"I will destroy both of you together!"
Her thick and feminine tone made even the ground tremble.
"You can try, but I have beco stronger since Lord Raven nad ."
Maria responded with a kind expression to her tender face. She almost didn't look like she was angry.
"You…" the dragon gritted its razor-sharp teeth for a couple of seconds then it began to shrink.
Soon, the pressing atmosphere disappeared and everywhere was spacious for so reason.
"What do you think you are doing protecting that maggot?" Slyvia folded her hand as she morphed to her human form, her kimono speedily weaving itself around her body with blue threads.
"This lady has done nothing wrong."
"What?"
She gritted her teeth with a deep scowl at Maria.
"She did nothing wrong? Are you crazy? Wasn't she the one that coerced him into going to the gate?"
Maria sighed. It was a useless hassle trying to argue with Slyvia and she of all people knew it.
She brought her hand to her chest and closed her eyes. Emanating the aura of a holy saintess.
"Feel it Slyvia, don't be too rash to act. Lord Raven is not dead. He is just very far"
Slyvia narrowed her eyes. After a few seconds of looking at the dryad queen, she closed her eyes reluctantly.
'...she's right… the link is still there but out of reach.'
She slowly opened her eyes. Her gaze averting to the side.
"Huh? S-l-y-v-i-a? What are you supposed to do now?" Maria demanded, her eyes were closed but an aura of serene brutality surrounded her.
Slyvia glanced and frowned as she stared at Ruan Zhaohui who was huffing… and sweating profusely.
"I'm sorry. I acted rashly." She shot her gaze to Maria, "There! Happy?!!" She uttered and walked away, so of the ladies in kimono walking away with her.
Maria turned to Ruan Zhaohui and helped her to her feet.
"I'm very sorry about her actions. She is usually like that but she has a kind heart."
Ruan Zhaohui stared blankly at the pristine lady in front of her. She didn't know what she was but she was one hundred percent sure she wasn't human too.
'What the hell is going on here? Who are you Hunter Raven?'
"...And I will like you to continue to support us. Is that okay?"
She had spaced out and belatedly brought her attention to Maria.
"Yes, yes… yes. I will do whatever I can" She replied.
"Thank you."
Maria bowed slightly. Raising her head she continued:
"You don't have to worry about Lord Raven. He will find his way back to us. I am confident"
She placed one hand on her chest and let out a calm smile.
Ruan Zhaohui nodded slightly.
Then Maria turned to the people and addressed them.
"If there is one thing I am sure about, it is that our city lord is not dead. I can feel him in my heart."
She closed her eyes and placed her hand on her chest again, smiling saintly.
"He might be far away but be will co back. And I want us to make him proud when he cos back. We will protect ourselves and stand together. In the an ti… Lord Mok Jae-Hwa you will lead us till the city lord cos back."
"Uh? ?"
Mok Jae-Hwa was shocked. He pointed to himself looking back as if there was another Mok Jae-Hwa behind him.
Shin smiled from the crowd. So did Chong - Yol who had recently arrived to join the hunting team after finishing a raid gig in Malaysia.
"Who else is worthy to lead us than you. You are our Lord's friend and comrade. You've been with him longer than you have."
Soone is forgetting soone…
Min - Ho cleared his throat attracting attention to himself.
Maria smiled looking towards him.
"Of course. Lord Min - Ho will assist you, he is after all the most important person to the lord."
Min - Ho smiled proudly…
'She called lord!'
…rioting in his head.
The crowd cheered and murmurs rose from different angles but simred down as Maria started to talk.
"We don't know when Lord Raven will be back. But we will build and protect ourselves. So when he cos back he will be proud and glad that he gave us a chance and a ho."
The people responded with affirmative determination.
.
"Yes!"
"We will make our city lord proud!"
"Yes"
Maria nodded with a smile. She had managed to calm the people for now… she looked towards the sky. Her face growing distant. How long before he cos back? Will he even be able to co back?
Even she didn't know.
—
Raith staggered awake as a large bowl of water washed over his face, bathing and wetting his body.
Thard - Harl dropped the bowl and stepped back.
"I intended for our training to start since four hours ago. I decided to leave you since you were busy fighting a monster before now."
Raith frowned and struggled to sit to move.
"I've spared you enough ti to sleep. Stand up. The training will begin" The asura commanded.
Raith instinctively tried to stand up, forgetting the weight for a second. Belatedly rembering… but to his surprise it was bearable to stand.
His movent was still hard and heavy but compared to before, it was hundred tis better.
He slowly stood and straightened his back, glee forming on his face. He lifted his hand a little, looking at his palm.
"I can stand. I can carry the weight better"
Thard - Harl frowned.
'As expected, sothing is different about him. Even an asura's body takes three years to get accustod to the weight of the manacle. How is his body adjusting after just thirteen hours?'
"Ah! By the look on your face sothing tells this should not be happening! Right?! I am correct! I know it!"
He arched a brow and did not respond.
"Follow "
He turned and headed out of the house. Raith walking like he had tallic legs began taking his steps one by one. They were slow but he didn't care, it didn't hurt as much as it did the first ti.
His muscles felt sore but the pain had reduces trendously that he didn't mind dealing with the soreness. He followed the asura and soon they were outside.
Thard - Harl was looking at the grey skies when Raith reached behind him.
"What's so nice about this sky… looking at it only makes one feel sad" He said as he also looked at the cloud.
A bittersweet taste seeped into his mouth.
"I miss everyone…" He muttered.
"Seventeen minutes twenty-five seconds."
"Huh?"
"That is how long it took you to walk ten ters."
Raith's brow creased to a frown.
"No way. You're lying. Surely I can't have taken that long."
"Yes you did. I look forward to the day where you are able to walk ten ters in five seconds."
"With this weight shackles? Damn man! How cruel can you be?!"
"Open your mind to possibilities, put the effort." Thard - Harl inford him, gesturing to Raith with his index finger tapping his temple.
"So what are you going to be teaching ?" Raith asked enthusiastically.
"You are going to be learning how to squat."
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