"Okay, Ash. We'll make it happen. Together," Mina declared with a determined look in her eyes. She swiftly changed their destination without hesitation, leading them toward her family's home. As they raced towards safety, the relentless soldiers tried to block their path, determined to prevent Ash's escape and ensure his execution.
Undeterred, Mina revealed herself to be a true member of the Enchantica family, channeling her innate magical abilities to outwit their pursuers. Despite Ash's weakened state, he marveled at Mina's prowess as she used a tool to unleash a barrage of explosions, causing chaos and confusion among their attackers.
With each step, Mina's confidence grew, and she skillfully employed her emotion magic, leaving their opponents quivering with fear or falling into a deep slumber. Her magic was a potent force, a reflection of her unwavering determination to protect the man she loved.
As they ran, Mina's magic illuminated the night sky, a dazzling display that stunned and bewildered their pursuers. Ash clung to her, feeling his own strength returning in the wake of Mina's remarkable display of power.
As he looked at his hand being pulled by hers, Ash found himself still moving forward thanks to Mina, "What's driving her to save someone like me?" Muttered Ash to himself as he tried to keep up with his friend's pace, "I'm a demon, an outcast, I was thrown 2 whole years in prison for no specific reason. And even if I were to be executed tomorrow, I wouldn't dare to spell a word in an attempt to save my life. But, still..."
As he tightly held Mina's hand, his eyes shone with a newfound sense of hope, illuminating the darkness that had engulfed him for so long. It was as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders, and he felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude toward her.
"You still care about me," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion. "Even though you could have easily walked away and lived your life without me, you chose to stay. And that means more to me than you'll ever know."
Ash's thoughts raced as he struggled to keep up with her pace, ignoring the pain from his injuries. He realized that what he truly craved was to feel loved and wanted, just like she had made him feel safe in her embrace.
"I still need to feel that way, Big sis," he finally managed to say, his voice laced with desperation. "I want to feel wanted, loved and cared for. The way you made me feel, I can't get enough of it. I'll do anything to have that feeling again, anything!"
His heart pounded in his chest as he looked at her, his eyes pleading for her to understand the depth of his emotions. He knew that he was being vulnerable, but he couldn't hold back anymore. He needed her to know how much she meant to him, and how much he craved the affection that only she could give him.
Ash's eyes blazed with determination as he ran alongside her, his body fueled by the desire for freedom and victory. "I want it more than anything!" he shouted, his voice carrying with it a fierce sense of passion. "I want to break free from these chains and keep moving forward, always winning! Yeah, I want to win!"
Mina turned to him, a look of admiration in her eyes as she saw the fire burning within him. Despite the blood running through his body and the injuries he had sustained, he refused to give up or back down. It was clear to her that he was a fighter, and she was proud to call him her little brother.
"You've got this, Ash," she said, a smile spreading across her face. "You can do it, brother! You can win this fight, and I'll make sure that you'll make it out in one piece!"
"We will win, no matter what!"
As they finally reached the house, Ash collapsed onto the ground, his body shaking with exhaustion as he struggled to catch his breath. Mina's eyes quickly scanned his injuries, analyzing them to see if they were life-threatening.
With a deep breath, she summoned all her strength and let out a piercing scream, "NANA!!" her voice echoing through the empty street. "NANA!! GET OUT HERE RIGHT NOW!!" she yelled, her eyes squeezed shut in frustration and anger.
As she leaned forward, her body quivering with emotion, Mina couldn't help but feel a sense of bitterness towards the woman who had raised her. Nana had never been there for her own son when he needed her the most, always putting her own needs and desires first. But now, she had no choice but to get out and face the truth once and for all.
The woman froze as she stepped out of the mansion, her eyes widening in shock as she took in the scene before her. Her son, Ash, was sitting on the ground, his body battered and bruised, his eyes red with exhaustion and anger. She clutched a glass of wine in one hand and wore expensive jewelry and an extravagant dress, a stark contrast to the condition of her own son.
"Hi... Mom," Ash said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Long time no see."
The sound of shattering glass echoed through the stairs as the wine spilled onto the floor. Nana's eyes widened in shock and horror as she watched her child, whom she had not seen in two years, standing before her. "What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice trembling. "You shouldn't be here. You should be in prison, shouldn't you?"
As the silence stretched between them, broken only by the soft sound of wine dripping from the shattered glass, Nana realized that she didn't know what to say, what to do. She simply stood there, watching her child with a mix of fear and longing, waiting for a sign, a word, a gesture, that would help her understand what was happening, what the future held.
Ash gritted his teeth and tried to push himself up from the ground, but his legs wouldn't cooperate. Mina quickly rushed to his aid, sliding her arm around his waist to prop him up. With a deep breath, Ash slowly lifted his head to face his mother, his eyes heavy with pain.
"Am I the one who deserves to be locked up?" he asked, his voice strained. "Am I the one who spent fourteen years lying and stealing, hurting those around me?"
Mina tightened her grip on his arm, offering him silent support. It was clear that Ash was struggling with more than just his physical injuries. The weight of his past seemed to be crushing him, threatening to drag him down into an abyss of guilt and shame.
