Chapter 95 – Lireina Ashford

Risha smiled. Her armor was broken, its once-imposing plates now scattered across the ground, with several pieces bent and cracked beyond recognition. Blood trickled from the gaps in her damaged undersuit, soaking her clothes and pooling beneath her battered body. Her breathing was shallow, and every movement sent waves of pain through her battered frame. Even so, she smiled at the sight of Lireina Ashford, the blonde elf who had defeated her. The very woman who had taken Shin away from her.

“I am not Rika. My name… is Risha Han.”

Lireina kept her pistol aimed at Risha’s forehead. Her emerald eyes examined the wounded woman carefully, searching for any signs of deception. The smell of gunpowder still lingered in the air, mixing with the metallic stench of blood that surrounded them.

“I have read you from the records. You reportedly died during the raid in the slums. But when you disguised yourself as a civilian, and I saw your mark of the phoenix, it all made complete sense. You resurrected.”

“That’s right.” Risha replied, followed by several painful coughs. She pressed a trembling hand against her chest, trying to steady her breathing. A faint trail of blood escaped the corner of her mouth as she looked back at Lireina. “Time for you to know the truth.”

“Did Shin know?”

There was a long silence.

Risha stared at Lireina, contemplating whether she should reveal everything she knew about Shin's darkest secrets. She could tell the elf about the things he had hidden, the secrets that could change everything between them. However, revealing Shin's true identity would only make him hate her even more. The thought alone made her hesitate. She had already lost so much because of him. She didn't want to lose what little affection he might still have for her.

After a few moments, Risha shook her head.

“Shin is an innocent bystander in all this.”

Lireina let out a quiet sigh. Her shoulders relaxed slightly, and the tension in her grip loosened. For a brief moment, the hostility in her expression faded. However, that relief quickly disappeared as she glared at Risha with her emerald eyes.

“Were you going to hurt Shin?”

“No.” Risha answered without hesitation. Despite her injuries, her voice carried a surprising amount of conviction. “Shin is a good man. I would never betray him. After all the kindness he showed me, I will never hurt him.”

“Great.”

Lireina smiled faintly as she lowered her pistol, allowing its barrel to move away from Risha's forehead. The blonde elf seemed satisfied with the answer, although she remained cautious around the wounded woman. She knew better than to trust someone simply because they were lying helplessly on the ground.

“Now, before I let you go, tell me something. Who is Azazel?”

Risha's eyes widened.

For a brief moment, her expression betrayed genuine surprise. She hadn't expected Lireina to bring up that name, especially under these circumstances. However, she quickly regained her composure. The shock in her eyes gradually disappeared, replaced by an amused expression. A weak smile crept across her bloodied lips as she looked directly at the blonde elf.

“Azazel… is the one who killed your annoying best friend.”

Risha's smile widened. There was something cruel about the way she delivered those words, as though she had been waiting for an opportunity to say them.

“I saw it with my own eyes. The way her brain scattered like tiny wet chunks… It was priceless.”

Lireina's expression changed instantly.

Her blood boiled, and her fingers tightened around the pistol. Before she could even think about what she was doing, she stepped forward and grabbed Risha by the collar. The sudden movement caused Risha's battered body to shift against the ground, drawing a faint groan from her throat.

“How dare you!”

Risha merely stared at her. Even with Lireina's hand gripping her collar, she showed no signs of fear. Instead, she seemed almost entertained by the elf's growing anger.

“It was something that was deserving of that pesky detective. Croft deserves to die. Murderers deserve to die. Just like me. Just like you.”

“Take that back!” Lireina cried, her voice trembling with rage. “Croft is not a murderer!”

“Then what would that make you?”

Risha tilted her head slightly, her smile never leaving her face. Blood continued to seep from her wounds, but she seemed completely unconcerned with her own condition. Her eyes remained fixed on Lireina, watching every little change in the elf's expression.

“I have read your records. About how you committed genocide against the dark elves. You slaughtered them until they were nearly extinct.”

“No!”

Lireina's grip tightened around Risha's collar. Her breathing became ragged, and her emerald eyes widened as the words struck a nerve she desperately wanted to forget.

“Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!”

Her voice echoed through the area. All the anger, grief, and resentment she had kept buried suddenly erupted. She could barely think straight. Her hand trembled, and the pistol pressed against Risha's forehead once more.

Risha continued smiling.

She had found the words that could hurt Lireina more than any weapon ever could. And as she watched the blonde elf lose control of herself, she seemed strangely satisfied.

Then came the sound of a gunshot.

Lireina had accidentally pulled the trigger.

The pistol's muzzle flashed, briefly illuminating their faces with a burst of orange light. A deafening bang rang through the area, followed by the sharp smell of burning gunpowder.

Risha's forehead exploded from the impact. Her head jerked backward as blood and fragments scattered across the ground. Her smile disappeared, and her body went limp beneath Lireina's trembling hand.

