[82.2] Alora POV: Not Worth Saving

No matter how late I went to bed, I would wake up at the crack of dawn. Awakened by the dawn, I climbed out of bed making sure to pull the blanket over the sleeping Zephyr. He spread across the bed, patting the mattress to try to find me in his sleep. I scratched his head gently and slipped a pillow into his arms.

He rolled back over content with the pillow in his arms.

I left him behind and found Atta waiting in the courtyard for me. I followed her over to the training grounds where we exchanged blows. Our fighting methods were so similar that it was more like a game to see who would mess up first. 

I heard the Great Fairy wake up and come out into the courtyard. Atta and I ran over to her as soon as she called. She looked over at all of us, "I'm going to visit Bale today… I want you all to stay inside and under no circumstances should you leave. You got that?"

We all nodded in unison.

"Good. Now while I'm out, is there anything you need?"

After getting a list together, she went to Astra, "Astra baby. Can you come with me? I need your help with something."

Her expression lit up, "I can help!"

After picking up Astra, she waved goodbye and disappeared into the barrier. 

I watched her leave feeling conflicted as to what I should do now that she was gone and Zephyr was asleep. I felt more anxious than when I entered the arena.

Moni waved over Atta, "I have new training dummies for you. Can you take them to your training area?"

She gave him a salute and walked away.

I went to follow her to help, but I suddenly felt an iron grip on my shoulder stopping me. I looked up in surprise to see Moni glaring at me.

"You may think you can hide the truth from everyone, but you can't hide it from me. I know who you are and what you are."

A Holy Priestess with platinum blonde hair and blue eyes revealing no emotion was reflected in those dull orange eyes. I clicked my tongue, "I don't know what you mean."

"You were sent here to kill all of us."

My face turned pale.

He sneered at my reaction, "I knew you couldn't be trusted."

My body was suddenly forced down into the ground that had already opened up and swallowed me whole. In the blink of an eye, I was rolling down the base of the mountain.

Once I came to a stop, I raised my head trying to make sense of what just happened. My body trembled, weakened by the endless rolling.

I thought I had immunity to demonic magic!?

But that f*cker just threw me!!!

How is that possible-

"Hah… HAHAHAHA!"

I froze at the sound of bone-chilling laughter.

"Alora, Alora…"

Gentle footsteps came toward me from behind.

"I can only take this as a sign from my darling pup that he still loves me."

My head slowly turned to see the twisted smile upon such an angelic face.

Ah.

I understand now.

Moni just threw me out to be slaughtered.

"You've had fun this past year haven't you?" Orphelio's eyes jumped as he mocked me, "If I didn't know any better, I would have guessed that you completely forgot the reason why you were sent up there."

He pulled out a newly obtained sword, his smile spreading as an ominous and terrifying aura started leaking out.

Realizing the danger of my current situation, I summoned my own Holy Sword. I raised it just in time to block his attack. However, he had hit it with such force that my arms went numb. No matter how hard I tried to block his blows, it was pointless.

His years of experience were vast compared to my own. I was a mere mouse being toyed with by a large cat.

"Do you remember what we said?" 

I let out a sharp breath as I felt his sword plummet into my shoulder.

"Either kill all those on the mountain or die trying."

He kicked me with a heavy foot as he ripped the sword through the flesh and bone of my shoulder. I landed with a heavy thud on my back, knocking the air out of my lungs. 

I stared up at the clouds floating in the sky while painful gasps wheezed from my throat.

The numbing shock had gained control of most of my body, preventing me from even raising my arm. In an instant, half of the sky disappeared from my vision as something was plunged into my eye.

I could feel a liquid roll down my cheek, but I couldn't cry out.

The clouds above me drifted silently, too far out of reach.

"Heh. What a sad life you have. You tried to help out demons and they sold you out in the end. You have no one." 

The cold air slowly crept into my skin, traveling to my heart.

As he stood over me, his twisting smile came into view, "Weak little girl… Such a shame that there's no one to save you."

There's…

No one.

"I guess no one cares about you enough. Not even the Great Fairy who would always run into battle to save her demon spawn is here to help you."

I stopped trying to get up and succumbed to the numbing pain coursing through my body.

He let out a sigh as if he cared, "Well you only have yourself to blame. We tried to warn you that demons are selfish creatures."

He leaned down to whisper in my ear, "I guess you're just unlovable."

I closed my eyes, trying to forget that smile on his face.

I should try to fight back…

But what's the point?

Who would even miss me?

Zephyr doesn't need me.

His siblings hate me.

…And I'm just a stranger to the Great Fairy who stood by as her children died.

I'm…

Alone.

As he pressed the sword into the center of my neck, he sneered.

"Only those who are useful should be allowed to live. Not worthless things like yourself."