[Nowo's POV]After they took her for some treatment, me and Lane went to our room to finally take some rest. We only have a few hours to spend here before we go back to the dark realm, like what I have promised to my father. Algea let me drink a potion, which will soon take me back to that place, like a bubble that pops out from this base."I'm leaving everything to you, Lane," I told her."Can I just go with you?" She sadly asked me.I started to lower my gaze and took a deep sigh, "I won't let them have anyone that is precious to me ever again, and I don't want your life to be in danger," I told her."But, Nowo," I didn't let her finish her sentence."Here," I interrupted while handing her a bottle of potion. "Drink it, and you'll be free from your contract.""What do you mean?" She asked me, stammering."You have to take this potion so that you'll stay alive no matter what happens to me," I explained to her.Lane started crying, and that punched my heart so damn hard. My tears were
[Nowo's POV]"I didn't know you had that kind of courage to betray us," Algea told me.She became mad at me because of what I did to the dark lord. With the use of the queen's soul, I tried to harness her power to cleanse the evilness inside my father's heart. I wasn't even finished when she suddenly entered my father's chamber and pulled my hair.The dark lord woke up, seeing her pointing a knife at my throat."What do you think you are doing?" he asked her."Why? Is your heart getting soft now? This defender is a traitor!" she exclaimed."Kill me so that you won't be able to use that damn stone," I teased her.She pulled my hair tighter, and then she said, "Who are you to order me around?""I'm the daughter of the queen whom you were envious of and the dark lord whom you loved the most but cannot have," I teased her once again."Do you think you can take all the bad spirit inside your father's body?" she asked me. "Let me tell you something. No black witch has the kind of weak power
Like a tragic story, my path didn't end well. I fought in a way that I believed was my best, only to find out that nothing was sufficient. Even one's true self couldn't serve as a ticket to alter fate. The memories of that war are still vivid in my mind, from the moment we prioritized our duties as defenders over everything, including our hearts, to that specific instance when he finally did what he needed to do to save the land. The profound sorrow visible in his eyes remains unforgettable and painful. Although we never had a chance to bid a proper goodbye, at least we knew we did our best for what is right.After that, my messy but joyful life seemed to come to an end. It feels like everything happened just yesterday, yet I know it's been a long time since the terrifying war with the dark realm. I can now feel my entire body lying on a soft bed, which I guess is made of swan feathers. The sweet floral scent in the air suggests daffodils. My hands grip the smooth texture of their ste
[Nowo’s POV]It all started at that magical place called HIA. It is an agency-slash-orphanage, where all orphans are allowed to work for their own living when they reach the legal age of 18. They were taking care of neglected children by adopting them, providing their needs, and by showing them the real love of a parent they were all longing for. To share and bring fun is what the HIA aims for. I know, right? It is indeed amazing to have met such a great place like this. Also, I’m really thankful to have met the most naughty and a little bit nice best buddy of mine. Omo, I really do miss him a lot.I thought everything I knew about HIA will be the last things I will ever know about it. I thought it’s going to be that easy since it all went right when a person took me there. But when I reached 18, everything turned different from what it was before. I got trained, started to work, and do whatever task is on me, I even became like the attentive agent before when I was starting. Kidding.
[NOWO's POV]Every flower starts as a seed, and logically, every seed of a flower comes from another flower. It’s just a cycle from which something is created by or comes from some other thing. Compared to all individuals existing in this human world, each one of us has our own source. I see myself as one of those flowers. The place where I grew up symbolizes water, and it has made me a better person now. But would I possibly grow up properly even without sunlight? What kind of grown-up person am I if my life has been gloomy since I was born? I will never find the light I need, but I do hope to encounter that light soon. I want to end the darkness inside me. Not only that, but I never wish to live this kind of life eternally.“Wake up.” I slowly open my eyes as I hear that very familiar voice. “Nowo, wake up.”My vision is kind of blurry, so I blinked for a second. “M-m-moha?” I asked.I felt so weak that I couldn’t even move my hands. Clueless—that’s the best word to describe me now.
