"I do not understand why you would put your life on the line for him. I think it is clear that Levi was the one initiated the fight and his insulting tendencies against Nephis in the past doesn't do him any good here."
I wanted to point out the fact that Levi was stabbed in the heart by Nephis , but that would reveal his secret. From what I thought, Nephis struck first. But why had she done it? I needed answers and fast or else this situation was going to get worse.
"You think you know him better than I? I know that Levi wouldn't try to kill Nephis."
Then I smirked, however it was not a welcoming one.
"And what's about putting my life on the line? You overestimate yourself Effie , I am far more capable than you think."
"Let's put that to the test, shall we?" Effie said as she took a step forward.
"We shall."
Flowing my blood into my katana , I made it into a sharp whip. I had gotten accustomed to using this weapon , it was very useful and fit my fighting style.
Effie immediately dashed towards me, I was going to stay on defensive until either of the two was in the condition to speak. If they didn't.. well I hope they will.
I immediately swung the whip at my opponent with practiced ease. Ducking under the swing , Effie avoided my attack completely. I spun the whip around me , so I wouldn't need to gain another momentum as that would leave me vulnerable to Effie's attacks. My whip swung at her the second the second time , however the experienced huntress avoided completely for the second time.
Effie had closed the distance between us quiet easily , it seemed I needed to practice more with the whip. I had been slacking off during the hunts , attacking from a distance. I immediately regretted my actions.
With her monstrous strength , Effie thrusted her spear towards me. I was able to side-step the stab, by controlling my blood I immediately made my whip back into a katana. Simultaneously , I thrusted the katana to her shoulder , Effie followed it up by a swing of her spear and deflected it.
We traded blow after blow, but I was clearly being pushed back. The woman had a strengthening aspect while mine was more of an all-rounder. In a direct confrontation I stood little chance , I needed to dodge her attacks instead of trying to deflect them.
An idea popped into my head as I was sent rallying back with the force of her swing. However it would require my full focus on Effie.
Wasting no time , Effie immediately swung her spear at me with mastered movements. Immediately stepping to the side with as much minimal movement as I could muster , I raised my katana and slammed the pommel of the sword into Effie's face.
'Yes!' A smug smile plastered onto my face as my technique actually worked. Effie was sent staggering back a few steps however she regained her focus almost immediately , glaring at me angrily.
I had focused on Effie's heartbeat and blood flow. This way I could anticipate which limbs she was going to put force into beforehand, if I could improve this technique...
[Congratulations! You have unlocked your Aspect Legacy!]
The Spell interrupted my thoughts as it announced my accomplisment.
'Holy fuck..!'
I wanted to check it desperately, however I was in the middle of a fight. Effie charged at me , going for multiple quick thrusts with her spear , the woman's skill was extraordinary but I was not going to lose. I dodged her thrusts and deflected the other , making it slide off my sword.
As the fight raged on , Effie was getting frustrated because she wasn't landing any successful hits on me. She sometimes managed to just graze my skin , however the small wounds closed almost immediately as they appeared.
As I gained distance from her , I was going to change into my whip mode. However our fight was interrupted when Effie saw Nephis getting up to her feet , the grotesque hole in her stomach now gone.
Effie scoffed. "Consider yourself lucky, doll."
"Oh, I will," I muttered with a smirk.
***
We walked over to Nephis , Levi was still laying on the ground in the distance , unconscious. I was eager to get some answers. I was ready to demand answers, but Effie beat me to it—back to her usual carefree self.
"You alright there princess? That was a bad injury."
Nephis only nodded , her eyes were searching for something.
"What happened here?" I cut to the chase , my tone firm and cold.
But I did not get a response as Changing Star got up to her feet , she was looking at Levi's unconscious form with a blank expression. There was a glimmer of regret in her eyes as she walked over to Levi.
"I asked you something , Nephis." I repeated.
"I tried to kill him." Nephis said without an ounce of emotion in her tone. She kneeled down next to Levi. Effie seemed shocked at her words.
'I knew it.' I conjured a blood katana, stepping over Nephis with my blade ready. I was ready to strike her in case she tried to attack again. Effie tensed , her eyes going back and forth between me and Nephis.
"Why did you do it princess..?"
"I thought he was an assassin." She said as she put a hand on his shoulder , white flames engulfed his wound healing it.
I stared at the scene in front of me angrily. "What proof did you have?"
"He was acting harshly and not going along with my orders, and I caught him listening in on me and Sunny yesterday so I assumed.."
"Are you shitting me right now?" I spouted out coldly, cutting her her off before she finished talking. "You call that proof? I thought you were smarter than that Changing Star. You are acting like a paranoid child instead of trying to make rational decisions. Get your shit right , dammit!"
"I.. I am sorry.." Nephis apologized awkwardly.
"Apologies won't undo the damage you've done to our trust! How do you expect him or me to trust your decisions from now on?"
Nephis did not reply to me , keeping her head low. The woman was definitely regretful of her actions. Still I was not going to even consider her regrets when she had stabbed him right through the chest without even having any proof! He would have been gone if he was not immortal.
I shivered at the thought.
To our side , Effie cleared her throat. "Lets calm down ladies... I think we should get back to the lodge and solve everything when pretty boy wakes up, there is no use in blaming Nephis when we have not heard his decision."
I scoffed. Levi was trying to kill Nephis after she betrayed him , was that not a decision already? I wanted nothing more than just get Levi and walk away from these bastards. But I was reluctant to, no one survives in the dream realm alone...
"Whatever.." I agreed with reluctance.
I helped Effie pick Levi up to her back. We walked back to the slums, getting curious gazes from the people. Some even came up to us and asked what had happened to Levi and Nephis. Effie simply waved them off with some excuses. Finally when we reached the lodge, Effie carried Levi into his cot and placed him on his bed , Nephis walked away from us heading to her own room.
Effie carefully placed Levi onto his bed, then she walked out the room. But she suddenly stopped as she saw that I was not getting out the room. She gave me a knowing smirk.
"You shouldn't take advanta-"
"Fuck off Effie." I cut her off coldly.
Effie rolled her eyes and stormed out.. I myself pulled a chair near Levi's bed and settled onto it , crossing my legs. I gazed at Levi as he stayed unconscious , I was still baffled that the guy was immortal. I suppose it explained how he never complained about blood loss.
My hand moved on its own, brushing his hair away. He looked so peaceful… too peaceful for someone who would have just died.
"Rest well.."