Minka's 20th birthday.

"Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Minka, happy birthday to you! " Minka smiles happily at all the people gathered at her home for her birthday. She is holding a glass of sparkling drink and takes a small sip from it, before looking up at all of her guests. They all applauded as they finished singing.

Minka blushes slightly, and smiles. Her smile is so beautiful and sincere that makes everyone around her smile too.

"Thank you so much everyone..." She says cheerfully, before walking down from the stairs to meet with the guests: "Thank you for coming to celebrate my birthday, you really made me feel special."

"You look so beautiful today, sis!" Emilia says, "Happy 20th Birthday." Emilia hands her a small present box wrapped in shiny red paper and ribbons: "I hope you will like it."

"Thank you." Minka takes it with a smile, opens it, inside there is a pair of beautiful earrings. "This is very pretty!"

Emilia nods and hugs her: "I love you sis." Emilia smiles, and Minka hugs her back: "Me too sis. Thanks so much for everything. " Minka then hugs her parents: "Thanks mom and dad, you two are the best." She says. "Mom, can you teach me how to use a boltgun next time?"

"Sure, my dear, anything you want." Monika says. "I think you can handle it nowadays. You're old enough now." She adds while looking at Minka with a smile: "Happy Birthday dear. We're all so proud of you. You've grown up into such a lovely and beautiful young woman." Monika gives Minka another hug and kisses her forehead: "I'm very proud of you."

"Aww mom." Minka blushes: "I love you so much." Monika smiles at her warmly and looks up at Trazyn, who's standing nearby and nods: "We all do. You know that." Monika gives Trazyn a small smile and a nod before she takes out a small case to Minka: " Mom and dad have a present for you. We hope you like it."

"Mom!" Minka looks up at Trazyn: "Thanks."

"Anything for you Minka, my dear. " Trazyn replies softly, looking at Minka lovingly. "It's all from both me and your mom, dear."

Minka opens it, it is a small necklace with a heart pendant with her initials on it: "Mom and dad, this is so sweet, thank you." She can't help but giggle a bit.

"Minka, here is something I bought." Leanna walks to her and hands her a small box wrapped with paper: "Here..." She hands the box to Minka, who takes it. "Happy Birthday. I hope you will like it."

"Leanna! This is so cute! I love it. " Minka unwraps it carefully. There is a pair of white lace gloves, "Wow Leanna... thanks."

"I got it from the air base's special supply room. It's supposed to keep your hand always at the optimal temperature in a battlefield, it can also keep the frostbite and burn at bay." Leanna says proudly and puffs her chest, making everyone around laugh at her proud expression.

Minka then received gifts from all the guests, and about an hour later. She went upstairs alone, while standing at the balcony she looked down at her friends and family, chatting and laughing happily, she was feeling a bit sad for some reason. Outside of that confident smile, Minka doesn't know what she wants anymore. She closed her eyes and leaned against the window sill, a bitter smile on her lips.

Minka slowly opened her eyes, the wind blowing her hair and dress slightly.

"Hi... Minka." Leanna's voice came from behind her: "Do you mind if I join you? "

"Not at all. Please sit. " Minka smiles as Leanna sits down next to her, holding a cup of tea and sipping it carefully: "Did you enjoy your party?" Leanna asked, her voice sounding calm.

"Of course." Minka smiles warmly at Leanna: "I am glad you could make it... I know how busy most of the time you are... Thanks for coming."

"It's fine, really. It's your special day." Leanna smiled, then her tone became serious again: "So...what's bothering you? "

"How do you know? " Minka tilts her head slightly: "It is nothing really... I just don't know what I want. My parents love me... they want to keep me safe and protect me at all costs... I know they love me very much... But sometimes..." She looked at Leanna sadly, her eyes filled with sadness: "I wish they could see me as a capable young woman instead of their precious little princess who needs to be kept away from everything..."

Leanna looks down: "I hope that mother will stop making me stay away from things i really want to be a part of." Leanna smiles sadly: "I guess I can understand that..."

"What do you mean? "

"My mother always makes sure to keep me away from 'being soft' as she would say. It was always like that ever since I can remember." She sighed heavily and looked at her tea: "I am handling her training well... but I want to do something else."

"Then what do you want to be a part of? " Minka looks at her and smiles kindly: "You're strong enough to handle Leanna... "

Leanna looks into Minka's eyes, she hesitates for a few seconds, before slowly replying: "A commercial pilot. So I know that everyday I am bringing someone home from one place to another. It may seem stupid, but it's something I wanted to do."

"That sounds so cool!" Minka exclaimed: "It must be nice to travel all around the place and see new sights everyday. I bet you'll be an amazing pilot, Leanna, and it is not a stupid dream, not at all."

"Thanks couz.... But mother thinks that a fighter pilot would suit me better...I really don't want to use my skills to bring harm to people."

