Aqua leaned forward, and her eyes closed as she plunged deep in thought. How much should she reveal to Azure? While Azure didn't seem to hide anything, it did not mean that she should reveal anything too important.
Aqua leaned forward, and her eyes closed as she plunged deep in thought. How much should she reveal to Azure? While Azure didn't seem to hide much from her, it did not mean that she should tell every sensitive detail.
Not only was it foolish to reveal everything without a thought, but it was also incredibly painful. And yet as she stared into Azure's eager gaze, she couldn't help but drop her guard at least slightly.
What's the harm? I can reveal a little bit at least. Not like it would allow her to betray me…
Aqua sighed as she looked around, "Don't share my past with anyone, ok?"
Azure nodded excitedly. There was no reason for her to go against Aqua's wishes. It was the least her hero had deserved. What excited Azure even more was that Aqua was willing to share something with her that she wouldn't share with anyone else.
"Well… Let's start from my own birth." Aqua leaned back while she crossed her arms.
"Unlike you, I was not born in a noble family, but we weren't poor either. We were what you could categorize as the middle class of elven society. Fortunately, we lived in a rather major city, which made it slightly easier to earn a living."
"You aren't a noble? I could have bet my life you were considering how you behave and how educated you seem." Azure tilted her head in confusion.
"Hah… Knowledge is not something exclusive to nobility, Azure. It is acquired through great effort. Even a beggar could learn as much as I could, as long as they had discipline and patience. Of course, having material means also helps speed up the process."
Azure nodded.
"I digress, my Mother and Father were both soldiers." She chuckled for a moment, "They fell in love when the humans invaded us and they saved each other's hides."
Azure nodded along as her ears twitched.
"Keep in mind this is a different world than this one."
"We were a rather happy family, I had an older brother too… He used to be so protective." Aqua's smile faded as she remembered her family. For a moment, she went silent before she shook her head and continued.
"You said he used to be… what happened…?" Azure worried that she answered her own question; however, she wished for Aqua to answer and confirm.
Aqua exhaled sharply, "I will get to it soon."
"Mhm… sorry for interrupting."
"Not a problem…" Aqua frowned for a moment, "Our happy family did not mean to last. Merely a century passed before the 'Divine Exterminators' came to our city."
"Were they the human invaders you mentioned?"
"No, these were independent Church Exterminators. The Executors of God's will. Much like the Inquisitors of Red Dawn. With mere invaders, ordinary soldiers were enough… but with those…" A small tear escaped her eye.
Azure leaned forward, her finger gently rubbing away the single tear. Aqua stared at her in shock as she caught Azure's hand.
"You wiped my tears… I am returning the favor." Azure smiled as Aqua released her grip.
"Thanks… Remembering those days is painful; they are not easy to talk about." Aqua's lips curled into a wide smile.
"You know… You don't need to tell me if it's too difficult." Azure finished wiping Aqua's tears before she pulled her hand back.
Sheira warned me not to be too pushy.
Aqua shook her head, "I appreciate it, but I will be fine. It was rather long ago at this point."
Azure nodded.
"Those exterminators killed EVERYONE… every single elf, be it a woman, child, or elderly. They were all slaughtered."
Azure placed her hands on her mouth and widened her eyes.
"My family barricaded themselves inside our home… yet they soon found us."
"My Father and Brother tried to protect us, but they were cut down before my eyes… their blood stained my skin and clothing…" Aqua brought her hands forward and stared at her palms.
Her body shook as she remembered the traumatic day, "My mother tried hiding me, but she was captured… and they forced me to watch as they… decapitated her in front of me…"
"Why…"
"Then I did not know… all I knew back then was that they murdered my entire family… for no reason."
"In my anger, I charged at them… I thought they would kill me too, but instead only thing I remember was that everything went dark." Her body trembled.
"Then I woke up in what I could only describe as a gilded cage… It was a luxurious abode with every mortal delight fulfilled. Food, Entertainment, you name it. However, I was not allowed to set foot outside."