[NOWO's POV]“So where are you both going?” Talaa asked.Moha and I looked at each other and nodded a little. That is sort of a sign that we let each other trust both of them.“We’re planning to go to the underground room, where lockers are located,” Moha said.I nodded and said, “We believe that everything that begins in a certain place will end in the same place. With that belief, we are going back to that place. Maybe we could find any hint or answer to our question, which is how to go back to the normal HQ.”“Are you both sure that the underground is the safe place for the both of you?” Lane asked.I shrugged, “No one knows.” I uttered. “But we’re going to at least try. As a matter of fact, there’s really no safe place here on the other side of HQ, so what’s the point of knowing if that place is safe or not?” I added.“Maybe we can do that tomorrow? It’s already midnight, and it’s too dangerous to walk around here,” Talaa suggested.“Day or night is just the same. Danger is not af
[Narrator's POV]While the sun is preparing to glow, the moon silently plans to take over its light. It's true that darkness never sleeps, and neither does evil.All of its traces are scattered around the withered place and will surely cause anyone to tremble with fear. You can see a thick smoke that is darker than a specific shade of grey, continuously traveling from the unknown hole to the Dark Realm where the man named Pricus—the youngest son of Zeus—rules.He began to conquer and cursed the whole forest by the time he took over the magic stone of Astria after killing his wife named Aria—the Queen of Swan Maidens. The said stone has the power to maintain the beauty of nature and peace inside this other world, and the said Queen was assigned by the King and Gods to take care of it. She and her successor are the only ones who have the ability to use the power of the said stone. Pricus wasn't aware of this fact. He began to declare war and take the throne from the late king named Alas
[NOWO's POV]Now that the water is slowly disappearing from the flower, and the unknown plant is left rooted in the polluted land with pests surrounding it. The said flower never knew when they were going to destroy her. But even though the said pests leave the plant alone in the middle of darkness and remain alive, until when could it ever live without water and sunlight? I'm like that flower, and during these times that everything seems to be fading out of my sight, I never knew what kind of future was waiting for me out here. Either I get killed by these endless evil creatures here in the cursed land or wait until I get old and withered.“Welcome to the Land of Astria, Nowo and Moha.”Those were the words I heard from a man wearing decent leather armor with a sword strapped to his hip. His decent and sophisticated appearance made me think that maybe this man came from a royal family, and that he's the headmaster Mr. Arphen was talking about earlier. He brought us here where the head
Like a tragic story, my path didn't end well. I fought in a way that I believed was my best, only to find out that nothing was sufficient. Even one's true self couldn't serve as a ticket to alter fate. The memories of that war are still vivid in my mind, from the moment we prioritized our duties as defenders over everything, including our hearts, to that specific instance when he finally did what he needed to do to save the land. The profound sorrow visible in his eyes remains unforgettable and painful. Although we never had a chance to bid a proper goodbye, at least we knew we did our best for what is right.After that, my messy but joyful life seemed to come to an end. It feels like everything happened just yesterday, yet I know it's been a long time since the terrifying war with the dark realm. I can now feel my entire body lying on a soft bed, which I guess is made of swan feathers. The sweet floral scent in the air suggests daffodils. My hands grip the smooth texture of their ste
[Nowo's POV]"I didn't know you had that kind of courage to betray us," Algea told me.She became mad at me because of what I did to the dark lord. With the use of the queen's soul, I tried to harness her power to cleanse the evilness inside my father's heart. I wasn't even finished when she suddenly entered my father's chamber and pulled my hair.The dark lord woke up, seeing her pointing a knife at my throat."What do you think you are doing?" he asked her."Why? Is your heart getting soft now? This defender is a traitor!" she exclaimed."Kill me so that you won't be able to use that damn stone," I teased her.She pulled my hair tighter, and then she said, "Who are you to order me around?""I'm the daughter of the queen whom you were envious of and the dark lord whom you loved the most but cannot have," I teased her once again."Do you think you can take all the bad spirit inside your father's body?" she asked me. "Let me tell you something. No black witch has the kind of weak power
[Nowo's POV]After they took her for some treatment, me and Lane went to our room to finally take some rest. We only have a few hours to spend here before we go back to the dark realm, like what I have promised to my father. Algea let me drink a potion, which will soon take me back to that place, like a bubble that pops out from this base."I'm leaving everything to you, Lane," I told her."Can I just go with you?" She sadly asked me.I started to lower my gaze and took a deep sigh, "I won't let them have anyone that is precious to me ever again, and I don't want your life to be in danger," I told her."But, Nowo," I didn't let her finish her sentence."Here," I interrupted while handing her a bottle of potion. "Drink it, and you'll be free from your contract.""What do you mean?" She asked me, stammering."You have to take this potion so that you'll stay alive no matter what happens to me," I explained to her.Lane started crying, and that punched my heart so damn hard. My tears were
