No Matter the Cost

Griff streaked through those dark caves, with the sounds of clicking screeches behind her, making her feel ill with terror as all exhaustion carrying Nero was forgotten.

She didn't know where Ghila was, or Fiore... but she could hear the sounds of rapid footsteps following after her and the unmissable Squelching slash of steel cutting into Boney flesh.

"D-Dont look back, you're nearly there... just a little longer...... Ghila can look after Fiore... J-Just keep moving... Get Nero to safety... Fiore will be fine.... Fiore will be f-fine-"

Griff began to shake like she used to... Her body feeling weak as her bones rattled, the voice emerged, despite how deep she had buried it.

That's right, feel the corruption burn, the fear rises in your veins... You are no Warrior, Aquila, you are only a stupid girl stuck in a cycle of cowardice.

"No..."

Give up

"Never."

You are no true Mysteria

"..."

What's wrong? nothing to say, too scared?

Griff screeched to a halt, her eyes wide and panicked as her breaths drowned in her throat.

Turning hesitantly, looked with horror in her eyes, feeling the words creeping around her insides, its thousands of legs digging into her mind.

Ghila was unlike anything, Griff had ever seen, carrying Fiore in her left arms as she spears and dashed masterfully, flying around like a bullet as the many hundreds and hundreds of hideous bodies, huge and small tried to lurch at her from the darkness.

But she was alone, and the Arachnis drew closer and closer.

Griff held her breath to stop herself from shaking, holding Nero tightly as she drew her sword with shaking hands, its blade gleaming as she closed her eyes and whispered "...I am no Coward. Litany..." She spoke to her sword's silver blade "...L-Lumen."

Her beloved sword, Litany, then began to buzz slightly. Its thin blade erupting with silvery-white veins that glowed brighter than any torch on earth, filling the cave with a beautiful Ivory light.

The Body's may have not... been in the hundreds... there were easily 500 giant hairy eight-legged forms, a collective hive of a million eyes staring right at Litany's glowing blade, and then at Griff herself.

Ghila sprinted to Griff's side, looking at the blade as the Mysteria, unclipped her silver cloak, tying it around Nero's arm as she carefully handed him to Ghila.

"Go. Now." The Master Mysteria whispered.

There was something in Ghila's eyes, as Griff watched the Arachnis slowly brace, ready to dash towards them, or more accurately, the luminous blade emanated.

"You cannot be outrunning, Arachnis in your state. and Ghila-Shaman cannot be fighting with her arms full." her voice was a whisper, highlighted by the rushing bodies of the giant bugs making their way towards her.

"Just get them both safely to the eye, I will meet you there." Griff's legs felt weak, she held her sword tightly, trying to **** herself to stay calm in the face of her fear.

Ghila... actually smiled "Kajbala ki hazudan Illis." She spoke in her mother tongue as she was about to sprint away, the **** Nero and Fiore in her arms.

"What does that mean?"

Ghila tossed Griff her spear which the Mysteria caught in her free hand "It be meaning that no Devil woman has survived in this cave. Ghila-Shaman wants This Devil woman to be being the first."

Griffin gave the mad-litchen shaman a nod, watching as she bolted towards the light at the end of the tunnel.

And so here Griff was, with her sword in one hand and Ghila's spear in the other, wondering if she'd survive this in her state. But she closed her eyes, steeling herself with the thought of Nero and getting to Leonis, she would fix this world, she would prove that she was a no coward... no matter the fear, and no matter the cost.