[82.6] Defending the Defenseless

After Alora stopped crying, I winced at the sight of the knife in her eye. "I'm going to bring you to the medicine doctor to get that treated."

She sniffed, her expression stiff and her face red. She pulled out the knife without wincing, tossing it to the side.

"It will heal."

"But-"

My words dropped as the eye healed instantly. However, her eyes and nose were still swollen and red from crying.

She lowered her gaze submissively, "...Only my own holy weapons can hurt me. I can heal from others."

My gaze was drawn to her palms, "I see…"

She shifted uncomfortably, "Can I… Still live with you?"

I was surprised by her sudden question, "Why wouldn't you?"

"I betrayed your order and left the mountain."

"Alora… I already told you that I don't give orders."

"But you said-"

"-Forget what I said." I let out a heavy sigh, "But why did you leave? Did we do something to upset you? Perhaps we weren't as welcoming as we should have been?"

Her mouth immediately closed and her gaze was averted.

I found this strange, "Alora? What happened?"

"Nothing." She replied curtly then pulled away, tugging at her hair anxiously, "I just want to see Zephyr."

"...Okay."

Realizing she no longer wanted to talk about it, I arrived back at the mountain within no time at all. Had it not been for today's events, I would have questioned my ability to control my ice chunk with such precision.

Once we entered the courtyard, I was greeted with anxious stares from the children. I brought Alora over to Zephyr, "Zephyr. Can you take Alora to her room and make sure she's comfortable?"

Zephyr looked at me curiously, however, his expression held a hint of anxiety. I motioned him on and he followed my request but continued to steal glances as he left.

Seeing the two gone, I turned to the others as I pushed down my fury.

"What happened? Explain."

Astra looked lost and glanced at her siblings. Atta crossed her arms, refusing to look at Asmonious. 

Rose clicked her tongue, "What did Alora say?"

"Rose." I pushed down the fire in my heart, "Don't backtalk me right now. I asked YOU to explain."

Asmonious stepped forward, "It was me, Master."

Rose looked at him in shock. 

Even Atta was surprised.

I motioned him to continue, "Go on."

"I thought Alora was dangerous as she was in league with my father. My emotions got the better of me and I acted rashly." He lowered his head submissively, "I didn't trust in your judgment, Master. For that, I have committed a grave sin."

Hearing his words made me guilty, but I shoved this down. I raised an eyebrow trying to look fierce, "The sin wasn't distrusting me. It was the fact that you threw a defenseless child out of the barrier-"

"-Defenseless!?!" Rose stepped forward and shouted, "She's anything but! She's the reason we lost Koale!!!"

"Rose."

She clenched her hands as tears surfaced in her eyes, "She will never be one of us, Master. She wants to kill us just like she killed my only love. Moni didn't act on his own. I was the one who asked him to do it."

Asmonious was shocked, "Rose!?"

She wiped away her tears and looked at me in defiance, "I'm the one who should be kicked out. He only did me a favor."

I stared at her with conflicting emotions.

Is it my fault for not trying to get them to get along?

She took a deep breath, "Master. Just let me die. Cast me out… I don't care anymore. Now that I've lost Koale, I realize how meaningless all of this is."

"Why are you talking about being kicked out or dying?" I stepped over to her and gently rubbed her head, "...It's my own fault for not tending to your needs and forcing you into such a situation. Rose, I'm sorry that I made you feel this way… But please don't blame Alora for this. It was my fault for pushing you when you were already so vulnerable."

Asmonious bit down on his lip, his smile no longer present, "Master. It's not you-"

I interrupted him, "-I will find a way to make things better."

I walked past them and shut myself into my room. With my back to the door, I slid to the ground and covered my face in my hands.

It looks like I am just not cut out to be a mother…

I let out a sigh and pulled my hands away from my face. Looking directly into the mirror, I suddenly let out a frightened yelp.

The char on my skin had already climbed to my neck.