[NOWO's POV]Like the flower sprouted in a small amount of land placed at the center of the continuously flowing river, I have no other places to go to either. I'm stuck in a bad fate that isn't going to change. I sometimes ask myself, am I really going to do this? Am I ready to fulfill the mission I just found out from where I was destined to die?But far from before, I can clearly understand my purpose in this land now. Those questions are just a part of a normal Nowo who never ran out of complaints and questions in life.Now that I am facing him, not in a safe place but his dangerous place, I know I should never think about going back to our base."What brings you here, my daughter?" He asked me. Everything about the dark lord is kind of weird for me. I also wonder why he always has that evil witch beside him. It's like that woman didn't want to leave him alone."I am here for Fraise," I uttered. I was so determined to get her out of here that I didn't even have time to change my e
[Nowo’s POV]It was a complete, deafening silence the moment they all left the training ground. I thought I was the only one inside at that moment, but then a glowing creature flew towards my direction."Hiya," she greeted me. One of her hands was placed on her back, and the other one continuously waved at me while she was also lowering her gaze.She almost bumped into me, but then I stopped her tiny body with my index finger. "Oops, sorry, dear," she uttered."It's okay. Will you please raise your head up?" I told her while smiling.She pouted, and then she asked me, "Are you still mad at me?"I shook my head from left to right and sat her on my left palm. "I wasn't mad at you.""But you didn't talk to me for days," she responded.I took a deep sigh and then I told her, "Well, I'm kind of disappointed because of what I have figured out recently.""But you can always talk to me about anything. It just doesn't feel right to be ignored, especially by you, my dear," she responded. I coul
[Nowo’s POV]That was the first time I spent almost the whole gloomy day reading only one book. It might not be for me, but the thing is, it captured my attention. What was written inside, as well as the kind of helpful information it provides, makes me want to put my time into it. It's pretty hard to admit, but I find myself really weird these past few days. I've been so busy thinking about everyone’s betrayal towards me, and I knew at that moment that my decision to just end the darkness is at its final level. I know it is kind of unusual for me to confess it, but I don’t feel like ending someone’s life anymore, even if it’s the dark lord. Given the fact that he is my father, won’t change anything. It’s just that I want nothing but peace, and killing will never be a part of it.“Lane, have you...” I was right about to talk to her and paused until I realized that she’s not here with me, and this is the first time I felt completely alone.No Moha, no Lane, no one that I can possibly
[Narrator's POV]Meanwhile, Helios noticed the unusually quiet person beside him. He creased his forehead and started questioning her, "Cordelia, are you alright?"Not only that she's unbelievably silent, but she was also lowering her head to the point that her chin almost reached her chest. Helios is unable to take a peek at her face because it is hidden, and the dark lord's chamber is too dark as well."Hey, kid," Helios uttered after tapping the female defender's shoulder lightly.Helios found it more strange when her body suddenly shakes, as if she was either crying or laughing. A few seconds after that, Cordelia raises her head and stares at him while flashing a wide smile on her face."Am I being weird if I say that I'm completely thrilled and fired up right now, Helios?" She responded. Her voice was too loud for the rest of the defenders to hear her."Are you being serious right now?" Jack asked her.Instead of answering him, she just stared at him still wearing that kind of cr
[Narrator's POV]Life is indeed full of surprises and uncanny events that will leave you dumbstruck for the whole moment. It is quite hard for them to catch their emotions the moment they all figured out that their female comrade is still alive. They didn't know whether to celebrate the happiness they are currently feeling right now or to put their attention to the growing fear and sadness, seeing her in a very unwell condition.The dark lord went somewhere behind Fraise. He clasped his hands on the female defender's shoulders, and then he his near the side of her face. "Wake up and take a look at those wonderful despair painted on your comrades' faces."Raiden was completely annoyed about what the dark lord did. "Don't touch her or even come near her."Pricus quickly lifted his hands away from Fraise's shoulders, "Oh my, I'm scared." He said, and then he started chuckling. A few seconds after that, he began to flash a smirk on his face and touches Fraise's hair gently, and then he su
[Narrator's POV]"Why did you come with us?" Luna asked Lane. "Aren't you supposed to stay beside Nowo?" she added.Lane couldn't blame her for wondering about it because she also knew that it is completely odd for her to accompany them instead of staying beside her dearest person."She doesn't need me. I feel like I'm being abandoned for no clear reasons," the female fairy uttered while lowering her gaze."Hey, don't say that," Luna responded to her. She started tapping her back lightly with her index finger and then she continued, "Nowo will never abandon such a sweet guardian like you."Lane stared at her and asked, "If that's the case, then how come she keeps on hiding? Like she doesn't even want to talk to me anymore.""As far as I know, dear, Nowo didn't speak to anyone for days. Maybe she wasn't in a good mood these days or something really bad came up, and she ended up losing her will to interact or to do anything," she explained.It is clear that she was trying to make the fe