Mother-daughter, Reunion

-°-°-

"How have you been… daughter? " Leaning against the wall, I froze as mother held the same ominous glare she always held since I could remember. "I've missed you terribly, love! I just had enough when I returned to the temple and the elders spoke of sending out a kill order for your death… So, I killed all of them instead. For you of course, daughter. "

Shaking as it was something her twisted mind would think up, I gulped while fixing my gaze as to not alert her of Lilith. 

"W-why are you here… " I could not hide the fact that my voice was trembling.

"Oh… Tsk, tsk, tsk… Can't your mother come bearing her undying love towards one of her adoring daughters? "

"Y-You made me kill all fourteen of my sisters because of a stupid order I couldn't refuse… you made me murder and a crazy monster and the only reason I ran away from the clan was so you'd stop using me to kill more precious temple sisters who had enough like me and ran away. "

"Oh… you missed me that much? " Flinching as she touched my hair, I snapped at the sound of Lilith's weary moan on the other room. "Who's in there, Genja? "

Gulping, I made a preemptive attempt to kill her as qyickly as possible but failed as she quickly dodge it and pinned me to the wall. 

"Whos in the room, Genja!? "Stricken with fear and pain, I remained silent until her gaze shifted to the door.

"No! Leave her alone! ARGH! " Dislocating my shoulder, I then tackled her and we ended up crashing through a wall as I twirled my arm around her neck as we fell outside onto the ground. 

"Who is it… Tell me! Who are you willing to protect that it would mean standing against me and losing your life. GENJA!?"

Feeling the powerful sting in ny gut as I was sent flying backwards, i held my ground while staggering to my feet and holding my arm as I popped it back into place. I raised my enraged gaze as I met her blood crazed eyes. 

"I'll never let you hurt her… I'll kill you if you so much as look at her! " A light single step off the ground, I was instantly within mother's space as I threw a powerful punch that she slowly evaded with a smile. 

As my nails grazed her hair tips, my powerful blow knocked down an entire structure roof and blew it off into the desert. Desperate, I spun and slammed my fist into her cheek while stomping hard enough to cause a tremendous earthquake asbit connected and she skidded off the ground and into the floor.

Ultimately crashing into a concrete structure several feet away, from the swirling of dust, she launched in surprise and kicked me in my stomach as I was sent flying through several separate buildings. 

With the dust settling, I raised my pained, bloodied gaze as I was hardly able to move. I could only watch as she approached me through the carnage with blood red eyes.

"Did you really think those weak punches were going to cut it, Genja? As always, you amaze and disappoint me as usual. "

"Y-You… are a sick... and twisted witch! "Spitting blood onto the ground beneath her stylish black-red heels, Mother crouched down and rested her soft yet, ice cold hand onto my cheek.

"Oh… now, that's not a very nice thing to say to your mother now is it? " Wiping my mouth with her thumb gently, she then took it into her mouth as she felt the exilerating feeling that came with it being my blood.

"Lady Genja!? "My eyes widened as Mother stood and Lilith was virtually in tears as she looked at my beaten self.

"No! Lilith... Lilith, run... "Helpless, I couldnobly stumble on myself as mother walked and approached Lilith.

"Oh… so this is what you fought so desperately for? What a disgrace you've turned out to be, Genja. " Crawling over to mothers leg, I dig my nails into her skin as she casually kicked me off onto the ground. "

"I want to get a good look at how this little lady measures up with my daughter. Don't you, Genja? "Pushing myself to even raise my head, I watched and screamed at Lilith.

"H-Huh… Lilith.. Ru-n… "

"So… let's see how tough you are. You must be really something for my Genja to go through great lengths to protect… But-"

Retrrating into my mind at the sight of mother's hand wrapping around Lilith's neck, I collapsed on ny knees as my eyes rolled back into my head.

It was then, when I decided mybbesg and only option to save Lilith was to gave myself back to my clans curse and teachings. It was a state that gave me unmeasurable strength and power, however, it also came at a great cost that ate away my soul.

Feeling the weoght of the situation through mybown eyes, I stopped breathing as my mind shattered as I gave myslef into the darkness.

Releasing a powerful shock that sliced through the surrounding buildings, mother turned stunned and disappeared as I had instantly grabbed her neck several feet from Lilith.

Without hesitation, I dropped my arm and slammed my her body into the hard ground. Scratching my face and escaping my grasp, my wounds quickly healed as I took off after her. As my nails carved up her body, I spun a kick and into slammed her into the desert floor and into a building once more.

Touching the floor, my boots and clothes began to wear as mother stood back up after taking all those hits.

