Chapter 10
Nion opened her eyes and realized that she was back to that scene at Elpida's borders when she executed Pipola, the mother of Asta and Alexis.
"I am so sorry for what I did to you...All of you. I cannot find the words of how guilty and ashamed I feel for destroying your lives..." Nion lamented.
Unable to move or to interact, an immersive wave of unknown emotions were filling up Nion's heart. Immediately she realized that her heart and mind has been connected with Pipola's. Nion was caught prisoner of her nightmare, forced to relive the horrors that she made go through to Pipola as if she was in her skin.
The mother of two could barely breathe, fatigue engraved on her worn face. Her sorrow grew more profound each second, she was begging the emotionless silhouette of a young silver hair death G.o.ddess to spare their lives.
"I am the foolish one, I am the one who brought them here! I am the one who has disrespected the great land of Aleksithimia's order!" Cried Pipola.
For her, every day was a challenge, she was doing her best to offer everything she could to her children, from the moment she woke up until her body could do no more. Alone, without any other support, she spent her life watching over her little treasures from being hurt or taken away.
Pipola was at the edge of what her body could take, the pain has been redirected directly to Nion as she could feel all the bruises and wounds that Pipola had all over her freezing body that was barely covered with ripped clothes. Her eyes became glacier blue under the sheen of the dying sun. Pipola was fully aware of what was about to happen, she refused to pa.s.s out and leave her children to the mercy of the non-existent justice. The despair of being caught and having no strength to fight flowed through her veins and deadened her mind.
"Please, spare their lives! I know your law is absolute!" Said Pipola as she tried her best to calm her voice and intonation.
Both Alexis and Asta were glued to their mother, despite the difference in their age, they understood that something horrible was about to happen. Their mother's long blond tangled hair was blowing in their faces, obscuring the death G.o.ddess.
Outcast and frightened, they had nowhere to call home, all three knew that this is as far as it goes for them in this universe full of lies, injustice, and despair.
The b.l.o.o.d.y moon hung above the evergreen forest behind them as their cries stained the autumn wind pa.s.sing by. The cradle started to hover over the ground with the sun s.h.i.+ning its brightest light, deciding the family's dreadful fate.
"I am ready to accept death for the unforgivable actions I've committed! I disrespected the great prosper rules and soiled your lands." Said the mother of two.
The wind crackled as Nion's shadow and the mother were looking at each other without a blinking an eye. Unstoppable tears of accepting one's death were endlessly flowing from Nion's eyes as she was forced to relive the scene that she wished never existed. Agonised she struggled as if there was no gravity around her, just a floating object that could not look away or even close her eye, she was strained to watch the scene until it reaches its climax, consumed by the desire to wind back time and slow it down so she could change every regretful action she has made. Nevertheless, how far would she need to rewind...?
"Please, leave my children alive. I beg you to spare them, that's all I ask..." Begged Pipola.
"So be it..." Said the death G.o.ddess as she raised her arm read to conclude this pitiful sight.
The shadow slightly moved the wrist that triggered the solidification of the blade, its tiny metallic wires began merging among themselves into a solid form. The solidification process looked as beautiful as terrifying for its victims.
Pipola turned towards her children and put her arms around them bring them closer to her chest. Salty tears mingled with the dry wind whipping their mother's hair around. Forsaken by everyone, alone, scared and devastated. Her heartfelt butchered when she realized that she is spending the last moments of her life letting her beloved babies continuing without her.
"Alexis sweety, from now on...You should take care of your brother... Asta, my love...Be sure to listen to your brother! Try to eat and sleep well..." Cried Pipola as she hugged her boys, while all three of them crying altogether.
"I will pray to the G.o.ds and Heavens...I will pray the devil himself if it means to protect you! Because I... cannot protect you anymore..." Cried Pipola barely able to express herself.
"Don't leave us! Please! Don't leave us!" Both Alexis and Asta begged her to stay.
After so many years of hiding and running after a better life, the only motivation that kept the mother willing to wake up and live another day was about to vanish. For the first time, Nion understood what was driving her to find Asta so badly. She finally realized that the feeling that was pus.h.i.+ng her to the limit was something that is called "mother's love".
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Motherly love is the kind of love that would move heaven and earth for a child. It is the kind of love that would take on anyone, any place, any time if they threaten the wellbeing of the children. And it is the kind of love that says "I would give my life for my children any time, at any place..."
No pain Nion has ever experienced before was as intense as the one she felt while going through the emotions received from the mother.
Nion's shadow started growing its darkness, enveloping everything around, only a little s.p.a.ce where Pipola was kneeling stayed intact. Various shades of black, white and grey were overlapping each other that looked like the pandemonium of wild emotions that were trying to express themselves in the astral world.
"You've done nothing wrong...The world we live in is wrong..." Pipola p.r.o.nounced her last words.
Everything turned black, distant screams slowly faded away as Nion's spirit was leaving the physical body while both hearts got disconnected.
