Madness... Resolve

The cold air lingered as the silence between Hiroki's group and Renne filled the space. Hiroki was completely disoriented, and his mind clouded with anxiety, while Kenji and Yoru exchanged uneasy glances towards Renne, and Amaya was still bound and gagged, her innocent eyes pleading with them.

"Why so quiet?" Renne tilted her head mockingly, her eyes glinting with malice. "Did yall swallow your own tongues or what? Speak I can't hear."

"No… not this again. The same thing… is repeated." Hiroki's voice wavered with frustration and exhaustion as he spoke to himself.

"Damn it…" Yoru grumbled under her breath, her teeth clenching.

Hiroki pushed himself to move ahead. His voice was shaking, eyes wide with distress. "W–What do you want exactly from us? Why… Why Amaya?"

Renne let out a sharp, mocking laugh, and shook her head in amusement, "Oh, isn't this obvious?" She gesticulated pointedly at Amaya. "Amaya… is my hostage now of course."

Yoru’s anger boiled over as she took a step forward, while glaring intensely at Renne. "And what do you want from us?!"

Renne’s smirk widened as she brought her hand to her lips, feigning thoughtfulness, "Hmmm… what do I want?" Her voice dropped, carrying a malicious undertone. "Well… Hiroki is the solution."

"Huh?" Hiroki recoiled in disbelief at her words, and his mind was in a mess. "Me? How?"

Renne’s playful grin twisted into a deranged grin. "Yeah… you are our destination. You are the reason we came. Without you, we cannot rebuild Yumix!" Her voice rose, arrogant and almost manic. "Give us your strength, Hiroki. Give us your eternal madness. Join us… and we will release Amaya. Not just her…" her tone turned sweetly sinister as she paused, "But we’ll also leave everyone here safe."

Hiroki's expression shifted to a frown, looking mentally drained. He staggered slightly, as if her words physically weighed him down. His breathing grew uneven, and he pressed his palm to his forehead. His voice cracked out of the silence as he muttered, "So… I see… The same thing… same sh#t over and over AND OVER AGAIN! The SAME NONSENSE!" His voice suddenly rose, filled with frustration and pain. "You’re just spouting meaningless words! What’s the point of all of this? Why?! How did we even get into this state…"

Yoru, unable to contain her feelings, stepped in front of Hiroki protectively. Her voice was sharp, filled with disgust about her, "You pesky folks… Why don’t yall stop targeting Hiroki? Don’t you see he’s just an innocent person?! You’re an absolute true definition of filth!"

Renne’s expression darkened momentarily with a clear irritation, before she flicked her wrist dismissively, waving Yoru off, "Innocent?" With a dramatic eye roll, she delivered her words filled with sarcasm. "You don’t know a single thing, do you? You’re just an idiot as the rest"

She stared intently at Hiroki, with her red eyes glimmering "Hiroki… is the cause of the havoc in the first place. He’s the one who was supposed to use the Golden Book. But, his decisions… are the key hindrance," then she faced Hiroki, addressing him, "You think you’re the victim here, Hiroki? So funny. You’re the mistake that ruined everything. And you don’t even realize it!"

The weight of her words crushed Hiroki. His knees buckled, causing him to collapse to the ground. His face was pale, and his eyes were dull as if his soul had been drained. He was muttering to himself weakly, his voice barely audible to people next to him, "I’m… the cause? The cause of the destruction? Is this some kind of sick joke?" He scratched the ground's dirt with his right hand, "No… I'm tired with all of this nonsense"

Renne grinned sadistically, clearly enjoying his despair. "What are you babbling to yourself for huh?" She leaned in mockingly, cupping her left hand to her ear, "Are you already losing your mind? Oh my, poor Hiroki, we have barely begun and you are about to cry like a little baby" She laughed cruelly, her voice echoing in the quiet forest.

Anger surged through Kenji as he balled his fists "You…!" His voice faltered, unable to find the right words.

Hiroki’s hands trembled as he pushed himself up off the ground. His voice was hoarse yet steady, "You said… you wanted to use me, didn’t you?" He raised up his head, challenging Renne with his gaze. "No problem then. But… in return, you have to release everyone else here."

Renne's eyes lit up with a wicked kind of pleasure. She clapped her hands mockingly. "Well done, Hiroki-kun. Well done. You’re making the right choice" Her smirk widened into a sinister grin, "Now… show me the Golden Book, and come with us. Be a good boy."

Yoru's hands shook while she tightly clenched them into fists. Her heart cried out as she whispered internally, "Please… someone… anyone… tell me what to do!"

Just as Renne began to revel in her apparent victory, her previous facial features changed completely, as a faint light appeared in the distance. At first, it was just only a flicker, but it quickly grew brighter.

"W-What’s that?" Renne muttered, narrowing her eyes. Her smirk faltered as more lights appeared, one, two… no, more than 20?! "Wait… no…" Her tone shifted, and her arrogance was replaced with growing unease.

It was hand-lights of knights that were approaching from a far distance. At their center was a person that Renne immediately recognized. It was Seina Karino!

Renne’s composure cracked. Her calm, smug demeanor shattered into anger and disbelief. "Ohoy, hey, hey… what is this?! How did they—? Wait…" Anger clouded her face while she muttered under her breath, "Did this wh#re plan all of this from the beginning?! That bast#rd conniving…"

Yoru and Kenji turned toward's the approaching group to see Seina with them, their faces lighting up with relief. Kenji wore a triumphant grin, "In the right moment! Reinforcements are here!"

Yoru glanced immediately towards Hiroki, who was still frozen in place. She stepped closer to him and whispered, "We’re going to be okay, Hiroki. You don't have to worry anymore."

Hiroki turned around to see, and his gaze was fixed on Seina as the knights moved into position.

"Is this… really the turning point?" He thought to himself before facing forward again, clearly worn out from it all. "Seina… thank you." He couldn't hold back his words that were seeking hope.

Seina stepped forward, her commanding aura silencing the forest. She glared at Renne, whose anger had now boiled into uncontrollable fury.

Renne’s lips curled into a hateful sneer, and she murmured through clenched teeth, "So… you want to play games, Seina Karino… Fine. Let’s play then…"

[ To Be Continued ]