Zeldritzon [Cycle 15] - Night

  Current Location:

  [Lylore Zone]

  [Crystal Shelter]

  [UvoSath Forest of the UvoSath Realm]

  The festive cheer within the Crystal Shelter was abruptly interrupted as KiAera's gaze caught a figure huddled in the far corner of the room. The flickering light of the crystal torches cast shadows over the unexpected visitor, but there was no mistaking the disheveled dark hair and the distinctive horns curled back like an oni's crown.

  Mina the Minokaurbo.

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  Creature: 'Mina' the Minokaurbo

  Faux Nym: None…

  Brief description: oni Minotaur. An Oni woman in her youth with dark eyes, dark messy hair, and an above average stature.

  APeX: [10113 Units]

  Attributes: [Brawl]

  Evolution Stage: [Emergent] (E)

  Current Variant Grade: [Uncommon]

  ??. .????. .????. .??

  KiAera tensed immediately. The laughter of her companions faded into the background as she took a cautious step forward. How had Mina gotten in here?

  After their battle—and the defeat of her brutish partner, Boggorc—she had assumed Mina would flee or regroup with her boss. But now she was here, sitting in her home, her once-proud frame curled inward with her arms wrapped around her knees.

  "Mina?" KiAera's voice was sharp, laced with suspicion. "What are you doing here? How did you even get inside?"

  At the sound of her name, Mina flinched but didn't raise her head. Her horns dipped low, almost touching her knees, and her dark hair obscured her face. For a moment, KiAera wondered if this was some sort of trick—a ploy to catch them off guard. But there was no malice in Mina's posture, no sign of the fierce warrior who had once threatened to crush KiAera underfoot.

  Amber, who had been greedily munching on her cake, paused mid-bite and tilted her head. "LeeLee? Huh? It's the sulky Minokaurbo? Is she here for cake too?"

  "Stay back, Amber," KiAera warned, holding out an arm to block the LeapLeap's curious advance. She turned her attention back to Mina, her voice firm but questioning. "Answer me, Mina. What do you want?"

  Mina's shoulders trembled slightly before she finally looked up, revealing a face marred by fatigue and something that looked suspiciously like regret. Her dark eyes, usually sharp and full of defiance, were dull and rimmed with exhaustion.

  "I…" Mina's voice was hoarse. "I didn't know where else to go."

  The room fell silent. Even the usually boisterous monsters seemed to sense the shift in atmosphere.

  "You didn't know where else to go?" KiAera repeated, incredulous. Her flames flickered faintly at the edges of her ears. "You tried to capture me for your boss, and now you just show up here? Do you think I'm stupid enough to trust you?"

  Mina winced, lowering her gaze again. "I'm not here to fight. I'm not here for him. I'm…" She trailed off, her voice breaking slightly. "I'm done with all of it. Jalkra, his threats, his schemes. He doesn't care about anyone but himself. He used us. They're all gone because I…"

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  The mention of "us" sent a pang of understanding through KiAera. Mina was talking about Boggorc. Despite their antagonistic relationship, the two had clearly been partners, perhaps even friends.

  "And what do you expect from me?" KiAera asked, crossing her arms. "Forgiveness? A second chance? Why should I believe anything you're saying?"

  Mina let out a bitter laugh, though it was devoid of her usual arrogance. "Mina don't expect you to believe Mina. Mina just… I don't have anywhere else to go, you know. After you beat us. I told him we failed. He didn't like that."

  She clenched the remnants of an arm in her grasp, barely visible under the dim light. "He made it clear that failure wasn't an option. Boggorc… no, the other Onikabos paid the price for our failure."

  KiAera felt a pang of unease. She had known Jalkra was dangerous, but this was a level of cruelty that hit too close to home. Still, she couldn't afford to let her guard down.

  "So, what? You just ran away and decided to camp out in my shelter?"

  Mina shrugged weakly. "I didn't think you'd actually let me in. But your Kobolbos didn't stop me. Guess they figured if I wanted a fight, I wouldn't come in looking like this."

  KiAera's gaze flicked toward the doorway, where Scarbol and the other Kobolbos had been stationed. She'd have to talk to them later about the lapse in security, though she couldn't entirely blame them. Mina didn't look like much of a threat right now.

