Escape (8)

Althea gazed carefully at the black sword in her hands that had been in her possession for quite some time in which are now her main weapon.

When she was done gazing at it, she sent off a bit of lightning into them by using her mana.

(... Oh, it works well with my mana.)

She put back her sword to its sheath and her expression was puzzled when her eyes fixed on her palms.

(... It's already been 20 years since I became a Directive Special Knight and I'm still not getting old. Is it because they can't block my mana?)

She raised her brow in confusion when she tried to think of the cause of her age in which it had stopped midway as she rested herself against the wall.

(... I have already committed 3 sins. 4 sins more then I'll be straight dead.)

She thought as she looked down at her wrist that already had the sign of 3.

Despite her chances of dying becoming higher, she forms a small smile when she imagines the other good things she has along the way.

(At least I don't have to kill any sinners because of Oliver's advice. I have to thank him later. He's such a nice guy)

When she thinks about Oliver, it always makes her think that she still has a family to protect.

With the only family she has left which she has to protect, he is the sole reason to live her life.

For her, Oliver is just like her twin sibling.

They are exactly the same age and both of them possess mana that have the ability to create lightning at will.

(Don't tell me that we are actually long lost twins?)

She laughed amusingly at the thought.

However, the sudden appearance thought of being stuck in Lucretia immediately suffocates her.

Long before the Directive Order appears, she usually spends those days visiting another kingdom or traveling to a farther away land from Lucretia.

"Althea."

A familiar voice called out to her, interrupting her thoughts.

When she heard it, she immediately turned her head as her eyes slightly widened when she was greeted by Oliver walking towards her.

"Oh, Oliver? What's wrong? Are you alright?"

She forms a smile and happily greeted Oliver, who she had regarded as her family.

But sadly, Oliver's expression wasn't the same as her.

It was a disapproval expression.

Oliver looked at her in the eyes and slowly exclaimed.

"There's another execution."

The smile on her face wavers then later disappeared the moment Oliver mentioned the most often and familiar word in the current time of era.

(Execution)

She thought slightly unsurprised by the sudden news in which she subconsciously looked down to the floor.

Since the Directive Order appeared, everyone including their descendants' memories of the outside world has vanished like thin air.

All of the known surface they learned for has not been remembered by anyone except for the knights themselves.

But of course, the knowledge about that does not completely disappear.

There are still many books about outside of Lucretia.

Within that condition, they actually have the chance to still discover more about the outside world.

Despite that, there are so many nobles that refused to stay within their principles in which they ended up dead.

In the era of the Directive Order, one life can disappear at any moment with only a simple act of sin such as a little white lie.

"... I'm not going."

Althea answered Oliver's statement in which she stood from her seat and immediately left the current room.

"I'm going to the garden."

She exclaimed as she excuses herself from the room.

It was quite understandable if accounted for the situation she had been given.

She always feels sick of her own job.

She was frustrated about it, especially since she still has memories of the days in the kingdom before the Directive Order appeared.

When she arrived at the garden, her eyes widened, terrified as she noticed that the red flowers grew a lot.

She squats down in front of a section while looking at one of the red flowers as she gently touches them.

Because of the way she felt it was just too unfair, she formed a pitiful smile towards them.

"Even after death, there is no freedom for us, huh?"

She exclaimed hopelessly while still gazing at the flowers while the wind softly brushes her brown hair.

The red flowers symbolize the people who have been executed because of their sins, she knew this fact.

The flower itself is their soul.

That is why there is no freedom after death.

It was because their souls will remain in Lucretia and grow into a red flower that will not wither.

"... At least I still have a family-"

"Good for you."

An unfamiliar voice exclaimed monotonously behind her before she could even finish her sentence.

Her pupil's eyes shrunken in surprise and immediately turned her head to be greeted by crimson eyes who looked down at her.

"... And you are?"

Althea asked with a raised eyebrow, then she stood up from her position and stared down at the person.

"Azrael."

He exclaimed with an unchanging tone as there wasn't a single smile plastered on his face as he spoke his name.

"Azrael de Revanche, Second Order."

"... Second Order?"

Althea was quite surprised when she realized that Azrael was only one rank below Edward.

"... What are you doing here?"

"Is it wrong to walk around my own territory?"

He asked with a raised eyebrow while looking at her.

His eyes that were staring are cold. It was as if the gaze were piercing through Althea.

Althea suddenly felt slightly uncomfortable when she realized the crimson eyes are a distinctive attribute that only belongs to the demon clan.

(... What is a demon doing around here? I thought Lucretia is only full of humans)

She thought confusedly as she began to sweatdrop the moment when she met his gaze.

The cold gaze that he gave off was he was analyzing her.

"...Ah, yes. I apologize for my rudeness."

"No need."

Azrael raises his hand, signing Althea that he doesn't need any apologies since he deemed it was unnecessary for him.

Althea felt strange when she was facing Azrael.

When she gazed at him, he gives off a familiar vibe similar to Edward.

(... They look too alike)

After a lot of thinking, she decided to ask him a question.

"What is your relationship with Edward Agersia First Order?"

She asked with a curious and serious expression at the same time while looking at Azrael who stared back at her with a blank face.

Azrael scratches the back of his head with his head-turning slightly upward.

He let out a long sigh in which he responded back with a monotone voice.

"... I randomly went to this garden to breathe out a nice air but I ended up meeting you and begins to feel uncomfortable. Why should I answer your question either?"

Althea was quite taken aback by his long sentences despite his cold look.

However, Althea knew better than anyone that she shouldn't mess with him.

She realizes too well that their differences in power are far too different.

It was already obvious from the start.

Althea is someone from the human side while Azrael comes from the demon side.

Messing with him it's just another act for meeting her end more quickly.

She gulped, thinking hard about her next sentence and carefully choose the words.

"Forgive my rudeness."

She exclaimed politely while bowing respectfully.

"I will take my leave."

She rises from her squat position with her head still looking down at the floor.

She starts walking away from the flowers as she went to the nearest gate to exit the garden and carefully passed Azrael's position as she attempts herself to leave him alone.

But before Althea could completely leave the place, Azrael's next sentence has caught her on guard as she froze on the spot with a confused expression.

"Ah yes. About less than 10 knights."

Azrael muttered out, loud enough for Althea to hear.

When she coincidentally heard it, Althea couldn't help but turned her head towards Azrael who has not moved from his spot.

"... What are you talking about?"

Althea asked confusedly even though there was a mix of fear in her tone.

She keeps her eyes on him which Azrael turned his head back as he was greeted by Althea's dark blue eyes gazing towards his dark crimson eyes.

"The number of knights that will survive from Directive Order's domain."

Althea raised her brow as she was getting even more confused by Azrael's answer.

"What I mean is that most of the Directive Special Knights would probably commit suicide or committing more sins until they died on their own considering the new life that Directive Order created. That's my prediction."

Azrael answered nonchalantly as if the lives he talked about was a speck of dirt.

Slowly, the air suddenly felt suffocating around Althea.

Althea didn't want to believe him.

But deep inside, she can't deny that the kind of future might happen.

To Althea, Azrael looked like a heartless person whose position is far from her reach.

It was by any chance impossible to get on his level.

".. I admit that I won't deny your realistic assumption. However, I refuse to believe that this will be true."

"Suit yourself."

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