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The forest stretched before me like an endless labyrinth of shadows and whispers. My heart was pounding, driven by fear and adrenaline. My feet tripped over roots and stones as I ran, aimlessly, just following the instinct to escape from a dangerous situation.

After a while my resistance reached its limit and I was forced to stop. My legs were shaking and cold sweat was running down my forehead. I looked around, but the darkness was overwhelming. I leaned against a tree with Alicia in my hands unconscious. I was trying to catch my breath as my senses sharpened their listening.

A few meters away I heard some girls complaining about fatigue. I didn't know if they were hostile since they hadn't attacked me yet, but I didn't see any of them armed at first glance.

After looking at them I recognized one of the girls, she was the one I freed from the magician when he was in the concentration camp.

I calmed down a little, I wanted to think, I needed to think. I wasn't very aware of my situation at this time.

A moan of pain brought me out of my thoughts, Samantha's sister was bleeding badly. I immediately tore a piece of my clothes and began to bandage and treat his wound. She needed another place and more resources to help her, She looked very pale.

I removed her wizard robe, realizing that the bullet had only gone through one end near the abdomen and had come out. It seemed it hadn't damaged any organs, but she had lost a lot of blood because I took too long to attend to her.

The girls a few meters away approached and started to get nervous seeing Alicia's blood.

I did what I could to help her. After a while, I finished treating her as much as I could; the bleeding had stopped, but if it continued like this, she would die at any moment.

I was tired, but the difficult part was over. Seeing them somewhat relieved, I decided to ask for their names.

Robert: What are your names, girls?

Danny: Uh... I'm Danny... nice to meet you...

Apparently, she was very shy.

Bella: I'm Bella, you saved me from that wizard. I-I'm very grateful...

Robert: Don't worry, without your help, I wouldn't have been able to find Alicia.

As they introduced themselves, I could hear some noises even though we were far from the battlefield. He needed to find Samantha, but he didn't know what to do at that moment. His sister was in critical condition and he couldn't leave her like this, she needed to be treated urgently.

After having strong inner conflicts, I decided to make a choice. take care of her sister for now... it's what Samantha would have wanted.

Robert: Alright, girls, listen. We need to find shelter, we can't stay here. Someone might find us, and Alicia has lost a lot of blood.

Bella: Let me help you carry her.

Danny: ...I... I want to help too...

The three of us lifted her carefully. We walked for a while, damn, I needed something. I couldn't see anything like a shelter in the middle of this forest. I started to notice that the forest was getting darker.

It was already night, so we could barely see anything. After walking for a while, we saw a faint light in the distance, I think it was moonlight. Finally we saw something in the middle of this forest to guide us. I felt as if we had been in this forest for hours, with a strange feeling that someone was watching us from afar. We followed the light and came to a moonlit clearing with a river in the middle.

As soon as we stepped into the clearing, we felt something strange. I looked towards the river, and there was someone near it.

Stranger: Ohh... my dear Goddess, someone dared to stain your clearing with their filthy presence... allow me to teach them a lesson, my Goddess...

While the stranger talked to herself, I decided it was better to get out of here. However, when we turned around, We were surrounded by many people.

Unknown: So... did you really think you could escape us by running into the forest? Hahaha.

Unknown 2: Calm down; the boss told us it would be better to have magician prisoners.

Unknown: Tsk... what a waste...

As he said this, he stopped aiming at us with his sniper rifle.

So, that guy was the one who shot Alicia...

With no other options, we started walking towards the clearing but stumbled and fell while trying to go too fast, I softened Alicia's fall.

This is our end, they were going to capture us, and who knows what they would do to us.

Stranger: My lady... in her name, I will cleanse her sanctuary of evils...

The guy with the rifle started complaining.

Unknown: Who is that woman over there?

Unknown 2: I don't know, but be careful, she has a katana.

A bald man ordered his other men to prepare their weapons.

Unknown: Relax, old man, with one shot, I can solve this and save us trouble.

The guy aimed his rifle at the woman standing in the clearing and fired, that should have been the end of that woman, but something happened.

The bullet sparked against something and disappeared, What? I didn't understand what had happened, the men were also confused.

The woman turned around and she had her eyes closed.