For a moment, there was nothing but silence.

<><><><><>

The elven village of Yggdra was a peaceful settlement nestled among ancient trees and towering mountains. Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, casting golden rays upon the wooden houses and winding pathways. The air was filled with the gentle chirping of birds, the rustling of leaves, and the distant sound of flowing streams. For generations, the elves had lived in harmony with nature, hunting only what they needed and gathering fruits, herbs, and mushrooms from the surrounding forests.

Among the villagers was Lireina Ashford, an exceptionally beautiful and talented huntress. Her long golden hair shimmered beneath the sunlight, while her emerald eyes were as sharp as those of a hawk. She was admired throughout the village, not only for her beauty but also for her remarkable skills with a bow. Whether hunting deer in the forests or tracking buffaloes across the mountain slopes, Lireina rarely returned empty-handed. Her presence brought pride to the village, and many of the younger elves looked up to her as an example of what a warrior should be.

One afternoon, while returning from a hunting expedition, Lireina spotted a familiar figure climbing along a rocky mountainside. It was a young, short brown-haired elf named Cecil, who was busy foraging for mushrooms. The little girl had apparently spotted a particularly rare mushroom growing on a narrow ledge, dangerously close to the edge of a cliff. Despite the difficult terrain, she continued climbing, determined to collect her prize.

"Cecil, what are you doing up there?" Lireina called out.

The young elf looked down and waved excitedly. Unfortunately, her attention was diverted for just a moment. Her foot slipped against the loose gravel, and she lost her balance.

"Ah!"

Cecil tumbled down the mountainside, desperately reaching for anything she could grab. Fortunately, Lireina reacted immediately. She tossed aside her hunting equipment, grabbed a nearby vine, and swung herself toward the falling girl. Her arms stretched out just in time to catch Cecil before she could plunge into the ravine.

The sudden impact nearly tore the vine from its roots, but Lireina managed to hold on. Her boots scraped against the rocky surface as she struggled to regain her balance. After a few tense moments, she pulled herself and Cecil toward a safer ledge.

"Thank you, Miss Lireina!" Cecil exclaimed, clinging tightly to her rescuer.

Lireina let out a relieved sigh before gently tapping the little girl's forehead.

"Cecil, don't try foraging in dangerous places. What would happen if nobody were around to save you?"

"I'm sorry..."

"And call me Big Sis next time."

"Okay, Big Sis!"

Lireina smiled and patted Cecil's head. The young elf immediately brightened up, seemingly forgetting the frightening experience she had just endured. The two eventually gathered their belongings and headed back toward the village, holding hands as they walked along the familiar forest trail. Cecil happily chatted about the mushrooms she had collected, while Lireina listened patiently, occasionally reminding her to watch where she was going.

However, as they approached the village, something unusual caught their attention.

Smoke.

Thick, black smoke was rising above the treetops. The familiar smell of burning wood drifted through the air, growing stronger with every step they took. Lireina stopped walking. Her cheerful expression disappeared as she stared at the distant settlement.

"Big Sis?"

Lireina immediately drew her bow.

"Stay behind me, Cecil."

When they finally reached the village, they were greeted by a horrifying sight.

Yggdra was burning.

Flames consumed the wooden houses, sending sparks and burning debris into the air. The peaceful pathways were now littered with broken weapons, overturned carts, and the bodies of villagers. Screams echoed throughout the settlement as dark figures moved between the burning buildings.

The dark elves had invaded.

Mounted on enormous black panthers, the attackers charged through the village, their mounts growling as they leaped over fallen debris. Their weapons were stained with blood, and their faces were twisted into cruel smiles. They weren't simply raiding the settlement for resources. They were hunting the high elves for sport.

Some villagers attempted to fight back, but they were hopelessly outmatched. The dark elves chased them through the streets, laughing as they cornered their helpless prey. Others dragged captured elves away while the black panthers prowled among the burning houses.

Lireina immediately recognized the attackers.

"Dark elves..."

Before she could even draw an arrow, she spotted the familiar figures of her parents among the fallen villagers. Their bodies lay motionless near the remains of their home. A short distance away, Cecil's parents had suffered the same fate.

The young elf froze.

"Mama... Papa..."

Lireina could barely process what she was seeing. Her hands trembled around her bow, and her heart pounded against her chest. She wanted to run toward the bodies, but several dark elves had already noticed them.

"Look what we have here! Two more high elves!"

A group of dark elves surrounded them, their black panthers snarling as they approached. Lireina tried to fight back, releasing several arrows, but the attackers were too numerous. One of them deflected her shot while another charged at her from the side. She was eventually overwhelmed, and both she and Cecil were captured.

For Lireina, the dark elves had an especially cruel punishment prepared. They stripped her of her clothes and tied her to a wooden pole alongside several other captured high elves. The ropes dug into her wrists, leaving painful marks as she struggled against them. She was displayed before the other prisoners, exposed and helpless, while the dark elves mocked their captives.

