How will it end?

Still Cess' POV

After we safely made it out of the Marquis' estate we headed for Eloc's bar, on the verge of sunrise. We called out for the people there, but we only found Eloc sleeping on one of the dining tables and some of the live-in chef apprentices. One of them woke up and shouted loud after seeing us, waking up the rest of the people there.

"I'll be on guard in case someone tries something funny again," Cole said as he sunk into his own shadow.

"Ohhh! You're safe! I was so worried! Quick, call the rest of the staff here, we're celebrating!" Eloc asked the chef apprentice that woke them up. The apprentice agreed.

"Still, you have no idea how worried I was! Does it hurt anywhere? Do you have any injuries? I'll get them treated in the clinic as soon as possible!" He asked us as he closed in.

"N-no, we only got a few bruises from the mistreatment on the way there. We are mostly safe, more importantly, Cel-" I was just about to ask Cole about Celes when Eloc interrupted me.

"I see! I'm glad! Just what am I going to say to you girl's families had you suffered any injuries!" He said so.

"I'm glad that you're happy we're safe but Celes is-" I tried again but the rest of the staff that was called made it here and interrupted me again.

"Alright-!"

"Eloc, listen to what I have to say!" Eloc wanted to start whatever he had in mind but I interrupted him this time.

"C-Cess? What is it?" He asked, surprised at me for raising my voice at him.

"I'm trying to have a conversation here with Cole, so stop interrupting us!" I shouted at him and turned to where Cole was earlier.

"Cole, what about Celes? She said she will go back with us, but I don't see her anywhere!" I shouted again. "Wait, Celes was there?" Lam asked in the background.

"Y-yeah about that… she had to stall a monster or it would have come after us…" Cole said as he showed only his head out of the shadow.

"What?! Why? She said she will just fetch Amy and go back with us? What happened?" I asked.

"We had to fight the Marqius' soldiers to take back Amy, but when we finally made it away from them when Celes sensed a strong monster and told us to go ahead. She strongly said that she is going to be fine and that we're just going to get in her way. The rest I don't know." Cole explained with a pained expression.

"What do we do… Celes saved us but we left her alone just so we could escape…" I fell sitting on the floor as I realized that we left her alone and teared up.

"She's technically not alone since Orto went back with her and tried to help," Eloc said in hope of cheering me up. (I knew this would happen so I didn't want to say it… I'm just glad she didn't ask when we were still in the estate.) Cole thought.

***Back to Orto's POV***

I managed to stop her movements with multiple sticky bombs but at this point, she won't be back to how she was and might die from the lack of blood. I don't even know how long these sticky webs will last. She's been flailing all around and I'm scared she might get even me.

"… I probably should let her drink the rest of the blood of the dead bodies here. That might satisfy her enough to regain her self-consciousness. I don't know how long it will take but I'm willing to go on until all of these bodies are drained and dried. Forgive me but I'll have you guys be her food," I said to myself as I gathered the bodies near Celes and shoved where their pulses normally would be onto Celes' mouth.

I'm betting mine and her life in these. If she doesn't go back to sanity even with this much then I'll give even my blood. If that still doesn't satiate her thirst then I don't know anymore.

Dozens upon dozens of bodies later.

"This is the last one. She has calmed down a little but she's still not back to her previous self. Please let it end with this one…" I wishfully prayed and let her suck the last body dry of its blood.

But even that wasn't enough. Her eyes asked for more but I don't have anymore, except my own blood.

"Ugh, you better keep your part of the bargain, your majesty," I said to no one and let Celes suck blood from the pulse on my left wrist.

This made her tremble and fidget as she sucked my blood quickly unlike when she was sucking the other bodies. I felt my vitality rapidly drain and I started to feel dizzy. The sticky webs gave up and Celes pushed me down the bloody floor with a thud. I couldn't do anything as my body felt weak from how much of my vitality was sucked.

Not satisfied, Celes bit onto my neck and drank my blood faster. I started losing consciousness as my vision blurred.

(Seriously… why am I going so far for you, Celes?)

As those thoughts flowed into my mind, I suddenly remembered what I had talked about with his majesty.

That time before this all had occurred.

"Hmmm, I shall depend on your reason, now tell me. Why do you wish to help her?" He asked as he smiled. He knows Orto splendidly well as he was served by him for the last 10 years, and this man has never offered his help except for his master, knowing that, Alphore's curiosity peaked and he couldn't help but grin at the thought.

"That… Is because she reminds me of my little sister… your majesty…" Orto responded to the question presented to him.

King Alphore went silent as he stared down Orto who was kneeling in front of him with his head down and he responded "…I understand, you may use the armor that was given to you in case of trouble. Don't fail to protect what's important to you this time," he finished and stood to look out the window behind him.

"I am most grateful to you, your Majesty, also about that second favor…" Orto said so making King Alphore turn around and look at him again. This time he held his head high and looked straight to King Alphore's eyes.

"What is it that you desire?" King Alphore sat back down and asked.

*****