(Content Warning: Self-harm and suicide mentioned in the second half of chap. You can skip them and not miss too much.)
Lia and the orc leader left to fight each other, leaving Lione, Tiial, and Yura to fight the remaining four generals.
The first of the generals had a large greatsword on her back, and her hair was pulled into a neat bun. The second held a large staff and wore a hooded robe. On her neck was a large red crystal.
The third general had short black hair and an eyepatch over her right eye. She held a short sword alongside a small buckler. The fourth general was holding a bow, her hair flowing elegantly behind her.
Yura's group and the four generals faced off as Lione and Tiial drew their lances. It wasn't long before they were engaged in combat.
The first general launched herself toward the group, cracking the ground she was standing on. Lione met her attack head-on and blocked her downward swing using his lance. Earth magic gripped her legs and arms, attempting to restrain her.
Without effort, she snapped the restraints using her immense strength. The third general's sword came down, attacking Lione's blind spot. Tiial was there to thwart her attempt. He kicked her in the stomach mid-swing, causing her to miss and leave herself open.
Lione thrust his lance toward her stomach. She was barely able to rotate and avoid getting skewered. The lance clipped the side of her torso, piercing the side of her torso, removing a large chunk.
An arrow whizzed past Lione's head, barely missing. He wasn't sure if that was thanks to luck or his skill. Although, he wouldn't bet on his skill.
Yura had long since disappeared. Silently, she crept up behind the mage-general. Yura had picked her as the most dangerous one. A full-fledged mage can make or break a fight quite easily, especially an experienced one.
Her daggers came down, and she expected them to rake against flesh. Instead, they hit a mana barrier and bounced off. Yura backed off quickly, inwardly stunned that the mage had seen her.
The Mage spoke, her voice was feminine, yet deep and husky. "Rogues are so annoying."
Yura didn't respond, only fading once more into invisibility. She kept her eyes on the fight between Lione, Tiial, and three of the generals. She had to ensure they won.
Lione moved, aided by his earth magic, he slid a few meters back. The first general's large greatsword slammed into the ground. It would have cut him in half had the attack landed.
Tiial was quick enough to engage her directly after, even as he was defending himself from the third general's sword. She didn't host as much power, but she was extremely agile. Tiial expertly pulled the first general into engaging with him, allowing Lione to rejoin the fray.
He jumped into action, lunging his lance toward her shoulder. Lione and Tiial were fighting alongside each other in almost perfect synchronization. The first general was locked in a stalemate with Tiial when Lione's lance pierced through her shoulder.
Her legs buckled as Tiial kicked her knees. He took a cut across his cheek, barely able to avoid the third general's short sword. Yura was there as the first general fell to her knees, silently slicing her throat.
An arrow buried itself in Tiial's shoulder, he was paying the price of setting Yura's kill up. He attempted to back off, but arcane webs grabbed his ankles, and he was rooted to the spot.
Yura cursed. Her eyes fixated on the mage as she deflected an arrow with her daggers. She dashed toward her at an incredible speed.
She turned her head. An arrow laced with lightning was in her path. Aimed, and flying right at her head. There was no time to stop. No time to ponder.
Time seemed to stop for Yura, as memories, events, conversations, and deaths pushed their way to the front of her mind. She was unable to quell the rising wave, and it drowned her.
..... (CW from here)
Yura stood at the edge of an open casket. Inside was the pristine corpse of her younger brother. She didn't cry, she couldn't. Not after what happened last week. She had been to two funerals in the last week and she had done all of the crying she possibly could. There was only lukewarm acceptance left.
Her eyes stared lifelessly at her brother. She had seen it. She had heard it happening. The anguish he cried out with. The rage, the pain; she was only 14. Her brother was 12, and yet he had already taken his own life.
Yura wondered if her turn was next, but she knew the answer. She had no life to live. No life left to give...none left to take. She stared at her brother for a long time. She doesn't know how long she stood there, in the still clerically cold room, but it didn't matter. The answers to her questions would never come. She knew that because she had screamed them out with such force that her throat bled.
"Are you tired?"
Yura heard the voice, but she didn't respond. How could she? Her whole life had taken on a tone of gray. She looked around the empty ceremonial room, searching for the voice. She found nothing.
"If you are tired, I can help you. Some things can't be taken."
Yura spoke out loud, her mind was replaying a soft static noise. "I...who are you?"
The voice sounded warm and caring. "It is me, darling. Do you not remember?"
Yura's voice broke. "M..Mom.?"
The feeling of being wrapped in a mother's arms enveloped her. The warm hands, the feeling of safety, and the soothing words were all she felt in that moment.
Her body collapsed, weary and tired from the days of sleepless nights. She curled up, entering the safest position. Like a young child, she remained there, sobbing in front of her dead brother's open casket. There were no tears, for she had none to give.
The voice soothed her the whole way, enveloping her in its warm embrace. One that she desperately needed.
When Yura awoke the next day, the service was over, and her brother was taken away. She would attend the funeral in two days. The heaviness within herself had diminished.
"Do you feel better, dear?"
Yura heard the voice and nodded as she made her way back to their cursed home.
.....
A young Yura, 16 now, stood in the main room of her house. It was a mess, there was a fight that occurred in here. Yura ignored it, as if it was a normal thing and began washing the remaining unbroken dishes.
"You should clean up, dear."
Yura answered quickly. "I can't, Mother. I'm afraid I'll forget what happened, and I can never forget. The night Father killed you, and them himself. I can't bear the thought of forgetting."
She felt warm hands wrap themselves around her, and a caring voice whispered into her ear. "That's alright, dear. I understand."
The warm sensation left her skin. "I always wanted you to have a good life...this...this is not your life, dear. You have so much good and so much life left. Please...join the academy. I...I was saving money to send you there.."
Yura's eyes widened, and she softly began to cry. "I...Thank you, Mom"
..... (CW End)
Those events led Yura to where she was now. She smiled, a true, genuine smile as she realized that her Mother had let her live when she had nothing. Tears fell from her eyes, and the arrow thudded into her skull. Her body collapsed, lifeless.