She was feeling the thrill of the combat, and for the first time in her life, she was enjoying the fact that she was able to fight without someone ordering her to fight. Rena was aware that Elizabeth didn’t want them to fight, she wanted them safe.

She knew that Elizabeth would be sad if they got hurt, if they bleed, even if they could regenerate, be it for their own talents, because of Rossal…Because of Rossie’s magic, or even because they channeled some of Elizabeth’s skills.

She was that good of a person.

And that was even more of a reason why Rena fought, that was more of a reason why she walked forward with Elizabeth’s Minion behind her. She was flanked on either side by a group of heavily armed shadow dragons. It was quite interesting to know that Elizabeth had armed minions besides the usual scout-looking shadow dragons, these were dressed in knight armor and some even had tower shields.

Those that didn’t have tower shields carried either small kite-shield or two-handed weapons be it spears, war hammers, or claymore swords.

They looked quite cute, but if that wasn’t all, her Skills told her that each of them carried the weapons as they should, not like mere unthinking summons that only pretended to wield weapons, but they carried them as trained soldiers.

An Echo of a past life telling her that these were trained hardened soldiers, Rena felt some kind of kindred spirit with them, even as she held her katana. The Sword of her Heart.

The sword that symbolized her dedication, her spirit, her Soul, and most important of all…Her Love and Her Wrath.

After Elizabeth took her [Gem of Wrath], Rena had felt better than ever, she found herself being calm, things that made her angry no longer bothered her, her mana was a calm sea. And more than anything, she was able to tap into the tempest of Rage that had been her uncontrolled mana whenever she needed it.

Even when she took in her Other form, she wasn’t consumed by Rage, instead she was aware of what needed to be done and could focus on the task at hand.

She had spoken with Rossie about that too, about talking with Elizabeth, about letting Rossie’s lust to fade away and free her. But the pink-haired girl, her….other girlfriend. Had told her that she wanted Elizabeth to do that herself. That she didn’t want to increase the burden on her.

The fact that Elizabeth had already told them that she would take that particular gem on her eigtheen birthday was part of that reason too, Rossie wanted her to move at her pace.

And she had…. thought about that, she in the end decided to respect those decisions, she wasn’t one to judge what other people did after all, not after her own decisions had almost ended with a loss of self.

Of course Elizabeth had felt terrible about that, and both Rossie and her had made sure that Elizabeth indulged on them to pay it up, Elizabeth had looked so cute while she furiously blushed while she was tied with pink chains to a bed to be kissed and fondled by both Rossie and Rena.

But that was beside the point.

“We are almost there Lady Rena, please let us take the brunt.” One of the more heavily armored minions spoke, his voice gruff and metallic, as if it wasn’t his throat that was speaking but his armor.

Rena nodded at that of course, she understood better than anyone that each part of an army had their part to play in a war.

So she slowed her pace and let the Shieldbearer minions take the brunt of the attack when they got close to the [Shadow Tide]; it was a gigantic thing, almost like a tsunami made out of shadows.

But even so, the shielded-bearing minions managed to put a stop to it, it wasn’t enough of course, for soon from the [Shadow Tide] attacks started raining down on them, and while most of these weren’t things that she suspected would hurt them…

“DON’T LET THE ATTACKS TOUCH YOU!” Rena still screamed that as she brandished her sword bathed in fire, each attack projected a flying cutting attack made of fire that hit the projectiles from the [Shadow Tide].

Her [Instincts] screamed at her, letting that touch someone was dangerous, especially those minions that were closer to Elizabeth.

“Thank you Lady Rena.” One of the gruff-sounding Minions said as they started summoning other shadow dragons of the scout type to help them. They stood besides them throwing attacks to intercept the attacks from the [Shadow Tide].

And soon Rena’s fear proved to be true, those shadows that they used to deflect the attacks got Tainted, they got corrupted and assimilated into the [Shadow Tide], only the attacks of the elemental type seemed to be immune to this.

Only the attacks with Rena’s Fire were safe…

This…

“Maybe a problem.” Rena said as she took hold of the battlefield.

She was the only one capable of fighting back, the minions could be used as distraction and containment, but they would eventually lose out.

Or so it should be, soon enough Beatrice arrived with…other people.

Rena’s Instincts told her that those weren't minions. Even thought she felt the same innate base as what Beatrice and the new minion Reginald had with Elizabeth.

Some kind of connection. Even though they looked more like human girls cosplaying as warriors.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Even though they fought like soldiers, even though they ignored and even outright seemed hostile against Elizabeth.

