Night Eclipsed by the Crimson
Finally, I had managed to find the calmness, the serenity I had yearned for after so many years. However, as I arrived in the vestibule leading to the entrance, I found Rem, Ram, and Emilia speaking with someone at the door.
I approached as quickly as I could and heard the words I never wished to hear.
"Beasts have attacked the village! They've wounded many people and taken several of them! Please!" The man knelt before all of them. "I beg you to save them all!"
The man's tears and his blood-stained clothing made it clear that this was no ordinary matter. Something truly grave had happened. Rem and Ram seemed disoriented, as their primary mission was to guard the mansion.
Emilia is the first to speak.
"We have to go!" Emilia says without a doubt.
Rem and Ram looked at Emilia with a serious expression.
"We were tasked with guarding the mansion; we can't leave."
My hands trembled, but I decided to confront the fear that overcame me. I couldn't allow the tragedy to unfold without taking action. I quickly interjected in the conversation.
"The villagers are also a part of Roswaal."
Aware that the villagers were also part of Roswaal and leaving them to perish would be a betrayal of our word. There was no time to waste, though I was unaware of the details of what was happening; I knew this wasn't a situation that could be compared to a novel.
"We have to go!" I exclaimed with determination, directing my gaze directly at Rem. She understood that we couldn't afford to hesitate in these crucial moments.
"That might be your plan," Rem replied, her tone filled with suspicion.
Without hesitation, I firmly grabbed Rem's arm and pulled it towards me. Our faces met, hers showing surprise and anger. There was no time for niceties; I needed her strength to face this situation.
I tightened my grip and spoke firmly:
"I would never kill someone who doesn't deserve it. You can distrust me, but don't dare to compare me to a murderer," I released her hand forcefully. "Decide quickly if you'll become a killer, because that's in your hands. I will do everything in my power to save these people."
The three of them stared at me. After all, they had never witnessed this side of my personality, but I was tired of so much foolishness. I couldn't allow people to die while I remained impassive.
"Say something!" I shouted desperately at Rem.
She closes her eyes for a moment, her hands trembling, but quickly opens them.
"I don't trust you, but I also can't allow the people Mr. Roswaal cares for to die."
A smile forms on my lips upon hearing those words. Emilia and I exchange a relieved look. Ram, on the other hand, seems to understand the gravity of the situation.
"Ram! Relay these words to Beatrice: 'Remember that we made a bet, I need you now.' She'll understand," I urgently instruct.
Ram instantly grasps what I mean.
"Understood," she responds before running inside the mansion.
"Stay at the mansion, we need to get there quickly," I tell the man accompanying us, noticing he's holding an axe in his hand. "Give me the axe; I need a way to defend myself."
I take the axe, and the three of us hurry toward the village. Ram and Emilia lead the way, their bodies moving faster than human speed, but I have my own tricks up my sleeve. I smile as I activate my wind magic, creating a gust behind me that propels me even faster. I only need to coordinate each step to avoid stumbling.
We rush toward the village, our hearts beating in time with urgency and uncertainty. As we approach, the vision of fire devouring the area becomes clearer. Flames dance wildly, fueled by the unleashed chaos. Heart-wrenching screams echo through the air, a desperate symphony of anguish and fear.
"Roswaal!"
The scene unfolding before our eyes is nightmarish, a living nightmare. Fire clings to the houses like an insatiable monster, consuming wood and hope alike. The flames dance with unrestrained fury, devouring everything in their path and leaving behind a trail of devastation.
The ground is stained with dark crimson, marked by the traces of blood as silent witnesses to the tragedy. The scene is macabre, a somber reminder of the violence and suffering that has befallen this place. Some beasts lie lifeless on the ground, evidence of a battle that has taken place.
Heart-wrenching cries pierce the air, a cacophony of terror and desperation. People run frantically, seeking refuge in houses not yet consumed by flames. But not everyone is fortunate enough to find shelter in time, and the ground serves as a painful reminder of those who didn't escape the unleashed fury.
For a moment, we are paralyzed by the scene, inundated by a mixture of disbelief and horror. But duty calls us to act, to confront the darkness with courage and determination.
I turn to Emilia, aware that her ability to heal and protect can make a difference in the midst of the chaos.
"Emilia, stay in the village, heal the wounded, and protect the others. Hold on until Beatrice and Ram arrive," I instruct Emilia, knowing her capacity to mend and provide protection. She nods determinedly and heads towards the cries and trenches, ready to face adversity with compassion and courage.
As I observe her determination, I can't help but feel a mixture of concern and bewilderment. Why is this happening? How is it possible that the village has descended into this chaos of blood and fire?
The stench of blood and the spread of flames fuel my indignation and the need to uncover the truth. Why would Roswaal do something like this?
"Rem! Extinguish the fire."
She looks at me for a brief moment, but her prompt response makes it clear that she's ready to act.
"Huma!" Rem shouts, summoning large amounts of water that she deftly directs towards the points where the flames threaten to consume everything.
It's then that Rem points out a trail of blood on the ground, a clue that could lead us to the missing people.
