I stood frozen as the man approached me, it really felt like I was chained to the ground and couldn't move.
I wanted to run, run far…
What am I even doing…
God, this is all hopeless…
I closed my eyes and just hoped everything would just freeze…
Expecting to die is so terrifying.
Why do I always get myself into these situations…
I seriously need to stop risking my life to save some stupid girl…
I heard his footsteps getting closer until I felt his presence in front of me.
Well, looks like I will be seeing Death sometime soon…
"Open your eyes, brat…"
I flinched at the man's words.
I feel like I shouldn't, I really shouldn't…
"I said open your damn eyes! Are you deaf!?"
He yelled aggressively, I seriously think I am about to wet myself…
I slowly opened my eyes up and looked up at the man.
He stood decently higher than me and he smelt like rotten pig blood.
I almost gagged from the first sniff.
I didn't even realize it until now…
I looked at his hands and it seemed that his blades were gone, that or they were hidden.
"How does it feel to be close to death, you snotty child…"
I felt a chill down my spine as he finished his sentence, this guy seriously freaks me out.
I think my body's emotions have been slain by fear and sadness because I feel like that is all I will ever feel anymore…
I can't move still, did this guy put a spell on me, or is this fear?
I don't think I ever felt like this, probably because most of the time I almost encountered death I was in a dream-like world…
The man then proceeded to speak,
"Are you going to answer me…?"
I quickly gathered up words and answered.
"Pl-Pl-Please let me l-live…"
He started laughing.
The laughter rang in my ears, it was disgusting…
The volume increased slightly and slightly until he got to the point he was laughing like an evil villain…
"Do you think I am just going to let you live after you say that!"
I nod slightly in hopes he just accepts it and lets me live.
"If only you would have a future to learn, that is not how it works…!"
He suddenly jolted and I felt pressure around my neck.
He was choking me.
He was so quick that I didn't even notice, he was even faster than Oliver…
He lifted me and I struggled to let loose.
"P-Please…"
I desperately muttered as I felt my consciousness slip away.
Why, why do I always get the pain…
Why couldn't I be born powerful enough to take these losers on!?
Why! Just why!
This is the second time I questioned everything before almost dying, except this time will be the last…
If I get a third go-around I hope I will get something cooler than this lame ability…
No, I don't even want that, I want to lay in bed and watch television…
Even if I do survive I wouldn't even be able to do that, sadly…
Who knows though, maybe I will be reincarnated into the future of earth with a rich family…
Maybe, just maybe, I can get a hot wife…
My vision started to fade, the last thing I will see in this world is that horrible black mask…
I can't believe I couldn't avenge anyone in this world…
So many people died to these bastards…
And I will too…
My vision finally faded.
It was pitch blackness, the same old pitch blackness…
I saw Death's bright green hair in the distance.
She was waving at me, it was welcoming…
This is truly it, isn't it?
Woah, I thought I would have someone save me or something…
Well, I guess there really isn't anyone who could do that…
I was slowly moving toward Death, I was floating toward her…
She was so blurry…
The closer I came the less she became blurry.
She suddenly faded away into a black flame…
What is happening!?
This doesn't seem right!
I felt a strong tugging around my legs like I was being climbed up.
I was terrified to look down after I heard moans of pain below me.
There were also voices but they sounded so distorted I couldn't tell what they were saying.
I slowly look down and see a bunch of burnt arms grabbing me and pulling me down…
I started sinking into the blackness of the floor, it was so thick…
The arms pulled me down, are they dragging me to hell?!
What did I do to deserve this!?
Their nails dug into my skin and ripped away at my flesh, it was so painful but I somehow managed to endure it.
I wanted to scream but I felt like something would enter my mouth…
Now that I think about it, I feel like I am underwater…
Everything around me feels like it is being pressed onto me…
I feel like I am drowning…
Someone, someone, please…
Please help me!
I don't want this!
I heard a faintly familiar voice calling out to me.
