#17 Light From The Ashes

Under the sky covered in black, thousands of green butterfly came down from the dark of the night. Pieces by pieces butterflies gathered then spread around the night city. Lighting the dark of the night to every corner of the world with its green illuminating color and took every grieving people attention.

Those who grieve of the lost look up to the sky and wishes for their beloved to came back. People who still awakes searching their beloved, people who still awakes waiting for their beloved, people who still working for their lost beloved, everyone look up to the sky staring at the beauty of the night while those green butterfly passing by and flying around the city.

*knock* *knock* *knock* a sound of someone knocking on the door.

An old woman who stare at the green butterfly whilst knitting in the middle of the night suddenly receiving a guest out of the blue. The old woman walks through the hallway and then opening door for someone who's behind it. Unexpectedly, the old woman shed a tears along the sudden happiness she gain after the long waiting.

"I'm home.... grandma." said the girl behind the door while also shedding her tears.

The girl then hug her grandma in tears. She finally come back after spending a very long time living in nightmare. Her grandma hug her back while expressing her grateful to anyone who save her granddaughter from despair. That girl know and also acquainted to who was saving her lives back then but she kept her mouth shut since it may cause further turmoil.

Thus the same as the grandma's family, the other people who's in grieve of the lost has found their peace by the returning of their beloved ones. For an hour, people houses filled with light and happiness for they seeing their beloved back to their hug. But for some people, there are some grieve of the lost who's never be able to comeback. Those people wishes for the returning in this night for having a pleasant night and good time with their family.

+-----+------+-----+-----+

The death of the killer breaks the mental of the killer twin so hard. He has lost his own hope for fighting Tania in the future, yet she appears and destroying his hope so bad. The killer twin kneeling before her while Tania slowly approaches him with menacing stare. Nera who's beside him also feel the tense and start to step aside from her way.

"Herr Mann, Master Puppeteer Of Black Rune Academy." said Tania while taking off her gloves.

Shocked, Tania mentioned where he was live and works far before the event started. He enraged for the first time in this battle and start attacking The Tiny Devil with all he got. Herr Mann screamed and revitalize his puppets once again and start striking her with everything he got. His puppet disassembled into many smaller version of his puppet and strengthen them with his magic. Meanwhile, Tania has vowed to herself inside her heart that she won't even bother to use his hand for defeating nor dodging his dolls attack as she taking off her gloves.

"CURSE YOU !!!" Herr Mann screamed.

For a moment, Herr Mann remembered what he is fighting for thus his desire to kill her is become straight. But then, his desire and spirit destroyed in a second. He has been enlightened that getting closer to her is impossible. Majordome spread his massive white handkerchief around the puppet then swallow them whole, confiscate them completely from Herr Mann possession.

Without bother using her hand to handle those puppets, Tania gracefully walking through her way without worrying to be stopped. Majordome fold his massive handkerchief into a hand size then hang it on his left hand. Gracefully spreading his right hand, Majordome open the way for his master.

Thus finally, Tania The Tiny Devil approach the killer twin, or the true killer, face to face.

"Kill me. Erase the last remnant of those people who stand against the kingdom. Especially your own kind !!!"

Rather than separating his head from her neck or even pull out his heart from his chest, Tania then slapping the face of Herr Mann's. She slap his cheeks like normal people would do. Tania loosen her face and start showing empathy for him.

"No.... what's wrong ? Just kill me alre--"

Before he finished his sentence, Tania slap his face once again until he turn away the slap him again and again since she thought that he wouldn't understand her kindness just by a single slap. Yet it still ain't working and she forced to use words rather than violence alone.

"Don't you think I'd waste my time... Fooling around in the cabinet... Just to see my family or race suffer?!" Tania then grabs Herr Mann's collar and took his face right to the front of her face, "I DO STILL HAVE A HEART!!!" she screams right in front of his face then punch it until he fell to the ground and bleeding.

Hearing those words from Mrs. Colonel, he admired the most, Cade feel touched and relieved that he follows the right leader. The same as Nera, she felt touched deep inside her heart but also frightened at the same time.

"Don't you ever think I'm killing for no reason. I just try to save every last one of you on that day but I just can't."

"You killed them all. You killed all my precious friends!"

"They just used you!" Tania clenches her arm tightly, "Everyone in that base is defected except for you and your commander. I was hoping for further cooperation with you two, but that man chooses to become a masterless warrior and leaving his last comrade." she then avert her gaze.

