Return of the Fallen Volume 4 Chapter 24
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Author: Blue_Rat
ch24
Shin’s body fell over limp, he was out cold. Asuna got up and was about to run over to Shin’s side. She didn’t like how he behaved but they were still comrades. However, how could Reya allow that? She needed to make things clear and set the tone now before anyone got any ideas.
*Whoosh*
The wind raced past Asuna’s ears as Reya appeared before her like a ghost. Asuna froze in her steps. Reya reached out with lightning-like speed and grabbed Asuna by the neck. With ease, she lifted Asuna off the ground.
Asuna tried to loosen Reya’s grip but found the large woman’s strength unbendable.
She started to choke as she coughed out a few words.
“Wh…What do you want?”
As soon as she asked the question Asuna felt stupid. Of course, Reya wanted the compass from Kazuki. Asuna and everyone else knew that which is why she didn’t understand why Reya had come to find them but it was clear.
(If this monster is here, does that mean she didn’t capture Ryu…Kazuki?)
Asuna didn’t know how to feel about that but Reya’s next words confused her even more.
“You all will serve as my hostages. Kazuki has fled and I have a feeling you lot know where he runs to. I’ll make things simple. All you all have to do is tell me where he’s headed. Then, we will all take a little trip there. I’ll hand you all over to him and in return, he will give me exactly what I want and afterward…”
Reya’s eyes flashed fiendishly as she thought.
(Then I kill him.)
Of course, she wouldn’t tell Asuna and the others that. Otherwise, they might refuse to tell her anything and she really didn’t feel like wasting time torturing all these children. She’d much rather kill them, to be honest, but if she did that then Kazuki might refuse to trade. She found this group of people in her time of desperation and was glad things were starting to turn around but that didn’t mean she wasn’t annoyed with the situation.
Danny and Sam, all shared a bitter look. The two though couldn’t say that they were not friends with Kazuki and were therefore worthless but Asuna wasn’t like the two. Even as her breathing was labored and she struggled, kicking her feet about in the air, she still couldn’t help but laugh painfully.
“Ha. You aren’t too bright are you?”
Reya was intrigued by this young woman in her grasp.
(This girl actually dares laugh in my face. I could snap her neck with a small pinch. Is she crazy or something?)
Asuna choked a bit and continued.
“You think we’re friends with that bastard. He…he betrayed and used us. There’s no way he would hand over anything to you, not for our lives anyway.”
Sam looked away bitterly and Danny felt his heart race in fear. He wanted to do everything in his power to shut Asuna up at this moment.
(If this giant woman thinks we are of no use, she’ll have no reason to keep us alive.)
“She’s lying. She’s just trying to fool you. She’s actually Kazuki’s lover. If you trade us, he will definitely not fight with you!”
Asuna tried her best to crank her neck and looked back at Danny with bewilderment.
“You, what are you saying?”
Danny ignored her and asked Reya.
“We will cooperate with you so please put my friend down and allow us to help our friend you knocked out, he could use some help.”
Reya didn’t know what was going on. Was Asuna lying or was Danny. Reya knew they were traveling together and by what she gathered from Muteki in the beginning, he was clearly trying to take Kazuki as well as Asuna and the others with him back to Tresta.
(From what I saw, Muteki didn’t seem to be a man of mercy. So why would he allow this girl and her friends to live if they weren’t important? They were clearly there to take Kazuki back and the others were just a bonus maybe? If so, does that make them important to Kazuki or to Treia or both?)
Reya didn’t know who to believe at the moment and thought about it. She pulled Asuna closer to her and spoke bluntly.
“Girl, who is lying, you or that boy over there? Are you really nothing to Kazuki or are the two of you lovers like he said?”
Asuna couldn’t answer immediately and her cheeks slightly flushed before she screamed in anger.
“Wh…Who would be that bastards lover? No way…There’s absolutely no way!”
Reya laughed before she leaned in closer and whispered into Asuna’s ear.
“Then why did you just blush?”
Asuna’s expression changed before everyone’s eyes from anger to something else entirely. The red that crawled up her face was it anger or embarrassment? Reya took it as the later before she threw Asuna into the snow below.
“So it’s as the boy says, you and Kazuki are lovers.”
Asuna tried to retort but Reya’s mind was already made up.
“Don’t try to convince me otherwise. If you didn’t like him, why would you react in this way? Hmm, maybe your not lovers but you clearly have feelings of affection for him. There’s definitely a relationship between the two of you, I have no doubt.”
