As the relentless beating of Nia'le continued, Tassa's pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears. Desperation consumed her, but amidst the chaos, a memory surged to the forefront of her mind — the words of Xart, her mentor and guide.
***Flashbacks***
"Listen, my dear Tassa," Xart's voice echoed in her memory. "This world may be cruel, but that doesn't mean you should harbor hatred towards it. Remember, I will only allow you to use this spell in times of dire emergency. Do you understand?"
Tassa's emotions churned within her, a maelstrom of conflicting feelings. The urge to wield the forbidden spell coursed through her veins, tempting her with its power. Gripping the hand of the military personnel, she exerted an unexpected strength, causing him to cry out in pain as his arm threatened to snap. With a forceful push, she propelled him towards his comrade, momentarily disrupting their assault.
Positioning herself with her hands outstretched before her, palms facing the ground, Tassa summoned the ancient incantation taught to her by Ixartxist. The air crackled with energy as the surroundings erupted in blinding brilliance, a radiance capable of searing human eyes should they dare to gaze upon it. Acting swiftly, Ayamani cast a protective spell to shield Nia'le and Tassa from the spell's destructive power. The luminosity persisted for what felt like an eternity, engulfing the area in its awe-inspiring glow. When the radiance finally subsided, the military forces and police lay lifeless, their bodies brutally vanquished.
The exertion of such immense power left Tassa weakened, her body trembling, threatening to give way beneath her. But Nia'le, witnessing her vulnerability, rushed to her side, catching her before she could collapse. "Tassa, are you alright?" he asked, concern etched across his face. Overwhelmed by the sight of countless souls lost in the Infinite Night, Tassa wept. "I have killed them, Nia'le. I have taken their lives," she confessed, her voice heavy with sorrow.
Nia'le, grappling with the weight of Tassa's actions, held her tightly, his heart heavy with conflicting emotions. He recalled the haunting memory of the day he had slain 43 people before his father's eyes. "No, Tassa, do not blame yourself. This is my burden to bear, not yours. I am the one who caused this chaos," Nia'le reassured her, his voice filled with a mixture of remorse and determination.
Unbeknownst to them, one military member had miraculously survived the devastating spell. It was the soldier who had sought relief behind a tree, his life spared by sheer chance. As he returned to the scene, the horrifying sight of bloodshed and carnage greeted his eyes. Calling for reinforcements, he urgently reported, "Sir, we have a catastrophic situation here. The entire troop has been brutally annihilated."
Glancing to the side, the soldier noticed a survivor amidst the chaos. Though grievously wounded and missing body parts, the soldier summoned the strength to communicate. "It... It wasn't Tobletone... who did this," he managed to utter, his voice strained. "It was the blind girl who accompanies him, Tassa Bottesford."
With his revelation, the soldier relayed the shocking truth via radio, ensuring that the mistaken assumption of Nia'le's guilt would be corrected. "Mayday, I repeat, it was not Nia'le Tobletone who committed this heinous act. The true perpetrator is the girl we believed to be his hostage, Tassa Bottesford."
Ixartxist, and the other demons, felt an inexplicable shiver run down their spines, a disturbance in the very fabric of their existence. They sensed a surge of unfamiliar energy, unmistakably emanating from Tassa. She possessed a strength that surpassed their expectations, like water, smooth yet unyielding, a formidable weapon in its own right. "She did it. Aren't you going to investigate?" Zaqua'blo questioned, his voice filled with curiosity. "I might," Lucille replied cryptically, his gaze fixed on the tempestuous rain outside.
Ixartxist, torn between concern and the need to maintain appearances, stood motionless, gazing out of his window at the downpour. His mind raced with conflicting thoughts. "Quart unleashed the forbidden spell. She used it, against my wishes. And I have no doubt that her impudent brother will come to her aid, checking on her condition. I cannot go there, for it would be too obvious," Ixartxist mused.
Meanwhile, Ayamani stood in stunned silence, unable to comprehend the fact that Tassa possessed the ability to wield such a spell. He grappled with the realization that Ixartxist had taught her this forbidden knowledge. Tassa, still weakened from her exertions, remained determined to heal Céline. Nia'le, desperately trying to understand her intentions, grasped her hands and implored her to explain herself. Ignoring his words, Tassa gently placed her hands on Céline's chest and declared her intent to heal her.
Nia'le, aware of the futility of her efforts, cautioned Tassa that she could not bring the dead back to life. However, Tassa remained undeterred, her resolve unyielding as she attempted to channel her remaining energy into saving Céline. Witnessing this, Ayamani struck Nia'le's head with the shaft of his weapon, urging him to intervene before Tassa's actions consumed her. With urgency, Nia'le once again clasped Tassa's hands, managing to halt her in her tracks. Ayamani implored Nia'le to explain the gravity of the situation to Tassa, to make her understand. As Nia'le embraced Tassa and kissed her forehead, Ayamani's annoyance flickered across his face, unspoken but palpable.
"Tassa, please stop. If you exhaust all your energy on this spell, who knows what could happen to you? Céline is gone, and I cannot bear to lose you as well. Please, Tassa, I beg you, stop," Nia'le pleaded, his voice filled with anguish.
Moved by his words, Tassa finally relented, her tears flowing for the loss of Céline.
In the midst of this emotional turmoil, the military saw an opportunity and approached the scene. One soldier aimed his gun directly at Tassa, demanding Nia'le's surrender or else he would shoot the "witch." Nia'le's instincts urged him to draw his sword, but the risk of inadvertently harming Tassa held him back. Sensing his hesitation, the soldier taunted him further, questioning Tassa about her powers and how she had committed such a massacre. As the soldier's attention wavered, Nia'le attempted to retrieve his sword, but the military was not so easily deceived. In a split second, the soldier pulled the trigger, a bullet hurtling towards Tassa. Nia'le, his perception heightened, witnessed the scene unfolding in slow motion, but his own past trauma paralyzed him, rendering him incapable of evading the bullet. Helplessly, he called out Ayamani's name.
