Escape (4)
Hmph… idiots.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Four gunshots rang out. In that instant, everyone holding onto Lijedahl or closing in on dropped dead.
I quickly grabbed a gun from the holster of a fallen man and, before they could react, fired at the priest.
“Ah!”
I realized I’d missed my mark—only his shoulder was hit.
But there was no ti to hesitate. I rushed forward, seized Lijedahl, just as the others recovered and drew their guns to fire back.
I dragged her behind a nearby car. The cover blocked the hail of bullets.
The magic suppressing Lijedahl dissolved, and she broke into coughs, gulping down huge breaths of air.
“Lijedahl! Are you alright?!”
“I’m fine, Will! But… cough! Now get back!”
“Huh? What—?”
I froze for a second, but stopped questioning at once.
Because—
I saw her eyes turn a vivid, blood-red.
The car shielding us began to quake violently.
Suddenly, it shot forward at an unimaginable speed. The gale forced to squeeze my eyes shut. Then ca a chorus of screams. When I looked up, two white cars were hurled together, colliding in a burst of crimson light.
I reacted instantly.
“Get down!”
Dragging Lijedahl, I threw us to the ground. A massive explosion erupted behind us. The shockwave slamd into with crushing force, pain flooding my body.
But just as quickly, it faded, replaced by the crackle of fire behind us.
I pulled Lijedahl to her feet. She was still gasping for breath, her eyes now back to black.
“Are you okay, Lijedahl?”
“Cough, cough… I’m fine… cough.”
Through the drifting smoke of the blast, I spotted a figure staggering out of the wreckage.
Oh… the priest.
Supporting Lijedahl, I walked straight toward him.
His body was battered, face sared with blood, one ear blown apart. Terror filled his eyes when he saw us.
“You… you…!”
Lijedahl’s gaze was dripping with scorn.
“You people in the Church are still so consud by your lust for power.”
He shuddered, staring back at her cold, indifferent eyes.
“You witch!”
He fumbled out a cross, trying to mount one last desperate stand.
I kicked it from his hand and stomped on his wrist.
“Argh!”
He scread in pain, glaring up at .
“…How did you manage this?!”
He shouted with the last of his strength.
“Oh, you an how I suddenly turned the tables?”
I pulled back my sleeve.
Strapped underneath was a compact assassin’s pistol—four shots per load, no more.
“Because you’re an idiot.”
I aid the gun at his head.
“Others will co for you! They’ll avenge !”
“Shut your mouth.”
That ca from Lijedahl.
A single gunshot later—it was over.
We’d won.
But the problem wasn’t solved yet.
When I glanced back, I couldn’t help but let out a breath.
“Ha.”
My car was untouched.
…
December 4, 2030 — 9:30 AM
The road was quiet. No more pursuers.
I drove in silence, while Lijedahl stared out the window, lost in thought.
Only a few cars passed us by. I figured it wouldn’t be long before soone reported the explosions.
Words caught in my throat. We both had questions, yet neither of us spoke.
At last, I broke the silence.
“Lijedahl… your eyes back there—”
“Will, don’t ask.”
She didn’t turn her head. I could sense she wasn’t angry—only despondent, unwilling to be seen by in that state.
“…I’m sorry. I made you think I’d abandoned you.”
“…!”
I thought I saw her tremble.
“You… you didn’t abandon .”
That was all she said.
“But still, I owe you an apology. Whether it was to escape or not, I made that decision alone. It was selfish.”
“…”
She shifted slightly, but still didn’t look back.
“I forgive you.”
“…What? Lijedahl?”
“From the very start, I’d already forgiven you.”
Her voice carried a trace of a smile, though she refused to show her face.
“Thank you.”
The air ward between us.
“And also—”
She finally turned to . Her eyes glowed softly golden.
“When you saved … You looked really cool.”
She smiled.
“Thank you for the complint, my lady.”
I replied in kind.
And once again, I marveled at how it felt like I’d known her for a long, long ti—this ease between us, the way we could bring back calm after chaos.
“Oh.”
She let out a soft breath.
I looked out the window.
We had returned to the vast white plains of snow.
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