Chapter 4.6: Melodic Link

Two distant hearts reuniting for a small moment, the maiden's burning resolve to save a precious one. The demon passing along the flowing streams, her slowly opening eyes, seeing the brightening light.

Shortly awakening in the dusk, Isa sitting down, her arms wrapping around her leg by a tree. Her vision to her surroundings, seeing Zeke and Ellis resting by the fire.

The maiden looking to the crimson moon, raising her hand to the object. Her grim eyes, deeply pleading for the innocent one's safety. Isa soon standing, heading down a quiet road.

"No...this power, I doubt it is enough to beat him. I need something more, I need an edge against him..." The young woman scowling a bit.

An individual walking along her dark path, deeply shaking within. Her uncertainty on her challenge, yet her undying will to meet it.

The demon standing still, looking back in the darkness. Her eyes on Armand, the man's back facing her.

"Control your emotions Isa, or are you willing to completely become a beast to kill me?" his pitiable eyes.

"If that is what it takes to kill you, then I am fine with it." The maiden facing the man.

"Of course, after all--" the disappearing man.

"--You made a contract with me." Cyra standing behind her.

Isa quickly turning to the being, cautiously stepping back a bit. An entity coming before the maiden in the prison, giving her a chance to claim her desire.

The young woman's eyes on the complex contract surrounding her, its harshly glowing black sigils.

"What are you truly willing to do to claim your desires? Your sentiments say you are willing to become an enemy if you must, but can your resolve truly meet this demand?" the entity turning from Isa.

"I have stomped on everything I once followed to save Elina, but yet...some part of me wants to believe in our goal." The maiden lowering her head.

"And who says you have to give up that goal?" Cyra folding her arms.

"What do you mean...?" Isa confusingly looking at her.

"The path of an Iconoclast is not an easy one. You must be willing to damn even your own soul to achieve what you wish, but within it. There is a small light, a light that feverishly burns. If there is a challenge in your way, you break it down, even if it slashes away at your psyche." The person's hand on their waist.

"I understand. To have the future I want, I have to be willing to carve it with my own hands." Isa gripping her wrist, slightly looking away.

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"Right, and try not to forget that you are not alone. It took me many years to realize this myself." The being facing the young woman, faintly smiling at them.

"Heh, you're much kinder than the legends say. Thank you, you helped to ease some of my troubles." The maiden's hands behind her back, slightly grinning at them.

An entity long ago selfishly pursuing her direction, unable to see the binding links from her efforts. Many coming back to aid her, opening her vision to their sincerity. Isa watching the being fade away, her vision soon to the velvet moon.

"I will carve a reality just for you Elina, a world where you can happily live." Isa's soft tone.

"Aah! Anyone! Help!" a man fearfully yelling.

The young woman's calm eyes ahead, seeing a man running in her direction. A large silver dragon giving chase, nearing the person by the moment.

Isa extending her katana, swiftly moving forward. The maiden cutting through, soon sheathing her blade. Blood spilling in the distance, the large beast lifelessly falling to the land.

"Oh thank goodness..." The person stopping his movements, sighing in relief.

"That was a close one, why are you out here?" Isa walking up to him.

"Hold on...you're Isa. The wanted criminal, why did you save me?" his shock.

"Someone I knew would be highly disappointed in me if I just turned a blind eye." Folding her arms, slightly looking away.

"Elina huh..." The man folding his arms.

"You know her...?" the maiden's surprise at him.

"Yeah, I met her about half a decade ago. What I know about you is from her." His hand behind his head.

A pure one's connection, someone linking together others within her gentle bliss. The person's bright presence affecting others, bringing more into their world.

"You do know they are going to sacrifice her right?" Isa gripping her arm, scowling to her side.

"What?" the man stepping back a bit.

"The church's ideal to stop the conflict is by using her life. It is why I became a demon, to save her." The maiden gesturing her hand to him.

"I knew the church was shady, but to think they would do something like this..." Lowering his head.

A blade originally underneath the church's control, an individual's unbending sword upending many lives. A pure one's heart setting her direction, showing the truth in the shadows.

"It does not matter what I have to do, I will save Elina. If anyone deserves to live a happy life, it is her..." Isa sadly gripping her arms.

"I agree. Elina did so much for us. Isa, I will do what I can to help from my end. We'll get her away from their clutches." Folding his arms, his serious eyes on her.

"Doing so will brand you an enemy of the church, are you willing to take on that burden?" the maiden's hand on her waist.

"For Elina? I'll do anything, I owe my life to her. The church can take whatever they are cooking and shove it." Shrugging at her.

"Hah, fair enough. The Temple of Seres, that is where we are headed, and by now Armand should be well aware on our destination." Gesturing her hand to him.

"Alright, leave the gathering of a force to me. Elina helped a lot of us, there are countless that are willing to put down their lives to save her if it ever came to that." The man turning from her.

"What's your name?" Isa's hand to her chin.

"Eden. Thanks for telling me about this, I'll study up some more, then gather everyone for the raid on that temple." Looking back to her.

"I will leave that to you then. In the mean time, I will continue to destroy their strongholds to weaken them." Isa facing away.

"Alright, that's the plan then, until next time." Eden's serious expression, the man heading onward.

You have touched many hearts Elina, these are the type of people you have affected. None of us will idly stand by and watch you die. Armand, he will feel our rage, what rests in the depths of our souls.