Minka nods her head slowly, her eyes full of empathy and understanding, her tone gentle: "Leanna, I believe you can be the best fighter pilot and also be a commercial pilot at the same time." She smiled as Leanna looked at her: "You will never know what your destiny will be like if you never try. You can try doing both."

"Maybe... thanks..." Leanna replies, still staring at the ground: "But...I don't want to disappoint mother."

Minka stares at the ground as well. "Yeah... I don't want to disappoint my parents too..." She said slowly.

"I understand..."

"Do you... do you think... maybe we can disappoint them?... just once..." Minka asked hesitantly, she bit her lips.

Leanna's eyes widened a bit as she looked up at Minka with surprise in her eyes.

Back to the present world, Leanna knocks on Minka's door, what Emilia did was really unforgivable. Leanna thought to herself and frowned slightly. Minka opens the door.

"Can I come in?" Leanna asked in a quiet voice: "I... I really need to talk to you."

Minka can tell that something is wrong and nodded, inviting Leanna inside, the two sat on Minka's bed as Leanna talked about her conversation with Emilia: "She did what?" Minka asks and looks at her in disbelief. "That's so bad... I understand where she is coming from though.." She scratches her head and frowns.

"You understand? After she sold me out to mother like this? Minka..."

"It's complicated. But yes... She was trying to help you, to save you from this fight... "

"What?" Leanna stares at Minka with wide eyes: "What are you trying to say? Why would you even try to justify what she did? "

Minka shakes her head: "She doesn't want to hurt you, that is all, I can't blame her for being so worried about her friends..."

"Are you trying to say that I am a liability now? Or a coward?" Leanna says, her eyes filled with anger and sadness, tears are flowing from her eyes, "Do you want me to go too, Minka? Do you think I am not good enough? "

"What? No! Lea, I will never think of you that way. You are way stronger and better than I am in every single way possible..."

"So you admit it."

Minka closes her eyes, trying to calm her breathing.

"You can't deny that." Leanna says in a cold tone: "Compared to any of you, I have no special enhancement or ability. I'm just normal... I'm weak and helpless."

"That's not true... " Minka stands up: "Leanna..." She tries to hug her friend. "Don't say that. You are special Lea. You are strong... I... I don't know what I can do if I lost you too." Her voice trembling: "Please... Lea..." She holds back her tears as she tries to hug her. "I really care about you Leanna."

"Why?" Leanna pushes her away slightly, she sounds hurt, her voice cracking slightly, "I'm nothing compared to any of you, Minka... why would you care for someone as pathetic as I am...maybe mother was right all along..."

"That's not true! Stop talking nonsense, you're stronger than anyone I know."

"Enough." Leanna stood up and avoided looking Minka in the eyes, she stared at the ground as her eyes filled with tears. "I should just do as mother says... stay away from you."

"Leanna, I'm sorry. Don't do this... don't leave." Minka hugs Leanna again and kisses her on her cheeks, her tears flowing from her eyes. Leanna looks away.

"Why are you apologizing... You're the only one that didn't see me as a nuisance. Why can't you just admit that I am not fit for this and I will stay out of your life.." Leanna pushes Minka away once again, before looking into Minka's eyes for a brief moment: "I will prove that no one will protect you better than I am..." Leanna stands up and heads for the door, ignoring Minka's pleas to stay.

When Leanna left the hideout, she began running, the tears rolling down her eyes. Her vision is blurred by the tears and the darkness of the night. The only thing that is in front of her is her anger towards everyone and everything around her, and towards Minka, her childhood friend,her family, she thought that Minka would always be on her side...But it was just another lie, it was another false promise of the life she's going to live in the future. She thought to herself.

When the tears stop flowing and she begins to regain control of her senses again, she stops, maybe it was fate or something, Leanna sees a bunker not far away from her. Leanna decides to go there, it's dark, the bunker is very cold and very empty. She sits in front of the fireplace, hugging her knees and closing her eyes, thinking back at everything that had happened today.

Her mother, Emilia, her friends... She sighed. It feels so hopeless to fight for something like that... She thought to herself. She thinks back to her conversation with Minka, she wants to prove it to everyone... That she is more than enough to fight alongside them. But she's not sure anymore... It all just felt like it's not worth the effort, she thought to herself, "Maybe mom is right..." She muttered under her breath, maybe it's time to finally let go...

A loud clunk noise comes from the inner part of the bunker, startling her and breaking the silence that is around her. She stood up and headed in the direction where the noise came from. It seems to be coming from the basement area. There's no light at all, it is very dark inside there and it makes her even more nervous: "If this is where fate leads me... so be it." Leanna says to herself quietly, she holds onto her knife, before stepping into the darkness. She steps forward slowly, holding her knife tight, looking for the source of the noise.

After a few seconds of searching around in the darkness, she found herself in a hall that was shining with fainting blue light. In the middle of it, she sees a huge device. She carefully walks over to the device and touches it. A strange voice came from the device. "Welcome." A deep voice comes from the machine.

