I can't say anything significant happened after we spoke with Tiberius.
I saw what there was to see in the village and spoke to those willing to talk, hearing stories similar to the one told by the old elf.
Aside from the disgusting little fairies, the only thing worth noting was the method all the flightless people plan to use to leave the Land of Forests: enormous wagons pulled by equally sized centaurs, who looked more like living marble statues.
A large caravan in the end. I have no doubt they'll ask Mikhail to escort them, and knowing the dragon, he'll accept without hesitation, as it's the right thing to do.
Considering we'll eventually head to the Land of Sands and Cathedral City, perhaps I'll agree with him, as long as we don't take too long.
With that done, I found myself doing something I never would have imagined: planning.
I don't know if I'd gone crazy or if I'd finally decided to follow the others' advice, but I sat next to Mikhail with the disciples in front of me, discussing how we would deal with the thing Tiberius wanted dead.
The lack of information was disappointing; we didn't know what the creature looked like or fought.
In the end, we decided to ask the scouts for more information tomorrow morning and let them lead the search; after all, they'd had more encounters with our target.
I won't make the same mistake; we'll take it slow this time.
Time passed, and Dito and Decadus went their separate ways, while I remained by Mikhail's side.
Boredom eventually set in; there was nothing interesting to do. The sex drive was still bearable, and the dragon was sleeping.
Damn! I should get a hobby. Normal people have one, but which one? Reading books? Knitting? Drawing? Hm… That's the kind of thing One would do—boring, just like her. I'll ask someone later.
An idea flashed through my mind; it was something ridiculous I hadn't done in ages.
I stood up, walked away from Mikhail, and drew my sword, holding it in front of my face, observing my serious reflection in the cold steel, staring with disgust at the flower in my eye.
I didn't like reflections, because I felt the thing in my eye returning my gaze, laughing, mocking me.
I assumed a fighting stance before the voice had a chance to return and struck several blows against an invisible enemy.
Honestly, I felt ashamed of fighting against nothingness. I don't know if I would kill the person who saw me, or myself if I were discovered.
How long has it been since I practiced my fencing? Although swinging a piece of metal like a cleaver doesn't count. I'm self-taught, after all.
I felt something was missing. From what I'd heard, you should concentrate, create the image of your opponent in front of you.
It was difficult; concentration wasn't my strong point. I kept trying, my enemy's image becoming clearer with each blow.
A step forward and a horizontal slash, and the smoky form became humanoid. A step back, dodging the blow aimed at my heart, and a sword and shield appeared in his hands.
My feet slid across the ground, my blade in a swift thrust, and the steel of his armor crackled with the blow.
Quickly raising my prosthesis, I blocked the slash that threatened to rip my neck, and as I parried the sword to the side, I saw a pair of bright blue eyes staring at me from behind his helmet.
Hm… I remember you. I left many of you alive in the Land of Mountains.
His form multiplied, and soon I was surrounded by several blue-eyed knights. They all drew their weapons and advanced, and I, I danced amid their blades.
Each step was light, each movement of my legs soft as feathers. I counted the seconds in my mind as I approached my target.
One, two, three.
The first knight fell with the swing of my sword, so I spun on my toes with my arms hugging my chest, feeling the wind blow my hair and dress, creating a white blanket.
The next knight advanced with his sword raised, but he never reached me. I spread my arms, leaning forward as I swung my weapon in an arc, dodging the blow and bringing him to the ground.
I slid my right foot along the ground in the fraction of a circle until it was next to my left foot, rising to my full height.
So the fight continued. I leaped and spun through the grass, watching its fragments blow away in the wind. My sword flew like a silver thread, and my clothes followed my movements like a dancing partner.
At some point, I closed my eyes and felt the world with my body. There was nothing to bother me, no anger, no fear, no sadness, no ugliness of the world, no ugliness of my own.
I felt all my problems disappear; I was overcome by an overwhelming freedom, as if I could do anything.
Was I dancing or fighting?
I think I was still cutting down the knights, but I could almost hear the music playing. A heat burned in my chest, and my breathing quickened. A small smile appeared on my face as everything changed.
A floor of the finest quality wood appeared beneath my feet, so clean and polished that I could see my feet.
The walls of the same material were adorned with stained-glass windows, whose passing light created rainbows around me.
On the ceiling, golden chandeliers burned with an incessant fire, glittering like stars.
The music grew louder, new instruments played, and now a band was playing in the corner of the room, their clothes comically puffy and their faces hidden by masks.
