Aveline was dumbfounded.
'Orphelia was never an assassin. She was supposed to be a beacon at the Academy, yet this? No wonder I never saw her.'
Aveline let them touch the ground, letting a large force of air keep them immobile.
"Why do you have the same mask as Lyla? She... she was a slave of a bandit group, wasn't she? Why would the king send bandits to kill my family?!"
Orphelia struggled against the wind, though it was futile. She finally responded.
"The fox girl, she escaped. We never knew what happened to her, just that she was one of our best."
The red head stared at Orphelia, her face still hidden.
"You would tell her this?! Even if it would get you killed?!"
Aveline knocked on the third mask, causing it to fracture. Beneath it was a cute girl with many freckles covering her nose. Bright green eyes stared at Aveline, shock within them. The same shock was on Orphelia's face.
"If you're scared of being killed, I'll protect you. I have no need for either of your deaths."
Aveline grimaced as she stared at the red head. She could see where her ears had been cut off, scars where they once were.
'Rune... she's a nekomata, a cat girl. She's an actual assassin, but this? No! It's all wrong.'
Aveline's hand reached out, the wind pressure still keeping the girls still. Rune had fear in her eyes as she watched Aveline's hands.
"N-no! Please! I don't want-"
Her voice cut out as she saw new tears slide down Aveline's face. Her hand slowly touched the scars, leaving behind soft white light.
"How could they? Such a horrid thing..."
Orphelia seemed curious, so she asked a question in the back of her mind.
"What relation did you have with the kitsune?"
Aveline smiled. It was small, but pure and beautiful.
"She was my first love. And a major dork that I will always cherish."
"And where is she?"
Aveline's eyes met Orphelia's.
"Dead. I plan to visit her again, but not yet. Now my turn, why are two beautiful assassin's following me?"
The girls stared at each other, then up at Aveline. Rune answered first, surprisingly.
"Master... forces us to kill high priority targets. Failure results in punishment. You are our target, chosen of the evil mark."
Aveline pulled her hand back and pulled her shirt off of her shoulders. The two girls were confused, but they weren't blushing. Aveline turned around, showing the marks on her back. The white wing and black wing, nearly connected to the heart. Below it, a boulder shaped closely like a heart with vines reaching down towards her leg, connected to a beautiful wave of water similar to a tail. Both shoulders held a flame or a snowflake, both glinting in the light.
Orphelia paled.
"You've been chosen... by so many?"
Aveline nodded, pulling her shirt back up.
"The longer I strive to be who I truly wish to be, the more of these I gain. These marks are blessings from spiritual races that wish for me to destroy the corruption from another dimension. It's a massive pain, but I've been capable of winning so far."
Orphelia seemed to relax as she stared up at Aveline.
"Can you truly protect us? My father... ugh, the king forced me into this when I showed a talent for magic. Not even shadow magic, yet he still made me do this. I never quite understood, so I tried to question him. Have you ever felt the fear of a grown man attempting to put you beneath himself?"
Aveline nodded, the suppressed memory returning.
"I see. So you understand. I fear my father for what he has done to me, yet I cannot run from him since I'm not strong enough. What he did to Rune... it was all because she was seen by one of his own guards. He hurts and tortures us, just because it's something he has the power to do. Grandpa died before he became like this, so I am scared of why he's become a monster."
Aveline knelt down, wrapping the two girls in a hug. The wind had been lifted.
"The king has been corrupted. It's the only thing that makes sense. He should never have touched either of you."
From behind her, Eneli leaned down and touched Aveline's shoulder.
"So we hunt kings now?"
Orphelia and Rune tensed up.
"Don't worry. She's with me."
Eneli crossed her arms and looked away.
"I-I'm not with you, I just came out for some air. I wasn't worried about you, or the weird magic energy out here!"
Aveline reached behind herself, grabbing Eneli's hand. Eneli blushed, but didn't let go. She held Aveline's hand as a tiny smile spread on her lips.
"She with me."
Aveline whispered and winked at the assassin girls. They both gave small nods, though they were confused.
"By the way, I also stepped out because a Enna woke up. She's rather loud when she's... you know."
Aveline blushed.
"Really? Jeez... she masturbates more then the rest of you."
The assassins understood this, both finally blushing.
"Was her moaning sexy?"
Eneli blushed wildly as she nodded.
"God why are you like this?! Damn perverted lesbian... fuck why do I like you again?"
Aveline smirked as Orphelia and Rune suddenly realized Aveline's choice in partner.
"You really wanna ask me why you like me? Come down here and I'll tell you."
Eneli knelt down, her blushing face practically enraptured by Aveline's voice. She leaned close as Aveline proceeded to kiss her slowly. She moved back, her breath stolen.
"Aww... you're so red. But yea, you really like stuff like that. Plus, you know me too well."
There was a soft blush on Aveline's face, hinting at her hidden embarrassment. She turned towards the assassins, smiling at their blushing cheeks.
"You didn't know? I like girls. Many of them like me too."
Rune hid her eyes, almost looking like an actual cat. Orphelia just stared, mesmerized.
"Don't worry. I'm not a monster. I only go after girls I'm sure will enjoy being with me."
Aveline got to her feet, helping the girls stand.
"So we have to fix the king now. Jeez... can this world stop throwing bullshit at me?"