Shocked, dizzy of the heavy emotional charge she had to go through, she was returned back into the obscurity of the void.
Her feet touched the solid ground as soon as it did, the burning feeling enveloped Nion's arm, then another, the bright fire enlightened the darkness. Nion's jacket was surrounded in orange flames. Although she could feel the heat, it was painless.
Next time she blinked her eyes Nion found herself being engulfed in flames as she
Behind the flames, a thin female silhouette has jumped into the flames and tried to pull Nion out of it. Victim of delirium Nion thought that the masked man with the yellow crest has come back to take the child away from her; In less than a second, she unsh.e.l.led her weapon and delivered a devastating blow to the stranger who happened to be Seànn who tried to help.
The attack was so devastating that Seànn flew out of the fire like a bullet and landed on her back in the watery mud. Luckily for her, she could protect her face with the metal plates that are implanted directly inside her 'Keeper' outfit so it could absorb most of the impact, which saved her skull from being split in two.
Drunk in hate, Nion had fallen into an unstoppable hysteria of emotions of hatred that took over her body. Unable to recognize or hear Seànn's voice, she became an unchained beast who could not tell who friend or foe anymore.
"That is"—cough, cough— "Not good." p.r.o.nounced Seànn as she tried to stand up.
Nion carefully put the deceased body on the ground as she fixated her enemy and then whispered.
"It will be over soon."
"Operator, request immediate connection with the HQ, Quarta is going berserk." Ordered Seànn.
Nion stepped away from the body and then walked towards the wooden cross where the masked man left his message craved on the human skin.
"Everything... Everything... Everything..." Mumbled Nion.
"Mitera Server is currently offline. Please ensure the stable connection to the server." Replied operator.
"Out of these times when I actually need it..." She desperately said to herself. "Got to deal with her on my own then." Said Seànn.
"If only...You never existed...!" Nion hysterically mumbled then grabbed the wooden cross with her hand and ripped it off the ground. "Ah! I got it... I just have to kill you..." Nion looked at Seann with a twisted smile.
Seànn knew that things will turn ugly very fast if she doesn't calm the situation down as soon as possible.
"Nion I came here to help you, please listen to me." Seànn called Nion.
"Who cares now...You are going to die either way." Mumbled Nion as she ripped off the 3 meters long wooden cross from the ground.
"I am not your enemy." Seànn called Nion.
"Hey...What do you feel when you kill people...?" Asked Nion as she put the cross over her shoulder.
"Let's just calm down here all right? Put that thing down, I have no intention to fight you." Advised Seànn. "Operator, scan for a 'Non-Lethal Takedown' option."
"Reattach the 'Kanjöga' to its wielder to stabilize the emotional pressure." Advised the operator.
"Back then you said that you will enjoy seeing me suffer, huh..." Said Nion.
"Nion, you are making a mistake. I am not your enemy." Replied Seànn.
"TRY ME!!" Nion launched the wooden cross aiming Seànn's head.
The projectile flew like a missile and exploded into the burned house. Seànn barely managed to evade it but right after her evasive move, Nion closed the distance gap and appeared just in front of her face.
"Argh!" Said Seànn surprisingly.
As soon as Nion got close enough to her opponent she unleashed a devastating middle kick that connected with Seànn's chest -sound of broken bones- and sent her flying into another burning house that began collapsed just after the impact.
"My word can't reach her." —cough, cough— "I have to find a way to get closer to her." Said Seànn as she was removing the debris away.
"YOU AFRAID OF YOUR DEATH?!" Shouted Nion. "BECAUSE YOU SHOULD! I WILL MAKE IT LONG AND PAINFUL!" Shouted Nion as she walked into the house ruins.
The house ruins were still smoking after the masked man people set it on fire. Nothing had escaped it, gla.s.s littered the floor where the windows had broken and the metal base of the grand chandelier lay backend and twisted on the ground surrounded by the debris.
"COME ON! YOU WANTED TO SEE ME SUFFER DIDN'T YOU? Shouted Nion.
While Seànn was removing the debris trying to get up, Nion has spotted her. As soon as she did, Nion jumped on the top of Seànn and started stomping her with her legs then grabbed a wooden table leg that led nearby and used it to stab Seànn's shoulder with it. Seànn screamed from the pain.
"HEY! TELL ME HOW DOES IT FEELS?!" Yelled Nion.
Trapped, Seànn tried to push her aggressor away so she could stand up but Nion grabbed Seànn by her leg and threw her outside the house.
"There is no other way..." Said Seànn as she pulled off the broken table leg.
"Enough of chit chat!" Said Nion as she stepped out from the destroyed house. "I will put the end to your miserable existence."
"Listen for me just second." Begged Seànn. "You are about to make a big mistake."
"SHUT UP!!" Shouted Nion as she removed her jacket and unsheltered her weapon.
"If my words can't reach you, then..." Seànn clenched her fists.
With unreadable faces, no fear in their eyes, both were facing each other ready for the attack that could be lethal for one of them. Nion was slowly advancing forward on the sand and dirt that was heavily stained with the blood of the former village residents.