People in similar attire passed me by, locked in a waltz with their partners, but I didn't mind being alone.
I enjoyed my freedom, dancing and dancing, laughing and smiling. Soon the music reached its peak and ceased, leaving only the applause.
I opened my eyes, returning to reality, trying to catch my breath. The joy I felt was unimaginable, but it quickly turned to surprise and anger when a figure stared at me, inches away.
"Who the hell are you?!"
My sword stopped at her neck, but she didn't react, no emotion or movement. I used this time to analyze her appearance, and unusual for the current location would be a good description.
It was a woman, judging by her clothes and figure, the tallest woman I'd ever seen, probably six feet tall.
Her clothes looked like a cross between a white queen's dress and golden armor, with shoulder pads, a neck guard, a breastplate, and a metal corset.
Even the large, circular skirt and sleeves of her garment were studded with metal.
A white porcelain mask, flat as a mirror, hid her face, with a dark material concealing her eyes.
Her armored gloves held two large, jeweled scepters, the heads of which resembled a morning star and a spear.
I was about to repeat my question, but to my confusion, the woman gradually disappeared, like a ghost, until there was nothing left.
I lowered my sword and looked at the ground, seeing that the grass where her feet had trod remained untouched.
I wondered what had happened, and that only worsened the uneasy feeling I had. First the strange voice, and now this. Something bad will happen, I'm sure of it.
-XXXXXX-
The disciples and I stood at the village entrance the next morning, sleepy and complaining, even though we knew we'd be leaving early.
Nothing strange happened yesterday beyond what I'd already experienced, and the rest of the day passed tediously.
At least Mikhail kept me company, asking all sorts of inane questions a curious child might ask, which I couldn't answer, much to my frustration.
This was while he couldn't stop worrying about the rest of the group, whether they were okay, and where they'd gone.
I had an idea, but I didn't say anything, otherwise he'd get up to help and hurt himself even more, and I won't allow that.
I asked him if he wanted to play a game to distract him from his troubles, and I ended up participating in all sorts of ridiculous games, like charades, I see with my little eyes, mimics, and as much as I hate to admit it, I had some fun, that is, until he started singing, and as an Intoner with the Power of Song, I hated his damn singing with a passion.
Now he must be sleeping, unaware that I'm about to do something dangerous, which is good for all of us; he won't leave me alone otherwise.
I snapped out of my reverie when I saw Tiberius approaching with a group of six elves, four men and two women, and I couldn't help but notice their peculiar appearance—in other words, how hot they were.
Taller than a normal human, with hair of varying colors, lean but athletic bodies for both sexes, and their famous pointy ears and sharp facial features.
Their leather armor allowed for mobility, judging by the bows, full quivers, and daggers they carried. Probably fighting with agility rather than brute strength.
I put a hand to my chin as I nodded, looking them up and down. I wouldn't mind spending time with some of them after the mission and…
I shook my head, ridding myself of these thoughts. I couldn't get distracted now, I don't want to repeat the same disaster.
Focus, Zero, focus.
"These are my best scouts. They will guide you to the creature and aid you in your endeavor."
The old elf spoke, and the scouts' stern faces softened as they introduced themselves.
I didn't bother memorizing their names; they weren't interesting enough for me to remember beyond a night of sex, but I returned the gesture detachedly, with Decadus and Dito showing more emotion.
"I wish you good luck on your mission, and may the Gods be with you."
Hm... Luck, something I never believed in and have been needing recently. If there is a God, let's see if he's on my side or not.
Finally, we departed the village after exchanging introductions. The air rippled like the surface of a lake in front of us as we passed through the illusion.
Looking back, I saw an image of the devastated land in place of the village, camouflaging it with the destruction around us.
"So, where to now?" I asked the elf leading the group.
"We'll follow the routes where the beast has been frequently sighted, and if we're lucky, we'll ambush it before it notices us."
I nodded, but I didn't like the lack of information, so I took the opportunity to learn more about our enemy as we walked through what remained of the forest.
"So, what can you tell me about this monster? What does it look like? How does it fight? Is there anything we should know?"
"Purple."
"Purple?"
"Yes, purple, it won't be hard to spot him, as the beast doesn't bother hiding. He's a tall, thin being, wearing a long purple cloak and a white mask with horns—or maybe it's his face, it's hard to tell. And his fighting style, well, he relies mostly on his speed, despite his size, but if the survivors of his encounters are to be believed, the creature has a combat style that's difficult to predict."
"Then we'll be fighting someone difficult to predict."
