Outside the Malign forest
Stella was tending to Leon's injuries
She was just done bandaging the shoulder of his cut-off hand.
"I apologize for my carelessness, Leon," Stella said, visibly saddened,
"It had to be done. This mission was always going to be tricky, so-"
Leon used his remaining hand on Stella's shoulder
"I'm glad you're alright, Stella," he said with a subtle smile
Stella returned it and then stared at the forest ahead of them, as the dark clouds were gathering ominously
"I just hope we can say the same for them. What was that...terrifying pillar?" she questioned
"No idea, but I've never felt anything more terrifying in my life," Leon said
"Same here...even that brute had to retreat because of it."
Stella's worries were not unfounded, as she offered a silent prayer for Yel and Merika's safety, hoping they crossed the forest in time.
Meanwhile, in the forest
Al was trembling, he knew not whether to attack or to run
"(Tsk, not good, if I escape the true scripture is lost)"
"(But I'm not sure I can take this...this monster on)"
Zenva pulled his hand down as the clouds were bulging at thunderstorms brewing within
Then he stared at Merika, who didn't look so good
Ignoring Al's presence completely, he addressed her.
"So, you are the one responsible for my premature awakening."
"Huh?" Merika was surprised. She had no idea what he was talking about
"How interesting... I suppose you'll do"
Zenva said, calmly making his way to her.
But Al, annoyed by Zenva's attitude, lashed out and shot multiple poison needles at him.
The needles bounced off and fell to the ground just a few meters away from him.
Then, Al steps in front of Merika, weapon's ready
"The true scripture is my prey! I won't allow you-"
Al made a poor choice
Not even getting the chance to finish his statement, he was sent flying by a terrifying crimson force on the chest, as he crashed through the trees and rocks in the forest and onto the ground dramatically.
His eyes dilated, and blood spewed out from all corners of his face - instant demise.
The ease with which Al was dispatched struck even more fear in the heart of Merika.
She had shown defiance towards Al
But this time, the thought scarcely crossed her mind
She knew straightaway that this was not someone you want to defy.
Rather, this is someone you run away from, as far as you possibly can
"With that out of the way," Zenva turns to Merika as the thunderstorms in the dark clouds intensified
Merika's survival instincts involuntarily took over, as she was using every ounce of her strength left to drag herself through the ground away from him
"Huh, huh, stay, stay back."
Her desperate cries fell on deaf ears as Zenva steadily approached her
Her breathing was getting heavier with every closing step from Zenva
"Huh-huh (someone...please anyone help me) ANYONE!" she cried out and got blocked by a tree
Zenva just lets out a teasing smile, amused by her plight
"I'm afraid no one can hear you." Zenva stopped within arm's reach and pointed to the clouds
"You see, these clouds are not just for ambiance. It acts as a barrier, as well as a warning to everyone on the outside," he said and turned his focus back to Merika
"No one is coming, I'm afraid. Your fate is sealed. As my catalyst, you shall usher the beginning of the end."
Zenva, stretching his hand dangerously close to Merika's terrified face
"AH! NO, STAY BACK!!!"
She screamed from the top of her lungs as a crimson light, the same kind as the true scripture relic she possessed, shone brightly from her chest.
"Hmm!!?"
Then the relic burst forward from her chest with great force, pushing Zenva a fair distance away from her.
"Urrghhh!" Zenva regained his balance, feet still midair
However, he was slightly shaken by the nature of the force
Merika stayed in front of her, confused as the True scripture had manifested, and it had just protected her
"Uh!? the...relic..."
Zenva frowned and wanted to advance, but then something weird happened
"!? Ugh. !!" he stopped halfway, clawing on his head
He was visibly struggling with himself, fidgeting about as if he was fighting some inner turmoil
"Huh? (What...what's happening? Can it be?)"
"Argh! ack! Mer-Merika! R-RUN!" Zenva? said painfully in a voice that sounded like Yel's
"Yel? YEL!!" Merika called out, with budding hope that Yel might still be alive
She struggled to find her feet and was approaching Zenva, who was still fighting with himself.
"Urgh!! STOP! STOP THERE!!" the voice in Zenva yelled
"Huh? Ye-Yel, is that you?" Merika stopped
"I see...it'd appear I am not yet entirely in control of this vessel."
