Nova Mesto, Wine Cellar, 03.00 A.M
Joshua and Isabel ran as hard as they could to escape from there. They don't know how long they ran in the dark. Until they decided to stop because of exhaustion.
Joshua put Iris down and sat there exhausted. He scanned their surroundings. It seemed that they ran quite far. And this place didn't look like any undead.
"Looks like we're in an abandoned wine cellar. I once infiltrated this place." Isabel checked their surroundings. Lots of broken shelves and empty wine bottles scattered about.
"Do you think we're safe?" Joshua wiped his sweat.
"I don't know ... maybe for now?" Isabel sat up with a sigh. She checked her wounds. But there was no serious injury, "Sigh ... Now what should we do?"
They both fell silent and didn't know what to do.
"Ugh ..." Iris groaned and started to wake up from her fainting states.
"Are you okay?" Joshua helps Iris to sit down and unties her ties.
"My body is all in pain... and it feels like it's burning... like something wants to jump out of me" replied Iris weakly.
Isabel examined Iris and then turned to Joshua, "Her body has a fever. Her breathing was irregular. Her condition is not good "
"Hold on, Iris. We're going to get out of this damned city," Joshua tried to encourage Iris.
"Since childhood I grew up in the church. I can't go anywhere freely... It would be nice to see scene other than Nova Mesto. " Iris smiled weakly.
Joshua looked pityingly Iris was unable to say anything hearing it.
"Ugh...it...it hurts." Suddenly the remaining tatoo on Iris' back started to glow and her eyes started to turn white.
"He was looking for me ... he called me ... he was coming here ..." said Iris with a shivering body.
"Iris! Iris wake up! " Joshua shouted. Joshua's scream made Iris wake. His eyes returned to normal even though her breathing was still irregular
Joshua sighed in relief and then grabbed Iris' shoulder, "Now tell me what you saw earlier?"
Iris nodded slowly, "I saw Commander Raul is coming here...He...is following me... and getting closer..."
Isabel widened her eyes in a snarl, "He's still alive ?!"
"Raul must be aiming for the remnants of Seraphine Aile in Iris. We have to move quickly! Do you know where to go to Isabel?" Joshua got up carrying Iris.
"This way. This route will take us out of Nova Mesto. But what about the magic seal that locks the city?" Isabel pointed.
Suddenly there was a tremor for a moment and was followed by the faint sound of a building collapsing in the distance.
"We don't have time! According to Father Carlos Iris can open it. Hopefully Iris can survive" Joshua replied, glancing at Iris who looked limp on his back.
Isabel nodded then ran followed by Joshua. Along the way they run sometimes there is a vibration which makes them run even faster. Finally, they arrived at a room with 3 passageways. The hallway in the middle has a small gate with a padlocked iron door.
"This is our exit." Isabel picked up a nearby stone and hit the lock. After several strokes, she managed to break the lock. She then pushed the gate but strangely the gate still didn't budge open.
Isabel shook her head at Joshua, indicating that the gate could not be opened.
Seeing Iris' state, Joshua did not have the heart to tell her to try to open the gate.
While from afar there was the sound of a building collapsing, it seemed that something was getting closer to them.
"Looks like this is my part ... let me try it ..." with the remaining strength Iris replied.
Joshua lowered Iris and helped her walk towards the gate. Iris put her hand on the gate and then closed her eyes. Trying to concentrate. Iris' eyes turned white and her tattoo started to glow with an aura of darkness. There was a wave of ripples on the gate accompanied by a strong gust of wind that opened the gate. Iris wobbled.
"Iris! Are you okay?". Joshua catches Iris who is about to fall.
"Looks like I can't afford to get out of this city..." Iris answered while slowly closing her eyes.
"Iris wake up! Awake! You have magic, try to transfer Seraphine Aile to my body so that you can be free. " Joshua tries to revive Iris but Iris still closes her eyes. Joshua held Iris' dying hand. Iris's breath looks heavy and her face looks pale. Sweat seemed to be flowing profusely.
Isabel looked away unable to see it. She knew Iris was unable to continue the journey. And leaving that teenager dying alone in the horror of Nova Mesto is too heartbreaking.
