In an era where the world witnessed a sparkling history of prosperity and sophistication, where the nations fought for their people's will. Unbeknownst to them, a mysterious celestial body entered the earth's atmosphere and was weaving its way to hit the lands of humans in a crazy speed.
"Report to the General! A body from the outer space is hitting the lands of Welford Empire!"
"Where were the satellites to spot it?!"
"Sir, the satellites couldn't catch any signs of its existence."
"The hell how!?"
And immediately, orders of urgent evacuation were passed to the citizens who were already in a state of terror and panic, chasing after their lives.
Though, this didn't prevent the misery and casualties of lives loss.
.
.
.
But then, the miracles happened, and from under the debris and blood, cries of a baby could be heard. A baby who survived the tragedy without having any scratch on its fair skin . . .
In the depths of the forest of the royal palace, there was a little girl leisurely swinging her legs on a tree branch, and a horrible maniac who ran here and there with his mad, high-pitched screams.
"Where the fuq are you!!!"
"I swear if you didn't appear, I WILL!!!"
"Don't test my patience coz I have none!!!"
"Hey kid! I've got you a candy!!"
"AAAAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!!"
[" Hehe~ he must've gone psycho. Am I that pretty? "]
I chuckled as I was enjoying from the above how he galloped here and there like a blind chicken plucking its feathers.
[" He must pay for what he did earlier. "]
I smirked under the tree's reddish shadow. At the end, he was the same b@stard who fired at me when I barely dodged my death then.
*Sigh*
"I have played around enough. Time to move and end this ridiculous play."
How pitiful that my mind was set at the final second to return back to that snowhead oldman.
Once his image flashed before my eyes, I cringed and my lips flatly bent down. I shook my head and darted my gaze to the sky. The dark was already welcoming. Time didn't play for my favour.
"Shit."
I had to move already.
The swinging legs halted and I stood up, locking my eyes with that dickhead (who I wondered where the hell had that skinny got such energy to run till that moment).
My eyes consequently narrowed. Today, blood would shed...
Or as I liked to call it,
Red Honey.
[" Now that I am promised with power out of will, I shouldn't be audacious and play my role in contrary. "]
"You are dead! Dead!"
My eyes naturally winced.
[" What's the matter with him? Did he miss me already!? Aeyo!!! "]
I smirked at the sight and silently murmured,
"I'll make sure you regret this . . "
" .....!!? "
[" What the. . . ? "]
I was sure I never intended to say such, and for a moment, I doubted if it were my lips that spoke out those words.
"Huh. Huh. ."
I felt a sudden thirst, and the atmosphere was already suffocating.
What was I thirsty for . .
It wasn't a thirst of lungs asking for water, but a heart demanding for blood.
This already freaked me out.
"UURGHK!?"
My eyes sharpened at the suddenly electrifying pain that stabbed me.
"AHAARKK!"
It spread like an acid on fire inside me, burning every cell. My hands got wrapped around me instantly trying to grasp the pain.
"URGH! HUNGH!!"
I bit my lower lip while my fingers digged in my arms trying to catch the urge to scream but it was already unbearable.
But soon, I felt I couldn't stand it any longer, and my vision turned black. . .
Ring the bell,
For you to fill..
All the sceneries,
With crimson hell.
None shall be spared..
From the death,
That. Will. Fell.
Upon.
Them.....
It was like a haunting Siren that whispered in my ears . . .
*
*
*
"Ehehe~" an eerie hollow laugh echoed in my ears.
From behind the eyelids, crimson irises shone dangerously, revealing the doomed fate of anyone who would meet them.
The gemstone that tangled from my neck shone with a brilliant aura that surrounded my being too.
[" Ugh . . "]
The Laidyn Crystal's Spirit . . .
It was true that I gained my consciousness, but what controlled my body wasn't me. I was only a watcher.
The hideous power of the Laidyn Crystal had already engulfed me to make from me a homicidal maniac.
My breathing was shallow, and hundreds of thousands of bullets of sweat were running down from every inch in me.
The aura that circulated my being, was totally burning. I gritted my teeth. Power wouldn't come for free.
"My! Where's this dickhead! I need him! " I grunted harshly. It was a holy mistake to use this power, as all my senses turned like that of a beast.
