"Heh...heh...how...did I do?" I asked, panting with streaks of sweat dripping down my face.
"Thirty minutes," Aria said. "You're getting somewhere kid. I'm impressed."
"But it's still not five hours," I said, downing myself. "You guys are out there doing cool missions while I'm stuck in here melting my ass off in a freaking sauna!"
"Actually, I think you're going to like what I'm about to say."
"Why's that?"
Before Aria gave me an answer, the intercoms throughout the building stuttered on and Kagashi's voice echoed throughout the halls.
"I'm calling an emergency meeting," he said. "Everyone report to the Meeting Room downstairs."
The intercom then cut off.
"Looks like you're about to get your answer." Aria said.
Kagashi and his party came together just as my part arrived.
"I'm sure you guys know the drill," Kagashi said to his party.
Everyone in his party, including Aria, nodded.
"As for you guys," Kagashi continued. "I'll fill you in on the details. We've been given a request from our leader to take out a bunch of stray demons who support the Sins who want to go to war. Stray demons are demons who've turned against their leader. Demons are also very powerful beings. Much more powerful than the beings you had to fight in your world."
"That's reassuring." I said.
I'm definitely not strong enough to fight if these demons are mich stronger than the people I've fought.
"I know that Leonna will be capable with her abilities and Hiro wields a Sin, but what can Xylvia do?"
I thought back to what Xylvia said about her powers awakening.
"I think she's plenty capable," Yuno suddenly spoke up. "I was the one who trained her. She can definitely hold her own in a fight."
Kagashi and his gang were stunned. They looked like they just witnessed a miracle happen right in front of them. Yuno just simply shrugged.
"Yes, I can talk. You happy now?"
Kagashi snapped himself out of his trance.
"Well, if Yuno says she's capable, then I guess I'll just have to take her word for it." Kagashi said.
"So where are we going?" I asked.
"We're heading out west into the mountains," Norman said. "There's a castle sitting on top of one of the peaks. We've been told that strays have been grouping up over there and planning an ambush."
2 hours later
"This is it." Kagashi said.
Jaden's ability to levitate objects and people made the trip less gruesome, but we still had a long waiting period.
I'm glad I lived in Xylvia's world long enough to get used to the long travel time.
"How long has it taken for you to dig out these tunnels." I asked.
Kagashi said that there were tunnels that ran throughout their entire world and that they led to different places in the world. They used the tunnels to safely get to there locations without risking going outside for too long.
"Remember: We have only 2 hours and 30 minutes of oxygen and warmth from these suits," Norman told my party and I. "We can't waste too much time looking for them, so we'll have to split into two groups."
"Me, Jayden, Leonna, and Norman will search the entire left side of the castle. Hiro. you, Aria, Yuno, and Xylvia will search the left side. I've chosen your groups based on what you new guys need help on the most. Leonna, you need to focus on making the quick decisions. Hiro and Xylvia, you two need to focus on controlling and perfecting your powers. And Hiro, try not to use your sword in this fight. We don't want you accidently destroying your own suit."
The suits were made of some sort of soft black fiber that protected us from the freezing temperatures. We also had a helmet made of an extremely durable and transparent glass. The helmets had two tubes attached to the left and right side of our cheeks. Those tubes connected to air tanks that were strapped to our back. The tubes were also made with an almost indestructible material.
"Does everyone know their assignments?" Kagashi asked us.
We all nodded in response.
"Alright then, let's get going."
And with that, we split off.
45 minutes later
"How are you holding up?" Xylvia asked me.
"Huh? Well, I'd say that I'm in decent shape to fight." I said.
"... What about whenever you're not around yes?"
She got me there.
"I...I still find myself crying sometimes," I said. "That still hasn't changed yet. It's been a few months, yet it only feels like a few days have passed."
"Define 'sometimes.'" Xylvia said.
I felt streams of a sorrow warmth roll down my face.
"About...two or three hours...every night." I choked out.
Xylvia pulled me to her and wrapped her slender arms around my back. She held me tightly and whispered comfort and apologies into me ears.
"I'm so sorry," she said through her tears. "I know that we never had a chance to talk to you about it, but I still should've been there for you. Instead, I left you and Leonna when I should've just stayed with you guys."
"Don't blame yourself," I said. "I should be the one apologizing. I left thinking that's you guys never wanted to see me again, when really it was me who was sick and tired of myself. I should've ran back to you guys. Even if it killed me."
I feel like I've spent the majority of my time apologizing to people as well as myself. I don't know if that makes me weaker or stronger, but I feel like either way it's the right thing to do.
"I wish you two wouldn't do that right now."
We turned to see Yuno suddenly standing in between us.
"We have a time limit and you're spending that time on some stupid apologies. Seriously, stop feeling bad for yourself and start fighting to become the person you want to be."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing from this girl. And here I thought that she just hated me from the start.
"I'm going to be honest with you," I started. "I kinda wanted to punch you in the face when I heard what you said, but now I realize that you actually are a really kind person."
"I'm not kind," Yuno said. "I just find you incredibly annoying."
"Alright guys, keep at it," Aria said ahead of us. "We're almost their. Just a few more strides and-"
"Found you..."
That creepy voice came from the right of where we were. I thought that whoever it was wouldn't show his face, but instead...he appeared right beside Aria with by far the most disturbing smile I've ever seen someone muster on their face.
The man walked around us. Actually, he was moving in a very graceful way. Almost as if he was...dancing.
"I've been looking for you guys," the man said. "I kinda need your help with something, so please would you be so kind to help a fellow Sin out"
I never thought that I'd see this guy's face again. I'm glad I am though, because that means that I get to beat the shit out of him all over again and, ultimately, kill him.
"I see that you've polished your black coat," I said with a sinister smirk. "Long time no see...Gray."