Sacrifice

"It's cold."

The warm room becomes cold for some reason.

Sitting in the chair while looking at the paper that I'm holding.

*What's this?*

I'm holding the paper where the clue about Hiro's amulet ability is written.

It's only composed of one sentence. It's so short and hard to understand.

"Ahh.", I sighed.

*Maybe Hiro might understand this.*

I look at the window.

The weather is so clear and blue.

*What a nice day. I wonder how are the others.*

__________________________________________________________________________________________

"W-What are you talking about?!"

"Just give it."

"Hiro?"

Cedric and his men are already infected with some kind of virus. Their skin turn gray and their eyes become darker.

Hiro is standing there looking at them while climbing up the slope.

"Hey!", Leo looks at us.

I look at Ernesta the others, telling them to go first with the children.

The only people left are Hiro, Leo, and me.

I couldn't look at Leo's eyes.

*What should I do?*

Cedric and his men are climbing up the slope. If they reach this ground, they surely chase and catch up with us.

We still don't know what is that smoke and why Cedric and his men acting like that.

The children are still with us. We don't have any knowledge of how to save Cedric and his men.

If we didn't kill them now... we're dead.

"Vinna!"

"S-Sorry..."

I'm so hopeless.

I couldn't do anything.

"Leo.", Hiro call him.

"Shut up! I won't let you kill them!"

"Leo, do you understand our situation now? If we didn't kill them..."

"So what! Maybe there's a way to save them!"

"But we don't have time!"

Hiro is trying to stay calm.

"This is... this is stupid!"

"Leo."

"Let me."

"Huh?"

Hiro finally looks at him.

"Let me do it... Let me kill them."

"But!"

"As one of them. I should be the one. Cedric... Cedric is the very first person who notices. I'm always a shadow, hiding behind the people. I always conceal my existence since I'm not from Polos. People look down on me because of my reason of join them. They think that I'm just going with them for fun. But Cedric!"

The tears start to appear in Leo's eyes.

"Cedric tell me that it's okay. There's nothing wrong with what I'm doing. He tells me that there's no reason for me to change my dream for the sake of other people because it's my own dream. I-I should stick with it. Because of Cedric's effort, they finally accept me as their team. Although, I'm still a shadow since I'm the youngest that can't still understand adults but I'm still happy because I know someone is there, looking at me, saving me when I'm in trouble."

"Leo..."

"That's why, as payback of what he did to me. Let me!"

Leo stares at Hiro's eyes.

"Let me save Cedric and the others!"

Hiro's eyes widen in surprise.

"I see."

He walks towards Leo.

"Saying that makes me want to protect you more."

"What are you talking abo-"

*Smack!*

Leo collapse on the ground.

"Leo!"

I look at Hiro. He's holding his knife.

"Don't worry, I just hit his nape using the bottom of the knife."

"What are you doing?"

"Vinna."

"Y-Yes?"

"It's gonna be okay."

"Huh?"

Hiro search in Leo's uniform and saw a square-shaped object. It looks big that fits his hand. It's gray and has a blue circle on one side.

"Hiro..."

After taking it, Hiro walks towards the slope.

Some of Cedric's men are almost on the top.

I can't spot Cedric or maybe I don't want to see him. The smoke is already gone.

Hiro is holding that thing with his two hands.

*Don't tell me...*

"Cedric... and all of you... thank you for everything, and goodbye."

Hiro presses the blue circle and throws it down the slope.

"Have a good sleep and see you in the afterlife."

After that, I loud and huge explosion happen down the slope.

Cedric and his men burn alive.

The explosion is so strong that it almost reaches us.

"Hiro..."

Hiro is still standing there and not saying anything.

Looking at his face.

His eyes are dead. I can't see any emotion in it.

I stand up leaving Leo that still unconscious.

I hugged Hiro tightly behind.

"It's okay. It's gonna be okay."

I can't hold it anymore. My tears start falling on my cheek.

________________________________________________________________________________________

"Hey, Relaine."

"Yeah?"

"Have you already heard?"

"About what?"

"About your girlfriend and her team."

"Yeah, that's why I'm... hold up! Ernesta is not my girlfriend!"