And the worst part in it was my hunger for that red honey.
When beasts feel insanely hungry, they would even eat their keen without batting an eye. It's no escape for the being that unfortunately jumps in front of them. Be careful, once you jump towards them, you won't even realize you did.
And I was a hungry beast that started to whisper with howls. My eyes trembled when they scanned everywhere form some foreigner to play with. My hands cautiously moved to the dagger's hand.
And what fortune did I have, the pitchy bastard had fallen prey to me, and appeared right under where was I.
"Hehehh~ "
I got a talent of a wicked laugh. Something that was in great use in my life.
My fingers stretched and closed into a fist and I checked the place for the probable of any intruder. Now I could say the play began.
"Hey! " I called out loudly. And ahe, what a startled pair of wide eyes did I get in return. No second did I give him to react, and I hoped!
"AAAAAARRRRRRCCCKKKGGHH!"
Thud!
And landed on his back!
**********
The Sun was already a few minutes on its way to leave, and the number of attendees increased gradually. Yet, the face they were eager to meet was leisurely kidnapped.
Each pair or group chit-chatted with each other about different topics, killing time.
But soon, they all started questioning with suspicion.
"The Emperor didn't show yet. I wonder what's happening. "
"Isn't it quite late to stay behind the curtains? "
Indeed, it did take quite a longer time than what was needed for the show to begin.
"In the worst case scenario . . . "
.
.
.
[" Couldn't she find some other day to be kidnapped?! What a nuisance!! "]
The handsome but hard features of his face winced.
"Claude is ready? "
"Yes, Your Majesty. "
Instead of an outfit to represent his state and power in front of the society, he had gotten an outfit with a battle commander vibe. An old butler came by and placed a furry cloak on his shoulders. Once everything got ready, he went rushing to the doors leading to the dark outside. The guards got petrified with the dominant deadly aura he exuded and immediately opened the doors. But the way to there was already blocked.
". . .? "
"I.val! "
A delicate feminine voice reprimandly called out. Upon hearing the voice, Ival's shoulders flinched and his face crumpled automatically. He sighed big enough for the ground to sink.
He closed his eyes for them not to meet hers.
"Please, step aside."
He was more like ordering than giving a request. Receiving silence as an answer, Ival called out her name.
"Ekidona."
"Ah, I definitely will! I will simply step aside, and allow you to simply go! However, don't you think it will cause a pretty mess when those people over there hear about the sudden absence of their Emperor? Won't that cause a bothersome ruckus in the whole empir- . . . No, the whole world?"
Ekidona sharply yelped at him with her hands on her waist like a boiling teapot. Ival closed his eyes helplessly and massaged his forehead to maintain his anger. He knew it would be one of the impossibilities for this to go easily.
"Ekidona, you."
"Ah. Ah. Ah! Don't even try. Your excuses are tasteless and unreasonable. 60 orders. 300 knights. Even Zhan himself went searching for her. You are worrying for nothing. "
She berated him, hoping that he got convinced. Ival was certain of what she said, but he got this little dubious feeling. . .
"Still."
"Ival, don't cause ruckus for something unworthy. She'll be back soon. At least before the banquet ends. I can sense this, and you should trust me. "
She tried to assure him in a gentle tone. Ival closed his eyes and sighed deeply.
[" She won't come. It's an opportunity that she found to escape this night. "]
It wasn't true that he doubted her words or her sense. The problem was with Claire herself. . .
"H- Huh? E- Ekido- "
"Hush you mortal. Change this suffocating outfit and go straight to shut those mouths that are about to spread horrible rumors. "
While Ival was lost in thought, Ekidona surprised him and pushed him from the back so cruelly. He couldn't help but panic.
"B- B- But! "
"Ah! No buts! Save us time please! "
**********
"Hello uncle! "
Stab!
"MHEUMMMMMM! "
To stop his annoying movements under me, I aimed his thigh. However, I stabbed his fleshy butt by mistake.
My bad . . .
*Smirk*
"Did you miss me? "
I playfully tossed those greetings. I could feel the man's shivering under me. It had to be deadly paining. After confirming he was unable to move, I got my ass up.
