Remnya

A bird chirped atop Remnya's forehead as she rested on a thick tree branch. It hopped on her nose and pecked her bruised cheek before flying away as soon as she opened her eyes. A breeze caressed her skin and hair, dancing with the canopies above her. She sat up and stared into the horizon, witnessing the orange hue of the morning.

Remnya jumped off the tree and landed heavily on the ground, blowing away a mattress of dried leaves before heading toward the creek to wash her face. The crystalline mountain water felt like ice but helped her numb the pain and remove her drowsiness.

Merle's return had brought drastic changes and forced Remnya to adapt to a harsher routine as he took over her training and released Ozura from her duty. It had been over one week since the last time anyone had seen the lady, and even though Merle downplayed her disappearance, the lack of answers made Remnya fear the worst.

However, she had no time to worry anymore; sunrise meant her torture was about to begin.

The old man's training was much more physically demanding. He didn't care about her fire or speed but her close combat skills, strength, and endurance. The force of his fists was brutal and sent her to the ground bleeding every time she failed to dodge or defend properly.

Early, another season started, and with it, more painful contusions. Remnya wondered if she could survive that alcoholic monster for another week.

A fist against her jaw drew a mouthful of blood and made her surroundings spin like a roulette, yet she refused to fall and glimpsed another blow traveling to her face.

Remnya remembered Ozura's advice and used her fire to protect her body, focusing her energy on where his punches landed. She waited for the impact and shielded her face with her forearm. The weight of Merle's arms could easily break her bones, but she compensated for the physical difference with the immense power of her crimson fire.

The impact caused a shower of fire and sparks, yet her arm resisted. However, the blows wouldn't stop coming, forcing her to switch her energy from one part of her body to another. It had taken her one week, but she had begun to understand the nuances of a successful defense.

Nonetheless, a few punches broke through and crushed her forehead, shoulder, and stomach. Remnya staggered backward while her knees threatened to bend under her weight and charged a fireball in her left hand.

Merle smirked and opened his arms, exposing his massive chest. "C'mon, knucklehead! Show me what kind of fireworks you got!"

Screw you, old man! She wanted to say but remained silent and launched her fireball as hard as possible.

Merle wouldn't dodge it, Remnya knew, so she had planned ahead of him. When her blazing attack was inches away from him, she clenched her fist, causing her energy to blow up.

The explosion lifted a large column of debris, fire, and smoke, covering Merle's vision. That's when Remnya's plan unfolded: she closed the distance between them and shot a stream of flames from her right arm.

Like a fire lance, her attack penetrated the smoke. It reached Merle, causing a second and bigger explosion that forced Remnya to cover herself from the blazing rocks traveling faster than sound in every direction.

Despite the pain and exhaustion, she smiled for having pulled off the combo she had been practicing for months.

As the smoke began to dissipate, Merle walked forward. Her attack had reached the left side of his body and burned half the clothes of his torso. The skin of his shoulder looked red, yet there was no trace of blood.

He chuckled. "Predictable."

Remnya scowled. "If it was predictable, why didn't you dodge it?"

"No fun in it." He shrugged. "If you want me to evade your petty attacks, give me something that will force me to do it."

She gritted her teeth and raised her voice. "I'll keep improving and show you what I can do!"

"Oh, will you?" Merle smirked and crossed his massive arms. "You've not progressed a lot since our last meeting. Though, I'm not surprised. Ozura tends to be too soft and lenient."

His words made Remnya's blood boil. She glared at him and shouted, "That's not true! She helped me a lot and taught me a lot of things too!"

"Oh, did she?" He sneered.

"You have no idea because you weren't even here."

"Maybe, but let me tell you something." Merle paused to smother the flames surrounding his boots and continued, "You'll never save your friend at this rate." He observed with amusement how Remnya's expression changed from annoyance to anger. "Just like she couldn't save his husband."

"Shut up!" Remnya roared, taking a step forward, her foot crushing a burned branch. "She didn't even have the chance to save him because she trusted you to do it!"

Silence.

Merle stared at her for a moment, his eyes penetrating her soul, and then guffawed like a buffoon. His voice resounded throughout the forest. "Is that what you really think?"

Remnya realized she had said too much. She lowered her gaze and shook her head.

"Would you prefer Ozura to train you instead of me?"

"It's not that." Remnya bit her lower lip. "But while you were gone, she trained me, fed us, and made sure Brisa was okay . . . " She let out a groan of frustration and punched a nearby tree. "Now all of a sudden she's gone and nobody will tell me anything about her! It's like no one cares!"

