PHASE 75 - SO WE REALLY DON’T NEED THAT COUNTDOWN!

Everybody was silent, unsure of what they have heard. Even I can’t believe that Rikkun is joking around at times like this.

“Tomorrow, we attack Helena!”

Rikkun repeated his words, and for some reason, his second proclamation had much more of an impact.

“W-Whaaaaaaaaaaaaat!?” All of us have question marks on our faces.

“R-Rikkun, are you sure?” I worriedly asked our leader.

“Of course.” Rikkun chinned up and held his hips, like a senator making a bold platform in the coming elections. “I’m tired of just waiting for our enemy to ambush us. It’s time for us to make an ambush instead! Besides, attacking first have the element of surprise!”

Everybody murmured to their seatmates. They discussed something like “Are we really ready to face Helena?” and “Did Alaric think this plan over?” After a while, I have seen convinced faces nodding to each other.

“So, any objections?” Rikkun said.

Everybody was silent as if they have completely put all their trust to the arrogant king. Almost everyone has this insured smile on their faces.

But not me. I’m the one who objected. I can’t afford to be reckless at times like this. The image of Rikkun dying again has already been tattooed permanently on my brain. If that happens again… If Rikkun dies again… I...

“B-But Rikkun…” I held my chest as I unleashed a worried voice. “I think we should just wait until we’re fully prepared with our defenses.”

“The best defense is a good offense.” Rikkun struck down my argument. “We can hit harder when our enemy is thinking that we’re not ready to attack yet.”

“But… but… What about the countdown to [Days before Helena Returns]?” I asked.

“Who told you to keep track of the countdown?” Rikkun made a smart-aleck reply.

“...Auuuu…” I cried and curled at the corner of the stage after being shut down by my own boyfriend. Everybody laughed in their seats.

Rikkun continued with his proclamation.

“We attack tomorrow morning, at seven, before Helena gets her breakfast so that she will fight empty-stomached. It can raise our chances of victory by a small amount, but every percentage counts. So make sure you eat at 5:30 and we’ll prepare the battlefield at six. Don’t bother training tonight, you guys have worked hard enough. You deserve a good night sleep.”

Rikkun took a short break talking. He made a long sigh. And then…

“Our main mission- to capture Helena Efilion has already commenced. It has already started when we all decided to train and work hard. So now… we’re finally approaching to the end game. Aether Crusade, best of luck.”

“Yeah!” Everybody cheered as they raised their fists with a smile. Everybody, but me.

I’m the only one who has a bad feeling about this.

<>

It’s already midnight. The crescent moon peeks from the slow-moving clouds. Our members are already asleep on their respective guest rooms in the shrine.

Rikkun is sitting in our favorite place at the peak of the mountain. From here, the city of Heightsburg can be seen. It’s already late at night, but the city lights are still twinkling like the stars above. It’s such a magnificent view to relax.

“Rikkun…”

When my lover turned to me, he projected a smile. “Oh, darling. Can’t sleep too?”

“Y-Yes…” I sat on his side.

...

There was a three-second silence, and it’s always an awkward one. We’re just both formulating words that we wanted to say to each other. I can’t seem to find a viable topic on my mind. Rikkun made the initiative.

“Tiara… After this battle… we will be free from any stress. So… What would you want to do?”

“I-I don’t have any particular thing that I wanted to do. As long as I’m with you, I’ll be fine.”

Rikkun’s cheeks become pink, but he chose to ignore the sign as he talked some more. He turned away to hide his face from me as he scratched his head. “I mean- err… Is there a particular place that you want to go?”

“None. Because I’m already in the place where I always want to be…” I said with a vanilla smile. “...In your heart.”

“Ack!” Rikkun’s face is now on full red alert as he scolded me in a stuttering voice. “Y-Y-You idiot pup! Stop teasing me! I-I-I’m trying to talk seriously here!”

Now my boyfriend is on tsundere mode. I really like it when I deliver a critical hit on his feelings. He’s so cute and adorable when flustered. It’s a shame that only I can see this hidden side of him.

“Ahahaha! I’m sorry, Rikkun.” I patted my lover’s golden hair. He didn’t seem to resist. If Rikkun always describes me as a loyal puppy, then I shall describe him as a ferocious bear that is a fluffy teddy inside.

My eyes locked to his emerald eyes. Slowly, our faces drifted towards each other as we made a short but sweet kiss.

“Let’s watch the fireworks on Dradecim Festival again… With more big burgers and three boxes of family-sized pizza and a gallon of rootbeer.” I said.

“I know you’ll say that.” Rikkun chuckled. “Yeah, I’ll take you to the festival again.”

Then we caressed each other as we watch the glittering lights of the night.

I just hope that won’t turn out to be an empty promise.

<>

This is the day of judgment. I can hear the trumpets singing inside my head.

I’m alone. In front of me, is an old two-story apartment. There’s no paint on the cement walls, and most of the windows are broken. It looks deserted as if it has been used as a drug den for a decade. But the intel must be right. This is where Helena lives.

As you all know, I’m a decoy in this operation. Helena only wants my Fragment of the Frozen Soul, so it’s only natural that I’ll be the bait. I’m scared. I think I’m going to pee on my skirt again. But I have to be courageous. I decided this thing on myself, and even Rikkun is against it.

(Actually, Rikkun and I had a small quarrel this morning because we argued on who’s going to be the bait. Rikkun volunteered himself, and I objected. Since Helena is only after me, I suggested that I’ll be the one to take his place. I won the argument via TKO.)

“With determination, I will never give up!” I pumped myself with a whisper.

“Tiara, proceed,” Rikkun said through my earpiece. His voice is a little bit inaudible because I think he’s still holding his bleeding nose.”

According to Drex and Benedict, our target resides on the second floor. I carefully walked like a cat thief in order to make the softest possible noise ever. I walked past the unoccupied rooms on the first floor, climbed the creepy stairs all the way to the second floor.

I’m finally in front of the room.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Nobody answered. It seems like the inside is awfully quiet.

But then…

“Tiara, use , quick!” Rikkun exclaimed.

As soon as I crossed my arms, the door exploded from inside the room, unleashing a tremendous amount of energy and a thousand-volt lightning burst!

“Kyah!” I was launched from the second floor all the way back to the ground. Before my body can touch the ground, I used my feet to tumble and regain my balance.

Good thing I managed to chant on time to minimize the damage I suffered.

The smoke from the second floor started to fade, and it revealed a woman with long blue hair tied in a ponytail. She is wearing a torn blue-and-black gown and inside it is her bodysuit armor. She used her broadsword to wipe away the dusty smoke from around her. Then, she revealed her mechanical arm which is filled with deadly blades capable of tearing anything in half.

“You’re too early for your damn funeral.” Helena made a menacing chuckle.

“Helena-senpai…” I muttered.

I focused all the prana on my body to unleash my . My shrine maiden dress transformed into a goddess robe that has non-combusting flames on the tips of the cloth. Ten wings emerged from my back, and a white floating scarf twirled on my arms.

I raised my fists, ready to show the fruits of my training.

“I swear that I’ll defeat you, and bring you back!” My cries echoed.

[Days before Helena’s Return: DOESN’T MATTER]