"It must be where they're taking the people! How in the hell did something like this happen?"
Rage consumes me. I'm disgusted, not only by the horror that surrounds us but also by the sense that there's a guilty hand behind all of this. I know that Subaru, the protagonist of the novel, had to earn the villagers' trust by saving the children, but this goes beyond a simple story. The selective kidnapping can only have a more sinister purpose, one that I don't fully understand yet. I don't understand why, but I'll have to uncover it. I have to figure out what's in that damned book.
"Let's go!" I grab Rem's arm, and we follow the trail.
Emilia, with her strength and resilience, has stayed in the village to protect those in need. I trust that she will fulfill her task with dedication and courage while we move forward in search of answers. As we venture into the forest, we notice that several crystals have disappeared, another sign that something sinister is brewing in the shadows.
"The crystals..." Rem looks uncertainly toward the forest, then back at me.
Fear wells up inside me as I contemplate the uncertainty reflected in Rem's face. However, I can't allow innocence to pay the price for the ambitions of a ruthless psychopath. Nor can I allow the mere existence of my being to cause more death and suffering.
In an attempt to control my fears, I firmly grip the handle of the axe, seeking tangible support in it. At that precise moment, three mabeasts emerge from the bushes, their grotesque appearance and menacing horns arousing a visceral repulsion in me.
Rem, without hesitation, launches herself at the monstrous dogs. She wields her mace with determination and hurls it with precision, striking the mabeasts one after another. The impacts make the mabeasts explode in a burst of brutal force, reducing them to nothing more than lifeless bodies on the ground.
The scene is shocking, the lifeless bodies of the mabeasts lie there, having had no chance to resist Rem's onslaught.
"You're strong," I remark, looking at the mabeasts' bodies.
"That's not something you say to a girl," Rem retorts.
We continue determinedly through the dense forest, with only the faint moonlight to guide us. To counter the darkness, I conjure a small flame over my head. Although this may attract more mabeasts, it allows us to trace the path marked by blood.
However, our progress will not be easy. Several monsters leap at us, unleashing their ferocity without mercy. In an instant, a mabeast lunges toward my face with its jaws wide open, seeking to bite me. With a nimble maneuver, I crouch down, and the creature passes by, giving me a chance to counterattack.
Quickly, I deliver a powerful blow with my axe, splitting the mabeast in two halves. Without pause, I spin my body and, using the momentum, lift the axe from below to attack another of the mabeasts. The weapon's edge cleanly cuts through its head, bringing it to the ground. Although the impact is strong and almost makes me lose my grip on the axe, I struggle to hold it firmly in my hands.
Two more dogs rush at me from the sides, and I realize that I can't rely solely on Rem, who is also fighting her own enemies. Without hesitation, I release the axe and, with both hands, conjure fireballs that I throw at the mabeasts, seeking to hit them and repel their advance.
"Die!" I shout as the flames collide directly with the mabeasts' faces, stopping their advance and smothering them. The creatures struggle desperately in all directions, but I pick up my axe and, one by one, behead them.
I feel the weight of the effort in my body; the axe becomes heavier, and the constant use of magic drains my energy. I pant tiredly, but we can't afford to waste time.
"Recirculate your mana to regain energy; we don't have time to lose."
I look at her and see that she has annihilated a large number of mabeasts. Her mace drips with blood, but her dress remains pristine, demonstrating her impressive skills and dexterity.
"Yes!" I respond with determination.
We continue running, not stopping, as we face the mabeasts that stand in our way. Our exhaustion begins to show, especially in me, as I don't possess a superhuman body like Rem's. However, we don't let that deter us and press on, fighting relentlessly.
"Up ahead!" I shout and start to accelerate.
The scene is heart-wrenching. The wounded and agonizing bodies scattered on the ground, the silent cries of those trying to ask for help. My body reacts with nausea, but I restrain myself from vomiting. Rem, braver than I am, rushes to assist the injured people.
Among the bodies, a child emerges from a bush and clings to my leg. His vacant gaze and incoherent babbling reveal that he has been deeply affected by the attacks. His arm is horribly mutilated; I can even see the bone exposed.
While Rem begins to heal the wounded, I realize that the most important thing is to get these people out of here as soon as possible.
I carefully pick up the child in my arms and carry him to a safe place. It's evident that they need urgent medical attention, and we can't afford to waste more time in this macabre field.
My voice falters, but I try to stay calm as I search for solutions to help these helpless victims.
"Rem!" I walk towards her with the child in my arms. "Get the children out first; we'll take them to the village with Emilia."
I place the child next to her. There are two more children, but they don't seem to be injured, just unconscious.
"But the mabeasts could come back!" Rem says, looking at me.
"Don't worry," I stand firm. "I'll protect these people with my soul."
I offer my arm for a fist bump and smile.
She looks at me surprised; after all, the fear inside me is gone.
"I'll prove to you that I'm trustworthy, so go and come back quickly."
Rem looks at me for a few seconds, quickly takes the three children, and without a word, leaves the area.
I turn my gaze to Rem, who vanishes into the darkness of the forest.
