blush again she slapped his arm.
Exusiai: How old are you?
Sebastian: Not old enough to give you one unfortunately.
She blushed even more and started to tap his arm again, which didn't budge a millimeter while he started to have a the most amused smile he could ever have while enjoying the sweetness of his dessert...
Exusiai: S-stop!
The evening went on as it had started. With the same pleasant feeling in the chest after a coffee and having paid the bill. The two of them left in the night streets of Lungmen heading towards the world's end. On the way Exusiai talked about her family, or at least what she remembered, but also about her youth in the orphanage, her sister, and this friend that the giant could only imagine as Mostima. This time the words left her tongue lightly. Because no matter what she said or felt, she was aware that a certain person would be there for her in any case.
And as the famous penguin logistics pub came into view, and Exusiai's hand slowly took the giant's in hers, the good doctor thought of one thing. Specter's words.
Maybe he really was wrong. Maybe he was wrong about his limitations.
Maybe he could get stronger.
He just had to train, maybe, twice, three times, five times harder than usual, no matter what he just couldn't stand still. If there was any hope of him getting stronger, he had to.
He had to for people like Exusiai right next to him. Or like Nearl, Amiya, Rosa or any of this other people who made his heart beat for different reasons. This people who gave him love made him want to be stronger.
The two stopped in front of the night bar, hearing the various members of Penguin Logistics laughing and chatting inside with music.
Exusiai: Here we are.
Sebastian: Yep...
The sankta took two steps forward. Then she turned around to look at the giant with a smile and let go of his hand to put hers on his chest.
Exusiai: It was nice...
Sebastian: I loved it.
The sankta looked into his deep green eyes for a good second.
Then she felt the giant's hand on her left cheek, moving the sankta's hair back to allow the giant to see her two golden eyes instead of one as usual.
Feeling this contact, the young woman stood up on her tiptoes and gently closed her eyes.
The giant brought his head close to Exusiai's and closed his eyes as well, the location of the young woman's lips engraved in his mind at the time, and finally their lips-
Texas: I'll be right back, I'm just going for a smoke!
The door of the bar opened abruptly, the lupo of PL leaving with a cigarette in the hand closing the door behind her. Immediately her eyes fell on the giant and the sankta.
A few more centimeters and Exusiai would have been able to enjoy her very first kiss.
The eyes of the giant opened wide and enraged his irises red as the blood that ran through his veins to land right on the Lupo. Suddenly she was struck by an immense feeling of danger, all the hairs of her body bristled and the lighter that she had in her hands broke suddenly, as if a bullet had crossed it.
That second it took the doctor to give the lupo his most deadly look was what it took for Exusiai to realize that their moment was no longer private. Suddenly she turned back to the lupo and pretended that nothing was wrong despite the intense crimson on her cheeks.
Exusiai: O-oh hi Tex!
The sankta started to leave, and turned around giving a look that was somewhere between embarrassment and apology.
Exusiai: Hi Seb... We'll see you soon, right?
Sebastian: Of course Lemu...
She smiled at her little nickname, and waved goodbye with her hand, her other hand keeping the mini Seb bunny, the giant returned the gesture. The sankta entered the bar followed by the lupo who had no lighter to light her cigarette...
The giant found himself alone in the night street and quickly his smile disappeared to make anger and hate appear.
Sebastian: A wolf...? Just a fucking street mutt...
The giant left, thinking about the pleasant moments of the evening so as not to feel too much anger.
Inside the bar all the members of Penguin Logistics turned with big smiles to Exusiai waiting for his report on the evening. Although they were all shocked to see the sankta clearly more upset than ever.
The sankta walked over to the table where Sora was sitting to take off all the jewelry she had and put it in front of the lupo.
Exusiai: Thank you for lending them to me.
Her voice was cold and she put the objects down with obviously little gentleness.
Exusiai: I'm going home.
The young woman started to leave, heading for the exit door.
Lappland: Wait a minute, this went so wrong-
Exusiai: It went fucking awesome!
Lappland was startled when she heard Exusiai say an insult.
The sankta who was about to go out again looked at Texas who was standing there shocked by the front door.
Exusiai: And thank you too, Tex.
She said with venom in her voice as she left the bar, slamming the door behind her in rage.