"Damn it! Even though we are a little more out of here together. I wish Seraphine Aile could move into my body so as not to kill Iris. " Joshua screamed in frustration. The images of the faces of his mother and younger sibling appeared one after another. The reason he joined Vanguard was so he could prevent bad things from ringing in his head. Anger, regret, hopelessness and feeling loss are mixed together.
Sounds from afar were getting closer and the tremors were heard getting louder.
"Joshua...we have to go immediately..." Isabel tried to invite Joshua to continue the journey.
But suddenly something strange happened, Iris's hand began to glow and the light spread to Joshua's hand. Joshua screamed in pain.
"Joshua! Iris!", Isabel tried to get closer but was unable to because it was too dazzled. As the light faded Isabel frantically checked on Joshua and Iris. Joshua looks unconscious with his hand still holding Iris. Iris herself is no longer pale and her breathing is back to normal. Her body temperature is also normal. She looked like he was sleeping. Isabel sighed with relief that both of them were still alive. But the relief was only for a moment.
Suddenly they heard the sound of the wall being crushed from a distance and a figure that used to be known as Commander Raul floated slowly approaching them. His body is black and his eyes are white. His body looks strange, it is no longer a normal human body.
"Seraphine Aile…It's calling me…." The creature seemed to mention it over and over again.
"Isabel…." Joshua woke up from fainting.
"Joshua we must immediately g..." Isabel's sentence stopped because she was shocked to see Joshua's condition. Looks like one eye white. His back seemed to be on fire and half of Seraphine Aile's tattoo was vaguely visible.
Joshua approached Iris and stroked her head, "Seraphine Aile moved to me… she will live. Raul is aiming for me now. You two get out of here. "
"But what about yo..." Isabel hesitated.
"There is no more time! Take her away while my consciousness is still there! NOW!" Joshua shouted loudly as he got up and drew his sword.
"SerAPhinE aiLe…iS MiNEe" The creature was getting closer.
Isabel immediately supported Iris. One last look at Joshua before heading to the exit.
"HERE MONSTER"!!! Joshua ran towards the creature while drawing his sword. The tatoo on his back seemed to glow. He was determined not to let the creature harm Isabel and Iris.
Joshua manages to stab his sword into Raul but Raul hits Joshua back so hard that he destroys the wall. Joshua was injured but he was still able to fight. He picked up the large pillar and easily threw it at Raul. Raul was pushed hard until he knocked down the roof. For a moment there was silence. The wine cellar was in ruins all over the place. Joshua hobbled along, blood rushing from his wounds.
"Isabel… Iris…" Joshua muttered. With the rest of his consciousness Joshua struggled to survive.
"STAB!"
Suddenly a sharp chunk pierced him. It turned out that Raul was still alive and stabbed him. Raul approached slowly and was about to eat Joshua.
Joshua with his last strength, he grabbed the chunks that penetrated him while the other hand hit hard on the floor they stood on.
"DIE YOU ACCURSED MONSTER!!!" The tattoo on his body shone brighter and brighter accompanied by a dense aura of darkness. And the floor they stood on collapsed. They fell together into the darkness.
Deep profound darkness. Joshua didn't know for how long or how deep they were fall in it. The darkness is non-stop and bottomless. But Joshua is neither afraid nor sorry about his choice. It seemed like he saw the shadow of his younger sister approaching and after he got closer it turned out that her face had turned into Iris. Joshua smiled with satisfaction and closed his eyes slowly. His face looks peaceful.
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Nova Mesto, City Outskirt, 06.00 A.M
With great effort Isabel ran while supporting Iris. The state of her injured body slowed her pace even more but she didn't give up. Behind her came the sound of fighting and buildings crumbling. She knew they had to get out of here soon or they would be buried in rubble. The light from the exit is in sight. With all her strength Isabel jumped with Iris. They both fall on their stomach.
"Ugh ..." Isabel got up and looked back. It appears that the passageways they pass through has already collapsed. Isabel felt lucky that she and Iris were out of there.
Currently they are outside Nova Mesto. The sound of birdsong and the fresh air in the morning greeted them. The morning sun began to rise.
Iris began to wake up and stand up looking around her. Her gaze stopped when she saw Nova Mesto from a distance…