A voice I haven't heard in forever…
I looked up and saw Akio…
My father, Akio Gushiken…
He reached his hand in the hole I was being dragged into, it was reaching for me…
I swiftly threw my hand up and grabbed ahold of him, he pulled with all of his strength.
I was then quickly tugged out of the hole.
As I escaped from the hole, my eyes opened as if I awoke from a dream.
I see a red fluid gushing out of what looked to be a hand in front of me.
I saw a man to my left holding a sword, a pure white katana.
I don't understand how the blade was white, was it some type of metal?
It seemed as if the man cut straight through the masked demon's hand.
I examined the man closely and realized it was Oliver, except the aura and expression Oliver gave off were completely different than anything he has ever had or done.
Oliver was genuinely pissed off…
He seemed angered, so angered that his face showed every bit of it.
"Hands off my student, you bastard…"
The hand that was on my neck suddenly fell off, I then realized that Oliver sliced off the hand of the masked demon, the same hand that was choking me.
The air that escaped me all quickly rushed back after I gasped for air.
It felt good to breathe…
"Natsuo, I am going to have to ask you to step back…"
Oliver pushed me aside and I ran over to Lilia.
It seemed as if Oliver took out the other men as I was dying, I wished he could've been a little bit faster though…
I shook Lilia, she didn't seem to want to wake up.
"Lilia, get up. Please!"
A sudden loud bang and a shockwave of wind were felt to my left, I looked over and saw Oliver in the air, about to swing down onto the man.
Rocks were in the air also, he seemed to break the floor with his takeoff.
Oliver came down quickly onto the man but he moved the sword out of the way as if it was nothing and as Oliver reached him he headbutt Oliver.
The impact was so hard that he was sent flying backward.
The man suddenly vanished and reappeared in the sky above Oliver, which was also midair.
The masked demon struck down onto Oliver and just as quickly as the man vanished, Oliver was sent to the floor at that same speed.
The man was so quick he just seemed to vanish instead of moving, it was unbelievable...
They seemed to make it closer to me, in the front of the house, then where I started, the stairs.
Oliver was visibly losing, if Oliver can't fight this guy then I doubt I could do anything.
This guy was beating Oliver with just one hand also, not even using a weapon.
Oliver stood up with blood dripping out of his mouth, he seemed to be in a rough spot.
Wait for a second, how did Oliver even get healed? He was beaten to a pulp…
Does he have some advanced type of healing magic?
This made no sense whatsoever, hopefully, Oliver and I live so I can ask him later…
Oliver dashed toward him and swung down at his opposite injured shoulder, the man vanished once more and reappeared behind Oliver.
Oliver quickly reacted and kicked backward striking the guy in the chest, he then swiveled himself around and swung his sword down toward the man's head.
"I am tired of this child's play!"
Oliver yelled as he forced the sword to move quicker, the man quickly reacted and dodged.
"Well, then I should also try and stop playing with my food, is what you are saying?"
Oliver grunted and lunged at him again, the ground cracked once again too.
The man snickered and vanished and in a matter of seconds Oliver was sent to the floor, he was sent into the ground so hard that he bounced a few times.
Oliver tried getting up but when he was on his knees about to stand up the man appeared in front of him and kicked him in the chin.
Oliver fell backward and lay on the floor, he seemed to be regretting a lot…
Oliver stood up with blood dripping from his scalp and blood running down from his nose.
"What kind of teacher would I be if I didn't do my all for my students…"
Oliver quietly muttered something that made me happy.
Oliver picked up his sword and got ready to continue combat with the black-masked demon.
So this is the true power of a high-ranked black-masked demon…
The man vanished and Oliver didn't hesitate to strike behind himself.
His punch looked like it broke through the air itself, the man reappeared right where Oliver's fist was heading.
The man tried to block but was struck right in the stomach by an uppercut.
He was sent backward but caught himself and slid across the floor, he seemed aggravated at Oliver's attack so he pulled out one of his daggers.
Oliver ran toward the man and attacked while he thought he was stunned, the man blocked his attack and roundhouse kicked Oliver in the stomach.
Oliver's durability was so high it was almost unbelievable…
My focus resumed back onto Lilia as she mumbled something.