Zenva said, having managed to contain the defiance of Yel's essence within him.
Merika frowned this time and pushed her true scripture relic forward
"Whe-where is Yel? What did you do to him?" she said.
The relic's power over Zenva had given her some confidence, but she was still terrified within and was doing her best to hide it well.
"And it seems I have your...suspicious power to thank for that."
Zenva smiled and raised his hand as the dark clouds above manifested a giant lightning orb directly above Merika.
"!?" she looked up, terrified of the forebording technique
"I think we have to remedy that problem."
The lightning orb was growing exponentially and didn't bode well for Merika.
"Ah ahh!" she shouted and pushed her relic towards Zenva, but it had no effect this time.
"Wha!! Why isn't it working!?"
Zenva smiled. "Without proper control of your scripture, you can't compel me." He said with a satisfied grin.
Merika's legs grew weak as she went down to her knees and looked at the giant orb overhead.
"D-Demira, Lady Yu Lin...I'm sorry..." she cried and closed her eyes, resigning to her impending demise.
But then, the lightning orb suddenly disappeared, and her demise was delayed.
"...!?" She opened her eyes once more and saw dark clouds settling as the thunderstorms ceased.
Confused about what was happening, she looked forward and saw Zenva still standing there, but his gaze was fixed on hers.
"Yu Lin, did you just say Yu Lin, child?" Zenva asked
Merika suspected she may have just escaped fate here, and her last, or would have been last words just earned her a glimmer of hope for survival
She reluctantly nodded, much to Zenva's delight
"hm-hm-hm. She survived I see. Unyielding paladin indeed. She's always had this tendency of defying the odds."
"(He knows the title of the previous saint commander??)" Merika thought
"Child, I will allow you to take this one to her. I deserve an answer."
Zenva said, and was slowly vanishing, returning the body to Yel
"For now, the sheep will live. Today, is warning enough," he concluded
With that, Zenva's presence returned to Yel's soul, and he fell to the ground, remaining unconscious
"Ye-YEL!!!" Merika ignored her injuries and rushed to his side
"Yel!" She examined his body and then placed her head on his chest.
A relief smile formed on her face
"Thank goodness, he's breathing. Oh thank goodness."
Merika lets out a refreshing smile
Then the relic floated in front of her
"You...you protected me, us...thank you"
The relic shimmered for a moment and then dissolved into Merika's body
"(Still, who was that...and, what ties does he have with Yel)"
Merika stared at Yel
"(He promises oblivion...we have to do something. Whatever it takes we can't let him appear again)"
Merika strengthened her resolve
Then suddenly, a group of knights entered the clearing
"The barrier is gone! Make haste!"
A voice ordered from within the marching unit as the holy knights surrounded the premises.
"The holy knights, going by their emblems, it seems they're from Lukemia."
After they had taken positions, one of the knights stepped forward, then turned back and bowed.
"Lady Ayla, premises secured," he said
The knights moved aside as a petite young girl dressed in a dark gothic full gown and holding a small, mysterious violet grimoire stepped forward.
There was an ethereal butterfly of the same color hovering around her as she approached the clearing
"Good work, captain. We can only hope we are not too late," the girl said in a mature, calm voice that betrayed her structure
She said as the captain bowed once more and returned to position.
Then she looked up ahead and found Merika in all her injuries staring her way
"!? Lady Merika!" she called out in shock
"He-hey there...Ayla" Merika said as her vision was getting blurry
"Good news, Yel, we've made it," she whispered and lost consciousness, knowing they were finally in safe hands
"Don't just stand there! Help her at once!" Ayla commanded as the knights acted immediately to secure the princess and the one beside her
Ayla stared closely at Yel as the knights were tending to them
"(I wonder...is that one responsible for the pillar of darkness earlier?)"
she thought, pondering what to do with Yel when everything settled down
The knights carried Merika and Yel as they returned to the main city, Lukemia
A few hours later
Lukemia - Castle Prison
Yel was locked in one of the cells, with leading walls and stench of decay
The stench got to his nose, piercing, awful smell
It caused him to finally regain consciousness after many attempts at it
He slowly opened his eyes, trying to recall what had happened
"Urgh...what...where am I?"
He looked around and couldn't believe his eyes when he realized he'd just been locked up.
"!? What the...why am I in prison?? What the hell is going on?" he questioned his circumstances.