I walked with Belle closeby, and truth be told I was a little bit lost. I put my hand on my chin and slowly looked around before coming to an idea. Was it the best idea? Probably not, but I wasn't that smart anyways!
"Belle, I think we're lost, yet I have an idea."
She gave a small smile my way and slightly tilted her head while leaning in close.
"Oh? What would that entail?"
"I'm going to shoot a fireball into the air to light our way!" I held my hands to the night sky as I let my idea burst forth!
However, Belle stopped me with her words before I could continue!
"I think I know the way back, how about you just follow me."
Belle was so smart!
Wait. Then why didn't she say so earlier!?
Could it be that Belle simply wanted to spend more time with me? She is a true friend! So I held her hand tight and gave her a smile.
"Belle, if you want to keep walking around for a while we can. I'd love to spend more time with you."
Isabelle Cranel POV
So he saw through my mask? I paused and then let out a light laugh. I had no need to hide my desire to be with him.
"I'm glad, however we should head back. It's getting quite late after all." He held my hand slightly tighter and my heart fluttered from the action. I wished this moment could last an eternity, but we were temporary beings.
It was just as he had said. That didn't mean I wouldn't enjoy the moment though!
We inevitably made it back, and Hestia was already asleep on the steps. Andrew prepared to take her down however I softly wrapped my arms around his waist and whispered breathily in his ear.
"Why don't you sleep with me tonight?"
I was taught seduction, to control others. Yet this came from deep within. Yet this lovable Fool just gave a small smile in response.
"Hestia needs me as her body pillow, but you're welcome to join us."
I looked at the 'Sun' Goddess with slight annoyance before letting out a sigh.
I suppose it was good enough.
At least he wouldn't be alone with her!
"Alright then. Lead the way."
We crawled into bed together and he quickly drifted off to sleep, the form of Hestia clutching him close, yet I softly caressed his sleeping face while I stared at his peaceful expression.
I noticed Hestia twitch slightly as he pulled him away ever so slightly while Andrew moved deeper into my arms.
Tonight was my victory, Hestia.
"Sweet Dreams, my Hero."
'We could not stop the invasion. I had always known this was inevitable. Yet as the city was sieged through the trickery of those who opposed us, why did the people not flee? Why instead did they look down from the wall with the hope in their direction towards me as the city was crushed behind them?
I faced down !(#$&% his spear drawn, an arrogant smile upon his face as he looked at my form. I only had my sword with me, without my blessed spear I could not defeat this immortal. It was impossible.
I had planned to hold him off as my people fled, so why did they not.
Then they chanted my name. They chanted it again and again.
"!@#%(*(!%"
I clutched my sword tight as the 'man' before me laughed.
"They actually believe in you? That's ridiculous, you don't even have a trace of divinity within you."
I shouted up to them and swung my arm as I turned and fled.
"FLEE! Survive for another day! Do not fall with this city! Please, survive so we can rebuild!"
I heard laughter echo out behind me as I led away the lancer wielding bastard. My shoes slammed against the stone, and I soon heard his as well. Jeers flew from him as I ran around the city thrice, yet the blood pounding in my ears blocked out much sound.
Only then did I stop and look at the people. My people. They did not jeer at my cowardice, they were screaming something with hope in their eyes.
"FIGHT! !@#%(*(!%, you can win!" What?
"As your prince I ask you to flee, and you do no such thing! I have bought as much time as I could and yet countless of you stand here waiting for me to fall against this immortal?"
"There is no city without !@#%(*(!%! You can do this! You shall take the city back!"
I was not a divine being. I did not hold that power in my hands.
I was only a human.
"AH !@#%(*(!%, I have a gift for you!"
Oddly enough the man chasing me allowed the individual to approach, a man I recognized as one of my close companions. Within his hands was my spear that could pierce the immortal flesh.
No. That wasn't right. His lip. Whenever we spoke he lightly bit it in nervousness. He was a meek one, yet despite that he had great bravery. Furthermore I could not sense the danger I normally would sense from the spear.
Anger took hold of my heart, and I brought my sword down upon the skull of the imposter. Yet the strike did not land. A shield of gold appeared, and 'his' flesh melted to reveal a Goddess I despised.
One of the three who had brought fall to our wonderful city alongside my brother.
"You should have accepted. It would have allowed you to die with some dignity." Her tone was casual. She did not care for us mortals. Selfish, prideful, and vain. That was the nature of every divinity I had ever had the misfortune of meeting.
I could not kill a Goddess. I could not kill an Immortal.
Yet still the people chanted.
They would not survive. The window for escape was closing soon.
So I decided to take a stand, for the people I swore to protect with kindness in my heart rather than hate.
