The freed girls stood behind Sophia, their faces carrying expressions of sadness and anger.
"What... happened to our home?!" The Siren Shouted, her voice breaking from sheer shock she experienced.
Similar sentiments could be heard from others.
How could they not be sad? they had been tricked, caged, tortured and sold.
And after all of that, their home was nowhere to be found.
Where the city once stood, there was merely a scorched landscape.
"I... do not know. The City was gone... When I arrived," Sophia lied; she couldn't break their hearts.
Siren collapsed on her knees, her mouth agape.
Others hugged each other as they processed the shock.
"My family... they are all gone..." Siren spoke in a defeated tone.
"I am afraid so... little one." Sophia approached behind Siren, her hands wrapping around the shocked girl.
It did not take long before her cold demeanor cracked, letting her tears fall down her face.
"WHY ME! WHAT HAVE I EVER DONE TO DESERVE THIS?!" Siren shouted thought her tears, her eyes glued to the scorched land that used to be her home.
'You are a demon... young lady. However, you may save yourself yet. I truly hope demons can turn to the Light.' Sophia smiled warmly as she wrapped her wings around her.
Others had their friends to console each other, but Siren and Elise were alone; they only had their Savior to console them. Sophia glanced towards the harpy who was nervously fidgeting, trying her best to hide the shock.
"Come." Sophia smiled as she spread one of her wings, welcoming the harpy in her embrace."
She slowly approached, letting herself be guided close to the Angel.
"Cry, you needn't bottle in those emotions. I know that losing your home hurts. That is why I offered you a place by my side." She spoke softly.
"First we are enslaved, then tortured and now we lost everything..." Harpy finally let go off her attempts at holding back her emotion.
Sophia grabbed both Harpy and Siren and pushed them to her body.
"What did we do..." She repeated the same words as Siren did.
"You did nothing... It was the corrupt nobility that caused this destruction... Your emperor has punished you for their sins." Sophia explained softly.
'A small lie won't hurt, I suppose.'
"Our... Emperor?" The harpy asked.
"Yes..."
"I will not forgive him!" Siren balled up her fists as she sobbed.
"Would you like to go with me? I promise you shan't lose anything ever again." Sophia whispered in their ears.
Siren looked up, her distrusting nature all but gone.
"We don't really have much choice... We lost everything." Siren pushed words through her teeth, containing her anger.
"Tell me your name..."
"I am..." Siren hesitated for a moment before answering.
"I am Lara..." She said softly.
"It is an honor, I am Sophia."
In a moment, she unfurled her wings, letting two girls go free.
"I... wish to go with you too, Lady Sophia," Harpy said sheepishly, her fingertips tapping against each other. Her tears were gone, replaced by a slight blush as she looked at the angel.
Sophia turned to the harpy, her warm smile bringing solace to those who were hurt.
"You will never lose anything again...I promise."
"Can... I have another hug?" Harpy asked shyly, clearly enjoying the warmth given by the angel.
"Come."
Harpy smiled warmly as she wrapped her arms around Sophia.
"You make me feel safe..." Harpy spoke as she rubbed her face against Sophia, her arms wrapping around the gentle angel.
Siren and the other girls looked at the scene with mild amusement.
"You are welcome in my embrace anytime..." Sophia placed her hands on Harpy's back before gently rubbing her.
"Thank you so much!" She shouted as she buried her face in Sophia's chest.
'Was she lonely? Such a shame...' Sophia thought about it. Harpy seemed to be one who lacked the most attention.
And due to that moment, she had been given such attention that she became attached.
"It is about time we leave, there is nothing we can do. And night will begin soon." Sophia explained.
Two girls nodded, closely followed by other girls acknowledging nods.
They all wished to return home, and yet home was long gone.
"But where can we even go? We will be lucky to not end up in some slum..." Siren brought up her worries: where would those without anything go.
"I will make sure you do not lack anything, Father has allowed me to give you this chance. You shan't waste it." She smiled warmly.
Her reassuring words did put the weary hearts at ease, however, the worry was not fully gone.
Their future was uncertain; what would happen to them?
Unfortunate girls escaped certain fates worse than death, and now their futures were still uncertain.
"Maybe... we can find a new home somewhere... If we are led by Lady Sophia!" Harpy exclaimed with a blush.
Lara gave her a glance before smiling wryly. With a glide, she approached the harpy and whispered in her ear.
"Well, someone is in love with their savior, huh?" Lara teased.
Elise's blush spread, taking over her entire face and forcing her to shake her head.
"And you say you don't like her?!" She retorted, defending herself.
"She saved us, of course. I like her. But you LIKE like her. Did those hugs really did that much for you?" Lara continued teasing.
"..."
"Cat got your tongue?" Lara narrowed her eyes as she looked at the blushing Harpy.
"You are right..." She averted her gaze as she finally admitted.
"Of course I am. Dummy." She flicked Elise's forehead before turning back towards the place where her former home was.
"When do you plan to tell our pretty savior you fell in love?"
"I... I'm too scared to do it."
"Want me to do it?"
"NO!" She blurted out.
"Well, you better do it before someone else gets the same feelings. Look at them all looking at her with admiration; it's just a matter of time." She pointed at Sophia, who was busy consoling other Harpies.
"I... I will do it soon!"
"Tick tock, time is short. If you take too long, someone will steal her from you." Lara smirked.
"I know..." Elise sighed as she looked at Sophia with admiration.
Where she only was able to give empty promises to that little girl, Sophia was able to rescue them all effortlessly.
How could she not fall in love instantly with such a woman?