Biast was unconscious but he could faintly feel the coarse sand and debris and scraping against his armor in his lower back. Without his armor, it would have surely scraped his skin raw,, but then again that was the least of his worries now. Everything Biast was feeling, felt more like dream than reality. He wasn't conscious, yet he was able to perceive what was happening around him in a hazy way.
He let out a small groan, "Ughh-" followed by a slurred, "Who…..let me…. go?" He was unable to speak more since his lips were cracked and felt like sandpaper against each other. His pleas sounded more like a drunkard's incoherent mumbling than a plea for mercy.
The person who was dragging him paused for a moment, seemingly surprised he had spoken but quickly resumed their journey, albeit with more haste now.
He was beginning to feel thirsty, having lost a lot of water in his body through sweat, his body desperately craved any form of hydration. The hot tropical sun of the Iron isles was drying him up, drying him out like salted fish left out in the sun to be pickled. He tried opening his mouth to speak but couldn't. His tender lips were dry and were stuck to each other. He didn't have the energy to even open his mouth, let alone speak.
Unable to do anything he tried to listen to his surroundings, The battle was still raging in the city which was evident by the fact that he could still hear the trebuchets and catapults launching their payloads followed by the low whir of engines of those floating monstrosities. In the distance, he could hear the clash of steel and the terrified screams of women and children.
The last sound however brought a deep sense of grief in him. He wondered to himself what could have happened to that woman or child who had just let out that scream. Even at this injured state, his mind was still cruel enough to bring back memories of his childhood, a childhood which he sought to forget when he joined the Holy Empire of Sanbreque.
Without realizing it, he drifted back into unconsciousness.He slowly pried his eyes open, greeted by the sensation of cool water trickling down his parched lips. It was the sweetest water he had ever tasted. A hand gently cradled his neck, lifting it slightly to help him drink. Biast felt it very comforting, for a second it reminded him of how his own mother laid his down on her lap to make him sleep when he had nightmares.
He tried opening his eyes even more but the sun shone directly on his face, obscuring the face of his savior. He tried to figure out if it was a man or woman from their touch be he was surprised when he realized that the hands seemed tender like that of a woman but had also seen war as it was evident from the dexterous nature of the skin in the palm.
" I'll just wait till she finishes giving me the water " He thought to himself as he readied himself.
Before that, he had to access his body to ensure that he could handle himself against Amina.
" I can't attack her and fail again " He thought to himself, remembering his failed attempt to take down Aevis in his previous encounter"
To his utter astonishment, he felt no pain at all. In fact, he couldn't even feel the wounds he distinctly remembered being inflicted upon by Aevis during their fight.
" What happened to me, How long have i been out like this ? " He asked himself. The idea that he had been unconscious for several days or perhaps even weeks, took root in his mind. Afterall, it was the only logical to conclude that since After all, wounds don't heal overnight, especially not serious ones.
From the rustle of leaves that were trampled by his foot, Biast quickly figured out that they had turned their back against him.
Biast readied himself to lunge at the person and pin them to the ground in onw swift motion, however his mind was filled with unease.
" What if my legs give up like the last time ? "
" If I attack them once and fail, they may not me save me "
He slightly peeked his eyes open. His conclusion were right. The other person was perched in front of them at the very tip of a cliff overlooking the ruined city below, with their back against him. The person slender build and wore a hooded cloak that concealed most of their features, except for a cascade of long, black hair that flowed down their back.
It was when Biast realized it. " Is that a girl ? " he thought to himself. He had expected his savior to be a man, considering the effort it must have taken to drag him across rough terrain.
She sat there, crouched and scanned the horizon with a spy glass. Plumes of smoke rose up from the ruined city below. In the distance several of those sky fortress hovered next to one of the last remaining towers in the city.
Biast knew he had to act now. This was the most opportune moment for him to attack.
He lunged at her, but the rustle of leaves gave his move away, giving his saviour a split second to react. With one swift motion she jumped up into the air and landed a kick on Biast's chest.
He felt the wind get knocked out of him as, without his armor he felt the full force of the impact on his chest. He landed hard on his butt a few feet in front of her.
He crumpled to the ground several feet away, his vision momentarily swimming. Disoriented, he coughed and tried to regain his footing.
Dammit, " he thought to himself as he gritted his teeth and turned to look at her attacker's face.
His jaw dropped, " Amina !? "
" How...how did you survive the crash ? " he continued shocked at the fact that Amina had in fact been alive this whole time.
She gave him a stern look, " Perhaps you should ask people before trying to kill them " she spoke, with an annoyed expression.
"I..I thought you had captured me and would interrogate me sooner or later. I had to escape "
She let out a sigh, " I suppose that is correct "
Biast asked her again, " How did you survive, we thought you were dead "
She again gave him a furious look as she raised her voice, " You don't just assume someone dead unless you see their body "
" But i suppose your sergeant never cared about me now did he ? " She continued. " I had fulfilled my purpose the moment we reached the capital "
Biast gave her a sad and understanding look. His sergeant had in fact abandoned both him and Amina. He gazed up at her face. She had a pained look in her eyes.
Biast opened his mouth to comfort her but stopped when she turned away again to grab a sack which rest near a tree.
" Are your wounds healed ? "
"Yeah, about that how did....how long have i been out ? "
" Not more than few hours. You slept like a baby through the night. "
" But how did I- "
Amina cut him off, " Listen. We do not have time. The patrols have died down but i doubt this new empire would leave this island soon. We need to find your sergeant and make that bastard pay for this "
Biast stood, with a defiant look in his eyes. Anger boiled within.
" Damn right. its about time he paid for what he has done. "
Although Biast tried to hide it, he was very suspicious of Amina. She had somehow survived and had also healed him ? and to add on to his suspicion, she dodged the question when he asked her about.
His thoughts were interrupted when she turned towards him and asked, " Where is Clive ? "