Wicked Reincarnation

Chapter 174: Attack 15

The oncoming force of soldiers all froze on the spot. Right now all eyes were on Leo and Kil facing each other. No one dared to make a move. Lia couldn't trust her eyes. Leo was really here to help her.

As Kil and Leo stared at each other, another figure approached Lia, "Are you alright?"

Seeing Noel's worried face, Lia was glad he was alright. She nodded trying to hide her wounds but Noel stopped her, "Don't. Focus on healing."

Lia sat on the ground, barely able to gain strength when her body was enveloped by something soft. Noel held her in his arms as the centre of attention was the heated tension between the two captains.

"C-Captain Leo," one of the soldiers who stopped behind Kil spoke up.

"Retreat," Leo's cold stare made the soldiers fall back.

"Leo, what's the meaning?" Kil's eyes flashed. The situation was ambiguous. Kil didn't believe that Leo would betray Min but why was he shielding the hidden families?

What was Leo's agenda? But in hindsight, it didn't matter to Kil. It was actually a good thing. If Leo turned out to be an enemy, then Kil could finally fight against him. His dream of fighting another captain was coming true.

Also, Kil stepped to the side and looked at Noel, even the other guy he wanted to fight presented himself on a silver plate. Even though Kil was hurt, how could he let this chance go? It was too delicious.

"I'll handle things here, Kil go back," Leo finally spoke up.

"You kidding? 'i'm not gonna leave, you can't order me," Kil didn't move from the spot, "What are you doing?"

"Things have gone too fa-"

"Ha!" Kil roared with laughter, "Gone too far? Look around, it's too late for your bullshit! People have died, you are as guilty as me."

Leo didn't say anything. Even though Kil was weakened right now, Leo didn't want to fight him. The soldiers would see Leo as a traitor and alarm Min. Under no circumstances could Min find out about Lia.

"Now keeping quiet? I wanna trust you because Min does but you being ambiguous isn't helping?... Damn, when are they coming?" Kil looked back and forth, holding his hand over his chest. It seemed like the pain was quite apparent. This might be the best chance to get rid of Kil, however, the soldiers worried Lia. If Lia was to attack Kil, then the soldiers would immediately stop them.

"It seems you don't know-" while Leo and Kil were talking, Lia turned to Noel, "Do you have a weapon?"

Noel confused stared at Lia, then looked around to find what Lia wanted.

"What you want with it?" Noel hesitatingly handed Lia a knife. Lia's wounds started to heal and her body felt better. She removed herself from Noel's embrace and steadied herself. Then she took a deep breath before a dark look hushed across her face until it manifested in her eyes as she stared at Kil.

All noises were drowned out. Lia focused her attention on Kil and couldn't hear the conversation between him and Leo nor what Noel was whispering to her. Until another loud roaring laugh of Kil ripped the numbing veil off Lia's ears.

Swoosh.

Kil's laughter abruptly stopped. Silence overtook the situation. Noel and Leo froze as Lia dashed past them, ripped her long dress short and jumped. Her foot drilled the knife she threw into Kil's chest further in.

Kil's angry eyes, bloodshot, stared at her indifferent ones. Then everything happened in the flash.

"Lia!"

Two voices called out. The soldier didn't know what to do. Kil grabbed Lia's foot wanting to fling her away but at the last second, she grabbed his neck and used his chest as her springboard.

Her body flew over Kil's head while her hands were still around his neck. Then as Lia landed behind Kil, she instantly turned around, her hands moving towards his chest, tearing the knife upwards.

The wound on his chest only grew bigger. On cue, both the soldiers and Noel and Leo moved. Two sides clashing with each other. Lia ducked and again circled around Kil to get behind Noel and Leo.

Both were shocked about Lia's action but right now their priority was to protect her. On the other side, Lia had hoped to completely slice Kil open. She was sure he wouldn't survive this but he was studier than she thought.

Noel and Leo got ready to fight when blood sprayed out of Kil's mouth as he shouted, "Stop!"

The soldiers halted.