Leanna flinched slightly as the machine speaks to her, she turns her attention to the voice. There was a blue orb in front of her. It spoke with a soft female voice: "Leanna Terra? It is a pleasure to finally meet you... I have heard so much about you."

Leanna frowns, confused at what's happening: "How do you know me?"

The blue orb keeps speaking: "Your genetic signature indicates that you are the 872th generation of the Terra family, descendant of Nova Terra, daughter of Maverick Thorn."

"So you know a lot about our family... why are you here in this bunker I just happened to stumble upon?" Leanna asks in a slightly angry voice: "Talk before I destroy you." She pulls her knife out.

The blue orb ignores Leanna's threat and keeps talking: "Leanna Terra, do you seek strength? The power to fight the evil that threatens your friends and family?"

"Who are you?"

"Strength that will not let you be stepped upon and ridiculed."

Leanna remained silent.

"The power that can make your dreams come true and you will be able to fight for what you truly want."

Leanna looks at the machine suspiciously: "What are you? An Abominable intelligence? What do you want from me?" She asks, still holding her knife close to her side, ready to stab it.

"A remnant of the past, from a time when humanity was on the verge of ascension."

Leanna frowns.

"Leanna, will you become a guardian? The protector of your friends and family, of this world? A defender of the weak, and protector of the innocent. You have the potential, and I will help you awaken it, make your dreams come true..." The voice from the device kept speaking to her in a soft and kind voice, and a small part of Leanna felt the voice to be familiar, something about the voice feels... comforting.

"Why me?" Leanna asked, confused and wary of the offer. "And who are you exactly?"

"X-12" The device replied simply. "Will you accept this offer, Leanna? Based on your record, you are the perfect candidate... Your dream is within your reach... Are you afraid to make a difference? Are you afraid to face your destiny?"

Leanna clenched her fist and thought about what her mother, Emilia then... Minka. She thought about what they said, they all wanted to keep her safe from all dangers, they didn't believe in her strength, her capability.

"You will never know what your destiny will be if you never try."

Minka's voice rang inside Leanna's head, and her eyes lit up in determination, "I'll do it."

"Good." The device opens, and a silver armor appeared, Leanna hesitates for a bit, but then she stepped forward and grabbed it. She could feel its warmth, something familiar, a strange yet powerful aura coming from it. The design of the armor is not like anything she had ever seen before, the material felt light, but at the same time, it is tough and durable, as if it's made out of a material she could not recognize. She put the armor on, it fits her perfectly, and once it was on her body, the armor begins to shine and began adjusting itself. When she tried speaking, instead of her own voice, a deep robotic voice spoke: "Powering up... Preparing for operation." The armor glows with a silver aura. Leanna moves her arms, trying to get used to the feeling, her movements are quick and smooth. The armor feels like she was always born waring it. It fits her perfectly. It feels comfortable.

She closed her eyes, trying to calm her nerves. When she put her hand on the wall, she slightly pushed on it, and the wall cracked. Her hand shattered the wall like glass, making a hole in it. She felt her strength doubled and maybe even more than that, and it only increased with every passing moment. She could feel the power flowing through her, it's as if every cell in her body has awakened.

"It's time for your first flight, Leanna of the Terra family. Fly true, my dear..." X-12 spoke from the device.

Leanna leaves the bunker, and looks at the night sky. "I will prove it to them..."

The armor glows brighter and the helmet's eye lights up green: "Hull integrity at 100%. All systems nominal... Activating primary systems." A few seconds later, the armor began floating above the ground. With loud thuds, a pair of engines emerged from the back, Leanna suddenly shot up in the air. She is flying! She shouted in excitement, a bright smile appeared on her face, a huge sense of freedom coursing through her, her body filled with excitement, joy and adrenaline, her eyes brightens in joy as she looks down.

"Woah... This is amazing!" Leanna screams as she dives downwards, she dives into the forest, she begins flying faster, going faster and faster. "Faster! Faster!" She screamed excitedly as she reached the peak speed she could achieve, the wind rushing past her, the trees a blur. She has never felt more free than this moment, the freedom and joy is so intoxicating! She grins as she reaches a high altitude, and the stars shine above her, "Beautiful..." she breathed out as she stopped, looking up at the stars. She closed her eyes and just enjoyed this moment.

She suddenly heard something like people screaming from the helmet: "Alert. Alert! Incoming enemies!" A robotic voice rang through her head, then Leanna opened her eyes to see a large number of half mechanical beasts attacking a human settlement not far away from her. Leanna immediately takes off towards the settlement. She lands in the center of the settlement. A horde of enemies charging at her, the human soldiers are fighting hard but they are still losing to these enemies.

"How do I fight in this?" Leanna mutters.

Suddenly, she felt something, like a feeling of danger.

Leanna's armor glows up and then begins shooting out a wave of fire from her hands. "Holy shit!" Leanna shouts, as the wave of fire burns everything it hits, a few enemies die immediately, and more start burning alive. It is so fast, it is so powerful! She never expected she could do something like that!

