"Hurry! We just need to leave this place"
Ten hooded figures began to speed up in a tight space, brick-walled tunnel. Their steps haunt the ground while the surface vibrates furiously.
Breathing became short and their heart kept pounding up and down. Anxiety washes them over while their abilities are almost down to zero. It is all due to a massive conquering spell that Apollo castes beforehand. Because of that their desire to flee increases with each passing second.
They needed to get away from the temple's impending destruction and this tunnel was only their only way out.
More hidden paths and tunnels used to be accessible inside the tenth temple, however right now when they badly needed them they couldn't use any.
Someone invaded them and managed to find all the life-saving paths they made, only the one their taking was left.
"Hurry!" A female priest urged.
"What's with the rush?"
A deep enigmatic voice suddenly crept into their ears making them look back.
"Hey"
He simply said while slowly making his way towards them.
"Damn it! Go I'll hold him off"
"That is very admirable I never expected to hear such words from people like you"
Another voice was heard but this time it came from the other end of the tunnel.
"No," the person hidden well by her dark cloak said.
Their only path was blocked by the people who were hunting them, a dead end, a literal end.
"I'll call dibs on that guy"
Braiden bravely came forward and pointed to one of the hooded people.
"That guy killed my mother" he added while taking out a saber from his storage ring.
Alya just watched while but her eyes lingered towards the person who was standing in the middle of the enemy group.
"Alya?"
Apollo asked seeing her expression worsening.
"Can you handle this?"
Worried about her situation Apollo thought that facing their past trauma must have woken some unpleasant memories.
Traumatic experiences are very hard to overcome especially if the scar it made is too hard to erase. It keeps coming back no matter how hard you hide it. And it keeps reminding you leaving you no choice but to endure.
Sometimes physiological battles are harder to defeat than physical ones because oftentimes your enemy is yourself and not someone else. And fighting your inner demons means facing your greatest and darkest past.
"It's okay" Apollo tried to comfort her though it seemed she wasn't the only one who was relapsing.
"Aaron?"
Vesta could only shake her head while her friend stood where he was, tears dripping from his eyes.
Apollo panicked at this moment and began comforting the two, however for a person who only thinks about killing his brother and creating destructive spells, it wasn't really helping. He tried to sound calm and gentle but with his current appearance, it looked like he was threatening them.
[This is not gonna work]
Jeremiah bluntly said while scanning the two.
[Their heart rate is rapidly increasing while their blood is focusing on their brain and muscles, preparing for a fast physical response. Their entire body is on high alert and seems to be preparing for an attack or to flee] Explore hidden tales at m,v l'-NovelFire
[Diagnostic report: an anxiety attack, Creator]
Sweat falls over his demonized face not knowing how to mend the situation.
"Apollo"
Braiden and Vesta called making Apollo look at them.
"CLANG!"
Despite the perfect opportunity they made it wasn't enough to easily beat an experienced paladin. They have fought countless battles and slayed many lives, their body had gained an instinct to move when dangers arrived.
"And here I wanted to trim down the numbers"
"You are too arrogant boy"
"Thanks at least that is what you call me now"
"What?"
Braiden loosened his engagement with his enemy's blade and retreated as he did so five shots of anti-magic bullets went flying at them.
Shields was once again pulled up though the bullets punctured it.
This caused them a great deal of nightmare since no one had ever destroyed a shield or any weapons made by the Monastery.
"What kind of weapon is that!?"
Although the bullets poke a hole on their shields it wasn't enough to kill them. Their physical enhancement prevented them from being injured....for now.
Vesta on the other hand engages in close combat with the priest though their fight seems to be in stalemate.
"If only I could use all of my power!"
A voice which resembles a woman irritatingly said while moving her staff to dodge.
The little girl Vesta utilizes the assistance of the mechanized soldiers to disrupt any attacks made by the other priest, that way she can switch and focus on any opponent she likes.
"BANG!"
Another bullet was shot directly hitting the chest of one of the priests.
"Argh!"
The barrier that protects the priest broke off before sending him flying due to the impact.
"So magical barriers can explode like that" Vesta concluded before dodging again.
Although the priest wasn't dead leaving him in such a dire spot would be fatal to him.
A loud cry echoes as Braiden finally takes one life.
The priest who was shot a while ago was dead as soon as his body hit the ground. Paralysed by the bullet Braiden took that chance to kill him.
This was the method Braiden and Vesta used to slowly trim down the lane of enemies until only two people were remaining.
"It really hurts that none of you was able to able to recognize us" the boy said while retreating.
Braiden and Vesta finally stop attacking and let the remaining enemies catch their breath.
"What?"
"How could we possibly...!?.."
"It seems like you are finally recalling us" Vesta then transformed her sword into a flute. This time she is preparing for another hypnotic spell.
"Now then let me take you back to that time" she said while placing her lips near the instrument.
The fine marking on the instrument glows releasing a very pleasant sound.
Braiden stood where he was taking the opportunity to gaze at his enemies.
As the sound influences the mind of its target series of images appear inside their head.
The female priest couldn't help but kneel when the spell fully knocked her defences.
"It's no use defending when you are basically being stomped down"
Braiden looked cold as he said those words.
He no longer cares what happens for his innocence had been long taken.