Celine POV
"CELINE!!!" Kairo said, holding his left arm while lying down, bloody and weak. It was too late when I found out what happened next.
Kris flew fast and backed it up extremely. His back was hit, causing his fire -made wing to disappear completely. Those concrete parts were scattered in various places. My eyes immediately widened when I saw Kris fall down.
"KRIS!--"
"PRINCESS !!!" Zillan ran onto me, carrying a sharp object and used it to cut my hair. Then I walked towards Kris.
"W-wait, Zillan, Kri — ahh!"
There was a wolf that grabbed my back. Zillan moved quickly. Using his steel pipe, he twisted it in the air and was about to struck it in the wolf's chest when it escaped. Because of that Zillan was alerted and hid me behind him.
"Zillan… I'll help us."
"No, princess, I can do it. It's my job to watch over you and keep you safe."
"My safety is what you care about, your safety is also what I will watch over. So let me go…"
"But…" he turned to me. "Are you sure?"
I was stunned by his simple question. Are you sure? Am I so distrustful of myself?
Maybe Zillan won't be harmed.
I no longer answered. I left in hiding from behind him. I immediately took two pieces of protruding steel pipe. The length will not exceed my arms. They are flattened but can still be used. I positioned myself when another wolf arrived.
The two wolves howled, causing my eyes to widen. That is, it calls their other colleagues.
Before they can even reach here we must finish them. I ran first and also met the running wolf. Compared to other wolves it looks calm. I frowned because of that. But, I immediately stopped running when it changed form.
From being a wolf it became a male soldier. He is not wearing any top clothes. The bottom is a pair of torn pants. I know this soldier.
"W-why…?" I asked.
He didn't answer and just smiled. He clenched his neck and fists. He became the teacher of all our guardians. He is the one who trains us all.
"C-captain?!" I heard Zillan's promise.
"Captain, why?!" I tightened my grip on the two pipes, and nervously positioned myself, ready to fight.
My knees are shaking. I could also feel the strength of my heartbeat. I gulped.
"But… Are you sure?" I heard Zillan say that again.
My feet wanted to retreat. We need to end all this and get back to Erioesnemia.
The idea I came up with was that I should be able to do it even if I was nervous about the outcome. I think that’s just the only way, because no matter what we do there’s no guarantee we’ll win the second match.
Maybe he's right, we are wrong…
The sacrifice made was wrong before.
~~~
Arlene POV
We were able to beat the wolves that flooded the four of us — Leo, Womin, and June. Right now we are hiding inside a grocery store. It's late at night, we also need rest, the fight was intense so we have a lot of bruises and wounds. We ran so far and this store was the only one we entered.
Even though it is dark because it is night, we are given a little moonlight. It's full moon now.
No mumbling takes place between the four of us. We were all sitting on the floor, it was just that I was far away from them.
Who am I to approach?
I don't care. I'm not like Solenn who is talkative and they can all be friends. Or Larmine who will speak purely and ask questions because there are handsome people in front.
One more thing, I don’t feel good about them. But that feeling drives me to follow them. It was just funny what happened earlier, they all met, but still separated. I smiled because of that stupid event.
Also, ever since we met a member of theirs, there are things that just come to my mind. Images that include them all. Especially this tall Leo.
I’m an investigator, I’m alert.
I know they are related to those images.
Is it because of the opponents?
Do they use some… I can't explain. It’s just funny that I’m an investigator but I’m not questioning. They have only one answer, all about the magic that can shoot a vein in the forehead.
"Arlene," I didn't look at June. "I'm sorry if your world is affected by the chaos of our world. Don't worry, we will also leave. They will definitely follow us because we are their only target."
"It's not possible yet." I said. I grabbed my gun, then checked the magazine. It's just one. I also ran out of magazines because of the encounter earlier.
"Why?" he asked. "The trouble here will get worse if we don't leave. You might get hurt."
"You're going to protect us, aren't you?" I laid the gun down next to me. "Only you can fix what's happening here."
From the peripheral view I could see Womin and Leo looking at each other.
"You're still missing one. Besides, it looks like one of your guardians was hit like crazy in the head—"
"Slow down in your speech." We met when Leo looked up. I smiled when I saw how sharp his eyes were.
"Arlene… 'Don't be like that. I think… Roland just needs to calm down. I know my bestfriend. I know the invaders are just using him." said Womin.
Of the three, it looks like only Womin has the most calm vibe. Not intimidating.
"You can't leave here until you're complete, can you?" I said. "Leave even if you're still incomplete. Maybe they'll follow you again."
"Why does it looks like you want us to leave immediately?!" Kunot-noong saad ni Leo.
"Who wouldn't be upset if you were the cause of today's chaos?"
"Are we doing it on purpose?! Ha! Instead of, just help because it's for everyone's sake, you only blame others." I winced.
"Stupid .."
"A-Arlene, that's enough…" Womin said. "It's not right that you fight…"
It happened again.
There seems to be an image like this in the situation. Womin stops us. The only difference is that it’s a one place I’ve never seen before. I just shook my head. He stood up and proudly faced me.
"Stupid ?! What did you say?! -"
I also stood up and faced him. "Yes! I think we won't blame you for here you go !? Why aren't you on Venus for hell you're going to fall?! "
"Stop!!" I didn't look at June and just stared at Leo. "Womin is right. It's not right you're going to fight today!" I turned around and went back to my seat.
Leo sat down as well, but instead of returning to his seat, he sat down near the door. Reason for the small radiance of the moon to hit half of his face. I looked away.
"Don't worry," June stood up. "By the time we completed twelve guardians, we'll be leaving here. I'll make sure your world is safe again." He approached a shelf and frowned as he hovered over what was on it.
Take a few snacks and throw it to us all individually. I didn’t catch mine and just let a plastic mamon slip on the floor.
This in turn, is the familiar image of what is happening today. I close my eyes in annoyance.
"Looks like they're edible, right, Arlene?" June said, before sitting down again on the floor in front of me. They didn’t open the plastic and were silent.
"Arlene?" Annoyed, I grabbed the gun next to me and cocked it.
I pointed the gun at June, causing Womin and Leo to be alarmed.
"Arlene! Put that down!!" said Leo.
Womin stood up. He raised both hands as if surrendering.
"A-Arlene… Put that down. W-we can talk if you're angry or you have a question…" My eyes remained focused on June, and so did he on me.
Compared to the two he was just calm, sitting and waiting for what I would do next.
"Do you have any other power!?" I asked. "Why do you always come to my mind—"
"What are you talking about !? Are you upset!?" Leo also stood up
"It begun when you arrived! There are images that suddenly come into my mind!"
"Arlene, calm down please…" Womin said.
"How can I calm down if you're with me in that image !? Ha ?! Why… Why do I feel like I know you and I remember those!!? Tell me because I'm going crazy, F*ck!!"