And that was another thing.

When Elizabeth arrived with Rossie, these girls seemed to tense and change their formation ever so slighty. Those with shields rotated to stand between Beatrice and Elizabeth. While those with ranged attacks stood behind to continue intercepting the attacks from the [Shadow Tide].

Rena didn't know what to think. Was this something that Elizabeth had intended to happen? Was... was this the result of some self hatred going on?

She would need to check that with Elizabeth later, this was not healthy. She knew this better than anyone, as she experienced this type of thing before, it did not got better, if anything it always turned into something worse. They could not allow Elizabeth to spiral like that into self-hatred.

She was their light, what could happen if shadows clouded their light? Rena didn't want to know, she feared what would happen, she wasn't sure how she would react should one day Elizabeth came crying to her. Would she be able to control her Wrath? Probably not, but then what were they supposed to do?

Could she even soothe Elizabeth? She would do her best of course, Rena would stay at her side, pamper her and give her best to make her happy again. But would it be enough?

Rena would like to say that yes, it would. But she wasn't that sure. After all, it hadn't been that long ago when it had been Elizabeth the one to attempt to bring Rena out of a spiral of self-hatred. And if Elizabeth hadn't managed, who could say that Rena would. The difference was stark.

Rena was...at a very big hole.

But Elizabeth? She was the bright light.

Was it fair to Elizabeth? Probably not, but Rena couldn't help but feel that way. So seeing people that should be loyal and worship Elizabeth act like that, it was weird. More so since Elizabeth didn't seem to know who these girls were.

But Rena decided to keep an eye on them, should they really turn out to be a danger, she would deal with them. Self-hatred or not, this was not the way to go about it. Rena knew better than anyone; she had attempted to remake her whole body two times. And it never got better, it was not till she accepted how much she could lose, it wasn't till she noticed how much she was going to really lose, that she started getting better.

She would not allow Elizabeth to make her mistakes, Elizabeth she knew the type of pain that kind of development would make, Elizabeth should not suffer like that.

So instead she prepared, she fought, she keep and eye on both the girls, Beatrice and Elizabeth. To make sure she knew where they stood at all times. Even when she needed to move away from the initial area of combat because other fronts got pulled too far towards their defense.

Even when she felt Elizabeth flare with more power than ever, she keept the location of everyone on her mind's eye. So when Elizabeth flared farther away from the group of girls that kept surrounding Beatrice while making sure that no Shadow Ghoul went toward's Rossie, she started moving.

She had noticed that they would not stop any shadow ghoul that went towards the city or away from the combat area. Not even those that traveled toward's Elizabeth.

So Rena moved, she stood between Elizabeth and this group of girls.

"Well, hello Lady Rena. Do you require something?" Beatrice said as she noticed her moving past the group of girls' protection.

The little maid moved slowly and measuredly, as if she seemed hurt...or scared. Rena didn't see evidence of either.

"Who are these?" Rena asked pointing with her sword to the girls, these didn't seem that troubled by her.

"They are the other part of the Valkyrie Order." Beatrice answered, the girls behind her fell into one of their knees at once, all of them except the two that were standing at each side of Beatrice that is. "They will be the ones in charge of Mom's protection, and by extension yours."

...Mom's Protection?

"Mine and Rossie? Not Elizabeth's?" Rena asked narrowing her eyes, she of course was aware that Elizabeth didn't need any help defending herself, she was powerful on her own right. As of now probably the most powerful of the three.

But she also was the sweetest and more innocent of the three, if anyone needed help defending herself from things that they didn't know, it was Elizabeth.

Rena was sturdy, more now than ever, nothing could really put her down, even wounds that could be considereded lethal were merely flesh wounds to Rena, her body and mind was sturdy after being broken down so many times.

Rossaline was also similar on that aspects, her knowledge of the human body and the human mind was beyond what one could think of someone so young, and the knowledge of the soul? Probably the best on this world.

No one could put her down, even while feeling excrusiating pain, she would move to help Elizabeth. They both knew that, even with a spine broken Rossaline's first action had been to help Elizabeth.

...oh.

"They aren't guardians, are they?" Rena asked, looking at the Valkyrie order. "They are keepers."

These weren't meant to take their feelings into consideration.

"They are protectors." Beatrice shook her head, "They are meant to help Mom, in the case that something happens to me, to Elizabeth...and the same applies to you Lady Rena."

In case something happens...

