The quiet moments turned into a terrifying nightmare, and Akina's breath tightened until she felt her chest being crushed. "What happened? I'm suffocating!" she screamed inwardly while the sound of the world around her faded, and the movement of her enemies became slow as if time had turned into a suffocating sludge. That thing she was struck with was stripping her of her life; the light began to dim in her eyes, and the chill of death crept into her limbs. She wondered feebly: "Will I die, I wonder?".
Everyone fell under the influence of surprise, frozen in their places as if paralyzed, their eyes all fixed on Akina as she struggled with the throes of death.
A Journey to the Past
At that critical moment, the door of memory opened to take Akina back to when she was a five-year-old child. She was holding her father's hand, walking together among the blooming flowers and beautiful cherry trees that scattered their petals like pink snow.
Her father carried her in his arms and said in a voice full of tenderness and wisdom: "Akina.. my daughter, you will grow up and become a strong girl. Be strong always; life asks us to be at our strongest in our moments of weakness. Do not give up no matter how great the hardships, you must remain steadfast."
She looked at him with childhood innocence and said: "Father, I am truly strong! I have killed a frog before!". Their laughter rang out together, a powerful laugh that filled the place with warmth before her painful present swallowed it.
The Outburst of Power
Suddenly, Akina's loud scream pierced the wall of silence. In the core of her heart, the words of refusal echoed: "I will not give up! I will not die this quickly! I will be a symbol for the protection of my people!".
At that moment, a powerful brilliance erupted from Akina's body, a light that banished the darkness and returned air to her lungs. She breathed deeply, exhausted, and looked at Sawad with eyes overflowing with hatred and malice, saying in a shaky but sharp voice: "I will kill you with my own hands.. you will not escape me as long as I am alive."
Sawad did not utter a word, but contented herself with a slight, cold smile that carried no regret.
The Blue Lightning Attack
Aiden stepped forward with steady strides and said firmly: "I will take care of the rest, you must rest. She is the one who came to me, and she will see who she has gotten stuck with."
He drew his sword, raised it level with his face, and murmured words charged with power: "Blue Lightning". Suddenly, Aiden disappeared from his spot! His speed was so immense that Sawad did not catch a glimpse of where he headed.
At that moment, Pinsal shouted a warning: "Sawad! Behind you!". But the warning was too late; before Sawad could turn, the shock had pierced her body. Sawad let out a deafening scream that shook the corners of the place, and from the force of the electric shock, her coal-black hair turned pure white in mere seconds.
Black Butterfly Magic
Sawad fell to the ground groaning. Here, Pinsal intervened sharply and said: "This is enough!". Pinsal cast the "Butterfly Magic" spell, and suddenly, black butterflies scattered everywhere around Sawad.
They were no ordinary butterflies; they split into two swarms. Half formed a shield around Sawad, and the other half turned into pointed, lethal arrows, launching with lightning speed toward Aiden and everyone present.
The Protection Plumes
Suddenly, Silver appeared and shouted: "Protection Plumes!". In the blink of an eye, thick feathers scattered in the air—magical feathers that erased the arrows and pulverized them before they reached their targets. Pinsal grew very angry as she saw her attack dissipate before her eyes, unable to hide her rage at this sudden interference.
In the Depths of Subconsciousness
On the other side, Sawad was still lying on the ground, her exhausted body refusing to respond, her eyes fixed on the ceiling in daze. She began to mutter to herself, drowning in a world of questions: "What is this feeling? It is as if I were in another world.. I heard a beautiful voice, what was it, I wonder?".
Preparation and Retreat
Amidst this loss, Aiden, Akina, and Silver stood side by side, forming a single invincible front, each of them preparing to launch a decisive attack to end the battle. Pinsal felt real danger looming over Roro and Sawad because they were injured and could not fight.
Pinsal shouted with a tone full of threat: "We will return.. we will certainly return!". In the blink of an eye, she cast a mysterious vanishing spell, and their trace evaporated from the place as if they had never existed, leaving behind a heavy silence.
The Eerie Calm
Calm returned to prevail over the place, and the palace became safe again after the enemies' departure. Battalions of soldiers began to arrive, rushing to transport the wounded and treat the injured.
Aiden walked through the debris with heavy steps. As he walked, his boot hit a small metallic object. He leaned down and picked it up; it was a golden necklace engraved with a "Crescent" in exquisite detail. Aiden was silent for a long time as he contemplated the necklace in his hands, then he placed it in his pocket quietly. He left the palace square heading with his companions to another place to discuss the matter of the Crystal...