Chapitre 19: [19]
The next morning, a subtle shift in the atmosphere hung between Dante and Asirpa as they prepared for another day in the snowy wilderness. The shared kiss lingered in their minds, an unspoken acknowledgment of a connection that had deepened overnight.
The morning air was crisp as they stepped outside, the snow crunching beneath their boots. Dante, usually composed, found himself stealing glances at Asirpa, who seemed to carry a newfound awareness. The unspoken understanding between them added a layer of complexity to their interactions.
As they ventured deeper into the forest, the snowy landscape seemed to echo the quiet tension between the two. The untamed beauty of the wilderness became a backdrop to their evolving dynamic. Dante, wrestling with his emotions, found solace in the rhythmic crunch of snow beneath their feet.
After a while, Dante broke the silence. "Asirpa, about last night..."
Asirpa, her gaze fixed on the path ahead, nodded subtly, acknowledging the shared moment without uttering a word. The unspoken agreement between them held a delicate balance, neither denying nor fully embracing the depth of their connection.
However, at the same time, it threw him off. For as long as he had known the girl, she never really seemed to show him any interest, if he was being honest, but after he succumbed to his desire for intimacy, it almost seemed to have awakened something within her. It confused him, but also sent a wave of excitement throughout his body.
The day unfolded with a mix of familiarity and newfound tension. They encountered various challenges, from tracking elusive creatures to navigating the village's surrounding dense forest. Asirpa, usually silent, occasionally cast sidelong glances at Dante as well, her eyes revealing glimpses of the emotions she kept guarded.
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Dante found himself back in the village, a sense of restlessness gnawing at him. Asirpa had returned to their home, and the snowy landscape outside seemed to mirror the uncertainty swirling within him. The unspoken connection between them lingered, leaving Dante in a state of contemplation.
Wandering aimlessly throughout the village, he glanced at familiar buildings and waved at passing villagers, but his mind was elsewhere. Last night's shared kiss with Asirpa replayed in his thoughts at a constant rate.
Dante couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty that lingered in the air. Asirpa, usually composed and stoic, had subtly nodded in acknowledgment of their shared moment, but the depth of her emotions remained a mystery. The snowy village, while seemingly serene, held echoes of the uncharted territory that had opened up between them.
Lost in his thoughts, Dante passed by the market stalls, the aroma of various goods mixing in the air. The villagers went about their daily routines, unaware of the internal turmoil Dante grappled with. He found himself drawn to the spot where he had found Asirpa looking at jewelry, a token that now held a deeper significance.
As he stood there, the weight of confusion and realization settling on his shoulders, a rugged-looking man suddenly appeared beside him. This man, with a physique sculpted by years of navigating the wilderness, exuded an unrestrained energy that captivated Dante's attention.
"Greetings, young adventurer!" the outdoorsman boomed, a vibrant spark in his eyes. "I couldn't help but notice the storm of emotions brewing within you. A heart as wild as the wilderness, I see!"
Dante, taken aback by the sudden appearance of this lively individual, cautiously replied, "Who are you? And how do you know what I'm feeling?"
The outdoorsman chuckled heartily, slapping Dante on the back in a friendly manner. "Call me Bearclaw, my friend! As for how I know, well, the wilderness teaches you to read the signs, be it in nature or the hearts of those who tread upon its path."
Feeling a mixture of surprise and curiosity, Dante decided to share his thoughts with Bearclaw. The rugged-looking man listened with an understanding born from a life lived in harmony with nature. His responses carried the wisdom of someone who had faced the challenges of the wild and emerged with lessons worth sharing.
After the conversation, Bearclaw clapped Dante on the shoulder. "Remember, young adventurer, the path of emotions is like a winding river. It might have twists and turns, but it also leads to beautiful destinations."
With those encouraging words, Bearclaw ambled off, disappearing into the village with the same unrestrained energy that marked his presence. Dante, left standing there with a newfound perspective, felt a sense of gratitude for the unexpected encounter.
As he passed by the familiar buildings, Dante's thoughts drifted back towards the place he had been calling home as of late, which is when the realization hit him – he needed to speak with Asirpa.
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Dante stood outside the front door of their house, a mix of determination and nervousness coursing through him. He was about to officially confront Asirpa about the shared moment from last night when an unexpected explosion abruptly shattered the tranquility around him. The ground shook beneath his feet, briefly unsettling his balance.
Whirling around to locate the source of the explosion, Dante's eyes widened in shock. A plume of smoke billowed from the village's main entrance, where a section of the walls had been demolished. Panic surged within him as he observed the chaotic scene unfolding beyond.
