NATHAN
I knew firsthand just how strong Nkoya was. She's the type to smash mountains with her bare hand and that was a minor feat for a goddess. Her strategies were not to be looked down on and she has the capacity to become stronger with every passing moment.
Someone tell me how she's losing to a blind child.
I crave clarity for this moment. Nkoya's movements are clear and sharp. I can see the gears turning in her head as she uses her wit to shorten the distance between them. But 'Winifred' was not only fast, but she was also untouchable. It didn't matter which weapons were used. The spears didn't reach her. The arrows couldn't graze her. The force of the hammer couldn't ground her.
Is this what it means to be as free as a bird?
To counter-attack, all 'Winifred' is doing is touching Nkoya. If she threw something, she would circle back and touch her pressure point. So far, she's touched all of them without being grazed once. Just what would happen next?
"Nathan, can I ask one question?" 'Winifred' suddenly spoke, turning to me. Even in the midst of a fierce battle where Nkoya is trying her hardest, she's still leisurely speaking to me. It made me smile.
"Go ahead, my lady."
"You used to say I was the prettiest of all the gods, Nathan. Am I still?"
"What are you saying, my lady?"
She smiled, placing a hand on the tip of Nkoya's forehead whilst hovering over her. She snapped her finger and the goddess sunk into the sand, unable to get up.
"None of the gods can compare to your beauty, my dear lady."
She landed softly on the sand, as elegant as a crane. She reached down a hand to pull Nkoya up, pulling her across the sand until she was off the arena and walked straight to me. She handed Nkoya over and turned to Oriel.
"You didn't think I was going to lose, did you Oriel?"
It has certainly been a while since I've seen a human emotion on that arrogant being's face. No one imagined Nkoya losing. Certainly not me, Certainly not Oriel. Poor Nkoya. She would be more upset about being used to set a stage when she didn't even want to fight in the first place. But for Succubus, she would do anything to keep her alive.
"Now, hand Succubus over, like you promised. Or do you want to violate heaven's promise?"
"Winifred, wait! Are you really going to kill Succubus? That's too much, even for you," I tried to intervene. She turned to look at me and the corners of her lips turned upwards, her eyes darkening.
"You don't even know me that well yet you're trying to convince me not to get rid of her. You're never this considerate to another person yet even then, when I tried to get rid of her, you told me not to. You said those words too. That's too much, even for you, Winifred. That's why...I decided. If it would make you happy, Nathan, she won't die. But she won't live either."
"Thank you for being so kind."
{KIND?! WHAT ABOUT THAT IS BEING KIND, NATHAN?!}
"I'm sorry, Succubus. There's nothing more I can do for now. But I know you'll be safer with her."
{NATHAN!}
I couldn't watch as Winifred claimed Succubus. It's probably the same way she has my cowardly patron residing in her body. That way, Succubus won't truly die but there's no way to bring her out either. I'll just have to wait until Winifred's anger subsides.
Still, all of this is useless if I can't get my body...
"Now, I can tell you where they hid your body, Nathan. It's not here. So, let's go."
"How are you so dependable, my lady? I could fall for you."
"That's gross."
---------------------------------------
WINIFRED
We're finally back. If I had to stay there for one more minute, I probably would've lost my mind. After Nathan asked me to close my eyes, I blacked out. When I woke up, I was back in my body. I still couldn't see a thing.
It's so unfortunate to go back to being blind after having such perfect sight. Now, I will have to adjust all over again, and Nathan would be there to annoy me. I just want to see Darryl's face.
"It can't be! You're really back!"
"You're screeching again, Lady Freya."
I felt scooped into familiar arms. she was much too happy to see me and not Nathan. Her attachment to me is unhealthy and she...
"I have missed you far too much for me to just let go of you. It was so lonely without you."
"You don't say."
"Truly. I realized it when you were gone. You're the light of this manor. Never leave like that again, my lady. I won't be able to stand it."
"Your attachment to me is unhealthy. But could you mind not sending me to the place I just departed from? It would be pathetic to die from a hug."
"Right. I'm sorry."
She released me from her bear-hold just in time for me to hear a familiar set of footsteps. He's finally here. Darryl.
"I'm glad you're here, Winifred. For some reason, I thought I wouldn't see you again."
"That's impossible. I have no true reason for leaving you, Darryl. I'll never leave you."
He didn't say anything and just embraced me. I could hear the sound of his breath and it felt as if he was crying. I didn't know I would be missed this much. I should go on a trip more often.
"Aw. Can you promise me that too, my lady?"
"You're ruining the moment, Lady Freya."
"You're as fierce as always, my lady."
It wasn't just them. All the other servants were overjoyed to have me back. If I didn't stop them, then they would all embrace me. I don't know when they all got so attached but I could use the loyalty.
Speaking of Loyalty, how is my dear father doing?