The Two Empresses
Buntu Street

Vatra quickly swung the sword, but instead of splashing blood, it was the bundle of hair he had managed to cut. Cerlina had already jumped back while breathing down on the tree.

"You sacrificed your hair for your life? Good too," said Vatra, stomping on his hair in annoyance.

"Hair can grow again, but my life is just one, so it can't be thrown away just like that" Cerlina said. He stroked his hair which was now only limited to his chin with a sour face.

"Huh, interesting too. You won't get away with it easily" Vatra said as he prepared to attack.

"Damn," Cerlina lamented as she stood and held her arrow firmly, waiting for Vatra's attack.

"Nee!" sahiut someone. The purple wolf demi-human girl was suddenly beside him with a dual scythe in hand. "Nee okay?"

"Eh? Kezia's? How did you get here?" ask Cerlina wonder.

"Uhhh I just happened to be close from here due to a surprise attack. Is Nee's hair short?" reply Kezia.

"long story. We have to focus on fighting the enemy first" Cerlina said. Kezia turned and growled when he saw Vatra.

"Curtain," decihnya.

"... troublesome. You settle the rest" said Vatra as he turned and sheathed his sword. Kezia jumped forward and attacked him.

"Don't!" cerlina Sahut. Without turning Vatra caught Kezia's sickle eye with just his two fingers, his gaze still straight forward.

"You're lucky to be alive, boy," muttered Vatra as he threw the girl into the lake, then left with just one jump.

"Kezia!"

"Your opponent is me, witch!" sahut elf while attacking quickly, but Cerlina was able to convolute and fired several shots that hit the point. Kezia immediately swam to the edge and took as many breaths as he could as his lungs filled with water, while Vatra jumped away just like that.

"Damn it! Rotten witch, I chopped you up!" maki elf's. Cerlina glanced at the elf with a sharp look, then boasted a sinister smile.

"Try it if you can" Cerlina said, flicking her finger. Hundreds of ice needles instantly appeared around the elves and rained down quickly until the elves died without having a chance to strike back. The arrow he held returned to its original shape, his breathing began to disorganize. The girl's gaze began to empty and at that moment she was unconscious.

"Nee!"

Before his head hit the ground hard, Nero ran over quickly and caught the girl.

"Huh.hah, gosh that's close," Nero murmured as he tightened his arms with an anxious look. "You okay, Kezia?"

"Yes. Uh, what the hell...eh? Nii, blood!" sahut Kezia when he realized his blood-soaked hand belonged to Daniel.

"It's not just blood, Kezia. Look, there's pieces of flesh and horns. Ah, isn't this Daniel?"

"Grand Duke! Princesses!" sahut Layla while running over and surprised to see the pieces of Daniel's body scattered near Kezia. "ah! My husband!"

The old minotaur fell to his knees and roared as hard as he could to make the other minotaurs come. Some comfort Layla, while others collect pieces of Daniel's body while refraining from vomiting. Nero laid Cerlina carefully under the tree and called Undine to dry Kezia.

"Grand Duke, are you okay?" ask a soldier while paying his respects.

"It's okay. Help the minotaurs in the village, I'll take care of the rest here" Nero said. After the soldier had left, Nero and Kezia approached Cerlina who was still lying down with gasps.

"Cerlina nee okay?" ask Kezia.

"Come, Kezia. I don't know" said Nero, stroking his head gently. He picked up the girl again and returned to the village, followed by Kezia at the back with the form of his little boy.

...****************...

Cerlina's eyes slowly opened. He circulated the view in a place that he thought was foreign, then fixated on Kezia who had a head on his left side.

"My sweet! Are you conscious?" he held his delicate hand carefully.

"Where am I?" tanyanya.

"At Layla's house, you passed out after a fight" Nero said. Cerlina tried to get up, but her body was too weak and heavy.

"Nee just sleep," said Kezia, holding him back from moving.

"...how long have I fainted?"

"Nearly an hour. You're pale, what's going on?" ask Nero gently. Cerlina sighed hearing that.

"I'm not a powerful witch, Nero. My stamina runs out faster when using magic," Cerlina answered raucously. Nero stroked his head gently.

"It's okay, you're different and unique" Nero said. Cerlina put on a smile, while Kezia was engrossed in hugging the girl's hand to keep her attention focused on him.

"Wait here, I have to take care of something" he said, peeping at the back of the girl's hand and leaving.

"Nee mine!" sahut Kezia hugged him.

"Yes yes, I'm yours Kezia. Hm? You like being in the form of children?"

"Yes, you're comfortable" Kezia replied as she lay beside Cerlina and hugged her. Cerlina just laughed and stroked her head until she fell asleep. Although his body felt heavy, he forced himself to get up and try to get down from the contest, but his legs were too limp to stand until he fell. Kezia immediately jumped down and helped Cerlina back into bed.

"Where's Nee going?" ask Kezia.

"I have to go to the lake, Kezia. Can you help me?" cerlina pinta.

"Nee needs a break, I'll be scolded by Nero nii" said Kezia. Cerlina gave a small laugh, then stroked her head.

"You're scared of Nero?"

"No! Not afraid," replied Kezia steady. He immediately ran out with enthusiasm, but a few minutes later came back with a pouting face. He jumped into Cerlina's lap and cried.

"Huuu! Nii angry!"

"Eh? Oh, pity, scolded huh?" cheer him up while patting Kezia on the back, humming occasionally. Nero entered with a cup of milk in hand and glared at Kezia.

"This child is told to keep joking, instead" said Nero.

"Nero, I gotta get to the lake. There are things that I have to take there," said Cerlina as she hugged Kezia who was getting coiled face.

"Cerlina, where might I let you go just like you when you're like a corpse. No way," refused Nero. "Can't wait?"

"If too long the flugels will die!" tell Cerlina loudly, making Kezia surprised and scared. "I promised to take Oorun's Eye to help them."

"But this isn't Respher territory, what are you here for?"

"Because the crystal can only be cut with a holy ax belonging to the minotaur," said Cerlina lirih. Nero was frustrated to hear it.

"Huh, that missing axe huh? How did you find that thing? Daniel was killed, even his successor died before knowing the place" Nero said.

"I know the place, but I can open it or not I don't know" Cerlina said. Nero took a breath.

"Cerlina, even if you know how to open it, I doubt it will open for you."