Part 1 of 2
[Moha’s POV]Both Cordelia and Maison's eyes widened the moment they saw me, their expressions a mix of surprise and uncertainty, while Jack smirked and said, "Here comes the hero of the black sheep." "I was never your hero," I responded, my voice carrying a mixture of defiance and weariness. I could sense Jack's growing irritation, and he seemed poised to retaliate physically, but just as tensions escalated, someone unexpected intervened. "Don't you dare start any fight or else," Fraise uttered, her tone stern and her eyes glaring at Jack. After a few seconds, she surprisingly softened, her angry expression replaced by a wide smile. "Don't be such a child, dear. Nowo is our alliance, and instead of judging her, we should cheer her up because that's the right thing to do, as her siblings." "I was never her sibling," Jack fretted, stubbornly holding onto his resentment. The words from Jack ignited a flame within me, and my initial restraint wavered. I was about to deliver a retalia
[Lane's POV] I find myself grappling with guilt as I use Talaa as a false excuse to maintain a distance from my dear Nowo. The truth is, I yearn to step away, allowing Nowo the space to navigate life without my constant presence. It is a crucial lesson for her, and it will undoubtedly be challenging for both of us. In our role as guardians of the defenders, we hold a divine contract bestowed upon us by the God among Gods. Our mission is to care for the Orphans during their quest to reclaim our lives. We are mere spirits, drifting through the land, aiding them in completing their missions to secure our own redemption. However, once our duties are fulfilled, we are destined to depart from their side and return to our former lives. The weight of this realization didn't fully dawn on me when I first agreed to the contract, but now I find myself regretting that decision. Even though the possibility of our reunion lingers, I am haunted by the knowledge that my memories of her will gradual
[Nowo's POV] "Now that we are all assembled, the weight of the impending announcement hung heavily in the air. “We were going to announce the first pairs who will engage in the first elimination round,” the headmaster's voice resonated, and the tension in the room intensified. “You all have to face each other in battle, and the one who emerges victorious in all five battles will assume the role of leader on your mission. The second rank shall be the leader's assistant, and the remainder of the team will be expected to follow their lead.” And I set my sights on that position. The desire to become the leader burned within me, fueled by the determination to prove my worth as a defender, even with the burden of being the conqueror's daughter. “The outcome of this battle, whether it ends in victory or defeat for the coveted position, does not diminish your standing as a defender,” the headmaster reassured, attempting to dispel the weight of potential failure. “It's a crucible to forge
[Narrator's POV]"I can't believe this! How come Nowo ranked the highest?" Luna exclaimed to her griffin, her voice tinged with disbelief and frustration, as she collapsed onto her bed."Why? Are you expecting to be in her place instead?" The griffin inquired, a mischievous tone underlying its words. "You didn't do anything impressive during the test other than making a huge mess," it teased, reveling in Luna's annoyance.Luna rolled her eyes, a gesture that conveyed both irritation and dismissal, and retorted, "Shut up, griffin."As Luna distanced herself from the others, a wave of genuine emotion swept over her. The unexpected announcement from the one-eyed man left her torn between the desire to vent her frustration and the need to conceal her vulnerability. She was reluctant to reveal this side to Moha."So, what's your plan, Luna? Are you planning to mess up with your chance once again?" The griffin needled her, sensing her internal struggle."I'm going to take her down. Even if
[Nowo’s POV]How is it possible that a flower, provided with everything it needs, still doesn't know how to grow? Despite having water and sunlight, it remains stagnant, lost, and unable to flourish.Most of the time, I feel confused about changes within me. It's perplexing how, at times, my heart feels as hard as a rock, and at other times, I'm overwhelmed with guilt for pushing my best friend away. Lane's words continue to echo in my mind as a constant reminder.What's wrong with trusting people? Refusing to trust would only make life more challenging. How can I change this aspect of my personality, and how will it endanger me?“There's only one place where you can finally find the peace of mind you're always searching for, Nowo,” a mysterious voice informs me. “Would you like to know?”“Who are you?” I wonder.It takes a moment to realize I'm no longer in our base. The darkness and isolation are replaced by the fluctuating voice, sometimes resembling the headmaster, Arphen, Moha, L
[Nowo's POV] Believing that everything happens for a reason becomes a formidable challenge in my current situation. This saying, often a source of solace, refuses to apply to the intricate web of emotions entangling me, especially when confronted with the forbidden nature of the profound feelings shared between Moha and me, who, to my astonishment, turns out to be my sibling. The revelation has rendered our connection more complicated and forbidden than ever, casting a shadow over the emotions we once embraced freely. After he gently clasped my wrist, he guided me to a secluded spot, not far enough from the chaos that surrounds us. The ensuing silence hung heavily between us until he found the words he needed to express. "I wanted to clear things out. I'm certain about my confession; I truly mean every word I told you back then in the hunters' mountain. Even if our identities are laid bare, nothing has changed. I still love you," he confessed, laying bare the vulnerability beneath h
[Moha's POV] "Based on your expression, I could tell that your conversation didn't conclude favorably. It's okay, buddy. You possess the strength to overcome this," Talaa consoled me as soon as I entered the room. I sat on my bed and took a deep sigh. Though I am completely aware that she's going to reject me, I still hold on to that small percentage of hope that she will listen to what her heart says and accept my confession wholeheartedly, but then Nowo is Nowo. "Not in the mood to talk, are you?" Talaa inquired as I entered the room. I shrugged my shoulders, expressing my despondence. "Well, I just got rejected. Not once, not twice, but thrice. How will I ever get the mood to talk, buddy?" Talaa, the little sage, offered his wisdom. "Being rejected doesn't mean that it's the end for both of you." I raised both of my eyebrows in curiosity. "Then what does it mean?" "Maybe it's the way of life to make you both realize that there is always the right time for everything," he resp
[Nowo's POV]As the competition unfolds, the thunderous rhythm of my heartbeat becomes unmistakably clear. Describing my current predicament feels like being a prey surrounded by fierce predators, their eyes ablaze with an insatiable hunger to devour me. Their intense gazes leave me anticipating their every move.I'm aware they weren't instructed to engage me simultaneously, but these words spill out of my mouth almost involuntarily. My other self begins to emerge without my consent, and I sense the looming danger if I allow it to take over."Lend me your ears before we commence," I assertively address both Arphen and Alasdair."What's on your mind?" Arphen inquires.The headmaster raises both eyebrows, signaling for me to proceed. "Speak, Nowo. We're all ears.""May I challenge all of them at once?" I boldly ask.Acknowledging it might be my riskiest decision, I yearn to gauge my current strength. Like the headmaster, I crave an understanding of my newfound skills, abilities, and ove
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