"Exactly."
It wasn't the worst news I'd ever heard, but it was still worrying.
"That's a terrible idea, Z. We should go back and tell the old man to fend for himself," Dito commented irritably, resting his spear on his shoulder.
"I'll ask again, do you have a better idea? And don't give me the thing I know you want to do!"
We exchanged a glare, our faces furious and our brows furrowed. Tense silence fell over the group, the elves watching us anxiously.
Sighing, Dito gave up the confrontation, kicking a rock and looking away with a flushed face.
"Damn! You make my heart skip a beat when you show your tough side."
A mischievous smile appeared on his face, and I grumbled in frustration.
Annoying dwarf!
"Keep that up, and I'll make your heart leap out of your chest."
"Ha, I can't wait."
He skipped past me, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively before flirting with an elf who caught his eye.
With each passing day, I wonder why I keep him around. Actually, I know why, but I don't want to admit it.
"Miss Zero, ignore Dito's words. You're doing the right thing here. For Mikhail, the village, and us."
It's amazing how Decadus can be the voice of reason when the knight isn't around.
Honestly, Four's disciple isn't that bad, if it weren't for his fetish. It's tiring to hear someone moan at every opportunity to get hurt.
I just wish he had more attitude, and not just in bed. It's a pain having to order someone around all the time.
"I know, I just... I'm just not used to helping someone, even when I have something to gain from it." I looked down at the floor, rubbing the back of my neck.
"But that's a good thing, isn't it? I haven't known you long, but you always seemed like the kind of person who wouldn't have time for that kind of thing." He gave me a hesitant look.
"I've had time to rethink my actions and realized the mistakes I made, and now we're here, in someone else's hands."
"It's better to admit you made a mistake and learn from it than to never learn and regret it later, right?"
I stopped walking and thought about his words. It was so simple, something children learned from a young age, but something I had trouble understanding.
Learn from my mistakes? The only thing I learned was how to please men and women and steal and kill without leaving any evidence. What lesson can I learn from that? Not to trust anyone? I learned that years ago.
"And how would you do that, Decadus? Suppose you made a huge mistake, how would you learn from it?"
The disciple was silent for a few seconds, assuming a look of deep thought before answering.
"I'm not the best person to answer that question, but I believe I would review all my actions and try to find what I did wrong, avoiding repeating it. Learning new ways to deal with a problem would also help, as would asking someone else's opinion."
Sure, sure, delve back into my memories. I bet the voice would love that.
"Well, since you offered to help me, then I hope you don't mind giving me some advice."
"Miss Zero, I don't…"
"SSSHHH! Let's go before they leave us behind."
I pulled Decadus by the shoulder before we lost sight of the rest of the group. On the way, I asked him what he would do if he were in my place, starting from the Land of Mountains until our fall into the Land of Forests.
I told him my side of the story, and he told his, about when he was in Four's fortress and the dead came back to life.
I can't say I agreed with everything he said, as risking my life to help others was very involved.
I lost count of the number of times I had to hold back my anger when my mistakes were thrown in my face. Not that Decadus would mind getting punched; he would end up enjoying it.
In the end, I didn't agree with everything; my way of acting wouldn't change overnight.
I didn't like helping others, I didn't like stopping to think, I didn't like asking others' opinions, I didn't like wasting time on nonsense, I didn't like anything that didn't benefit me, but this had to change, I had to change, for Mikhail.
One step at a time, Zero, one step at a time.
"You will fail…"
-XXXXXX-
I pressed my back against a dead tree, hiding behind its trunk. The elves and the Disciples did the same, for the one we were looking for was just ahead.
It wasn't hard to find him; we followed his tracks and spotted his purple cloak, which stood out against the surroundings; he didn't even try to hide.
The thing was standing over one of the corrupted rivers that gave off a disgusting smell, but it didn't care and drank the clearly deadly liquid, sighing with relief with each sip.
We scattered, hiding behind what little vegetation remained. The elves readied their bows while Dito, Decadus, and I drew our weapons.
Exchanging a nod, we began our attack. The arrows left their bows, and we were already halfway there before they even hit their targets.
We aimed for the thing's back, but never pierced its body. The monster's head rose without turning, and it leaped at us with incredible speed.
The arrows sank into the river, hissing and melting as we dug our heels into the ground, spinning on our heels, and spotted the monster in mid-somersault.
We scattered as its mask aligned with our position, and the creature spat out the black water it had been drinking, melting a hole where we had been standing.
