Helena Sunfire… In her early years, there was nothing particularly notable about her except her unwavering goodness and her innocent belief that everyone deserved happiness.
Helena was an orphan, a fragile flower growing in the cold, grey stone of an orphanage overseen by the stern yet revered Archpriestess.
From the moment she could walk and talk, it was clear that Helena’s heart was too tender, too pure for the harsh world around her. She was the type of child who would believe the best in everyone, even when they did not deserve it.
Her naivety was both her strength and her weakness.
Other orphans, with hearts hardened by loss and neglect, easily deceived Helena, coaxing her to give them her food. Many nights, Helena went to bed with an empty stomach, her belly aching, yet she felt no bitterness!!
….Instead, there was a strange satisfaction in her self-imposed hunger. To her, the smiles she saw on the faces of those who took advantage of her kindness were worth every pang of hunger she endured.
Helena was too innocent to understand the concept of selfishness or malice.
She gave without expecting anything in return, and her small acts of kindness were driven by nothing more than the purest intentions. She was, in every sense, a kind soul… one untainted by the cruelty that life often inflicts.
One day, as the Archpriestess conducted her routine inspection, her sharp eyes fell upon Helena.
The young girl was quietly offering her meagre portion of soup to a group of children. The Archpriestess’s brows furrowed in concern.
She was meticulous in ensuring that each child was fed properly…
So why was Helena giving away her food?
What was driving this behaviour?
Intrigued, the Archpriestess approached the girl, her voice gentle yet commanding as she inquired, “Helena, why do you share your food when you are hungry yourself?”
Helena looked up at the Archpriestess, her big, innocent eyes filled with a kind of wisdom that seemed beyond her years, “Their happy smiles,” she said softly, “they make my stomach feel full.”
“….”
For a moment, the Archpriestess was rendered speechless.
Here was a child, not even old enough to fully comprehend the world, yet she was offering a response that echoed with profound truth. The Archpriestess gazed at Helena, seeing in her a rare purity, a light that shone undimmed by the shadows of the world.
She was too Pure!
But with that realization came a deep concern.
The Archpriestess knew all too well the dangers that awaited a girl like Helena—too kind, too trusting, too good for a world that often repaid such virtues with cruelty.
She, the Archpriestess, had not climbed to her position through innocence alone. She understood the value of cunning, the necessity of wisdom born from experience, and the importance of guarding one’s heart.
Yet, there was something about Helena that struck a chord within the Archpriestess. Perhaps it was the girl’s unwavering faith in the goodness of others, or perhaps it was the innocence that radiated from her like a beacon.
Whatever it was, the Archpriestess made a decision that day. She would take Helena under her wing, not just as another orphan to care for, but as a personal follower, someone to mould and protect.
Beginning of Brainwashing!
Thus began the slow and deliberate education of Helena Sunfire. The Archpriestess did not rush; she knew that such innocence should not be shattered, but gently guided. She taught Helena everything she needed to know about the world…. not just the good, but the bad and the ugly as well.
She instilled in her the wisdom to discern truth from deceit, to understand the complexities of human nature, and to navigate the intricacies of life with both grace and shrewdness.
Under the Archpriestess’s tutelage, Helena blossomed. She began to see the world not just through her own innocent eyes, but with the wisdom imparted to her by the Archpriestess.
Helena saw the Archpriestess as the epitome of greatness.
The Archpriestess was revered by everyone who knew her.
She was not just respected but deeply loved by all.
The Archpriestess was the embodiment of compassion, always extending a helping hand to those in need.
She cared for Helena as if she were her own daughter, nurturing her with boundless affection.
The Archpriestess had taught Helena everything she knew about the world, shaping her understanding of life.
And above all, the Archpriestess’s devotion to the Mother Root was unparalleled, a sacred love that surpassed all else.
Helena, who once believed that the smiles of others could fill the emptiness in her stomach, found that it was now the praises of the Archpriestess that truly nourished her stomach as well as her soul.
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Wherever the Archpriestess went, Helena followed, loyal and devoted, like a small chick following its mother hen, never straying far from her guiding presence.
She dreamed of standing beside her, of being worthy of her praise and affection. Every day, Helena prayed to the Mother Root, the deity to whom the Archpriestess was so devoted, hoping that one day she would be strong enough, wise enough, to serve alongside the woman she revered.
And then, as if her prayers were answered, the day of her baptism arrived.
It was a day that would change everything. Not only did Helena become a Chosen One, a rare honour that marked her as someone special, but she also awakened a unique bloodline ability—an extraordinary power that set her apart from all others.
Joy overwhelmed her. To be a Chosen One meant she could finally stand beside the Archpriestess, supporting her in all things.
And she wasn’t alone in this journey. Her childhood friend, Finnian, who had also been taken in by the Archpriestess after she saw the goodness in his heart, shared in this destiny.
…. That’s all!
That was all that had been written in Aqualina’s notes… the precious details that had been shared during the capture-the-flag event.
