Yuni's POV

Waking up facing an unfamiliar ceiling, Where am I? I remembered getting stabbed... That's right where's Mom?

I heard the sound of the door opening, quickly turning to it's direction I saw a girl. She's around the same age as me, wearing a light blue dress, a red scarf which covers her neck.

I tried to get up and I asked her. "Who are you?"

She quickly turned to my direction and made me lay down. I could see the relief on her face as she told herself.

"Thank Goodness you're safe." Why is she worried about me? I stared at her trying to find out her true intentions.

Perhaps she can help me look for Mom.

"Where am I?" She lightly pats my head as she told me.

"A cabin near the forest of Elafas."

That's right, I was stabbed by that soldier, perhaps this girl found me and treated my injuries? If that's the case Mom is....

Tears slowly dropped from my eyes, She embraced me, she stroke my back lightly and told me in a calming tone.

"There's nothing to be afraid off, I'm here for you."

She continued to caress my back while repeatedly telling me.

"I'm here for you, Everything is going to be alright."

Upon calming down she asked me my name. She also told me her name Akane I simply replied.

"Yu-Yuni." Akane pats my head and told me. "I'll protect you, I'm here for you."

Without thinking I grabbed her hand, held it tightly with all my strength, she looked at me with wonder, I looked down unable to make eye contact and asked her.

"You'll protect me? Even if I'm not human?"

Akane paused for a moment as if hesitant to answer, I continued to Stare at her trying to guess her thoughts. She looks at me straight in the eye and replied.

"Human or not I will protect you."

Confused with her reply I asked her. "Why? You hardly ever know me."

Akane avoided eye contact, but I felt slightly at ease by her words.

"I don't know the answer myself, but one thing is for sure, That you'll be safe with me."

My face turned red, I asked her again.

"W-Why?"

This time Akane didn't reply and continued to pat my head lightly, I wanted to doubt her, but for some odd reason. I'm convinced that her promises were true. She stroked my back until I fell asleep.

I heard someone knocking on the door which woke me up, I quickly answered in panic.

"C-Come in. "

The door opens, Akane along with two others entered the room, to Akane's left is a man around his early forties, his around 180 centimeters, body ripped with muscles, face scarred, short chestnut colored hair. His clothing are a dark brown leather vest, cow hide pants and brown leather boots.

The other person was a woman in her early thirties, slim body, a child-like face, her hair long, colored pink, skin resembles snow. She was without a doubt a beauty. Her clothing are a white sleeveless shirt and a pink skirt. The woman approached me and asked.

"My daughter found you unconscious and wounded, please tell us what happened."

A smile could be seen on her face, yet her gaze was sharp enough to send shivers down my spine.

"I was stabbed by a man who was chasing me and mother."

With a serious face the woman asked me.

"Where did you came from?" Placing my hand on my chin, I began recalling my past.

"Liaden Hall." I answered. "You're from the empire?" I nodded, Akane faced her mother and asked.

"Is there a problem mom?"

The smile on the mother's face disappeared and she said.

"She can't stay here for long, after your injuries have healed please leave."

Angered at her mother Akane asked.

"Why not? It seems like she has nowhere else to go, please mom."

A sigh escapes her mother's mouth, but hidden within that frustrated sigh was a smile.

"I'll give you a choice, let her leave or go on a journey with her."

Butting in their conversation I told Akane's mother.

"I'll leave after my wounds heal, there's no need to argue."

I tried standing up, but Akane rushed towards me, forced me to lay down.

"If you're leaving then I'm coming with you."

Both parents where surprised with Akane's words, her mother glares at her daughter and asked.

"Are you serious about this Akane?"

Clenching her fist Akane answered, her voice filled with resolve.

"I've already made up my mind, I promised her that I'll protect her, and I don't intend on breaking that promise."

Why is she doing this, just being here puts them all at risk. I can't allow her to get hurt because of me.

Her mother knit her eyebrows and glared at her daughter, Akane stared right back at her without flinching. Letting out a sigh of frustration, her smiled at her daughter and told her.

"It looks like you've made up your mind, do as you wish."

Akane's father stepped up and told her wife.

"Have you lost your mind dear? Putting your daughter at risk of the outside world."

Akane embraced her father, after calming him down she told him.

"Don't worry, have some faith in me, your daughter."

Her father looked at his daughter with worried eyes and asked.

"Are you really sure about this dear?" Akane nodded and replied.

"I want to help her find her mother, also I want to see what is beyond the forest."

Akane's father turned to my direction and told me.

"Don't put my daughter in harms way got it, and please look after her."

I quickly nodded in fear, yet there was sadness in his voice.

Three week passed and my injuries have fully healed.

I waited until it was nightfall, after assuming everyone was asleep, I got up from bed, took my belongings, and left the room.

To my surprise I saw Akane leaning at the wall outside my room, her arms crossed.

"I knew it, you would leave without me." She told me as she caressed my hair.

"B-But how?"

I asked. With a playful smile on her face Akane answered.

"You we're making too much noise when packing up, and I also had a feeling that you'll try leaving today."

Akane lightly patted my head and told me.

"Let's get going."

With a worried look on my face I asked.

"What about you're parents?" Surprised with my question Akane replied.

"No need, I already said my goodbyes, my things have also been prepared in advance."

A wry smile escaped my face as I told myself.

"I will go and properly say goodbye." After thanking them for all they've done, we left the household.

An hour after the Akane and Yuni left, Akane's parents sat on the living room on the house.

"I'm worried about my daughter dear." Akane's father told his wife.

"Don't worry, I have everything planned out."

Akane's mother picked up a sword and removed it from it's scabbard.

"They are here dear, around twelve people."

A dissatisfied smile escaped the Father's face as he tightly gripped his spear.

Sound if shattering glass could be heard and moments later, Twelve armed individuals entered the house.

Three women and nine men, wearing the standard imperial armor.

"And what business does the empire have here?"

Asked Akane's mother, there were no replies. The intruders all rushed towards the couple, Akane's mother slowly approached the attackers and parried their attacks. Her eyes was devoid of emotions.

In one fell swoop she decapitated three people, as if dancing she moved around the house, five people continued to engage in combat with Akane's mother, while the remaining four stalled the husband.

With no wasted movements, blocking, dodging, and parrying attacks with minimal movement. Akane's mother continued to bid for time.

Upon finding an opportunity she quickly turned to the offensive. After her opponent made a large swing, she evaded the attack and quickly retaliated.

Her opponent's hands was dismembered, she increase the speed of her movement.

Her attacks were calculated and deadly. With each of her strike made to either incapacitate or kill her opponent.

With all five of opponents incapacitated from the fight she turned to his husband.

Proving his skill with the spear as he easily disposed of his enemies. Akane's father applied first aid to the intruders and tied them up.

"Why are you chasing after that girl?"

There was no answer. A knocking could be heard from the door.

"Took them long enough."

Akane's mother opened the door and five clocked figures entered the house. Upon swing Akane's mother they all kneeled down, the leader of the group looked up and reported.

"All your orders have been finished your Majesty."

A wicked smile appears on the face of Akane's mother, her husband with a worried look told her.

"Akari we should follow our daughter after the interrogation is over."

Akari looks at her husband and told him.

"I have someone watching over them from a far, everything's going to be alright."

Displeasure could be seen on Akari's face as she stared at the prisoners.