"Well, I didn't say Ernesta's name in the first place."

"Ugh... shut up."

*This guy...*

"You can go now."

"Huh?"

"You want to go to A-1 right? You have my permission."

"I see... thanks."

"Yeah. Say to your girlfriend that I say hi!"

"Shut up!"

I know Steve just wants to help me but it's really irritating.

I can see the sadness in his eyes. Even though he has never been talked to them, he still cares about them. Maybe not as a team but as a fellow human.

_______________________________________

"How are you guys?", I asked.

I didn't say to them that I was coming. I just think that they already expecting me to be here.

I didn't even knock on the door before going in.

"Well... we're fine... I guess."

"I see."

I don't see Ernesta and Hiro. Same with the last member of Cedric's men.

"Leo went back to Moirai and Hiro is in his room.", Vinna said.

She didn't wait for me to ask.

"About Ernesta..."

"Don't worry, I know where that brat is."

Leaving them behind. I went straight to one in the room.

Standing in front of the door. I try to open it but it's locked.

"Ah. Ernesta! Open the door."

"Eh? Relaine?"

"No, it's your mother."

"Mother?!"

"I'm just kidding. You're an orphan, you moron."

"Ugh..."

I'm just trying to pull a joke but I think I went too far.

"Sorry. Just open the door."

The door is open now. I walk inside and saw Ernesta laying on her bed while covering herself with a blanket.

*Did she just use her amulet to open the door?*

"Hey."

"Yeah?"

"Why are you laying on the bed?"

"I'm sleepy."

"Ehhh... I thought you only get sleepy when it's late at night."

"I'm tired."

"Grrr."

I get irritated for some reason. Taking off the blanket to her.

I saw her red and wet face. Her eyes are teary. She still wearing her uniform.

"You might get tired and sleepy if you really cry that hard."

"Relaine..."

Ernesta rushes into me and hugs me tightly.

This is the first time that I saw her this devastated.

She starts crying.

I pat her head slowly while sobbing.

I want to comfort her more.

It's still six of the night.

"Hey, Ernesta."

"Y-Yeah?"

"Just only for this day."

"Relaine?"

"Let's date."

________________________________________________________________________________________

It's been few hours since Hiro lock up himself in his room.

"Hiro.", I call him out.

I'm standing in front of the door of his room holding the paper that clue for his amulet.

"You don't have to open the door. I'm just going to give you this."

I insert the piece of paper at the bottom of the door.

"It's about your amulet's ability. I already read it and I don't understand. I know you don't want to go outside and see the others. That's why try to understand what's written there while you're there."

After that, I went back to my room.

________________________________________________________________________________________

Early in the morning, all of the A-1 members are here together, eating breakfast, except Hiro.

The weather is clear and blue but I can't see any smile or good emotion in them.

Ernesta seems a little bit okay, unlike last night.

Commander is still the same, calm and serious.

All of us are silently eating. There's no word coming from us.

After that, Commander went back to her office while the others gather around.

I walk towards them.

"Hey."

"Morning."

"How's Hiro?", I asked.

"Still not good, I guess."

"I see... Did he eat already?"

"Well, I guess you can say that."

"Huh?"

"I give him what we are eating in breakfast but he didn't give a bite. Same with the bread that I try to give him."

"Really?"

"Yeah, the only food that disappears in the front of the door in his room is candy and chocolate."

"Candy and chocolate?"

"Yeah, I can't think of anything that he might eat so I give him those.", Ernesta said while scratching her neck.

"No, I think it's better than nothing. Thanks."

"So, what are we gonna do?", Darius asked.

"I don't know, maybe it's better to leave Hiro alone."

"Yeah, but we still need also to do something about Leo.", Rick added.

"We don't have time to go to Moirai."

"Why is that Darius?"

"The prince might show up here."

"Eh?"

"Do you remember the prideful prince that we met at the HQ party? The one who permits to make Cedric and his men help us."

"He's coming?!", Rick asked with a surprised look on his face.

"Yeah, after all his the one who assigns Cedric and his men to help us. That would be his responsibility."

"What are we gonna do now?"

"It's up to Hiro."

"Hiro?"

"Yes. After all..."

