Shortly after, Itsuo drops down to the ground out of exhaustion and pain from the wounds he got over the fight not long ago.
"We did it...!"
He spoke to Selene as he takes short breaths.
"Yeah."
Selene appears quite exhausted as well, but she is atleast still able to stand unlike Itsuo.
Looking at them from behind, all the doubts swiftly drifts away from Kaien's mind.
"Just who are these two?" He mumbled to himself. The odds of them beating those three with just the two of them is slim.
"I mean, they're silver ranked adventurers..."
No, it's not about what their ranks. Despite being in a disadvantage with numbers, instead of running away, they confronted them without any fear, nor hesitation. And unexpectedly, they exhibit power Kaien did not expect from a low ranked adventurers.
On the other hand, Kaien who has a high position in the Kingdom, someone who is known to be one of the capable soldiers of Reilaea, easily giving up in the fight only because he was caught off guard...
"Damn it...!"
Looking back, he feel ashamed over himself. For him to give up so easily in front of his enemy right after his vow to do whatever he can for Edle. It was pathetic.
"Knight Commander...? Knight Commander!"
Kaien raised his head and sees Itsuo's face in front of him. The wounds that Itsuo took from earlier have completely disappeared. Thankfully, the wounds were not that big and fatal. And so, Selene's healing magic were enough to fix him.
"We'll get you out of that pillar." Selene spoke to him as Itsuo positioned himself behind Kaien.
With his magic coated sword, Itsuo cuts the pillar in half, leaving the half that is stuck in Kaien's abdomen. Finally, Kaien is able to move. But the pain causes him to collapse to the ground.
"Knight Commander...!"
The Knight Commander wordlessly sat to the ground with Itsuo and Selene supporting him. Before long, he decided to get up on his feet. He told the two:
"I'm okay... Do not worry about me. Just... Help me get this thing off me."
Both Selene and Itsuo doesn't have the magic to take off the remains of the pillar stuck in Kaien's abdomen. However, there is one person in there that could help them do the task.
.
.
.
"My eyes! My ears! Aaarghh!!"
For quite a while, Lando has been rolling to the ground, crying on top of his lungs as the flash of light struck his eyes while his ears were ringing in pain.
Soon, the unbearable pain would slowly vanish. And he'll finally be able to open his eyes.
However, as soon as his eyelids went up, the image of Selene and Itsuo who is readying to throw a punch into his face if he ever tries anything stupid brought him fear.
"Y-You...!" He stuttered.
"Before I knock you out just like your friends there, we need you to do something for us." Itsuo spoke in a threatening manner as he pointed out the two that were completely out and unconscious.
Moments later...
"It's done..."
With his magic to manipulate the shape of the earth at will, he placed his hand onto the pillar and reduced its size into that of a tiny stick before pulling it out of Kaien. The extraction of the pillar is a success.
"...I did what you asked, please don't kill me!"
"I won't."
"Hlargh--!"
Itsuo punches Lando out of his consciousness and joins the other two on the ground.
Selene offers Kaien to heal the wound he got from the pillar earlier, but he rejected the favor in an instant.
"I am fine, I'll live. For now, bring me the Gates and look for an exit. The plan is not yet over."
.
.
.
Rewinding the time a few moments before Itsuo, Selene and Kaien got the Gates on their hands...
"I wasn't able to be by your side when you needed me the most. I know you've hated me for the longest time, and I have no right to ask you for your forgiveness. But..."
After the clash of David and Rein, Susun take it upon herself to take care of the person in front of her - Her Daughter.
"This time, I will fill all the things I lacked as your Mother. This time for sure, I'll be by your side until the end, my Daughter."
As a salty liquid started pouring at the corners of her eyes, Susun declares her redemption for being an incompetent Mother to her Daughter.
Meanwhile, David takes his exit and leaves the two on each other.
"So you two aren't sisters, huh..." Is what he thought after quietly listening to Susun's statement.