A large beast suddenly charged behind her and tackled her down to the ground, knocking her on her back, and began clawing at her chest. Leanna gasped, the beast is very powerful, but the claw did not go through the armor. Leanna kicks the monster and her leg penetrated the monster's stomach and pierced right through its spine, killing it instantly, then she began throwing her punches at another monster, each punch destroys a monster, her fist crushed through their bones as if it was paper, her body moved quickly, almost instinctively, every strike hits an enemy in its weak points, destroying its vital organs, even as the enemies kept coming at her, her attacks were too fast and precise, killing everything it touches. Her speed was incredible. The armor made her moves more fluid and more powerful, eventually everything moved in slow motion for Leanna.

Not after long, there's only her and a bunch of beast corpses left. Leanna looks down at her hands, and smiles proudly to herself: "Wow... That's amazing..." she whispered to herself, then looked up at the sky and smiled at it, the night sky looked more beautiful than it had ever looked, like there was something in it.

"Savior! You've saved us! Thank you so much!" The people shouted as they all ran towards her and began bowing to her, they all kneel to her as the leader of the settlement walked up to her: "Savior, i don't know how to thank you, please tell us your name and be praised. You're a real hero."

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Leanna didn't know how to respond, but she simply replied with a simple nod. The people begin shouting praises to her: "The savior has come! Our hero! The savior!"

"Dawn, that is my name." She says, not wanting to reveal her true identity. "Stay safe everyone." She looks around for a while and flies up to the sky. She is like a meteor shooting across the night sky. The people are left cheering, they are cheering her name and thanking her.

"He's the one! the one that will save us from damnation!" The people cried as they pointed to her and cheered.

"So it begins... Dawn." She whispered to herself as she looked down on the ground, her expression solemn and full of determination as she flew higher and higher into the night sky.

"What are you going to do? Leanna of the Terra family." The robotic voice of X-12 spoke. "What's your first destination?"

Leanna thought for a moment before replying: "I will kill Ravager myself... It will take some planning but it isn't impossible. She will not know what hit her...So i will go back to my home first or mother would be suspicious of me."

"I will assist you in all you do, Leanna of Terra family. But remember this: do not take the helmet off when you're in front of the ones you are trying to protect. Your identity is now also Dawn." The robotic voice warns Leanna.

"Understood." Leanna nodded and flew away into the night sky.

Leanna landed on her balcony of the house. Her armor deactivated and somehow disappeared from thin air, all it's left is a small silver wristband. She walks back into her bedroom, she has to think of an excuse for her sudden disappearance. She's trying to come up with something and it's making her head hurt a bit. She layed on her bed for a while, soon she fell asleep.

Minka and Viola stand beside each other at the settlement which Leanna saved. Minka's eyes widened when she heard that an armor-clad man had saved the people and then disappeared in the middle of the night: "Have you heard or seen anything like that?" Minka asks Viola.

Viola shakes her head: "No. It must have been someone who is not from our world." She looks around, the people are talking about the event with excitement in their eyes: "A person in armor huh, that sounds dangerous if left unchecked if you ask me... I have a feeling that he's going to do something really bad."

"I know that, but I think that he might be able to help us with our current situation." Minka said to her with a small smile on her face: "Do you think that guy will fight against Ravager? If he is indeed a new ally... this could be the change we've been waiting for." Minka asks in a serious tone.

Viola shook her head in confusion and replied with a small chuckle: "That's if he really is an ally of ours and not an enemy." She says and shrugs her shoulders. "I will keep an eye out for him if you're really curious. I will report if I see anything unusual."

"Yeah, thanks, Vi." Minka sighs, her eyes looking at the ground: "I'm worried about Lea... i know that it's for the best that she is under aunt Nova's protection but... I can't help but feel anxious." Minka's voice becomes shaky.

"Don't worry about her, Minka." Viola looks at her with a smile, "I am sure she is fine, you don't have to worry so much about her. You have your own things to worry about, you should focus on that first." Viola puts her hands on Minka's shoulders and reassures her: "We need to find the traces of the Archivist, he has the body of Legend now, emperor knows what he will do with that thing."

"You're right, thanks Vi." Minka smiled weakly to her and nodded, her thoughts still about Leanna and the new potential ally, or the new enemy. She had a feeling that this was only the beginning. They soon arrive at the factory where Viola said it is the whereabouts of Legend's body.

"You stay here, i'll scout it out, okay? Be careful, don't move an inch from here." Viola says to Minka, before jumping into a small air vent of the factory building and disappearing from Minka's sight. Minka gulps, she knows that not a lot of things that can harm her here, but being alone in an eerie place is not making her feel comfortable, especially when there are rumors of ghosts roaming the area at night, according to some locals, they say they have seen strange shadows lurking in the woods and the factory's basement.

