The Against All Odds

CH 21 - Moonlight

...[.Alisiana Adallorias]...

...[.Earth, 21st Century]...

...[.Man]...

...[.Strength Level 5]...

...[.Faction IIlymeira]...

...-...

...ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ...

The process at Menhir Bastion has ended, and Alisha managed to uncover all of her potential power as a new Celestial. Celestial is a term for humans or other beings who come from other worlds, including Leo and Alisha. Now, the atmosphere in the place had returned to its original state, accompanied only by a row of torches that remained blazing and the soft light from the moon that illuminated their surroundings. The four of them, Leo, Alisha, Belladona, and Matilda, sat in a circle facing each other in front of a bonfire blazing on wood and twigs that began to cook their quarry.

The puff of smoke from the venison roasted on the fire carried a savory aroma that tempted the taste buds. A familiar atmosphere was felt between them, as they enjoyed their dinner dishes under the starry sky.

Alisha looked slightly mused, her eyes focused on the blazing flames, perhaps thinking of her unexpected journey into Erder's world. Leo sat beside her, looking at her with a warm feeling in his heart, feeling grateful for the presence of Alisha who could accompany him in this new world.

On the other hand, Belladona picked up a piece of grilled meat gracefully, enjoying the taste with a faint smile on her lips. Matilda, across from them, ate like a hungry pig, not caring at all what she called manners.

Although their journey had brought many surprises and infighting, they felt closer to each other now, forgetting all the battles that had taken place between them. Under the calm night sky and the brightly shining stars, they felt like one strong family and were ready to face whatever was to come.

Alisha sat between Leo and Belladona, her gaze filled with curiosity. His question of the IIlymeira faction reflects his desire to understand more deeply about his new power.

Belladona replied with deep knowledge, her smile shining full of brightness. His eyes flashed as he spoke of this faction. "IIlymeira is a very powerful faction, created by the Elves and Night Elves. They tend to use their power to save lives and maintain the balance of nature, rather than destroy opponents. I myself have learned some abilities from this faction, and I believe that becoming a Celestial with the power of the IIlymeira Faction is something good."

Alisha still felt doubtful, "But is tier 5 enough?"

Belladona laughed softly, dispelling Alisha's doubts. "Alisha, it took me years to reach level 5. For a Celestial, reaching level 5 was a great achievement on the first day. Except for Leo reaching level 10 straight away, but even that is a very rare thing."

Alisha turned her face in shame. "I don't want to be as strong as Leo, I just want to be able to protect him with my own strength." He glanced at Leo, who was smiling at him understandingly. Leo knows very well how much Alisha wants to be able to protect her loved ones, including herself and their best friend, Neil Hooper. She has understood Alisha's nature for a long time, when they spent time with a policeman.

They sat in peace talking, cherishing each of these moments and allowing Alisha's new knowledge to seep into her. Belladona, with her warm smile, knew that Alisha would become an outstanding Celestial with her powers.

Belladona held onto her magic wand, and with a serious expression, she began chanting a spell, "delicieusement exquise." The mantra was heard plus a prayer to the Great God Talos.

And with a miracle that only skilled witches had, a few dishes appeared miraculously before them, equipped with cutlery like spoons and forks. Some glasses of water also appear on their own. However, the most tempting was a roasted deer that looked much more delicious than before, as if it had been cooked with a very special seasoning. The aroma coming out of the dish was so tempting, making Matilda's saliva instantly flow.

Matilda looked at the seductive roasted deer with sparkling eyes, like a starving pig, and quickly jumped towards the dish. However, before he could grab it, Belladona's magic wand suddenly stood between Matilda and the delicious dish.

"You've eaten a lot, Matilda," Belladona said in a humorous tone. "Now it's Alisha's turn to eat."

Matilda looked disappointed, yet she did not give up so easily. With the stubborn spirit of the little boy, he continued to approach, ignoring Belladona's ban.

"Why didn't you do that earlier. I want to too!" he cried innocently, like a child who could not resist the temptation of good food.

They all laughed looking at Matilda who insisted. Although Matilda can sometimes become jealous and silly, moments like these add to the fun and familiarity between them.

...-...

...ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ...

After a delicious dinner, fatigue finally approached Belladona, Matilda, and Alisha one by one. They fell asleep in the room of the Menhir Bastion, dressed in thick robes and a thin blanket that warmed them on a cool night. Around them were pockets of cloth that Gideon also gave them before he finally returned to his kingdom.

Leo, who was still awake, saw them fall asleep peacefully. He eventually decided to walk out of the room where they were sleeping, occasionally looking back to make sure that his friends were still fast asleep. Leo understands that they have been through a lot today, and rest is so important.

Under the bright moonlight, Leo found a precious moment to contemplate alone. Leo sat down next to the broken wall, facing the dark forest. Large trees were towering, and the sound of the cold wind gently swayed the tree leaves. Everything feels so calm at night.

Leo pondered in the silence of the dark night. Slowly, he decided to take out his shiny police badge. He held it and gently rubbed it, feeling the weight of the symbol in his hand. The badge is a reminder of his precious past.

After that, Leo grabbed his empty gun without a bullet. He observed it for a moment, pervading the small details on the weapon, which had become part of his life. The weapon seemed to be a silent witness of many events that had been experienced by Leo.

"How can I protect those around me if I can't even protect one person who means so much to me?"

Leo looked at the moon shining brightly in the night sky with an expression full of sadness on his face. He pondered for a moment before finally saying in a quiet voice filled with regret, "I'm sorry, Neil."