After gathering all the materials, we needed, Cleo sat down beside the fire place she made and let out a sigh. What’s on her mind? Tsk, since when have I become such a caring person who gives a shit about others? I walked towards Cleo and sat at the opposite end of the fire, “So… What’s on your mind? I mean, if it’s personal, you don’t have to…” Cleo looked up at me, her eyes were the eyes of one who has endless regrets and guilt, one who seeks redemption, one who seeks forgiveness. “I was the pharaoh, a queen of a country, mighty and powerful Egypt grew under my rule.”

She looked back down at the fire, I could faintly see a tear roll off her cheek. “A woman can never be as great as a man, those were the words my father told me. He had no son, I had no brother, they had no choice but to hand the throne to me. I was a warrior, a fighter but never wanted or even dreamt of being a leader. My people sensed my weakness and a riot began, before long, civil war broke between my uncle and I. Many fell below the wrath of my army and soon after my first victory, bloodlust overwhelmed me as I marched onwards, conquering every corner of Egypt.”

Cleo stood up with her hands behind her back and looked up at the star filled sky, “The night sky in Egypt was once as pretty as the sky here, until I realized what I had done, blood shed everywhere, villages raided and destroyed, even the children were not spared. The generals below me were soon overcame with bloodlust as well, killing everyone who defied the royal empire. It was till that night, when I looked up to the night sky, there were no stars, all there was, were smoke and ash drifting through the air of yet another village. A kid appeared before me, roughly the age of 8, he had no fear in his eyes, he had no family, nothing to lose… He charged at me with a rock and hit me hard on my shin before falling on his back in fear. I was no queen to my people, I was no pharaoh, I was a tyrant, a cruel ruler of Egypt and yet all records of these inhumane actions were erased… Those people I killed, justice never found them… The boy was beheaded right in front of me by my general, that was when I realized, I must change. A few days later, I surrendered myself to the rebels where I met my fate, a fate I more than deserved. Now looking at the sky, it gives me hope, being alive again, I want to make a change, young master, I will destroy this tyrant known as Tetsuya, that is the justice he deserves.”

Sitting back down beside me, Cleo hugs her legs close to her chest. “Tell me more about yourself young master, I don’t want to be the only one talking.” I laid back and stared at the sky, “When I was 8 with my mum and sister, we went to a park I could still remember the cherry blossom trees around us. She promised that she would bring us to see sakura flowers, we ran around and played catch till it got darker. The three of us laid down and looked right at the stars in the night sky just like this one, my mum always said that one day if she disappears, she would be watching us from above as a star, the brightest one. My sister always believed that even till she left me, my sister probably still believed mum was watching over us…” Emotions soon overwhelmed me as I could feel tears leaking off the corners of my eyes, I couldn’t hold it back at all.

Cleo lied down next to me and places her hands over the sides of my face using her thumbs to wipe away my tears. “I lost my empire and the trust of my people, you lost those that’s precious to you too. Right now, in the present, we can still change the future… You’re a big boy now, don’t cry…” She embraces me, wrapping her arms over my neck and head, “Siegfried might have summoned me but you, Souta, I will always respect and follow you till the end. I hereby pledge to serve under you, so open up your pain to me, there’s no need to hide anything.”

For once, I felt comfort in opening my dark and cold heart to someone else, even if she was a stranger, I could feel the same pain I have within her… It was what brought us closer….

“Master, there’s someone nearby.” Cleo holds me down towards her chest, almost too close. “Hostile?” “Negative but I don’t feel any of the other’s presence… Wait, it’s the girl with the blade!” Cleo leaps into the air and readied herself with her bow forming from her palm, she pulls on the string of her bow creating a fire elemental arrow. “Show yourself!” A girl with a black cloak over her head covering her face approaches us, “I’m not here to fight, Souta...hear me out… I…I…” The girl fell onto her knees and broke into tears. “I was given an order to eliminate your sister and Misashi, if not he would attack and do unimaginable things to my sister… I couldn’t let him so… I made my way to your home as fast as I could to ask both to escape. I didn’t realise Tetsu was following me… I’m sorry… Yuki-chan…”

