Epiphany Of The Weak 69 Enkhtuya - Part 1

"Let Ceci go first," she demanded.

"Nope."

Caesar's Aegis blade touched the neck of Ceci and Segma's firm expression seemed to loosen.

"We'll tell you . . . but not here," said Segma.

"Oh? Why not?"

"Lately, that other rebel group has been going on a rampage. I don't want ourselves to be out here because of that."

"Ah, safety. Yes, yes. Hardly a concern for me since you also abducted one of us."

Segma frowned. "I don't know who you're talking about."

"Hmm, maybe you'll remember if this friend of yours had her throat slit."

"Don't you dare!" yelled Segma.

Lily hoisted the girl that she'd been holding in her right hand and slammed her body onto the ground.

"ACK!" Her breath snuffed out of her lungs.

"DONT!" said Segma.

"Do what Caesar said," ordered Lily. "It's not hard. If you value the lives of both of your comrades, you'll tell where you hid Ava's father is."

Segma shook her head vigorously as she held out both of her hands.

"Please, I don't who you're talking about! Ava's father?! We don't have anyone in our captive!"

"Huh," muttered Caesar. He looked behind his shoulder and nodded at me. "What do you think, Lady Ava?"

I glanced at the other rebels that had lowered their weapons. It appeared to me that they were angry, which up to that point was meaningless. They couldn't shoot since Ceci was in our hands. And they were well-informed of what Aegis Users were capable of judging by their immediate pause in retaliation.

Hope hinted that these people knew him. He wouldn't lie. Never.

"Do you know Hope Domitius?" I asked Segma.

She just shook her head again. "No! We don't know who that person is! Trust me!"

"That . . . we can't do, Segma. That angsty blond teen referred to a rebel group in Mongolia that knew his whereabouts. Surely it must be you guys," said Caesar.

Segma lowered her head as she gritted her teeth. ". . . I don't know anything about this Hope Domitius." She looked up. "But, I do know of another rebel group. We are not the only rebels here."

Helena and I glanced at each other.

Caesar spoke, "I believe this hideout belongs to the rebel group, Enkhtuya, am I right?"

Segma nodded. "Yes. We are Enkhtuya. But please, let them go! We seriously don't know--"

She paused as emerald tendrils stopped a few centimeters in front of her eyes.

"I don't like people who lie. Papa mentioned the rebels in Mongolia. You are a rebel, so you must know him," I said.

Segma hesitated to move even an inch as my tendrils twisted in a circular motion, threatening her not to do anything stupid.

She clenched her fists. "As I said, we are not the only rebel group here. If you want, we can show you every inch and cranny of our hideout if you're not satisfied with my answer."

"Hmm, that's quite a proposal," muttered Caesar. "We'll hear what you have to say about the other rebel group after we've confirmed your honesty."

"I believe she doesn't any choice left. The lives of everyone here are literally at our hands." Lily's yellow eyes looked at every rebel present there intensely.

Each one of them s.h.i.+vered and didn't dare to make any eye contact with Lily.

"What do you think, lady Ava? I think it will save us a lot of time," said Helena beside me.

"I think so too. If she's lying, I'll burn this place down."

My white flames flared out of the emerald crystals in my right arm.

"Well then. if Lady Ava said so, then we'll accept your offer. But, I'll hold onto this Ceci until we're done here," said Caesar.

Segma took a deep breath. "As you wish."

Lily threw the girl in her possession back at Segma and she caught her.

"You'll be fine Erhi," a.s.sured Segma.

That girl gasped for air as she took cover behind her.

"What are we waiting for?" I said.

I walked in front of everyone else and Segma stepped next to me, with Erhi beside her. The others were behind us.

"We'll start with--"

"I want to check the underground first. If you're honest before, then surely there's no one down there," I interrupted Segma.

Sweat trickled down her forehead and she wiped it quickly. "As you wish."

_._

_._

"Lady Lily, you're too close."

"Is that wrong?"

Lily's shoulder brushed over Caesar's and he distanced himself a few feet away. His grip on the woman, Ceci, loosened a bit as he walked. Adjusting the aim of his blade, he ignored Lily beside him.

"Lady Lily, we must look the part here. How can these rebels take us seriously if you're like this?" remarked Caesar.

"Oh . . . But--"

"No buts. No, no."