"How could I partake in the luxury when I knew that my family was all dead… everything I held dear was taken from me in merely a day. Yet they did not stop."
"Every day, I overheard my wardens discussing how many elves were exterminated. They were not happy with only my family; they wanted to kill every single elf… except me."
She stopped for a moment, "And you know what's worst of it… they laughed. They laughed as they committed genocide." A tear escaped her eye.
"But… why…" Azure wore a terrified look on her face, and she stared at Aqua with immense determination to hear everything.
"Well… It was due to the Supreme God… He had ordered them to capture me and kill all other elves…" Aqua gulped as she gathered the courage to continue. "Soon, I overheard why I was captured. The Supreme God wanted me as a concubine…No… better definition would be a sex slave…"
"The Exterminators were ordered to keep me in the gilded cage, feed and prepare me for service…They kept me there for years. My body was not up to God's standard back then…" She bit her lip as tears streamed down her face, which she quickly wiped away.
Azure's eyes widened. "Aqua…"
Aqua sniffled for a moment as she held back the tears, "Fortunately… the wardens weren't the trained exterminators… Their incompetence allowed me to slip past and escape into a nearby forest. If I had failed then, I wouldn't be here today… would probably be in god's bed…"
"Monsters…" Azure placed her hand on the heroine's shoulder.
Aqua nodded in approval. "Well, it got slightly better… Once I escaped, I avoided capture for a couple of decades… Until I got cornered in a cave I called home."
Aqua forced a giggle, "I lived like some feral beast…"
"Well… they chased me deep inside… Until…"
She stopped for a moment.
"Every single exterminator that chased me burst into flames. They were reduced to ash… and then even ash burned away." She smiled genuinely.
"That was the point I met the Sun God. He appeared in front of me… and I am still thankful to him for that." Her gaze wandered to the fiery Avian.
"He spoke about the unacceptable act of the Supreme God, how the world needed to be purged and 'Reoriginated', and that I would be granted a chance at vengeance… However, the first time we met, I was terrified… I tried to run… and run I did."
"I made a mad dash deep inside the cave; however, the Phoenix did not chase after me… he just waited." Aqua's lips formed a thin line as she recalled the first meeting with the Sun God.
"Once I figured out I couldn't run… I crawled back. Yet the Sun God welcomed me."
"He always was terrifying, but once I got over the fact that he eradicated so many Exterminators… I found solace in his presence."
"I will tell you more about Sun God and my teachers someday, but for now, all you need to know is that it was because of the Sun God that I learned the art of Aether Conversion and usage of Phoenix Flames."
She smiled, "He is a reason I am what I am today. He was not as terrifying to me as I expected him to be. But you can see where my distrust of the divine is coming from… of course, there is a lot more, but I can't find it in myself to talk about it. I am sorry."
Azure closed her eyes and shook her head, "No need to apologize, I can tell your past is nothing I expected… I am sorry for pushing you to talk about it."
Aqua smiled warmly. It felt refreshing to be able to mention what she went through to someone else. "It's not like it's much of a secret, once I start, I can talk about it even if it hurts a little."
Aqua's head slumped a little before she felt a warm sensation around her. She lifted her head and found Azure gripping her in a tight hug. She felt the fingers move through her hair as she pushed her face into Azure's chest.
"Thank you for telling me at least this much… Whenever you feel like you are ready, I will lend you an ear." Azure tilted her head as she cupped Aqua's cheek.
"Azure… Thank you…" Aqua smiled as she wrapped her arms gently around Azure.
I am so glad I saved her…
Aqua closed her eyes as she enjoyed Azure's hug. She truly felt guilty for doubting the girl. Even now, she had slight doubts, yet Azure truly seemed like a trustworthy person.
"Well, look at that… I leave Azure for a little bit, and she immediately runs to cuddle with our hero, huh~ This is what you mean when you say talk alone." Sheira stood above them, her hands crossed as she wore a small pout.
Azure giggled, "Don't be jealous."
"I am not!"