"Where's the villagers?" Tanong ni Thormund nang halos malibot na nila ang ang kalahati ng bayan subalit ni isang tao ay wala silang namataan.
"W-what if...." Hindi matuloy-tuloy ni Ephraim ang sasabihan sa labis na kaba.
"No. They're not dead. I can still feel their presence but I don't know where!" Muli siyang nagpalinga-linga para maghanap ngunit kahit anong pakikiramdam niya ay hindi niya pa rin matunton kung nasaan ang mga ito.
Si Ephraim ay balisang napaupo sa isang malaking bato. She put her sword back on its sheath and hugged herself as if trying to calm her down.
"Don't give up, Ephraim. We're on a mission. Just think of it that way." Thormund said.
"I know... I know." She replied in a low voice.
Meanwhile...
"Master Frith..." tawag ni Exia sa headmaster ng makapasok ito sa loob ng cabin.
Nilingon siya nito saka nginitian. Alam na ng headmaster kung ano ang dahilan ng pananatili ni Exia sa kabila ng utos niyang magtungo na ang mga ito sa kaniya-kaniya nilang mga misyon.
Exia didn't speak anymore. Naghintay na lamang siya sa susunod na sasabihin ng master.
"What are you still doing here?" Malumanay na tanong ng headmaster.
"I'm done with the mission, Master. I came here to report." Tugon ni Exia.
Gulat man sa nakuhang sagot ay napangiti ang master.
"I guess, that couldn't be helped. Good job on finishing your mission earlier than expected even without your partner." Dahil sa sinabi nito ay biglang nagbago ang ekspresiyon ni Exia. Hindi siya tumugon sa halip ay tumango na lamang.
"Don't be too hard on yourself, little Leinheart." Pahayag ng master.
"I won't." She replied coldly.
Mahaba-habang katahimikan ang namagitan sa kanilang dalawa bago muling nagtanong ang master.
"You're asking why I send her back, right?" Tanong niya subalit hindi pa rin sumagot si Exia. Simple lamang siyang nakatayo sa gilid ng mesa nito.
Despite her permission to send Ephraim back in Hydrolia, she still wants to understand the point of the master.
Sending Ephraim back to the only place she doesn't even want to on a short notice is already taking a toll over her right now. Exia knows that, of course.
Although she could just use her abilities to hear the master's thoughts, she wants to hear it coming from his own mouth. After all, she doesn't want to dig into someone else's mind.
"I was the one selfish, little Leinheart." Malayo pa rin ang tanaw ng master ng magsimula siyang magsalita.
"I dragged her into this... I dragged all of you in this battle. I don't want little Ephraim to hate her homeland for all her life and I thought that this was the perfect time to return the favor, somehow." He said still looking in nowhere.
"Return the favor?" Lamerexia instantly asked.
"By sending her on a mission when she's not even prepared?!" Tumaas ang boses niya pero kakikitaan pa rin ito ng pag-aalala.
Given what happened to her sister--Merill makes her feel that it will happen again. She doesn't want anyone to go to the same fate as her.
"If I didn't sent her now, then when?" Balik na tanong ng master.
YOU ARE READING
PROJECT: Demon Annihilation
FantasySynopsis: Anti-Demon Corps is an organization that aims to annihilate demons for eternity. Lamerexia Leinheart is a skillful hunter who defeated countless number of demons at a very young age. However, will she be able to fulfill her duty against t...