The dimension then suddenly collapsing. People who's trapped in the cage suddenly faded out but rather than leaving immediately they're turned into a beautiful green colored butterfly which emanates their green color like a firefly.

The butterfly then flying out of the cage and then gathered in one spot, exactly at above in the center of the dimension. There, the gates of the dimension is opened and become their exit way from the dimension. This phenomenon happened cause the dimension owner has lost his reason having the dimension and decide to release his captive.

"Do as you wish, I won't stop you. But please, don't make a ruckus again." said Tania while turning her back then walk and taking her leave. "Cade! He's all yours. You'll decide his fate." but then for a moment, she stopped and look at Cade's face, "By the way, you don't need to look for the answer anymore. I've revealed them accidentally cause of what happened tonight." after she said the words, she left together with her servant.

+-----+-----+-----+-----+

Mrs. Colonel has leave, now here's only three of us left. The dimension is shaking and began to collapse at any time. I probably should have be able to leave now but after hearing that his life is mine now is making me anxious whether I should take him with me or abandon him together with this place. Though, he seems want to repent his foul deed and buried together with this dimension.

For some reason, I remembered that there's some kind of thing from the manual like that I need a subordinate or so to become a worthy Claws for her. But on the other hand, it wasn't that necessary if the officers of the claws or simply me able to carry on the mission given by Mrs. Colonel all alone. I honestly can overcome it myself and the world seems on its peaceful condition even after the killer attack and ruin the reputation of the cub city.

Indeed, that person has make my heart race and beat up so hard like I was going to berserk at anytime if Nera wasn't here for me. Abducting someone precious from me were something that I might not forgive if he took the soul from any of my beloved. But that's, for another case. The power of Gatto Nera's kindness and Mrs. Colonel order letting me through this difficult situation. I won't fall for the same mistake again.

"That's what she told me. What are you going to do ?" I ask him to make sure of my thoughts.

"It is not on your concern. You win and I'd do what I must do from very long ago." he answered.

"That's settle it, I guess you are just going to die now."

But then, he doesn't want to answer.

Guess that's it, he close his eyes and shut his ears. Since this is the first time I recruiting my own man, I also out of idea of how am I going to invite him as a member of the Thirteenth Princess Claw squad. I then summon Nera on my side and telling her to leave the collapsing dimension first and then I'll follow.

She accept it then leave just like what I said.

"This is your last chance. I've been given an order to decide your fate thus you may ask me to help you from this demise. What would you say ? And honestly since there's no casualties I just forgive you. Though it is hard to--"

"Leave me be !" he cut on my words, "I'd like to choose my own fate. Thanks for your concern, hero."

The dimension shaking so hard and the rubble start falling from the skies. Since that's his last words, I am just going to take my leave happily and call it a day. Though, he didn't had any interest for living anymore. Thus I am exiting the dimension and leave him alone.

Alone in the abyss of despair.

Seems that I cannot help myself either and I finally to choose letting him alive even when he didn't want it. In quick motion, I travel the dimension again and quick save him before the big rubble falling into his head. I grab his clothing and pull him over the dimension gate so he could safely return with us.

After saving his life, I threw him to the ground to make sure that he still alive.

"Nooo..... What are you doing !"

"Listen to me you rock head ! You are dead now since you still determined to sit there and letting that giant rubble falling over your head." I straighten my body and highly stand before him. "And since you are dead, I am giving you the new life and you may not disobey me. New name, new work, new life, and of course a new light for you."

"I can't. I can't accept your kindness. I mean I am trying to break your heart and I--"

"Ain't you listen to me ? You are already dead. He is already dead. The one who speaks to me now is the new person rebirth from the ashes. A new light from the ashes." I then sticking out my arms to reach him.

Hardly to accept it, seems that Herr Mann just gladly accept my offer and become my subordinate for a moment. Though, I am not going to confine him in a prison called my friend. He must choose what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. For a while, I am going to take care of him until he found his own path.

"Then, its settled. Now you must introduce yourself to her." my first order to my first subordinate.

"Heh... haha... ahahahaha....."

He's laughing. He's laughing while in confused state after receiving the taste of defeat so hard. Thus I accompany him laughing to tell him that I am also having depressing time like him before and to show that we are fine now. But meanwhile, Nera is just standing there frowning her own forehead after hearing me talk about her then laughing like we are laughing at her.

"What's so funny ?! I am going to beat the two of you if you don't stop laughing !!!"

Thus we still keep laughing until she finally gone berserk

To be continued.....