softly in her ear. Arai looked at him in disbelief. But he nodded and smiled again. Still in disbelief, she threw herself around his neck and tears ran down her cheeks.
"Arai", Atemu brushed her hair from her forehead and wiped her tears away, "I also say it out loud so that everyone can hear it. I love you."
Still perplexed, she looked at him. That could not be true. He really had just said that. Why couldn't he have done that earlier? It was too late now.
Slowly she took a step back and looked at him sadly. When she was about to say something, Atemu nipped her words in the bud by taking her hand and pulling her into a tight hug.
“Don't think about Ramius, as long as I'm here, you don't need to be afraid anymore, never again.” His words reached her ear only faintly and yet she understood him."I'll never let you go again, do you understand? Never again."
Aura smiled.
"Took long enough too," she muttered softly before turning around and startled.
Ramius stood behind here. His eyes burned with anger and he stared at Arai and Atemu with hatred. But then his evil eyes turned to Aura and suddenly an ugly grin graced his face.
"I should have done that years ago," he said, so that only she could hear.
Aura wanted to answer something, but too late. She felt something boring into her below her chest. With a choked gasp, she looked down at herself. Ramius had thrust his blades through her and then pulled them back just as quickly. The old woman slowly went down on her knees, and in the distance she heard a scream. Arai had broken away from Atemu and ran to Aura. Before the old woman hit the ground, Arai caught her.
“Hold on, please don't die now.” Arai sounded desperate and tears glistened in her eyes."The old woman doesn't take too long," Ramius snarled and laughed. "Your own fault. If you had stayed with me and not run to Atemu, then she could still be alive, you know that, right?"
Arai measured him with a penetrating look. Atemu had finally awakened from his stupor and stood next to Arai.
"Get out of here, Ramius, we'll sort that out later," he hissed at him.
"There won't be much longer for you later," said Ramius disdainfully. "We'll meet Again."
After these words he disappeared, leaving Arai, Atemu and Aura alone. Arai had let Aura slide onto the floor and was talking softly to her.
"It'll be fine, hold on. Shimon is on his way. Don't go to sleep, please, stay awake."
Aura coughed and dark blood spread under her. Atemu put a hand on Arai's shoulder and knelt beside her. He looked sadly into her eyes. A silent message for: It's too late, let go.
Arai looked back at Aura with watery eyes.The old woman smiled weakly now.
"I'm so cold and I can hardly breathe ..." she choked out softly.
“No, don't say that.” Arai's tears really ran down her face.
She coughed again and this time a dark gush of blood erupted from her mouth. Then it was over. Aura's eyes moved briefly, but her hand that had previously dug convulsively into the sand was slack and her whole face relaxed.
"No ..." Arai felt her heart contract.
Carefully she lifted the old woman's head and hugged her. Atemu tried to pull her away from Aura, but it didn't work.
"Arai, please. It's over," he said very quietly.
Arai straightened up. Her face and hands were smeared with blood and the tears silently ran down her face. But suddenly there was something other than grief.
Hate. Unbridled hatred was suddenly reflected in her face and Pharaoh was frightened at first. But then he pulled her close and hugged her as tightly as he could."He's going to pay for that," Arai sobbed softly.