From his elevated position, Dante could see past the now breached walls and into the distant forest. A horde of masked soldiers, clad in gray military garb and armed to the teeth, charged relentlessly towards the village. The sheer number of them seemed endless, casting a shadow of impending doom over the once serene village.
The distant clash of weapons, shouts, and the thunderous footsteps of the invading soldiers echoed through the air. Dante's heart raced as he realized the severity of the situation. Without a moment's hesitation, he rushed back into their home.
"Asirpa!" he called urgently, his voice carrying a sense of urgency. Bursting through the door, he found her preparing for the day, oblivious to the unfolding chaos outside. "We need to go, now! The village is under attack!"
Asirpa, alarmed by Dante's urgency, quickly gathered her belongings. The once peaceful morning had transformed into a scene of chaos. Together, they fled their home, navigating through the now chaotic village streets as the distant sounds of conflict grew louder.
The chaotic scene unfolded before Dante and Asirpa as they plunged into the heart of the village's turmoil. The once peaceful streets were now a battleground, with flames devouring buildings and the air tainted with the acrid scent of smoke.
The invading force, relentless and disciplined, wreaked havoc on the village. Dante and Asirpa bore witness to it all, unfortunately, their hearts pounding.
Asirpa, fueled by an unwavering determination to protect the villagers she had grown up with, insisted on confronting the invaders head-on. Dante, concerned for her safety, tried to convince her to seek refuge in the forest, but Asirpa remained resolute.
Amidst the chaos, Asirpa's arrows found their marks, and Dante fought alongside her, his heart pounding with every confrontation. The soldiers, clad in gray military garb, showed no mercy, their evil glee evident even behind their ominous masks as they committed unspeakable acts of violence.
Dante, breathless and desperate to protect Asirpa, shouted over the chaos, "Asirpa, we need to get out of here! We can't fight them all!"
Asirpa, her eyes burning with determination, replied, "I can't leave them, Dante! I won't let these monsters destroy our home!"
Together, they faced the merciless onslaught, battling against overwhelming odds. The soldiers, devoid of morals, laughed and taunted as they killed and destroyed. The streets were set ablaze, and the air resonated with the screams of both villagers and soldiers.
In the midst of the chaos, a sudden and dramatic figure emerged – a rather eccentric soldier with a maniacal grin. Pulling out an unusual weapon, the soldier taunted them, "Witness Electraz, just the right tool to fry your insides alive!" The weapon emitted blasts of magenta-colored electricity, its design almost otherworldly and definitely threatening.
Dante, fueled by rage, managed to eventually land a powerful blow on the death-crazed soldier, temporarily incapacitating him. The boy's strength in that moment would only be realized in hindsight quite a while later.
As the soldier writhed on the ground, Dante and Asirpa seized the opportunity to question him.
"Why are you doing this? What does your army want with our village?!" Dante demanded, his voice filled with a mix of anger and desperation. "Who even are you people?"
The soldier, still chuckling, responded cryptically, "The village is just the beginning. Our goals go far beyond your understanding. Destruction is our purpose, chaos is our path."
Asirpa, her bow aimed at the soldier, pressed further, "You're destroying innocent lives for chaos? What kind of madness is this?"
The soldier, with a sinister grin, retorted, "Madness? No, my dear. It's the pursuit of power, the thrill of anarchy. You won't comprehend, and you won't survive."
In a sudden turn of events, the battle resumed with a second wind from the eccentric soldier, and Dante rushed towards him right as the man prepared to unleash his last attack.
Despite Dante killing him in the end, his efforts to stop more destruction to the village from transpiring appeared to be futile as the attack erupted anyway, causing debris to rain down upon them, resulting in the separation of Dante and Asirpa.
As they argued amidst the chaos, Asirpa, with a heavy heart, eventually tried to convince Dante to run and save himself. Dante obviously hesitated at first, his eyes locking with Asirpa's. "But I can't leave you here alone."
Asirpa's voice softened, "You need to survive. Go, find safety in the forest." She said, her voice lowering at the end. "...I-I'll catch up."
Somehow, they both knew that wasn't the case.
Reluctantly, Dante turned away, tears streaming down his face, as he picked up the dead soldier's weapon and rushed towards the forest to escape, stowing it in his inventory once he was finally out of sight. The echoes of destruction and chaos continued to reverberate throughout the decimated village. The fate of its inhabitants hung in the balance, and Dante could only hope that Asirpa had somehow survived the onslaught and that they would eventually meet again within the near-future.
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Meanwhile, the obscure general of the ruthless army walked through the decimated village, chuckling under his breath as he admired the carnage all around him. The destruction, fueled by madness and chaos, unfolded all according to his sinister strategy and the unstoppable machinations of the empire.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone