Chapter 18: Our way forward.
"What happened!?" Servius screamed in shock as he and some other villages stared at the aftermath of last night. He gripped me by the shirt and shook me, "Rain explain yourself right now!" It was rare to see him so angry. The last time it had happened was five years ago when I had put crickets in his shoes as a prank.
"Settle down," I said slowly. "Now I know it looks bad but it could have been a lot worse."
"And who are they?" he shook me again as he pointed to Marley and Lara. "How did they even get here? First Taylor and now these two as well? Just what have you been doing lately?" He was getting a little off point.
"Once your father wakes up I'll explain," I released his grip on me.
As if on cue Servius' father grumbled towards us with bleary eyes, "I'm here so get to it. This better be good. You are a friend and guest of Kerchest but I'm beginning to remember you were also quiet the active child."
I nodded and became serious, "It would be better if we talked somewhere more private." I gestured to Ardent and the others and together we followed Servius and his father into the village hall. The belongings of the Imperium members were still piled in the corner. Ardent had gone through them and apart from some stranger equipment it was mostly harmless.
I led the explanation and introduced Marley and Lara while Ardent inputted his own knowledge about the Imperium. Of course I held some things back about the previous cycles but based on their knowledge I expressed what could have happened. It took quite some time to get through everything and by the end it was already late morning.
"I see…," Servius' father nodded sombrely. "To think we were in such danger. Had you not drugged us to sleep we might have been forced to fight one another. Still, I would have preferred if you warned me beforehand."
"I wasn't entirely sure what would happen," I lied. "In the case I was wrong I didn't want everyone to make a fuss."
He faced Lara, "And you with the white hair, Lara was it? You have my thanks."
Lara flushed, "No it wasn't just me. I really only came in at the end. It was Ardent, Taylor and Rain who did all the work."
Ardent shook his head, "It shames me to say but I could not defeat that abomination alone. Had you not come, we and the village would have perished. I still have much to learn."
I sighed, "Yep without you we'd probably all be dead." So much for my plan to not involve Lara, in the end I was pretty much useless.
"Kerchest owes you all a great debt," Servius' father bowed deeply. His head almost touching the table we sat at. "If there is anything we can do for you, say and we shall do our best to grant it."
I could tell Lara was going to refuse him but I cut in before she could speak, "Thank you it means a lot to us, but before that, we should probably help you fix up the village."
"That would be most appreciated," he laughed.
We ended our meeting and Servius' father told an abridged story of what happened to the villagers waiting anxiously outside. They thanked us more than I would have liked. The Imperium only found Kerchest by chance when they left Axel and more so they probably wouldn't have stumbled upon the village if we weren't here. In a way it was my fault this all happened and if any of them had died because of it…. I was just thankful it hadn't come to that. It was rare enough that something like this could come to such a peaceful end.
Unlike Ardent, Taylor and I, Lara and Marley weren't wearing any disguises but it didn't stop the villagers from fawning over them. Even as we worked to repair the broken and torn up earth, they continued to move towards them, Lara especially. It had been a while since I had seen her and there really was something about her that pulled your attention. It wasn't just her pretty face or white hair but a more special charisma I couldn't put a finger on.
A pain rapped through my head. I turned around angrily, "Hey."
Taylor stood with a displeased expression her hand poised to strike again, "Less gawking and more working. It's because of you I was thrown through that window. The least you could do is help."
I rubbed my head, "What's up with you? If you want my help just say so."
She huffed, "Look I get it. She's attractive in a lot of ways. If I could have a go with her I'd take the chance in a heartbeat but we have things to do."
"I got the point earlier," I frowned. "You didn't have to say it like that."
"Don't worry I'd have a go with you anytime as well," she winked seductively and purposefully blew into my ear. I jumped back as my heart thumped. I had forced myself to forget with all the other things that came up but the memory of two nights prior was still bare in my mind. The image of her lying next to me as I opened my eyes. Her head and bare skin poking from the blankets. Come to think of it, was she even wearing anything beneath it? My imagination was beginning to run wild.
I broke eye contact with her, "Ah, it looks like Servius needs my help over there."
"Um sure," Taylor looked at me confused as I left. The usual me would have just brushed her off.
Servius didn't really need my help and instead I was left to ponder at the edge of the village centre. Most of what needed fixing could be done by having Ardent till the earth back into shape with magic. The villagers however were having fun and coming up with things for him to do while they were at it. Trees that needed to be cut down, garden beds that would take too long to make themselves. Ardent however was completely drawn in as they cheered and flattered him calling him 'Master Wizard'. He was surprisingly susceptible to cheap words, something that I could save for later.
"You so owe me for this," the cheeky remark was said beside me. It was Marley. Unlike Taylor the girl didn't really know how to hide her presence and stuck out like a saw thumb. She grinned and looked up at me, "I feel like after this you should be my personal chef for a year."
"Is food all you think about?" I eyed her and sighed.
"Well I do have other interests you could help me with," her smile shifted several tones darker.
The shiver down my spine was far too real for comfort, "No, cooking's fine. Maybe not a year, but I can definitely make it worth your while."
"Then we have a deal," she nodded, quite happy with herself. With a hop she turned around about to leave.
"Hold on," I called her back causing her to look at me curiously. Her expression was a mirror of my own. "How are you okay with this?"
"With what?" she titled her head. "Healing is tiring but it's what I'm good at. Besides I also get a bonus when-."
"Not that," I interrupted her. "I mean with all of this here." I gestured around us and to the demons not so far away. Their features weren't at all hidden and open for the entire world to see. Lara I understood, she was a bleeding heart. Ardent was an open book of curiosity. Taylor didn't care. Even I had problems being around demons at first. Marley on the other hand. Since she had been here, she didn't bat an eye.
