Moongrace

Part 43

Totally out of breath Eleeza got up and stumbled a few feet backwards. Even though she knew her magic, she didn't know if the spell had worked. And even if it had worked, how would Lenrio react? It had been such an impulsive reaction.

"Lenrio?", she asked warily. She took another step back and stumbled over a root, almost losing her balance.

"Yeeeees", Lenrio replied very slowly in his creepy voice, overstressing the word. She could hear him moving and tensed.

Seems like her spell hadn't worked. Almost a curse left her pure lips – was she ever to defeat this guy?

Leaves crumbled under a step. Eleeza readied herself and got into a fighting position. She was very tired. Especially the last spell had taken a great toll on her.
But there was no sound of another step taken by Lenrio. Instead something bigger seemed to drop on the floor.
"Lenrio?", Eleeza repeated in panic. She was no longer able to cope with the situation. She got no answer.
"Cathryn! What is happening?", Eleeza cried out: "Cathryn, please help me! Cathryn!" Suddenly leaves rustled behind her.

Cathryn rose from underneath the tree Lenrio had send her crashing into. Her body hurt at several places, but nothing severe as far as she could tell. She had been lying in the dirt watching the combat in front of her, trying not to control the pain.

Now she scanned the area. Eleeza stood like a glowing angel in a very torn dress at the edge of the small clearing. Shimmering tears had washed small paths in her dirty, perfect face. She was in a fighting stance and moved her head, probably to better sense her environment. A bit to her right, Lenrio was on his knees. His gaze fastened on his hands, which he turned mesmerized. A few metres off, the golden statue of Meino shined in front of the dark silhouette of the woods. Nioru's hopefully dead body was hidden by the darkness.

"Cathryn!", Eleeza cried out again, terrified. Cathryn had another quick glance around, before walking to Eleeza. Hobbling a bit because of pain in her right leg: "It's okay Eleeza. I'm coming."
"No!", Eleeza exclaimed immediately: "What is Lenrio doing? He might still be dangerous! Just please tell me what you can see!"

Cathryn stopped dead in her tracks: "He is kneeing in front of you, staring at his hands. What has happened to him?"

Eleeza sighed and loosened her posture a bit. Just at that moment Lenrio stirred and spoke up in a monotonous voice: "What have you done to me?" He dragged the words as if they were very heavy stones. Eleeza tensed and kept quiet.

"Everything feels different... The wold has changed. I think..." He took a while: "I think I like myself."

Cathryn started to chuckle. His confession was so out of place, so very ridiculous, that she couldn't stop herself. Even Eleeza grinned a bit. A relieved grin, that slid off her face at Lenrio's next words.

"And I guess, that you are responsible for that, Eleeza'renria. That's why I'll keep you. Don't think I will let you go, now that you have cursed me. Anyway, you are the only woman pretty enough for me!"

Eleeza stumbled back. Terrified she listened to him getting up, while she took one step after another backwards. Until she eventually tripped over a branch and fell. She was tired and defeated. She knew she couldn't fight Lenrio again. Her strength was gone and nothing seemed to help against him anyways. Fresh tears stained her cheeks.

Suddenly she was being pulled up by Cathryn. Eleeza hadn't paid attention to her, being entirely focused on Lenrio.

"We'll run!", she screamed determined and pulled Eleeza with her. And they ran. Again branches, leaves and needles tore at them as they dashed through the forest. First Eleeza could hear Lenrio getting up and taking some slow steps. But then he had stopped.

Cathryn got faster once they reached a field which they followed a while.

"Can you hear him behind us?", Cathryn asked between hard breaths. Lenrio's heartbeat and breathing had faded with every step they took. Eleeza could only sense some animals around them, else they were alone: "No, I guess not."

They slowed down soon after as rain started falling again. Though being soaked wet, they walked a steady pace. Cathryn searching for a path in the dark to avoid the weighty mud that reduced their speed. Eleeza simply followed her. She knew she couldn't walk very far in her condition. Her body was weak and the wound on her arm throbbed. She clung to Cathryn's elbow and was more being pulled than guided. The rain was cold and hindered them moving further. Eventually it stopped and the sun rose in front of them.

Finally, they found a proper path which turned to a street after a few miles. Once Eleeza heard something following them on the small road. Quickly they hid behind some dense shrubs, clinging to one another in fright. It turned out to be only a farmer travelling on his wagon.
It was nice to see another human again, at least for Cathryn. Stopping him and asking for a ride, was no option though. Eleeza didn't have the strength to turn into a human and Lenrio was still alive. What if he found the farmer and asked him about their whereabouts? It was better to stay hidden.

So they continued their track eastwards. Step by step away from the castle and away from Lenrio. The sun didn't send her warming rays down on the soaked girls, which only dragged their feet now.

Around midday they decided that they couldn't walk further. Cathryn found them a small clearing off the street. Luckily the rain had stopped a few hours back. They simply sunk on the wet floor and fell into an exhausted slumber. Not minding the wetness, nor their hunger and their wounds.

Their sleep was dreamless and so deep, they didn't notice the four pairs of approaching wings.