Now it all made sense, that girl Amaterasu is Kyo’s sister. She was forced to kill Yukina and Misashi but instead gave an opening for them to escape. Her intentions were good, but she had a sister to protect from Tetsu as well… I should have known Kyo better and understood her background… All this could have been avoided… Fuck…

I made my way towards Kyo and pulled back the hood covering her head, her eyes were red from all the crying and her arms had bruises on them, her hair was slightly ruffled and messy as though they had been messed around with or tugged on. “What did Tetsu do to you…” Kyo shakes her head silently, refusing to answer me. “Kyo! Tell me please! You are my friend, someone I trust and hold dear to…so please! Stop with all this nonsense and be honest with me!”

Anger and confusion took over my body, my emotions were running wild… But I knew Kyo was good at heart, she would never betray us…

“Tetsu… He wanted to use my sister for plea…pleasure, I begged him to stop and offered myself in exchange… He was rough and I was helpless and too afraid to do anything but I knew if I didn’t my sister would suffer this fate…” I held Kyo tightly in my arms and consoled her. “I swear I will put an end to Tetsu… I will save you and your sister but first we need to get off this island.” Cleo walks up behind us and helps Kyo up, “I forgive you, that bastard Tetsuya! Does he not respect women? In the name of the great Amun-ra, I will slay that mongrel!” The bow transformed into a spear as Cleo drives it down hard into the ground.

Kyo brightened up and smiles with tears in her eyes, “Thank you… Sorry for everything but right now trust me, I know how to get out of the island but first we have to find the others, there are a lot of dangers in this island believe it or not. But now the sun’s down it isn’t safe to continue travelling, I suggest we rest and press on after the sun is up.” Cleo and I nodded our heads in agreement as we set camp to sleep.

[On the other side of the jungle]

“Curses! Is there no end to these monsters?” Spartacus yells as he grabs onto one of the raptors, crushing its neck before ripping out its head from the body. Two more leaps out and latches onto Spartacus’ back, Reinhardt quickly forms two daggers using his mana and sends them flying through the raptors’ necks. “Thank you Rein-dono!” Reinhardt nods as he regathers his focus back onto the giant raptor before him, it was at least three meters tall with claws as sharp and long as Reinhardt’s sword. Gawain quickly kills off the remaining smaller raptors before joining Reinhardt against the giant raptor.

“Reinhardt, combine your demonic strike with my attacks. The more evil and dark energy around me, the stronger my blade gets!” Reinhardt nods and unleashes crimson dark energy from his body forming an armor around him. His blade vanishes as the armor forms two long crimson blades over his arms before he charges at the giant raptor. “Die! Die! Die!” In the mode that he was in, Reinhardt lost his consciousness as his demonic nature and self takes over his body, essentially becoming a mad berserker. “Galatine heed my call. As darkness shadows over the light, all hope shall not be lost! May the light prevail and give me strength!” The sword in Gawain’s hands lit up brighter than the sun itself blinding those around him, the light intensifies as Reinhardt went crazier and soon enough the light reaches Reinhardt, erasing the demonic armor around him allowing him to regain consciousness. “Now!” Reinhardt yells as he fell onto one knee. Gawain slashes forward sending a huge wave of light at the giant raptor easily slicing it into two cleanly. The trees and earth in the path of the blast were split apart and knocked down…

[At the edge of the jungle]

“A beam of light! It must be Gawain! Princess we must hurry, Gawain must be there!” Hanabi nods as she and Guan Yu made their way to the light.

[Back in the east side of the jungle]

“Did you hear that?” I got up and looked up seeing a huge ray of light and the earth around us trembled. Cleo smiles and points towards the light, “Looks like we found our guys! We can’t wait till sunrise! Let’s go!” Kyo was sound asleep so I piggybacked her as the three of us made our way towards the light.

~To Be Continued~