The black skeleton. A crowned ogre. A silver bear. A brown dragon. A demon.
Albert. Jason. Seth.
Marian.
Renkai. Her first broken greatsword. Her first lesson. Her first adventure. Her first failure.
My mind whisks through the important encounters I've had throughout my life. I slowly get up from my bed and step onto the cold wood floor. Despite my grogginess, I look out the window and watch as snow lightly falls from the sky.
It always shows late on this side of the lake.
For the first time in a long while, I put on my guard uniform. I don't know why, I just do. I leave my room, and before I leave the front door, I peek into Renkai's room.
She's still not back. The days feel slower without her, for some reason. I close her door and leave the house. I start my daily patrol before heading towards a certain place. I head to each of the gates and listen to the reports the guards have. Nothing out of the ordinary.
After I finish with the reports, I take one last stroll throughout the town, greeting the neighbors and merchants. That's what I do every morning. Once I wind back up in the center of town, I head to the blacksmith.
As I arrive, the person I planned to meet with is already waiting for me. A dwarf named Daegon. He had arrived a few days ago, I think on the same day Renkai left. He came by our house, requesting her, but she wasn't home.
At that time, I barely remembered that it was going to be her birthday in three days, and seeing as he was wearing blacksmith gear, I asked if he could make a weapon for Renkai. He agreed immediately and asked what kind of weapon.
"Your custom-made longsword is ready, Diantel."
He holds out a sheathed longsword longsword and I pick it up. It's heavier than the spears I typically use, but not even close to heavy enough that I struggle.
"I hope the weight is right for the little missy."
"She'd use it nonetheless. Considering she'll end up breaking something when she gets home."
"I was surprised to hear you wanted a longsword for her instead of a greatsword."
"You'll understand if you get to see her in action one of these days."
"I'd be really glad to see her use a sword made by me in action. I ought to get going; you guards ordered quite the haul of weapons, and I need to pick up the pace if you want them anytime soon."
"Don't worry about taking too long. Nothing really happens over here, and I'm the Captain, so please, take your time."
He nods his head and walks back into the smithy, and a few moments later, I can hear him swinging his hammer. I strap the sword to my waist and begin walking home. As I reach the center once again, I pause for a moment, taking it all in.
That's when I hear the bells from the south side of the walls ringing, followed by a guard yelling.
"DEMON! DEMON! DEMON!"
I slowly shift my body in the direction of the bell before my eyes blow wide open. In the next moment, a large explosion obliterates the walls and launches debris in every direction. I stand there for a moment, pondering what the right course of action is to take. That's when I hear sets of armored steps coming from behind.
"Diantel!"
I turn around, and I'm faced by Marian and a handful of guards. A few of them are scared, and a few of them have accepted their deaths already, but Marian has a stern face.
"Your orders."
It takes me a few moments before I come up with anything. But when I stare into each of their gazes, they all immediately sense my resolve.
"How many of you are scared to fight?"
A couple of hands raise into the air, some more quickly than others.
"Those who raised their hands are hereby ordered to rescue the townsfolk. Do not engage in combat if you can help it. Prevent any lives lost."
A few of them look relieved while the rest look conflicted with themselves. Nonetheless, they all run off in different directions.
"For the rest of you, lure the Demon here, in the center. Hold it here until I return."
As I turn around, Marian quickly speaks up.
"And what will you do?"
I stop in my tracks and take a few moments before turning around to face her.
"I'll be making use of those two, Marian."
Her eyes shine with hope upon my words, registering. She immediately turns towards the rest of the guards, and they all nod, trusting her without issue. They run off in that direction.n
I let out a deep sigh once everyone is gone. After a few moments, I immediately start sprinting. I run through the roads and hop fences until I reach the stone wall of our makeshift training grounds.
I run into the house, straight into my room. I move the dress out of the corner and punch through the hollow wall behind it. I peek through the hole I made and see the large closet I hid long ago. I peel off the rest of the hollow wall and open the closet doors.
