Chapter 38 Falling leaves(6)

Translator: BaeBae Editor: BaeBae

Hold out for just a bit longer, Ausrey. The White crow knights will come soon.

Sina cut an approaching fog creature. Her left arm was numb from swinging too much.

She could taste bitterness from the vomit travelling up her throat but Sina couldnt stop now. Again and again, the approaching footsteps didnt stop.

Sina raised her sword.

I can hear swords clashing. Perhaps there are knights that are still resisting.

Thuk. Her sword was stuck. Shed swung at a creature and killed, but it was stuck between its bones.

Panicking, Sina tried to pull it out, but it wasnt that easy. One of Juans fog minions swung a dagger at her.

What blocked the dagger from hitting home was Sinas right arm. A large cut was made on her lifeless right arm.

With the dagger still rooted in her arm, Sina slammed into the bastard that stabbed her, both falling to the ground. Using her sword, she stabbed its throat repeatedly.

We are the Blue rose knights. We will never lose to monsters like you.

While she was getting up on her feet, she made a painful gasp. Sinas body arched back, and her head drooped down as she fell back down on her butt.

She couldnt see properly. However, shed felt where an arrow had struck on her body.

Roaring in anger, she ran at the shooter and stabbed her sword at him. Then she made her way towards Ausrey, half crawling.

This is the moment, now is the time for our home to flourish.

Sina finally got around to realise that an arrow had embedded into her left eye.

Luckily for her, the arrow didnt penetrate deep into her head, instead it was stopped at her outer skull.

Sina attempted to pull it out, but after feeling an immeasurable pain from the slightest of pulls, she instead resorted to snapping the arrow for now.

She could feel the steel arrowhead inside her skull.

Sina threw away the snapped arrow shaft and let out a long roar.

Promise me that well survive and return together! Ausrey!

No answer came in return.

Sinas vision blurred.

She was unsure if she was seeing things right. At times, everything was red and sometimes grey.

She cut down at any silhouette that moved, and if it was out of reach, she raised her right hand to block it.

By now, it was hard to say her right arm was an arm but a well grounded piece of meat.

Her ability to hold her sword up with her left hand wasnt because she still had strength left but because blood had dried up in between, making the sword stick to her palm.

.

Sina no longer spoke to Ausrey. No, her dried lips wouldnt part anyways.

She couldnt see anything that was moved. But Sina instinctively swung her sword at anything that resembled a fog.

She didnt know since when, but as her vision failed her, every other sense in her body came to her need.

Fog movement, the sensation of wind, blood floating inside the fog, she could feel all of this as if it was her skin.

Sina couldnt tell if she was still alive or not.

She wasnt sure if she was already dead. Maybe she was fighting in hell having died already. She wasnt even sure if it was currently night or day.

It seemed about a hundred years had already passed since shed last heard Ausreys voice.

Despite this, Sina couldnt let go of her sword.

Losing all sensation left in her hands, it felt like someone was holding her sword for her.

This someone swung her sword for her, slew her enemies and kept getting back up.

Not a bad feeling.

Shivers ran through Sinas body, not knowing who it was.

She was lost in her thoughts. She remembered the words she received when she was dismissed from the capital.

Your faith in the emperor is lacking.

In the midst of a distant memory, she was still a knight.

With your belief, you cannot hope to become a knight.

Right now, she was a knight more than ever.

Another fog silhouette was cut.

Light intruded from beyond the fog that she sliced in half.

While stumbling, Sina looked up. She still couldnt see anything in front of her.

However, she could feel something bright like the sun in front of her. Something warm was watching her.

Her instinct told her.

That this light was what had helped her through her journey, till now.

Sinas lips parted.

Blood dripped from her dried coarse lips. Sina fell to her knees in front of the light.

Your highness.

Sina tried to drop the sword in her hand, but her strained muscles wouldnt listen to her. She put both hands to the ground while still grasping her sword and bowed her head.

I give you my greetings lord.

The emperor didnt say anything.

This didnt disappoint Sina. The emperor was always silent.

He only watched and guided people in the right direction.

The emperors volition would in the end be expressed through knights like her.

