Chapter 17

She still had no idea. No idea that one day, that very same sword of hers would be wielded by a Hero of the orc race. The beastkin princess was in her chambers, gazing listlessly out the window. Below her window, she could see the new town. After the war, the town had been built within a mere three-year timespan. Everything was still so new, but the old customs remained. It was a mishmash of a town, to be sure, but it was lively and exciting. The beastkin royal family was keen to make the town prosper. The princess didn’t know much about it all, but this town was built on holy land that had once been stolen away from the beastkin. Until the Beastkin Champion Rett had taken it back. Every resident of the town felt a great sense of pride toward him. In the battle to take down the Demon Lord Geddigs, Rett had died a hero. They had each dealt a killing blow simultaneously. Rett was the greatest legend in all of beastkin history, the pride of their race… “If they really respected Rett as much as they claim, then why must they spew these lies?” The truth was different. Oh, the part about Rett being a hero was all true, of course. But the facts behind the history differed in one key area. In order to preserve the good name of the hero and protect the pride of the beastkin race, they were all required to lie about that. It did not sit well with the princess. “The truth must be dug up and exposed.” The princess stared out the window, her expression twisted with hate. But it was not the town she was seeing in her mind’s eye. She was focused inside, ruminating on the dark sentiments of her soul. “I must have revenge. As tribute to Uncle Rett.” She still had no idea. No idea that the truth she clung to was actually false. Nor did she ever dream that all would come to light with the help of an Orc Hero. A girl watched her twin brother. He was doggedly swinging his sword. She had always watched him practice, but it was plain to see that he had no skill with the sword. That’s not to say he didn’t have the potential. But self-study would not lead him to greatness; that much was clear. “Hyah! Hyah!” “Have some water, Brother.” “Thanks.” The boy took the canteen and gulped down the contents. Then he resumed swinging his sword. The twins had a foe they needed to defeat. An enemy of their father and mother both. A powerful enemy. That was why the boy was practicing. His mind was singularly focused on striking down their enemy with his blade of vengeance. “…Brother, the sun is setting.” “Just a little longer.” “…I’m heading back first.” The boy continued to swing the sword, not answering. The girl sighed a little, watching him. She had given up. Their enemy was far too powerful to be felled by someone like her brother, even if he practiced the sword for months or even years straight. Of course, she wanted revenge for her parents as well. But she had managed to repress such emotions. Now all she feared was losing her brother, her only remaining blood. Never was she able to ask him to give up, however. “If only someone out there would kill them so we don’t have to…” She still had no idea. No idea that their quest for revenge would be brought to an end by an Orc Hero. A succubus was lying down in a wasteland beneath a sky full of stars. Below, the lights of a town were twinkling. But she wasn’t looking at the town. She was simply gazing at the sky. She was thinking of long ago. Of those who had fought so many times during the war. It was better back then. You didn’t have to think. You just fought to the point of exhaustion and then slept like a log. But not too deeply, of course. And then you would be jolted awake by reports of impending enemy attacks. She had always been tired. But at the same time, fulfilled. Now, though, I have entirely too much time to think. She thought about the events that led her to having to sleep outdoors like this. She had been driven out of the town, denied lodgings for no other reason than because she was a succubus. “Peace sucks.” She pictured the face of the mayor, the faces of the townspeople, who could barely hide their looks of disgust the moment they spotted a succubus in their midst. Their words had been all scorn and mockery. The war was over. The world was at peace. That was what people said. But there was no peace for the succubi. Peace was a privilege that only certain races got to enjoy. “They all deserve to die.” The succubus gazed up at the stars. At that very moment, in a desert somewhere, a certain orc was gazing up at the stars as well. She still had no idea. No idea that real peace would soon be brought to the world by an Orc Hero. Dragon had a friend, Bones. They were always together. They were together even now. Bones was a peculiar dragon. Bones was very interested in people and would often go down to the villages and scare them. Dragon did not know why Bones did this. People were tiny, with barely enough meat for a decent snack. It was better to leave them alone. But Bones was very, very interested in people. Eventually, Bones even mated with one and sired an egg. In the past, such dragons had existed, or so went the tales. But it seemed impossible to understand. Still, Dragon didn’t mind odd folks. And Bones’s tales of the people’s funny doings were amusing to listen to. Even if the stories themselves weren’t very interesting, Dragon liked to see Bones talking with so much enthusiasm. Then one day, Bones died. A puny person had come by and persuaded Bones to follow them somewhere. After that, Bones came back as…well…bones. Bones had fought with the people soldiers in the war and died. Bones’s body was collected by the ones who had slain him. Apparently, people found dragon bodies very valuable. Bones came back to Dragon. But the puny people who had taken Bones away brought back only the skull of Bones. The people apologized to Dragon. Dragon felt sadness for the first time in her life. Never before had she experienced the passing of one of her own. She did not fully understand. But seeing how deeply the little people apologized to Dragon, Dragon eventually realized that something had happened to Bones that could never be undone. Dragon spent a full year in sadness. Every now and then, to soothe her pain, she would fly to the towns and gobble up some of the little people. Why had Bones gotten involved in their insignificant people war? It did not make sense to Dragon. Then, all of a sudden, Dragon began to experience something she had never felt before. Curiosity. Dragon started to get curious about people. How had these tiny, weak beings, who ran screaming from Dragon, managed to kill Bones? She still had no idea. No idea that the one who had slain Bones was an Orc Hero.