Emperor who had been sitting on a stool silently turned to the black haired lupo.
Emperor: What the hell did you do...
The next day after noon.
Sebastian: I FUCKING SWEAR I WILL RESIGN AND GO AWAY FROM HERE !
Yelled the giant in frustration as he banged his head against his desk, making a few sheets of paper among the mountain of paperwork on his desk jump. In the Nearl room, W, Dobermann and Specter all turned their gazes to him.
W was lying on one of the two couches, her demon tail wagging lazily as she was half napping.
Nearl was reading a book, sitting on the other couch in the room, and next to her sat Dobermann helping with the doctor's work with a pen in hand. As was Specter, who was putting away various documents in the library.
Sebastian: I'm going to be gone for God knows how long from this place in less than an hour and this old hag is giving me years of work!
Dobermann: D-Doctor, please calm down...
Nearl: I heard about the little stunt you pulled yesterday. It must have left her angry...
The giant sighed and stood up with his pen in his hand ready to work some more.
W: Would you quit? You? Pfff... And what would you do in another country...?
Nearl: Can anyone tell me why she is here?
Asked the kuranta not too happy about sharing her living space with someone who hated the doctor so much.
W: Because since someone broke my door the air conditioning in my room has broken down and so I come here where it's cool.
That was a blatant lie... In truth she was napping here because it was the only place since her season started where she could sleep peacefully and she thought she knew why.
Nearl: You don't even work.
W: You don't either, you just read that mushy novel about a knight who falls in love with her master...
The kuranta straightened up, blushing slightly as she felt the looks of the others who seemed to judge her particular taste in literature.
Sebastian: Don't fight about it girls. As long as you don't bother me, everyone is welcome here. And to answer your question cockroach, I don't know. I've always dreamed of going to Kazimierz or Laterano, so maybe I'll buy a little house there, find a wife, start a family... A life anyway.
He felt the eyes of the young women on him, all of them being surprised by his answer.
Sebastian: What?
Dobermann: Aren't you a little young to be thinking about that kind of life...?
Sebastian: Dobbe honestly, can you see me doing this job until I'm an old man? It's nice for a while but it's not all I want to do with my life... That's why having a wife, children, a quiet and tidy life, that's what I would like after all this...
He said with a smile as he stood up to place a file in the library.
He was met with silence and turned to see all the young women in the room looking at him with wide eyes, before returning to whatever they were doing without saying anything...
The giant shrugged, not realizing that he had just gained points in the ranking of best possible husbands...
Specter: I also want many children...
Said the aegir closing her eyes with his hands on her cheeks, starting to imagine the face of their future children in a pure fantasy...
The giant sighed, tired of her shenanigans and came to sit back at his desk.
W: By the way doc, aren't you supposed to be interviewing someone for the operator job?
Sebastian: Yeah but she's late. She sent a request from outside yesterday with almost no information, so be on your guard because it could be an assassin or-
The door opened to let in a vouivre in a white dress that Sebastian recognized instantly...
Despite the fact that she was wearing a cap and sunglasses... Like the characters in the movies who want to go incognito.
Saria: Is this the place for the interview?
All the members of Rhodes Island looked at the vouivre for several seconds without saying anything.
Sebastian: ... What's your name ma'am...?
Saria: Huh... Airas... That's right my name is Airas.
There was again a silence.
Sebastian: Madam Saria, do you think I'm a dumbass?
The vulture gasped in shock.
Saria: Did you recognize me?
Sebastian: Of course I did!
He says annoyed.
Sebastian: 'Then not sure she's a genius...' Well. Silence and Ifrit have the room 32 corridor G floor 3. I've got to go, I've got stuff to do, and you're hired, Mrs. Saria Stonelock. On this, ladies I have had enough, see you!
He said before taking his sword, his weapons and his coat, putting his beret before leaving. All this in only a few seconds. Preferring to leave now than to worry about a new member like Saria and the problems she would cause.
Nearl raised her hand towards the door, disappointed, having hoped to say goodbye in another way...
The doctor arrived in front of the L.G.D. HQ building, walking in the same way he had done a while before and no sooner had he stepped inside than-
Ch'en: You're late!
The giant could see the lung in the middle of the hall, looking enraged as usual. Hoshiguma was next to her, sending a small wave to the giant with an apologetic smile. The other members of the L.G.D. looked at the giant before going back to their duties.