Ive tried my best to follow your will but I lacked the strength.

Sina did not believe that any of this was real.

Shed already died, and had gone over to his side. And she was receiving the final judgement.This is what she believed.

Sina was rather calm and carefree about the situation.

Dying on the battlefield with her knights was what she wanted.

It would be cruel for her to have survived alone.

I wouldnt be praised as one of your foremost believers.

Sina calmly stated the truth.

Priest, High priest, Professor, Inquisitor, Paladin, by those who were deemed most close to the emperor, Sina had never been once praised by them.

On the contrary, theyd repeatedly questioned Sinas faith and her ways.

Sina was nervous.

However, I take pride in that I havent committed a single act that would shame your name in my entire life.

Sina wasnt the type to commit such acts.

She knew her family wanted her to enter the imperial guard, but instead her unshameful acts took her on the path from a promising talent to an exiled average knight.

I await your judgment.

Sina didnt know whether the emperor cared about that or not. But she didnt dwell on it.

Her actions werent taken in hope that she would one day be awarded rather than punished. Shed acted with dignity. Thats what she believed in.

If the emperor stayed silent, Sina would accept that was her punishment..

The emperor did not keep silent.

I..

Surprised at hearing his voice suddenly, Sina raised her head.

Hearing a reply from the emperor was unprecedented.

Even clerics of the church, Bishops, and Popes only received the will of the emperor through movement of stars or a saints prophecy.

But right now in front of her, the emperor was speaking out to her. In a voice how Sina had always imagined it to be.

..have never shown my will to anyone.

Sina became even more shocked by his words.

If that was so, was the churchs words and acts all a lie?

Ive never told anyone to serve me.

Ive never told anyone to distort my teaching.

Ive never told anyone to set fire to a village.

Ive never told anyone to praise me with the blood of the weak.

That is not my will.

Sina felt if shed been struck by thunder.

Your highness, I..

So in fact, you did not serve an imposter.

As if he knew what Sina was about to say, the emperor gave her the answer she wanted.

I simply wanted you all to live with your own will. You have done well till now. You are a good knight. You are bright and beautiful just the way you are. You should look to continue being yourself.

Sinas eyes glistened.

All throughout her life, shed been disapproved of by those she had admired. Those that shed loved and cared for had left her side one by one.

But now, the apex of humanity, the emperor had affirmed her ways.

What other words of support could I give you.

The emperor muttered in a regretful tone. Sina felt an odd sensation.

Darkness is coming. Night so dark, youd think nights till now were twilights. No matter how dark the night is, I would wish youd stay bright. Even in the deepest darkness, I hope youd be a light for those in need.

For the emperor, Ill become the firewood for your lighthouse.

Not for me.

The emperor whispered.

For those lost, in the darkness.

*****

Tadak, Sina woke to the sound of bristling firewood.

A dark sky could be seen.

So dark that the light that had surrounded her till now, seemed like a lie.

Upon feeling the heat of the fire on her right cheek, she realised she wasnt dead but still alive.

In an attempt to get up, she screamed at the agony that hit all throughout her body.

You dont wake up quietly do you.

There were no parts of her body that werent screaming. Every nerve cell was acting wild.

And then, something came into her mouth.

A finger.

Blood was dripping out from a noticeable cut on the finger. Realising she was drinking blood, Sina tried to spit it out, but found no strength to move.

Just drink it. It will help.

There wasnt anything she could do.

Oddly, the more she drank, the blood appeared to relieve the pain inside her body.

After a long while, Sina senses came back to her. The finger was no longer in her mouth.

Sina turned her head. There was a figure crouching in the darkness. Sina remembered the silhouette.

Juan.

Its been two days. I was going to leave you behind if you didnt wake by today.

Juan was sitting far away from her and the fire. Sina tried to get up in every way possible but in the end gave up. Even putting a little bit of strength caused her muscles to convulse, never mind the pain that followed.

Sina looked for her sword.

She saw that her sword and equipment were placed on the foot of a tree. Only then she noticed that she was naked.

To fix you up, I had no choice.

Sina glared at Juan but didnt reproach him. Like he said, it seemed injuries on her body had been either scorched or stitched by him.

