The blade's edge grazed his neck—ear to ear—but only enough to leave a scratch. Since he was a devil, it was something else to even think about killing him. Demons were easy to behead. Not devils. These were actively growing new cells to keep the owner's body lasting perfectly until they ran out of pure energy. So as quickly as the blade had managed to graze him, he had healed back.
Devils were a frustrating species overall.
Not only were they evil, but they were almost immortal. However, not fully unable to die. Of course. If God wished for their disappearance, they would instantly dissolve. How it was, it was a plan only God knew and no one could know how it came. But the method had a name... It was a miracle.
It was also thanks to a miracle that Aefia got away before having her throat slayed with multiple gapping wounds. Espectially when the claw that had shot towards her, had ten fingers stretched out to strangle her. She truly was lucky to have a cursed sword who could overwrite other curses and magic placed on her. Like always. Everything had an advantage and a disadvantage.
Kazimir clicked his tongue at Aefia, while she clenched her sword tighter.
"You are surprisingly... Very agile."
Aefia furrowed her brows as she stared at him with an indifferent, disgusted look. Her gaze swept towards Cedric who stood frozen. And that was a short opening.
Within that very small amount of time, he attacked again. Only this time, Aefia decided to utilize her skills properly. Due to her all-time overcharged magic energy, she didn't even worry about accidentally triggering an accidental over-consumption.
It may be questionable as to why she did need to worry about it. The last time she used multiple skills at once, her skills twisted up and acted out differently because of her low energy levels during the times she had been under the supervision of the Guardian of Silence. Not only that, she had just started taking toxins, and that level back then matches her own toxin levels now. It is honestly lower and less burdening then before, but still too high. In fears of accidentally triggering a skill she didn't want, she had to make sure—at all cost—that she didn't overconsume.
As soon as Aefia was locked in, she pulled on her fingers. Multiple red strings appeared, tangling with her fingers, and to an unreachable obstacle. Possibly a tree.
Then, she quickly shifted left to escape from his grasp. It allowed her some space to pivot ninety degrees and extend her feet. He immediately tripped over, falling face first onto the ground. Using the same momentum, she stepped forward to press her heel onto the back of his head. Burying his face deeper.
Since devils couldn't use multiple skills at once unlike elemental users, it was a perfect opportunity to have Cedric released and moved out of the way.
But her calculation was wrong. The man dissolved into the leaves before appearing right behind her again. Cedric—who was shocked and confused—had already drawn out his twin rapiers at either sides, then swung one of them towards his elder brother behind Aefia.
It was another perfect opportunity.
And honestly, although it was not a planned move, Aefia accepted it and immediately converted it into a strategy.
She shealthed Spectrum, her appearance melted back to her usual red eyes and dark roots. She didn't need any more do the swords support. There was actually no need for blades since Cedric was the one using them in her terms now.
She shifted, facing a hundred eighteen degrees, and kicked her right leg onto the side of the man's head. The rest was handled by Cedric, who held his blade out in shock of the sudden change in trajectory.
The man fell directly onto the blade. The sharp point piercing through him.
"Good job. Now step back?" Aefia muttered while dusting her hands.
"What? Why?"
"Do you want to be hit by a tree?"
"No?! But what does a tree have to–"
Rustle.
Above him, dried leaves and new, fragile leaves fell onto all three of their heads. Aefia took multiple precautious steps back into the sunlight drenched poarch of dirt. Cedric tried to run, but was aligned directly into the threshold that needed to be cleared.
He was drowned in a pile of leaves before he could properly cross it. As soon as the thick branch fell down, the red strings dissapeared. Aefia walked over to help Cedric get out of the pile of leaves. As soon as she extended an arm for him to help him get up, he bursted out of the pile like a kid and threw his hands into the air.
"Aefia!"
"I warned you." She chuckled silently while pulling him out of the bush. "Can't blame someone who clearly asked if you wanted to get hit by a tree."
As he stood up, he dusted his own clothes. Muttering curses as he saw a thread picking out from his hem, which cinched the fabric at his wrist like a waistband.
In the meantime, Aefia walked over to inspect the body under the tree branch.
"Great. He's unconscious." She mumbled to herself as she brushed her face where he had touched her.
"I want to scrub my chin until my skin comes off." She frowned while clicking her tongue. Her breathing was much more stable now, and she felt relieved for a while.
Hearing her suddenly sigh, Cedric walked over to her place in a rushed pace. Then turned her shoulder to make her face him as he tilted her face side to side to check for any injuries.
"He is so cruel! Are you hurt anywhere?! To think he would do such a thing to my friend! He really had no shame! Try staying away from him most of your time." He let out a deep breathe he was holding as he let go of her shoulders. "Once he starts touching you, it won't take time until he starts torturing you. And when it goes that far, he might even skin your arm alive."
Aefia flinched at the sentence. But nodded not so long later.
"Don't worry, I am aware. I can keep myself safe. I am more worried about you." She spoke with her voice turning quite hoarse due to exhaustion and the disgust of his brother's actions. "You are his younger brother and you are found to be alive. Roaming freely around the last they forced you to flee."
"True. However, it isn't a matter if you are killed because of me. I would actually apologize before hand in case you actually get tangled up in trouble because of me. I was the one who forced you into helping me, so I should take accountability for it too."
Aefia nodded while diverting her gaze back to the body slumped below the tree branch. She took in a deep breathe just by knowing they needed to remove it now.