The Goddess was gone, and I decided now was the time to speak. That goddess would sense such trickery, so I was glad she was gone.
While I wasn't much of a trickster, I still had a few tricks up my sleeve.
"All of you! Retreat for now! I shall return to you when I am finished slaying this immortal! Do not put yourself in danger!"
That seemed to soothe some of their hearts, and many fled. They slowly cleared from the wall, yet I knew many of them would die in the escape. At least this way some would survive.
Though I would not. Nor would I last long.
"You know once I finish up here I'm going to hunt them down and kill them all, right?" My grip tightened on my sword. It was not my favored weapon, yet this arrogant bastard seemed to be looking down on my fighting skills.
I did not hate any of the mortals caught up in this situation. I understood we were all at the whims of the divine who would brainwash, murder, and rape us without a second thought. I did not hate my enemies. I pitied them for being such monsters.
I let out a small chuckle for a moment, though I can not help but direct all the hate in my heart towards the one who stole my brother's last vestige of goodness.
One of the three who started this all.
So I stood there, the burning city behind me, a look of wrath in my flaming eyes, and I smiled after letting out a hot breath of air from my burning lungs.
"YOU, DIVINE WRETCH, YOU FACE A MORTAL! LET IT BE KNOWN WHEN YOU ARE CHOKING ON YOUR OWN BLOOD THAT A MORTAL WAS ABLE TO PUSH YOU THIS FAR!"
He laughed as I brought my blade down, he caught it in hand and drove his spear towards my heart. Then I punched him across the face causing him to stagger. I headbutt him, I clawed at unbreakable flesh, I attempted to gouge his eyes yet nothing came of it. Every strike doing nothing, yet still I persisted.
That was what it meant to be a Mortal. To fight even in the face of pointlessness.
One day the city would be destroyed. One day my people would perish. One day my name would be forgotten by all things.
All ends were inevitable to us mortals, yet that is what makes us special.
A silent fire is only lamented upon by those who rest in the cold.
The Immortal could never appreciate life in the way we do, they had put themselves on a pedestal, one had I would break here and now.
I would prove a mortal can defeat a demigod.
Even without the help of any divine.
3 Days Later
"H-how the fuck are you still even awake!?"
I stared at the immortal bastard who I'd practically killed hundreds of times now. My mind was falling apart, my flesh tearing, one of my arms missing. Yet I still fought.
I could see the fear in his eyes. Not the fear of a predator eying dangerous prey, but the fear one has towards a sharp object. The fear of death of something that could easily kill you.
Such a warrior failed. My fist clenched in hate, and while I knew I was running my candle short, I would strangle the bastard in the next life.
About a third of my people had escaped. A third remained captive in the city. A third were dead. I was not satisfied with such a thing, I could never be satisfied with such a broken ending.
I let out ragged breaths as I stared at the warrior before me who staggered back, as though waiting for a rapid strike.
Yet I was not certain I would still be standing after my next action.
So I spoke.
"Three Goddesses brought this city to ruin, and my people are split into groups of three. Is that not ironic?"
He looked at me as though I was crazy, then I smiled only to see fear in his eyes at the small movement.
"How does it feel? To be afraid of a mortal?"
He grew rapid at that, and charged at me with hate. Fear still lurked in his eyes, yet his strike was true. Yet as I fell, I heard the flying of an arrow.
@^@$? Is that you?
You came back . . . ?
Ah. So even you can own up to your mistakes in the end.
I'm glad.
I'm glad that you've shown even the worst person can do something good.
Then darkness.
. . .
A man who loved his city and its heart, his family and his people.
A man who gave his life to hold back an arrogant immortal who was unable to dodge an accursed arrow that stole his life as he shook with fear from an attack that would never come from his murdered foe.
A man who lived with kindness, and was driven to sorrow by his foes. Yet he still held onto his beliefs into death.
A man who proved even Mortals can defeat the Divinely touched in combat.
A man who proved Mortals were so much more than just the toys of Olympus.
Thus ends the life of a hero.
Thus ends the life of !@#%!#$%^ of #@$,
My eyes blearily started to open as I sat up, I ran a hand along my face with a small grunt of confusion and I slowly peeled Belle off of me as her hand was nearly in my mouth. I still wasn't getting any names from my weird dreams . . . I really want to know more about you Mr. Persona! You're super awesome!
Whoever this was, he was certainly someone I could respect! Beating up an immortal for three days sounds hard! He also believed a lot of similar things I do. I suppose that's why he's my Persona.
Though I didn't believe all gods were assholes, Hestia was great!
Though such a dream could not stop me, for after all it was now:
Day Five of the Dungeonless Week
We had lots of training to do!
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