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Arc I Chapter 7
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11th Anima Lunar VIII AAC 753
Where was she? A common question. A simple question. Supposedly. Yet the question was not as simple as it might have seemed.
Once again, the question occupied her mind. Once again, the answer eluded her. The twisted gods of fate remained silent, not deeming her worthy of their attention. They did not respond. Empty silence was her answer.
Where was she? She did not know, nor did she care. She survived the white hell of nothingness.
Rising from the mud and dirt covered ground, her strength gradually returned, and her condition improved. Filth and mud did not appeal to her. As such, ending their relationship early was not much of a tragic lose. It was better for both sides.
Barely able to stand, her legs felt stiff, powerless. Every step challenged her determination. Warm blood circulated through her arteries, but her weakened state did not pass. Much of her power proved inaccessible. Her mana did not react. Her magic did not respond.
“...” Aurora felt small, vulnerable, weak ... A state that she loathed from the depth of her heart. Her terrible headache abated, and her vomit reflex subsided, a definite improvement in these trying times. The purple rift had turned her world upside down.
“...” Barely lucid, Aurora was wandering aimlessly across the clearing in search of a tree, seeking protection against the pouring rain and the raging elements. She did not get far.
Unknown figures blocked her way. Their presence annoyed her. Her mood had already deteriorated to a critical point after dealing with her fair share of trouble today. Who were these idiots? Not only were they armed, but they also possessed the insolence to threaten her.
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Her suspicion increased. Were they friend, or foe? The latter seemed more likely.
“...” Aurora narrowed her eyes. Her instincts concurred, as did her mana. It itched in a way that she only knew too well. Her mana yearned, thirsted for battle. How she had missed this feeling, this wonderful, this exhilarating, this blissful euphoria of excitement. Her heart relished every single moment. This was how it felt to be alive.
Her lips smirked in joy, forming the sinister smile of an innocent girl. Aurora studied the enemy. Her enemies observed her, and she observed them. Their stares showed determination, resolution, but also traces of fear. Their eyes betrayed them. These men were not as steadfast as they believed.
Their solemn faces were hiding the truth, but their hearts did not lie. They were afraid of her. They feared her. They were terrified.
“...” Aurora stepped forwards, one foot after another. Her steps prompted an immediate reaction. The enemy readied their weapons. Swords, spears, staffs, all pointed at her. Their reaction answered her question, they were hostile. The enemy surrounded her, outnumbering her by a significant margin. They were many, whereas she was just a lone girl. How terribly unfair.
“Answer me, who are you?” A man broke the uncomfortable silence.
“...” Her eyes narrowed. A single glance told her the man was different. He was unlike the rest of them. His bearing, his aura differed.
The man gripped his blade, his hostile intent evident. “I asked you a question, who are you?!”
“... .... ...” Aurora tilted her head, playing dumb. Her actions did not produce the desired effect.
The man did not fall for her act. He refused to lower his guard. “Answer me, who are you? Identify yourself, creature!”
“...” Aurora raised her voice, but she regretted her decision immediately. Her throat felt sore, dry like a desert. Her voice raspy. Even her lips refused to cooperate, barely able to utter a single word, not to mention a full coherent sentence. “Who ... ... ... I ... ... am? ... ... ... Such ... ... is ... ... none ... ... of your ... ... concern ...”
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...
“... .... ...” Silence reigned amidst the monotony of falling rain. Her attackers froze. They hesitated. Her words intimidated them. Outright fear was written all over their faces.
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“Captain, the girl is ... She is ... She is ...” Ludwig spoke, his voice filled with panic.
“...” Guenther gripped his sword. His men wavered, but he would not allow such. His stern voice rallied them. A little girl would not scare them. “Listen, everyone, stand fast! Do not break formation!” His commands proved effective, restoring a semblance of morale and discipline.
He did not know how, but they had somehow attracted the ire of an evil spirit. They were powerful, ancient beings, lying dormant across the land. They had managed to accidentally awaken such a spirit, yet her summoning defied common knowledge. Spirits did not appear out of thin air, nor did they normally possess human bodies. They had performed no ritual. They had not activated a catalyst. They had not disturbed the aether of the land ... The creature should have no right to exist, and yet it was standing before them. “Stay together! Do not ...” One of his men ignored his orders.
“Aargh!!!” Hans had lost his nerves, breaking formation. The boy charged, unable to resist the temptation. Overconfidence, inexperience, foolish courage, youth had driven him over the edge.
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