The barrier was less than two years away from giving way and looked more likely to fail sooner. At least that's what Belle claimed when she brought Remmy up to speed. I will admit, I had almost completely forgotten about it. Belle was adamant that whatever preparations Remmy made be explained and account for every contingency. Remmy sighed in defeat, no longer able to put off Belle's pestering.
"Alright Belle," Remmy yielded.
"From the beginning," Belle demanded.
"I needed funds, essential skills and economic value," Remmy elaborated.
"Funds and essential skills make sense, but economic value?" Belle stated confused.
"I figured if the first two weren't enough the third would at least be enough for Shard and I," Remmy explained drearily.
Belle processed the information she had just heard. She couldn't find a fault in Remmy's plan. It meant a lot of work and top quality goods produced by her friends from the forge.
"You really put a lot of thought and effort into this didn't you Remmy?" Belle asked, impressed.
"I had to, I am a single mother," Remmy admitted.
Belle smirked hearing Remmy's resolution to see her plan go through.
"Remmy, I'm proud of you thinking of not only your future but Shard's as well," Belle stated.
"There's a drawback isn't there," Remmy sighed, waiting for Belle.
"Just one, how's Shard going to process the upcoming future?" Belle asked.
I didn't quite understand what Belle meant by process. I figured there would be a messy aftermath when it came to humans. Did something worse happen that I was unaware of?
"I can't speak for him Belle, I only can prepare him for what may come and hole that the worst never shows," Remmy admitted.
"I hate being a downer Remmy, but I have to go with my instinct on this one. The barrier will fail sooner than predicted," Belle sighed wishing to be wrong.
"Thank you, Belle," Remmy thanked half heartedly.
Belle excused herself and left me with Remmy who looked more down than ever. I didn't know if I could do anything to lighten the mood. Before I had a chance to attempt to make Remmy feel better, she spoke.
"Shard I know you're confused and wondering why Aunt Belle and I are so worried," Remmy stated making sure I heard her.
"The truth is an invasion from Humans are coming here," Remmy continued now more ominously. "Promise me when the sky darkens and ground shakes that you will run to safety."
"I promise," I said, trembling at the thought.
Remmy didn't say anything, she only embraced me and held me tight. She was sobbing and clearly terrified of the day when the barrier failed. I have grossly underestimated the severity of the future event. I mean Remmy was genuinely terrified, and she was one of the toughest people I knew. This invasion was beginning to sound more like an extermination.
I feel somewhat guilty about the whole thing. The world I came from basically encouraged slaying monsters. Now I am in a sense a monster and I haven't seen or done anything to warrant my demise. The same could be said about everyone else who lives here. Was I reincarnated to be on the other side? Because I am starting to think my time here is almost up.
Ever since I promised Remmy that when the barrier fails I run. I have had nothing but a repeating nightmare for the past two months. Every time I wake up to a bright day in the Long House. Only Cecilia, Flare, Little Hammer and Scarlet Rose are there. In a flash the sky darkens and an earthquake rattles all of us off our feet.
After everything settles down, the screams and marching of metal overwhelm my senses. All I hear is run and one by one everything catches fire. No matter how far I run nor the direction I take, I always end up back to the same place. Cornered and surrounded by fire with no way out. Then I wake up in a cold sweat with my heart racing to jump out my throat.
Remmy caught me panicking like this a few times. All she could do was help me through the process. Becoming paranoid was the next step in my stress breakdown. I always kept looking for the clues that would lead to the inevitable. It was Belle who brought me back to reality before I was too far gone.
"Shard we need to talk," Belle stated calmly.
"About what?" I asked.
"The nightmares you've been having," Belle clarified.
"There's nothing to talk about," I said trying to end the conversation.
"So you rather be plagued by fear and slowly lose yourself to it, did I hear that right?" Belle asked me to clarify.
"No," I said defensively.
"Shard answer me honestly, do you want my help or not?" Belle asked sternly.
"I do Aunt Belle," I answered her feeling defeated.
"You'll have to explain everything that happens in the nightmare," Belle clarified.
I sighed and explained everything to her. How everything begins to how it ends. Belle just listened intently until I finished. She looked at me with concern for a split second then she spoke.
"Shard it's okay to be scared," Belle stated, earning her a confused look from me.
"It's okay?" I said skeptically.
"It is, I sometimes forget you're a bright kid who can understand how bad the situation is," Belle continued.
"How can you be so calm?" I asked in disbelief.
"Shard I am far from calm, I just don't show it like you do," Belle sighed.
I wanted to scream, shout and bury myself under a rock. Aunt Belle is calm as can be. She claims to be freaked out by the barrier failing. I didn't see it nor did I believe it. Eventually I broke down, Belle simply waited it out. I regained my composure and felt a weight I had been carrying removed.