Merle raised one eyebrow. "Is that what's troubling you?"

"It is! Despite all the things she did for us, I never got the chance to thank her properly." She stared deep into his gaze. "I asked you to train me, and I'll accept any kind of training you give me, but I also need to know what happened to Miss Ozura! Is she even alive?"

Merle twisted his lips, closed his eyes, and remained silent for what felt like hours. The only sound in the forest was Remnya's heart kicking against her eardrums.

"As expected of you." He chuckled and shook his head, looking at her as if she were a child throwing a tantrum. "Wanna know what's your biggest weakness?"

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"What?" Remnya answered reluctantly.

Merle pointed at his own chest.

"My heart?" She tightened her lips and scowled.

"That empathy of yours might be a virtue, but in the battlefield, it'll become your worst enemy."

"Are you suggesting I stop caring about others?"

"I am suggesting that, once the time comes, do not hesitate to sacrifice everything and everyone if that means succeeding in your mission." He smirked. "Even if the one being sacrificed is myself."

"Why are you telling me this? You know I can't do that."

"Which is a pity." He shrugged. "Because your friend Zeo seems to have understood this very well."

"Zeo?" Remnya widened her eyes.

Merle nodded. "I met him in the battlefield."

Remnya's jaw dropped. "No way!" She ran up to Merle, craving for answers. "Is he okay?"

"Looked okay to me. At least he's alive and seems to have turned into a true warrior."

A smile spread across her face as a weight seemed to lift off her shoulders. "Did you tell him about me? That you know me?"

"Oh, yeah, I told him about you, and he said something like I'll write my own fate and finished with fuck you!"

Remnya stifled a chuckle. "Sounds like him . . . " she admitted with regret.

"You don't seem disappointed I didn't drag him with me here."

Remnya narrowed her eyebrows and stared Merle straight in the eyes. "Why would I be? It's my friend and my mission, not yours. I would never ask you to get in more trouble because of me."

"Fair enough."

"But thank you for telling me." She beamed at him.

"I didn't mean to brighten your day, knucklehead." He cracked his neck, hiding a smile. "I'm just letting you know your friend is leaving you behind."

"That only means I need to train harder!" Remnya shouted, raising her arms and clenching her fists. Knowing Zeo was still alive and fighting for his freedom had filled her body and heart with the energy and courage to take on any challenge.

Merle shook his head and took a fighting stance. "Let's make a deal then."

"Sure."

"If you last until sunset without being knocked unconscious, I'll tell you where to find Ozura."

Remnya charged two fireballs on each hand and locked her eyes on her prey. "We have a deal!"

*°*°*

It was a moonless night. Crickets and cicadas invaded the forest with their songs of love and melancholy, joined by toads resting on the rocks across the creek. Remnya sat on a tree stump while Brisa placed a bag of ice against her bruised face. The pain left for a few seconds under the cold pressure and returned as soon as she took it away. But it had been worth it, and Merle kept his word.

However, Brisa shook her head and lectured Remnya about how stupid she was for pushing her body to that extent. "That man is an alcoholic brute!" Brisa said, anger glowing in her golden eyes with the light of a lamp that hung from a tree. "I don't care if you're a Nephilim or whatever, you're still a child! That jerk is gonna hear me."

"Brisa," Remnya called, seeing how red Brisa's cheeks had gotten. "How is Zaoly today?" she forced a painful smile.

Her words took Brisa aback. She took a moment to process her question and then let out a deep sigh of resignation. "Zaoly's been more active than usual lately, but he seems happy." Brisa brushed a strand of hair from Remnya's face and narrowed her eyebrows, trying to look upset. "I didn't get to tell you because all you do now is training like a maniac, but Ozura bought a lot of new clothes for him."

"I'm sorry I've not spent enough time with you lately." Remnya pursed her lips and caressed Brisa's arm.

Brisa hissed and squeezed her hand. "I don't care if you can't spend time with me, but I care about your well-being. Harming yourself this way is not gonna do any good, you know?"

"This is not gonna last forever." Remnya swallowed the blood in her mouth. "Once I rescue Zeo and Debrin defeats The Hunters, the three of us will be free, finally."

"What if Debrin fails? Have you thought about it?"

"He won't!" Remnya raised her voice. Such an outcome wasn't possible in her head. Debrin had to succeed.

"What if?"

Remnya thought for a moment. "We'll move somewhere else where Zaoly can grow safely."

