A silver wolf, growling in the sight of a trapped meat. Its mouth had sharp fangs as saliva flows from it and its ferocious eyes were beaming under the moonlight, giving me the chill.
"Lilia. Get Claire out of here as fast as possible. I'll distract the wolf while I still can."
"But-"
"Just do it!"
"That voice… It can't be…" a familiar voice was heard within the rustling bushes and as the light of the moon revealed the face of the girl, my jaw dropped in surprise. "It really is you, Jay! Wolfy, stand down!"
Within seconds, the wolf's growl ceased and its size shrunk into a puppy.
"Hyacinth? You're alive! But how?!"
"I should be asking you that!" she scolded then cut the rope tying me, leaving me to fall into the snowy ground. "You went and left us! What are you? Some kind of hero to sacrifice yourself for us?"
"I… if you're alive, where are the others?" I asked, however it took her a while to respond.
"I don't know… all I know is that the moment light flashed with the pedestal, our bodies were ignited and were shot into the stars. Next thing I knew was I was here, two weeks ago."
"Two weeks? How is that possible? It hasn't even been a week since I got here."
"I don't know about you but it's already two weeks since I arrived here. And if it weren't for Donald and the village, I would have died from the cold…" Hyacinth claimed.
"Hold on… sorry to interrupt but is the village by chance that direction?" Lilia asked, pointing towards west where black smoke ascends to sky.
"Oh no! The village!" Hyacinth shouted, racing towards the direction of the smoke while the rest of us followed her. But the moment we got there, bandits were already raiding the place while the villagers fends for themselves with nothing but farming tools.
"Get away from our village!"As Hyacinth shouted, the pup transform into a large wolf while she dances with her small knife, defeating many bandits with just a few strike.
And something was different the more I watch her. She wasn't the same as before. Back then, I'm sure she couldn't even hurt a bug yet now, every enemy falls beneath her feet and her strength was incomparable from her previous state.
"Nina!!!" Hyacinth called, and within the fighting crowd, lightning struck the bandits and scattering them in every direction. And within the crater the lightning had strike, a girl rises with her head tied in a pony tail.
"You're late, Hyacinth." the girl claimed.
"Sorry. Just stumbled upon an old friend. What's the situation?" Hyacinth asked.
"As you can see, not good. I managed to get rid of the remaining forces however, more are advancing from the south." the girl claimed. "Hey, you! Friend of Hya. Join the fight, will you!?"
"O-Okay!" I responded however, Lilia was the first to take a step while I was stuck to where I was standing, carrying Claire behind me. Once again I was paralyzed. Not only does the thought of the weak me fighting holds me back, the thought of killing another persons immobilizes me as well. I have never ever did such thing and now, I had to or else its our heads that falls off.
"What are you doing, Jay?" Hyacinth shouted as I forced my body to move. It was their head or mine, the choice was obvious.
I laid Claire down into a safe place, hidden from the battle then took out the blade which once had killed me. My heart was beating loud while my hands trembles. And the moment a bandit rushes towards me, I instinctively moved and slashed the enemy.
The enemy fell into the ground, yet again, my thoughts were drowning me. For the first time, I had taken a life of a human. My hands were shaking, barely able to grip the hand of my blade as I watch the man who tried to kill me breath his last breath.
"ARJAY!" Hyacinth shouted but before I could react, I was sent flying as a strong impact hit me from the side. The pain from the impact was excruciating, I couldn't stand on my feet and soon, I was coughing blood.
"Ha-ha-ha, weaklings." A bulk bandit claimed as the other enemy forces laughed at my condition.
A brute was approaching, raising his axe to behead me but his arms were cut off in a flash and I saw the girl named Nina standing in front of me.
"... Lightning chain!" Nina shouted in rage then a thunderbolt hit her, making her disappear and no trace of her were seen anymore.
The bandits laughed harder until the thunderbolt came again and again, and from those bolts, Nina appears to attacked the enemies then disappears along with the thunder.