As the sound of their quarrel echoed through the house, Mina's father appeared in the doorway, his expression darkening as he took in the scene before him. He glared at Ash, his fists clenching in anger as he realized that his daughter had aided in his escape.
"What's going on here?" he demanded, his voice laced with frustration. "Why is this demon in front of my house?"
The place fell into an uneasy silence as Ash's words hung in the air. His eyes blazed with a mix of anger and pain as he spoke, his voice shaking with emotion.
"So what if I'm a demon?" he yelled, his words echoing off. "There's a difference between being a demon and being evil! I am from the demon race, that's true! But... but I'm not evil! And you know that, don't you?"
Mina's father looked at him skeptically, his arms crossed over his chest. "You expect me to believe that?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "After everything you've done, all the lies and deceit?"
As Mina and Ash stood face-to-face against Nana and her husband, a growing sense of unease settled over them. They could feel the tension in the air, and the sound of approaching footsteps sent chills down their spines. Slowly but surely, soldiers began to surround the area, hemming them in from all sides.
Ash's heart pounded in his chest as he struggled to hold back tears. He had always longed for his mother's love and acceptance, but now it seemed that all hope was lost. "Why did you throw me in prison, Mom?" he asked, his voice trembling with emotion. "Why did you never treat me like your son? You only ever used me for your own selfish desires, without a thought for my well-being. And now I find out that I'm going to be executed for crimes that you committed!"
Ash's body trembled with pain as he sank to the ground, his hands clutching at his eyes. The others watched in concern as he cried out, his voice raw with emotion. "So what if I'm a demon?" he cried, his voice rising in desperation. "What's wrong with being different? Is it a crime for a demon to seek love and happiness just like humans do? Not all demons are evil, and not all humans are good! I'm an innocent demon, and I have the right to seek happiness and care from others!"
The soldiers advanced on Ash and Mina, their weapons at the ready. They yanked Ash away from Mina's embrace and forced them both to the ground, pinning them down with brutal efficiency. Nana and her husband watched in silence, their faces betraying no hint of emotion.
As the man overseeing the proceedings watched Ash struggle against his captors, he couldn't help but wonder if there was some truth to his words. Could demons really be just like humans, seeking love and happiness like anyone else? Or was it all just a ruse, a ploy to avoid punishment for their crimes?
Meanwhile, Nana prayed silently that she wouldn't be caught. She had always been careful to cover her tracks, but she knew that if the truth came out, it would mean her downfall.
But then, to everyone's surprise, Mina spoke up. "He's telling the truth," she said, her voice ringing out clearly. "Please believe him. I have emotion magic - I can make anyone tell the truth. Let me use it on Ash and his mother to see what they'll confess, okay?"
"I'm begging you," Mina cried, her eyes pleading. "Please let me prove my brother's innocence. You can still consider me a criminal because I blew up the prison, but he doesn't deserve any of this. Please..."
Ash's tears stopped flowing as he looked up at his sister with a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "Sis..." he muttered, his voice filled with gratitude.
"The spell that you mentioned," said her father as he started walking toward Mina, "by any chance, is it called Truth-Weaving?"
"Yeah! It's Truth-Weaving!" Mina nodded, still trying to compose herself and stop crying.
The man sighed lightly as he kneeled to get a closer look at his daughter. "She inherited her mother's magic," he said, "so I can tell that she can use such skills as well, to be honest."
"And I can tell that she was training on this spell for the last two years! All of that for this moment, ha?"
"I'm Bruno Enchantica," added Bruno as he stood up, looking at the crowd of soldiers. "And as one of the Enchantica family, I have the authority to ask for a court to reveal the truth between my wife Nana and her son Ash by using my daughter's magic!"
Mina's face beamed with hope as she realized that her father was giving her a chance to clear her friend's name. But Nana tried to slip away unnoticed. Her actions only confirmed everyone's suspicions, and it became clear that Nana was not the innocent she had pretended to be.
Bruno's voice thundered across the courtyard. "I demand a fair trial for Ash, and for my wife to be brought to justice for her crimes!"
Nana's heart pounded in her chest as the soldiers forcibly removed her from her home. She pleaded with them, her voice trembling with fear and desperation. "No, no, don't do this to me," she begged. "They're still just children, and one of them is clearly a demon while the girl is a criminal as well! I'm the innocent one here, I swear I didn't do a thing. Please, let me go."
But her words fell on deaf ears, and the soldiers continued to drag her away. It was then that her husband spoke up, his voice calm but firm. "Nana, stop," he said, his hand gently but firmly on her shoulder. "If you're really telling the truth, you need to let Mina use her skill on you. She can determine if you're innocent or not."
Nana's heart sank as the soldiers restrained her, and she watched helplessly as they bound her arms and prepared to take her away. She knew that they planned to use Mina's skill to determine the truth, but she couldn't bear the thought of being judged.
"No... no, you don't have to use such a trivial skill to know the truth," she protested, her voice choked with emotion. "You need to trust me, that's all. Can't you see that I'm innocent?"
