Milana was struck with what would have been the greatest snub in her entire life by the one man she had always looked up to. There was no other level of annoyance greater than this. The intensity was little, and is still growing with the passing time. She never expected this level of reaction to what she had just told him. No it isn't that. She expected he'd react, but not in this type of way. He had already killed off the two there in the end of the pod, she knew this much and she also knew he was preparing them for their arrival to TRANCE. "What if this is how everyone here is left to suffer under the hands of Mark. What if he's the person that created this place. Heavenly Hell. Yes. It is what he can conjure up. No, if that was so, he wouldn't have risked his life so much. Okay, that solved, Yes he might not be the one that created this place. What if he supplied the humans that are trapped here. What if he kidnapped the and Trix is his accomplice. No, it can't be. Mark isn't that much of a villain. I know that much. That one out of the way, the most absurd of them all, why didn't he tell me the Witches' Green existed in the first place? He tried his best to make sure I dumped that idea. Why would he do so? All this time, he knew. The reason I left Murabak. He knew. Why did he Keep this a secret." Milanas' thoughts ran rampant as she finally approached the end of the rather long passage created by pods stacking up on both sides. She wasn't sure Mark was the sneaky one. No, she knew. She wanted to doubt it for as long as she could. She didn't want to make out her hero as one to be a coward. A scaredy cat. A person who would lie to get out of frustrating situations. "I recall him being afraid once. Yes, I can remember vividly now" Milana thought, as she took a trip down memory lane.
A few years ago, Two years after being rescued by Mark from the wolves, Milana found herself wandering the world with him. From the City of Mer Back to Murabak.On their arrival to Murabak, her people recognized her and welcomed her. Pleasantries being exchanged without hesitation. They got Treatment equal to that of a king as Mark was well Known in Murabak.
"He arrives!" A voice called out on seeing him approach through the gates of The city. "The Knight Of Nyx! In the flesh! All hail Humanities' strongest warrior" The voiced screamed. Others joined in to ascertain with a loud reply. "Hail!"
Another voice from the crowd of people screamed "All Hail The First of his kind!"
The crowds screamed yet another reply
"Hail!"
There was joy and excitement on seeing Him. Until they noticed Milana.
"Oh, here comes the stubborn brat. The Last remaining of the Family of Gilbert. The runaway. The Witch Hunter!" The same voice screamed and on seeing her, the Celebrations stopped and eyes from everywhere looked at her in disgust. Mark, on noticing this, spring to action as he spoke out with confidence.
"you praise me and glorify me like I am some god and still mock my friend in my presence. Do you really see me as so you praise? Or am I just a medium that you should rejoice?" Mark asked, looking at the crowd around him as he wrapped his hands around a scared Milana gently.
"Don't worry" Mark whispered into her ears. "No one will hurt you. Not while I am here. Trust me. Now, walk with me."
After that incident, he walked his way out of the crowd that was immediately feeling remorse for what they had just did. He walked all the way until he found a city inn. He paid for their room and settled in. On paying, Milana could hear The inn keeper ask Mark, whilst looking at her"A friend of yours? Or just another whore lying around? I mean, I wouldn't mistake a Gilbert for a whore when I see one. There's always something about them." After saying this, the inn keeper, returned his sight on Mark, seeking Mark's approval with the remark he had just made about Milana, who wasn't sure as to how to go about with the such speech. She decided it not be an insult and rather took it as a compliment. Marks' face was so stern that his rage reached every corner of the inn and men around their tables had to look at the source of this intense aura, Mark.
"What's your name?" Mark asked the inn keeper.
"Nicholai. Nicholai Testes." The inn keeper replied with fear.
"Well, then Nicholai," Mark said as he leaned in to reach Nicholais' ears as he whispered.
"Say one more word should it be good or bad about this friend of mine, you will be left with no testicles to impregnate your wife. Do you understand me?"
"Y.... Yessir!!!!!" Nicholai said with sweat all over his chubby face.
Milana looked on with a straight face. She was so used to being mocked that it became a norm in her life. Should she not be mocked a day in Murabak, she knew something was off.
"Come" Said Mark " He's given me the keys to our room. I suggest we leave this bar. I'm sorry. I had money for only one room. We best share it." Mark said, as Milana looked and nodded. She wasn't much of a talkative back then and her reason was pretty valid.
Getting to their room, Mark sat on the floor as He let Milana rest on the bed. Milana rarely had a conversation and he was used to it, well up until this moment. Milana spoke up. Murmured to say the list.
"Why did you stand up for me?"
"Sorry, I couldn't hear you the first time. Would you mind repeating yourself?"
"I said" She spoke up a little bit higher than the last time. Enough for Mark to hear her this time. "Why did you stand up for me? Even with your reputation on the line. You would risk it all to protect me. Why?"
On hearing this, Mark looked at her and smiled a little bit. He was so excited that he has finally heard her speak.
"Well, for starters you do have an excellent voice. Also, if I don't stand up for you, who will? You had no urge to even defend yourself yet you expect I let them throw shots at you without making an attempt to defend you myself? No, I am not like that. Yeah, call me selfish but that's how I am."