It happened numerous times that the only one left standing was the brute who struck me and he was the only one who was able to deflect Nina's last attack.
He was all alone but even one man could bring fear towards the tired villagers that they couldn't do a thing to fight for their village.
Nina's ability stopped and she was short in breath. She's having hard time evading the enemy's attack until she collapse on the ground.
"I'm impressed but still... weak" he mocked, preparing to assault the defenseless girl.
In the verge of getting killed, Hyacinth rushed to her aid and deflect the attack which barely worked.
"Can't tell when to give up eh?" the enemy spoke.
Although battered, the two went against the bandit leader assisted by Hyacinth's wolf. Fear and pressure could be seen in the eyes of the two however they didn't dare giving up.
Lilia on the other hand took the initiative to evacuate the villagers into safety while firing arrows into the bandit leader, barely giving enough time for the two to rest.
I too should be doing something and not relying on three girls saving my ass. I want to help too but I was too weak that I couldn't even stand. My left arm is done for and every part of my body aches in pain.
And all I could do was close my eyes, hoping and waiting for my strength to comeback as quickly as possible.
"Pathetic!" the voice from before mocked.
The sound of what was happening started to fade until I could vaguely hear anything. The crashing of the waves became louder, and water splashes into my face.
I was back in the dark void.
"I never thought my incarnation would be this pitiful…"
"Who… who are you!?" I questioned however all I could see was darkness. All I could hear was the crashing sound of waves, as if I was in the sea.
"How can you stand there while three girls are protecting you?" it mocked once more, yet I couldn't see a thing from where I was.
"I tried alright! I've been trying all my life yet all I could be is the bare minimum to others! I've tried everything yet it isn't enough!"
"Pathetic little creature…" it said. "Then feed me and I might give you a portion of my power"
On the world within my consciousness, the darkness open its eyes and a dragon was glaring at me and expecting something to be given.
"Then how should I feed you? What do you even eat? My soul?"
"No… That feeling of yours. Feed it too me!" He growled.
"ugh... which one? If it's love, sorry it's taken"
"... I don't need such thing, pathetic creature. It's not even loved back by that person..." He mocked.
"Hey, don't start with me! If you want to feed on anger, I got plenty you stupid dragon!!"
"... Rage is not I seek..." He stated. "Tell me, what do you feel seeing those three?"
"Them?" I asked then a window like eyes opened and showed what was happening in real time outside my consciousness.
The three were barely winning against the big guy and even the three had joined forces, still, the enemy had the advantage and kept pinning them down.
Lilia with her fiery bow, Nina with lightning fast strikes and coordination of Hyacinth's attack with her wolf. Their were all amazing despite the overwhelming force of the enemy.
"... Pity? Concern?" But there was still a dissatisfaction in the dragon's voice as I answer.
I looked closely but I couldn't notice what he wanted me to feel. They were fighting but barely surviving. Their cooperation and teamwork seem to be keeping them alive but I don't think it would last long.
"Remorse... Is that it? Maybe hopelessness?"
"Don't need that either..." The dragon answered.
"what is it anyway? Tell me already!"
"I can't remember what it was after a long long time but i can remember what it feels. But to describe it to you, its taste would become... Stale… Unsatisfactory…"
I can't think of any and watch them until they were all loosing and couldn't fight any longer. The line was getting cut short and time's running out.
If only I had magic and strength like them... I could stop or at least help... But no... I had to be born this weak and useless. Powerful and complete... that meaning don't suite me...
"I can't do this... I give up... Just let me out… "
"that feeling... It still not it... Sure you want to get out? Even though won't do a difference?" the dragon asked.
"... Then what am I supposed to do? I'm still useless no matter what I do... If only... I was strong as them... If only I had magic... Maybe at least I could help... even a little… If only..."
They were really amazing, all of them. Hyacinth, Nina, Lilia, everyone in my life… They already achieved great feat yet I, was still have nothing. I'm still as useless as before…
"... if only I was like them…"