In her entire lifespan, Acrypha had t countless people from all kinds of races across all dinsions. Many of them had the skill to manipulate anyone as they wished with words alone and it worked perfectly each ti.
In a world where power is the one that rules, these people used their only gift, words, to pave their own path and they excelled at it better than anyone else. So, to protect herself, Acrypha had to learn how to deal with this type of people.
Surprisingly, it turned out way better than she expected. Not only did she learn how to do that perfectly, but Acrypha also learned how to manipulate them herself. Her cleverness and cunningness were in no way inferior to them. In fact, in a sense, she was far better at it than most.
So, with ti, that slowly turned her into a stoic and emotionless person. Rare are the people who could get a reaction out of her and even those can't really make her fully open herself.
But, at that mont, all of that was thrown right out of the window. The woman's entire body shook as she looked down trying to stop herself from crying.
"Do you rember when I told you about my family?" She sucked in a deep breath and finally spoke.
"Yeah, I do. You said that they are alive and dead at the sa ti and that you don't want to save them even if you can." Talon replied with a nod.
"Exactly. In reality, I always had a disagreent with all of them. We didn't get along that much since all they wanted was to control and get to do what they wanted. In the end, due to circumstances, I had to leave them behind and go on my own. I had to leave all my people behind and run away on my own." She said, her voice wavering with each word.
Talon listened quietly to her story without cutting her off a single ti.
"Yesterday, I received the news that my entire family… died." She continued.
At that mont, Talon's eyes widened a little bit. But, he still didn't utter a single word no matter how shocked he was.
"Luckily, my kind aren't all dead yet. They are still sowhat alive and waiting for . But… I really don't know… A part of wants to feel sad and devastated for losing them and another part simply wants to focus on my goal…" Droplets fell from Acrypha's tilted head to the ground, getting imdiately absorbed.
"I know that I must carry this burden and I'm going to do that. But, knowing that my people could die at any mont while I'm still stuck here… It hurts badly." She said.
'I can't do anything. I can't help them in any way.' Clenching her teeth, she tried to swallow all that frustration back in.
For soone who was accustod to being in control, to having the initiative in all conflicts. Suddenly becoming powerless was a devastating hit.
"Sigh, that's the entire problem… I lost all my family… And my race is on the verge of getting eradicated." Lifting her head, Acrypha tried to form so kind of smile. "It's a pretty dumb story, isn't it?"
Her face was contorted with pain and yet, her words were still the sa playful, sarcastic things she would always say.
Staring at her with a complicated look, Talon opened his mouth to speak, only to realize that there weren't any words he could say at that mont. He didn't have an answer to her question. Acrypha was torn between giving herself the right to mourn her family's death and her duty as the carrier of her race's legacy.
Each one tugged her heart and mind ruthlessly and she couldn't put an end to it.
"Well, that's that. You need to focus on the matters at hand. We cannot stop to think about useless stu-" As Acrypha spoke again, her words were suddenly cut off as Talon suddenly pulled her hand toward him before he wrapped his arms around her back.
The woman's eyes widened when she felt herself falling into his embrace. But, for so reason, she didn't feel an urge to resist it. Instead, the mont she felt his body close to hers, her heart cald down a little.
"You don't have to hold it in, Acrypha. No matter how much you disagree with them, they're still your family. The fact that you're feeling sad about their loss is more than enough to say that you never hated them. No one is going to bla you for mourning their loss. No one has the right to do that, not even your people." As he spoke, Talon's grip tightened on her.
Acrypha's mouth parted open to speak only for her to close it again as her eyes flashed with a myriad of emotions. Then, tears started slowly rolling down her cheeks as she buried her face into Talon's neck.
"It hurts… Talon… It hurts a lot…"
"I know…" Talon closed his eyes and replied faintly.
"I don't know what to do…"
"Let carry that burden with you. You don't have to do it alone."
"You might get killed…" She added.
Even though Acrypha had already known of the severity of the situation from the very first mont she saw Talon, she still never told him anything about it, including the fact that it was perhaps the most dangerous thing he would ever do. In fact, his chances of living through that ordeal were far lower than his chances of dying.
But, as she got to know him more, Acrypha felt her heart aching every single ti she rembered that she was going to selfishly throw this young man into a huge conflict that he had no reason to get involved in.
'I'm a selfish scum like everyone else… Putting Talon's life at risk for my gain… I'm the worst of scum…' Without realizing it, Acrypha had gripped Talon's back tightly. 'I won't bla him if he hated for it…'
"And? I already knew that. I'm still going to help you. That's why we're here, no?" He asked.
"... I'm selfish…"
"So, what? Everyone is selfish to so degree. I'm also selfish. I used you for my own benefit. There is no harm in that, Acrypha. We're companions, we rely on each other to grow."
"..." Acrypha fell silent for a while which made Talon pull her off a little as he grabbed her cheeks gently. "Just let help you. I know I'm too weak right now to do anything. But, I promise that I will keep working hard and get stronger… Far stronger than anyone else.
I won't stop till I completely destroy everything that caused you pain." He said in a serious tone as he stared directly into Acrypha's eyes.
The latter could only look at him in silence, unable to articulate a single word. Her entire mind and soul were completely sucked in by Talon's words and she had no way of resisting that. It was as if the mont he hugged her, all her fear, worries, and sadness washed away.
All she felt at that mont was relief. She didn't know why, but that was all she could think about.
"All you have to do is ask for help, and I will do it."
Acrypha: "..."
Seconds passed slowly as the woman soaked in all those words. Talon watched as her expression slowly changed from gloomy darkness to a more hopeful look.
Then, she lifted her head and stared directly at Talon as tears continued rolling down her face.
"Talon… Help… …"
"Of course I will."
Feeling Talon's arms around her, looking at his eyes and even sensing his breath on her skin, they were extrely effective on her mind and heart.
'Since when did he gain so much effect on …?' She asked herself. 'I have never thought I beca this sensitive… Yet, I sohow don't hate that…'She thought to herself.
"Thank you… Really, thank you…" She murmured with a small soft smile on her face.
The two stood there, in each other's embrace. A few words were more than enough to tighten their bond for more than any ti before. Talon learned that Acrypha wasn't just stoic and cool… She had her own burdens and fears. She loved, hated, cried, and smiled, just like everyone else. The only difference was that not everyone could really trigger those emotions in her.
Only those Acrypha deed close enough to her would actually make her feel anything. In this case, the only person in the world that could do it was Talon… No one else can really make her breakdown without worrying about anything else.
A//N: Don't forget to support the book if you enjoyed reading 😀
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