Chapter 106 Unique Challenge: Survive [7] Mary

"D-Dhank you brotha…snifff" The child Elona was walking with her brother in the garden of the Royal Palace of the Kingdom of Celesta. She was grasping his hand tightly after what happened with Loid. She had been bullied by Loid, Thomas and Alfred and thankfully her brother intervened at time.

"You are still crying, Elona?" Edward patted his sister's head.

"I-I hate them!" Elona said, rubbing her eyes.

Edward smiled seeing his cute sister pouting, "Then get strong to beat Loid and the others. I'm sure you can."

"R-Really…?" Elona asked with puppy eyes.

"Yeah." Edward nodded, puffing out his chest. "My little sister can easily beat Loid. He is too weak for us."

"Whatch about Thomas?" Elona stuttered.

"Thomas? Easy win, Elona." Edward laughed, making Elona giggle as well.

"...and Alfred?"

"Ah…Alfred is too strong for you but don't worry. Your big brother will be there for him. I will make him cry and hide behind Aunty."

"Yeah!"

"Who are you going to make cry?"

""!""

Edward and Elona flinched at the sudden voice but when they turned around, they froze.

There, was a stunning black-haired and amber-eyed woman with a kind smile on her lips.

"Mommy!" Elona jumped immediately into her mother's embrace.

"Come here, little girl!" Oryanna Olphean hugged her daughter tightly before looking at Edward.

"What are you waiting for? Are you perhaps angry toward your mommy?" Oryann exaggeratedly wiped nonexistent tears.

"N-No! Welcome back mom!" Edward smiled brightly and hugged his mother as well. "W-Where were you again?" He asked, a little upset.

"Mommy?" Elona raised her gaze for answers as well.

"I'm sorry…I have a lot of work to do recently. It's complicate." Oryanna said with a sad smile and patted Edward and Elona. "Thomen will be there for you."

"Daddy? He is always busy! Hmpf!" Elona puffed out her cheeks.

"Yeah…Dad is…like avoiding us, mom." Edward lowered his head. "Avoiding…me." His last whisper didn't go unnoticed by Oryanna's amber eyes.

"I love you Edward, I love you Elona. Your father also loves you but he can't express it well so try to support him, okay?"

""Yes!"" Elona and Edward nodded at the same time.

"Mom will always be with you no matter the distance separating us? Okay?" Oryanna raised her finger and asked in a playful yet serious tone.

""Yes!""

"But Elona, if your brother does something bad, like making Alfred cry, you have to stop him by any means. It's your job as his little sister."

"M-Mom?" Edward was embarrassed by Oryanna's words.

"Yes mommy!" Elona put her hand on her forehead in a salute. "I will stop big brother from doing bad things!"

"Good." Oryanna nodded with a grin and glanced at Edward who seemed to sulk.

"...and you Edward." Oryanna suddenly hugged tighter Edward. "You are the Heir of our family and the eldest. Promise me, Edward. Promise that you will always protect your family." Oryanna asked in a serious tone.

"I promise mom." Edward nodded vehemently his head.

"..." Suddenly blood flowed out from Oryanna's nose as she saw Edward and Elona nodding their heads.

"M-Mom?!"

"It's nothing!" Oryanna turned around and wiped the blood while muttering, "Damn…they are too cute even for me…"

"Are you okay, mom?" Edward asked worriedly.

Oryanna smiled and pinched Edward's cheeks. "No matter what happens, help each other, Edward, Elona."

"Yes, mommy!" Elona giggled innocently.

"What about you?" Oryanna raised her brow at Edward.

"Y-Yes mom!" Edward hurriedly answered.

"Kyaaa! I love you so much!" Oryanna suddenly let out a high-pitched voice before hugging Elona and Edward.

***

"Sun Fireball." A giant ball of fire appeared in my vision bigger than the whole train. The passengers inside the train. Inside they were all panicking.

Should I just dodge and let the train burn?

"D-Don't worry! We are here!" Unfortunately Elona reassured them.

"No choice." I raised my staff and coiled one of my fire rings around it. "Cut through! Thrust!" With a thundering sound, the staff sliced the fireball in two parts which exploded on the sea below us. Thankfully we still didn't reach the next station.

"Flame Sword." The scarred man opened his palm and like before a burning sword appearing in his right hand.

