*Flashback*
I was dragged back to my cell after I blacked out due to loss of blood. I woke up to find Hanael staring at me like I was some kind of god from his native land.
His laughter shook the cell as he got up unto his feet still with his eyes on me.
"I can't believe you live, Fjan. I never thought you would last the first round than to even win against the Penil. You have by far exceeded my expectations."
His black wings stretched and filled the other half of the room he was in. The jet black feathers of his wings made him resemble an advocate of Death itself and the scars on his face and upper body made no effort to refute that.
He walked up to me as I sat there astonished and knelt on one knee in front of me.
"Just so you know, no one here can see or hear me except you but since you managed to live through this first battle which amused me, I, Hanael, will help you and your comrade escape as well as grant you revenge."
His left eye lit up white and the right became black. Then the gates opened and my bonds also fell loose.
"You coming or you wanna stay here and rot?" He stepped out and motioned for me to follow him. He started flying ahead of me showing me the way.
It wasn't too long before the guards intercepted us but they were blown away by a blast from Hanael. We kept going till he stopped in front of another open cell. I slowed to a walk as I neared the cell.
She was there but she was unconscious.
"What is wrong with her?? What happened to her?" I rushed to her side and held her up in my hands.
"Don't worry, she is gonna wake up anytime now."
She, as if in cue, shifted and opened her eyes slowly.
"Muad, you're okay." She jumped on me and hugged me really tightly.
"We don't have all day. Let's go or we'll miss our kill." Hanael said to me as I hugged her back.
"Let's go, Aleene.... Let's get outta here."
And we ran.
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As we near the inn, two well built Fjans step out and approach us. One had a hoodie on, face indistinguishable. The other was a female who looked a lot like Onii Mara but had a very gruesome looking scar on the side of her neck.
Onii ran ahead of us and hugged her while giggling loudly. The other "Mara" just made a weird sound that sounded like a deflating balloon.
It was difficult to hold back laughter and looking around I realised I wasn't the only one.
Elina's face had increased by a noticeable size as she also struggled to hold her laughter back with a whole lot of failed effort.
I managed to swallow mine but Elina couldn't and burst out laughing so hard she had to hold her chest.
It's rude to laugh at people you just met, Elina. I cautioned her in my mind.
The funny thing was how Onii was being so childish after painting an image of toughness all this while.
"Now let's get down to business." The hooded person says while taking down the hoodie. She was beautiful with slightly red blue eyes that made her look dangerous. "My name is Toni and my companion here is Mara's older sister, Kara. The others are inside so let's go get you introduced to each other."
She turned and started walking towards the inn. Kara walks up to and hits my shoulder, "Don't mind her attitude. You only stole her job." She chuckled and pushed Mara jokingly.
Those sisters seem to get along well. But apparently, someone doesn't want me around.
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The four pairs of eyes in the room we were in did belong to the rest of the Maru Eaters.
They all sat in silence as they scrutinized I and Elina, mostly Elina because of her physical appearance.
"These two are our latest additions,one as a junior officer, Elina, and the other as our new Commanding Officer, Muad Drall." She says as she points at us respectively.
" We will honour, respect and protect them as they must us...." She turns to face us with a straight get-down-to-business face.
"... Welcome to the Maru Eaters, comrades."
Well, I hope we get along well.
Because I'll need their help to save her.
Wait for me, Aleene. I'll find you and I'll save you.
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Thank you all for reading this chapter.
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