"Hm? "
Based on his screams, I thought he probably bit his tongue. But I was wronged. The tongue of his was cut clean and on the grass was it in front of me.
And I, out of the blue, genuinely smiled.
[" Poor man. "]
I walked to where his head was. Only his hair was visible while his smug face was buried in the dirt. He'd gotten quite the long hair.
"Hey, dickhead, " I nonchalantly called out. Running my fingers through his dusty hair, I lifted his head up for my eyes to meet his ones.
I bent down so I could get a proper and straight image of his face. Traces of blood were seen around his mouth and the mud covered almost his face. Like it had made any changes? It was dirty and the mud didn't cause much.
But what engrossed my attention was his eyes. Eyes that carried hatred and venom towards what it stared at. Towards what it caused him agony. For a moment, I felt sympathy towards -not him - but someone who lived a horrible experience and was forced to show such nauseous eyes.
"It must be horribly paining, right? Your butt, " I gravelly whispered, but maybe wondered. At the end, I didn't get the chance to know how was it.
[" What's a butt being stabbed like? "]
I thought in mockery.
A question to be thought about.
"URGHHH! " Trying his best to not pass out, he was like a frenzied beast howling at me. I helplessly smiled back at him. I enjoyed it.
"Well then, I'll help you with it "
His eyes suddenly widened to the point when I tought it would pop, and his breaths were caught for a moment. I wondered if he got what I meant. How did he?
"Don't worry. It will be swift and fast that you will barely feel anything, " inquisitively I applied. Now his body started to shake like a wet cat.
"Uuuh! Ahh! "
[" Beg me until you're blue in the face. You're already dead. "]
As I said, it would be swift and fast. It was a such slam dunk that I sadly expertised.
The next was like that. I got the dagger held up and the sharp blade's shine was reflected in his eyes. I poured mana into it, and got it coated with the red aura. My right hand that held the dagger was raised left upside, and diagonally went right down. In a flash, it was over.
Swirirriiiik!
The sound of a sharp blade cutting through the skin and flesh was like a hum in my ears.
"UAAK! "
Thud!
This was it. I dropped his head the moment his irises rolled back, confirming a body with no soul.
"One done, ten remaining, " I mumbled as I started to widen my senses to the furthest I could to track them down. One by one.
[" Two, three, five. . . "]
Six I could feel.
The hunting under the night sky started.
It was when I was about to move, my eyes caught the grass that was drenched in blood. . .
. . . as if the clock stopped ticking.
I somehow wasn't able to move my eyes away from the sight of the blood that was shed, slowly trickling on the mud and towards me.
And suddenly, I heard that echo . .
~ We're dead. It's thanks to you.
"Uuugh, " I squinted my eyes and moaned at the sudden pain that pumped into my head.
~ Why? What have we done to you?!
A phantom voice of a familiar kid whimpering echoed through my head causing my hands to insanely shake. I moved them towards my ears to block the voices that played nowhere but inside my head.
They were whispering like ghosts.
~ I wanted to live. But you just disliked it?
"A.. ahh. I- It's not me! " I suddenly yelped.
~ Was our death a pleasing sight for you to see?
"N- No! Not true! " My breaths were husky and shaky as I tried to resist. I didn't know what I was shouting with. The words were slipping off my tongue before I knew it.
Any passerby who would watch this would assume that I was a psycho who saw hallucinations in the air.
My vision was slowly turning white. I squinted my eyes in hope to gain it back, but the phantom voices of those kids didn't stop ringing.
~ My life was so short. I didn't see anything from it yet.
~ You're a human? You have killed many innocents. Yet you're able to live?
~ Have you dropped your humanity and conscience somewhere on the streets?!
" AAARGH! AAH! NOT ME! NOT ME! "
My whole being shivered from the impact those whispers left.
My hands tried squeezing my ears much stronger, but didn't help. I shook my head so heatedly that I thought it might fly separated from my neck. But these indelible voices opposed to leave.
~ We begged you! But why?
"Get lost! LEAVE ME! "
I wanted to run away. But when I tried, my wobbly body swayed in all directions and bumped randomly into the trees. That was a failure in running away.
"ARGHH! "
~ You don't deserve to live!
~ Burn in hell!