"Gah-... Aah... Wow… you would... go as far... use that curse inside your blood for that girl... GENJA! Why is she so special that you would destroy yourself to fight for her?! "Outraged, mothers gaze and body soon transformed either blood red marlins as we soon exchanged incredibly powerful blows that rocked and shook the very desert land itself. 

Falling short by a split second, I broke through mother's punch as our arms scraped each other and slammed right into our faces while we flew into opposite directions.

Warding her off, I began to stagher in my steps as I felt the ache in my jots throught my body as I was reaching my breaking point. 

Giving my all in the next attack, I sent her flying into the airnwhere I then slammed my heel into her chest and she exploded into the ground. Falling through the air at an incredible speed, the sound of my collision with mother ripped through the desert as once the dust settled, I had managed to knock mother out.

Raising my arm and striaghting my hand, I was inches from her neck when Lioiths soft voice screaming into my ears brought me back to my senses and stopped me. Dropping out from my trance, I opened my eyes and met Liliths crying gaze as she held my arm in hers.

Turning from her and down to mother, I staggered backwards in disbelief and tightly hugged Lilith as I could have easily ripped her frail body to shreds while in that cursed state. Shaken, I felt my body ache and tremble as my eyes and mouth bled from the massive strain going into the trance caused.

-°-°-

"Lady Genja… You are awake? Oh, thank goodness. "Unable to move, I remained still as I glanced over and stared at mother on the bed beside me, causing me to freak but, unable to move. "No! Easy! Easy… She is still unconscious… a traveling physician in town said she will be out for few days. We are safe. "

"Gulping the pins and needles in my throat and body stung as I watched Lilith wrapping my arm with bandages.

"Lady Genja… " Feeling Lilith's groggy voice, I turned to meet her tearing gaze as I couldn't say anything, but pistened instead. "Apologies, Lady Genja… I-I could do nothing when that woman was hurting you. "

Moving my lips but not uttering a sound, Lilith knew I was trying to cheer her up and smiled as she thanked me regardless. Feeling the ache all over, I controlled my breathing to heal faster as I was taught my body to recover from worse wounds than the ones I had obtained. 

-°-°-

When I awoke, mother was still unconscious as I had enough strneght to sit up on my bed and Lilith had yet to leave my side.

Her soft eyes soon opened and met my ruined face with a smile. Gently running her hand through my face and hair while considering my injuries, I got up and began preparing to leave the desert. The collision of two powerful curses negated any other forms of magic. Which meant the desert was temporarily opened for us to walk out of and leave.

This time I got lucky as it was only mother who came for me. Had it been a kill squad, I would not have lasted as long as I did... Or at all.  

-°-°-

Slowly but surely, Lilith supported me as we eventually reached the hill and spotted land behind the horizon. Soon enough, we then made it across the desert close to border that crossed over to Rizera territory. 

_°_°_

Managing with my injuries, we arrived at on clearing where I took a short break before continuing to wonder into the vast forest. 

"Has your voice returned, Lady Genja? "Smiling lightly, I gaped my mouth and saddle shook my head. "We should stop here for the night… I'll go and gather-" Collapsing abruptly, Lilith fell and tripped onto my chest as our eyes were mere inches apart.

Breathing slowly yet consistently, I remained still as I could not help but fall asleep with her in my arms.

-°-°-

Waking up, my sword instinctively clicked in my hand as the sound of half a hundred trees falling smoothly off their roots wake up Lilith from my chest. Shaken, I had a nightmare and felt as if I was in danger and had the need to protect who was right before me.

As such, all the tees within a mile fell to the floor as I cleared an even path. Lilith woke with a shocked expression as I sat up while holding my head. 

Leaning my head against the wood of a fallen tree, Lilith sat as she held the same looming gaze as before. 

"I'm… fi-ne… " Barely being able to talk, she began to tear up and hugged me as it must have been rough for her after seeing me in get beaten while in such a painful state. 

Turning my head, I heard a dozen horses rushing to the sight of the collapsed trees a few miles away and before long, w were surrounded by a dozen knights on horses.

Rizera'e forces had found us as I clenched my sword ready to kill them. However, before that, Lilith spoke as she asked for help and surprising enough, the man in charge reluctantly agreed. Remain on guard, they then began taking us back to the city while on a horse drawn wagon.  

Holding Lilith with both my Katanas in my chest, I closed my eyes as I remained sharp and ready to fight in an instant. Through the entire time, I bore the pain that had begun to subside inside me.  

It was then when we crossed the checkpoint that I relized were heading to center of the glistening land of the Rizera Family Royal Palace.

It almsot seems as if they had been anticipating our arrival.

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