Chapter 40: Victorious Cry

The tension started to get heavy as both of the scarnets finally shouted out their threat to each other. But one could see who will gonna survive this battle. It should be the armed one rather than the two people who had no knowledge about combat.

His weapon that was once a silver lance with ruby trims turned into a long katana, with thin sharp blades and a short holder that showed a palette of silver and red. It was indeed a beautiful relic if it wasn't meant to use in evil.

Tasan started to approach them, as they both stepped backward, while Kandani was protecting the little one with his slender hands. Tears were forming in the little girl's eyes while a cold sweat dripped from his head. They were both shivering but managed to stay strong in front of the enemy.

When he was close enough to reach them, he raised his sword in the air, ready to swing it at them even though the others weren't prepared to die.

Even at this moment, he couldn't believe that his friend would do such immoral things and side with the devil. He knew that he hated cowardice among all, but he just disregarded it.

If only he was too supportive of a friend, then he might change his mind.

But as he was about to perform his execution and the victims were about to run for their lives, he stopped in his actions, causing the others to stop as well.

He lowered his sword and stared at a faraway distance, through the woods. No one knew what he was looking at and why was he looking, but Kandani was glad that he canceled his murder.

Then, Tasan twisted his head back to them, immediately losing their hope to escape. But still, he didn't raise his sword.

"It looks like you were saved this time, Kandani." He said. And yet, no sign of joy and relief can be felt from them.

"But in the next meeting, I won't give any mercy on you." He added, still the same deep voice. But for a killer like him, his tone was unexpectedly hospitable. "If you were still alive, then my plans will all fail."

He turned his whole body to the direction where he looked at earlier and took a last glance at his friend and the little girl.

"See you soon." He bid goodbye. His face might not be seen, but they could feel his presence with no friendliness and warmth.

It felt too cold that even Kandani, who was once his companion, couldn't get near to him anymore. Was the time that they were together were nothing to him.

"Listen." The coward scarnet yelled, loud enough for him to stop in his tracks and took a glimpse. He didn't expect that he would be calling him rather than running for their lives. "I don't know what your plans might be…"

"But I will stop it!" He shouted, clutching both of his hands. Those words only came out from an idiot's mouth, but he didn't mind. He was now desperate to stop him after seeing the massacre of his race.

Tasan's face might not show his anxiety over his friend's words, but his heart was beating. He was sure that once his friend said something, it's the truth and will do anything to make it true.

He may be a coward, but his desperation wasn't the one to be underestimated.

And yet, that didn't stop him from walking away, as he immediately disappeared into the dark misty forest, not leaving any sign. Both of them stood in silence as the tension slowly vanished in the air.

Now that they declared their place a safe zone, Kandani dropped in his knees and sighed deeply. He didn't notice that he had been holding his breath since the beginning.

He stood up and turned around to see the little girl staring at her. She saved her indeed, but she still felt scared at the faceless being in front, especially his height. Noticed this, he kneeled down, trying to match the girl's level.

"Chlora!"

Suddenly, a shout of a female voice can be heard from a far distance. They both turned around at the source of the call and met a middle-aged female tendrin in thin clothes. Her features were the same as the little girl, except for the small tree on top of her head.

"Mama!"

With joy in her face, the girl ran towards her, embracing her tightly, as the other did the same. They couldn't help but smile as tears fell from their eyes. Kandani stood up and just stared at them, a mixture of sadness and joy in his heart.

He never experienced having this bond before, since most of the scarnets hatched from the eggs, and only one of them had the real blood of the ancient family.

But even though they weren't blood-related, he still treated the whole town of Eldon his own family. Unfortunately, it's gone now.

The tendrins started walking away, looking for the place to hide. As they were about to leave him behind, Chlora turned her head around, which he didn't expect for her to do. His eyes may not be seen, but one of them knew that their sight locked with each other.

"Thank you."

It may be the movement of her lips, but he was sure that he heard her thanking him, along with a warm smile on her face. He was stunned at his position after knowing about it.

He was unsure if he saved her from the enemy's blade, but when she released those words, he knew that he did something right, something brave.

***

The greatest war the town of Zentra had ever experienced finally begun in the middle of the square, with both parties had different goals. One was to destroy the Gion Tree, and the other to protect it.

They knew that one of them shouldn't finish their mission, and only the one who'll survive should.

Dalary closed her eyes and tried to focus on the energy forming inside her. She had done it earlier, so surely, she would do it again.

A large amount of concentration can be felt around her, as the others couldn't help but to stare at what she was about to do. Then, small glowing blue lights started to surround her whole body like her very own satellites.

"Dalary…"

Once again, she heard voices that were belonged to a group of young ladies, and she could hear them in every direction. If she could still remember, these are the water spirits.

They weren't easy to talk to, but for some reason, they were her first elemental spirits. She didn't know how that worked, but she didn't care to.

After talking to them, a small amount of water formed into the shape of blades started appearing around her, pointing at the Cerberus. Irritated at the sight of the power, the dog immediately ran towards her at an incredible speed.

But the water blades were a lot faster, thus, striking the parts of its body in an instant. It roared in pain just like how Cainne stabbed it in the chest, except right now, it couldn't be able to escape.

The blades kept it in the lock as black blood started to come out, dropping to the ground at a slow pace. No matter how hard it tried to remove them, it couldn't be able to touch them because of their liquefied forms. Some of the blades struck its eyes, causing it to cry for pain more.

"Charge!"

Taking this as a chance, Dalary yelled as she pointed her finger to the black monster. The tendrin warriors started marching towards the panicking monster, blinded by the fact that they were getting closer.

Those who were holding spears threw those out at it, some failed to land on its body while others were successfully stuck, giving it the reason to roar more. The ones who were carrying swords like Pholly, started to stab and slash its feet, giving small and big injuries.

Frustrated by the attacks, the Cerberus raised its front paws and was about to give a blow to the tendrin warriors below it. Both fear and courage can be seen in their eyes as they saw death in front of them.

Dalary took this as a chance and talked to the water spirits once again. She closed her eyes once more and wished for another attack towards it.

Then, a gigantic amount of water as large as the dark monster was floating in the air on top of her, started forming into a spear.

She raised her hand and dropped it down immediately, causing the spear to aim at the enemy and fly towards its unprotected chest. The weapon passed through it as one can see the edge of the water spear at its back, mixed with blood.

Everything went into a slow-motion as they stared at the Cerberus slowly dropping at the ground, cold and lifeless. The black mist surrounding it was no more.

The water blades and spear then combined with one another, turning themselves into a giant ball of water, floating in the sky. This wasn't the work of Dalary anymore, it was the spirits itself.

The ball exploded in the air, releasing a rain shower in the town of Zentra. The flames devouring the houses finally vanished, and the once dry ground started to emit small puddles anywhere. It was cold, but it wasn't harsh.

After a moment of silence, still absorbing the information in their minds, all of the tendrin warriors cried and raised their hands and weapons. Now, the first war of Zentra was finally over, and it was their victory.