Fallen Chronicles

"Sadly, this is the last chapter for today. Two chapters remain, and I'll publish them tomorrow along with the two daily chapters, or when I return from university. 

----------

Splash!*

The scythe cuts through flesh, blood gushes out, but it's not from the dragon lady's neck, it's her hand. Facing the attacking black scythe nun, Nova chooses to catch the blade barehanded.

This totally catches Suthia off guard, throwing her off balance. Before she can recover, the dragon lady grabs her ankle with her free hand and a massive force comes from it, making Suthia lose balance. Then,

Whoosh*

Bang!*

Nova shows no mercy, spinning the nun around by her leg and throwing her onto some exploded debris nearby, raising a cloud of dust.

"If it's possible, can you tell me why?" Nova doesn't chase her victory but stands still, waiting for the nun, who's now buried in the rubble, to get up. Clearly, she's bothered by being called "least favorite" by the nun.

"Why? Because you're the most selfish one among us!!"

Suthia, dirty and disheveled, hasn't given up. Clenching her teeth, with years of resentment towards Nova, she charges again. Her giant scythe seems to darken with her scream and emitting a dangerous aura. Nova can't afford to be reckless like before and catch the blade with her bare hands.

Swish! Swish! Swish!*

The sound of the scythe cutting the air was heard. Even as Nova dodges, she still gets grazed. Her tough dragon scales seem ineffective against Suthia's blade. Nova recalls someone calling this "precious true damage"….

Of course, that thought was fleeting. Right now, what she really wants to know was,

"Why call me selfish?"

"Why? Because of you! If it weren't for you leaving the empire first 500 years ago to start a new nation, others wouldn't have followed suit!"

Suthia's scythe, following her shriek, leaves another wound on Nova's arm. But Nova seems unfazed, still dodging while she explains:

"I never thought of founding a nation. I just wanted to find Master in my own way, that's all."

"Heh. That's your selfishness. You only think about satisfying your own desires, never considering the consequences your actions would have on others! You still don't realize, you're not alone anymore. Your every move affects so many lives, do you understand that?"

After a forceful strike that pushed the dragon lady back, Suthia is panting heavily. She's not like Nova, who can fight and talk at the same time.

Nova was right, Suthia is far behind. Just being able to launch an effective attack on Nova has already drained all her energy. Still angry, she continues:

"You don't know! Otherwise, you wouldn't have rashly declared war on my Holy Kingdom. It might be just a word for you, but do you realize the consequences it brings to the people of both countries? And look at your Dragon Nation, founding a nation but then neglecting it, isn't that selfish?"

"The first point, I can't deny. But the second point..."

Suddenly, Nova disappears from Suthia's view. As the nun realizes too late, Nova appears behind her.

Boom!*

The dragon lady grabs Suthia's arm from behind and slams her over her shoulder. The nun, unable to resist, is smashed hard into the ground.

"I don't think someone from the weakest Holy Kingdom has the right to say that to me."

Without giving Suthia a chance to retaliate, Nova mounts the struggling nun.

"Had enough, Thia? I didn't know you harbored so much hate towards me. If what you've done just now hasn't vented your anger, we can find another time. I won't defend myself then, and you can attack me as much as you want."

Despite the scene of dominance, the dragon lady herself is also in bad shape, covered in wounds and blood, with some horrifying scythe cuts.

Even if Nova had only used a fraction of her strength, Suthia, being just a 'projection', couldn't have hurt her.

The fact that Nova is in such a state, the nun beneath her understands, is not because she's holding back. It's more like she's letting loose, treating her like a punching bag for her to attack.

Nova, not good with words and unsure how to calm the visibly angry Suthia, resorts to this blunt method.

"But I'm sorry, I can't stay with you now. I... must find Master. No one can stop me, not you, nor anyone else."

Suthia, lying powerless on the ground, has reverted from her battle form in a black dress and red crown back to her former nun's attire with her scythe gone.

Seeing Suthia like this, Nova finally gets up, no longer suppressing the nun.

Nova was ready to leave, but perhaps affected by the heartfelt words Suthia spilled during the fight, she stops.

