The Masque: Part 1: Unwanted Struggle

The Masque: Chapter 5: Something About Her

The Storm Eskrimador, Yuel, and The Magma Eskrimador, Sir. Elleanor, sets foot after an intense battle against a powerful foe. They are accompanied by a handful of assassins who are under the command of Yuel. They walk in the direction where Gem and Ria is located, guarded by a few assassins.

"Get up, Ria! Come on, stay alive!" Gem speaks as she holds Ria in his arms.

"Ria...? Ria!" Sir. Elleanor noticed Ria unconscious as he walks towards them. He quickly runs to their direction and met up with Gem.

"Ria! What happened?!" The knight checks up on Ria and began questioning Gem. Yuel and the assassins catches up to Sir. Elleanor.

"S~She... saved me." Gem speaks in a mellow voice. The knight listens to Gem.

"While you were out there fighting with that enemy, in the midst of your battle, a huge explosion suddenly emerges."

"So many debris came flying in our direction. It felt like hundred of spears are being thrown at us."

"Ria here protected me. At a random point while the explosion was occuring, Ria just started to use her body as a shield for me. Debris came flying and some of those hit her." Gem starts looking at an unconscious Ria.

"I don't really know the reason why she protected me. She hates me so much that she wants to kill me. And yet..."

"And yet... she protected me, with eyes that shows frustration in her during those moments..." Gem speaks to himself.

"And the same eyes that also shows a concerned feeling."

"What was that all about? Is it maybe because..."

"Unbelievable, she wants to stray away from my path. And yet, her bloodline actions in her keeps showing." The knight lets out a sigh and a small chuckles after hearing the reason behind Ria's state that she's in.

"Bloodline?" Gem questions the knight.

"Yeah, the bloodline of a 'Sinag', our clan's surname. Being a Sinag has this one exceptional characteristic aside from the possibility of being a Magma Eskrimador, and that is being pure and kind-hearted." Sir. Elleanor replied and reveals their family's name, 'Sinag'

"'Pure and kind-hearted', huh? So, I'm wrong after all..." Gem says to himself as he lets out a faint smile.

More assassins appeared out of nowhere. Some assassins are carrying the few surviving troops of Sir. Elleanor, putting them all in a wooden horse-drawn carriage. The other unfortunate ones are being piled unto a large wooden cart. After that, The Storm Eskrimador approached the knight and Gem.

"I've gathered your remaining troops, Elleanor. We'll be moving to my encampment. You can ride on that carriage over there, along with Ria." Yuel says to Sir. Elleanor in their own language. He also points the direction to where the carriage is.

"And as for you..." Yuel says and speaks to where Gem is familiar with. He looks down on Gem.

"'Gem', right? You'll be sitting with me." Yuel says and Gem looks in him.

The menacing expression of Yuel gives Gem quick beat on his heart. His stance alone gives off an intent of killing. Aside from his grim side, Gem also notices that Yuel's right eye is really different from a normal eye. The strange eye has the eyeballs covered in black with a faintly glowing red iris, completely different from his blue iris on his left eye.

"What an aura! His mere presence alone feels like it's gripping my neck. His dark expression and eyes resembles that of Ria, a person with an intent of killing." Gem thinks to himself and started gulping.