Chapter 48: Call For Retribution

The streets of Waranthal are still as busy as it always is. Multiple ships pass through the light where the sun still shines, causing thier shadows to move along the surface of buildings. Many people stand on the balcony of the one; all of them stand and watch the view.

Within one of these buildings, Alecia, Lumina and Aven reside. Three of them are in the restaurant of it as they are seated beside the window with a clear view of the towering skyscrapers on the other side.

Three plates on their table are empty with one chunk of meat remaining on Alecia's plate. The whole place is filled with the calming sound of people's voices. Waiters and waitresses walk through the crowd of tables, all serving thier respective customers.

"You can do it," Aven said, looking at Alecia who's holding the one utensil with her eyes drawn to the small chunk of meat.

"This is the last one. If you got the others down, you can do it too with this last piece." He leans his elbows on tbe table before joining his hands under his chin.

"If I could finish mine," Lumina said, fixing the hood around her head.

"You could finish yours as well," she smiles at her aunt.

Letting out a sigh, Alecia nods.

"Okay," she simply said, looking down at the plate.

"One last bite."

Sinking her fork into the piece of meat, she places it into her mouth before chewing on it. After a moment she places the utensil on the plate before wiping her mouth with a serviette.

"There you go," she said, crossing her arms on the table.

"Done." Alecia smiles slightly before averting her eyes to Lumina.

"Did you enjoy your meal as well?" Alecia asked her.

"I did, yes," Lumina simply said, keeping her composure, still keeping her face hidden under her hood. She darts her eyes to Aven

"Thank you. I really do appreciate this."

"It is a privilege doing things for you," he said, sitting up straight.

"As long you feel comfortable and happy, then that's what matters." He gives her a gentle smile.

Lumina smiles with a soft blink before looking at Alecia.

"How are you feeling by the way?" She asked.

Sitting straight in her chair, Alecia tucks her hands between her thighs before letting out a small chuckle with her gaze fixed on her.

"Surprisingly," she said, titling her head slightly, her eyes drawn to the table, strands of hair hanging to one side.

"I haven't felt better." She looks at Lumina.

Aven's eyes narrow at Alecia.

"Really?" He said, turning his head slightly, his eyes still locked on her.

"You don't feel ill at all?"

Shaking her head with a shrug she smiles at him.

"I don't know what to say," she said.

"I feel fine."

Nodding with a slight smile, Aven stands up from his seat.

"If you'll excuse me," he said, adjusting his clothes.

"I'm going to the restroom." He receives a nod from Alecia before walking away from the table.

Both Lumina and Alecia watch him walk away until he's out of view. Turning to Alecia, she meets her gaze.

"So... Alecia," Lumina said, before gazing down at the table for a moment.

"I don't have to call you, Aunt. Do I?"

Letting out a slight chuckle, she straightens herself in her seat.

"No. You don't have to," she said.

"What's on your mind?"

"I've been wondering, since Aven is gone," Lumina said before having a thoughtful look on her face.

"Since I've got important years ahead of me."

She looks at Alecia.

"That magic I've seen you and Aven summon."

"Well, it's not really magic," Alecia interrupted.

"You know what I mean," Lumina said, shaking her head slightly.

"I've been thinking about this for a while."

Alecia's smile fades after hearing her words. Almost as if she knows what Lumina is about to ask. She can only hope that she's wrong about her assumption.

Gripping both her callars she hugs the hood around her head before leaning near Alecia.

"Could you maybe try and teach it to me?" She asked. Her question urges Alecia to frown, causing Lumina to lean back slightly

Shaking her head with her gaze drawn to the table, Alecia lets out a sigh.

"I'm sorry," she said, looking up at her.

"I don't think that's a good idea."

"Why not?" Lumina asked with a puzzled look on her face.

"One of the obvious reasons," Alecia said, crossing her arms.

"Your mother would not allow it."

"She doesn't have to know about it."

"Do you realize how furious she would be if she finds out about this?" Alecia continued, her words demibished any excitement Lumina has, causing her to have a downcast look.