More arrows came as its snow-white, clawed feet touched the ground, but they all missed.
The thing leaned back, its head nearly touching the ground, and rose as if nothing had happened, stomping the ground as it showed us its open palm and shook its head.
"Dito, Decadus, this thing is fast! Attack from different sides!"
"No need to tell me twice, Z!" Dito advanced with his spear raised, aiming for the beast's chest.
"You can count on me, Miss Zero. I'll use my body as a shield if necessary!" Decadus closed the distance from the right.
I, however, went left, sword ready to slice the monster.
The thing seemed to laugh and flicked its wrists, claws sprouting from its white fingers, dragging the ones on its right hand across the underside of Dito's spear in a shower of sparks, parrying the weapon upward.
Its remaining claws nearly pierced the Disciple's stomach, but he was forced to raise his wrist and block a punch from Decadus.
There was a sickening crack, and the beast was sent sliding across the ground, stopping with its wrist dangling, clearly broken.
It let out a pained growl, but to my surprise and a bit of disgust, it twisted the broken limb like a rope until it snapped back into place.
I didn't allow it to recover any further and ran toward it, arrows and the Disciples following close behind.
Strangely, the monster didn't try to fight, sliding its healed hand over its mask, which transformed as the gesture ended, taking on a feminine appearance, made up with lipstick, powder, and eyeliner.
Its movements became light and fluid, almost like a dance, and as the arrows approached, it moved its hand like a leaf, capturing each projectile between its fingers and returning them to us.
I cut the first arrow, and the Disciples managed to dodge the others.
My sword was inches from the beast's heart, but the creature leaned to the side, almost sliding across the steel, and grabbed my wrist.
Its knee came into my stomach seconds later, but I blocked the blow with my prosthetic.
I grunted at the force behind the blow and the pain in my ears from the resulting metallic crack, and without wasting time, I closed my fingers around the monster's joint, sinking my fingers into its flesh.
Blood leaked from the wounds, staining its clothes red, and the creature tried futilely to free itself.
Its grunts became desperate, replaced by a howl as a hail of arrows pierced its back.
I lost my grip only when I received a headbutt. I staggered, disoriented but free, seeing Dito and Decadus facing off against the thing when everything stopped spinning.
The monster hopped on one leg, trying to get away from the Disciples, but failed miserably, receiving a punch to the ribs and a puncture wound to its left side.
However, its leg healed with its final leap, and as the next blows approached, it deflected each attack toward its opponent in the opposite direction.
Decadus's punch hit Dito's cheek, and Dito's spear pierced Decadus's shoulder.
Its claws closed in on each of their necks, but I was already on top of it, blocking the attack.
"SERIOUSLY?! YOU GUYS HIT EACH OTHER?!"
"HEY, THIS THING IS GOOD IN A FIGHT!"
"I HATE TO ADMIT IT, MISS ZERO, BUT OUR OPPONENT HAS AN AWESOME TECHNIQUE. AAAHHH~"
I growled at their actions, but quickly focused on the thing in front of me. I gritted my teeth and applied more force behind the blow, throwing its arms up and breaking its balance.
The monster tried to retreat, failing when Ditto plunged his spear into its right foot, holding it in place.
The Disciple laughed cruelly at his enemy's screams, which were silenced by a punch to the lower part of his mask.
Vomiting sounds forced us to flee, knowing what was coming, and another jet of fetid water melted the ground.
The whizz of arrows ripping through the air served as a reminder that we weren't the only ones here, and the first arrow that pierced the creature's arm forced it to leap like an acrobat, dodging the ones that followed.
We faced each other again when it was over, and I don't think the fight would last long, considering how heavily the creature was breathing.
It seemed its healing was nothing more than patching up its body.
Suddenly, the sound of engines echoed through the Land of Forests, and looking toward the source of the noise, we spotted a fleet of airships approaching the fog we had failed to penetrate.
They never got far, as what was expected happened: powerful magical bolts turned the wall gray, striking the airships head-on, transforming them into balls of fire and metal.
Hump! Idiots!
I clicked my tongue. The others were shocked by what had happened, while the monster laughed like a child at the sight of the destruction.
However, their laughter gave way to screams of despair as a deafening explosion shook the Land of Forests.
I shouted insult after insult in the resulting tremor, trying to maintain my balance. However, it was over as quickly as it began, but the monster continued screaming.
Well, if the thing had given up fighting, then so be it. I ran toward it, ready to end it all, but I stopped as soon as a large shadow formed in my path.