My eyes lay on two weapons. An obsidian javelin and a titanium lance. I immediately pull both of them out and bash out the back door.
I sprint all the way back to the center and continue onwards to the several yells heard from all over town. As I reach the center of all the chaos, my eyes fall on a tall winged being.
A Demon.
The same group of soldiers I had sent earlier is standing on the opposite side of it, with Marian at the front of the group. The soldiers charge at it one by one, but the Demon deflects every single attack with its sword and looks distracted. Marian attempts to take advantage of this and attacks from its blind spot, but it simply dodges and peers into the distance.
Right before Marian can back up and regroup, it grabs one of her arms and lifts her. I immediately change my javelin to my right hand and pull my arm back, ready to throw it. It begins speaking to her, but they're too far for me to listen in. I slowly apply my Enhancement Magic to my arm as the Demon continues to speak to her.
Eventually, Marian drops the sword from the arm that she's being lifted by and grabs it with her free hand. She attempts to stab the Demon in the chest, but it simply throws her back towards the group of soldiers. I watch as she gets back up quickly and reassures the soldiers.
That's when I throw my javelin.
The Demon notices it and swings its blade at it, only for it to shatter the moment it comes into contact. He tries to block it with his hand, but it pierces right through,h and it almost pierces into his eye.
It rips the javelin from its hand and snaps it in half as if it were a twig. I watch as the hole in his hand begins to regenerate. It opens and closes its hand a few times before staring directly at me.
I begin to walk closer and regroup with Marian. Half the soldiers are terrified, while the rest are still determined. I look around and notice pools of blood underneath several areas where houses have caved in.
"Diantel. We need to get out of here."
"Not till everyone's evacuated. We have to stand our ground."
"I understand that, but that Demon said-"
That's when its sharp voice speaks.
"There won't be any survivors."
I slowly turn towards the Demon as it gazes at us with a disappointing look.
"Everyone in this town will be dead when I leave."
In a simple blink of an eye, the Demon is already looming over me.
"I remember you. Where is the girl?"
He grabs me by the collar and pulls me closer. The guards immediately surround him.
"What makes you say that? I sent several guards to evacuate the townsfolk."
"Unfortunate. I have my own men on standby to kill anyone who tries to leave."
"There's more of you?"
"Of course. We're at war, aren't we? Did you think a Commander would go out all by themselves?"
My eyes catch a glimpse of my men's faces. Their eyes widen with terror. His grip on my collar tightens as he raises me higher. My men are ready to flee, but Marian is ready to attack.
"What is a Commander doing all the way out here? Why are you after a mere girl?"
"Why, to fix up some loose ends, of course. That girl is the only one who may stand a real chance against our army in a few years. Besides the Royal Knights on the other side of this lake, naturally."
I notice my men slowly backing away, clearly up to something. Marian gives me a look, and I immediately trust her.
"A mere girl would cause that much trouble for you, Demons?"
"That mere girl knows far-"
A great hammer slams into the Demon's side, launching it away. The hand that was gripping my collar rips it off, dropping me back onto my feet.
"Are you okay, sir?"
I turn my head slightly,y and my eyes lay on Daegon.
"Why are you here? You should be evacuating alongside the other townsfolk. Get out of-"
"Unfortunately, that's no longer an option. I can feel it, the ones here are the only ones left."
It takes a long while before the words register in my head. Both of our gazes land on the Demon getting up from the rubble he was launched into. One of its wings is broken, but it simply tears it off, and a new one regrows in the same spot. It didn't even wince.
"Who do you think you are, Dwarf?"
"I'm just a simple blacksmith playing adventurer, Demon."
The Demon stands up properly after a few moments and immediately dashes towards us. Daegon swings his great hammer, and it's just enough to clash with the Demon's claws. I'm already aimed at its heart before it notices I'm even there. As I try to pierce its heart, it shifts its body trying to dodge, and I barely miss. Marian comes in from behind and stabs into its stomach.
"You worthless rats keep scattering about. Do you really believe something like this would injure me?"