Minka finds a small edge and sits down, her back leaning on the wall, her hand holding her knees close to her chest. "This place is very eerie, I'm afraid..." Minka muttered to herself. Minka then hears something from behind, it sounds like the sound of footsteps, and it is approaching her direction. She slowly stood up from where she sat.

She turned around and saw nothing, there's only the night sky. Minka then looked behind her again, there was someone in there, hiding in the shadows, it's silhouette was not very visible, but it seemed to be a person, wearing a black coat with hood on top, a scarf was also wrapped around his or her head, hiding everything below the nose, Minka could not tell whether the figure was a male or female, and they seem to be staring at her. Minka pulls out her weapon, the halberd expands to its full length in a few seconds, it glows a blue hue, Minka steps forward cautiously, but before she could reach the person, the person just disappeared before her eyes.

"What in the world..." Minka looked around the area, her eyes scanning everything. Her senses heighten, trying to figure out if someone is actually here.

Then suddenly, she felt something hitting her from behind. She immediately turns, but all she sees is Viola who is patting away the dust. "I got nothing, all i see is that the Archivist was there but hes long gone now." Viola looks around, noticing Minka's expression, she frowns, "Hey Minka? You look like you saw something, what is it?"

"I..." Minka hesitated to reply, not knowing what just happened. She shakes her head and just sighs. "It's nothing. It must have been my imagination. Maybe I'm too stressed about everything... We should go back and get some rest. I don't feel like investigating here anymore." Minka sighs heavily and rubs her forehead.

"Awww." Viola grins widely: "My my, our little Minky is scared of ghosts? Haha!" Viola laughs, trying to sound funny and tease her. Minka glares at her for a moment, but Viola doesn't look fazed. "Come on, I'll make you feel safe when you sleep." Viola said, in a playful manner and wrapped her arms around Minka's waist and pulled her close: "Let me make you feel good."

"Viola!" Minka pushes her away slightly and blushes heavily, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. "This is not the time to mess around. We've got work to do." Minka walks away quickly and ignores Viola's teases and giggles, "Let's just go, alright? Stop this." She says as she keeps walking, Viola follows behind her.

"Minka, you messed up your relationship with Leanna did you know?" Viola suddenly asks, her tone becomes serious, Minka stops and looks back at her, frowning at her, she remains silent.

"I am trying to protect her." Minka replies: "You should know this, right? I am trying to help her to keep her safe... You have seen what Ravager is capable of... Lea can't defend herself against that kind of threat." Minka looks down: "She needs protection... I know I made her angry but this is for the best... I really think this is for the best, she has to stay out of this mess, or else..." Minka's voice trailed off.

"From what I saw is that you abandoned her when she needed your support the most. She needs you." Viola said seriously, her tone is serious but kind: "Lea loves you Minky. I'm sure she knows that you want what is the best for her. She knows that." She pats Minka on her shoulder, trying to cheer her up: "But sometimes, the right course of action isn't always what is good for you." Viola looks away and smiles sadly.

Minka shakes her head slowly: "You are right Vi... I am not sure about it anymore. But I want her to stay with Aunt Nova, it's the safest option... What else can I do? I don't want her to fight in the frontlines. I want her to be safe..." Minka sits on the ground and sighs.

"So that you don't have to worry about her so much? Because she is safe, and she's not going to do anything stupid that could get herself hurt? That's the reason isn't it? I'm right, am I?" Viola looks at Minka, her face filled with empathy, she walks over and kneels in front of her and pats her shoulder gently, "I'm sorry if i sounded a bit harsh, Minky..." Viola smiles sadly.

Minka closes her eyes and remains silent. She feels terrible for making Leanna feel betrayed like this, and she wants to be with her but she is also worried about her safety, she is conflicted and she doesn't know what to do. "I really want to be with Lea, but at the same time, I can't put her in danger..." Minka stood up: "I will talk to her later... and apologize..."

"You should be." Viola stands up and looks at Minka with a smile, her eyes looking at Minka softly: "We're here to fight and protect the world...But what is the world without the people we love?" Viola asked in a playful tone, and gently nudged her on the arm: "Hey, how about we go to your house and get something to eat?" She says happily and nudges Minka's arm again playfully, trying to lighten her mood. Suddenly with a swift turn, Viola held something's wrist from behind her back: "Ah ha... So the ghost is real. Huh." Viola pulls a young woman from behind her: "Hello. I see that you were just watching us for quite a while now. What do you want?"

Viola said as she looked at the young woman who's currently proning on the ground. "Viola please..." Minka walks forward: "We should not act in a rude manner, we don't know her. She might be harmless." Minka then sees that it was a woman with white hair wearing a dark hood with black pants: "But talk before we decide not to be nice."

Viola smiles and turns to the mysterious young woman: "Are you here to cause trouble? Are you an enemy?"