Stranger: Ohh... beings of evil... your deaths will be as painless as possible in the name of my Goddess...

After saying this, the men tensed up.

Unknown: Fire!

Everyone started shooting their pistols and submachine guns at the woman, even some were shooting fireballs. This group was some mix of people who used magic and people who didn't.

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However, the fireballs never touched her, they disappeared. The bullets only made sparks near her and disappeared... no, it wasn't that, I don't know why, but my intuition told me it was something else. I tried to concentrate a bit, I only saw a reflection of something when the bullets disappeared.

It can't be what I'm thinking... she might be so fast that we can't see when she swings her sword to hit the bullet, The spheres simply vanished when that reflection was also noticed.

Several men continued to shoot fireballs and gunshots at him, but out of nowhere, the fireballs and bullets stopped. The men had run out of ammunition and were reloading, the mages were catching their breath.

After a moment, she opened her eyes, as soon as I saw them, I was mesmerized. It was like seeing the moon itself in her eyes.

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The men resumed their fire at their discretion.

But she took a single step, and everything stopped.

Huh? Why did the shots stop? I looked around, and everyone was dead. How?! It was impossible. I started trembling with fear at the scene; I couldn't believe it. All the bodies had a clean cut on their necks.

My mind couldn't process what was happening. I didn't know if this was reality. I looked back at the woman, and out of nowhere, she was in front of us.

Unknown: Why profane the sanctuary of my Goddess?

Bella: Uh... M-Miss... Goddess, please don't... don't kill us... we didn't mean to harm your home... we just didn't want our friend to die.

As Bella said this, she showed the unconscious Alicia.

The woman looked at me for a moment and then at them.

Unknown: Ohh... calm down, my children. My Goddess will impart her wisdom to those who do not defile her lands and do not harbor evil in their hearts. I hope you prove worthy of her; otherwise...

Before she could finish that last sentence, she interrupted herself.

Unknown: The end of the clearing will give them the answer that each one deserves and needs.

While saying this, she stepped aside, showing us the field's lake.

I was somewhat in shock, my rational mind had temporarily stopped working. Out of nowhere, someone nudged me a little.

Bella: Hey, Robert... move... we need to take Ali to the clearing... I think.

Robert: Uh... Ohh... Yes...

Stammering and with shaky legs, I helped the two of them take Alicia to the field's river.

The mere presence of that woman made me feel anxious. I had never seen so much power in someone all this time.

Robert: Um... what do we do now?

I had a clear idea of what needed to be done, but I didn't want to say anything. Honestly, I didn't even want to talk anymore.

Bella: Uh... I guess we leave her in the river?

Danny: What if she drowns?

While we were discussing, the woman in the distance spoke.

Unknown: What has to happen will happen

What an uninformative answer. Well, after hearing her, I told Bella to do what she had suggested. We took Alicia carefully and let her float; her body started moving towards the river's center.

To be honest, I was quite superstitious despite seeing magic, but this whole situation had surpassed my mind. In my entire life, none of this existed, so it's challenging to assimilate.

Alicia's body reached the river's center and started floating above it. Suddenly, the moonlight became stronger at the center, and then it began to diminish.

Her body slowly descended into the river and lay on it.

I guess that light must have done something to her, Right?

Danny: come on?

Danny gave me the mental strength to go to the river's center with them to get Alicia.

We took her and placed her back on solid ground. I checked her wound after removing the bandage, and it had disappeared... My God... do you still exist, God?

I began to question many things.

Unknown: My lady has recognized her as worthy. Follow me; an apostle must be treated as if she were in her home. Her friends are also welcome as long as they do not have a corrupt heart.

I don't know if my heart was corrupt, but I wished it wasn't.

The woman looked at me with her deep eyes. It was very uncomfortable yet fascinating, her eyes had me mesmerized. I couldn't move. After a while, she let me go and continued looking at Bella and Danny.

Unknown: they can pass, follow me.

Phew... we barely survived this night.

After walking for a while, we reached a place similar to the clearing but with two cabins in the middle.

Unknown: You can rest here, my dear children.

She offered us a cabin.

Danny: Miss... Goddess... What is your name?

What courage Danny had, I wouldn't have the mental strength to ask that woman her name in a million years.