"No, but this might."
Marian twists her longsword and cuts through the rest of the Demon's side. From the middle of its stomach to its waist, blood begins to pour out. The three of us quickly back off and regroup with the other guards.
That's when steam begins to emerge from its wounds. We watch as its flesh simply regenerates as if nothing had ever happened. It dashes at us once more, and before its claws can pierce through my chest, I jump backwards.
However, its claws change course and tear off one side of my uniform.
"Just as I thought."
Upon my skin coming into its view, it gazes onto the large scar between my arm and my shoulder, and a scar that wraps around my neck.
"You poor, cursed human. Why do you struggle so much despite your strength no longer existing?"
My eyes widen. He already knew what had happened that day.
"You. How did you know?"
I begin to clash with its claws as it speaks.
"Well, I was the one who set that Cursed Skeleton free in that dungeon."
My movements waver upon its words registering, almost taking a swift strike from its claws. Daegon moves in and blocks its attack while half the current guards stab into it.
"You. You were the one who started that infestation."
"Of course. It would have been enough to tear this side of the country apart had the infestation finished manifesting. That Cursed Skeleton would have even rivaled the Royal Knights."
My mind flashes back. The Black Skeleton stabbed into my neck before kicking me off the Skeletal Ogre's remains. Yet, there was no blood or wound. I quickly recover and immediately clash with it, but it stabs gaping holes in between my arms and shoulders on both sides. And in the next moment, there's nothing there. Once again, no wound or blood. Just scared of what would have been a fatal injury. I return to clashing with it, and that's when I can finally tell. It placed a curse on me.
"Allow me to make a quick guess. You still don't know what kind of curse it placed on you, don't you?"
A grin slowly rises on its face as it takes one more step, grabbing Daegon and swinging him around into the guards. I try to back off, but it immediately notices my movements and dashes towards me. Its claws pierce through my right shoulder. Then, a sword slices its hand off.
"Captain."
I turn to the side, and my eyes land on Marian, whose eyes are bleeding.
"Let this be our greatest moment, okay?"
She kicks me away as the Demon attempts to pierce her. All of the guards rush in and stab it.
"I believe I already told you it's pointless."
"And we'll keep these pointless efforts going. Until one side dies first."
I watch as the guards begin to twist their blades and slice through the Demon, but it has other plans. It pierces through two of the guards, killing them instantly. It throws their bodies into the other guards, forcing them away.
The guards who were pierced were killed instantly. The guards still remaining immediately impale it again. The Demon attempts to pierce through two guards again, but Marian slices both its claws off.
"That's enough of that, don't you think?"
The Demon's face shifts into a frown. It lifts one of its feet and slams it into the ground, creating a shockwave. Everyone who was surrounding it is launched into rubble, but Marian is the only one still beside it. Once the shockwave subsides, Marian attempts to attack the Demon, but it grabs hold of her.
"I've had enough of-"
Marian instantly stabs into the Demon's face. It doesn't let go of her, however. She pulls her blade out and attempts to stab it again, but it slams her into the floor. I watch as she throws up blood from her back, hitting the floor.
My eyes widen as its face regenerates and its gaze immediately locks onto Marian. I begin to yell as it pierces her stomach. I try to get up and dash towards them, but Daegon appears from behind and holds me back. I watch as she tries to stab it again, but the Demon immediately tears her arm off. Her sword drops to the floor, and the Demon steps on it, shattering it into several pieces.
"I'll ask you one last time. If you give me an answer,r I'll at least consider letting you live. Where is the girl?"
Marian, despite the monstrous pain, grows a smirk on her face. She gives me one last glance before she turns back to the Demon.
"Go to hell."
The Demon lets out a disappointing sigh.
"Unfortunate."
Its claws slice through the rest of her stomach and throw her to the side.
"MARIAN!"
I can only watch as her body flies through the air. I finally free myself from Daegon's grasp and sprint towards her. As I reach her, the light in her eyes is almost gone. A pool of blood slowly begins to form around us.