But Cecil's fate was far worse.

The dark elves had prepared a cage containing a black panther. They intended to subject the young elf to forced interspecies mating, treating her suffering as entertainment. The cage was placed where the other prisoners could see what was happening, ensuring that nobody could intervene.

Lireina struggled desperately against her restraints.

"No! Please, not her!"

Her voice cracked as she watched the dark elves force Cecil into the cage.

"She's been following me ever since she was little! Please, don't do this to her! Take me instead! Please, have mercy!"

Lireina pulled against the ropes until her wrists began to bleed. Her pleas echoed throughout the camp, but the dark elves only laughed. Some even mocked her desperation, finding amusement in the fact that such a celebrated huntress was now powerless to protect someone she loved.

She could do nothing but watch as Cecil suffered.

Something inside Lireina began to change.

The sounds of the burning village, the laughter of the dark elves, and Cecil's desperate cries slowly became indistinguishable. Her tears continued falling, but beneath her grief, another emotion was taking shape. It was a hatred so intense that it threatened to consume everything else within her.

I will kill you all.

Her fingers curled into trembling fists.

I will kill every single dark elf in this world!

And so, Lireina's hatred became the foundation of a new resolve.

One night, however, a new figure descended upon Yggdra Island.

It was the Chosen One, Alexander Goldheart.

The legendary hero had arrived to hunt down the dark elves, and he immediately engaged their forces. His weapon flashed beneath the moonlight as he fought through their ranks, cutting down the warriors and their black panthers. The dark elves attempted to resist, but Alexander's overwhelming strength left them unable to defend their settlement.

One by one, the captives were freed.

Among them was Lireina.

The moment her restraints were removed, she collapsed onto the ground. Her wrists were swollen, and her body was covered in bruises. Nevertheless, she immediately asked about Cecil.

"Where is she? Where did they take Cecil?"

Alexander looked at her but said nothing. His expression was enough to make Lireina understand that something was wrong.

Still, she refused to accept it.

She picked up a fallen bow and several arrows before following Alexander into the dark elves' camp. Her legs trembled from exhaustion, but she forced herself to keep moving. Every step brought her closer to the cage where Cecil had been imprisoned.

Together, Lireina and Alexander fought their way through the remaining dark elves. Lireina was no longer the cheerful huntress who had once returned to her village with a basket full of game. Her emerald eyes burned with hatred, and every arrow she released was aimed at a dark elf.

Her arrows pierced their skulls. Her kicks shattered their ribs when they came too close. She pursued those who attempted to escape, refusing to let even a single attacker get away.

Eventually, they reached the cage.

But what awaited them inside was not the reunion Lireina had desperately hoped for.

Cecil was already dead.

The little brown-haired elf lay motionless inside the cage. Her small body was covered by a tattered piece of cloth, and her once-bright eyes were now closed forever.

Lireina dropped her bow.

"Cecil..."

She slowly approached the cage, her knees weakening beneath her. When she reached the little girl, she fell to her knees and gently held her hand. It was cold.

The same little girl who had once followed her around the village, who had excitedly collected mushrooms, and who had called her Big Sis with such a cheerful voice was gone.

Lireina began to cry.

"Please... wake up, Cecil..."

But there was no response.

She held the little girl's hand against her cheek, desperately wishing that she could hear that familiar voice one more time.

Then, in her fading consciousness, Cecil's lips moved.

"Please... continue to smile... Big Sis Lireina..."

Those were her final words.

And then, Cecil was gone.

Lireina remained beside her for a long time, unable to let go of her hand. Alexander stood silently behind her, understanding that there were wounds that even the Chosen One could not heal.

From that day onward, Lireina joined Alexander Goldheart in his journey to defeat the Demon King.

The dark elves were servants of the Demon King, and their objectives naturally aligned. Together, they traveled across the world, hunting down the dark elves responsible for destroying villages, slaughtering innocent people, and kidnapping high elves.

Lireina became one of Alexander's most dependable companions. Her skills as a huntress gradually developed into those of a formidable warrior. She no longer hunted deer and buffaloes to provide food for her village. Instead, she hunted the dark elves who had taken everything away from her.

Her reputation spread throughout the continent. Wherever dark elves appeared, Lireina would eventually follow. Entire settlements were liberated through her efforts, while countless dark elf warriors fell to her arrows.

Some considered her a hero. Others regarded her as a terrifying executioner who showed no mercy to her enemies.

It was said that Lireina Ashford singlehandedly pushed the dark elves to the brink of extinction.

And whenever someone questioned the severity of her actions, she would simply remember a little brown-haired elf who had once called her Big Sis.

Please continue to smile, Big Sis Lireina.

Those words would remain with her for the rest of her life.