Chapter of Crow: Episode 2-6
Feb 9, 2023
C.E. 996 Fall
KENJI
「I’ll ask you one last time. Where. Is. Crow?」
Kenji holds a guard of Nova up in a chokehold. Hundreds of guards surround Kenji, outnumbering him…but they nervously quiver from afar, holding on to their weapons.
The guard in Kenji’s chokehold yells desperately.
GUARD
「You…you can’t hurt me…! You can’t hurt anybody in Nova, Blue Flame! You and The Queen came to a deal when you were banished from Naer! Even if you damage one single thing here, the Law of Promise will eat up your life, rip out your brain, and tear your soul. You will wish to die. You know this!」
Kenji doesn’t respond.
Spark. A flash of flame. The whole world turns blue. The surrounding guards collapse on the ground, lifeless; burnt. Lives extinguished in a blink.
KENJI
「I’m just here to take back my weapon」
Kenji shakes the dust off his hand, used to be a yelling person a second ago.
KENJI
「Get out of my way.」
-𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐥-
The Queen stares out of a massive window in her throne room. Anger and a hint of sadness flash in her eyes.
Stella, the Commander of the Queen’s Knights and her best friend from childhood, stands calmly at her side, holding her helmet in her left arm.
STELLA
「 Kenji.」
The Queen remains silent. The hint of sadness grows a bit more in her eyes.
STELLA
「He broke the pact, which means Naer no longer shelters Kenji and his forest. The seal of that power of yours has been lifted. And for Kenji, the Law of Promise will rip him apart from inside out. No man could ever escape from the Law of Promise.」
Stella balls her fists.
STELLA
「Why would Kenji do this?! Kenji has always been rational, even on the battlefield. What magic does this crow girl have that makes everyone want her?」
The Queen stares out the window.
QUEEN
「She is the key, the "Gate" itself, and our “Hope”.」
STELLA
「Is that what the star lady said?」
Queen
「My flame told me the same. Yet to Kenji, she might mean none of that. For Kenji, she is the purpose of his new life, she is everything. I know him too well.」
The Queen pauses.
QUEEN
「A fight to the death between the flames
seems inevitable.」
As she couldn’t bear to look at the Queen’s expression anymore, Stella closes her eyes, nods, and quietly puts on her helmet. She drops to one knee before the Queen.
Stella
「At your command, Your Majesty.」
The Queen never breaks her gaze from the window. The sadness in the Queen’s eyes whips away. She smiles slightly, flames spark in her eyes.
-𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬-
CLANK! While you cross spears with Lynn, the gray sky suddenly turns blue, but only for a moment.
And it hits you all at once.
You scream and crouch down, holding your head in your hands and shaking uncontrollably. Lynn drops her training weapon and rushes to your side, squatting in front of you and gently patting your shoulder.
LYNN
「It's just thunder, don't be afraid.」
You shake your head vigorously, biting your lips tightly and unable to say a word.
LYNN
「Kenji.」
You look up at Lynn, confused and shocked.
YOU
「You know Kenji?」
Your voice trembles, but Lynn smiles.
LYNN
「Yes. And I know that there is absolutely no way he can hurt you
or control you anymore. Don't be afraid; you have me and the Queen protecting you.」
YOU
「But he really can't be defeated. I've tried too many times…even if a hundred of me attacked him at once, it wouldn’t hurt him a bit. He is a monster, always perfectly calm and precise.」
YOU
「 I don't want to face him again...and I don't want you and the Queen to fight him. I'm worried about you.」
Lynn tilts your chin up to look you deep in your eyes. She lightly touches your cheek.
LYNN
「Sweet little bird. We all have our nightmares, and it's okay. Don't worry, because I am fearless in fighting your nightmares. You’re the one who gave me this strength, the one who wanted to do everything to protect me, the one who once sacrificed her own life to save me.」
You can’t hold back the tears streaming down your face.
You
「Please don't fight him. You will die, Lynn.」
Pain flashes in Lynn’s eyes, but she narrows her eyes and smiles.
LYNN
「Do you know how many times I have been through this exact same situation? Thousands, I can't even count. The world is looping, and I seem to be the only one retaining the memory. The Queen and I will defeat Kenji without a drop of blood. None of us will get hurt. The story of us seems to be written this way, the same, every time. So don't you worry, my little bird. We will be safe and sound.」
Lynn looks at your stunned face, waves her open palm in front of your eyes, and laughs.
LYNN
「I know it’s hard to believe. Haha. Every time Hina takes me close to the forest, I know, a thousand arrows would rain at me. I know, it would hurt so badly. But I will not hesitate to do that, to face the rain of arrows, to take the piercing pain, because I know, I would get to see you again, this way.」
Lynn pauses and says.
Lynn
「And you will always show up, to save me, to sacrifice yourself for me, a total strange girl to you, without knowing that the the girl has been waiting for you, countless times, believing, expecting, to meet her dearest friend, the one who has accompanied her through countless days and nights in countless loops. You always thank me for things, but you are the one who gave me the courage to face everything, again and again, made me smile from my heart in this endless loop. I am the one who has to say thank you. Thank you, always... Now get to the Queen's. I'm going to get my weapon, you go to the hall first. Be a good girl okay?」
Lynn takes your hands and helps you stand up. After staring into your eyes for a moment, she hugs you tight. You close your eyes, feeling almost safe again, but only for a moment. Lynn leaves rapidly, you open your eyes and watch her walk away.
You [ decide to follow Lynn quietly. ]
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