My question lingered in the air and as she turned to fully face me, Marley's girlish nature evolved into that of a mature women, "Rain. People are people. I was raised by the Temple of the Goddess, and despite everything, we need to love. If we don't, then we're no better than those who don't deserve it."
Her reply caught me by surprise as suddenly my opinion of her reformed. It wasn't just her statement but the look in her eyes that echoed memories heavier than her bubbly nature suggested.
"Besides," she laughed, "Demon, human, we all bleed."
I couldn't help let out a tired chuckle as well, "For what it's worth, I'm glad it's you that joined us for the journey."
"And I'm glad you joined us as well," Marley replied oddly sincere.
"For the food?"
"Not just that." Her hands tightened, "I didn't get the chance before but I wanted to thank you. I freaked out when that Monster attacked us. I was next to useless and if you hadn't been ready, not just Ronalt… we all could have died. So thank you." Before I could reply she flailed her body and pointed to me, "But that doesn't mean you don't owe me for this!"
"I get it. When we get back to Axel I'll make you a feast."
"A feast?" the new voice caused me to jump as it resounded beside my ear. I had become used to Taylor's sudden appearances but hearing Lara's voice so close was something else. She looked at me with all the innocence of the world. "Sorry did I scare you?"
"No…, I was just surprised," I mumbled.
"Marley do you mind if I talk to Rain for a bit?"
"No problem!" Marley saluted and walked away to where Ardent was helping the reconstruction. Though Lara had asked her politely, I feel like it would be hard to say no.
Now just the two of us, I was suddenly very aware of Lara's presence. "So did you need something?" I asked.
"Not really… just, is everything okay?"
I thought about it for a bit before replying, "Mostly."
"Mostly? Did I miss something?" she frowned in concern staring around me with watchful eyes.
I chuckled, "No the village is fine."
"Did Marley do something to you?"
"No, Marley is something else."
"Then it's Taylor? I saw you separate before."
"Actually yeah," I replied honestly.
"Wait really?" she was surprised. "Umm you two… you two looked pretty close now."
"Well we have been hanging around each other a lot," I said simply.
"Then what's wrong?"
I sighed and folded my arms, "Two nights ago the village held this big party to welcome us. I got drunk, Taylor got drunk, Ardent got really drunk, it was a pretty fun night. Thing is I remember going to bed with Taylor beside me and waking up next to her but I don't remember what happened between." For some reason it felt entirely natural for me to talk to Lara. Like I was already used to it. It might have been her charm as a Hero.
"Y-you two slept together?" Lara looked at me with wide and blushing eyes.
"See that's the thing. I don't know. We slept next to each other and I'm pretty sure I didn't do anything but with all the alcohol that night, I wouldn't say I'd trust myself."
"Drinking too much is bad for you," Lara huffed. "Does Taylor know?"
"I don't think so. She woke up after I did and she also drank more than I did." That and the way she was acting was far too normal. If she remembered and something did happen she'd probably gloat to me about it.
"Hmmm," Lara gazed at me sincerely. "Do you want to remember?"
"If it can give me some peace of mind, yes." Though when I really thought about it, if something did happen between us, how would that affect me? Would it change anything? With how Taylor could be I would probably be marked down as just another of her conquests. For me however, I'd never done anything like that….
"Then come here," Lara reached her hand towards me. "I know some magic that can free up your memory."
"You're not going to see anything are you?" There was a lot I wanted and needed to hide in there.
"No, it's not that kind of spell I promise," she said firmly and I trusted her… at least about 95%.
"Might as well," I stepped closer and Lara placed her hand on my head.
"You might feel a little uncomfortable." A wave of light spread around my eyes and after a few seconds a jolt ran through my brain. The world around me was sucked into darkness as flashes of my life spread through my eyes. Home, Axel, growing up. It sped forward. The recruitment as the Kingdom Knights took me away. The Queens speech. The Queens speech again. Me dying. Me dying again… and again. Then it slowed to the night of the party. Taylor and I linking arms as we danced around the fire. She took me into the room. Our beds put close together. Me saying goodnight… and then… and then… oh that was it. We really had just went to sleep.
Just as I thought the spell would end a sharp pain struck into the depths of my head. A flash of red hair. A bright light and a white room. Then I was kneeling and in front of me was Lara. Her sword was stuck into my chest stained blue. Her eyes were cold and dark staring at me with a despairing indifference.
"Die," she said simply and pulled the sword from my chest.
I jumped back and looked around. Where was I? Lara was standing in front of me with her hand still outstretched. Her eyes were bright, filled with life.
"Y-you didn't see that right?" I asked hesitantly.
"No…," she was concerned.
"Good…," I shook it off. Just what kind of memory was that? Nowhere in my previous lives had Lara killed me or at least not that I could think of. Was it a cycle I had forgotten? But her eyes. The way she looked at me. It was definitely Lara but at the same time I couldn't be sure. Or was it simply an illusion made up from my fears? I really couldn't tell.
"So… you two 'did it' then?" Lara asked, her face red. "I mean Taylor is that kind of person but I didn't think you'd go that far."
"Huh?" I looked at her confused. "Oh, no! Nothing happened. We really just went to sleep next to each other." I laughed a little forcefully. "All my worrying was for nothing. Looks like I can trust myself."
"You're not lying are you?" she focused her stare.
"Of course I'm not," I replied seriously. "I wouldn't lie about this."
After a few seconds she nodded and smiled, "I'll trust you." My heart clenched inside my chest. Lara really did look the best with a smile. With that settled I could look Taylor in the eye again without freaking out. Yep, I was still a virgin…, thinking about it, the thought kind of made me feel disappointed.