Love Beyond the Ashes

The Ancient Ones

Sana pov: I gazed over to Ina, who seemed to be in a daze. She was here, but it was as if she was in a different reality than ours

"Ina, are you alright?" I asked as our current council meeting raged on.

"I'm fine, Sana." Ina stated, "I didn't trust that she looked pale and as if she was going to throw up."

"You don't look okay." I said, softly pulling her into a hug

"I don't know, it feels like the ancient ones have been calling out to me," Ina said

"Really, the ancient ones are connected to the previous world, correct?" I asked

"Yes, but I worry since my power hasn't gone away, the ancient ones will come back again. The advent was almost over anyways..." Ina stated

"Don't worry about it, you won't lose yourself." I told her, reassuring her

"Sana, I don't want to hurt you..." Ina said

"Shhh... you won't hurt me," I told.er

"You can't be so sure," she said

"Ina, if you rampage, Gura, Sana, and I will stop you," Mumei said

"Thank you!" Ina shouted, "She seemed happy that we'd be willing to stop her

I was willing as long as we didn't have to put her down. That would destroy me mentally

"Ina, I've known you for a long time and you've never been known to lose control," Ame said

"We spent the most time together, Ina. You won't hurt any of us," Gura stated

"Now we need to figure out where Suisei went," Mumei said, glaring at me

She knew I was uninvested in this despite the fact that Suisei was my servant, but she could do whatever she wanted.

"S-sana, it hurts..." Ina said she was holding her chest and was wincing in agony

I was beginning to get worried about her. "Ina, it's okay!" I hugged her tightly, refusing to let go until she felt better, at which point tentacles formed behind her and she screamed in agony.

"Fight it!" I shouted, gently kissing her neck and gently blowing on it to make her come to her senses I wanted her to feel another emotion that wasn't pain

"Sana, I can't." She suddenly said

Gura slammed into Ina and held her down using her trident

"Ina, you won't lose yourself!" Gura yelled. She seemed to break through to her, but for only a brief moment

"Help me, Sana!" Ina screamed

I couldn't do anything. I didn't want to just sit there and watch like an idiot, but what else could I do? I then thought of a way to calm her down

I ran over to Sana and began to kiss her just to soothe her. Her nerves seemed to die down as her tentacles began to retract. She was calm now. I sighed in relief as she steadied her breathing

"Are you okay?" I asked. She slowly nodded

"I'm sorry to have worried you," she said I shook my head

"I'm just glad you are okay," I said softly

I stood up, gently holding her hand I didn't want to let go, but she had to take her place next to Mumei again for her meeting

"Sana, you can have Ina for now," Mumei said

"But Mumei, she's your servant!" I said, and she nodded slowly

"Yes she is, but she is also your girlfriend," Mumei stated

She wanted Ina to be near me, not only so I could be with her but also so I could stop any possible outbursts. I was happy to take up this role

I wanted to protect Ina and console her. I didn't want her to lose herself again, be a slave to someone or something when she wanted to be free.

I understand Ina and don't want her to be hurt again I want her to fly free. I want to show her the stars and spend the rest of my life with her.

I was happy Mumei introduced me to Ina. She always validated space and gave me power. As long as she loves me, I will have the strength to live on strongly.

I loved everyone here and would die for them, but Ina was a different story I would do more than just die for her. I wanted to give her the world.

I wasn't able to protect her back in the day, but now that she's in my grasp, I won't let go of her. I will love her no matter what happens between us.

"Ina, you're sweating a little," I said as I wiped her brow with my hand.

"I'm still under the weather..." Ina said, panting a bit.

I turned my back to Ina for five minutes just listening to the meeting. I would look back once in awhile just to see how she was doing, but she seemed fine, so I wasn't worried.

However, I had an eerie feeling wash over me for some reason. I didn't know where all this anguish was coming from. I looked around rapidly and at Ina but didn't feel a shift, so I began ignoring it.

I was now sweating because I was feeling the pressure of something that was in the air. I felt like something was looming and I didn't know what it was.

I felt Ina poke my back gently to get my attention.

"What's wrong, Ina?" I asked. She looked at me with a blank expression, a slight sinister smile slowly crept upon her face.

Suddenly, tentacles busted out of Ina and shot all over the room.. I watched as blood splattered onto Ina's face

"Who's blood is that?" I questioned

"Crk...." I coughed, suddenly feeling a liquid drip down my face I put my hand up to my face and pressed my hand to my lips, looking at my hand. Soon after, I noticed that it was dyed red.

"I-ina..." I said, beginning to lose my voice. I slowly looked down as I began getting blurry and began feeling immense pain.

I saw a tentacle lodged in my stomach. I could feel it coming out of the other side too. It slowly retracted and I fell to the floor limp.

I didn't want to die here, but things were looking grimm. All I could think about is how I let Ina down.

I wasn't going to die here for her sake I was going to save her no matter what...