Flame staff sounds cringe?

[<Yes.>]

[Without doubts]

I smiled and channeled my mana in my entire staff, which caught fire. The white pure staff burned darkly in purple stunning everyone.

"..."

"..."

We both stared at each other's eyes, seemingly waiting for a cue.

On my left and on his right the sun slowly set down, tainting the sky in a beautiful orange hue.

At the same time, we kicked out the ground and swung out weapons.

-Booom!

A powerful purplish-orange shockwave rippled in the surroundings. Thankfully Elona was there to protect the passengers with her mana.

The scarred man lunged forward again, his sword aimed at my head. I deftly dodged to the side, swinging my staff in a wide arc. He blocked it with his sword, the sound of metal clashing echoing through the area.

I stepped back, trying to recover some breath. I had to stay focused if I wanted to come out of this fight alive.

"Ah!" He struck again, his sword whistling through the air drawing a burning circle in the air.

"Ugh.." I blocked it with my staff, my muscles straining under the force of the blow. I countered with a quick jab, but the scarred man was too quick. He stepped back and swung his sword in a wide arc, forcing me to leap backwards to avoid it.

"Ah..ah…"

It was really getting tiring. I could only fight with my stamina and adrenaline.

I gritted my teeth and jumped once more.

The train was filled with the sound of our clashing weapons, the flames from our weapons casting flickering in the twilight sky. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. I had to end this fight soon, before the scarred man found a weakness in my defenses.

"It's useless, Edward Falkrona."

He pressed forward again, a look of determination on his scarred face. I blocked his sword with my staff, but the force of the blow sent me staggering backwards. I stumbled and nearly fell off the train, but managed to catch myself at the last moment.

The scarred man seized the opportunity and lunged forward, his sword aimed at my chest. I barely managed to deflect it with my staff, but the impact sent me flying backwards across in the void.

Shit!

I summoned a mirror which was connected to the train and landed again on the roof, the breath knocked out of me.

The scarred man advanced on me, his sword raised high. I scrambled to my feet, my mind racing. I knew I had to do something, and fast.

"!"

But suddenly the scarred man leapt back. A few seconds later, countless shards of mirrors fell from the sky like a deadly rain.

I turned around and saw Mary.

"M-Mary-cough!" I spat blood midway.

Looks like my body is reaching its limit.

"What are you doing here? It's dangerous. Leave." I said but Mary ignored me and summoned mirror after mirror to attack the scarred man. The latter burned them with his sword one after another.

"Mary, how did you appe-!"

When I forcefully turned Mary around, I saw her bleeding from the nose and mouth.

"Why?! Why did you forcefully come here?" She was hurting herself like that.

"..."

"Mary answer me!" I shook her arm. Finally Mary bit her lips and turned around.

"Mary?" I was lacking words when I saw her eyes brimming with tears.

"W-Why?" She muttered. "Why are you always putting yourself in d-danger like that?"

"What are you saying? I'm not-"

"No." She shook her head and wiped her tears. "How many times have you nearly died these last months?" I-I can't…even come to help you!"

"Mary…I don't want to die but I also don't want you to die, why are putting yourself in danger like tha-"

"Be-Because I-I can't!" She cut me off and looked at me with swollen eyes. "I-I can't bear to lose you, I-I don't want to lose you! I-I love you so please don't d-die…" she finished wiping her tears again but I froze at the end.

I wasn't the only one.

Everyone froze.

'I love you'.

That's what she said?

My heart started to race and my skin started to turn red.

[<Such a virgin.>]

Shaddap!

"U-Um, okay…thanks Mary…I-I'm very happy to hear words like that from your…a-and-"

"Fireball!"

"!"

I put Mary behind me and raised my hand.

"Fireball." One of my rings vanished to form a giant fireball of the same size as the orange fireball.

I clenched my fist, channeling more and more mana but as expected his fireball was bigger than mine. I slowly slid back, unable to bear the pressure.

"M-Mary?!" I let out surprised when Mary hugged me from the front to protect me from the attack.

"What a cute couple."

"Huh?"

I raised my gaze to the sky and saw a floating figure. It was a woman in a white dress wearing a golden mask hiding her entire face.

No way!

A Legendary Heroine.