India- River
Suman saw Reed and Chalker finish disposing of some remaining level 1. A man wearing a hat passed by and watched the three have their conversation. He had a wide grin on his face.
Town Circle
Devon saw Eleanor kneeling on the ground. Her skin looked paler than usual. She was using her blood to materialize her innocence. "You did well, Miss Eleanor. You can leave the rest to us", he carried the lady in his arms. Suddenly, the golem is acting unusual. They heard screams coming from Reed and Chalker.
"Run", they were shouting. Eleanor's eyes suddenly reacted and it bled. "There are tons of them. Mr. Devon, you have to gather the finders and find a safe place", Eleanor pushed his shoulder as she climbed down his arms. "You're not in a good shape", Devon said worriedly. "It is the task of an exorcist to destroy the demons. Take the finders and secure the people", Eleanor instructed and smiled.
Devon closed his eyes and left. "Thank you", Eleanor activated her innocence once more. A level 2 went near her and stared at her face. "I know you", he nodded. Eleanor looked at the soul trapped on level 2 and felt like throwing up. "You recognize me, don't you?", the level 2 laughed. "I have no memories of the past but your face is something I will never forget!", level two started bombing Eleanor. She took the perfect timing and ripped off his head. "So frustrating that you have to kill me twice", the soul glared at the lady.
Eleanor froze on the spot with memories flowing on her mind. The level 2 was about to stab her with its claws but it was captured by a barrier. Eleanor looked around and saw Devon. "We can't leave you alone", Devon squinted his eyes.
"But, I won't kill you this time around. I will save you", Eleanor held tightly on her scycthe. "Save me? How can someone with tainted hands like you save anyone at all?", the level 2 laughed. He stopped doing so when the barriers were removed. He only felt his head falling on the ground. "Have you come in contact with Sir Reed and Sir Chalker?", Eleanor looked at the sea of demon weapons hovering over them. Devon shook his head and pulled Eleanor to the side.
"You're out of gas, Miss Eleanor. We'll hold the demons here. We can no longer contact the three exorcist", Devon's hands are trembling. "But you don't have weapons that could destroy them", Eleanor protested. Devon placed his arms on the lady's shoulder and gave a smile. "This is part of the war we intended to be involved with. Look, Eleanor. We know that our lives are on the line and yet we still chose to follow this path", Devon nodded. Eleanor looked at the faces of the finders and saw felt a familiar atmosphere. This is how wars look like. Neither is willing to back down.
Hands grabbed on Eleanor. "Take here away from here", Devon patted her head and went back on the front line. "Mr. Devon!", Eleanor tried to reached out but activating her innocence drained a lot of her energy. She managed to escape few arms dragging her. "Please protect those young lives", Devon made his voice audible. Eleanor looked back and saw tear-stained youngsters pulling her hard. She bit her lips and allowed to be dragged alone.
Underground Passage
They ended at an underground passage. "I will go back", one of the finders prepared his barrier machine. The others tried to connect their golems to ask reinforcement from the headquarters. Few of them started heading out but Eleanor's blood oozed from her arms making a wall. They were enclosed inside the passage.
"Aren't you an exorcist? Why don't you flight them?", one of the finders grabbed on her collar. They pulled him back and apologized to Eleanor. "You're not the only one whose suffering here", one of finder looked at Eleanor's frustrated face.
Some hours passed by but Eleanor remained standing in front of the wall. She nearly fainted but tried to place her attention on the wall she created. She will not allow the rest of the finders to die. "You can tear it down now, its taking a toll on your body, right?", Maynard, one of the finders noticed Eleanor's pale face. "I can still sense them outside. Let's wait for the reinforcement", Eleanor said with a faint voice. "Here's some water", Richard, the finder who scolded her offered a drink. She took and bowed low. "What-", Richard was flustered. "For being incompetent, I apologize", Eleanor bit her lip.
"We knew things like this would happen. You don't have to bear all the responsibility. I am just new here and I over stepped with my boundaries. Because we weren't chosen like you, we would at least do something to assist you. Finders like us are easily replaced but exorcist are precious members of the Order", Richard pouted. "No one..", Eleanor stood straight. "No one is irreplaceable in a war", Eleanor deactivated her innocence. They saw that the area is already cleared.
River bank
Eleanor dropped on the grass as she saw Reed and Chalker's body floating on the river. "We are to take their bodies back to the Order", Maynard informed. "How about their families?", Eleanor asked. "Everything that happens in the Order will be burried in there", Maynard shook his head.
"Suman is missing", Eleanor noticed. "I will be heading at the ship as soon as I find him", Eleanor stood. She could save one more life.
Town Circle
She started running around the river bank until she reached the town circle. She saw Suman's arm eating him up. "Sum-an?", Eleanor's eyes widened to see the innocence taking its host's life.
"Save me. I want to live", Suman reached out to her. "Suman, you...betrayed the innocence. You betrayed the...", Eleanor was about to continue but Suman shouted. "Shut up! You don't know it felt to be taken away from the ones you love!!! I hate the innocence! I hate the order! I hate...", Suman stopped when he felt sharp pain on his chest. "Rowan, why?", Eleanor stared at her solidified blood piercing Suman's chest. It started sucking and feeding on him. Eleanor's left eye started to turn black. She tried to pull her hand back.
Hatred! Anger! Pain!
"Rowan, are you trying to feed on Suman's anger?", Eleanor felt as if her head is going to split open. She hardened her fist and broke the crystalized blood. It turned into liquid and was scattered on the floor. It slowly slip back into Eleanor's wound.
"Suman. I'll help you figure out a way how to leave the Order. That's why, don't loose your senses", Eleanor fought off her innocence desire to destroy Suman. "I am already considered as an enemy of the innocence. It is judging me", Suman cried. He suddenly turned into a huge white half-body. He started moving towards the east.
London- Few days After
Dock
The ship dropped by to deliver the bodies to the Headquarters . It will soon be transported to the Headquarters to be burnt.
"What exactly happened?", Allen and Lenalee stood in front of the coffin. "Where is Mr. Devon?", Allen asked right away. "Mr. Devon perished along with other finders", Maynard reported.
The younger finders cried on the foot of the coffins. Lenalee also did. Everyone in the Order is a family to her. Eleanor walked down with a down casted atmosphere. Lenalee's widened and hugged her. "Sorry, I wasn't able to protect them", Eleanor clenched her fist. About Suman, she wishes not to discuss it first with Lenalee. Eleanor gently pushed Lenalee and wiped her tears. "Let's prepare a proper burial for our lost comrades", Eleanor tried to force a smile.
Order
Hall
The Coffin was lined up. Lavi and Bookman are watching from above. "This scene doesn't grow old, Old man", Lavi sighed. Bookman watches as Eleanor helps in lighting candles.
Sorry, I will punch harder.
Lavi sighed again making Bookman look at him. "Do you feel pity for that lady?", Bookman noticed. "I had pitied her since the first time I saw her", Lavi's eyes turned cold. "Why do you think is she here?", Bookman asked. "Because she was chosen by the innocence, no?", Lavi shrugged. "Did the innocence really chose her?", Bookman bowed as Eleanor spotted them from above.
Chapter end.