She slowly lifts her hand and caresses my face. I slowly pull her into my arms.
"Hey..."
"Marian! Why would you let yourself be a sacrifice like that? It should have been me, not my vice captain!"
Her eyes barely reach me. I can tell she barely heard what I said.
"D...Diantel. I'd like to... use those favors now."
I grasp onto her hand and hold it tightly. I drop my head into her chest to hide my eyes from her gaze.
"Anything. Just don't die on me... please."
"You know... I can't... promise that. Even if... You kill it... There is no healer close enough."
I lift my head to gaze into her eyes. A small smirk grows on her as she notices my eyes begin to tear up.
"Promise me something."
"What is it?"
"Well... two things. Promise me... that you'll keep Renkai safe."
A slightly confused look grows on my face. I didn't know she truly cared for her that much, despite only ever hearing about her.
"Naturally."
"Secondly. Come... closer."
I hesitate for a few moments, but eventually I do. She leans in closely and places a kiss on my cheek.
"I... love you..."
Her eyes begin to fade further as her words drift.
"So kill... that damn... Demon. For me."
Then, the light in her eyes completely faded. Her hand drops to the floor. Tears slowly ride down my face. I eventually stand up, and Daegon is standing beside me.
"Daegon."
"Yes, sir?"
"You're an adventurer, aren't you? I'd like to hire you."
"I wouldn't have it any other way, boss."
The Demon stares at us.
"You two. I keep making these 'final' offers, but this is truly the last one. Tell me where that girl is. In exchange, I'll let both of you live."
I take in a deep breath. Daegon steadily prepares himself.
"I have a few questions, Demon Commander."
The Demon looks genuinely intrigued at me.
"Oh? Despite everything that happened, you're still willing to talk?"
"Don't get it wrong. After we're done talking, my lance will be the last thing your miserable life sees."
The Demon lets out a hefty laugh.
"A bold one, I see. Very well. I'll answer any questions you have before I kill you."
I take one more deep breath. Considering everything he's said so far, there are a few questions that immediately shoot to the top of my mind.
"Why Renkai? Why do you seek a mere girl? Is it cause she's related to a hero?"
The Demon tilts its head, confused.
"Have you humans not figured it out already?"
I return a confused look as well.
"Figured what out?"
"That girl isn't related to the second hero."
For a second, I just stare at him.
"I'm supposed to believe you?"
"It's not a matter of belief. Don't you remember the rumor that was going around after they were summoned?"
I take a few moments to try and remember. There was a rumor that on the day the two heroes were summoned, they got into an argument. Nobody was sure what they were arguing about specifically, but the most common version of the rumor was apparently Telaria giving a different last name than her current one. Eventually, the argument died down, and she gave her name as Telaria Elrod.
"Do you mean the one about her last name?"
"Exactly that one. Don't you find it odd that both the summoned heroes got into an argument over one's last name? And everyone knows that both heroes were righteous and kind. So why is it that an argument happened over Telaria's last name?"
He takes a step forward, but Daegon and I immediately get into a stance. It takes a step back, telling us that it won't attack us yet.
"I'll tell you why. It's because someone, no, something showed her a glimpse of something. Think about it, do you really think the hero that stayed behind would be able to keep a relationship, much more importantly, a child hidden from the rest of the world? Of course not."
For some reason, it's making some sense. It sounds crazy, but I'm starting to believe this Demon.
"Then what makes her so special that you need to kill her?"
"Assuming I'm right, Telaria saw something involving that girl, or someone with the last name Elrod. She found her as an orphan and took her in. The girl probably doesn't know she's not Telaria's biological daughter either."
"That doesn't tell me what makes her so special."
"You don't see it? I'm sure she told you that she learned how to use mana from Telaria. Don't you understand what that means?"
My eyes widen upon the realization. Telaria Elrod, if that's even her real name, was known for being able to conjure magic without spells, chants, or even magic circles. No one knows how, but the way she handled mana made her the greatest mage. A mage that required no setup. A mage who required no proper plan.