"DIE!!!"
Nion charged directly onto Seànn, Seànn sidestepped as she backed up. Missed. Nion speeded up toward the exposed opponent. Seànn countered with her arm but Nion pushed it aside. Seànn was genuinely superior and experienced in combat and had excellent close combat but because of the recent injuries, she was gravely disadvantaged in both strength and her speed.
Nion moved like an enraged beast mindlessly waving her weapon. Seànn could antic.i.p.ate that the next move Nion will try to thrust her chest, so she pushed Nion's shoulder and with the help of her leg, kicked away Nion's sword. Nion accelerated her movements as if she waited to get closer to Seànn who underestimated her opponent. Nion used that chance and delivered a dry punch in the liver of her opponent. Seànn spouted blood. A sudden gush of pain jolted throughout Seànn's body. Her stomach ached, her only available arm lost tension and her legs began to weaken. While Seànn bent over because of internal pain, Nion grabbed her neck and started giving knee kicks in the same spot then grabbed Seànn's throat and dropped her on the ground so strong that the ground slightly cracked underneath.
"BECAUSE OF YOU, EVERYONE ARE DEAD!!" Yelled Nion.
She got on top of Seànn who was barely breathing and began choking her with both of her hands.
"Stop it..."
"BRING THEM BACK!!" Cried Nion as she tightened her arms around Seànne's neck.
Seànn used her legs to block Nion's movements and took the opportunity when both of Nion's hands were busy and sealed the Kanjöga around Nion's neck.
Back to her senses, she immediately removed her arms from Seànn's neck. The twisted and malevolent expression went off and changed into confusion as Nion blinked her long eyelashes as she looked at her b.l.o.o.d.y hands then her mouth got wide open. Silence fell into the area. The deathmatch has reached its climax. All her strength gone, Nion collapsed on Seànn.
"That was a close one..." Seànn exhaled with relief. "Finally, I can rest."
Sorrow tears dripped from Nion's eyes right onto Seànn's face.
"I..." Nion was about to cry. "I am sorry...so, so, so sorry..."
Silence hung in the air like the suspended moment before a falling gla.s.s shatters on the ground.
"I am sorry, I could not be any help to you. If I'd noticed it earlier, you would not have to deal with all this on your own." Said Seànn as she gently patted Nion's head.
"I am sorry, I am sorry, I am sorry..." Nion kept apologizing.
"It is all over now." Seànn touched Nion's flushed skin.
"I am sorry. All I do... Is hurting people... I am so sorry!" Nion kept crying.
"You are wrong, you are one of the bravest people I've ever met and you also have a big heart." Replied Seànn.
"I am a murderer...I too killed many innocent people...I am no different from them!" Cried Nion.
"You are different, unfortunately too different for me to understand your feelings and what you've been through. You were trying to make the right decision all alone, without any support." Explained Seànn. "At your age, I was nowhere near as strong and brave as you proved yourself to be. Me, I never cared about anyone else than myself... Not even once."
"Look around...That is the outcome of my decisions..." Replied Nion. "I could not protect anyone...Because of my stupid decisions, they are all gone forever..."
"You know, making mistakes is part of being human, regardless of our emotional status, age or culture. I do have lots of regrets in my past, some parts I wish never existed, but it did happen. After years of me trying to reject my own existence, I've realized that I have to forgive myself... To forgive my mistakes and to move-on because if I don't forgive myself, who will?" Explained Seànn.
"But...I could have..." Mumbled Nion.
"n.o.body can change or predict the future, and this is exactly why if you have regrets, make sure that you don't do the same mistake ever again." Explained Seànn. "Whatever happened here is terrible, it is really is. I am barely aware of what happened in this village, but you should not take all the burden on your own, let me help you, share it with me. Even if it is a tiny thing, I would do my best to help you because you are not alone, not anymore..." p.r.o.nounced Seànn's voice as it got further and further away.
The flashback abruptly ended on these warm words coming from Seànn.
Nion was back to the void cold emptiness. For the first time since she got to this dark and empty place, she felt a warmth, thousands of people began appearing everywhere around her like small candles that were lit. People from a young age to adult ages were scattered everywhere around her. All of them were looking at Nion as if they were waiting for something, as she was the source of light that has been lost forever in the middle of never-ending darkness. The warm-hearted feeling enveloped her body. All unpleasant and aggressive noises that were haunting her mind were gone; She could freely move her body...
The darkness shattered like broken gla.s.s, one piece at a time was leaving s.p.a.ce for a bright array of light that was illuminating the void from outside. Everything around Nion became enlightened and she began falling asleep, exhausted of a tiresome journey she spent in that mysterious place.
She lied on the warm ground and was about to close her eyes, fading away but this time back to reality. She heard steps coming near her and there was a young child's voice that spoke to her.
"We are part of you. All of us." Said the child.
"Creator, watch us... Keeper, embrace us..." Voices chanted to Nion as she was falling asleep.