"This voice," paused Leena as Pierre gripped his sword, ready to pull it out any time.
"What are you doing here? Breaking the law is a crime. How dare you," growled Pierre, glaring at Adriana while Astell glanced at the knight, who still did not back down.
"Whatever punishment, I'll gladly accept it. But before that, I am not here to hurt Lady Leena. I'm simply here as I need her help," said Adriana, who recalled that incident.
If only there was a better way to handle things. This might not have ended like this. But either way, Adriana did not have a choice.
"My help?" Questioned Leena. "What does the lady need from me? I don't think I have anything to help you."
"You are mistaken," Adriana shook her head. "I need your powers, but I know you have not manifested them yet. As you've heard, I'm dying. I do not have time left."
Pierre glared at Adriana. Even now. The hatred towards her did not change at all. There was no way he would end up liking this person. A person who hurts others does not deserve anything from this world.
He could see an image of him thrusting his sword into her body. And watch her body fall onto the ground, bleeding until no blood is left.
That is how much Pierre hates her.
"I know you hate me very much. But if I die right in your hands, who will bring down the rest of the Belladonna?" Adriana scoffed and took her seat. She had a feeling this was going to be a long conversation. While Pierre looked at her with distrust.
"Pierre, step back," Leena ordered Pierre as half of his sword had been pulled out. "I can't help you because I haven't manifested the powers from the Great Tree. I don't even know how."
"You are scared," Adriana straightforwardly told Leena, angered Pierre more.
"Don't talk to the lady like that!" Pierre raised his voice, yet it was calm. Adriana turned her head, looking at Pierre, and pointed at him, "And you are too soft."
Astell, who was there the whole time, stayed quiet, trusting the process Adriana was making. When they first talked about it, he did not know if it was true. But the way Adriana said it. It somehow made him believe in her.
Wait. No, as his duty as the husband. He should believe in her. Adriana is intelligent. She thinks before doing it. She is not the type of person to do something without thinking about it over and over.
"Leena Bryfiel, you are scared about manifesting the powers from the Great Tree," said Adriana. At the same time, Pierre saw Leena's eyes tearing up.
"Stop it! Who do you think are to tell her that!" Pierre wielded his sword and pointed it at her neck, but then another sword swung across and pointed at his neck.
His eyes grew wide, seeing that Astell had wielded his sword toward him. Which is something a Skydane would never do.
"I apologize for doing something unlike me. But if you try to hurt my wife. I will not hold back," spoke Astell in a low tone as his light blue eyes deeply stared into Pierre's, who shivered.
While Adriana was surprised to see Astell wielding his sword for the first time. That is because, usually, he would use his magic instead of the sword. But then, once again. The Skydanes are not only known for their light magic. But also for their swordsmanship.
Luna Skydane is one of the few female knights in Arabella. Each swing she does looks incredibly beautiful yet ominous. While Astell Skydane was supposed to receive the title of a commander knight but rejected it as it was not his goal to become one.
"Lady Leena, tell me what makes you afraid of receiving the powers from the Great Tree?" Adriana asked Leena, who seemed to be trembling. "Or is it because once you receive it? You'll live longer than others and watch those you love to die?"
To make it short. Whoever manifests the powers from the Great Tree will live like an immortal. They will continue to protect the tree and its people from harm.
But the reason why Leena is afraid is because of one person. It was because of Pierre Forestar. The man whom she fell in love with.
Fate is cruel, yet nothing can be done. Since the past had been disturbed. This is the consequence of it.
However, that is not the only reason Leena needs to manifest it. If not, the Great Tree will lose its life, and so will the world. Nature and life in the world would disappear. The world would become a wasteland.
"Do you mind if I have a word with the lady? Alone?" Asked Adriana Pierre did not want, but Leena accepted it.
"I don't mind."
"Leena, what if she hurts you?" Pierre asked her, who shook her head.
"The lady isn't that kind of person," Leena forced a smile. "Just go, Pierre. It seemed very important."
In the end, Pierre agreed to it. Which only left the garden with two people. The silence was loud that Adriana was trying to find the right time to speak.
"Lady Leena, are you scared you'll never be with him?" Asked Adriana.
"I am," paused Leena, who clenched onto her skirt. "I am afraid that as the time comes. We'll never meet again."
Love is such a word that makes people afraid or thrilled. In the beginning, Adriana thought the day would never come when she would be like others. Who had fallen in love.
"Did you know that Astell and I? Our marriage is just an act?"
"An act?" Repeated Leena.
"Yes, but at the same time, it doesn't seem like it?"
"To tell the truth. I've never seen him act this hostile. The Astell I knew was too gentle to point his sword towards anyone," answered Leena.
"The old me. Would have thought that I, myself, is enough and no one else," Adriana stared down at the teacup. "But the truth is I was just afraid of having others into my life since I've been alone and afraid of being loved."
That is right. Even if she had Raven. She still felt lonely and alone. No, she did experience the feeling of being alone.
"At first, I was afraid to accept Astell into my life because I knew he would leave in the end. But that wasn't the case," Adriana smiled, recalling bits of memories from the past. "In the end, I received something so precious that it scared me. So Leena Bryfiel, what makes you afraid?"
"Just like as you said. I'm afraid of…watching others die while I continue to live on."
Leena Bryfiel. Why is it that until now, you don't know about Pierre Forestar? That man is no ordinary human.
"Then let me ask you. Would you want them to suffer? This whole Neuville Groove suffer and die from extinction?" Adriana asked while Leena hesitated to answer. "So you prefer to die as a human and watch the place you were born in die? It's alright. Humans are selfish, after all. Though it is not my problem if this place dies out of extinction. It would also be my problem since I need your powers. I need your help, Leena Bryfiel."