But the soldiers were unmoved, and one of them spoke up, his voice stern. "Just like the world entrusted your child to your care?" he asked, his words biting like a cold wind. "We cannot take chances with the safety of others. Tomorrow, this girl will use her skill in the court to determine the truth. It will be fair for all of you. We need to seek justice, after all."
Nana felt a wave of despair wash over her. She knew that she was the cause of all this commotion, but she also knew that in the eyes of the law, she was guilty until proven otherwise. As the soldiers led her away, she cast a pleading glance at Bruno, hoping that he would naively side with her as he always did, but her charms didn't work on him this time, "See you tomorrow, Nana!" He said, waving goodbye.
As they reached the door, another soldier spoke up, his voice gentle and kind. "Sorry, we didn't give you a chance because you were different," he said, addressing Ash as he gently wrapped his arms with a piece of cloth. "I hope you'll get your freedom tomorrow."
Ash's heart swelled with gratitude at the soldier's words, and he nodded his head in thanks. Though he knew that tomorrow would be a difficult day, he also knew that he had the support of the pure truth, and that was enough to give him hope.
Nana, Mina, and Ash were thrown into a dank, musty cell where they spent a sleepless night on the cold, hard ground. When morning came, they were led into a crowded courtroom filled with judges and curious citizens alike. The air was thick with tension and whispers as the two friends were brought before the judges to answer for their supposed crimes.
As the judges took their seats, the room fell silent. The lead judge cleared his throat and began to address the crowd. "We are gathered here today to hear the case of Ash and Nana, and reveal which one of them is behind all the stealing."
The room erupted in murmurs and whispers, with questions flying from all sides. "Can that girl really make them confess the truth?" asked one. "Who is the innocent one between those two?" questioned another. "Can we really live in peace with a demon that sucked someone's magic to come to life?" chimed in a third.
Mina and Ash looked around nervously, unsure of what was to come. But they remained steadfast in their belief that they were innocent of the charges brought against them.
Nana stood in the back of the courtroom, her eyes darting nervously around the room. She knew that her deceit had been exposed, and there was no escaping the consequences this time. Her heart pounded in her chest as Bruno's intense glare bore into her.
"Mina Enchantica," Chimed in the judge, gently looking at the girl, "With words from the Enchantica family, you'll be allowed to use your spell Truth-Weaving to make Ash and Nana confess their past actions. Are you willing to help us seek justice today?"
As the judge's words hung in the air, Mina felt a surge of nervous energy course through her body. She had never used her spell in front of so many people before, and the stakes were higher than ever. But she knew that this was her chance to clear her friend's name and bring justice to the town.
With a deep breath, she stepped forward and began to weave the spell. The air around her shimmered and crackled with energy, and a faint light emanated from her hands as she focused her magic.
"Truth-Weaving," At first, nothing happened. The room was filled with tense silence as Mina concentrated, her eyes fixed on Ash and Nana. Then, slowly, Nana's eyes began to widen, and she let out a strangled cry.
"I did it," she blurted out, her voice trembling. "I took the money. I thought it would be easy, but I was wrong. I'm sorry. Please forgive me."
The room erupted into murmurs and gasps as the truth was revealed. Mina felt a pang of sympathy for Nana, knowing that she had made a terrible mistake. But justice had to be served, and the consequences of Nana's actions could not be ignored.
And then it was Ash's turn. Mina watched with bated breath as he began to speak, revealing that he was innocent all along. The crowd was stunned, realizing that they had been wrong to judge him based on his race. The judge's hammer hit the table with a resounding thud, and the verdict was clear: Ash was free, and Nana was to be sentenced to prison.
Ash's body trembled with a mixture of relief, joy, and disbelief as he heard the judge's verdict. For so long, he had been trapped in a nightmare, accused of a crime he didn't commit and persecuted simply for being different. And now, at long last, he was free.
"I'm free now!" Ash finally exclaimed, his voice choked with emotion. "Thank you, Big Sis! If it wasn't for you, I was going to get killed soon enough."
Tears streamed down his face as he dropped to his knees, overcome with emotion. Mina rushed to his side, wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace.
"You don't need to thank me, Ash," she whispered, her voice gentle and reassuring. "I did what anyone would do in my place. You deserved justice, and I was just glad to be able to help."
Ash nodded, his face buried in Mina's shoulder. For a few moments, they just stayed like that, holding onto each other and savoring the moment of freedom and relief.
The sound of the gavel echoed throughout the chamber as the judge's voice rang out, cold and unyielding. "Mina Enchantica," he began, fixing her with a stern gaze. "You are aware that your actions cannot absolve you of your crimes, I trust?"
Mina nodded, her face betraying no fear or regret. She knew the risks she had taken, and she was prepared to face the consequences.
"Breaking into a prison, aiding an escape, attacking soldiers, and making baseless accusations against Lady Nana - these are all serious offenses," the judge continued. "I'm afraid we cannot let you off the hook, young lady."
A hush fell over the courtroom as the judge delivered his final sentence. "You are sentenced to death," he declared.