The scene that was emerging before me in that terrifying silence of the workshop, it shivered my soul. I was completely surprised; Historia, who until some time ago was proving heavy upon that kidnapper woman, had now suddenly gone into a dying-like condition like a flickering lamp. That unbreakable strength and blue aura of hers had been buried somewhere deep in the flood of that woman's black energy. A girl who just a while ago was looking agile, now she began to look lifeless and helpless. This change was so sudden and scary that my brain went numb.
But things were not over yet. That kidnapper woman, who had put that 'Corrupted Energy' inside Historia, she was looking quite surprised and crazy at that same one time. In her eyes was not the peace of victory, but a strange madness and terror. But there was not just one reason behind this; now she, holding her head, begins to scream in a restless voice. That scream of hers which was sounding like the sound of hell's corruption.
The reason for this happening with her could be that perhaps that corrupted energy to some extent had come inside her own self as well, which was giving her unbearable pain and soul-shivering agony. That power which she had used to finish Historia, was now finishing her from within.
As soon as her grip on her powers became loose, a stir happened in the atmosphere. All her Shadow Tentacles disappeared back into their respective shadows from the battlefield. And amidst the writhing of pain, that Veiled cloth removed from above her face and for the first time I saw the real face of that woman. In the blurry ray of light, her face began to become clear. Her eyes were completely red, which due to the terrifying intensity of pain had begun to look like flowing blood. Her face was like a terrifying image of beauty—which despite being fair and beautiful reflected a deep darkness. In her beauty was hidden such a curse that could scare anyone.
But I was not going to stop now. Not even a single drop of mercy was left inside me. Historia's condition had ignited the fire of revenge within me. I quickly took out 3 Cards and taking full advantage of that painful condition of that woman, I threw those cards toward that woman with full strength. Those leaves, which had become hard like iron, moved forward piercing the air like a sharp saw. Those cards moved toward her and one card among them went directly and entered deep into that woman's hands, which increased that unbearable pain inside that woman many times more.
She shrieked with pain, her body was trembling and she had fallen on her knees. It was looking as if her powers were now scattering, that part of the workshop shuddered with her painful screams.
She now wanted to run away from here at any cost. That red circle of her eyes and that terrifying beauty of her face were now only advertising agony. But I had aimed my gun at her; my fingers were tightened on the trigger and my entire focus was on her trembling body. I was just about to fire at her, that just then nature played a cruel joke.
That hole made in the metallic sheet of the workshop's roof, from which that calm and milky light was coming, the light suddenly stops coming from it. That lone brightness drowned in silence went out. This had happened because a black and thick cloud was passing from above the warehouse, due to which seeing that woman had now become as if impossible for me. As soon as that pillar of light disappeared, that place again drowned in that same primitive darkness which had swallowed this workshop.
I was still aiming my target waiting for that cloud to pass, my breaths were held. My plan was clear—so that after the cloud's leaving whatever light comes through that hole, I could see that woman clearly with the help of that light and fire a bullet at her. That wait of a few seconds was looking like some century. My finger was touching the trigger, but eyes were only trying to pierce that blackness.
But even before the light's coming again, in that silence I hear the sound of that woman's footsteps running. That sound was like footsteps falling fast on pieces of debris. I understand that that woman is leaving from here, so that she can control her dilapidated condition and finish the remainings of that 'corrupted energy' inside her.
I did not have many bullets, therefore I could not waste meaningless bullets. Firing by guess in the dark would be like making oneself unarmed. Therefore I waited for the right opportunity, keeping my senses fully alert. But the time it took for the cloud to clear and the light to return, that was enough for that woman. In this much time that woman again disappeared back into the dark corridors of those heaps of goods of the workshop. That shadow had once again become a part of those black lanes, and now finding her was going to be more dangerous than ever before.
The circumstances had become even more serious. Now silence spread at that square of darkness and terror, but now without thinking anything, I go running directly toward Historia. The sound of my shoes was piercing that silence. Reaching near her I saw that her fair skin had now turned black. That scene was heart-wrenching, as if she had absorbed that 'corruption' within herself. The soot was clearly visible in her veins.
I sat on my knees and I picked her up with the support of my hands, beginning to try to know her worsening condition closely. But as soon as I examined her condition, I felt that perhaps that corruption has not had as deep an effect on Historia as it should have had. The power of her inner soul was still fighting that darkness. I understood that Historia is in a condition to improve, but the question was how should I heal her so quickly?
Just then an idea came to me and I took out my 'Reverent Card' from the pocket of my clothes. When I had brought it with me, I felt that it won't be of much use to me, but now this same card was going to be used in the most important task. With trembling hands I placed it on Historia's head and read the spell to activate it— "Co."
As soon as I said this much, that symbol of the Sun made on the Reverent Card sparkled in a yellow light. And in no time, in a moment the entire card was surrounded by that supernatural light. The scene was as if a ray of the sun were piercing the darkness of that workshop. It began to look as if that card has started finishing all the corrupted energy inside Historia with a glow. Historia's body was bathed in that sacred light, which was slowly pulling her out from the clutches of that darkness.
After a few moments Historia's eyes opened. In her pupils the same old glow was returning back. I became quite happy seeing this that Historia has started becoming fine again. However, she had not even come into full consciousness yet that she asked me in a stumbling voice, "Master... what happened? Did that woman lose to us?"
At this question of hers I remained silent, because the bitter truth was this itself that that woman had not come into my catch yet. She had again become a shadow and vanished in the lanes of the workshop. But now I had decided that I will have to find and finish that woman, otherwise our lives could again come into danger. And the biggest thing, I had to find Helena as well; without taking her how could we go safely out from here?
I very slowly placed Historia's head back on the ground and stood up at my place. Now there was a new determination within me. I knew that Historia will become fine now, but before that kidnapper woman heals herself, I will have to stop her. I looked at Historia one last time and said in a low voice, "Don't worry Historia, I will take us all safely from here."
Saying this much, I put my gun in my clothes and moved my steps in the direction that woman had gone running.