Stars of Freedom

Chapter 72: Thymós

Elias stared at Okami with his eyes wide open, not out of surprise, but out of anger. Nichi began disappearing slowly. Okami felt Elias' wave of anger hit him, that feeling that was all too familiar to him. Tears began rolling down Elias' face, he grit his teeth and was breathing heavily. The rest of the group caught up to Okami. They saw what was happening.

Nichi disappeared entirely, all that was left was an orb on Elias' hand. Out if everyone in the group, Volk ran towards him. He kneeled in front of Elias quickly and put his arms around him. The feeling of anger vanished, Okami looked around to see if anyone else noticed it. No one seemed to even have sensed it before.

Volk: Listen, we'll get whoever did this. Just don't go down a path you'll regret later.

Elias crushed the orb in his hand, using it. His breathing was shaky, his vision was blurred. Everyone else in the group stayed still, unsure of what to do. Elias tried speaking.

Volk: No need to say anything. Just process the moment. This isn't easy and we're not gonna take that away from you. Feel as you please.

Elias closed his eyes, tears still streaming down his face. He began to sniffle soon after. The tears hitting Volk's jacket immediately froze. Volk closed his eyes. Okami felt the same thing again, this time it wasn't from Elias. He walked forward an put his hand on Volk's shoulder while looking to the side.

Elias: There was a boy... Resembled Accalia... Star under his left eye..

Volk looked back at Okami, the two met eyes.

Volk: Let's get out of here then. Can you walk?

Elias: I... Can I get a few minutes?

Volk turned his gaze onto the ground.

Volk: ..Sure, take your time.

Kenos: I'll check the area out with Zu.

He grabbed her arm and the two began looking around the area.

Kitsune walked next to Volk and stayed by Elias and him. Nahe did the same. Kochev looked around the area seeming to recognize something. "Star under the eye... resembled Accalia..." he kept repeating in his head. "Fuck..." he spoke out loud.

Nahe: Something up?

Kochev: That person you described Elias, did he control a Monstra?

Elias: ...yeah...

Kochev: Did he-

Volk: Dude! Stop asking right now. Let it be, we'll handle it later.

Kochev: Whatever. I know who's behind this.

Volk: Cool, we'll talk about it after this.

Elias still had his eyes closed, he wiped his face. Kenos and Yuzui walked up to them from behind Elias.

Kenos: No sign of people nearby but there is a town not too far from here.

Kitsune: Should we go there? Or should we leave this place entirely?

Yuzui: Considering they were here when Ken left them in the portal... I don't think we're safe anywhere.

Nahe: So...

Everyone stayed silent for a few seconds.

Kitsune: Ken, take me to the castle.

Kenos: Huh? Why in the name of every god do you want that?

Kitsune: There's something there that we need.

Nahe: Won't it be swarming with those things we ran from?

Kitsune: Let's hope not.

Kenos took a deep breath.

Kenos: Let's all go together. I'm not separating from anybody anymore. We all have a target on our heads now from what I've gathered so far, and I refuse to let anyone else disappear.

Elias patted Volk's shoulder for a second and stood up.

Elias: Let's go...

Kenos nodded at Elias. He grabbed the air and ripped into reality again to create a portal. He walked inside and looked around, he signaled everyone to follow him with his hand. The group followed him into that snowy place. Kitsune looked around as she felt goosebumps all throughout her body. There was a rumble heard nearby.

Kenos: What do you need? We can't stay here for long.

Kitsune: Something... it's gonna help us with survival.

Kenos: Then lead the way. Everybody, don't let your guard down.

The group looked around, walking carefully behind Kitsune who was trying to find her way around the now rubble of the castle she had lived in for nine years. She saw a torn painting in all of the debri, she recognized it immediately and knew more or less where she was. She quickly jumped over a pillar that was knocked over and began creating a small platform on the floor with spirit energy that she could walk over easily without stepping on the debri.

Okami was stretching his legs, trying to find the best spots to step on without slipping. Yuzui stepped on the debris without a care in the world. Kenos hovered over every step he took as to not touch anything. Volk stepped through the debris, his footing stable same as Elias. Nahe carefully followed where Okami was going. Everyone was walking at their own slow pace as to stay together and not leave a single person behind. Except Kitsune, she already knew where she was going and wanted nothing more than to get whatever she was looking for.

Kitsune stopped right in front of a collapsed roof, knowing where she was stepping on. Out of the surrounding debris, creatures started emerging from shadows. The same ones that some of them were struggling to even hit before. Kitsune made an axe from her spirit power, the platform under her disppeared for that to happen. Elias closed his fist and cracked his neck. Volk summoned his shield and armor quickly while Okami stood right behind him with his Star Diamond. Yuzui shifted over to Nahe to protect him while Kenos pulled his Halberd from thin air....