Then,

"What are you doing?!" Suthia, lying defeated, suddenly feels herself being lifted by strong arms.

In the next moment, she finds herself in Nova's arms, being carried away.

"I've thought about it, Thia. Maybe you're right. I've been too selfish. So, I've decided to change."

"What... what are you doing now?"

"If I take you with me to find master, that wouldn't be selfish, right?"

Nova earnestly asks the defeated nun in her arms.

Suthia: "…"

Struggling, she first gets out of Nova's embrace. Standing firm, she looks at the puzzled Nova and sighs after trying to speak several times.

"You go by yourself."

"Why?"

"If I go too, what about the Sealed City right now? You, who only knows violence, can you clear the 'Well zone' remnants of the Miasma here? If not, the pollution will forever plague this city. I've been calling you selfish, but what am I if I abandon this city?"

Nova: "…"

"Thia, you've changed. Yet, it seems you haven't." After reassessing the nun, Nova seriously remarks.

Indeed.

The former little nun might have let Nova go and stayed behind to purify the aftermath for her. But the current Suthia,

"Sister Nova, since you say you don't want to be selfish anymore, how about we make a promise~?"

"What promise?"

"You love master too, right?"

"Yes," Nova nods straightforwardly.

Afraid Suthia might not understand, she adds, "I want to have many, many baby with him."

'Many, many baby...'

Suthia's mouth twitches.

But that didn't matter now.

Suthia's ocean-blue eyes shift, returning to her meek, nun-like demeanor. She proposes to Nova:

"Sister Nova, you love Master Ashen, and so do I. I believe the other three feel the same. But don't you think it's just us two who know about master's existence now?"

"Three* . Lena had come to me before. She already knows about master's return," Nova interjects.

'What!?'

'That bratty succubus!!'

Suthia's face stiffens upon hearing this, a rush of urgency flashing in her deep blue eyes, further solidifying a thought in her mind.

'No, it's not enough…'

Now, just by herself, she can't protect her Lord anymore, especially knowing Lena's involvement, heightening Suthia's sense of crisis. So, if one isn't enough, then she must,

"Sister Nova, you wouldn't want someone else to get to master first, right?"

"Especially Lena. We can't let master fall into her hands. We need to protect his purity! Until master gathers all five of us again, and we together engage in... baby making. That's not being selfish!"

Hearing Suthia's words, Nova actually falls into deep thought, then, under the excited gaze of the nun, she nods in agreement.

"Indeed."

"So, Sister Nova, let's form an alliance!"

"Alliance?"

"Yes! Our alliance's goal is to protect master! Until everyone returns, no one is allowed to do anything inappropriate with master, like... making baby and other lewd things. We need to monitor each other, encourage each other, and protect master from harm, especially from Lena!"

The little nun waves her fist at Nova, looking innocently fair and just.

After thinking, Nova finds this beneficial. She's a fighter, probably the worst in handling emotions among the four. So, teaming up with Suthia, ensuring everyone is on the same starting line, and no one gets a head start, seems like a good choice.

Now there's just one question.

"Thia, you haven't done anything to master, have you?"

Clearly, Renji appeared first in the Holy Kingdom, and was found by the nun in front of her. The foundation of their alliance is that there can't be any traitors. Nova, just to be sure she's not being tricked, wants to confirm.

"I…I… of course haven't! Thia isn't that s…selfish, Sister Nova, you know me! I just asked master t..to help me 'purify the pollution'!" The nun says timidly, her eyes almost brimming with tears.

Seeing Suthia like this, Nova feels a pang of sympathy. Although Suthia was the first to follow her master, she has always been treated as the youngest sister by the four of them. 'How could someone angelic like Suthia lie?'

Nova pats Suthia's head, then nods firmly like a big sister:

"Yes, I believe you. Then, okay! I promise I'll restrain myself from doing anything inappropriate with master. I'll also help you stop the other three. Afterall, master belongs to all of us. No one can selfishly get ahead. I... join this alliance."

Suthia: "Then let's make a pinky promise!"

Nova: "Pinky promise"