"No one even knows how far Telaria would have gotten had she kept seeking power. And now some random orphan has the opportunity to be the second coming of a hero?"
"Then what's your plan with her? It doesn't sound like you're going to kill her, but it doesn't sound like you're planning on letting her live either."
"Tell me something first. What did you see before you had cut off my arms to rescue the girl?"
I try to remember. Back when I was an adventurer, I was patrolling each town for a mission. During my journey to another town, I noticed smoke in the distance. I get curious and start sprinting in that direction. That's when I notice the ruins of a town. I walk inside and notice a child being held in the air.
I slowly lurk to the other side of the rubble and notice a Demon. Its claws have blood on them, but it's not from the child. I slowly walk back, considering warning the Guild, but then I stop. If I leave now, there is a chance that the little girl will die.
Without a second thought, I immediately run in and slash both of its claws off. I catch the girl as she falls and start sprinting the way I came. I can feel the girl trying to get out of my grasp, but I don't let her go. After a while, I stop and look behind, noticing it didn't chase us. I place the girl down, and that's when I gaze into her eyes.
The emptiness within them felt like I was staring into the abyss. Yet, there was so much hate.
"No."
"I fed her something."
My eyes widen immensely upon hearing its words.
"You didn't."
"I only fed her half of a Devulia. She's... an experiment. When I find her, I'm going to feed her another portion of a Devulia."
Daegon and I watch as dark grey scales begin to form on top of its skin. A smile grows on its face once more.
"I want to see if I can make a puppet with genuine instincts. The puppets we have now can only follow simple commands. They hold no real skill. If she were here, I'd at least turn both of you into puppets. Don't worry, though. I'll make sure she lives a long life."
I feel a quiet rage slowly fill up inside of me. The Demon smiles greatly upon seeing the look in my eyes.
"Daegon."
He shifts his gaze onto mine, and he can see the rage within.
"I won't be able to pierce into its scales. I trust you'll be able to fulfill your role."
As its scales finish covering its skin, I immediately dash in and begin to circle around it. The moment I blink, it's already beside me, trying to claw at me. I quickly duck and try to pierce its arm, but the scales force my lance back. It attempts to pierce my chest with its other claws, but I manage to kick it in the chest, forcing it back slightly.
Daegon goes in and lands a few clean bashes on it, but it's not enough. It attempts to pierce into him, but I quickly ran my body into it. I quickly recover and run back and continue back to circling around it.
Daegon circles it, slightly farther than how I was. I continue to dodge its attacks without being able to attack my own. Each claw that misses and lands on the ground only creates a more difficult terrain for me to run around on. I glance at Daegon, hoping he'd catch onto my idea.
I dodge two more swipes from it, and it gets one of its claws stuck in the ground. I dash in as close as I can, lunging slightly to get a proper angle on its heart. It attempts to pierce me once more, but Daegon quickly comes in and knocks its arm away. I instantly thrust with all of my strength into its chest.
But my lance doesn't pierce all the way through. It gets stuck inside the scales as the Demon finally gets its claw free and attempts to swipe at me. I quickly dodge and grab onto the arm and pull it back with as much force as I can.
"You think you can beat me with pure strength?"
"Of course not. He can, however."
The Demon immediately looks in front of itself and notices Daegon already mid swing. By the time it realizes where it's aiming, it's too late. Daegon's great hammer lands on my lance's hilt and launches it clean through its body, piercing its heart. I continue holding onto it for a moment until I watch as the Demon drops to both knees and its head drops. I walk in front of it, and Daegon stands beside me. Both of us are panting heavily.
"Did we... do it?"
"I... I think so, Daegon. We killed a Demon."
"But... that makes no sense. Why... couldn't the guards... kill it earlier? All of them stabbed into it."
"Maybe... the scales were covering its heart? Like Enhancement Magic, he can... choose for the scales to wrap around the heart... or wrap around his body."
"You might be right. Maybe we do... stand a chance against the Demons."