I looked down at her as she laid on my lap, she slowly opened her eyes and made eye contact with me.
She smiled joyfully and wrapped her arms around my neck.
"Natsuo! You are alive!"
I hugged her and chuckled slightly, she needed comfort.
"Yes, are you ok?"
She nodded, she didn't even seem fazed her parents died or did she just not realize it yet?
"Where are we? What is that smoke smell-"
Her sentence quickly ran short when she remembered everything that happened.
She covered her mouth and tears quickly ran down her face.
I know how it felt to lose a parent, although not to lose two…
I looked back up at Oliver and the masked demon-fighting, Oliver seemed to be on the verge of death.
Will he make it?
In a matter of seconds, blood sprayed out of Oliver's back and the man was behind him.
Oliver turned around and swung at his neck, the man jumped back and after the sword passed by he came back at him with a stab.
Oliver let go of the sword with one hand and grabbed the man's wrist.
Oliver seemed to struggle as the knife was slowly being pushed toward him.
Was Oliver's strength that weak compared to this guy?
No, Oliver is just tired…
"What is happening, Natsuo?"
I looked back down at Lilia as she questioned what was happening in a fearsome and confused tone.
"Oliver is fighting to save us. That's what."
Although, I have a question about this whole situation…
Why the hell has backup, like knights or something, come yet?
We aren't that far away from town! I can see inns and shops from here!
I looked back at Oliver and the man, Oliver's hand's sword, and feet lit up with flame, he then wiped the blood off his mouth and cracked his neck.
The man chuckled and put his hand up with the dagger occupied in it.
Oliver dashed at him with two times the speed than before and struck down on him, the man disappeared and emerged above Oliver and tried to strike down on him with his knee.
Oliver then proceeded to dodge the attack by lunging forward and turning himself toward the man, the man reached the ground but landed on his feet.
There was a slight pause in between the black-masked demon landing and him dashing toward Oliver at immaculate speed.
Oliver was prepared though, he countered the man's stab with a dodge and punched into the side of his torso.
The man coughed and stepped backward.
The fight was happening so quickly that I felt like I was missing so much…
We have been here for a good five minutes, I can tell…
Oliver jumped toward the guy and tried to stab into the man's chest.
He jumped backward and Oliver did something quite unbelievable.
He stabbed his sword into the floor and pushed himself upward and over, flipping over the sword and landing in front of the black-masked demon.
Oliver didn't hesitate though, he instantly pulled the blade out and swung downward at the man's head.
The man blocked with his dagger and pushed the katana out of the way, Oliver did not care though, and kept coming at him.
He kicked and the guy grabbed the bottom of his foot.
Oliver then twisted himself, breaking the ankle that was grabbed in the process, to kick the man in the face with his other foot.
The man did not expect this and was struck in the cheek, it almost broke the mask but thankfully didn't…
"You bastard! Going to such lengths to win!"
"I will protect them, I will put my life on it…"
This whole fight proved how much we meant to Oliver, it was sweet…
"Tsk… I will come back and kill you later…"
The man vanished and left no trace behind…
Did he just leave…?
Wait…?
He had the advantage, yet, he left…?
I was dozed off in confusion until I heard clacking that sounded like a horse quickly gathering up to my side.
I looked over and saw a group of six knights standing by us, they seemed frightened by the sight of the burning mansion and dead people.
Oliver tried walking over but it seemed he was drained of stamina and fell over.
Two of the knights quickly ran over to him and examined his body for injuries.
The other four went over to Lilia and me, then questioned us about what happened and we answered.
What seemed to be the leader hopped off of his horse and helped Lilia up, of course since I had to get up myself though…
"I see, you went under some great trauma. We shall take you to the king immediately."
The leader spoke up as I got up all the way and brushed myself off.
"Grab the man and bring him also, we will question him there!"
One of the two knights put Oliver on their horse and rode back down the path.
"We will clean this place up after we drop them off! you two go look for survivors and come back quickly."
Two of the knights break off from the group and patrol the house for remaining survivors.
