Three days have passed since the incident with Connie. The Traitor hasn't been found yet.
My party and I were given orders by Gleam to stay here in the Town of Colors until she figured out what she was going to do.
When Gleam asked about Dusk, we told her that we found her stumbling in the forest with her family. Gleam asked if she knew anything about what they were plotting, but Dusk had no answers to give.
"Ok everyone," Gleam said, getting everyone's attention.
Gleam had gathered the members of the army that were present, along with me and my party, to the middle of the city.
"I've now come up with a plan. The Council of the Gods said that the only thing I could do was give advice. I may not be allowed to help you guys in battle, but I can come up with a plan."
"What do you have in mind Great Goddess Gleam?" Commander Zeigal asked.
"I want some of the strongest members of the army to remain here and find the traitor."
Gleam eyed at Leonna for a split second, then went back to giving orders.
"I would also like for you, Commander, to lead your army to the border that separates us from the Dark Territory. Make sure that you divide them into groups of nine or more."
"Very well my Goddess." Commander Zeigal bowed.
"And Hiro," Gleam said, grabbing my attention. "I would also like for you to stay her as well."
I didn't have to ask her why. I knew exactly why. I wield the Devil's Blade, so Gleam wants me to act as bait in order to lure the traitor out.
"I understand." I said.
"Very well then. That is all I have to say. Begin carrying out your orders everyone. Dismissed!"
"HUUAAAAHHHH!" the entire army shouted.
When everyone dispersed to carry out their missions, I ran over to Gleam because I had an important question.
"Gleam," I shouted, running over to her. "I have something to ask!"
"What is it Hiro?" she asked.
"If you know where the Dark Territory is, then how come you never sent the army there to destroy the demons?"
Gleam answered immediately, as if she expected that question to escape my mouth.
"That's because of what happened last time."
"What happened?" I asked.
"It was a day known as 'The Bloody Thunderstorm'."
Gleam told me that eighty years ago, when she last sent the army to the Dark Territory for the first time, that most of her comrades were brutally murdered. Tortured, enslaved, corrupted, violated, killed. Every worst possible way that pain could be inflicted was done to the ones that were captured.
"I don't want that same mistake to happen again," Gleam said. "I was so stupid, sending all of those men and women into the heart of that vile place."
"Is that why you only want to go to the border?" I asked.
"Indeed it is. As the goddess of this world, I will not send my people to their doom like that again."
Her words remind me of the words I said when I made a promise to protect my party. Yet at the same time, Xylvia and Leonna both said that they would protect me as well.
"Don't try and shoulder that responsibility on your own," I said to Gleam. "Remember, your people are striving to protect you and this world from devastation."
I had to hold myself back from making a Team Rocket reference.
"Of course," Gleam agreed. "Thank you Hiro. I'll remember that. I must go now."
And with that, a beam of golden light enveloped her entire body and vanished along with her.
I went over to have a talk with my party.
"Hey Xylvia," I said. "I want you to take Dusk and Ray back to the house in the forest."
"Why can't we stay here?" Xylvia said.
"I want you three to keep getting stronger. Leonna is one of the strongest members of the army and I have the Devil's Blade, so having you three here will put you in danger."
"Won't you be in danger as well?" Dusk asked.
"I trust Leonna enough to protect me until I get stronger, and she is incredibly strong, so I'm sure that we'll be ok."
I've seen Leonna's strength on the battlefield a week ago, so I'm sure she can handle one person (unless it's a group of people).
"I know you'll be fine," Xylvia said. "I was just making sure that you trusted Leonna enough."
"Well did I pass the test?" I asked.
"Hmmm...good enough."
Leonna was blushing a little after hearing the amount of trust that I had in her. I caught her smiling out of the corner of my eye as well.
Xylvia came over to kiss me good-bye, but she also leaned into my left ear.
"Be sure to tell me what she's like in bed." she whispered.
I could feel my face turn red after she gave me that request. Xylvia then went over to Leonna and leaned into her ear and whispered something as well.
She probably said something similar to what she said to me because when Xylvia backed away, Leonna's entire face turned bright red.
"Have fun you guys," Xylvia said, waving good-bye. "Good luck, and I don't just mean with the Traitor."
And with that suggestive remark, she, along with Dusk and Ray, were out of sight.
"Well, that was...unexpected," I finally spoke up. "Her perverted side never ceases to amaze and amuse me."
"W-Well...sh-she didn't have to say that!" Leonna said, a little upset.
Leonna did have a point.
"Let's just start our watch-shift." Leonna said, composed again.
"Ok then. Should I go and strap myself up on a pole and yell 'TRAITOR I'M HERE'!" I shouted, waving my hands in the air as if I didn't care.
Leonna fell to her knees, laughter completely dominating her.
"I missed that." I said.
When Leonna finally composed herself again, she looked up at me with a confused look on her face.
"What did you miss?" she asked.
"I haven't seen you smiling or laughing in too long. It's always nice to see."
That was how I really felt. Her smile was pretty, and her laughter sounded like it could lift up anyone's spirit.
Leonna blushed a little after hearing my compliment, but then she smiled.
"That makes me really happy," she said. "I'm glad that you find it beautiful."
Her smile was so bright and cute that I became completely hypnotized by her lips. They looked so soft and smooth.
Leonna caught my eye and leaned in to kiss me. It was a soft and sweet kiss. A kiss that I ad no idea that I was craving for so long. I didn't want this to ever stop. I wish this feeling would never leave me.
However, I knew that without other feelings, you wouldn't be a whole person. Which was why I knew that we had to stop at some point. But Leonna didn't show any sign of stopping, so I guess it's ok to keep going a little longer...
"AAAAAUGHH!!"
Someone screamed in the distance.
Leonna and I backed away from each other and immediately started running to wherever that scream was.
We found a young lady looking at what looked like a giant crate. The crate was busted open on one side and there were two people laying on the ground covered in blood.
A man and a woman.
"Augh! Dammit," someone shouted in frustration. "Looks like my cover is blo-!"
When the person appeared from the other side of the crate, it felt as if time was standing still. The person was a girl. Long brown hair that glistened in the sunlight, bright blue eyes that looked like the ocean...
"Hehe...this is a joke right?" the girl said, chuckling a little.
...and a smile that could lift the depression off of anybody.
I immediately placed my hand on the handle of my sword.
"Hiro, do you know her?" Leonna asked me, her sword already drawn.
"That's the girl that betrayed me," I said with no emotion. "The girl that made me afraid of being pushed away."