"Do you even know why they hate me so? Don't you think the reason is deserved?" Milana asked, as she was driven to tears.
"No, I don't think so. I see not a reason that you should be punished for whatsoever reason it may be. Everyone can be redeemed. All we need do is wait for the right time for that to happen. You, on the other hand your redemption is right around the corner. So do wait patiently, okay?"
Milana didn't answer his question and after Mark said that, a long moment of silence transpired as Milana sat on the bed, leaned against the wall with her blanket covering her and Mark sat on the floor as there was no chair or even table in the room. The moonlight was piercing the room through the window on Marks' left. He sat close to the door on his right. The silence was broken when a the moonlight shining brilliantly was covered by a shadowy figure that seemed too confident in itself. This figure made light from the room stop emitting and therefore this made Mark and Milana suspicious as to who it was. Or what it was. Mark, on noticing the light dim in the floor in which he was initially looking at, turned to the window on his right, unsheathed his sword and immediately attempted a piercing strike on this shadowy figure that stayed squatted in the wooden window stool. The sword was stopped halfway and as Milanas' sight became clearer, she could see what had transpired. The sword was stopped by this thing. The force of the piercing sword strike was intense that it sent the hair of this creature flowing to reveal the face of a woman. A woman whose beauty Milana paled to in comparison. Her blue eyes got the most of Milanas' vision as it was clear as day. On looking at Marks' sword hanging mid air, and Milana could see the reason for this. It was clear now as the force had blown this woman's hair backwards, which was the reason for dim moonlight. On clearance, Milana was shocked at what she saw. Marks' sword hanging as its' tip was being held in between the index and middle finger of this woman. The sight was terrifying not only to Milana but also to Mark who seemed to be dripping sweat seeing what had transpired and now clearly identifying the woman as he said these exact words.
"What are you doing here, Hemera!" Mark said, still looking at the woman.
Hemera, on hearing this smiled to the clearly terrified Mark as she stated.
"Markandeya, Markandeya. What a pleasant surprise to see you're doing well here. It's so nice to meet you. After all this time. How long has it been? Eons maybe?" Her smile was piercing enough as it revealed her series of white teeth. Milana looked at Mark and noticed that the arm holding the sword pointing at the woman was filled with vein as in being pressured to push the sword further but it didn't budge. The opposing force of Hemeras' two Fingers was just that intense.
Mark didn't answer her questions but rather, on seeing he couldn't move his sword any further, withdrew it and unsheathed, stepping back a little bit, enough to reach a corner of the bed which was on the opposite side. Hemera, who was still squatting on the window stool, came down gently one feet at a time. Each step revealed a metallic limb. Walking through the room towards The terrified-looking Mark revealed her clothing to be a transparent silk nightgown. Her arms were also metallic. Her face was seemingly the only place that remained human. Her Bright-yellow hair stopped flowing as she came in touch with the ground. Hello, Mark. It's such a pleasure to see you here. I was expecting you would show up at Murabak one way or the other. Who's this? A new friend of yours?" Hemera said, as she finally noticed Milana who was fear struck on the bed.
"N...No" Mark stammered fearfully"Sh.. She's a person of interest to me."
"Why would you not tag her a friend? Well, that's your choice. I'm here to check up on you and see the progress you've made. Seems it's not as much as I thought it would be. Be sure to hasten it up, okay? We haven't no time." Hemera said, looking at Milana. Smiled to her and in that instant, she turned towards the window and that was the last they saw of her. Milana was still scared but decided to look at Mark who was curled up in the corner of the room shivering in fear of what just happened right now. Milana had never seen him this fear struck before in his entire life. Holding his hair, tears unconsciously flowing down his eyes with his sword left sheathed on the floor. he was so scared to utter a word. Well, it was to be expected. The entire City felt the pressure of that one person at that particular moment. They would later that day hear people talking about the pressure they felt that night.
"Mark, are you okay?" Milana said, reaching on to the terrified Mark."Can you stand?"
She asked once more, but watched on as her hero sat in the floor, helpless, whimpering on. She couldn't bear the sight. She didn't want to believe what had just transpired. Humanities' greatest fighter. Down to crying and whimpering like a baby. She couldn't bear the sight of it and joined in to cry with him. Later the next day, she had forgotten all about what happened last night, or fake the memory loss at least. She wanted it to be a dream. She didn't want to see the hero she so much loved looking utterly defeated and ever since refused to listen to reason. Until now. Marks' intentions had changed and he was hurrying up every step of the way as if to meet up with a deadline given to him. She just couldn't make sense as to why Mark would do such.
She got snapped by to reality upon processing Theodore's speech,
"Milana, it's time. He said I should lower you guys in now. I'm done with Aria. She's in the pod."
"Oh, yes. Sorry Theodore. How is she doing now?" Milana asked reluctantly.
"Yes, she's doing amazing. The joy in her face knew no bounds. She was so excited-"
"I see. Well then. I guess it's my turn, isn't it?" Milana said, cutting Theodore shut. She didn't want him to say more than he's meant to and did so in the most polite way possible. Theodore noticed this and resonated with the situation at hand and Milana let herself be placed gently in the pod and awaited the next action from Mark.