Lusaia… Lusaia can do this…

With each step she takes, her willpower clashes with the pain that tries overload her brain. She cannot collapse now, not with Papa putting his life on her success.

The goal is only 20 metres away but the burden of her injuries make it feel like 20 kilometres. An arduous struggle in the marathon for survival.

Lusaia can feel more of herself crumbling apart. The gentle breeze a typhoon pushing against her, wanting to topple Lusaia over.

If she falls now, then it’s all over.

The eternal torture has come to an end as she leans on the musty fur of the minotaur. The pungent dank smell infiltrate her nose almost making Lusaia puke out the empty contents of her stomach.

Her broken leg feels like an electric cable attached to it frequently pulsing high voltage up towards her brain. Even so, she got back up on them again to scale up the mountain covered in fur.

Reaching the summit where the skull is visible from below, a sense of relief washes over her for almost reaching the finish line.

The goal is right there in front of her as she place both hands on the flag handle. Tugging on it, her heart comes to a stop.

It won’t move.

It doesn’t budge no matter how much she shifted around it. Unknown to her, the blood around the edges had hardened and planting the sword in place. The chipped edges are like barbed hooks that hook to the mix of soft and hard flesh.

Putting all her strength into her arms, Lusaia tugs again but it doesn’t budge.

She tugs again but it doesn’t budge.

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She tugs again but it doesn’t budge…

It will never come out. That is the conclusion her mind keeps telling her.

Her hands are shaking as they strength in them will soon run dry.

“Why… Lusaia just want to be with Papa…”

Tears slowly roll down her cheeks that her Papa like to squeeze. Vague but euphoric memories flow back to her. The garden, her room and the palace grounds, happy memories where her father will come to play with her… But now they will all disappear.

“Argh!”

“Papa?!”

Lusaia turns around in panic. That was Papa’s voice.

“I’m alright… Just a flesh wound…”

There’s a long cut across Papa’s shirt. Blood is oozing out but not at a rate which will raise concern. It must have hurt because her Papa’s face is clenched to tolerate the pain. Yet, Papa is still fighting on.

Papa is strong… Lusaia will be strong too!

Seeing her Papa push on despite the pain in her chest gave Lusaia the push she needs to get the job done.

If it means dropping to the ground, then Lusaia will do it.

Fingers wrap tightly to the fabric lining of the handle once more. This time, Lusaia places one of her injured legs on the head of the minotaur.

She close eyes and count down.

3… 2… 1… Pull!

The whole ordeal feels like the sword is tearing her limbs apart. From her shoulders to the joints on her fingers, from her hips all the to her toes, each one of them are creaking and screaming.

Shik.

The blade is slipping. Just a little more!

This is the final stretch… Lusaia is no longer the weak little girl back then where she could do nothing to help. She will save her Papa!

Her desires burnt bright and fate has at long last answers her wish.

Majestically, the blade soar into the sky as it flew out from its sheath.

Lusaia topples backwards no longer having the strength to stabilise herself. She has done it! She has saved her Papa!... But one question is, how will she give Papa the sword?

CLANK!... Clank!... Clank…

The sword falls to the ground, bouncing 3 times before coming to a stop.

“Lusaia… need to… give Papa… sword…”

Lusaia claws on the loose dirt dragging her fallen body by the millimetres.

The task is not over yet… Papa still needs the sword…

Her muscles are starting to shut down, refusing to listen to her commands. Lusaia has gone beyond her limits.

Her vision slowly tunnels, then it begins blacking out. The hand clawing on the dirt stops moving but she still remains conscious.

In the end, she is still a failure…

Thud.

The sound of a person’s feet landing beside her.

“Good job, kid. You can rest now.”

The stern but gentle voice of her Papa resonates in her mind.

Lusaia feels overjoyed as she drifts off into wonderland.