Susun proceeds to drop the knives that are full of blood coming from her wrists to the ground.
"There is no need to dirty our hands with blood anymore..."
Susun started taking a slow step forward.
While watching her Mother walk towards her, Rein's eyes ran through every corners of Susun's body. Everywhere she looks, there are either small or relatively big wounds with bloods coming out of them. It was because of the monsters that she confronted on her way back to the cave where David and Rein entered. It was a tough battle, but she managed to get passed the horde of monsters alone.
Looking at her injured body, her overwhelming worry caused Rein to open her mouth. However...
"W--!" Rein quickly covers her mouth with her hand before she could finish her word.
It was due to one of the curses placed on the collar given to her. Both of them are forbidden to interact with each other, unless they are doing the same task given to them. They cannot enjoy a meal together, nor share the same bed, or even have Susun take care of her while she was little. What's more, Rein is forbidden to call Susun her "Mother."
If she ever violates those curses, even if calling her Mother is just by a slip of tongue, the curse will trigger a powerful lightning shock from her collar and instantly kills her. That's what she's been told by the cruel King.
For a young and innocent little girl to be forbidden to talk to her Mother like a normal family or even be by Susun's side. On top of that, for her to not be allowed to call her Mother while watching her taking care of someone else's child...
...It's almost as though her situation is the same as a child being disowned by her Mother and left her alone for someone else's Daughter. It was indeed an utterly painful childhood.
A few years later, she was assigned to be one of the henchmen of Princess Celestine, the young girl who Susun was taking care of instead of her own daughter back when she was only little.
They were able to communicate, even if just a little more due to their tasks as both henchmen of Princess Celestine.
However, watching her Mother taking care of Celestine and doing all the things the Princess asked her, the feeling of jealousy over the Princess and hate for her Mother lit fire inside Rein.
Her jealousy and hate grew more for years. However, since Rein can't possibly talk to Susun in such a way except for communicating during missions, and that the fear of death causing her to not do reckless things.
Her envy and hatred only grew more. But somehow, she went through with it. Thinking that her life is more important than anything. Even more so than her Mother who never showed her care.
That way of thinking has kept her alive for the longest time. And now she arrived at this very moment. The one that is in front of her is none other than her Mother - Susun - Walking towards her, saying that she will fill all things that she lacked as her Mother. Saying that at this point forward, Susun will be by her side until the end.
Rein's heart begins to race. Tears begin pouring from the corners of her eyes as the feeling of happiness and relief that despite not showing the love and care she deserved in her childhood, Susun has always been the Mother who loved her Daughter more than anything.
Rein wanted to talk stories with her Mother, she wanted to embrace her so badly. There are so many things Rein wanted to say and do together with Susun. However...
"Rein, do not cry. I am here."
The collar around Rein's neck and the fear of death inflicted to her by King Castile renders her from even trying to call her Mother. All she could do is nothing but to weep in both happiness and sadness.
Susun attempted to approach her crying Daughter, but Rein casted a wall of lightning to keep her away.
"Rein..."
She knew that if she ever get close to her, the collar would kill her in that instant. How can she afford to get herself killed now that she knew Susun still cares for her?
"I see, I remember now. The King also puts a curse so that we can't get close to one another." Susun's heart pounds rapidly as she once again try to approach Rein. "For the longest time, all I could do is to gaze at you far in the distance. You lived alone, without relying onto everyone, not even to me. Through those years, you've grown to be a tough girl."
Susun takes up speed as she sprints towards the wall of lightning Rein created between them. Traces of fear and worry begins to show in Rein's face as Susun charges in towards the wall without stopping.
Susun collides with the wall of lightning. And as expected, powerful lightning struck her. However...
Gulp...
Rein was taken aback as Susun takes on the lightning with a smile on her face as if it's not doing any damage at her.
"It's okay, there is nothing to fear anymore. A simple lightning collar will not hurt a strong girl like you. That's why..."