"You remember her reaction the other night. The way she reacted at your curiousity towards it."

Taking the glass of red liquid from the table, Alecia takes a sip before sighing.

"I don't even want to imagine how she'd react when learning that I was teaching you."

Lumina lets out a sigh, her eyes staring at ahead. Her eyes locked ahead. Completely ignoring the people who walk past her view.

"I just thought," she said, still staring ahead for a moment before looking down at her own lap.

"It would be useful. Especially since I'm going to take mother's place someday. When the time comes, I would protect everyone."

Sensing her disappointed, Alecia can't help but feel bad for her. Such an inexperienced young woman. She knows that one day, she'll be a good leader, just like Ruth.

"Oh, Lumina," she said, her tone sounding calm and cheerful, urging the girl to look at her.

"You don't need to worry about that. Aven, and Leah will be the ones to protect you, and everyone."

"You're right," Lumina said, looking ahead of herself once more before looking at Alecia.

"I just don't want to feel useless."

Placing the glass on tbe table, Alecia moves her hand over Lumina's before gripping it gently.

"You are not useless," she said, smiling gently at her.

"Not even close." With those words, Lumina smiles back at her.

"Thank you, Alecia.

Alecia's gaze shifts, urging Lumina to looking over her shoulder, only to see Aven approaching them before taking his seat.

"Welcome back," Alecia said, smiling at him.

"Sorry if I was a took long," he said, adjusting himself in the chair.

"Did I miss anything?" He switches his gaze between the two.

"Well," Alecia said, looking at Lumina.

"Lumina felt down, so I was just cheering her up." She looks back at him.

"That's good," Aven said with a slight nod," he looks at Lumina.

"You okay?"

Lumina takes a quick glance at Alecia before looking at Aven once more.

"Yeah," she said, nodding.

"I'm fine now. Just as Alecia said." She looks back at her with a smile of her own.

With a nod, Aven picks up his drink and sips it before putting it down.

"We will just finish our drinks, then we may go," he said taking another sip.

Both Alecia and Lumina agree before continuing to drink in silence.

—

Within the vacuum of space. A large ship is seen orbiting the planet. The sun's light only now reaches the horizon. The very atmosphere ignites with blue glow it's known for. After a moment, from the view of the ship. The surface of the planet is lit up by the warmth from the sun's light.

One of the windows are in a heptagon shape. Behind that window of the ship, an individual, a woman stands near it with her voilet hand placed on the glass. Her orange pupils reflecting the site before her.

She can't get over it. No matter how hard Raine tries, she can't believe what happened in that prison.

Looking at tbe palm of her hand, she closes into a fist. How, after all that she's been through, all her training throughout her life. It was not enough to get her revenge.

Gritting her teeth, she looks at the glass before her. Clinching her fist tighter, knuckles turning white, she slams it against the window, causing a circular crack to spread out.

After a moment, the glass reforms to its normal state before Raine moves her hand from away with a sigh. Looking at her trembling hand, she notices the dark blue liquid seeping from the cuts on her knuckles.

The pain... Raine clutches her hands over her head. As if everything around her turns black and within her mind, she hears chatter and whispers. So many voices, no matter how hard she tries she can't understand.

After a moment, her eyes shut, as she begins to moan out in pain with her hands clutched tighter around her head, strands of her hair seeping through her fingers.

"Shut up!" She screamed only for the voices to laugh and chuckle. With that, she slams her forehead against the glass, leaving blue liquid to stream down the new cracks, only for the window to reform itself once more.

"I said. Shut up!" With that loud scream, the voices cease themselves, one after another.

Moving her hands from her head, she looks up at the stained glass before her. After a moment, she lets out a sigh.

"Captain?" A woman's voice is heard from behind her.

Looking over her shoulder, she sees Eyla, the same woman green haired woman who was in the prison.

"What do you want?" Raine said, fustration sounding in her voice before looking at tbe glass once more.

"I was on my way when I heard you screaming," Eyla said, stepping closer, only to keep her distance.

