Whispers of the Sky (Hunter X Hunter)

The Cries X Of The Weak

Let your voice cry out,
The plea to be saved will not be heard.
-*-

Yllina's cry rang in her ears like a death toll, Rhode's teeth clenching in pain before she slumped to the wall opposite of Kurapika, her breathing deep and labored as if it took too much energy to remain upright. Her arm stung as if a hot iron had slid over it, her hand gripping it tightly- hoping that it could numb the pain.

Kurapika and Leorio had turned away from Leorio's fight upon hearing Yllina's scream, both their faces mirroring Rhode's pale ones when they realized that there was nothing they could do to help.

"I-!" Yllina, amidst the burning pain, tried her best to announce her withdrawal but her enemy refused such an easy win.

"I gave up my life to prepare for the day I myself will kill Johaness! Just when I was so close to avenging my family-" Her enemy hissed before grabbing Yllina by the face and rammed her head harshly on the hard floor.

Rhode felt like her head was splitting at that impact, her hands pressing her temples as she leaned on the wall. She could only do so much to help her and yet- Rhode cursed inwardly at how powerless she was to rush to Yllina's aid when she needed it the most.

She could see Yllina's chest rise and fall in ragged breaths, tears streaking down her eyes as she gazed at her opponent with fear. Her body shook like a fallen leaf, her energy only fueled by the sheer will to try and say her acceptance of defeat. Unfortunately, her opponent didn't allow her to do so, clamping her mouth shut with the other hand as the sickening allure of revenge clouded her vision.

If she aimed for a killing blow then-

"Gah! You little-," The momentary scream of the opponent as Yllina dug her blade on the enemy's shoulder surprised yet horrified Rhode.

To have gone that far...

"I- I surrender!" Yllina managed to yell, her pitched tone carrying itself within the tower like a haunting echo.

A loud buzz signaled the affirmation of her announcement but her opponent didn't seem to care, blood lust taking over her sanity.

"I'll kill you before you-"

But the opponent never got to finish her threat, the squelching sound of her chest being impaled by Theda and Efil's blade replacing those final words.

Yllina's heaving chest was inches from the same blade, the blood dripping down her clothing and mixing with her own dry and crusted blood. She remained glued on the ground, her vision blurry as she choked back a shuddered breath.

"Failure to follow the rules deserves a fatal punishment." Theda's monotonous voice sounded almost like a robot, uncaring eyes looking away from the carnage as she retracted her blade from the corpse.

"While she may have won, her victory shall be declared void due to breaking such rules." Efil was just as empty as her sister as she spoke before she pulled the blade away, the body falling over Yllina for only a second before Efil took it by the hair and threw it into the edge of the arena without a care of what it once was; the body being swallowed by the cold abyss.

Yllina was still unmoving by the time Efil and Theda retreated to their own stations, the arena frighteningly silent after that display. As the bridge lowered, it was Gon who had run over to the blue-haired girl, Killua walking ever so slowly behind his worried companion.

"Gon-!" Rhode managed to choke out, her breathing somewhat returning to normal. "How is she?"

"She's in shock." Gon replied before gently nudging the frozen girl. "Neh, Yllina-san? Are you, alright?"

Seconds passed but the girl refused to budge, Rhode's eyes refusing to leave the sight of her ward. By then, the effects were already slowly fading, allowing the older woman to compose herself as she waited for any sign that Yllina would move from her spot. Seconds ticked to minutes before Killua sighed, his hand running over his hair in slight exasperation.

"Just pick her up, Gon. I don't think she'll be moving from there unless you help her."

With that suggestion in mind, Gon gently took Yllina's left arm, hoisting it over his shoulder and helping her up. Yllina was silent throughout the whole process, her eyes barely registering anything as both of them followed Killua and retreated to their stations.

Now that Yllina's fight was over, Rhode leaned on the wall before sliding to the ground in a tired yet empty relief. While Yllina did escape the fight safely, Rhode knew that the fight had scarred her. Ever since escaping Soevenia, the path they had taken had become far too dangerous. This fight before them was nothing but a prelude to what their life would become once they became hunters.

Rhode prepared for this day yet she had overlooked one thing- readying Yllina as well for the road that lay ahead of them. It might have stemmed from her fear, the fear of what had happened to Yllina ever since Rhode had lost control. It made her incapable of letting Yllina experience what she had also experienced. She sheltered her from the reality because she didn't want to see her break down again.

Two years... Rhode protected her- no- sheltered her for those two years. This path they took... they weren't fully ready yet. Rhode had lost her touch in those two years of hiding and Yllina... Yllina was still not used to the workings of the world outside the cage she lived in back in Soevenia.

Rhode knew it well, and she was frustrated because of it.

She had failed.

--*--

Yllina detested the feeling of the pain receding.

The wounds in her body had now dulled that she could move them without wincing in pain. It won't be long now before the wounds start closing themselves, the gift given to her serving more of a curse. She couldn't help but steal a glance at Rhode but frowned when she saw that she wasn't outside. Rhode had probably retreated within the small corner that was hidden from their view.

That fight had physically and mentally exhausted her. She could only imagine what Rhode would be feeling, those damages that she took were no laughing matter. She knew Rhode had felt them- the Life Link would make sure that she did if it meant saving Yllina from the pain.

She hated her own weakness. If she had been as strong as any of them, then she wouldn't have gotten hurt this badly. She would've been able to admit her defeat before it started- or better yet- defeated the woman herself if she could.

Now, because of her, Rhode would be taking the punishment. As for her- it was like it never happened...

She felt sick- not of how heartlessly Efil and Theda killed the woman in front of her- but at how her own weakness had led to it in the first place. Two people suffered all because of her own incapacity to protect herself.

"Yllina, are you okay?" She felt Gon tap her on the shoulder after he spoke, worry evident in his tone.

She felt anger course through her veins. The frustration eating up at her. She knew Gon only meant well but Yllina didn't need his pity. It made her look weak, made her feel like she couldn't do anything to help them out of this predicament they were in. She kept forgetting that this was the Hunters' Exam. This isn't a place to play around. It was only upon that woman's death that she had finally seen what this exam could do to those who didn't take it seriously.

Death was but a daily occurrence.

Any one of them could die as the exam progressed and it scared her. What if they died because she had done nothing to help? What if their deaths could be avoided if she was actually capable to doing something to aid them? Those what-ifs swirled in her mind, assaulting her- laughing at her... mocking her.

She couldn't stand by and do nothing. Two years of hiding, Rhode didn't prepare her for this and Yllina could understand why. Rhode only wanted what she perceived was good for her. Rhode always did do things on her own if it meant protecting Yllina.

But Rhode should've known.

It was only a matter of time before they would face something that Rhode couldn't possibly conquer on her own.