"Imperial scum...I hate you so much, you will all burn." The woman whispers in a deep voice: "I lost everything... but I will kill every single one of you. I will destroy this place and everything else." She speaks slowly in a raspy voice: "And I will destroy everything you care about... everything will be gone..." She looks at Minka with hatred in her eyes: "I hate you so much... you all ruined my life and now I'll take away everything you care about..."

"I'm sorry that you lost so much..." Minka speaks softly, trying to calm her down, she kneels to her eye level: "Please let us help you, i'm sorry that you had to endure all this, but this is not the way."

The woman looks at her with hatred, and begins laughing. She suddenly claws at Minka's face, causing Minka to lose her balance, Minka fell back to the ground as the woman quickly gets up and begins to run away, Viola runs after the mysterious woman and jumps on her back, the two rolled on the ground before Viola throws the woman off and holds her in a choke hold: "Don't make this any more difficult than it already is, lady!" Viola says angrily to the woman, the woman struggles to get Viola off her back but Viola keeps applying more pressure on her neck and shoulders until she falls unconscious.

"Minka, are you alright?" Viola stands up and helps her up: "I am going to take this lady back with me. She needs to be questioned." She picks her up and turns to Minka, her eyes filled with concern, "Did she hurt you? Is your face ok?" Viola looks at Minka and smiles slightly. Suddenly the body of that woman begins to bloat and her skin starts to melt, Viola gasps in horror and throws it on the ground. With a red flash, an explosion occurred, Minka immediately shields Viola but the blast wave was strong, both Minka and Viola are sent flying by the shock wave.

After some time, Viola could feel something touching her back, she opened her eyes slowly, the explosion knocked her unconscious and she felt terrible, the area was burned and ruined. She can feel that something isn't right in her body but she starts to look for Minka: "Minka? Where are you? Minka!" Viola screams loudly and her body is filled with panic as she looks around frantically. Then, she saw Minka lying on the ground while her clothes were still burning: "Oh no!" She shouted and ran to Minka, she took off her jacket and began fighting the fire away. When she finished, she checked on Minka, and thankfully, Minka was breathing but she was knocked out unconscious.

When Viola checked, she noticed that Minka wasn't even having a scratch on her body, her clothes were burned off but there were no injuries. Viola sighs with relief. Viola picks up the half-naked Minka, carrying her on her shoulders: "Thank the emperor you're still breathing... Let's go home and have a shower." Viola began walking, carrying her friend on the back and headed back to the town. When they were approaching, Viola stopped walking, she sensed someone was watching her. She slowly puts down Minka and readies her weapon.

"Impressive." Sannet stepped out from the shadow and approached her, "You both survived that blast..." She said in her cold tone: "You have two broken ribs by the way, you need medical assistance. I'll take her off your shoulder." She approached Minka's unconscious body and carried her over her shoulder. "Come on."

"Why are you here? And aren't you supposed to be against us?" Viola puts her hand on the broken ribs area and winces in pain: "Leave us... If the Ravager knows you're here..."

"Ravager is currently having a meeting with someone important, and... Seeing you like this does bring a smile to my face. I think this will make my day a lot more entertaining. Seeing you being blown up by the explosion." Sannet grinned.

"This is the first time i've seen you smirk..." Viola sighed: "This is so fucked up... And... can't you give her your jacket or something so she isn't exposed? You are going to let the people see her like that?" Viola said in an annoyed tone.

"And this is what you are worried about? Seriously?" Sannet sighs in a frustrated tone, before giving her her jacket and putting it over Minka: "Happy? I am a nice person after all..." Sannet smiles sarcastically.

"You're just a jerk that thinks that they are the most powerful being in the universe. Arrogance, that's what you are." Viola says as she holds on her side in pain, "Now let's get going... We need to find someone that can help us. " Viola began to walk with a limp.

"Hm...Anton Thorn lives nearby. He is Nova's brother-in-law, I'll take her to him first." Sannet looks at Viola in an annoyed and uninterested expression: "I can heal you up if you want to." Sannet suggested it to her.

"Yeah right. " Viola glares at Sannet. She can't trust Sannet one bit, especially her current condition: "Aren't the timing of your appearance arousing suspicion? Why are you here? Just what the hell do you want?"

Sannet sighs: "Look. I am just trying to be helpful, you have to admit that your current situation is pretty pathetic... you have a broken rib and Minka is injured." Sannet kept on walking, "What did you two get yourselves into this time?" She said, sounding genuinely concerned.

Viola just rolled her eyes and ignored her, but after a moment of silence, Viola said to Sannet in a sarcastic voice: "What, no jokes? No mockery? Just... silence?"

"Well, I did say that it would make my day better, didn't i? And the look of your pathetic ass just ruins the fun a bit. And that is true, by the way." Sannet kept walking without turning to look at her and just smirked at her comment: "Now, just follow me... save your breath for living."

Viola glares at her and follows her, she keeps her eyes on Sannet the entire time, ready to attack her when she sees a slight hint of hostility. When Sannet approached Anton's home, she stopped and turned to Viola: "Look, I know we have our differences but just let me help you out, okay?" Sannet sighs in a resigned tone and knocks on the door: "If you wanna fight, we can do it later."