The leader helped Lilia onto his horse then helped me onto it behind her.
"Let's go!"
The remaining people including me and Lilia rode off back down the pathway to the castle.
Part Two
The Next Day
When we arrived at the castle it was already very late at night so the king just had our rest and we could talk about it in the morning.
It is now the afternoon and I am bowing down since I am in the presence of the king.
Both Lilia and Oliver are also next to me, we are in the throne room.
The king was tearing up at the fact his brother was killed, but something felt slightly off about it.
Everything happened so quickly so I am still probably dazed.
"So, what will happen, my majesty?"
Oliver spoke up, he seemed to be healed but he was quite wobbly on his hurt side.
I was also healed and so was Lilia, it felt good to have energy with no pain.
The king kept quiet as if he was thinking, it was very silent in the room.
"Won't I gain my father's riches, Uncle?"
I kinda forgot she had no shame about calling the damn king Uncle…
"You may stand now…"
I think he just realized we were all still bowing. Kind of embarrassing…
We all stood up and maintained our gazes on the King.
"You see Lilia, you are far too young to inherit your father's money and accessories."
"Then what will happen!?"
Lilia quickly shot up at that answer.
"You will be put in an arranged marriage, once you are old enough you will gain the riches."
This frustrated me, I could tell it also slightly ticked off Oliver.
"What! This isn't what my father would've wanted! He said I could marry anyone! Even the poor!"
"Your father was considering it anyway, you will be marrying a nobleman in a town that is not too far away here."
"How is this fair, Uncle!?"
The King started to get annoyed at Lilia's persistence, it showed in his expression.
"What about Natsuo! He is coming with me, right!?"
"No, he is not."
I gasped at that answer, they both looked at me and I blushed from embarrassment, I didn't mean to do that aloud…
Lilia then continued the conversation, well it's actually more of an argument…
"He is my slave! He goes where I want him to!"
"No, he is signed under your father's name."
"Tsk. Why can't I just stay here!?"
"As I said, your father was already considering this, do not continue arguing! This is how it will be!"
"Hey Uh-"
"Did I give you permission to speak, Natsuo!?"
The King yelled and slammed his fist on his throne.
I felt a shiver roll down my spine and I gulped, being yelled at by the highest authority is scarier than I thought…
"Ahem, as for Natsuo I will release his slave contract and let him live freely under the condition he will not chase after Lilia."
This guy, what does he have against me and Lilia?
I nod slowly to not aggravate him and he spoke afterward,
"Oliver and Natsuo."
I made eye contact with the King and he returned it with a frustrated stare.
"You two are free to go."
Two knights walked up and escorted us out as if we did something bad, we then were pushed out the doors of the castle and led to the town.
I was lucky enough to be given clothes, although it is just the same old butler clothes I always wore…
My hair was still all messy from the morning and almost all my energy was drained from being questioned from morning to noon…
"I don't think this is right but it is the King's order…"
Oliver spoke up and I looked up to him.
"I guess, we can't do anything…"
"Well, I will continue to train you until I can no longer, after that we will see from there."
I agree and we start to head into town.
"I guess we need to give you new gear don't we?"
I was confused, was his belongings not burnt in the fire?
"Do you still have money?"
"Yes, I always keep it on me."
Well, that is a plus…
"What would I need?"
He went into thought for a second then looked me in the eyes.
"A sword of your choice, clothes, and armor."
That would cost a lot, just how much money does this guy have?!
"How much do you have!?"
"What do you mean?"
My expression changed to something that resembles "Am I talking to a dumb person?", I was seriously questioning if Oliver was stupid…
"How much money do you have?"
"Oh, I have five gold coins, twenty-five silver coins, and ten copper coins. Why?"
I guess he did have a lot of money, this might work…
Did he get that money for training us?
That is the only reasonable excuse if I am going, to be honest…
"Where do you want to shop first?"
Are you a high school blondie who just got their first paycheck…?
And like that, we began our adventure, Oliver and I…
Coin Graph:
Copper: 1 USD
Silver: 100 USD
Gold: 1000 USD