On those labyrinth-like dark paths of the workshop, my steps were moving forward fast. A lack of air was being felt in the lungs, but that flickering blurry light in front of the eyes had awakened a hope inside me. In the mind, there was just this hope that across that glow, I might find my destination. As I reached closer to that light-source, the darkness began to clear, but the scene that emerged before my eyes turned my soul into stone.
That place was looking like a massive open square in the middle of the workshop, where silence and light appeared entangled with each other. When I looked upward, I saw that the heavy metallic roof of the workshop was torn from the middle, which was looking like a 'sunroof'. Those sheets of the roof had broken in such a dilapidated way that the direct light of the sky, becoming a powerful ray, would strike directly the floor below, and the brightness would fill the whole place with a glow, due to which every corner there would appear clear.
But at that time, the reason for my surprise was not that light. Instead, in the exact center of that light, was Historia fallen on the cold and hard floor, who was lying unconscious there like an injured and helpless human. Seeing that condition of hers, I became surprised. Because at that time, that direct light falling on her was showing her like a sacred sacrifice, which created a terrifying restlessness within me.
Seeing Historia in this condition in the middle of that circle of light, my mind went numb. I was not able to understand this, why is she lying here in this helplessness? Has she lost her consciousness? Just to know this, seeing her in such a condition, I moved toward her with fast steps without stopping. A mixed feeling of fear and nervousness had been born inside me, therefore without thinking that this could also be some kind of trap. At that moment, my entire focus was just on Historia.
Now I had reached very close to her; I saw her; her eyes were completely closed as if she were in a deep sleep. But one thing was very strange—despite being unconscious, the grip on her sword in her hands was still appearing just as strong. I sat near her on my knees in panic and began to examine her condition with worry. As I was looking at her closely, my concern for Historia was increasing even more.
I was just trying to feel her pulse when suddenly, from the thick darkness spread behind me, a shadow tentacle lunged toward me with the speed ! That attack was so silent and sudden that I had no expectation of such a strike beforehand. Nor any idea of that shadow coming toward me. Death was standing right behind me and I was completely unaware of it.
But at that exact moment, Historia's eyes suddenly opened! As if the circulation of life happened in her body with a blast. And she used that same amazing agility of hers and cut that lethal tentacle coming from behind me right in the middle of the way! There was a sharp echo of the sword rotating in the air and that tentacle finished like black smoke in a moment.
I froze in my place. I was completely surprised. That what to what happened here within just a moment! Historia's suddenly standing back up like this and neutralizing the fatal attack happening on me in mid-air—this was all beyond my thinking. My mind was still understanding the circumstances. When just then, Historia's serious voice fell on my ears, "Master... are you alright?"
In her eyes was that same old loyalty and concern for me, which gave me a moment of peace even in the atmosphere of that terrifying workshop.
But I was surprised to see this, that Historia, who some time ago was lying in an unconscious state before me, she was now asking me while worrying about me, "Master... are you alright?"
I felt that same old strength in her voice. But then I asked her while questioning, "Historia! Are you okay? And this... what happened here just now?" My mind was still in the attempt to understand that sudden attack and her counter-strike.
Sensing my confusion, Historia replied, "Master, I am absolutely fine. And I did not become unconscious here, rather I was using myself like a trap. But then suddenly you arrived and that woman attacked you itself."
Hearing her words, I realized my foolishness, that how easily I had come drawn toward Historia's trap. Upon which I said, "That was such a thing... but after all, why did you use yourself like a trap? And after all, where is Helena? What is happening here?"
As the barrage of my questions began, Historia started telling while replying what had actually happened. She told that when both of them were dragged inside the workshop by the tentacles, after that, that Veiled woman came in front of these two. After that, a dangerous fight took place between those two and that woman. That woman was not an ordinary enemy, her powers were proving heavy upon them. Due to which, in the end, Helena lost badly.
However, Historia did not give up. Historia told that in the end, when she found out that now they cannot win, she moved out from that place using her 'Vapor Screen' ability. And then she came down to strategy instead of a direct confrontation. That is why she finally made herself an easy prey, so that when that Veiled woman comes near her considering her a tired and easy prey, she could finish her in her one single attack. Her plan was almost about to be successful, but then in place of that woman, I reached there, and then Historia had to save me. My presence had changed her hunter-like move into a mission of rescue.
As soon as these words of Historia finished, suddenly our hair stood on end. Because a rustling occurred piercing the silence and we both felt a fast shadow passing from between the lanes of those piles of dark goods of the workshop. That shadow was so fast that as soon as it vanished from the eyes, it left a cold wave in the air.