Viola frowns and says nothing. A middle-aged man opens the door, he has dark green hair and dark brown eyes, he has a gentle expression and he looks like someone you could trust and confide in, his eyes widened slightly when he saw Sannet: "What happened? Come in. Let me help." Anton gestured to Viola to enter the house. They put Minka on bed and lead Viola into another room. Sannet stayed outside with Anton.

Anton looks at her with a serious expression: "So... Why are you here Sannet?"

"I saved those idiots. That's it. Don't think too much of it." Sannet rolls her eyes and looks at Minka and Viola who are resting inside: "Well, if you want me to stay out of the way... I will do that."

Anton smiles slightly and shakes his head, his eyes are filled with kindness: "You saved Minka and her friend. Please give yourself some credits." Anton sits down in the living room with her, "And you can stay here if you like to."

Sannet just remains silent and looks away from Anton: "Whatever..." Sannet closes her eyes, her expression is cold, as usual.

Anton smiled and sat with her: "It's a really nice night for stargazing don't you think? How are things?"

Sannet sighs in a resigned tone: "Why do you always talk about trivial things? We've met like three times. I know that you are the kind that likes to help people and stuff... but it just gets annoying..." Sannet says, looking away and staring at the floor.

"Well three times is indeed not a lot, but enough to know that you do care about the people around you. Just like I know that you were following them the entire time. All of you triggered my motion sensors. But I decided to ignore it and just leave it be. Because I trust that you don't want to cause harm." Anton smiles, still keeping his gaze at Sannet, he looks like he was expecting her to answer but Sannet just kept staring at the ground and ignoring him.

"One word of this and I will send you back to the militarum..."Sannet slowly turns and glares at Anton in a serious tone: "Don't think I'll spare you just because we know each other." She said, her voice filled with hatred and anger, her eyes glow red with malice. Anton just smiles and shakes his head. He doesn't even flinch one bit.

Sannet sighed in a resigned tone and looked at him with a neutral expression: "I was following them because they are the closest people I know." She says in a flat tone, her face still expressionless and emotionless, as always.

"Shocking... I thought you don't care about them." Anton smiles at her, his expression softens even more: "But you have a soft heart after all. Despite you pretending not to be caring..." Anton said to Sannet.

Sannet glares at him in an annoyed tone and stands up, turning to Anton: "Why are you trying to help me so much? Are you trying to manipulate me or something?" Sannet glares at him in anger. "Are you a therapist? A shrink? Because it doesn't work." Sannet says in a mocking tone.

"Oh well I'm trying to be friends with you." Anton shrugs: "I guess something never changes after all."

"Friends? Or you are just trying to court me? Because it won't work..." Sannet glares at him in an uninterested expression: "Besides, even if you try, your chances of being with me are less than zero..." Sannet looks away and stares at the floor again.

"Get over yourself, what kind of person would be so self important and think that everyone is lusting for you all the time? The one with such ego is you." Anton smiles, trying to keep his calm tone: "But, you don't have to feel embarrassed or anything. I'm just being friendly." Anton shakes his head and looks at Sannet with an understanding smile: "So please just let me know what's going on..."

"This conversation is getting boring, i'll go check up Viola." Sannet stands up and heads to the room where Viola is. She walks into the room where Viola was resting, and looks at her, still with a cold expression, Viola just rolls her eyes at her: "What?"

Sannet closes the door behind her, before sitting down on the bed beside Viola: "Viola. Do you believe me that I'm trying to help you?" She said to her in a serious tone.

"Now this is a series of interesting events.... Why are you here? To mock me and Minka?" Viola said, not believing anything she's hearing, she is still angry about Sannet's betrayal: "If it's the case, just go ahead and leave me alone. I don't want to see your face..."

Sannet sighs and shakes her head, looking away and stares at the window: "Why don't you trust me?" Sannet asks with an annoyed expression: "We've been through the same things. If I did something I had my reasons."

"If you had a reason for betraying us then just tell me why the fuck did you do it?!!" Viola shouts in frustration: "Because I just don't see your reasoning!" Viola is looking at her with anger in her eyes and her face is full of hate, then she grunts in pain when the movement she made caused the wound to stretch even further.

"It's not easy to explain to someone who's so arrogant. Maybe I can try to tell you another time." Sannet rolled her eyes and just kept her gaze at the window: "I know it's not easy for you to forgive me... and I understand that you don't like me."

Viola glares at her and then closes her eyes and just remains silent, not wanting to have any further conversation with Sannet. "Can you just go and check up on Minka?" She asks in a cold tone, clearly trying to end the conversation between them.

"Viola." Sannet stares at her: "You are really hard headed sometimes you know. I thought I could talk to you like a normal person. Guess i was wrong..." Sannet just shook her head in resignation. Viola doesn't even glance at her and just looks out of the window.