Rein starts panicking as Susun slowly walks through the wall of lightning.
"...Please, let me embrace you."
Rein quickly backs away and summoned a pack of white wolves. She then commanded them to stop Susun from approaching her further. Two of the wolves gnawed both her Mother's arms while the other tackles Susun to the ground.
The wolves' bites isn't as painful as it looked. It's simply grabbing hold of Susun's arms to keep her from moving forward.
After hearing what her Mother told her, Rein shed tears even more than before. Susun wishes only one thing, and that is to embrace her daughter.
Rein wanted the same thing, but it pains her that she cannot grant her Mother's wish. Rein is afraid of dying. No, it's more accurate to say that she doesn't want to die. Because if she dies, she won't be able to hear her Mother's voice in the distance, she won't be able to work with her with their missions. And much worse, she won't be able to see her ever again.
After learning her Mother's true feelings towards her, Rein knew she cannot afford to die. That is why, even if all she could do is stare at her Mother in envy and hatred, even if they can only do their missions together, as long as she can see her Mother, Rein will keep living a sad and painful life.
Susun gathers her strength to push aside the wolves out of her way. Susun will not have it. She knows that Rein had been living in fear and loneliness for years, and she couldn't do a thing about it because she, too, had been living in fear of the collars she also had.
If she dies, there will be no one who would protect her daughter other than her. That is why she lied to herself, she accepted being a guardian of Celestine, she followed the King's orders not to get involved into Rein outside of their missions, all in order to keep both her and Rein alive.
Sure enough, they lived quite a long life away from each other, until a fateful meeting with a young girl in a certain forest seemingly gave her a sliver of hope, the collar that shackled her freedom with fear had been removed. Susun did not know if it was by dumb luck or some sort that she found out she was strong enough to take on the powerful lightning. But what's more important for her is that no one will stand in her way to save her daughter anymore. And that's how she arrived in this very important moment.
If it was an ordinary human being, that lightning collar would definitely kill someone. But seeing Rein's strength, she knows her daughter can take on a powerful lightning. The only problem is, Rein thinks that she would die once the collar triggers. As long as that fear creeps Rein, Susun cannot hope to save her.
There is only one way to erase fear out of one's child. And that is a Mother's embrace. And that is why, no matter what Rein do to push her away, Susun will only try harder to approach her.
She stands up after throwing the wolves away. Keeping her composure, Susun opens her mouth.
"Those things did not hurt me at all. So you're afraid of hurting me... I'm glad. Really, I'm glad that even after neglecting to be your Mother, you still cared for me, even if it's just a little."
The tears of joy trickling down on Susun eyes struck Rein's heart like thunder. She doesn't want to see her Mother cry. But she can't do anything to stop that tears, she can't even bring herself to talk and comfort Susun.
"Rein..." Susun began walking once again, approaching Rein with every single step on the ground. "...I wasn't able to protect you back then, I'm sorry."
The three wolves she had thrown away earlier comes back to stop her once again. But Susun did not waver. Even if the wolves kept gnawing her left and right, Susun's feet kept taking a step forward towards her Daughter.
"I wasn't able to be a great Mother to you, I'm sorry."
Rein charges up lightning from the top of her staff and fires it off on Susun. Still, that did not stop her Mother from going forward.
"I'm sorry that I wasn't able to be by your side during the most painful time in your life. Really, I'm sorry."
"...!"
At that moment, Rein's strength suddenly fades as she fell to the ground on her knees. Rein cannot bring herself to Kill Susun. Her attempt of pushing her away is meaningless. There is nothing much Rein can do against her Mother's stubbornness. There is only one thing left to do. And that is to accept her Mother's embrace.
"Rein, I love you."
Before she loses her consciousness, the feeling of envy and hatred had vanished completely in Rein's heart. As her eyes closes ever so slowly, the feeling of warmth from a Mother's gentle caress envelops her body.