I’m not alone.
Many thoughts, many dreams through me, take the fight to the world.
✦ ✦ ✦
I know that God’s not always with me. And I also know you’re the god of fighting. A warrior god. The god of war.
But that’s not all I know. No, I’ve learned a lot. Because I’ve been watching Lady Kuroi all this time, because I’ve seen where and what Lady Kuroi looks at, and felt what she felt... so I know.
That God, you’re just like Lady Kuroi.
You’re strong, but weak. Skilled but clumsy. Kind and dedicated. With lots of anger, lots of sadness, so much that it’s exhausting. Enough to exhaust the heart. It’s hard to watch. Hard to just have you do things for us. We want to join your struggle.
It was hard for me when Dad always kept struggling, working hard by himself. But I didn’t complain, so that I could welcome him home. And that’s when Dad...
So, please. You can rest a little. Resting is important. It’s okay. It’ll be okay. The precious things won’t go away. They might get beaten up or dirtied, but we’ll protect them all together. So they’ll stay precious.
I can fight, too.
“You damned human brat! Fighting back when you’re just domesticated pets of the fallen leaves!” In a dark alley, a big vampire with a big voice. In his hand is a big metal stick with thorns on it.
“Time to make mincemeat outta you!” He swings down in a straight line, so I jump to the side. Wow, that’s loud and windy. But it doesn’t hit. I jump again. And again. Hopping to and fro. Once that’s done, next probably is...
“Damned annoying...!” Yup, he swings to the side. A giant, annoyed swing to the side. It’s tearing at the wall of a house. So I jump high. Dad pulls my hand. Dad told me that the arrogant can’t see what’s beneath them. Yup, so keep pushing me onward.
I jump over the vampire and land behind him. People who use violence as a toy can’t see anywhere but in front. I know that well.
“Goof!” Dad slashes at his back where there’s no arm. He also slashes behind the knee. Keep going!
“D-Damned rodent...!” I can move behind his butt before he can turn around to me. I’m so good at this Uncle Odysson begs me to stop!
“Guuof?!” Dad’s sword stabs underneath his arm. It’s the move he always showed me. It’s strong.
I get a little distance. Doesn’t look like I can finish him, yet. Vampires are really tough. Don’t rush. A little bit at a time. That’s all I need to do. And don’t get caught. Never get caught.
“Huh, you’re struggling, huh? Lame.”
“About time to switch, isn’t it? The one that catches her eats her, right?”
“What is it? You hungry now? Haha!” There’s plenty of vampires. Lots of them around. There’s a bunch on top of the roof, looking down. They’re making me fight, toying with me. They keep talking about how they’ll eat me, where do they want to eat; scary things like that.
But that’s okay. This is the only way I can stop them.
We’re in the tenement district. At the end of the alley are a bunch of people who didn’t get away. So I can’t let the vampires pass. I need to work hard, or the vampires will eat them all.
“C’mon, let’s give him a hand.”
“Yeah, good idea. How about we get to eat where we hit?” Rocks. The vampires behind are throwing them.
It’s dark, I can’t see them well, but it’s okay. Dad blocks them all. Sira’s not scared. Gotta ignore the ones only toying from afar. Right, Dad?
W-Wait, what is it, Dad? Why are you pulling me... Wow.
A giant ball of water falls from the sky, hits the ground, and sprays around it. Woah. It looks like there’s dozens of Dad’s arms. That’s what it looks like, he’s moving and blocking so quickly.
The vampires... Are they hurting? Or are they suffering? That ball of water, it must be poison. It’s that kind of magic. So did the elves help me? Is that how that works?
But I can’t breathe. I didn’t get very wet, but I’m having trouble breathing.
Oh. Maybe it’s from the air. Uncle Odysson was holding his mouth and nose in the lab. He said that’s because he’d breathe in little sprays of water even when it wasn’t steam...
“Gaaaah! You’re all damn annoying!” It’s coming. The spiky stick is coming.
But my feet won’t move. Dad, I can’t jump.
“Guh!” I got hit. It threw me aside.
It hurts. It hurts so much. But I’m still alive.
Dad, you saved me with your sword, didn’t you? And you made sure I didn’t hit the ground. Thanks for all your help. I’m so happy. I’m going to try, too. It’s hard, but it’s okay. I’m not alone, so it’s okay.
The sword... is all the way over there. Neither my hands nor Dad’s can reach it there.
“Putting me through all that trouble. I would’ve made it easy if you hadn’t struggled.” A hand. A scary hand’s coming. A hand that does nothing but take, a hand that brings nothing but pain. A hand that’s only extended for greed. A hand that treats humans like trash. A hand that wants to kill me.
“...Not to a hand like that.” Dad, please. Help me up.
So I can fight to the end. So I won’t lose.
“I won’t...” A hand, a hairy hand with yellow nails...
Oh... It falls as it’s sliced off.
It’s Dad’s sword. But Dad didn’t swing it. A black and red soldier did it. Who is it? I can’t see their face, but it’s familiar.
“Wha—the hell are you... Guh?!” Two more. Soldiers of the same color. The three defeated the vampire.
Oh, handing back the sword? Thanks. This is Dad’s sword.
They pat my head. All three have kind hands... They each pat my head differently. This feeling... Oh, so that’s it. I know now.
The one patting my head is Rakiel. The one combing my hair is Uncle Apollos. And the one grabbing my head is Locton. The three that played with me. The three that the elves and silver leopards killed.
Wow. You guys beat the vampires up on the roof, too.
The black and red... Oh, those are the mercenaries. The ones who had done their best to protect me until just a little while ago, the Red Lions. And the ones who defeated the rock-throwing vampires are... Lady Kuroi’s company. The horse is red and black, too. The mount that died is fighting with us again. The cavalry soldiers, they must have been fighting so hard until now, and they’re still fighting hard for us.
It’s so warm. Everyone’s glowing a gentle red, and despite it being night, it feels like the sunset’s back. The congestion in my chest that made it hard to breathe is melting away. It’s gone. This color. I really likes this color. It’s the color of the time when Dad comes back home. Dad, who keeps saying he’s all tired. He’s lit with this color when he says those magic words: “I’m home.” And so for everyone else, too.
“Welcome home.” Everyone in black and red just looks at me. Lady Kuroi alone gives me a little nod. And they’re waiting. All of them are waiting for my next words.
Okay. I understand even if you won’t say it. I feel your feelings. It’s not the same as coming home. It’s the opposite. It’s not to rest. Everyone’s come back. Come back from the place where they don’t have to fight anymore, so they can fight again.
That’s why I need to smile and say this:
“Thanks. Good luck.” Lady Kuroi nods firmly and heads off. With everyone else. Off to the battlefield.
Lady Kuroi said she won’t leave the world the way it is. She was angry at the world being a place that doesn’t care if there are humans in it or not. That’s why she fights.
Elves and vampires are going to learn who Lady Kuroi is. They can’t pretend they don’t know who she is anymore.
Because between day and night there’s always the color of sunsets. Same as sunrises. That’s what the world is.
The sky tells us that Lady Kuroi is here. It’s the same as saying that humans are still here. It’ll get that message across further than yelling.
It’s okay now. They’ll hear our wishes.
Good luck, Lady Kuroi. Good luck, everyone. I will be waiting.