My feet slid across the ground at the sudden stop, and I don't know what face I made, but I prayed no one saw my reaction as a giant gear fell from the sky, sinking where I would have been had I not stopped.
Staring wide-eyed at the sky, I spotted a trail of smoke amid the clouds, a shower of debris bombarding the forest surrounding us.
"WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON HERE?!"
The Disciples didn't know how to respond, and looking past the monster, I saw the Elves shrugging before firing more arrows at our adversary.
The pain served to snap him out of his panic, giving way to rage, a roar like an uncontrolled beast.
Sliding his hand over his mask again, the white color changed to red, its flat surface to a grimace with exposed fangs and long horns.
I won't wait to see what happens. I used my Power of Song, activating my Intoner mode, and closed the distance quickly as lightning.
The monster roared again, raising its foot above its head and stomping the ground. There was a loud bang followed by a shockwave, and I suddenly found myself seeing the world upside down.
I soon realized I was falling, and the creature's red mask was approaching my face. I acted quickly and took a deep breath, sucking in a breath and letting out a shrill scream.
The sound wave sent the thing crashing to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust that dissipated as soon as I landed, revealing the advancing monster again.
Dito and Decadus scattered and approached from behind the ignorant beast in its blind rage, but they couldn't do much to it in this state.
I decided to give them time and ran, accepting their challenge.
My sword collided with its clenched fist, my feet recoiled slightly, and my arms trembled, but I stood my ground, removing a hilt from my weapon and punching it in the stomach.
The monster gasped, but swallowed the pain and stomped forward, swinging its gleaming claws toward my neck, only to find my prosthetic in its path.
Sparks flew from the metal, which creaked and crumpled.
I thrust my sword forward before I lost my arm again, and the creature's hand got in the way of parrying the attack, its palm pierced in a gush of blood.
We stood face to face, vying for dominance. The red mask jerked away, and I did the same with my head.
"You bastard!"
CRASH!
Our foreheads met with a heavy impact, strong enough to crush anyone's skull to dust.
"Don't you have anything better to do?!"
CRASH!
The world spun with each blow.
"I'll rip your head off and use it as a wall decoration!"
CRASH!
We groaned in pain, overcome with exhaustion.
"You're nothing but a piece of shit in my way!"
CRASH!
I looked past him and saw two pairs of arms quickly closing around his neck.
"And you've already lost!"
The monster realized something was wrong too late. The disciples had him in a headlock, and he immediately tried to break free.
I wouldn't allow it; it was time to end this fight. I gripped my sword with both hands and slashed at his chest, tearing his robe and flesh.
A streak of red sliced through the air, followed by another and another. Blow after blow, I heard the monster roar in pain, dyed red with each new wound.
His form staggered and he stopped struggling, his arms reaching out toward me one last time until the weight on his back became too much and he toppled forward, landing on his face.
The Disciples got off the monster, and I approached, holding my sword above his head, ready to kill them, then stopping when I realized something.
There was a pattern here. If Dito was the serpent and Decadus was the giant, then this creature was…
"What are you waiting for, Z?! Kill this thing before it rises!"
I sheathed my sword, considering what to do. Ropes and chains wouldn't be enough. I hated acting like my sisters, but there was no other option.
"No, I have a better idea."
I admit, I laughed at the looks of disbelief I received from everyone.
-XXXXXX-
"ARE YOU CRAZY?! I ASKED YOU TO KILL THE CREATURE AND YOU BROUGHT IT HERE?!"
Tiberius screamed in our faces, raising his magical power in his fury.
"HEY, GET ME OUT OF THIS! THIS WAS HER IDEA!"
Dito pointed at me with both hands, sharing the elf's sentiments. Decadus, however, backed away, looking away and whistling innocently.
I glanced at the monster, bound and chained to a large rock near the clearing where Mikhail rested. However, it made no attempt to escape, remaining with its head down and slumped.
You know, the power of the song is quite versatile: summoning angels, creating disciples, and, of course, mind control. Something my sisters did without realizing it. Let's just say it won't cause us any trouble for a while.
"Don't worry, he won't cause us any trouble, I made sure of that."
"SERIOUSLY?! AND WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING WITH THIS THING?!"
"Let's just say he's not what he seems. I know someone who can turn him back into a human."
"HUMAN?! THIS ABOMINATION?! SO BE IT, THIS MONSTER IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. YOU WILL MAKE SURE HE DOESN'T ESCAPE, BUT IF THAT HAPPENS, YOU AND YOUR GANG WILL BE EXPELLED FROM THE VILLAGE, EVEN IF I HAVE TO DO IT MYSELF!"