"You okay?"

"I'm fine now," Raine said, turning to face her.

"What do you want?"

Eyla's gaze fixes on the blood stained glass before looking at Raine once more.

"We've been in orbit for a while now," She said, crossing her arms gently.

"Shouldn't we have been gone already?"

Rubbing her cut hand, she looks up at Eyla.

"I thought it was best that we stay in orbit for a bit," she said, lowering both her hands before looking at the window once more.

"They have already sent in a search team after us. As long as this ship is cloaked, they won't find us."

"Oh," Ely's simply said with an averted gaze.

"That's smart, Captain."

Raine's lips twisted into a slight smile before turning to look at her.

"Why are you in a hurry to go?" She asked her, urging the young woman to look at her wide-eyed.

"Don't you have friends and family down there?"

Looking away for a moment, she turns her gaze to Raine before sighing with her gaze drawn to the floor.

"Unfortunately with our people," she said, looking up at her.

"As soon as they're aware of you being imprisoned, or a wanted criminal. They disown you as if you never... existed in the first place."

Raine narrows her eyes with a frown.

"That's a little harsh, isn't it?" She said, earning a nod from Eyla, her gaze now turned away with a saddened look in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Eyla."

Looking up at her, Eyla's fsce brightens up a little with a gentle smile.

"And what about you?" She asked.

"Is there anyone waiting for you somewhere?"

Sighing, Raine looks at tbe window.

"Unfortunately no," she said closing her eyes.

"I was just a child when the whole world I knew was destroyed. My whole family was murdered before they could teach me anything that I needed to know. The only source of information were rumors and tales from those who survived."

Eyla could hear the trembling time in Raine's voice. Nothing but anger and sadness escapes her lips.

"I'm sorry, Captain."

"There's nothing you should feel sorry for, Eyla," Raine said, looking over her shoulder at her.

"I already have plans for those who are responsible."

She looks ahead at the window once more.

"They will pay for what they did. Both Alecia and her pathetic friends." Her eyes narrow.

"This time I'll make sure Alecia stays dead Maybe I'll end her own family before her eyes too."

"What about this idea, Captain,* Eyla said, urging Raine to turn to her with an intrigued gaze.

"I did some research on this Alecia woman for you. And you'll be suprised what I found out about her as well as her friends you're looking for."

"I'm listening..." Raine simply said.

"Apparently throughout their time with whatever they were doing," Eyla continued, turning on the device within her head before she starts scrolling through it.

"They have caught a lot of attention across the galaxy. Drawing the attention of none other than the Cthulhu prison itself. One must be quite a trouble maker to get thier attention."

"What's your point, Eyla?" Raine asked, facing her before stepping forward.

"My point is," Eyla said, placing the device in her pocket.

"Why kill them, when you could give them a fate worse than death. Let the Cthulhu prison make them wish they were dead. Wouldn't it be worth it knowing that they'd be suffering for what they did to you?"

Narrowing her eyes at Eyla, she averts her eyes for a moment.

"I'm not sure about the other two who were with them," she said, looking up at her.

"How are you going to do this?"

Joining her hands together, Eyla smiles.

"I have message prepared for Cthulhu I'm just waiting for your order to send it to them or not."

Raine cannot help but smile.

"I admire your hacking skills. Looks like I underestimated you," she said, placing her hand on her hip with a slight tilt of her head.

"Your loyalty is impressive as well."

"Thank you, Captain,* Eyla said with a slight how of her head.

"It's only natural for me to be loyal since you freed me from that prison. I am truly thankful."

Raine's lips twist into a smile.

"Do it," she simply said, urging Eyla to stare at her for a moment, as if waiting for confirmation.

"Go send the message to Cthulhu."

"At once, Captain," Eyla said, bowing her head slightly once more before walking out of the room.

Raine's smile fades, only for her to glare at the door as it slides closed.

"One way or another, Alecia," she said with nettled tone in her voice.

"You will pay for what you took from me. I guarantee it."