"The rain has now stopped."
Gavin stated.
Traveling at night has always been risky at the Outer Gates.
Only Slayers were allowed to journey outside and only then if they were assigned or given missions.
The twins were fast asleep in Cosette's lap.
She was dozing off as well.
Gavin stood by the cave's entrance.
His face had gloom written all over it.
"Commander, shouldn't we go back now?"
Suna asked Luken.
"We really should. But I kind of want to rest. Let's say we were to venture into the night, with torches and the moon's light guiding us. If monsters were to attack us, I can exterminate them. Even while closing my eyes, no problem. But I really do feel particularly tired today. We should rest and report back to Niflheim tomorrow morning."
Everyone collectively agreed with that decision.
After that bloodshed, they all deserved to rest.
But not before filling their stomach with supper.
Cosette left the twins be as she slowly rose up from her sitting position.
"Yo. I'm going to go catch some pigs, who's coming with me?"
"I-I'll go with you."
Yin raised his hand and immediately answered.
"All right! Let's go!"
Cosette was oddly excited to hunt for game.
They both looked at the emissary.
Seemingly wanting her approval, they asked for it non verbally.
Isabelle just nodded.
So did Luken and Gavin.
"Be careful, you two."
Suna warned them.
"Odd. I thought you would go and join their little hunt, Suna."
Gavin turned his head towards her.
"W-what? Why?"
"You know, Yin being alone with another girl and stuff. Oh, maybe I was just wrong. Never mind."
Suna turned red and had a glint of shyness in her eyes.
"They could both handle it. Cosette's pretty strong anyway."
"Now that you put it that way, they do make a good couple – I mean pair."
Gavin smiled and scratched his head at his intentional "mistake."
"Gavin!"
Isabelle could have sworn she heard Suna growl, like a rabid animal!
"I'm just joking, just joking!"
"Gah. I'm going to go stretch."
Suna's face had jealousy all over it.
"Be careful not to overdo it!"
Gavin still wore that conniving grin of his.
Meanwhile Luken just stood still in a corner.
Sitting and closing his eyes.
The Commander really was tired.
Back at the outskirts of the forest.
"You know, I had friends who died earlier. Some I grew up with, some I was really close to. When they charged right at that Angel, it only took minutes for them to become mincemeat. Isn't that funny?"
Cosette laughed.
"What's so funny about that?"
Yin had a worried expression.
"Life really is fickle. I wonder how people were before the war with the Angels happened. Was humanity free back then? Can we even be free with our situation as it is right now? I only dodged death because of my strength. If I was weak, I would have died instantly, together with my friends."
Cosette had tears rolling down her cheeks.
Yin slowly moved close to Cosette.
He picked up a sharp rock on the ground and stared at her brown eyes.
"I'll change it. I can change humanity's current position! If I kill every single Angel, every single monster roaming outside, then I'll do it! If it means giving us freedom. Then I swear on my own blood, I'll be stronger, strong enough to carry your dead friend's bodies on my back, stronger than Gavin and the Commander. Even strong enough to beat the Reaper myself!"
Yin was determined to make his oath a reality.
His bright red eyes were flickering as if it was a torch going up in flames and being extinguished after a few seconds.
He ran the sharp rock through his palm.
Letting his own blood drip as he stared back at the moon.
"I have to get stronger. Strength. Strength to protect the one's I value the most. Strength to free humanity from the chain's of being caged. I was given this power to do that!"
"Now I know that my friends did not die for nothing. Thank you, Yin. Please don't forget what happened today. This is what happens to weak and powerless people."
She bowed her head down as a sign of gratitude.
Yin's cut palm was already starting to heal.
Oozing off steam as if it was a boiling pot.
Cosette stared at his wound.
"I'm not even going to ask how. You've got a long way to go. But your heart is in the right place.
She smiled.
They proceeded to find wild boars to roast for dinner.
Meanwhile back at the cave.
"Isabelle. What is the High Council going to do to the boy?"
Luken asked her.
"I honestly don't know, Luken. Chances are they are going to try and take custody of Yin."
"You know we won't allow that."
"Orders from the High Council must be met with no obstruction whatsoever. They're the ones powering up the barriers just so these monstrosities can't come inside Niflheim and start slaughtering every citizen on sight."
"You yourself know that even your own brother sacrificed himself just to buy time for Yin. That's how important and special he is!"
Gavin butted in.
"I am an emissary to the High Council first and foremost, and a sister to my siblings second. That's how important the Council is."
"Does the Emperor know about this?"
"No. He does not. And under no circumstances must you tell him about the child's existence and powers. Or at least that's what I was told."
"If those old geezers try to lay a hand on Yin. I'll personally see to it that the Emperor knows about it himself. Mark my words."
Luken threatened Isabelle.
"Is that a threat, Commander? Are you letting sentimentality cloud your judgment?"
"Alright alright, if they lay a hand on Yin, me and Gavin are going to paint the castle red with their blood. Is that sentimental enough, emissary?"
Her face was annoyed and panicked at the same time.
Before things could further escalate, Yin and Cosette arrived at the cave's entrance.
"Yo you're back! And you brought the food too!"
Yin and Cosette were both panting in exhaustion.
Luken's demeanor did a complete reversal.
The pair carried with them a slain wild boar which they caught.
Gavin prepared his gloves and started cleaning it for supper.
"Let's do this."
He let out a deep sigh.