The old elf then left, fuming and grumbling as he walked.
The Disciples asked if I needed anything, but I told them they could go to the village if they wanted, which they wasted no time in doing.
"And now, what am I going to do with you?"
The monster didn't react to my question, not even when I crouched in front of it and poked its mask.
Hmm... The knight can fix you, but Three probably captured him. How am I supposed to get through the fog? By digging a tunnel? Or maybe you can guide me? You're Three's monster, aren't you?
I sighed wearily, thinking too much for my own liking, to the point where I felt a headache coming on.
"Zero?"
A childish voice called out to me, and as I turned toward the source, I saw Mikhail poking his head through the trees.
"What?"
"Why didn't you tell me you were going to do something dangerous? I could help."
This was the kind of conversation I wanted to avoid.
"You're still hurt, you fool. Don't worry about what I do in the meantime. I'm strong, just focus on recovering."
"Hm... I don't like this! We should fight together!"
I stood up, walking toward him at a hurried pace. His wide eyes broke my heart; he must have thought I was about to yell at him.
Instead, I reached out and stroked his nose, then hugged his head.
"I know, and we'll do it when you're better. I have no reason to leave for now, so I'll stay with you until you're better."
I laughed at the awed noise he made and felt his warm breath fanning my body. We remained like that for a while, enjoying each other's company.
CRASH!
However, the moment ended when lightning split the night sky, bringing with it a crash and flash.
"AAAHHH!"
Mikhail screamed like a frightened child, trembling and approaching me, nearly knocking me to the ground.
Dark clouds covered the sky, obscuring the moonlight. Gradually, thin streams of water fell, rapidly intensifying.
A cold wind blew through the forest, making me shiver and curse the clothes I was wearing.
"You b-better get back to the v-village, Z-zero! A storm is c-coming!"
"And leave a coward like you alone? Besides, I have to keep an eye on the monster."
I left no room for argument. I would stay here with him, the main excuse being the monster, but really, I didn't want to leave Mikhail scared and alone.
So we sat among the trees, Mikhail shielding me from the rain with his wing while his fire burned within him, igniting an orange glow on his chest, warming us like a great fireplace.
-XXXXXX-
I returned to the village the next day as soon as I woke up, leaving Mikhail to keep watch when I noticed something wrong.
The feeling only worsened when I saw the empty houses. I called out for Tiberius and the Disciples, but there was no answer.
My search led me to the village entrance, and breaking through the illusion, I came across a murmuring crowd watching something.
"Hey, what's going on here?!"
Dito and Decadus appeared in the crowd and responded by pointing upward with impossible faces.
I followed his fingers and had a similar reaction on the outside, but inside it was a different story.
HOLY SHIT!
The sky was split in two, a massive tear splitting the black clouds until they disappeared into the horizon.
Not to mention, of course, the destruction wrought in the Land of Forests just below the tear, a gigantic crack in the earth, so deep I couldn't see the bottom.
What the hell happened here?! Who or what did this? Three?!
In the distance, I spotted the elven scouts approaching, and as their shapes became clearer, I realized other people were following them.
And there he was, alive and well, wearing his shining armor and carrying his sword and shield, accompanied by the glowing ball that was the fairy.
I knew he wouldn't die!
I approached with my arms crossed, smiling broadly. Wondering in the back of my mind why I was so happy to see him.
However, the other two people in the group ruined my mood: Four, and surprisingly, Five.
So they survived? Great… Should I try to finish what I started? Or should I try something different…
I put those thoughts aside when the knight stopped in front of me and raised his head, staring at me silently.
I raised an eyebrow at his lack of reaction, even more so when I noticed the dragon missing from his wake.
"Zero." He nodded.
Okay, something was wrong here. The defeat in his voice was palpable.
"Edric." I returned the nod.
"We have a lot to talk about."
Then he walked past me as if I didn't exist. I gave a questioning look to the fairy on his shoulder, who shook her head before walking away.
That left Four and Tive. The former glanced at me with fear and nervousness, hurrying to the knight's side and giving me occasional glances.
The last one couldn't have been more different. Five stopped and stared at me with unimaginable coldness for someone like her, a gesture I returned. But instead of being intimidated, she just scoffed and continued on her way.
Damn!
Decadus, Dito, and I followed the group, trying to understand what had happened, but we had no way of imagining what had happened on the other side of the mist.
END OF CHAPTER