Little options with her, this slim light of hope on her path. Someone coming into her dark world, extending a hand to her. Unable to do much on her own, this solution providing a way to go forward.
Having to survive, desiring to bring meaning to the demise of one. Accepting this aid, urging the young woman to do so. A shining light stretching from the knives, this powerful blessing on it.
"By the way, I am cutting this from your pay." Her bright smile to the mercenary.
"Wait what?! Take it back then!" Atlalune facing the researcher in alarm.
"Seriously? You would rather be roasted than to lose money?" Sol folding her arms, her humorless gaze on them.
"Yes!" the maiden’s desperate voice.
"Well, too late. No take backs." Facing away, the noble-woman happily holding her hands to her chest.
A person pulling a fast one over her, using a desperate situation to lower their cost. The mercenary raising her hands to the individual, shortly stopping herself. Prancing back and forth, the enemy scratching the back of his head.
A more concerning situation at hand, the maiden looking to the Phoenix. A sigh leaving her, focusing on the trouble at hand.
"We can argue about the pay later..." Gripping the side of her head.
An action by another, someone similarly pulling an angle long ago. Not expecting it again, falling into their trap. A desperate situation, a perfect point to initiate it. Pushing this dilemma out of mind for now, her target in sight.
The noble-woman running to a corner, shortly facing the battle. Atlalune throwing her knives at her enemy, that bird rushing towards her, enveloping the weapons in its fire. Nearing the maiden, crashing into her.
Sending her high, resisting her pain. Sol concerningly looking, seeing the mercenary throwing five more knives at her opponent. Its powerful wings crashing against them, hitting away the attacks.
Creating a fiery tornado, launching it at her. Trapping her in its wrath, this inferno crushing her. The compressing energy, soon violently exploding. The maiden flying afar, colliding against the land.
"Lune!" her hands to her chest, her uncertainty on what to do.
"A slum rat you were, Atlalune. Someone who cannot use magic, and so you took advantage of the princess' kindness for money." The man folding his arms, his pitiable eyes on her.
Growing up in a poor environment, making her way to becoming a knight. Her hard effort to live, valuing every coin in her possession. A pure individual entering into her life, shining light onto her path long ago.
Learning much, their growing bond. Cherishing that person, a princess seeing more within her. Withstanding her agony, pushing up to her knee. Shortly rising to her feet, her heavy breathing.
"There are a lot of things I am, but I would never betray that woman..." Anger in her eyes.
"Perish in the flames of the Phoenix." Shaking his head from left to right.
This great foe before her, that bird of fire. The falling debris, an unsettling situation. Her reason for coming so far, running down her dark path. Yearning to find that dark dragon, an obstacle in her way, her quickly beating chest.
The Phoenix expanding its wings, increasing the flames in the area. The former knight's trembling body, lowering her head. Remembering the words from the princess, her voice echoing through her.
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You never listen, but it is that stubbornness that showed me hope, Atlalune.
"And so, you thought I could do almost anything..." Her distant mind.
Constantly doing her best, fulfilling those expectations in the past. Her awareness on her limit, yet continuously finding a way to succeed.
That person no longer there, her hope going with her. Hatred filling the mercenary, this challenge before her. Unable to surpass it, sinking into the darkness.
The foe charging at her, its wings spanning far. Sol rushing out, running in front of her. That dreadful night, the princess going away in the flames.
Reaching her hand forward, grabbing the noble-woman's shoulder. Forcing her behind, the inferno crashing against Atlalune. Her opening vision, finding herself in a fiery realm, the god of fire in front of her.
"Why did you move her out of the way?" the Phoenix's calm voice.
"I should have died that night...not Estelle. Dammit...if you are a god. Get Sol away from here, you can kill me if you wish..." Her sad eyes.
"Guilt, hatred...this is what I sense from you."
"Those are the feelings I have carried since her demise. My guilt for failing her, my hatred for the god that killed her..." The mercenary frowning.
Trying her hardest, taking on those many jobs. Her direction to finding a god, her hatred for them. Coming across a deity, her crushing defeat. This great difference between their power, that entity in between dimensions closely looking.
Feeling something more, watching the Phoenix raising its mighty wings. The increasing flames, the maiden lowering her head. This harsh fire surrounding her, hearing someone's voice.
"Lune, you haven't failed her. So, keep fighting!"
Her slightly widening eyes, hearing the researcher's voice. These sentiments within her, that person in the harsh flames. Her vision on them, seeing someone else.
That individual from her past, their smile to her. Urging her onward, the mercenary's aching body. The intensifying heat, her eyes on her enemy. These emotions inside of her, wanting to see them through to its end.
Estelle...is this your guiding presence...?
A star within the night sky, those words from the noble-woman. Her reason for coming this far, needing to surpass her challenge. Running down her dark path, a faint light on the road.
Reaching for one at the end of this madness, yearning to see her sentiments towards a conclusion. Lunging her arm forward, grabbing the Phoenix's chest.
Ignoring the pain, crushing down on it. Its flames flowing into her body, the shortly breaking realm. That mercenary standing there, fire burning from her.
"What in the world...?" the man shockingly stepping forward.
Refusing to give in, her purpose still on the line. The words of someone reaching her, giving her a bit of hope. That individual running to the side, looking on from there. Her hands to her chest, her bright smile.
This new power to the maiden, gaining the force of the Phoenix. Leaping high, her fiery arm above. Her vision on her weak target below, the blood moon shining down its light on her.
"You will witness the burning of my soul..." Atlalune's solemn voice.
Encountering a strange person this night, a quirky individual coming to her aid. Someone providing her a way forward, shining light onto her dark path. Giving her that chance towards success, appreciating the noble-woman's efforts.
Pushing forward, the former knight refusing to remain in silence. Descending to the land, grabbing the Phoenix's head, plunging it below.
An enormous pentagram stretching through, sweeping away the man in its harsh flames. Incinerating the fire god, yet protecting the researcher.
Crushing the area, the mercenary's sounding soul. The crumbling structure, parts falling below. That ending assault, the former knight standing there.
Another issue at hand, the area breaking apart around them. Sol running to her guard, her unease at the surroundings. Quickly sweeping the mage off her feet, the maiden locking onto a narrow path, immediately racing to the edge.
"Noble-women do not fly!" the young woman's frantic voice.
"Well, no better time to learn than the present!" Atlalune smiling, jumping off the ledge.
"If I make it out alive, I will murder you Lune!" the researcher fearfully shutting her eyes, tightly holding onto the former knight.
Sliding along the falling debris, balancing on others. Large parts flying past them, crashing into the earth below. The two eventually finding themselves in the woods, Sol shakily on her feet, her pale expression.
The maiden holding her up, giving her a bit of time to catch herself. The researcher shortly calming a bit, anger soon filling her. Facing the former knight, her hands on her waist.
Yelling at them, voicing her frustrations, the insanity of the mercenary's decision. Atlalune listening to her, appreciating these simpler sentiments.
You were a rarity Estelle, and now there is someone else like you. Those eyes of yours, I see them in Sol, even your behavior. It is likely a coincidence, but that does not matter. It was because of her, that I am able to continue my path. Thank you, Sol...