Can't I just keep him there? Its way more peaceful this way. I don't even want to bother helping him get out of that pressure. However, if they found that the elder brother went missing suddenly and the younger brother returned too at the same time... It won't seem like a coincidence. It would always point at a planned murder. Unless Cedric had real-time prove we had been assaulted on our way to the palace by the elder brother, none of us would make it out of the palace alive.
Finally, she let out the breathe she held. Forgetting her momentary revenge for the man and completely in thoughts of how to simply survive until she could cross borders again.
This is such a hassle.
"Help me move this branch." She added while moving forward. She firstly withdrew Spectrum from her scabbard and chopped the thinner branches.
"Why are you helping him get out of that?" Cedric folded his arms in front of him.
"To save your head at least. Do you want to get dragged to court for simply, 'trying to survive and accidentally intercepting your elder brother's? It seems too unreliable to name as a coincidence." She answered while working when way to the thick trunk pressing him down to the ground.
"My toxin-filled lungs can't afford it if I suddently start lifting heavy weight. So it is either you help me or get beheaded." She dusted her hand as she tried to catch her breathe.
"Oh really?" He narrowed his eyes at Aefia. "So... How did you go on a full scale battle with my... Brother? Who is also a devil?"
"Haha. Funny. Now help me move it until I decide I rather kick it with my feet." She answered with a stern face while folding her arms too. Truly, she was actually uncovered for the lie she tried to spew. She was just too lazy to do it herself. So she wanted him to do it for her.
"No seriously... How?!"
"Do you want to argue?"
"I will if I need to!"
"Argh! What. Ever!" Aefia moved towards the trunk and moved it her feet. Kicking it with painful feets, forward. "If I get attacked again, you are to fight alone. I am done... I am drained! You made me walk the first thing and then now your family causes me trouble."
As soon as the trunk was removed, she bent down on her knees to reach a gloved hand to his pulse point. Although she truly didn't care anymore. If they were to get caught, at least she can save herself. She was a Guardian.
However, before she could retreat her hand, the man's wrist reached out again, trapping her hand.
"Hmm... Well he is as stubborn as you said." Aefia remarked and looked up at Cedric. He in returned shrugged. She let out a sigh and wretched her wrist free, then kicked his body.
"Hey! Don't even try to fool me. I know that after getting hit in the head hard enough, not even devils can escape the few seconds of pain and memory loss they receive."
Her friend watched in amusement. Since this very brother was the person who sent him away to suffer into another empire. Risking a small child's life in return for getting attention from the others. Looking down, Aefia was doing him a favour. If he kicked his brother now, it would look rude before he can properly get back his position. So an outsider like her was the best option to indirectly to do.
Finally, she stepped back and dusted her hands. Red strings strung around her fingers, tying his brother's hands as he sat upside and stayed kneeling on his knees.
"Look. We are going to have to do something mischievous here. Do you want to succumb to it?"
"To what?"
"Well... He is a bit... Unhinged... You get what I mean?" She asked while titling her head and frowning a little. "Alright for short, he might trouble us. So we need to be fast and–"
"Like knock him unconscious?"
"Yes! Yes! Exactly!" Aefia happily snapped her fingers at Cedric. "And we need to do it before he can start to properly recall anything. So..." Her gaze travelled to the kneeling person, and without hesitation, she knocked him out.
Her flat hand hitting the side of his neck with a blur of motion before diverting back to Cedric. Her face was a twist of concern and exhaustion. She was still under the effects of the toxin, so it was acceptable by Cedric if she wanted to take a short break. If what Helio had said was right, another dose would have ended her.
"So here is the thing that I need to say before you get back inside the palace. Firstly, I can't accompany you." Aefia let out a sigh and explained. "As you can tell, your brother knows my brother and I can most definetly not blow my cover. I have a reason why I want to stay hidden and that is..."
As Cedric could tell, her bottom lip was slightly trembling. It was the fact that she wanted to say something, but she was too emotional to spit it out. So he let her take her time before speaking.
"Actually, the reason is that I just don't want to seem like I betrayed them and feel guilty. After all, death is a hard thing for human to accept. So, I will have to step out of being beside you for the time." She added while lowering her gaze, her face shadowed and she hid her arms behind her.
"In my stead, I will leave a spirit binded to you at all times. If you need to reach out to me in urgency, you can just, talk to them. Besides, you already know what needs to be done. So unless that one specific phase is not reached, try your best not to get me into it. Your family would be suspicious if an enemy suddenly happened to enter their provinces."
Then, she stopped for breathe. In this moment, Cedric ceased the oppurtunity to speak.
"But the guards found you out and my brother knows. What if they tell my parents."
"You will flip the sentence and point out that you in return was also thoroughly attacked. Its best to carry an injury around with you to make it seem more believable. If you don't want to hurt yourself, I can create an illusion on you. I have a feeling that since you grew up with your parents' most affection, your parents won't step back if you were harmed." She answered back.
Cedric nodded as he worked on picking his brother's limp body up and over his back. "So what will you be doing in the meantime."
"What else? I will be supporting you."
"How?"
Aefia paused for a moment, just to let out a breathe she had been holding for a while. It was the memory that was troubling her.
"Well there was a statue in the Smod Island that I had died upon. Ther was something strange about it. A human soul was used to craft it. So... I was just curious. That soul has been trailing me for a particular reason." She answered back.
"Oh... The dead mother watching over a child?"
"What?"
"That's the statue's name. The child is said to be buried below the statue. The mother is the statue, she had wings. And she was said to have died before seeing the child grow."
Aefia remained silent for a while. Cedric, not so long later added…
"My father presented it to the Smod family."