~ You are not a human! You're a beast!
~ A disgrace!
"I beg you! Leave me! "
The throbbing pain whenever those phantom voices echoed was insanely unbearable. I was horribly crying my heart out and my lungs were already dying from the burn.
The last thing I had in hand was going crazy and bumping my head with all force into a tree.
~ You are an awful great sinner. Your existence itself is an unholy sin!
"I. SAID. LEAVE. ME! "
"AAAAAAAH! " That wasn't a normal human scream. It was of someone, a kid, burning in hellish agony.
I lost the sense of time. A few or several times, I never knew for how much time my head slammed the tree. No pain did I feel from it. I was more occupied with the electrifying pain that boiled inside my head.
It was until I heard this whisper of a soft voice from the nowhere. . .
~ Claire.
".....!!?"
It was unbelievable. Once my name was called out by this soft voice, all the voices vanished and what remained was the sense of pain I got from bumping my head into the poor tree. I felt liquid trickling down my forehead.
"Haaah... "
On my knees, my body felt backwards. Now I was able to cry silently and catch my breaths in relief. What I wanted from this world was to spare me a moment to close my eyes, and I closed my eyes. I made sure to bring my knees up and ball my body to not lose its warmth to the cold weather that was around me. My mind was thinking of nothing too.
It was a hallucination; I was sure of it. Because hand, although there was no presence of anyone, gently brushed my hair to the back of my ears. I wasn't bothered at all. It was peaceful . .
**********
The horses' hooves hit with mighty the muddy ground of the forest.
Tadak.
Tadadadak.
Around 50 horses were racing and in the front was a one that seemed to be the leading one. The rider raised his left wrist and called a name through the device.
"Louise. Louise. "
As the name was called, a small light screen appeared with an image of a young man that gave out a voice of the meant one.
"Yes, Your Highness, " he robotically replied. The shaking image conveyed that he too was riding his horse on its highest speed.
Zhan bit his lower lip in anxiety before speaking.
"Please tell me you found out something, " he sounded down and hopeless and waited for a reply from the other side.
.
Silence.
.
Another Silence.
.
Only before a vein could pop out of his master's head did Louise moved his lips.
"I- I... "
He closed his eyes apologetically and took a short breath as it was a load to say.
"My sincere apologies, but, but- "
"Haaaaaah! " Before he could complete what he wanted to say, Zhan cut him with a long livid sigh.
[" What a headache! Aren't I young to handle such a pressure? Can't my life be easier? "]
Zhan complaint to himself from the pressure he felt pressing on his shoulders. The night was already above his head, and the banquet began. Yet, there was no signs for Claire's existence. He raised his head up high to look at the stars that twinkled . . .
"KIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! "
"....?! "
Bang!
Bang!
A crazy loud scream of a man followed by sounds of firing guns shook the forest causing all the nesting birds to flip their wings away. Some of which flew above the heads of Zhan and his knights, ascending the sky.
All the horses neighed and stopped, petrified with the abnormal scream and the firing. Everyone above the horses' backs were about to fall backwards from the horses sudden jump if it wasn't for the reins their hands held on.
The knights started murmuring with widened eyes.
"Wh- What was that? " Louise asked through the screen with a hushed tone that didn't hide his surprise.
Zhan couldn't get what was it, but no good feelings came from it.
"Oh horrible shit! " Zhan ignored his comrade on the screen and the order of knights that were assigned to follow him, and immediately dashed with his horse in full speed towards the direction of those sounds.
He didn't realize it, but his hands were shaking in horror while holding the rein. It wasn't the terrible scream that danced his heart.
[" Claire. "]
**********
"UUAAAAAAAAAH! "
"Tsk. You people should really learn how to die silently, " I jeered, and then threw the big muscled arm that I held on the body of its owner.
I sharply glared at the two corpses which were lying before my eyes. My eyes themselves twinkled like orbs of stars in that dark night.
"Tsk. " I clicked my tongue again as I was disgruntled from those men. They truly made it hard for me to finish them.
"Such people should learn the etiquette and manners of Death."
The smell of blood already covered the aroma of the forest where was I, but my face never crumpled, not even the slightest, as my sense of smell already took on it long ago.