"And that’s pretty much what happened."
Adam leaned back, his head still nestled comfortably against Minerva’s chest. He let out a sigh as the last of the words left him, as he had finally exhaled a weight that had been pressing down all night.
Across from him, Priscilla sat with her arms crossed, legs tucked neatly beneath her, as usual her expression was unreadable, but clearly she was listening.
White on the other hand leaned silently against a ruined pillar nearby, as she listened in as well.
Minerva shifted slightly beneath Adam, her voice lazy but sharp as always.
"I see, I know must of what you said already, although you covered one or two things that I didn’t know for the most part, again good job big bro."
Adam chuckled, nuzzling a bit further into her without shame.
She didn’t push him away, in a way she was silently enjoying this.
Then Minerva’s eyes moved, not to White, not to Adam, nor Priscilla, but toward Keira.
The wolf girl stiffened the moment their gazes met. She was kneeling near Nyla, who was still unconscious, her breathing shallow but steady.
Her ears twitched, her back went rigid, but she didn’t move right away. Not because she was being defiant. It was the aura her voice carried.
This was after all, just not any woman calling to her.
This was Minerva. One of the existing Monster Lords.
But after a few seconds, Keira stood. Quietly. Respectfully. And she walked toward her.
Minerva didn’t smirk or gloat. She just sighed, resting her chin in her palm as she looked the girl over.
"You didn’t do anything wrong. Let’s get that outta the way first."
Keira blinked, confused.
"This happened in my land."
Minerva said, tone firmer now.
"That means I am the one who is supposed to keep this place safe, and yet I failed, you and your people, so that’s on me."
She bluntly admitted, taking full responsibility for what has transpired here.
"But at the same time you guys were partially in fault too, I remember many times in the past saying it is not a good idea to settle this deep into the Paffora Forest given how dangerous this place is."
Keira’s mouth opened like she wanted to object, but Minerva didn’t give her the chance.
"The virus... The attack... The people you lost. It all started on my watch."
She glanced out toward the village ruins. The wind picked up, tossing strands of her purple braided hair across Adam’s face.
"It’s a damn shame what happened here. And now that we know the bloom virus came from our enemies? Yeah... I’m pissed."
There was a scary tone in her voice now, as everyone here can literally feel her anger, barely being held back. Her usual lazy attire was nowhere to be seen. As the entire area began to shake and rocks began to float, as corruption encase the entire forest subtly.
Adam, Keira, Clara, White, and even Priscilla began to tremble and sweat slightly the moment her extremely dense and horrifying corruption started to flare up, and leak outwards into the world.
But everyone manage to keep their composure for the most part.
Right after she began to speak again.
"So here’s what’s gonna happen kiddo."
She stood up, gently setting Adam beside her like he was something precious. He didn’t argue he love treated by Minerva.
"From today on, this village...Ultima officially is under my direct protection. No more isolation. No more scraping by, and that is final. I’m bringing all of you under the banner of Minerva Village."
Keira’s eyes widened at this announcement, as she said.
"You’re... moving us?"
She asked cautiously, it was in a way a shame as this was here home, and also the home of her ancestors.
But Minerva was not having it, but she was also not a bitch to argue with a kid, so she explained a gently and as firm as possible.
"More like integrating."
Minerva corrected, waving a hand.
"Your people are my people now, or rather my top priority people, since you will be close to my estate at all time. Don’t you’ll will get real homes. Real safety. And you, your sister, and your mom?" She pointed at the unconscious Nyla."
"You’re all stayin at the estate with us... I can’t treat royal monsters like peasant after all."
Keira didn’t know how to respond. Her mouth opened, but no words came out. It was too much. Too fast.
Then a soft voice cut through the air like a thread snapping, as it said weakly.
Nyla said as she awake in Keira arms. And her voice was cracking as her eyes fluttered open.
She pushed herself up weakly, blinking at the faces around her.
Her voice broke on the last word.
Before Adam could step forward, Priscilla rose, dress rustling with her movements as she said plainly.
Nyla froze, mouth trembling as Priscilla continued.
"Morgan and Nyx got to her in time. She is recovering at one of our outer camps near the main village. She’ll be moved to the main estate by nightfall."
Keira dropped back to her knees beside Nyla, wrapping her arms around her sister tight.
"Thank... The spirits."
Keira nodded into her hair, and both girls broke into silent sobs.
Clara, still standing off to the side, gave the tiniest smile. She looked at Adam, her voice quiet and warm.
"C’est une bonne chose. A bit of light in a dark place, non? Hmmm how nice."
Adam nodded in agreement to Clara words as he said with a relief look.
But then Priscilla’s expression darkened again, as she continued to speak, picking up were she left off.
Adam turned to her, his stomach already sinking.
"Yarquella... As Nyx reported."
"And another mysterious man she was with... They’re gone."
When Adam heard this he blinked in suprise as he said.
"What do you mean gone?"
"Just like how I said it, they manage to escaped."
He stood up now. Not in panic...but frustration.
"Seriously? I thought Morgan had them pinned with the 11 kingdom Array "
Priscilla frowned at his reply as she responded back saying as such
"They had help apparently... Something disrupted the barrier from outside. We think it was planned. A spatial distortion, a portal, maybe. We’re still investigating... But interference is only possible from the outside."
Adam’s hands clenched into fists at these words.
’Sigh...Yarquella... always had a way of slipping out of tight spots... It so in charcther for her not to be pressured.’
He remembered her cunningness too well. In the original game, she was the kind of person that never stayed dead or in active. She always has a trick up her sleeve. And is always one step ahead.
"... So there is no one present to answer for the crimes that has taken place here just great."
Minerva seeing Adams anger reassured him by saying.
"Well escape or not you don’t have to worry about it... The Hellsing family are masters of tracking, we will find a way to find the bitch that did this."
She cracked her knuckles, smiling menacingly however Priscilla soon jump in as she said.
"That aside though Minerva, I think we should work evacuating the village first and have a family meeting on what the next move is going to be."
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