The smell of damp pebbles filled the air, the moonlight reflecting off the wet walls and bricks. A lifeless body was on the ground, separated from its head.
Now that the threat is over and Doth is dead, Narbo passed out after reaching complete exhaustion. Geo fell to his knees, catching his breath, each breath creating a cloud of cold air.
Emilia has already passed out as well. Yaku put her gently to the ground and stood facing Imber. The cold air was wrapping their clothes, his veins popping due to his adrenaline still spiking.
"Bone died saving me from that evil witch. How dare you take his shape?" Yaku said calmly but strictly.
"You really don't understand, do you? I am Bone. Bone was never real. It was just a shape I took for my spying mission," Imber responded.
Yaku stayed silent, looking Imber in the eyes, trying to make sense of this. He is definitely not lying, "go on," Yaku says, asking him to continue explaining.
"My name is Imber. I was sent on a mission to determine if Doth deserved to rule Bagio City.
I helped Emilia deliver food to the outer layer and worked as a flour merchant called Bone. It was hard trying to sentence Doth to death because the rules are stringent for dethroning tyrants.
He had to have done something unacceptable, like trying to commit genocide.
I didn't expect you to give me what I've wanted. You, saving the leader of the liberation group, set everything into motion.
The moment Doth decided to rain fire on the outer layer, his death was decided. So thank you, Yaku, you've really done it," Imber explained.
Looking at the ground, Yaku was visibly upset. "Do you understand how devastating it was for me that Bone sacrificed himself for me? How fucking dare you do that to me?" Yaku screamed at him, his cold breath visible.
"I understand, but for now, I suggest you take everyone to where you guys are staying. It's too cold right now, let's talk tomorrow," Imber ordered Yaku.
Yaku and Geo took Emilia and Narbo to the academy, Geo took Narbo to the infirmary, but Yaku took Emilia to his quarters since she didn't suffer any life-threatening physical attacks. He tucked her into his bed while he lay on the hardwood floor.
As he looked into the ceiling, he extended his arm as his focus changed from the ceiling to his hand. He looked at his palm, then closed his fist in determination.
"Just one strike… just one was enough to kill Doth, someone 4 of us couldn't even touch," he smiled, knowing how far the height of magic is.
The morning of the next day came, and with it, snow started to fall. Yaku opened his eyes to a green light shining around him. Emilia has been healing him for hours since the moment she woke up.
He looked at her, "Good morning, sleepy head," she said, smiling. Her smile was so warm and welcoming, for a moment, Yaku saw his mom in Emilia, in the way she made him feel at peace.
"You can stop healing me," Yaku said as he sat up
"How are you feeling? Yesterday was crazy," Emilia said
"I feel alight…," and before Yaku could finish his sentence, he looked out of the window behind Emilia and saw snow falling.
He stood up and ran to the window. "Wow!!! The snow looks so beautiful," he said in a very excited tone.
Emilia put her hand over her mouth and started giggling loudly. Yaku looked back, annoyed, "Hey! Why are you laughing at me?!" he asked her.
"No, no, please keep looking at the snow falling, I didn't mean to interrupt," Emilia said as she continued to giggle.
Yaku opened the window, letting in the fresh cold air into the room, making Emilia's hair messy because of the strong wind. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath as cold air smacked his face in pure bliss.
"Emilia, can I ask you a question?" Yaku asked
"Of course," Emilia answered as she was trying to fix her hair.
"How far do you think the height of magic is? Do you think I can reach it?" Yaku asked as he looked out of the window while Emilia was sitting on the floor behind him
"After I've seen how Doth died in one second…I don't know anymore, but I'm sure you can achieve anything you put your mind to," She answered.
"I want to defeat the 7 pillars in the utmost north," Yaku said as he looked out of the window.
"That hasn't been done for thousands of years. What makes you think you can do that? Is this just a death wish?" Emilia answered him seriously
"You're the first person that I've told my goal to, it's ok, I don't expect you to understand," He said
They both continued to talk, mentioning Bone and Imber, talking about the fight with Doth and the potential future of Bagio city, until a knock at the door was heard.
Yaku opened the door, and it was Geo. "Imber is going to hold a speech at the town's square, let's go and see what he will say about Doth," Geo said as he was catching his breath.
The three of them made their way to the town's square, where Imber was standing surrounded by hundreds of nobles from every noble house.
"Dear nobles of Bagio city, Doth is dead. What he did, trying to kill everyone in the outer layer, was a clear violation of what King Taru had entrusted him with this city.
Therefore, I, the Royal knight of his highness, decided to bestow justice upon Doth and executed him yesterday." Imber said to the shock of many nobles
"There will be a new Lord appointed to rule this city once I hear back from our king. That is all for now," Imber said, finishing his short speech.
Leaving everyone stunned.
Afterwards, Imber, alongside Yaku and Emilia, went to check the outer circle. It was nothing short of horrifying; soldiers couldn't keep up with the number of dead bodies. The cries of children filled the air, and there he was, Crill.
The leader of what's left of the liberation party was helping clear the rubble from some houses and instructing others to do the same or help him.
"Working hard as always, Crill," Yaku said from behind his back.
Crill froze up he looked down to the ground and clenched his fists, then he turned around and gave Yaku the biggest and tightest hug imaginable.
"Thank you, thank you for everything," Crill screamed with his shaky voice as tears rolled down his face. Imber and Emilia stood by, confused.
The image of Yaku scaling the outer layer wall was still burned in Crill's mind, the pride and shame he felt at the same time. Seeing an outsider go so far and beyond for his people was exhilarating.
At the time Yaku scaled the outer layer walls to get to Doth, Crill was watching from afar. He looked at this young man climbing the mighty wall with his bare hands as soldiers fired arrows at him. He looked up, gritting his teeth, screaming "YOU GOT THIS," of course, Yaki didn't hear any of that at the time, and he still doesn't realise the magnitude of the imagery of him throwing his life away to scale that wall.
Yaku laughed as he patted Crill's back, "No worries, my man. Doth is dead, and hopefully the outer layer can flourish once more," Yaku told Crill with hope and happiness in his voice.
"I'd like for you to inform everyone here that we should hold an election to choose one person to represent the outer layer at the noble table, after we've chosen a new lord," Imber told Crill in a commanding tone.
"Oh, sorry, I didn't introduce you guys, Crill, please meet Imber, a knight of King Taru the third," Yaku said so nonchalantly, surprising Crill.
"What?! I'm so sorry for being so outlandish," Crill said as he got on one knee, showing respect to Imber.
"No worries, just make sure to inform everyone, many changes will be made soon," Imber told Crill. Crill nodded his head as he was taking a Knee to the esteemed knight.
After Imber went around delivering news and orders to many nobles, Yaku and Emilia left his side and began walking together towards her small house.
"Say, Emilia, I'll be leaving this town soon," Yaku told her in a sad tone.
"Oh…i…" Emilia was about to say something, but she couldn't possibly ask him to stay. And before she could utter another word, Yaku grabbed both of her hands.
"I have many places I want to visit. I plan to get stronger and stronger and stronger. I'm a warrior, but I'm also a mage, but I can't heal myself…" Yaku went on a monologue, but before he could finish, Emilia cut him off
"I'll go", she said as she looked him in the eyes.