Lena and Thia held Ija's lifeless body getting colder and colder every minute. Tears rushed uncontrollably from their eyes.
The others were trying to stop their attackers from getting past them, still fighting to keep everyone alive. Gor didn't know Ija too well, but the knight seemed like a good person, and she definitely meant a lot to Thia and most especially The Princess. Thena didn't know how to feel concerning her death, she didn't know Ija, but the royal knight had chosen to save their lives without a care for who they were, so she respected the Knight for that, apart from that she didn't feel too sad by the loss. Henry was still trying to hold back his tears, but he couldn't allow himself to falter, "Stay strong little Laxe, he heard Ija's voice in his head. You have to survive first before you are allowed to cry".
As the chaos ensued Thia began to scream uncontrollably, her mind seemed broken from the loss.
"First it was mom, then Zinesh, all my friends died. They left me alone, why? Why does everyone leave me behind? Why does everyone around me die? Ija is Gone, who's next?"
"I'm, I'm I going to lose someone else, Miriam, Cage, Hansi, Thena, Princess Lena, Tell me who's next Death, tell me who's next, tell me Plutonia!;"
Suddenly Everything slowed down, Thia could hear everything all around her clearly, and every word being said around her became clearer. It was as if the world had opened itself to her. In the midst of it all, she saw a woman, or was it even, human? Her eyes, skin, hair, and everything about her was not human. Thia looked at her with a curious gaze…
"I know you," Thia said.
"You're, you're death," She said.
"Shhh, not death, Call me Tonia," Plutonia said
It was at that moment she remembered. Everything as painful as it was, came back to her, her visit to Tonia's Domain, everything she saw there, and the weight of her curse. She remembered their conversation and the warnings Plutonia gave her.
"For me to send you back forcefully, you will not remember what happened here but I want you to know this, the gods are not your friends, neither are the demons, but the only people you can trust are Ashell and Ares, find them, if I'm correct and Kadara is involved, then you'll meet them, those are the only people you can fully trust, when you awaken Iku this words will awaken in you too"
As everything started coming to her, she had begun to comprehend what had happened, and what it really meant, she was cursed, and all this while she didn't even realize, even when the sign could not be more obvious.
As she was thinking this, she heard a voice amidst all the voices in her head. A small distinct voice of one of the Mercenaries that attacked them spoke in the distance after Ija died.
"Finally, that monster is dead, we can finally kill the rest, Maybe I should start with-" He didn't finish his word when a hand suddenly, grabbed his mouth. Thia had suddenly moved past the other and grabbed his mouth violently.
She dragged the huge man down to her height and asked angrily. "What did you just say?"
The man tried to speak, but with Thia holding his mouth, he could only utter muffled sounds.
"What?" Thia said.
"I can't hear you clearly!!" she screamed and tore his mouth out.
Blood oozed from the spot his mouth was like a waterfall, it didn't take up to half a minute before he fell and died.
Everyone present watched in Horror, as the little child yanked off the mouth of a fully grown adult in such a bizarre manner.
Suddenly, Thia heard a familiar whistling in the air and held out her hand to grab an incoming arrow.
She looked in the direction it came from and she saw Ashlark in the far distance with a bow in hand.
The mercenary was shocked to see Thia grabbing his arrow in such a manner, but that was not his main concern.
A shadow rose behind Thia, looking harrowing and ominous, a skeletal creature appeared, concealed in a tattered black robe. The creature was a cluster of darkness and pure fear, a small burning flame danced in its Visor making its gaze more fearsome.
The skeletal creature held a scythe in its hand, a weapon Ashlark and everyone else wanted nothing, but to stay far away from. Iku moved beside Thia and bowed slightly,
"My lady" the creature's voice rang in the head of everyone around, both friend and foe. Of course, they all knew who it was referring to, they just couldn't believe it.
"It seems you've finally remembered," Iku said again
"You, you took over my body a while ago," Thia said not afraid of the creature one bit.
"I'm sorry my lady, Desperate measures" Iku replied.
"You'll explain yourself some other time but for now...." Thia turned towards Ashlark, her eyes staring deep into his soul. He knew she was coming for him.
"What are you all doing, Get her!!" He screamed at his men.
"Should I kill them all?" Iku asked Thia, everyone was still listening.
"No, give that to me, I'll kill them myself" Thia said to Iku
"As you wish my lady," Iku said and gave Iku the scythe and wrapped himself around Thia
Thia held the scythe, a weapon that towered over her greatly, she held it gracefully, like she was not even bothered, by its size and weight. It was as if they were both meant for each other.
"Let's dance" Thia suddenly said.
One of the mercenaries sneaked up on her from behind and attacked, but she easily dodged and cut the woman clean in half.
She moved with great speed towards the Ashlark and started bulldozing her way through.
Everyone and everything that stood in her way met an unfortunate end.
"Archers Fire!!" Ashlark said as Thia Drew closer.
"But our men are in the way" one of them complained only to meet the edge of Ashlark's blade,
"I said fire you, Idiots!!" He screamed.
The whistling of arrows filled the air against and Thia this time took a stance that Henry had taken a while ago when he repelled their attacks.
"Third scythe, Death's howl," Thia said and performed the same slash Henry did with her scythe, destroying all the arrows.
Some of the mercenaries saw this and felt grateful her attack destroyed all the arrows but that faded when Thia spoke.
"I'm going to kill you all by myself", she stated and resumed her onslaught.
Ashlark saw his plan was failing and Thai was getting closer and closer.
"Who is this brat, and why didn't he tell me one of them has a curse as powerful as this" Ashlark thought.
Little did he know Gor, was about to join the fray