Then, a maniacal laughter begins to fill the air. It shakes the surrounding area for a split second. The next moment, I watch as two claws pierce into Daegon. One directly in his heart, the other in his stomach. I try to lunge forward, but it's already in front of me, its claw raised high in the sky.
In the next moment, I watch as my arm flies off directly in front of my eyes. I let out a grunt of pain, but I try to ram my body into its own. Before I can take even one step, it shoves its knee directly into my stomach. I'm launched into the distance, landing just a little bit away from my lance.
I lift my head, and the Demon wears a look of disappointment on its face. Its scales slowly retract back into its skin as it slowly approaches. I gaze into the distance, thinking that the plains ahead will be the last thing I see.
That's when I see someone in the distance, sprinting. Despite the ruins of the village, despite all the destruction and pools of blood this Demon has caused, my eyes latch onto an approaching figure.
Long, messy black hair. An armored cloak. A tag dancing around their neck. A greatsword on their back and a longsword at their waist.
Renkai.
She's sprinting. She's sprinting as if her life depends on it. I've never seen her run this desperately in her life.
And that's when I realize it. Despite the large gap in distance between the two of us, I can see the look in her eyes. The look I decided to never have her make while she is under my care.
Desperation.
She's not staring at the unscathed Demon she vowed to kill. She's not staring at the ruins of the town she was brought to. She's not staring at the dead dwarf she fought a red dragon with.
She's staring directly at me. Directly at the person who saved her all those years ago.
And that's how I know I failed.
I claw at the ground with my only arm left, trying to make any distance I could closer to her. I leave a trail of blood as I crawl.
"GET AWAY FROM HERE!"
She doesn't hear me. She continues to run closer. She trips, but she pushes herself back up and immediately starts sprinting again. I try to push myself up, trying to stand back up. I reach for my lance and use it to help me up.
"DON'T GET ANY CLOSER!"
She still doesn't hear me. She finally passes the ruins of the walls that once stood tall. I'm finally able to stand myself up when the Demon finally notices her, a grin appearing on its face. I take a few painful steps and pierce into the Demon's side.
With the last of my strength, I yell one last time.
"RUN THE HELL AWAY, RENKAI!"
"That's enough from you."
It doesn't even wince from its bleeding wound and simply throws its hand into my side. As its hand lands, I'm launched into a ruined wall. I look up, hoping to see her running away.
But it's too late. Despite her finally hearing my words, she doesn't listen. I slowly get up once more and watch as she pulls out her sword and prepares herself. I use the rest of my mana to enhance myself, to keep myself upright. As the white aura from the magic finishes manifesting alongside my legs and arms, she's already in front of me, turned towards the Demon.
She's trying to protect me. She isn't trembling, yet, I still feel the desperation in her eyes. She's terrified, but not because of the Demon.
"Diantel, get some rest! Leave it to me! Please!"
That is the first time I've ever heard her voice with true emotion. I take a few painful steps and place a hand on her shoulder, slowly trying to pull her back.
"Renkai... you need... to get... out of here."
"No! I'm not leaving you here!"
I glance between her and the Demon. I get a glance at her eyes, and that's when I see it.
"Renkai. Listen... to me. Everyone is gone. Even if... we get out of here... I will succumb to blood loss."
Her empty white eyes are ready to shatter. I watch as she quickly searches for something in her bag. She pulls out a scroll and shoves it onto me.
"Use it! Quickly! It's a healing spell!"
"Renkai..."
"Use it! Please!"
I open the scroll and pour mana into it. Nothing happens. Blood is still flowing from my wounds. I don't feel a single trace of magic besides my Enhancement Magic.
"Renkai. I'm sorry."
I can only watch as her iris gets closer to shattering. I reach for my lance, almost falling over. I pick it up and begin walking towards the Demon once more.
"Renkai. Fight alongside me... one last time, won't you?"
Her eyes recover, but not enough for me to feel better. Her voice is the only thing that's still shaking. I give her a small smile. The only smile I have the strength to muster.
"You're cruel."