Calguas stood in shock, his mind reeling from Yellaine's revelation. Questions about her connection to Nia'le burned within him, but before he could voice them, Yellaine implored him to save Tassa, expressing genuine remorse for her actions. The weight of regret was evident in her tear-filled eyes, as she desperately sought redemption by freeing Tassa from the clutches of the military.
Knowing Yellaine as a strong and stubborn woman, despite their relatively short time together, Calguas cared for her deeply, much like he cared for Tassa. He couldn't bear to witness her tears and sadness. Moved by her weeping, he felt a melancholic ache within him, yearning to alleviate her pain. Yellaine knelt on the floor, her cries echoing through the room, and Calguas, overcome with empathy, slowly squatted down and gently took hold of her trembling hands. Yellaine met his gaze, her tear-streaked face filled with confusion, and she questioned his own tears.
"Because you're weeping, and I cannot bear to see you in such sorrow. I forbid it," Calguas whispered, his touch tender as he wiped away her tears. "Do not worry, I will save her no matter what, even if you hadn't pleaded with me. Now, let me unravel the pieces and ask you a question. Is Nia'le somehow related to you, Yellaine?" Calguas inquired, his voice tinged with curiosity.
Regret filled Yellaine's eyes, not only for her actions towards Tassa but also for her connection to Nia'le. She nodded slowly, her tears flowing as she answered, "Yes, he is my twin brother." Gripping Calguas's hands tightly, she continued, "No one can erase him from my mind or my life. He was not the criminal people believed him to be. He saved me, sacrificing himself for my sake, and I loved him. But I left him, abandoned him."
Calguas's expression softened, his gaze filled with understanding. "Do not worry, Yellaine. I, too, believe that Nia'le was a good person. Perhaps, in some way, he still is. Thank you for sharing everything with me."
As Calguas prepared to stand, Yellaine halted him, grasping his sleeve. She anxiously asked if he would truly save Tassa. Calguas reached out, helping her to her feet, and offered a warm smile as he gently kissed her forehead. "Of course, I will. Both of you hold great importance to me. So, cheer up, I implore you."
Yellaine struggled to muster a smile, weighed down by the heavy emotions that enveloped her. Nonetheless, she tightened her hold on Calguas, expressing her gratitude. Suddenly, without warning, Calguas vanished before Yellaine's eyes. Shocked yet filled with a glimmer of hope, she whispered into the empty space, "I don't know who you are, but I trust you. Please, save her, my good sir."
Yellaine's words hung in the air, a plea filled with both desperation and faith, as she awaited Calguas's return and the chance for redemption.
Calguas rushed to find Vilyn, his heart still racing from their encounter. As he approached her, he reached out to hold her hand, a gesture that took her by surprise. Before he could utter a word, Vilyn enveloped him in a tight embrace, her excitement palpable. She interrupted him with a playful question, asking if he possessed the "kiss of death" like Ixartxist. Calguas, taken aback by her forwardness, simply looked at her, momentarily speechless. He shook his head, indicating that he did not possess such abilities. Unexpectedly, Vilyn leaned in and kissed him on the lips, a mischievous smile adorning her face.
"At least that was safe. So, what do you like, Miamor?" Vilyn inquired, her curiosity piqued. Calguas, still taken aback by her sudden affection, struggled to find words. He realized there was no time to waste and firmly grasped her hand, his voice filled with urgency.
"There is no time, Vilyn. Let us help Ixartxist and find Tassa," Calguas urged. Vilyn, surprised by his reaction, took a step back, her eyes narrowing as she observed him from the corner of her gaze. A mix of petrification and excitement flickered across her face. Suspicion crept into her voice as she questioned his motives.
"Petrified or excited? Well, you seemed quite enthusiastic about finding her, my love. Wait, you aren't planning to abandon me for Tassa, like Ixartxist did, are you?" Vilyn cautiously asked. Calguas looked at her sincerely, his gaze filled with determination.
"I will never do that, I promise," Calguas assured her. Vilyn, still holding onto him tightly, made him promise not to cheat on her. Calguas, not one to play with her emotions, embraced her silently, understanding the weight of her words.
In that moment, Ixartxist entered the room, his eyes falling upon the embrace between Calguas and Vilyn. He observed them for a few seconds before averting his gaze. With a hint of sarcasm, he remarked, "No ship, Sherlock. What do we have here?" Vilyn proudly boasted to Ixartxist about her new boyfriend, but he showed no interest. Instead, he walked towards Calguas and inquired about his swift return. Calguas replied, explaining the urgency to find Tassa. Ixartxist, his curiosity piqued, questioned the reason behind their haste. Calguas, not wanting to reveal the true danger Tassa faced, calmed himself and responded calmly.
