Side Story: Of Endings and Beginnings
Part 4: Tragedy and Revival
It had only been a few minutes since the battle began, but in that short time, the ground around Nero and I was gouged, torn up, and strewn with the remnants of fallen trees. We ignored it all and went on fighting, but as we did, the balance began to shift.
Nero thrust his hand at me, wrapped in wind magic. It sliced open my cheek as I narrowly evaded the blow to land an uppercut. The punch connected, sending the demon flying through the air. I heard Nero groan and followed him to launch a follow-up strike, but he blocked it with the handle of his sword and plummeted back to earth, right where his demons were fighting.
“Let’s end this!” I shouted, healing my cheek and leaping to meet him where he fell.
The demon forces my unit were fighting were clearly shaken by the sight of their leader slamming into the ground by their side.
“Quit playing,” I growled at Nero. “I know that didn’t hurt. Now get up.”
“This is never going to end,” Nero muttered, rising to his feet and letting out a derisive chuckle. “It was supposed to be such a simple job. All we had to do was capture some monsters. I never imagined that we’d have to deal with something like this. And look at my men. After all the work I put into training them . . . I see that your unit is impressive in their own right, Rose.”
“What are you on about now?”
“I’m praising you. You are the most powerful opponent I’ve ever faced. And the most troublesome, at that.”
“Well thank you very much,” I said sarcastically.
It doesn’t look like he’s trying to buy himself time. But it doesn’t look like he’s given up, either.
The fighting had paused as we stood there in the middle of the battlefield.
So what is he up to?
“There are no real heroes among the humans,” said Nero.
“Huh?”
“That’s what I thought, anyway. I thought that the world was free of people who wielded such tremendous power.”
“So what? So you think that you can beat us now that we don’t have a hero? Is that what you think? Because if so you have severely underestimated us.”
“True. But I think differently now. In the coming war, you will be our greatest hindrance.”
“War?!”
Is it possible that the demons are really preparing for war? Are the Growolves a part of their plans?
“The age of demons living in fear of humans is coming to an end. Our king will awaken. His existence brings with it cruelty, brutality, and murder, but for us demons it will also bring grace, blessings, and victory.”
“What . . . are you even . . .” I uttered.
“That is the very reason that, to ensure victory, and for the prosperity of our entire race, we must stop you here at any and all costs. Yes . . . even if that means our very existence.”
Nero’s words had an immediate impact on his men. It hardened them. Nero’s grip on his sword was tight enough to draw blood, and with bloodshot eyes, he glared at those around him.
This is bad.
“Everyone! Get clear!” I shouted.
“We are the Demon Lord’s blade!” yelled Nero. “Even if it means our own end, we will ensure that our enemies join us in hell!”
The demons roared, stirred into a frenzy. They once again launched themselves at my unit. The knights fought back valiantly, but the demons did not even bother to defend themselves anymore.
“What the heck?!” cried one knight.
“They’ve gone berserk!!”
As a sword sank into one demon, it gripped the blade with one hand and, grinning wildly, thrust its own blade into a knight’s arm. The demons had made their decision; they would kill us by any and all means, even if it meant sacrificing their own lives. My unit was being worn down, wounded, and battered by the demons’ frenzied attacks. But when I moved to help them, Nero blocked my path.
“Damn you!” I spat.
“I’m a real demon now, aren’t I?” he said. “I have forced my own men to their deaths, and in doing so, I drag you into the mud and grime of real war.”
“Get out of my way!”
I was overwhelmed by rage. I cocked a fist, clenched with everything I had, and leaped forward. I was intent on decimating anything that stood in my way.
“In the chaos, you falter,” said Nero.
My fist met nothing but air, so I leaped backward. But by then it was too late. A horrendous pain shot through my right eye. I roared with pain. Nero had cut open my eye and half of my vision had gone immediately red. I put a hand to my face and looked at Nero, expressionless as he wiped my blood from his blade.
“You are all too easy to read when you’ve lost your cool,” he said.
“A cut like this means nothing to me!”
I can heal it!
I sent healing magic through my hand and into my eye, but the magic simply dissipated into the air.
“What?!” I exclaimed.
“This scarlet magic blade of mine cuts through and severs magical energy. The wounds it opens remain cursed for a time. What this means is that your healing magic is useless against any cut made with this sword.”
I had known that Nero wielded a cursed or magic sword, but I had never imagined that it would negate my own advantage. For the time being, my vision would not return, no matter how I used my magic. As that fact dawned on me, I became aware of the cries of my unit.
They cannot fall here. Not like this. I can still save them. I can heal them.
“Even with your vision halved, you still intend to fight?” asked Nero. “You are essentially crippled, so let me end this here.”
Blood continued pouring from my eye. The rest of me was fine, but I’d lost my depth perception. It made me essentially useless in battle. Nero raised his sword up high. In my confusion I was at a sudden loss. Should I dodge out of the way, or rush in and close the distance? Nero’s blade screamed down, and my body responded for me. Instinctively, I rushed in to close the distance.
But I had only sealed my fate.
“It’s over,” Nero uttered.
“No!”
At that very instant, I heard a voice from somewhere, and felt somebody push between Nero and me, saving me from Nero’s blow.
“Aul . . .” I uttered in disbelief, watching as she stood before me.
“Captain,” Aul uttered, glancing at me for the briefest second.
In her eyes, I saw relief. They showed how glad she was that I was safe, and how happy she was to have made it to me in time.
But before she could do anything else, Nero’s blade cut straight through her, opening a wound that ran deep, straight from her shoulder to her ribs. Aul slumped to the ground, coughing blood as she struggled even to breathe. Nero nodded in a silent show of respect, then once again readied his sword. We were the only two left standing. All of the demons aside from Nero himself were dead. My knights were too, their corpses strewn across the plains, impaled on swords and spears.
I was too late. I couldn’t save them. I had the power to help them, but still they died. They died believing in me. Believing that I would heal them. They died knowing that I can heal all wounds. They died certain of the fact that with me by their side, no mission was impossible. How did this happen? My unit is dead, and I have lost an eye. Our enemy has the advantage. You should have run, Aul. If you had fled, you might have survived. If you hadn’t saved me, you might still be alive.