"It is okay to be scared, Shard, it's not okay to let it consume us," Belle explained.
I eventually got used to the nightmares that haunted me. For a while things seemed like they were going back to normal. The Long House was having a beautiful sunny day. We had a short crew today, Flare, Scarlet Rose, Cecilia, Little Hammer and myself were present. I knew the nightmares always started here but the end of the day was almost here.
In the blink of an eye the sky darkened and rain came down in buckets. We were hit by an earthquake that shook the ground but didn't knock anyone off their feet. No screams, no marching either, I was about to dismiss everything. Flare was having a panic attack and my doubts were gone.
"The barrier is gone," Flare hyperventilated.
"Where do we go from here?" Cecilia asked, surprisingly calm.
"The shelter in the old forest is closest, we'll go there," Flare answered, recovering from the panic.
This was real, not my nightmares. I pinched myself to be sure. Aside from the unwanted pain I inflicted upon myself, reality finally sank in. The barrier failed and the worst has yet to show itself. I feared that when I encountered humans in this world that would be the end of everything.
Walking to the old forest in the rain was a miserable endeavor. Being soaked to the bone and barely able to see where you were going only added to the plight. The forest was pristine and lush with vegetation and natural paths. Which meant dirt and grass became slick from the rain. Flare did her best to guide us, but she hadn't really recovered.
Being optimistic was difficult enough. Flare seemed to be brittle and ready to break at any moment. The silence of the constant rain easily ate away our nerves. The weather could easily mask the presence of anyone who wanted to sneak around. Finding the shelter Flare mentioned was starting to look like a wild goose chase.
Eventually the legendary shelter Flare talked about had been revealed. A large rusted metal door surrounded by large thorn plants. Each thorn protruded out like a spike from a mace. It's a good hiding place for now, but for how long will it remain that way. All of us had to work together to open the door, it creaked and groaned in protest.
Once we were all inside and fought the door to close. We could finally rest and dry off. Everyone was accounted for, and we had no fireplace to dry ourselves by. There were old towels that did most of the drying. After we settled down the silence of the rain outside slowly creeped back in. I didn't want to be caught in it again.
"How long are we going to stay here?" I asked aloud, Flare was unconscious with Scarlet Rose in her arms.
"No idea," Little Hammer answered dismally.
"Until help arrives?" Cecilia guessed.
"I think until help arrives is our best bet," I chuckled softly.
"I just wish we knew when this would end," Little Hammer sighed.
"I just hope everyone else is safe," Cecilia stuttered.
"We all wish that," I assured Cecilia.
For a while we continued to make small talk to pass the time. It worked for the most part of keeping things off our minds. Unfortunately all good things come to an end. At first nothing, then came the loud clang. The room echoed with the loud noise.
Everyone got up and ran to the door of the shelter. When we arrived the sight sent a chill up my spine. Humans in full plate armor or leather armor, were charging the shelter door with a battering ram. I tried to find another exit from the shelter only to realize that the way in was the only way out. Another deafening clang echoed in the shelter, the dead end surrounded by flame led to this. Flare gathered all of us together and prepared us for the worst.
"There's no way out I'm afraid," Flare announced.
Clang.
"Stay together children, it will be quick," Flare sobbed.
Clang.
I just stared at the door in utter horror, every hit dented it. I gave two hits tops before it collapsed and gave in. This was the end again, no matter how I looked at the situation. I already died once and coming face to face with death again made it worse. 'I won't get a do over again,' I thought to myself.
"Mom," Scarlet Rose sobbed.
"I'm here sweetie," Flare sobbed holding her daughter close.
Little Hammer silently prayed for his blood to rust his enemies weapons. Cecilia took my hands into hers.
"Don't let go, please," Cecilia pleaded tearfully.
"Ok," I barely managed.
Clang.
"We're through men time to hunt!" A deep voice yelled followed by cheers.
"That far enough degenerates!" Someone yelled louder than the cheering crowds.
I dared to look at the now open door and saw what was unmistakably a fallen angel. Standing alone and facing easily what looked like a hundred soldiers. The lone fallen angel drew a dagger. I heard him say something in a dialect I never heard of.
"Kill him before he finishes his chant!" Someone ordered causing the humans to charge.
I saw the fallen angel finish his chant and in an instant slashed the air. What followed after was unbelievable, every human he saw fell to ground in pieces. The power that fallen angel commanded in magic made him believe he was an advanced or a specialist. The fallen angel entered the shelter, shook off the rain water and stopped before us.
"Everything will be alright now," The fallen angel assured.
"Thank you," Flare thanked through tears.
Cecilia still held my hands and refused to let go.
"Is it over?" Cecilia asked in a hushed tone.
"For now," I answered unsure if it was really over.
"Alright everyone, my comrades will be here soon, and we'll escort you to safety," The fallen angel assured.