With lightning reflexes, Ayamani deflected the bullet, redirecting its path away from Tassa. He then halted Nia'le's movement, his emaciated finger pressed against Nia'le's forehead. Nia'le, his eyes brimming with tears, stared at Ayamani in disbelief, realizing his own powerlessness and the weight of his past. Ayamani's smile, a rare sight, transformed his face, leaving Nia'le astonished by the revelation.
"You are not weak, Nia'le. You are simply ignorant," Ayamani declared.
Overwhelmed by Ayamani's words, Nia'le felt his strength wane, his sword slipping from his grasp, vanishing into thin air. Consciousness slipping away, he teetered on the edge of collapse, but Ayamani stood firm, providing support so that Nia'le would not crumble to his knees.
"Ayamani, why?" Nia'le managed to utter.
"There is nothing more admirable than humility, Nia'le. Pride can bring you down, but humility can raise you up," Ayamani replied.
Suddenly, a shot rang out, striking the soldier who had threatened Tassa. The soldier, bewildered, gazed at Tassa as he stumbled, his last words escaping as a question, "What exactly are you, Ta...ss...a?"
Ayamani glared at the unseen assailant who had fired the shot. "It is not your place to interfere," Ayamani warned.
"She is still my sister. I cannot allow anyone to harm her," the unseen figure declared, their voice filled with determination.
As the military closed in, their presence overwhelming, Tassa's tears fell not for the impending arrival of the troops, but for the spirits now visible in the Infinite Night. Among them, she saw the spirit of the military member who had pointed his gun at her, pleading her innocence to Nia'le. Nia'le, his gaze shifting to Ayamani, whispered urgently, "We need to go." With a determined yet unsteady gait, he moved past Ayamani and reached out to Tassa, taking her hand firmly in his own. "I witnessed everything, Tassa. I saw the truth, and I believe in you," he assured her, his eyes filled with unwavering trust. Nia'le's weakened legs betrayed his pain, but he brushed off Tassa's concerns, insisting that they needed to flee before the military arrived.
"But what about you? You're in pain, aren't you?" Tassa questioned, her worry etched across her face.
"I'm fine," Nia'le replied, attempting to dismiss his own suffering.
"No, you're not. I can see you struggling to catch your breath, the pain in your eyes, Nia'le. Please, just be honest with me, if only for once," Tassa implored.
Ayamani, placing a hand on Tassa's shoulder, attempted to heal Nia'le, but to no avail. Ayamani's gaze fell upon the mark of death slowly manifesting on Nia'le's skin, and he delivered the grim news that he could not heal him. Urgency gripped their actions as they debated their next move. Nia'le suggested leaving Céline's body to the care of the military, acknowledging the flaws in his plan. However, Tassa vehemently opposed the idea, refusing to abandon her friend. Nia'le's gaze shifted to a cliff on the opposite side of the waterfalls, realization dawning upon him.
"My plan may not be ideal, but we cannot take her with us. We must entrust her to the military," Nia'le explained.
Tassa's anger flared, her voice filled with determination. "We cannot leave her, Nia'le! We cannot abandon her—"
Tassa's words halted as she heard Céline's voice, resonating within her. "It's alright, Tassa. Do not worry about me. My physical body is just a vessel. The real me is here with you. Now, go on and hurry. The military is closing in," Céline reassured them.
With those words echoing in their hearts, Nia'le and Tassa sprinted away. However, Nia'le's attachment to Céline's lifeless body compelled him to return. He lifted her into his arms, vowing not to let go of Tassa. Together, they ran towards the cliff, their destination drawing near.
"The sound of crashing waves... Are we on a cliff, Nia'le? Have we taken the wrong path? Are we trapped once again? Tell me!" Tassa questioned anxiously.
Nia'le grinned at her, taking her hand once more. "No, Tassa, we haven't. You may not agree with this, but we have no other choice. The military has surrounded us. The only way to survive is to jump off the cliff."
Tassa hesitated, uncertain of the outcome. "But can we survive the fall? Nia'le, is this simply suicide?"
Nia'le chuckled, his grip on her hand tightening. "I know it seems reckless, but I need you to trust me on this."
Nia'le, aware of the enigmatic words etched upon his body, felt a sudden surge of pain. "I know I'm playing with my life, but at least you're one of the players. Tassa, no matter what happens, do not let go of me. Understood?"
"Nia'le, would you like me to tell you that 'I would rather die than live alone'? Because, Nia'le, I trust you," Tassa clung to Nia'le's arm, a smile gracing her lips.
"Because, Nia'le, I do," she confessed.
"Thank you. I am grateful that our paths crossed, and that we embarked on this incredible journey together. Even when we clashed, I always found myself smiling because of you. I love you, and I always will," Nia'le expressed, his words filled with sincerity.
Tassa was left speechless, a wave of sadness washing over her. They turned their backs to the cliff, preparing to take the leap. Before they jumped, Nia'le smiled at her.
"You know, you haven't said 'you're welcome' yet. But it doesn't matter," he remarked.
"I love you too, Nia'le. I was just afraid to admit it, for I feared the cost. Thank you, thank you for everything," Tassa whispered, her voice filled with emotion.
Nia'le glanced at her face one last time, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "I am willingly risking my life, and even if I didn't invite you, I know you would come anyway."
"I have no reason to live if you die," Tassa confessed.
Nia'le smiled, his grip on Tassa and Céline unwavering. Together, they took the plunge, leaping off the cliff before the military could capture them.