Sannet sighs, stands up from her bed, walks to the door, and opens it before leaving, not turning back to Viola again. Sannet then entered Minka's room and found out that she was already awake and seemingly nervous while holding her comms device. When she looked at the device, Minka noticed her presence, and put down her device and sat up straight. "What?"

Sannet rolls her eyes at Minka and just keeps silent. She walked into the room, closed the door, before sitting next to her: "Viola told me to check up on you." She said in an uninterested tone.

"How's Vi? " Minka looks at Sannet with concern and asks: "Is she alright?"

"A few broken ribs and a bad temper... but she's fine. Just a bit cranky." Sannet keeps her cold expression and just stares at her in an indifferent gaze, then comes the awkward silence that follows.

"Em... Sannet. Just a question, have you had to... apologize to dad...? Like you know, say you are sorry?" Minka breaks the silence in a hesitant manner and looks away.

Sannet keeps a neutral expression, not giving any emotion: "No. I don't say that... you just make it up to the person." Sannet closes her eyes, and turns to Minka again with a cold look in her eyes: "Are you thinking of apologizing to someone?"

"Lea..." Minka looks down sadly, "I need to say sorry to her..."

"You somehow managed to mess up your relationship with Leanna? What did you do? Tell me." Sannet raises an eyebrow, she sounded like she's a little curious and intrigued about the matter: "Tell me what happened."

"I told her to leave the battlefield and go somewhere else. It was for the best that she left..." Minka closes her eyes and looks at Sannet. "I am a horrible person."

Sannet rolls her eyes at her: "You really are. How dare you think that you know what's best for someone." Sannet sighs in an annoyed expression, "So what now? Are you going to cry about it and wallow in self-pity? How will that solve anything?"

"No." Minka replies firmly, her gaze hardens a little as she stares back at Sannet, "I will tell her how sorry I am for what I've done." Minka replies.

"Leanna is an emotional kid. You can't just approach her and do that. She needs time to cool off first. Just... stay away from her. She has to realize how bad the decision she made, on her own." Sannet replied, not sounding as cold and cruel as she was a moment ago.

"Okay..." Minka sighs and leans back to her headboard, "I guess you're right..." Minka stares at Sannet: "Sannet. Just how... is Dad? As a person, outside of your personal hatred for him..."

"I don't want to talk about that, I don't like being reminded about him. You already know I hate him..." Sannet keeps her cold and calm expression: "He's an asshole no matter how you look at him."

"But I've been known for being kind and supportive. He makes delicious food for me and helps me with my homework, he always comes up with fun things to do for the family..." Minka's voice is trembling with emotion as she keeps talking, her eyes start to fill up with tears as she tries to fight the emotion. "Why can't you see the good things about him?"

Sannet keeps her neutral expression, before answering in a cold and detached tone: "He's not that nice and sweet person you are talking about." Sannet looks at Minka in an uninterested expression. Minka sighs and keeps quiet for a while.

"Did something... happen between the both of you?" Minka finally breaks the silence: "Sannet, please tell me why you hate Dad so much."

"He lied and manipulated me. Is that not a good reason? If I had known it, I wouldn't have believed it, and I would never have had a chance to be hurt..." Sannet keeps staring at Minka coldly and keeps silent for a moment before continuing: "So what makes you think I can be friends with that man?"

"I... am sorry." Minka says in an apologetic tone, her gaze lowered down, not being able to meet Sannet's gaze.

"What are you apologizing for, it wasn't even your fault. I need him to pay for what he has done to me. He hurt me." Sannet shakes her head and sighs. "It's not your fault... You did nothing wrong... Don't feel sorry." Sannet then tries her best to squeeze out a smile: "And besides... now you know how to talk to Leanna." Sannet keeps staring at Minka: "How do you feel now?"

"I... don't know anymore, I think that I'm confused..." Minka keeps staring at her feet and tries her best to remain calm: "I really want to talk to her and apologize...but... you are also right...I need to give her space to think about the whole thing and make her decision. She might want nothing to do with me afterall... she might never talk to me again... "

"Stop overthinking and focus on your own life. You were just being blasted by a biotic bomb. Just relax for a bit. Don't stress over something like this." Sannet's voice sounds serious and concerned: "Are you ok? You don't feel any pain or discomfort anywhere in your body? "

"I feel fine... And thank you, Sannet..." Minka smiles softly and nods: "I appreciate you... you know that...I wish that we can adventure again...just like the old days..." Minka looks at her with a small smile. Sannet nods.

Then Sannet decided to leave the room and saw Anton waiting for her at the hall: "Well? How was it? I can sense that you both talked about a very deep matter. Do you want to talk about it? Maybe I can give some advice." Anton says, smiling softly and inviting her to sit on the couch.

Sannet doesn't move but stares at him coldly: "No thank you." She turns away from Anton and leaves the building. With a flash of green light, She's gone.