"Just what the hell happened here?"
A group of man could be seen, walking around the town. They were wearing a silver-ish knight armor, With a lion crest on their cape.
"Truly, a disastrous scene. There are corpse everywhere..."
One of the knight felt frightened by the scenery.
"I really hope we can bury all of them, but not right now... Mage!"
A man wearing a blue robe, walk toward the man.
"Burn them all."
"Alright, as you wish general."
The man point his staff toward one of the building.
"Flame that tear the world apart, the mighty pillar of the world. Burn everything with your might! Hellfire!"
A big red circle appeared infront of the man. A giant storm of fire came out of the circle, quickly spreading, burning through all the building in the town, aswell as all of the corpse.
"We can't let the other take this town as their camp. All thing must be destroyed."
The group of men quickly get on their horse and walk away from the burning town.
***
I woke up from my sleep. I look to my right, Claudia was no longer there. I stand up, walking around searching for her. Wait, i noticed something feels off.
'My sword?'
Wait, where is my sword? No way. I quickly ran around the whole cave, looking for her. Don't tell me she took my sword. I shook my head, i went outside the cave. I looked around, and i find Claudia just standing still.
She was holding something, wait, that's my sword... i widened my eyes. She was pointing my sword toward her stomach. I ran toward her, tackling her to the ground.
"L-let go of me!"
This girl, is she crazy?! How could i let her go when she was about to kill herself.
"Kill me! Please, i beg you!"
She was screaming, tear was flowing down her eyes.
"I... had enough... i'm tired... please... just.... kill me..."
Smack!
I punched her right into her cheek. She was shocked by the sudden punch. How could you throw your life away like that? Do you think you're the only one who is suffering? I'm also tired seeing that kind of scenery. I wanted to say those word, but i can't talk at all.
She was still crying, i slowly hug her. Pulling her head toward my chest. She didn't got startled like last time. She hugged me back
"UWAAH! Why.... Why did this happend to me?"
The monster inside the forest slowly came out revealing themselves. I glared at them, with a murderous gaze. Meeting my gaze they quickly retreated back into the forest.
[Quest completed.]
[Reward : Bone Materialization(Low) has been given.]
After crying for hours, Claudia fell asleep on my arm. A sweet girl like her, experiencing all of this... this is truly a cruel world. I brushed her hair with my finger. I carried her inside the cave, putting her down on the ground.
I sat down on the ground.
"Huh?"
What's this? I touched my face with my palm, there was a liquid on my face.
Ha..ha..ha, i can't believe this, im crying? I see, after all, im also tired... Ha..ha.
[Host's mental is shaking!]
[Activating Heart Of Paladin.]
Truly the right moment, Zero. I smiled. As i went asleep aswell.
[...]
***
"Your majesty, we have succesfully destroyed the town."
A knight was standing down on his knee.
"Good job, General Marcus."
"It is my pleasure, Your majesty."
The knight look down on the ground. As the man infront of him, the king slowly stand up from his throne.
"Your majesty, the great war will be coming any year now. Shouldn't we nurture the young talent to prepare for the great war?"
"You're right, General. But you're wrong about one thing."
"The Krizyantins Empire's future is safe with them, most of them are already talented and strong enough. They don't need nurturing."
"Beside, shouldn't we the old head that need to be ready for retirement as we watch them rule the new era?"
"Yes, your majesty."
***
As the king went outside the castle, he held his hand high.
"My citizens! Today! Is the day our Krizyantins Empire was founded! Let us begin the festival!"
"Hail the king!"
"Glory to the empire!"
People were cheering as the king said those words.
"Those people sure is noisy."
A man with a white hair tied down to the back, there was a scar on his left eye, Wearing a brown vest and white shirt.
"Just let them be Sir Zerk, after all this is what they need before the war."
A woman with a long black hair, wearing a black long robe, and a pointed hat. Appeared behind the man.
"Instead of doing this, we should've prepare them for the upcoming war."
"So, you want to destroy the celebration and become a traitor to the empire?"
"You know, i'm not scared of the empire. I'm just respecting my brother's will."
"Of course, how can the Bloody Hound be scared of the empire? But if you ever become an enemy to the empire, i will stop you."
The man turned around and walk passed the woman. Before stopping his foot, right behind her.
"You can't stop me, Archmage."
The woman smiled.
"True, but i can still restrict your movement. Right?"
The man walked out of the room.
"What an hard-headed old man. Definetly not what to be when i became old."
The woman took a seat, watching the Empire through the window. She leaned against the chair, while crossing her arm.
'The great war, can it be stopped?'
***
[Your understanding of 'Bone Materialization(Low)' have increased.]
Right, there's that. Apperently if i keep doing this, my understanding of this ability increased. I looked at the bone in my hand, before throwing it on the floor.
[Activating Bone Materialization(Low)]
I opened my palm, consentrating my thought into it. Just as i do that, white particle began to slowly gather, materalizing it's shape into a bone.
Good to know that i can make bone now, but still, it's exhausting.
"Mr, skeleton?"
I turned my head. Looking at Claudia behind me.
"Are we going to leave this place?"
I looked at my surrounding, this is my birthplace. But there's nothing left that i can do here. Moreover, i need to know. What kind of place is this. I nodded my head at Claudia. I'll miss this place, but now it's time to leave.
"Alright."
Claudia went outside the cave. Oh yeah, i forgot, she need new clothes. Her clothes were torn apart before. Right now she is only wearing an old robe i gave her to cover up her body.
I went outside the cave, glancing back for a moment.
"Shall we?"
I nodded. We walked away from the cave, going down the narrow path.