  "Fine," KiAera said while keeping her voice guarded. "You can stay. But only for tonight. And don't think for a second that I trust you."

  Mina nodded, her expression still hollow. "That's more than I deserve."

  As KiAera turned back toward her companions, she caught GamaGen's faintly glowing pages in her peripheral vision. 「'A bold move, allowing a former enemy into your home. But perhaps even a wayward oni deserves a chance to find redemption.'」

  "Perhaps," KiAera sighed and allowed the tension in her shoulders to ease slightly. Whether Mina was telling the truth or playing some long game, only time would tell. For now, all she could do was keep her guard up—and her heart open just enough to hope for the best.

  But as KiAera turned to address Scarbol about the security lapse, a soft voice cut through the quiet.

  "Mina…?"

  KiAera's gaze snapped to Tailza, who had stepped forward hesitantly, her frame trembling slightly. The kobold girl clutched the edge of her apron, her eyes darting between Mina's crestfallen figure and KiAera.

  "Tailza..." Mina's voice wavered as she lifted her head.

  Tailza took another cautious step forward. "Are you okay?"

  Mina blinked at her with her expression shifting from surprise to something that resembled shame. She rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly, her horns dipping low. "You shouldn't worry about me, Tailza. I'm not… worth that."

  KiAera frowned as her curiosity piqued. Tailza knew Mina? She glanced at Scarbol, who was watching the interaction intently with his claws clenched at his sides.

  "Mina," Tailza said more firmly this time, stepping closer. "You're not hurt, are you? You look… tired. And sad."

  "Sad, huh? Guess I must look pretty pathetic." She sighed and leaned back against the wall, her dark hair falling over her face. "But no, I'm not hurt. Just… tired. You don't need to worry about me, little maid."

  Tailza flinched slightly at the old nickname but quickly recovered. "I'm not little anymore. And I don't care if you think I shouldn't worry. I still do."

  Scarbol, standing near KiAera, shifted uneasily before tugging her aside with a firm but respectful grip on her arm.

  "Scarbol, what is it?" KiAera asked in a hushed tone, her ears flicking toward the two conversing figures.

  Scarbol kept his voice low. "I ain't one to speak much of the past, boss, but you oughta know. Mina there… she wasn't exactly like the others."

  KiAera's gaze softened slightly as she studied the Kobolbo leader. "What do you mean?"

  Scarbol exhaled, his shoulders slumping as though the words themselves were a burden. "When Jalkra and his kind took us Kobolbos, we didn't have no choice but to work for 'em. Forage crystals, dig tunnels, do the grunt work while they got fat and powerful off our backs." His teeth clenched, the bitterness of the memory appeared raw to him. "Most of 'em were cruel, treated us like dirt. But Mina… she was young back then, just like Tailza."

  KiAera's ears twitched as her interest piqued. "Young Mina?"

  Scarbol nodded. "She weren't no saint, boss. Teased us, played pranks on the younger ones—Tailza especially. But she wasn't cruel. Even shared her rations with us now and then when the others weren't lookin'."

  He hesitated before continuing. "Tailza was… assigned to her as a handmaiden. Mina teased her sometimes, sure, but she treated her fairly. She even protected her from the worst punishments when Jalkra's lackeys got too harsh."

  "Mina protected her?"

  Scarbol nodded. "As much as she could. But that doesn't mean she's harmless. She's still one of them, and she grew up under their shadow. Just… don't be too quick to judge her. Tailza sees something in her, and maybe she's right. Or maybe she's not. But Mina's here now, and that means something."

  KiAera glanced back at Mina. "Why didn't you tell me this before?"

  Scarbol shrugged. "Ain't much use dredging up the past when we're just trying to survive. But now that she's here…" He scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Figured you should know."

  KiAera nodded, her gaze softening as she watched Tailza and Mina. Her gaze lingered on Mina, who was now looking at Tailza with an expression that was almost… gentle. It was a far cry from the fierce warrior who had once threatened to crush her. "Thanks for telling me, Scarbol. I'll keep that in mind."