From the mont Erina started to discuss the hero nad "Kaito", everything beca clearer to the Last Call mbers.
However, this also led to them becoming confused.
Why were the girls travelling with a monster?
When Enzo started asking the girls for information, even Erina stopped cooperating. The mont he shifted an aggressive or dismissive tone towards Leonhardt, she beca uncomfortable and stopped the conversation.
Stuck in this situation, five hours passed, and the Last Call mbers forced themselves into the rooms surrounding Erina and her group.
"Erina, your father is a total prick." Asuka scoffed.
"Can you try to be less vulgar, I know he's a jerk, but..."
"Failure," Sylvie added.
This caused Erina's eyes to snap towards the delicate elf sitting under the fading sunlight, while washing Leonhardt's forehead with a damp cloth.
'It seems that Sylvie's grown attached to him too... alas, I do not hate Leon either.'
But...
Yes, in Erina's heart, there was a problem.
The issue wasn't Leonhardt but their party and its baggage.
She worried he would be forced to face Kaito, who, despite being the scum of the earth, was blessed with the power to destroy all monsters in this world.
"What's got you so concerned, Erina?"
A low voice ca from behind the priestess, before Asuka's firm hand gripped her shoulder. Though a little painful, Erina grit her teeth. Rather, after the initial pain, she couldn't help but feel grateful for her two friends.
Neither blindly affird and denied each other outright, and thus they guided each other forward.
"You know what's got in a twist... Leon, Kaito and my lark of a father."
Erina's eyes beca sharp, a rare occurrence as she ntioned the false hero and her father.
Despite her modest upbringing and serving the goddess, she carried a great anger in the depths of her chest that she desperately tried to quell by slaying monsters and catching bandits.
"Heh... but you can't deny you hold lingering affection for him."
"For Kaito?! Are you stupid? I ant—"
Asuka's hand tapped Erina's forehead. "Calm down I know what you ant."
There was a mont of silence as the pair gazed at each other, one showing a slight irritation while the other grinning like a fool.
"Erina, are you alright?" Asuka's voice beca softer as she brushed her blonde hair.
"I'm fine..."
"No, I can tell."
Erina's eyes lowered before she let out a soft breath, which was followed by a sigh. She couldn't understand why Asuka always seed to understand her so well.
Was it because of her upbringing or being a dragonoid?
Or maybe Asuka just cared about her that much.
The thought caused Erina to let out a laugh as her body relaxed. "Fine... It's the promise I made with Leonhardt..."
"I don't hate him. If anything, he's a wonderful ally, but I can't let myself be swept away by him."
Asuka didn't speak. She only listened to the words of her friend. This had been going on since they first t; she tried to watch over the young woman who seed so fragile she might break.
"Do you not wish to stay with him in the future?"
Asuka told Erina everything in a slightly disappointed tone mixed with sorrow and longing.
She knew the Dragonoid wanted what was best for her, but... also understood her recent affection for Leonhardt.
"I can't... you know where I co from."
The temple... a place that nad all monsters as evil.
Even as Erina said those words, she couldn't stop her lips from trembling.
"But Erina, has he ever done wrong by us?" Asuka asked, clenching her fists.
"Yes. He has!"
Sylvia, who had been silently washing Leonhardt's face and chest, suddenly piped up.
Asuka's eyes widened, her mouth agape. "H-How?!"
Erina's eyes trembled, the corners creating crystals which threatened to spill over.
"He made you like him," Erina said with a quivering voice. "What will I do without you, Asuka... what if Sylvie also leaves ?"
"Erina... we'll never leave you.
No matter who we fall in love with, no matter the distance between us."
Asuka paused.
She reached out and held the blonde's hands in her own, before placing them on top of Sylvie's, and their fingers overlapped, each sharing their warmth together.
"We're family."
"When nobody would accept us into their party, because we weren't human... or lacked skills. You accepted us." Asuka added to Sylvie's comnt about them being a family.
"But... But I..." Erina faltered, her gaze at the handso man sleeping on the bed. "I don't want to part with you... or." She choked herself, stopping the words as she wiped her eyes furiously.
Asuka and Sylvie both lowered their heads, before they each placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Erina... listen."
"Do you have to go back to the temple?"
Erina's face shot up at those words, her eyes red and wet, but her cheeks slightly puffed out.
"B-But that place raised ! I can't abandon them...!"
Sylvie tilted her head, her expression still unchanged. "But Erina, they didn't treat you well either... we saw it..."
"Yeah... you should think about yourself for once."
Asuka's voice was soft, like a warm sumr breeze. "We'll be by your side no matter what."
"It's his fault! Why did he appear out of nowhere and make dream of a different path!" Erina kicked the bed, her eyes red and puffy, a sense of confusion and realisation washing over her at once.
"Erina..."
The priestess' eyes quivered.
Before eting Leonhardt, she felt so confused and trapped that she couldn't help but lash out.
Yet now...
"I want to stay with him... but... I don't know what the church will do if I leave." She whispered. "If they discover Leon, what if they send witch hunters after us?"
"That won't happen."
A third voice entered their conversation, one belonging to the source of Erina's initial troubles.
"Dad?"
"Erina, I've been a shit father... there's no amount of gifts or magic that can fix that." Enzo stepped into the room, wearing a simple outfit as he gazed at his daughter. "I cannot let you suffer more, Julia... I've already let her down enough."
"So what? You're going to let do as I wish?"
Erina's voice was weak, almost as if doubting the words from her delinquent father.
"Yes." He bowed. "I'll tell the church believe you perished, since this was a job given by a powerful force. I am sure there is a way to hide you from their gaze." Enzo paused for a mont before looking at Leonhardt.
"Right, Kid?"
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