"Rem." Brisa placed her hands on her shoulders and stared tenderly into her eyes. "Please, don't let our lives be what dictates your destiny. I promise I'll protect Zaoly until the end, but I need you to promise me you'll take care of yourself too. We don't know what might happen tomorrow, so I want to see you happy for as long as I can."

Remnya tightened her lips and lowered her gaze. "I'll only be happy knowing you, Zaoly, and Zeo are okay."

"And we'll be okay knowing you're happy."

Silence.

"It's getting late." Remnya stood suddenly, gritting her teeth from the pain in her body.

"Are you going to see her?"

Remnya nodded. "The old man said she would wait for me."

"I understand." Brisa wrapped her arms around Remnya and hugged her tightly. "I'll return to the camp, so make sure you at least come to say goodnight before bed, okay?"

"I will." She smiled.

"And that brute won't get away with this so easily." Brisa scowled.

Remnya bobbed her head reluctantly and hugged her sister back before turning toward the depth of the forest.

Merle had assured her Ozura would be waiting by the training ground. Once a dense part of the forest turned into a plain of ashes, debris, and charred nature. It would be their last encounter, Remnya knew, and her heart pumped adrenaline through her body with each step.

Remnya stood on a low hill that provided a perfect view of the burnt training ground and the mountains of Crysalton on the horizon. Even at that distance, the city glow reached her with a tenuous brightness that resembled thousands of dying fireflies. So close, yet so far.

Descending the hill, Remnya glimpsed a silhouette under a tree. She rushed the pace until Ozura's violet eyes landed on her bruised face. The lady wore her Karx combat uniform and had her hair in a bun. She scanned Remnya for a moment and then turned her gaze to the sky.

The night seemed to freeze for a moment. Not even the leaves moved until she spoke.

"Did you need to see me?" she asked, her voice soothing and tired.

"I was worried about you," Remnya rushed to say.

"I apologize, child. I didn't mean to worry you."

Remnya shook her head. "I just thought something bad had happened to you."

"It wasn't an easy journey, certainly." She smiled.

As Remnya's eyes adapted to the darkness, she noticed the bleeding wounds in Ozura's abdomen and chest. "What happened?" She rushed to her side. "You need to see a doctor!"

Ozura chuckled and placed her hand on Remnya's head. "There's no time for that, child. I still have a mission out there."

"I thought you had already fulfilled your mission." Remnya narrowed her eyes. "You protected this place, took care of everyone, and even trained me. What else do you need to do?"

The lady remained silent for a moment, her eyes displaying peace. "My army requires one more sacrifice from me."

Remnya grimaced at her words. "You don't have to die!"

"Remnya." Ozura raised her voice, which echoed in Remnya's ears like a suppressed roar. "I'm just a grain of sand in this ocean of life and death. Yet, if I do my part, perhaps, just perhaps, the children of tomorrow will be able to see a better future." She stifled a chuckle as she turned to her. "We've fought so long and so hard, Remnya, and despite everything, here we are. We've left so many friends behind, buried so many memories, gave up on so many people. All that so we could be here, this close . . . so close."

Ozura locked her cold yet fiery eyes on hers and spoke from the depths of her heart. "If my life can bring people one ounce of hope and happiness, if my life can change the course of our fates, if my life can bring Debrin one step closer to end this war once and for all. I know that I will gladly give it to him and my army."

Remnya was out of words. All she could do was contemplate her choices in silence while the creatures of the forest filled the silence of the night.

Ozura placed her hand on Remnya's cheek and beamed at her with her perfect teeth and fangs. "I don't expect you to understand me. All I want you is to raise your head, fight for your dreams, and never give up. You still have a long life and a bright future ahead of you, Remnya. Make it real, make it happen."

Silence.

Remnya stared deep into her eyes, witnessing a spark of hope and sincerity in her soul. She took her words and made them her own, saving them deep into her heart, and nodded. "I won't disappoint you, Miss Ozura. I'll fight until the end like you and Mr. Vladimore."

"Thank you." Ozura pulled Remnya against her chest and tightened her arms around her in a motherly hug that filled her soul. "You're a true warrior, don't let anyone tell you otherwise, and I know you will save your friend, Zeo. Trust me, I know you will."

Her words made Remnya shiver, and tears welled up in her eyes. Yet they wouldn't fall that night. They evaporated with the heat of her fire, along with her last fears. If the most powerful lady she had met believed in her, how could she not believe in herself too?

"Thank you." She gripped her tough yet tender and warm body with all her strength. "Thank you for everything."

*°*°*

Next Chapter: February 4