"I have heard rumors that the military has captured the 'devil girl' somewhere here in America. It could be Quart, Ixartxist," Calguas revealed. Ixartxist's expression turned to one of petrification, attempting to convince himself that it could be anyone, not just Quart. Vilyn, observing his trembling hands, denied looking at him directly and reassured Calguas that she had not cheated. However, Ixartxist paid no heed to her words and urged her to perform the spell immediately. It was a rare sight to see Ixartxist so visibly nervous and worried. His lips paled, and his face lost color, his hands still trembling despite his efforts to conceal it. In response, Vilyn, knowing she was not in the right condition to perform the spell, softly touched his face.
"I am weak right now, Ixartxist. I'm sorry, but I cannot," she whispered. Ixartxist understood her limitations, yet he still desired her assistance. Unsure of what to do or which path to choose, Vilyn made him meet her gaze, her deep violet eyes captivating him. With a calm determination, she kissed him on the lips. Ixartxist did not resist, simply watching her as she finished.
"Do not worry, I will still help you, my Ixartxist," Vilyn assured him. By kissing him, she absorbed 29% of his power, a fact Ixartxist was aware of. Calguas, observing the exchange, remained silent, unsure of what was transpiring between the two. After the kiss, Vilyn waved her hands, casting the spell to locate Tassa. She successfully broke through Tassa's protection spell, revealing her dire situation. Tassa was bound, her hands tied, wearing a long, dirty white sweater. She sat alone in the confinement room. Anger welled up within both Ixartxist and Calguas at the sight before them.
Tassa remained bound and deprived of food for three agonizing days. The military subjected her to both mental and physical torture, granting permission to scientists to conduct examinations on her. They were well aware that she was not an ordinary person. They sought answers, wanting to understand how she had managed to kill the prisoners they had sent to beat her, and how she had eliminated the military personnel on the night of her arrest. The beatings had left her body bruised and battered, but her face remained untouched, a testament to her captors' twisted sense of cruelty. To further degrade her, they adorned her body with countless tattoos.
"Why would they confine her like that?" Vilyn questioned, her voice filled with disbelief.
"Because they believe she is an extremely dangerous individual," Calguas replied, his tone heavy with frustration.
"What a predicament. They are the true demons, not us," Vilyn remarked bitterly.
Ixartxist wasted no time and teleported himself to the military compound. Calguas and Vilyn followed suit, determined to rescue Tassa from her tormentors. Meanwhile, Suman paid a visit to Ixartxist's home, unaware that they had already departed to save Tassa. Finding the house empty, he decided to amuse himself by exploring Ixartxist's room. Curiosity led him to rummage through Calguas's belongings, searching for his misplaced necklace. However, to his disappointment, he found nothing. Assuming that Calguas might be wearing it, he abandoned his search and continued to meddle with Ixartxist's possessions.
"Oh, so this is his favorite T-shirt. I rarely see him wearing this. How can he claim it as his favorite?" Suman mused, tossing the shirt onto Ixartxist's bed. He continued to inspect Ixartxist's belongings, stumbling upon a bag filled with Tassa's used clothes. His eyes scanned the items with a detached curiosity.
"Wow, I did not expect to find all of this. What is he doing with all of Quart's clothes?" Suman's mind wandered to a dirty thought, causing him to smirk before discarding the clothes and casually reclining on Ixartxist's bed. Realizing that the three of them were nowhere to be found, he pondered their whereabouts.
"Speaking of which, where could those three have gone?" Suman wondered aloud, his voice echoing through the empty room
**Military Compound**
Ixartxist, Calguas, and Vilyn arrived at the heavily fortified military compound, bristling with security systems. It was a place from which escape seemed impossible for an ordinary person, guarded by numerous troops.
Vilyn read the words inscribed on the gate, "Once you enter, you can never go back." She found it unsettling and remarked, "Wow, they've put that there to scare people away from entering. How bizarre."
Ixartxist, his eyes filled with cold determination, looked at the words and promptly turned them into ash. "How grotesque," he muttered, his voice laced with disdain.
With the gate destroyed, the three of them entered the compound. Vilyn, taken aback by Ixartxist's direct approach, voiced her concern. "I thought we were going to sneak in and rescue Tassa quietly and peacefully, Ixartxist."
However, Ixartxist remained silent, ignoring her protest. Vilyn pouted in frustration, but she stayed by their side. A military personnel noticed their entrance and ordered them to raise their hands in the air. Unfazed, Ixartxist walked past the soldier, paying him no heed. Vilyn, on the other hand, complied, raising her hands and questioning Calguas about Ixartxist's disregard for the soldier. Calguas, like Ixartxist, ignored both the soldier and Vilyn, nonchalantly continuing on their path. Irritated by their behavior, Vilyn seethed with anger but refused to leave her position.
In a swift motion, Ixartxist teleported behind the soldier and delivered a powerful punch to his gut, causing the soldier to lose consciousness. Turning to Vilyn, Ixartxist asked, "Why are you being so docile, Vilyn?"
"I'm just..." Vilyn began, but was interrupted by Ixartxist's commanding tone.
"Hurry up," he ordered.
With a renewed sense of urgency, they ran through the compound, navigating through a maze of military personnel and equipment in search of Tassa. The stakes were high, and their determination burned brighter than ever.