*It was the HQ where Asfi had assumed the role of a captain, for her familia, as Lydia had not woken up for hours now, and Asfi was finding this role harder than she had imagined. Her mind was in panic as the lives of her fellow familia members depended on her decision.
"Falgar," she said in a quiet voice, "I can't do this. You've got to take over for me! I can't be the captain we need right now!"
"Asfi…" She hadn't even raised her head. She simply screamed her desperate plea toward the ground. Falgar found it hard to watch.
"I just keep giving orders that don't make any sense! I can't think straight, and my voice just keeps shaking! It's still shaking now!"
There were very few Finns in the world, and Asfi was not one of them. The weight of her new position was unbearable.
Lydis…! What am I meant to do? Why did you pick me as your successor? What does it matter that I care more than anyone else? How is that supposed to help me support the familia now?
Asfi felt her past coming back to haunt her. It was a part of her she had tried to leave behind when she left her hometown—when she abandoned the title of Princess Andromeda.
She wanted to cry so badly, but she couldn't. If she did, she would turn back into the scared, sheltered little girl she had worked so hard to grow up from. But through her tear-streaked eyes, she could almost see the face of her captain again. She wanted nothing more than to run to her side.
Asfi was not strong. She was just a sixteen-year-old girl, the same as Ryuu, with no set sense of justice, drowning in a responsibility she didn't ask for.
"I can't… I can't…" She looked like she was about to hyperventilate.
But before she could have a mental breakdown. She felt someone embracing her in a strong but gentle hug and petting her head.
"It's fine, Asfi." He said, and she did not need to look up to see who it was, as Asfi was familiar with his voice.
"Everything is fine." He repeated.
In normal times, she might have pushed him away out of embarrassment. But right now she was far too exhausted to muster that strength, so instead she leaned in to his embrace, seeking a sliver of comfort she might find.
"It is not fine," Asfi said, almost choking on her words. "I am not strong enough, Arin…"
Arin hugged her a little more strongly and said. "You are strong, Asfi, far, far stronger than you think."
Asfi was quiet for a long moment, her breathing gradually returning to normal. "I'm scared, Arin. I'm so scared of failing them all." Asfi's hands clutched Arin's cloak tightly.
"Good," he said, surprising her. "A leader who isn't scared doesn't understand the weight of what they're carrying. Your fear means you care. And someone who cares as much as you do? They don't give up."
"Besides," he continued. "You are not alone, I am here, Falgar is here, your familia members are here, even other familia members are here to help as well."
"Well said, Airn," from across the room, Falgar finally spoke. "Like Hermes, I thought you, Asfi, were the best one for this job. I still do. Because you care more than anyone else here!"
"What…? What does that mean…?"
"You worry yourself sick because you know what needs to be done! Your sharp eyes cut through the mist and seize the present moment!"
"Be confident in yourself! Be proud of yourself! Because your ability to analyze a situation is no less than Braver's!"
"Think back to all those times Hermes strung you along!" he said. "This is nothing compared to that! You could handle this with one arm tied behind your back!"
"Falgar…" Asfi has only one thought in her head, and that is, 'There are many things I cannot do, Asfi realized. But there are also things that only I can do. And I…I know what must be done!'
"We'll fulfill the request to locate the leaders of the Evils," she said. "At the same time, try to scavenge supplies from the ruined buildings. Food, equipment, anything you can find."
"Stick together," said Asfi, in a voice more powerful than before. "Split up into teams of four and comb the district!"
"Understood! I'll go tell the others!" With obvious relief, Asfi's subordinates ran off to relay her commands. After they were gone, Asfi turned back to Arin.
For the first time in hours, Asfi managed a small, genuine smile. "Thank you, Arin."
"Anytime, Princess."
Her face immediately flushed red. "Don't call me that!"*
____________________________________________________________________________
Watching Asfi's face flush red at my teasing brought a small smile to my lips, despite everything. It was good to see some color return to her cheeks.
She's going to be alright, I thought, observing how she straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin. Falgar was right—she just needed someone to remind her of what she's capable of.
But as the relief of seeing Asfi regain her composure settled in, the weight of our situation came crashing back down on me.
Where do we even start? I wondered, running a hand through my hair. The list of problems seemed endless: Evilius forces scattered throughout the city, a Level 7 monster of a woman who could apparently match Gareth blow for blow, and another level 7 tank of a man stronger than Ottarl, civilians turning against us, dwindling supplies, no reinforcements…
Haaa ... .Oh well, there's not much I can do except fight, I guess.
.
.
.
I was returning from the dungeon after getting some resources that are required to make different potions and magic items.
I was doing these short trips to the dungeon frequently now.
But one thing was strange, the monsters were far more aggressive than they normally are. I have already told Finn about it and even asked him to spare some human resources to investigate the dungeon. He, or rather Ryoman, was really reluctant, but somehow I was able to convince them, but in return the workload on me has increased greatly.
As I took a turn, I came face to face with Alise, but one thing that was different about her was that she looked haggard, wearing a sad expression on her usually cheerful and smug face.
