Love Seed

The string in her back started to glow brightly before it sent a warm energy around her body, heating her immensely to the point that someone couldn't resist its charms.

“Maybe I'm going to take a nap”, her eyes drop lower before her body limps over slightly, her eyes get glazed over, and before she drools, she starts coming out of her mouth.

What's happening to her?

Toki, seeing the situation unfold, gets worried, his movements slowly pushing towards Ayuri in a desperate attempt to see what happened after she got struck. The threads, however, don't leave much time, as they start wrapping around the string and around her body, making sure she is unable to be damaged during her sleep.

“Don't forget what you're supposed to do.” Era appears next to him, sternly staring him down. This wasn't the time to let his worry take over, however badly it wanted to.

Toki gives one final look towards the wrapped Ayuri before looking up at the thread's path. It followed from back towards the two people standing at the back; however, it went even further back, as anticipated.

The hooded figure in front of him stops attacking before moving to the side; the sound of heels erupts, hitting the grass field as a tall woman around Hiwo’s impressive height emerges.

She wore a slim pure white gold dress with a white witch hat, her silver hair flowed backwards towards her lower back, and she walked with a gentle motion, her yellow eyes staring towards Toki, giving her a warm feeling of him.

“What could a goddess want with me?” Toki pointed his spear towards her. He was still wary despite seeing that she wasn't going to attack.

Her voice sounded motherly. “You know where to go, so let me lead you there.”

The cryptic words she said didn't lower his guard at all; rather, the opposite. Why would the opponents' goddess even consider leading them to an important enemy?

Toki stood firmly. “Who are you?”

“I'm one of the purity members; call me Seraphine, the goddess of love.” She let out a warm smile before quickly appearing behind him and grabbing his free arm. She didn't ask for permission before starting to walk with him towards the mysterious figure.

Why is every goddess more insane than the last?

They walked away from the fight scene together. The two hooded figures shifted their attention to Shina, now having to deal with triple the amount, but it didn't seem like she minded, however.

“Why are you helping me?” he questioned, their footsteps approaching the tents of the campsite. There was one in particular that stood out, as it was still closed despite a whole battle brewing; the other one was where Falsity and Justice were playing.

She didn't reply, just stared down, giving him a smile before waving her hand at the tent, letting it open by itself. Toki instantly got overwhelmed by a warm smell and a blinding light within the tent, causing him to cover his eyes.

What is this strong energy?

“Elovia, it's just me and a guest,” Seraphine spoke towards the thing emitting the energy. Toki couldn't even know what was behind it but was certain it had to be human by now.

The blinding fades completely as a small figure of a girl emerges into his view, sitting against the tent. What was more surprising about Toki was that she was full of bandages covering her entire body, and also her eyes, making her unable to see.

What is this? Am I really feeling pity for someone trying to kill us?

Toki gave a grim look towards Elovia. There was something under his serious expression that hinted towards sadness at the girl and her current state; not only was she bandaged, but she seemed very frail and small from lack of nourishment.

“Toki, I'm glad to meet you.” A hushed, high-pitched voice came out of her.

He stares down with his spear still grasping it just in case. “How do you know my name? This is the first time we met.”

Seraphine let go of his arm before kneeling beside Elovia. She patted her pale yellow hair gently, like a mother patting their child.

“I know, and so does she, about everything to this point about you and others from Ayuri’s perspective,” Seraphine spoke out.

That explains a lot, but nothing yet on why they led me here

Elovia spoke, “You wouldn't kill me knowing I can't fight back. I can't even stand, yet fighting would be even worse, so I'm totally defenceless now.”

“That's one of my rules; you learnt that through Ayuri, too, it seems.” There was some resignation in his voice.

Elovia didn't nudge or move at all during the conversation; moving for her took more energy than it was worth, so she had to rely on explaining without the aid of movement.

“I know about the contract you made as well; nullifying your emotions to the bare minimum to continue at a higher efficiency really breaks our hearts,” Elovia added.

Seraphine gave a saddened expression towards Toki, her eyes giving him a tearful look as if he were the one in pain right now.

“Falsity sealed our emotions to a minimum because I would want revenge out of anger for Shina killing Howi,” Toki explained with logical reasoning behind the contract.

Seraphine let out a painful sigh. “You also still dared to get protection for Ayuri as well in that contract for your total commitment to making Shina win.”

“I was getting to that.” Elovia raised her voice; if she could pout, there would definitely be one right now.

“I'm sorry,” Seraphine quickly said.

Toki didn't even realise, but the tent's atmosphere turned really light-hearted for some reason, despite talking to two of his enemies that he was destined to fight; here they were trying to talk about his decisions.

“Just tell me what you want already; we're not supposed to be friends,” Toki quickly dismissed the growing lightheartedness.

Elovia replied, “I wanted you to come here personally to talk. I heard from the other tent that you are up for the price. Falsity and Justice betting us mortals is really something I don't like.”

Toki glanced up at Seraphine. There was an unforgiving frown towards them as well; it seems that no matter if it was an enemy or a friend, the goddess of love and her follower didn't like the idea of being mistreated.