"I want to be with Caesar . . . and can I hold onto that woman you're holding?"

"No. You'll choke her to death, I'm sure."

"But she's the one who gets to be next to you!"

"Lady Lily, please. What's wrong with you today?"

She reached out for Ceci who was in front of Caesar but he grabbed Lily's arm in time.

"Lady Lily! Calm down!"

"But . . ."

Caesar sighed. "I don't have my phone, but I'll treat you with a story tonight. Is that okay? I'll sit down with you until you fall asleep."

"Okay . . . promise?"

"Yes. Promise. Definitely. Absolutely. Certainly. Without a doubt."

Lily then stepped away from Caesar and he breathed out the air he'd been taking in.

Segma had a confused expression on her face, and I was sure it was the correct response to that whole scene.

We'd been walking downwards toward the underground parking lot inside that U-shaped apartment. It was dimly lit with bulbs as we made our way down.

I turned a corner and saw a bunch of people talking and interacting with each other in that section of parking lot. They stopped when they'd their eyes on us.

"Who are these guys?"

A boy I a.s.sumed to be Hope's age trotted to us. "Who are these guys?" he repeated.

I glared at Segma and her eyes widened. "I can explain! These people are not our captives! We took them in. They're ordinary citizens!"

"Oh? Then you don't mind if I searched for Papa here."

Segma reluctantly nodded. Though I could see in her eyes that she was not happy with all of that had been happening. A glint of rage was present in that eyes of hers.

Which was understandable.

I walked to those people as they froze in their place. Thoroughly, I looked at their faces.

"Papa . . ."

Unfortunately, he was not there.

Crimson crystals wrapped itself around my left arm, spewing small white flames around me.

Those people screamed and cowered into the far corner as they all were focused on me only.

"I suppose they've seen an Aegis User if they reacted like that," I mumbled. I turned back to Segma as my flames reduced itself into the length of a fifth of a meter.

"Take me upstairs," I said.

"Er, as you wish."

She led us back to the surface and we thoroughly checked every place we could think of inside that U-shaped apartment. I was disappointed in the end.

We came to a room on the top floor and Segma quickly blocked our way.

"What's the meaning of this?" said Caesar.

"This room . . . belongs to someone important," she said.

"I thought you're the leader?"

"I am. But this place off-limits for you guys," she stated.

My left arm spluttered larger flames and Segma winced at that sight.

"I don't care," I said. "You promised you'll show every nook and cranny of this place to us, in order to make us believe you. Step aside."

Segma's knees trembled, however, she did not do as I said.

"I can't. She's resting."

"We all heard what lady Ava said. She doesn't care what you have to say in this matter," said Helena.

"Who do YOU think you are? I'm sure you're not an Aegis User," scowled Segma.

"I am not. Lady Ava's wish is my wish. Since Master Gheele had said so, I will do my best to fulfill them," said Helena.

Even after that, Segma didn't budge from the door.

"I think we can do this the easy way, Segma," said Caesar. "I'm sure Lady Ava wouldn't--"

I directed the flames towards her and it melted the door in an instant due to Segma's quick roll to evade it.

"I'd intend to burn you. But this works as well," I muttered.

"You're insane! I--"

"It appears you've forgotten what you've promised to us. As I said, I don't like people who lie. However, I HATE people who broke their promise even more," I said.

Segma darted her eyes away. "I . . ."

She dropped to her knee as I walked past her.

A huge hole was created by the flames as a result, revealing what was in that room all long.

An old woman was sitting on a wooden chair in what appeared to be a small, empty room. The walls were pale grey, and so was the cement. The columns of gla.s.s windows behind her helped to brighten up the atmosphere albeit a little.

"I was reading, you zaluuchuud! Can't have an old woman who's about to die read in peace. I swear." She closed the book in her hands and put it on her lap. "And you destroyed my door. Great. What's next? The coup and The People's Light come in swarming? I might as well dig my own grave after this."

I stepped into the room followed by Helena, Lily, and Caesar. He'd release Ceci from his grip.

"Those flames . . . it's not natural. I see we have an Aegis User here," said the old woman. Even though she was at that age, her voice sounded like she was younger than she looked.

"Who are you?" I asked.

The old woman coughed. "Manners, khüükhed! I swear young people these days. At least introduce yourself first."

The crimson crystals at my left arm sprouted spikes and it darted at the old woman.