On the flip side, the guardians fought back with a ferocity that was almost equal to the beasts’. Steel met flesh in brutal counterattacks. Swords plunged into their bodies, spears tore through their wings, and shields of the guardians were used to smash their faces with relentless force so many times that their faces turned into paste.
Many Guardians alike fell, their bodies brutally mangled, but not without taking some of the winged beasts with them.
Every fallen guardian was a tragic loss, but every beast that fell marked a small victory in their desperate fight.
Dun!
Morthos order came once again, and the winged reapers tried to recapture Eliana and kill Val, but each attempt was met with a hail of arrows, bullets, and elemental bloodline skills from those who had accepted Leroy’s call to action after Val motivated them.
It was an all-out war between man and beast, each side striving to gain the upper hand. Although the situation was dire, the combined efforts of everyone on board were gradually turning the tide of the battle. The defense of the train became tighter, and the assault of the winged reapers and the horde less effective.
The determined bloodline users and the guardians on the train were managing to keep the winged enemies busy, buying Val and Eliana some much-needed time.
Val’s strong arm supported Eliana, holding her close to his chest, in the safety of his manly embrace, as he maneuvered the shaky broomstick back towards the train.
As this was his first time flying on the broom and there was an extra baggage that he had to carry, it was quite hard.
Furthermore, the speed of the broom, combined with the wind blasting against them and the precarious balance they had to maintain, made for a heart-stopping journey. 𝒩𝑂𝗏𝗅xt.𝓒𝓞𝑀
Eliana clung tightly to Val like a koala, her limbs tightly wrapped around him and her eyes screwed shut as the broom beneath them trembled and wavered, tipping precariously to the side, multiple time.
Eliana could feel her heart pounding against her ribcage, her breath hitching in her chest every time the broom swayed too far to one side. The only thing that kept her from succumbing to panic was his reassuring presence. She knew she was safe in Val’s firm grip.
Val didn’t let her down as he managed to regain control of the broom each time.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the broom touched down on the train.
Eliana let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding.
However, as Eliana tried to step off the broom, her legs gave way beneath her. Before she could tumble to the ground, Val’s strong arms were there to catch her once again. He pulled her into his embrace, holding her against his chest, saving her from a hard landing. As she looked up at him, their eyes locked. As a result, Eliana’s heart skipped a beat, her breath hitching in her throat as she was once again reminded of the lengths he’d go to protect her.
He had never had anyone risking their life for her, especially not a man.
She had heard tales of men doing such things for their lovers, but she wasn’t his woman.
Was he secretly in lover with her? She didn’t know and it didn’t seen like it.
Was she falling for him? She could confidently say yes!
‘I have already fallen for him,’ she thought.
In the faith Eliana followed, a life of religious duty did not mandate vows of celibacy. The God of Light did not decree any compulsion on his followers to surrender to a life of chastity, poverty, or obedience. The choice to fully devote oneself to the deity was left to the individual. In Eliana’s case, she had never chosen to bind herself with such vows. Her heart had always remained open to the possibility of marriage and romantic engagements. Yet, it was only now that she had found herself harbouring feelings for another person.
However, she had taken a decision. As much as she was experiencing these newly bloomed emotions, she had decided to not engage with them on an emotional level. She was on a divine mission, a task she considered to be of utmost importance. She feared that personal emotions could become an obstacle, a hindrance to her divine duty.
Thus, she chose to prioritize her mission over her emotions, opting to stow away her burgeoning feelings for the sake of a higher purpose.
“Brother Val… you… thank you. You saved me once again,” she managed to say as a smile blossomed on her face.
“Just returning the favor,” he said so nonchalantly, like he hadn’t just pulled off an almost impossible rescue.
Knowing that she was feeling weak in her legs, he hoisted her up in his arms effortlessly, carrying her princess-style.
Eliana’s cheeks burned with a soft blush at his gesture. The warmth of his body seeped through her, calming her trembling nerves. She found the way he was treating her so sweet that her heart fluttered uncontrollably in her chest, and she found herself lost in the depths of his eyes. His strength and his courage had imprinted a deep impression on her heart. And she realized, she didn’t just owe him gratitude, but also a bit of her heart that he had stolen in these few exchanges.
He then carried her inside a compartment, setting her gently down on a sofa. “The horde commanded by Morthos wants to kidnap you. I don’t know why but they do for some reason. So use your Holy power to shield yourself from enemy attacks. Be careful, and don’t let your guard down. Not for a moment. And don’t worry about me. I can handle myself,” he reassured her, his voice steady, radiating confidence.
His assest must learn to defend herself. He wasn’t going to be there for her every time she was in trouble!
She nodded, her heart pounding in her chest as she met his gaze, the intensity of his eyes making her heart flutter.