The giant turned his head to one of the clocks in the room.
Sebastian: I'm twenty minutes early...
Ch'en: That's not important! You are now under my orders and you will arrive at the time I ask you!
The giant already had a mad desire to smash the lung's skull, but he returned completely to the hall and stood at attention. Quickly realizing that Ch'en had every intention of making his life a living hell.
Sebastian: Yes, sir. Hi Hoshi.
Hoshiguma: Yo Seb, our lizard is not going to do you any favors...
Ch'en: Quiet! Follow me cadet.
She turned to leave in the corridors, the giant following her as well as the oni who wanted to accompany the two.
Hoshiguma: How is it going with the kid?
Sebastian: She and Misha started to call me daddy...
The oni seemed to be on the verge of bursting into laughter to mock the giant. And ch'en turned to the giant with wide eyes before trying to do like nothing happened.
Hoshiguma: I was sure it was only a matter of time...
Sebastian: But it just makes me feel older... And it really made me sad when I was about to leave and they started tearing up…
Ch'en: Shut up cadet!
Sebastian: Aye aye cap'n
Ch'en showed Sebastian every important place, like the barracks, the gym, the canteen, the offices, without missing an opportunity to yell at him for fun. This made the giant wonder why she was so angry with him when he had done nothing to her and they seemed to be on good terms after the end of the battle of Lungmen... He would have liked an answer to this question... That the oni had and kept with a smile on her lips...
After all, what woman wouldn't feel offended after a whole night of passion with her lover when he doesn't even remember it...
The giant was introduced to his new colleagues who recognized him and accepted him with open arms after the battle of Lungmen and the performance that the good doctor had offered.
Ch'en: If you don't have a place to stay nearby you'll have to sleep here at the barracks. It's a pity we don't have any beds left, you'll have to sleep on the floor.
The sentence that the lung said with a smile was interrupted by the oni.
Hoshiguma: Hey, I live nearby, you can live in my apartment while you're here.
Sebastian: Hm.
Hoshiguma: You don't pay anything and in exchange you make the food. Deal?
Sebastian: That's one hell of a deal.
The two colossi turned to the lung who was halfway between shock and anger.
Of course she could make the giant's life hell, but Ch'en had slightly forgotten that Hoshiguma, who was also an important person, had half of her heart belonging to the doctor of Rhodes Island.
Ch'en began to imagine what would happen if the doctor started to live under the same roof as the oni.
And it didn't help her at all...
L.G.D. Guard: Sir Ch'en! We have a robbery with hostage taking at the bank on Bei-Fong Street!
The guard who had just arrived out of breath also stood up early to talk to the lung, surprising her, but despite the surprise she reacted as early.
Ch'en: Squads 3, 5 and 9 get ready immediately, same for special squad 2! Hoshi you come with me and you too cadet! Let's go!
Immediately the two young women ran off. The giant sighed and put his beret back on.
Sebastian: I missed being a police officer...
He started to run towards the L.G.D. cars, preparing himself for the intervention.
And only the gods could know how long he was going to play the policeman...
Amiya dialed her phone, looking out at the city through her bedroom window, and after only a few seconds she heard it pick up.
?: Hello?
Amiya: Ms. Carnelian, this is Amiya from Rhodes Island.
Carnelian: Ahhh my little Amiya, to what do I owe the pleasure of your call, I doubt it is for my report on Leithania?
Amiya: Not exactly...
Carnelian: I haven't been to the ark in a while. What's new there?
Amiya: I just wanted to let you know that your sister arrived on Rhodes Island to pick you up. We welcomed her of course.
Carnelian: Oh that's not true, I told her to stay with the tribe... She's just doing her own thing... But at least I'll be able to see my dear little sister again hehe~ Anything else Amiya?
Amiya: A lot of changes have taken place on Rhodes Island, especially since the doctor came back...
Carnelian: Oh oh ?
The cautus shivered as she heard the change in the caprinae's voice and dropped the adorable façade.
Carnelian: The famous doctor? I'm coming back to Rhodes next month.
She said before hanging up, and Amiya was a little worried, that Carnelian's side of violence would show some interest in the doctor...
To be continued...