Now,
“C-Can anyone explain why I’m holding him?” Helena stammered, her cheeks flushed a deep crimson as she struggled to support the weight of the drunken Aether. His arm was draped lazily around her shoulders, his face nestled too comfortably against her trembling hand.
Victor cast a brief glance at Helena, his gaze shifting to Aether, who responded with a playful wink. With a tone that brooked no argument, Victor said, “I can’t fight while carrying him.”
Helena’s frown deepened, even as the heat in her cheeks intensified, “T-Then we could’ve left him in the stadium, right?” she suggested, her voice laced with frustration. But the redness in her cheeks betrayed the way Aether’s warm breath brushed against her skin as he nuzzled closer, clearly enjoying the situation.
He was definitely taking advantage of this!
Victor shrugged, his flashlight casting a long shadow as they continued down the corridor towards the senior classrooms. “Well, he was the one who insisted on helping us,” he replied, his tone almost indifferent.
Helena’s lips twitched in disbelief. ‘Him? Helping us?’ she thought incredulously, stealing a glance at Aether, who met her gaze with another wink and slurred, “I love you~” His voice was thick with the unmistakable effects of alcohol.
[+50–]
Helena’s breath hitched as her cheeks burned even brighter. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, threatening to burst. She was on the brink of a full-blown panic attack, and the weight of Aether’s words only made her more flustered.
She needed an escape!
“H-Hey, Raven, you take him!!” she blurted out desperately, her voice rising with the plea.
Raven, who had been walking ahead, stopped in her tracks and turned her head to look at Aether, then back at Helena, before casually turning away again without a word.
Helena’s eyes widened in shock. “What the…” she started, but her words trailed off as she instinctively moved to push Aether towards Victor.
But then…
Tang… Tang…
Everyone froze at the sharp metallic sound that echoed through the hallway. Victor and Raven instantly swung their flashlights towards the source, their postures tense, ready for anything.
Ssshhhh…
Tang, Tang, Tang, Tang…
Something darted through the darkness, too fast to be seen clearly.
Helena swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry as her grip on Aether’s shirt tightened instinctively. She could feel her pulse racing in her ears, a cold sweat breaking out on her skin.
Aether frowned, feeling the sudden pressure from Helena’s hand, ‘What the hell? Are we in a horror movie or something?’ he thought irritably, just about ready to end this absurdity. But then, he noticed the way Helena clung to him, her fear palpable.
Aether blinked in surprise, his annoyance giving way to something else. ‘Oh… Oh~’ he thought with a smirk, his lips curling into a sly grin. He decided to stay quiet, playing along with the situation. Meanwhile, both Victor and Raven swept their flashlights through the darkness, but the source of the sound remained elusive.
Raven frowned deeply, adjusting her cooling glasses…. yes, she was still wearing those damn things, even in the dark!!
Her usual stoic demeanour gave way to a hint of concern as everyone stood on high alert, their senses sharpened by the eerie silence that followed.
Then, a chilling sound pierced the stillness.
“Heheh…”
The sinister laughter sent a shiver down Helena’s spine. Raven and Victor immediately aimed their flashlights at the ceiling, where they saw…
A severed head, grotesquely crawling towards them on spindly metal spider legs. Its lifeless crystal eyes seemed to fixate on Aether and Helena, as if drawn to their fear.
Helena’s blood ran cold as she stared at the horrific sight, her face draining of colour.
“KYYAAAAAA!!!”
She screamed, the sound tearing from her throat as she instinctively threw her arms around Aether, seeking refuge from the terror that gripped her.
Before the head could get any closer, Aether caught it mid-air with a swift, almost casual movement. He held it in his bare hand, his expression blank as he examined the grotesque object.
The dead, soulless crystal eyes of the head stared back at him, but there wasn’t a trace of fear in Aether’s eyes.
After all, when you’re drunk, fear of the unknown doesn’t seem so daunting.
Because that’s all fear was…. just the fear of the unknown.
“Don’t worry, Helena~” Aether said softly, his voice carrying a surprising warmth as he tossed the head aside.
In the blink of an eye, Victor’s sword sliced through the air, severing the mechanical limbs with precision. “I’ll protect you~” Aether added with a teasing lilt, his words dripping with playful intent.
Helena’s entire body trembled, her wide, tear-filled eyes locking onto Aether’s face. “Y-You will?” she whispered, her voice barely audible, trembling with fear and a budding sense of something else… something unfamiliar and confusing.
She was really not good with these sorts of things!
While the moment of budding romance unfolded, Raven and Victor quickly dealt with the remaining mechanical abominations.
There were only a few, and their experience made short work of them.
Raven inspected the severed head with a curious expression before muttering, “These are mechanical parts… Someone with serious technological prowess is behind this.” She glanced at Victor, who was now watching Aether and Helena with a thoughtful expression.
“It’s fine~ It’s gone, Helena~” Aether whispered soothingly into her ear, his voice gentle as he held her close, feeling the tremors still running through her body.
[+500–]
‘Tsk,’ Aether clicked his tongue in mild frustration, wondering what was really holding her back.