While it was a rough job, the treatment itself was done splendidly.

Didnt you say, you were going to kill me.

I said I wouldnt kill you with my own hands. Who would have known that youd survive.

.The other knights? Anyone else alive?

No. Just you.

Although Sina had already expected this, Juans reply made her eyes teary.

Shouldve left me to die as well. If you didnt treat me, I wouldve died on my own.

From her memory, she had more than three or four fatal wounds on her body. If hed left her alone, she would have died from excessive bleeding. Reunited with her knights.

Juan did not reply.

Was it to let me taste despair? Or to make me feel helpless?

Would be distasteful to have fixed you for those reasons.

Then answer me.

Juan did not easily open his mouth. However he knew Sina would not easily let this slide.

Im looking to use you as a messenger.

Messenger?

Thats right. The fact the White crow knights did not come here with you, shows the central church isnt yet fully aware of the severity of the situation. If theyd come, the Blue rose knights wouldnt have been defeated quite so miserably. At the very least, there would have been some resistance.

While listening, Sina tried to move her body again and fainted.

When shed come back to her senses, Juan had come and placed her away from the fire.

It feels as if Im looking after a child next to a cliff.

They were all brave knights. Dont ridicule them.

To an extent yes, as they died on the battlefield. I admit there are those worth far less than them. Anyways, I kept you alive because I needed someone to deliver my message to the capital.

If you think Ill be a messenger for a heretic, youre wrong.

If youll just listen to what I have to speak thats enough. Those pigs in the capital will look into your head anyways. Tell them this.

Sina couldnt deny this. A few people in the capital could use drugs and magic to make this happen.

Juan lowered himself to Sinas level. She could see his deep black eyes that seemed to have an endless depth.

The emperor has returned.

.What?

Tell them, the emperor has returned. Those who dared to use the emperors title and distort my volition, will face consequences that death alone cannot settle. To the traitors, theyll not meet the benevolent emperor from the past, but an emperor full of anger, a need for revenge.

With a sinister smile, Juan whispered.

Tell them, the emperor wielding a sword has returned.

Sinas eyes didnt leave Juan. She continued her silence.

An overwhelming force was over her.

Simply meeting his eyes felt as if she was being firmly crushed in his hands.

Sina didnt ask who the emperor was. Shed already heard from Juan many times.

Not once, she accepted his words but right now Juans words were shaking her confidence.

The emperor she met in her dreams said he had never given his will to anyone.

So this begged the question in relation to those in the capital who declared that they were acting under the emperors will.

You are not the emperor.

Sina could do nothing but to again deny it. Juan laughed back.

The emperor does not hold feelings of hatred. Hes someone that knows the value of love and forgiveness.

You know nothing. The emperor has always brought upon despair.

A lie. He gave courage to those helpless.

Its not a lie. The emperor has always passed despair onto his enemies.

Youre distorting the emperors deeper meaning!

I dont know what more I can say. Im trying to give interpretations of my words.

Juan laughed dumbfoundedly. A grumbling Sina glared at him and spat out a reply.

.There are a lot of people in the empire still waiting for the emperors return.

Yeah. Ive seen it.

Youre definitely not the emperor theyre hoping and waiting for. Of course, you arent the real emperor anyways and no one will admit this, but if you continue to proclaim yourself that title..I cannot let you go, for you will erase all their hope theyd held for so long.

She scowled at him with her single eye that was left, but the glare was even stronger.

I have no choice but to kill you.

Juan made a satisfied grin.

When you have the ability to do so, then Ill meet that fate.

Juan placed his hand on Sinas face.

Sina tried to dodge away but her body didnt listen.

The moment he covered her left eye, Sina felt a sharp gain.

!

The pain was so great, Sina couldnt even scream.

After a long effort, Juan successfully scalded a spot above her left eye.

During that time, Sina repeatedly fainted and awoke. Then finally, she lost her consciousness altogether.

Juan murmured while looking down at the lifeless Sina.

If youre the only one that survives this ordeal again, who knows what theyll do to you. But with that mark over your eye, it will erase most doubts.