... Had the little girl dealt with the problem worse than them? And how and where had she got these Valkyries?

"Why do they feel alive then? If they are your Valkyrie Order, they should be minions. These don't feel like Shadow Dragons." Rena asked, her insticts told her enough, these weren't Elizabeth's minions.

"We are servants of Master. We obey no Shadow Goddess." One of them spoke before Beatrice had oportunity to answer.

That was worrying, the fact that they acted like this, Rena already knew they seemed to hold some hostility towards Elizabeth, but this? This was outright rebellion. Or perhaps, something similar?

Beatrice had told her that these served Rossie and that they would keep her safe. That was good, but why the hostility?

"They aren't linked to...Elizabeth in the same way that the Shadow Armada." Beatrice answered afterwards, she didn't reproach the girl who spoke before. "They have a somewhat unstable connection to me, and in turn to Mom. I am working on transferring it, but even after doing so. They are no Minions. They are living, breathing entities."

"And for that, we are grateful Master." The same minion...no, the same girl spoke again.

Rena could see it, these girls all seemed to hold in high regard Beatrice, the one that somehow managed to give them life. Something that...she had thought only Elizabeth could do.

"So then, what is that you all are planning while standing on formation and pointing your bigger weapons not towards the [Shadow Tide], but towards Elizabeth?" Rena asked, even while kneeling, she could see it.

They were ready to raise and run, their weapons were sharpened, and their formation was ready to move at once, be it to rush forward or to travel slowly with Beatrice at the middle.

"Nothing get's past your Instincts does it now, Watanabe Rena." Beatrice sighed as she said so. "We... will make sure Elizabeth is still her after this is done."

What?

"Should Elizabeth remain herself even after being forced to partake another Sin Gem. Then I will speak with her, ask for what I desire... And the Valkyrie Order will move to their next order." Beatrice only answered as such.

But she was already sure that Elizabeth would ingest another Gem? She didn't took Rossie's gem so who...

"...She wouldn't..." Rena said as she felt cold sweat on her back, "...you think she will take in...That....that man's gem?"

Rena couldn't help but feel sickened, the fact that Elizabeth still had Akira's Gem was something she knew, her Insticts screamed at her whenever she focused her senses towards the underground of Elizabeth's [Shadowscape].

"Yes." Beatrice answered, "She will take in that gem, and will in turn put more instability into her soul. And what will happen should the worst happen? What do you think Sigrun?"

"And so, we will be ready. Should we need to once again, raise our arms against a depraved dragon to defend our Master and the Mother Goddess of Life." The Valkyrie to the right of Rossie answered, Sigrun. "We will do our best to make sure you do not suffer, Consort Rena."

...........................................................

"I can't let you do that." Rena said as she was not sure what do to. "I know that Elizabeth can be hard to deal with, but... even when she was at her worst. She managed to return to us...we gotta believe..."

"SHE ALMOST KILLED MOM! IT WAS NOT HER WHO KEPT MOM SAFE! IT WAS NOT HER WHO KEPT YOU SAFE!" Beatrice suddenly screamed, tears flowing from her face. "...It was not her who had to take...difficult choices..."

The valkyries behind her stood and closed ranks around Beatrice, even at this moment, Rena's Insticts told her to be careful, even thought her heart was wavering. She...didn't expect to see the little girl cry.

She of course knew that Elizabeth's minions were especial, she had seen them interact with each other as if people, she had seen them work, play, eat, and sometimes even sleep. She knew Beatrice liked to talk about Rossie as if she was her Mother.

But she had never seen her this...emotional.

"Consort Rena, please measure your words. While you may be the partner of The Mother Goddess of Life. You are still below Master in our priority list, and we are aware of how sturdy you are." The Valkyrie called Sigrun said as her weapons seemed to flash in yellow light. "Herja? Report."

"The target has ingested the poison. She seems to have morphed from Shadows to Lightning and shows heightened speed and the ability to summon weapons from thin air." One Valkyrie who had a monocle spoke from behind. "Our weapons seems to still be working as intended and we are receiving some feedback, not as much as how we used go get from the Shadows, also. Our link towards Master's demesne seems to have weakened, I do not think she caught on us, but this could be a problem for some of our strategies."

The link to the [Shadow Haven] was weakened? Rena searched within her Soul and found it still as strong as ever...But looking around, she did notice some of the minions seemed to be moving more... snuggly; what was happening, Elizabeth?

Please...be safe... And whatever happens, please...Do not lose yourself in Akira's Sin.