The moment our eyes met, she put that cheerful expression back on,
"Well, well, well! If it isn't Arin!" Alise declared with exaggerated bravado, striking a dramatic pose with her hands on her hips. "I bet you're impressed by how effortlessly I've been handling everything? It's almost unfair to the enemy how talented I am!"
"Your face says otherwise," I said bluntly.
"Wha—pfft!" Alise waved her hand dismissively, her grin becoming even more forced. "Someone as incredible as me doesn't need to worry about little things like war and destruction," she continued, flipping her hair with practiced arrogance.
"You're making it worse, Alise," I said with a tired sigh. "You know, you should not bottle up your feelings like that. If you want to complain, then go ahead and do that. If you feel the world is being unfair, then cry out to the world."
Hearing that her mask of smugness slipped, a visibly helpless expression took its place. "I can't do that, you know, I am their, Captain, I can't appear weak in front of them."
"Then you can simply complain to me. Hearing someone out is something even I can do." Her green eyes stare into my own black eyes.
About ten minutes later…
"That's another thing that sucks about being the captain! And there's so much going on I have to think about! It's all too much!" Alise had been talking pretty much nonstop ever since I first asked her to open up.
She sure had a lot bottled up inside her, huh?
We were both talking, I mean, Alise was the only one doing the talking, as we also walked through the city.
"Ah! Sorry, Arin, I talk too much, don't I?"
"Well–"
"But you can think of it as an honor since not many people saw me like that."
"Haaa… Sure, sure." I do not have the energy to retort to her.
"But Arin, you also look exhausted. Have you not been sleeping at all?"
"Not really," I told her. "Things have been hectic as you can see, besides my guts won't let me sleep even if I wanted to."
Running back and forth in the dungeon, doing patrols, helping Asfi craft magic items, and not to mention the battle I have to take part in. It's a lot of work, leaving me little to no time to sleep, and it was starting to take a toll on me.
Alise gave me a stare like I was some weirdo, "It's the same kind of bad feeling that you feel."
"Oh, so you are also perceptive like me, huh?" And that stare was gone. She is really a girl with a myriad of expressions.
"Yup, I should get going now," I said, since it was time for me to cover for one of the guys who went to investigate the dungeon. "And don't get stressed too much, or your hair will become white."
"Really?!" Alise said, shock apparent on her face.
But then, almost immediately, her expression shifted back to her usual smugness. "Well, I suppose I'd look absolutely stunning with white hair too! He-hem, as expected of me!" She struck another pose, flipping her red hair dramatically. "I mean, someone as naturally beautiful as the great Alise Lovell could pull off any hair color! White hair would just make me look even more elegant and mysterious!"
I couldn't help but shake my head at her rapid recovery. "There she goes again..."
"What was that?" Alise asked with a bright grin.
"Nothing, nothing. Just try not to stress yourself into premature aging, okay?"
"Hmph! Like stress could ever affect someone as amazing as me!" she declared confidently, though I noticed she unconsciously touched her hair. "But... maybe I'll try to relax a tiny bit. You know, for the good of everyone who gets to admire my perfect appearance!"
Same old Alise, I thought with a mixture of exasperation and fondness. It's good that she is back to her normal self.
"Ah! One more thing, where is Ryuu? I did not see her with you girls?"
"Hm? Lion?" Alise said, putting her hand on her chin. "She was doing the patrol in the northwest street of the city. But she should have returned by now."
"And she has not returned yet?" Ryuu can be reckless at times.
I should look for her, just in case.
"Alise, you go home and rest, I will look for her," I said and started walking ahead of her.
"Okay, take care of yourself as well! And if any problem occurs, then contact us, okay?!"
.
.
.
I made my way through the northwest district, my eyes scanning every shadow and alleyway for any sign of Ryuu. The familiar weight of my sword at my side was a small comfort as I navigated the rubble-strewn streets.
But as I walked, I couldn't help but notice the faces of the people around me. Where there had once been fear mixed with determination, now there was only despair.
An elderly man sat on the steps of what used to be his shop, staring blankly at the ruins. A mother held her crying child close, both of them covered in dust and ash, with no hope left in her eyes. Groups of survivors huddled together, but their conversations were hushed, defeated whispers rather than plans for rebuilding.
What made it worse was that many of these people had refused to go to the shelters we'd set up. Even now, when we offered them protection, they declined. They'd rather stay in their ruined homes than trust the adventurers to keep them safe.
This is bad, I thought grimly. Really bad.
The people weren't just losing their homes and loved ones—they were losing their will to fight back. I could see it in the way they moved, the way they avoided eye contact, the way they flinched at every distant sound. They were giving up.
We need a victory, I realized. A real one. Something visible, something that shows these people that Evilius isn't invincible.
Taking down regular foot soldiers wasn't enough anymore. The civilians had seen us kill dozens of Evilius members, but they kept coming. What we needed was something that would give the people a reason to believe again.
We need to take down one of their high-ranking members. Show everyone that even their strongest can fall.
But that was easier said than done.
I picked up my pace, that familiar bad feeling in my gut growing stronger with each step.