"Just give me what I've been damn asking for!"

Noel and Leo had no idea what Kil asked for but Lia did. Kil wanted to regenerate himself. And for that, he either needed ghosts or Maria. Yet none of the soldiers were able to carry out his order as Leo and Noel arrived.

"Now!" Kil's intense roar made the soldiers flinch and they scattered. A few of them remained but didn't dare to approach, "Don't interrupt."

These two words signalled the soldiers their death sentence. If they had the audacity to go against him.

This was an opportunity. If Kil was arrogant enough to not rely on help, the three of them could kill him. Lia still wanted to know what happened to Xavi. Unbelievable anger welled up inside of her and she was about to attack when Noel stopped her.

"Lemme do it. You and him make your way to the palace," as Noel said those words he only stared at Kil, ''I can handle this myself."

"But if he replen-"

"I can finish him off before then, trust me," Noel turned around to pat Lia and gently smiled.

No, nono!

Lia didn't want to see that smile. It was as if he was going to say goodbye here.

"No," finally Lia was able to reject, "We do it together."

"Right now, they're weak, if you two"

"I said no! Stop wasting time!" Lia wouldn't leave Noel alone. If he wanted to play here, he could do it after everything was done.

"He's right," suddenly Leo held Lia by the shoulders back, "There's something else you have to do right? He'll manage on his own."

"No," Lia still didn't want to leave Noel.

"I'll be fine," Noel approached Lia and pulled her into his arms, "I'll be fine," Noel whispered before pressing a kiss on Lia's forehead, "Trust me a little, ok? Have I ever broken a promise?"

Lia wanted to nod but then shook her head while Leo glared at Noel and Kil was too busy trying to heal himself. The soldiers who noticed this only rolled their eyes but didn't dare to get closer.

"You'll see me again, don't forget what your mission is," Noel gently caressed Lia's cheeks before letting her go.

Again the smile she loathed to see on his face appeared. This wasn't Noel. Not the taunting, mocking one who made her blood boil. Who was her first friend after she came back. This serious, even sad and melancholic Noel, she didn't want to see.

"I trust you," Noel this time addressed Leo who only nodded and pulled Lia with him. But Lia only reluctantly left Noel behind with Kil on the plaza. The farther they went away, the smaller and lonelier Noel's figure seemed to be, up until he completely vanished.

Only then Lia finally turned her head away and looked at Leo before realising the direction they were heading to, "Where are we going?"

Leo wasn't leading her towards the palace.

"The academy."

"Why?"

"Because it's safer and there's something I think you want."

"Something I want?"

Without much problems, Leo led Lia inside the academy, a place that was once buzzing with students, but now it was a sad sight to see the dusty corners of the desolate place and the white marble overdrawn with cracks and red drops.

Inside the dorm, Leo hid with Lia in the room, Lia once was in. The minute the door was locked, Leo instantly grabbed Lia and embraced her. He said nothing but only held her. His head nuzzled in the crook of her shoulder as Lia felt wetness soaking through her clothes.

But Lia wasn't innocent either. Her tears fell on Leo's clothes and she hugged him back with all of her might. After all, no matter what has happened and how they've grown apart, even if they were enemies, Leo would always reach out his hand to help her. Just like now. Just like on the first day they met.

His warmth seeped into Lia while Leo's body slightly trembled, then his legs gave in and they fell to the ground. But Leo neither let go of Lia nor said anything. For a while, they basked in this reuniting moment, Leo has been waiting for so long he thought he'd never get to experience.

"Lia, Lia" his whisper echoed in her ears over and over again, "I'm so glad, I. I don't know I-"

"It's ok," Lia patted Leo's head and caressed his back, "It's ok, I'm also happy to see you again."

Leo nodded and the golden strands of his hair tickled Lia's face. Lia has never seen Leo so vulnerable. She has never even seen him cry before. All she ever saw of him was his bright smile.

Suddenly, Leo raised his head and dark eyes stared into Lia's, "Tell me everything. I want to know the truth. Tell me, what did Min do?"