The woman was slightly surprised but smiled faintly.

Unknown: Our lady bestowed upon me the name Mizuki, my girl.

Danny: Mizuki...

It actually sounded nice, like something from an action novel or something.

Well, it was time to rest, it had been a very complex night. We needed to rest. I was very worried about Samantha, I didn't know if she got involved with the attackers or some magician in the forest, I hope she's okay.

After arranging Alicia as best as we could, each of us prepared to sleep.

That night I fell deeply asleep, the simple fact of stopping supporting my own body was an immeasurable pleasure, sometimes death really seemed like a pleasant option.

The next day, when I opened my eyes, it felt as if someone had beaten me up. Just moving a finger caused excruciating pain. I guess last night was worse for my body than I thought. I could see the sunlight entering the cabin, it seemed unreal that the night before I was almost killed in many different ways.

I gathered physical and mental strength to get up, Apparently, the two girls were still sleeping, so without making much noise, I walked outside.

The field and the sky looked very beautiful. While admiring the scenery, someone next to me spoke.

Mizuki: You should rest a bit more, your body demands and screams for rest.

I was a little startled because I didn't expect someone to talk to me out of nowhere.

Robert: Sure... you're right, I should rest more...

After an awkward silence, I gathered the courage to ask her some questions.

Robert: Can I ask something?

Mizuki: Tell me.

While saying that, she sat down and took a cup that was beside her.

Robert: Do you live here alone?

Mizuki: Yes, my brothers are on the other side...

As she said this, she looked up at the sky.

Robert: How long have you been here?

Mizuki: 2 years, 5 months, and 13 days.

what an exact woman, that sounded strange.

Robert: And... don't you plan to go look for your brothers?

There was a moment of silence.

Mizuki: Mmm... sometimes I wish to be with them again, but I feel the need to take some time alone. So, I guard this sanctuary in the name of my Goddess.

Hmm... that sounds somewhat sad.

Robert: ...And did your powers come from the Goddess?

I had many doubts about that, it's fascinating to see powers and things like that.

Mizuki: My lady bestows her wisdom and power upon her chosen and worthy ones.

Robert: But you're really strong. I couldn't even see when you moved, You took one step and finished everyone.

Mizuki: My power increases depending on the moon. At that moment, the night and the moon were strong and at a good point, so my power reached a strong point.

Robert: What? But if it's only at night, does that mean you don't have powers now?

Mizuki: Exactly, I don't have the same skill during the day as I do at night. In fact, during the day, I only rely on my own strength.

After saying this, I watched as she cut a fly in half. If that is her strength, I couldn't imagine how strong she really is. I never wanted to fight her. However, at least I managed to see how she wielded her sword, last night, I couldn't even see how those men died.

Robert: Why don't your eyes shine now?

Anyone looking at me would think I'm intense asking so much, but my curiosity is stronger than my will to live.

Mizuki: The lunar vision only works at night when there is a moon. However, I have to keep my eyes closed at night due to the power and vision they grant me. My eyes would get tired very quickly along with my mind if I always used them at night. But I can see and feel everything despite having them closed, it is something that activates passively and progressively as the night comes, and the moon appears.

After listening to Mizuki for a bit, I reached a conclusion. I must convince her to accompany us. However, I had one more doubt, and I was afraid to ask this.

Robert: Why do you answer me so easily? How do you know I won't take advantage of this information to kill you?

Mizuki: I can see the hearts of people with my lunar vision. I know when someone is corrupt just by looking at them at night.

Ah... my head hurt. I didn't want to ask more.

(Samantha's perspective)

I was having a good dream until someone woke me up... Who is it?

Samantha's Mother: Sam, you must get up, your father will be very angry.

What? I looked towards the entrance, there she was, but it's been 80 years since she...

Out of nowhere, someone came and jumped on me.

Alicia: Sam! Dad will get mad at you again if you don't hurry.

Ali... I was a bit dazed, my heart was beating so fast I thought it would burst.

Ali pulled me out of bed and told me to get ready, then we went out.

There he was... tears started flowing on their own.

Samantha's Father: If you sleep all day, you'll have to do twice the exercises.

It's been so long since the last time I saw you... Father