"But! We can just put all the burden on him! He still not in a good state."

"I know, that's why we have to do anything to support Hiro. I know Hiro, even in the worst situation, he will do something."

After that day, one of the princes of Polos, Prince Rafael arrived in A-1 HQ. Riding in the cart while being pulled by three horses. Prince Rafael gets out and steps to our HQ with his servant.

"What are we gonna do now?", I asked.

"Don't worry! Let me handle this.", Ernesta suggested.

"Do you have a plan?"

"Yes, I'm going to knock him up along with his servant and the person in the horse cart.", Ernesta said with an innocent look on her face.

"That's your plan?"

"Yeah, then let's tell of the king of Polos that Prince Rafael get killed by Outsiders."

"You know...huh?"

I saw Hiro walking towards the door.

"Hiro?"

"Huh?"

Everyone looks at Hiro.

"Wait!"

"Don't worry, let me handle this.", he said.

"What do you mean by that? That guy is clearly mad at you. I don't have any idea what he gonna do to you."

"But it's my responsibility to face him."

"But!"

"Vinna.", Darius pat my shoulder.

"It's okay, I'll handle this."

________________________________________________________________________________________

Prince Rafael walking towards the door of our HQ. But before he can step inside, Hiro already appears in his sight.

Hiro walks towards him.

The prince made a disgusted look on his face.

"For someone who kills my warriors, how dare you to walk and stand like that in front of the prince."

"I'm sorry."

Hiro slightly bows his head.

The prince gets irritated and kicks Hiro's stomach.

"Guh!"

Hiro kneels in pain.

"Kneel, you dirt! Didn't they teach you how to respect a prince!"

The prince grabs Hiro's hair and pulls it towards his face.

"I'm going to kill you in front of the family of the people that you killed. Be ready."

"Ahhhh!"

"You're the one who's going to die."

Vinna jumps and raises her sword while Ernesta rushes towards the prince's back and is ready to thrust her sword at him.

I immediately step forward and use my amulet to them.

Before they killed the prince, their body gets cover with rock that makes them stop.

"Stop it you two."

"But this guy is too much!"

"Grrrr."

"I know. Prince Rafael, why not go inside and take a sip of a tea while talking about what happened to Cedric and his men."

"You!!!"

"Remember, you're in the A-1 territory. I hope you won't use any violence here... unless you want to get fight with us. Prince Rafael."

"Tsk! Got it."

The prince let go of Hiro. I also do the same with the two.

I saw Ernesta and Vinna's irritation on their face. I understand them, even me is mad at Prince Rafael.

Using violence won't fix anything unless if you're in the war.

________________________________________________________________________________________

Prince Rafael and I walk away from the A-1 HQ.

I can clearly see in the prince's face his anger towards them.

"Hey"

As we walk outside the gate of HQ, Hiro appears out of nowhere.

"You again?!"

"Follow me."

Hiro starts walking towards the forest.

"Do you think that I will follow you?"

"Of course, after all, I know what you did at HQ party."

"Don't tell me!"

The prince and I follow him.

"What do you mean that you know what did I do at the HQ party?"

Hiro stops beside the huge tree.

"That huge Outsider that appear that day. You're the one who lures it aren't you."

"How did you know that?"

"Simple, you're reaction that day."

"My reaction?"

"Yeah, instead of being just scared you look disappointed too, that day. You're didn't expect that Outsider would go charge towards you aren't you."

"Do you have any evidence about what you're saying?"

"I don't"

"Ha! Do you really think people would believe a word from a killer like you?"

"They won't but, they will investigate it."

"Huh?"

"You know how cautious the superiors of HQ are. An Outsider can't get in that place in such a coincidence. Telling them what you did would lead to investigating about what happened that day."

"You little! Ah... what do you want?"

"Please! Give a good life all the people that I killed."

"Huh? What are you-"

"Also, let Leo join the other group once he recovers from what happens to his team."

Both Prince and I surprise at his request.

"I-Is that all?"

"Yeah."

"About that-"

"Don't worry, your secret is safe once you do what I said. I going now."

Hiro walks away after that.

"That guy..."

After that day, the Prince does what Hiro requests from him.