Asuna was at a loss for words. Why did her face flush? Why did she no deny it right away?
(I…I hate him. I absolutely do. After what he did. SO why is this feeling in my chest.)
Asuna’s thoughts drifted on a certain someone and she quickly shook her head, trying to drive any weird ideas from her mind.
(No, it isn’t true. He’s a liar and…and.)
Reya squatted down in front of Asuna and snapped her fingers repeatedly to get her attention. Asuna was brought back to reality and her face warped in anger.
“I… there’s nothing betwee…”
Reya put a hand in front of her face.
“Save the speeches for someone who cares. Right now you seem like nothing more than a girl trying desperately to protect your man. Nothing you say will convince me otherwise.”
Asuna’s lower lip trembled until she bit it in anger.
This though just made her seem even more guilty in Reya’s eyes. Reya stood up and pointed at Shin lying unconsciously behind her.
“You over there, go help your friend.”
Sam struggled to his feet as his injuries were still not healed and took an unsteady step before Reya stopped him.
“No not you. Even though your injured, it’s easy to tell who the strongest is among you. Though you wouldn’t be able to do much to me, that would be the perfect time for you to attack me and distract me. No, the weak one there.”
Reya pointed at Danny without a second thought and Danny in return trembled lightly.
“Yes you, go help that unconscious idiot over there.”
Danny shuffled to his feet and ran over to Shin’s side to take care of him but really there was little he could do without a magic tool.
Reya’s ring flashed a dim purple light and several small vials the size of an average man’s finger fell out. A dark green liquid swirled about inside.
“Didn’t think I’d actually need something for humans but Master is wise.”
Reya tossed the small vials to everyone and ordered.
“Drink!”
Everyone froze on the spot and didn’t dare make a reckless move.
“Hmpf, you think any of us would fall for that crap. What’s in the vial, huh? Something that will take control of us? Maybe some slow active poison or some mind control…”
Reya was already losing patience and grabbed Asuna’s by the neck once again. Asuna had been mid-sentence and her mouth was wide open. Reya popped the cork on the vial with her thumb before shoving the contents into Asuna’s mouth and pouring it directly down her throat.
Asuna tried to spit the foul-smelling liquid up but Reya covered her mouth with a hand and pinched her nose shut, stealing her air until Asuna could take no more and relented, swallowing all of the contents down in one gulp.
Reya made sure it was all gone before she nodded in approval and released Asuna.
*Puh*
Asuna gasped for breath and held her throat in agony. A burning unlike any she’s ever felt rushed down her throat following the green liquid. She was in so much pain from this hot feeling, that she began to grab handfuls of snow and pull them into her mouth before gulping them down. After a moment or two of this, the burning sensation faded. In its place a warm current of energy flowed into her stomach before extending itself outward, making its way into all of her extremities.
She sat up and stared at Reya dumbfoundedly before looking over herself. The wounds she had from battle. The remaining cuts, bruises, all of it healed at a visible rate. A small amount of smoke arose from the wounds on the surface of her skin before the wounds completely faded away.
“My wounds, there gone!”
Sam saw this and didn’t hesitate. He popped the cork and poured the precious liquid into his mouth to test it. The pain was dreadful but he was used to much worse and only released a small groan as a liquid fire fell down his throat. Just like Asuna, Sam felt a warm energy spread out within him and his broken bones snapped into place and healed. In less than a minute his severe injuries that covered his entire body vanished as though he were never injured in the first place.
He gripped his fist repeatedly in astonishment as he felt no issues whatsoever.
At this realization, he looked at the other vial Reya had tossed at him. Picking it up like it was the most important treasure in the world, he popped the cork and without a second thought, he carefully poured it into Kimi’s mouth.
Kimi’s eyes snapped open and she gripped her throat before screaming out as though she were dying. Sam grabbed a handful of snow and began to feed it to Kimi with care. Kimi cried and screamed simultaneously but Sam could do nothing but continue to feed her snow. At the same time, he stared desperately at where Kimi’s arm had been torn from her shoulder.
As the pain finally subsided and the wounds healed, Sam lowered his head in sorrow. Kimi’s wounds had healed but her arm did not grow back. Sam felt foolish for thinking something could be done so easily and felt anguish for Kimi. Kimi, on the other hand, was terrified the moment her eyes landed on Reya and she couldn’t help but scream.
“Mon…MONSTER!”
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