"Don't die!" she pleads.
"If that makes you happy," I respond to the empty air.
There are nine other people on the ground, and I quickly arrange them face up. Some of them bear mortal wounds, while others have minor lacerations.
With my axe, I cut their clothes and begin applying tourniquets. I don't know how long Rem will be gone, but stopping the bleeding is crucial.
These people can barely open their eyes. Some are gasping for breath, while others spit blood from their mouths. The injuries on some are undoubtedly fatal.
"I'm sorry," I mutter to one person as I fashion a tourniquet from his pants and a stick to halt the bleeding from his missing leg.
"AAAGHH!" he screams, attempting to grasp my hand but lacking the strength to push me away.
With the tourniquet in place, I try to move on to the next person, a woman. As I approach her, I notice she's unresponsive, but her eyes are fixed on me. I try to assess the situation, so I remove her shirt, and...
"Fuck!" I instinctively cover the area. Her abdomen had been chewed, and her blood had already engulfed her body, thick and viscous.
This woman is already dead.
I attempt to move towards another person. However, life can be far from
¡Grr! ¡Grr! ¡Grr! ¡Grr! ¡Grr! ¡Grr! ¡Grr! ¡Grr! ¡Grr! ¡Grr! ¡Grr! ¡Grr!
¡Grr! ¡Grr! ¡Grr! ¡Grr! ¡Grr! ¡Grr! ¡Grr! ¡Grr! ¡Grr! ¡Grr! ¡Grr! ¡Grr!
I turn my head in all directions, the growling of the beasts filling the air, with the moon as my sole source of light. I grip the axe tightly as I prepare myself, watching as several red eyes peer out from the shadows. I'm surrounded by these creatures, with many people behind me to protect.
The situation is entirely against me; I'm not as strong as Rem, nor do I possess as many magical advantages as Emilia. But...
"Don't think for a moment that I won't defend the people here, don't think I'll stand idly by while a psychopath does as he pleases," I declare, gripping the axe and igniting it with fire.
It's time to give it my all, time to make all the work I've put in count. I'm not someone they can toy with at their whim; I'll never surrender.
The flames engulf the axe, burning intensely. The handle begins to char and crack, but then I create a wind around me. With the wind, I shape the axe, causing it to meld with the temperature I'm generating. To hell with the miasma; now I have something to do.
"I will protect these people with my life," I declare. The axe is now a mass of liquid iron, held together by the pressure and force of the wind. "I will protect them because my name is Marco Luz!"
With a shout, I stomp on the ground, creating a powerful shockwave that sweeps in all directions. Dozens of mabestias are launched towards me, but I use wind magic to accelerate my body and act swiftly. With a horizontal motion, the beasts are engulfed in flames, while pieces of metal rain down on them, leaving them immobilized.
The axe no longer allows me to move with agility, so I take the opportunity to burn the remaining mabestias. They fall one by one, but I know everything has its limit.
The molten iron in the axe depletes, leaving me defenseless against the remaining mabestias that hurl themselves at me. I am attacked from all directions, and if they bite me, it will be my end.
"Fura!" I create an explosion of wind around me, sending the mabestias flying in different directions.
They crash into the ground and the trees, hiding among the bushes. Now that I've lost the axe, I'm left with only this. I spot a small kitchen knife that one of the villagers had. I quickly adopt a defensive stance, relying on my training with short-range weapons.
Confident in myself, I wait for the mabestias to attack me, but the attack doesn't come. It seems they are taunting me, growling in different directions.
But then I realize their intentions.
"Damn!"
With a quick move, I launch myself towards the mabestias approaching the wounded, using wind magic to propel myself. With all my momentum, I pounce on the first mabestia and slash its neck, leaving it sprawled on the ground.
I raise my arm to slash at another mabestia approaching a person, but mistakes have consequences.
"Argh!" My arm is bitten by a mabestia, which uses its weight to make me lose balance and fall. I am defenseless on the ground, feeling intense pain. The bite seems to tear through my muscles completely.
I close my eyes for a moment, remembering the time I was shot through with a bullet. In comparison, this is nothing.
"Bastard!" I directly stab the mabestia that attacked me in the head, and once it falls, I realize that there are several mabestias on top of me. They launch themselves at me, their mouths eager to tear me apart. But I won't allow that.
With an explosion of wind, I halt their speed, suspending them in the air for a moment. In that moment, I step back and, kneeling, use another spell.
As if it were a flamethrower, a blaze engulfs all the beasts, causing them to fall to the ground charred.
I stand up to assess the situation, and there are still mabestias left. Seeing that their surprise attack failed, some are heading toward me. However, not all are following the pack; I can see one heading towards the wounded.
I try to move my left arm, but it doesn't respond. The mabestia approaches rapidly, and I feel dizzy from the stress. Even though I'm surrounded by mabestias, Rem is nowhere to be seen.
"She should be here by now! She's faster than me! Will she let me die? Is it a miscalculation, and she'll let me die? "
The blood boils inside me; in the end, she's still the same bastard. But I'm not.
With no other options, I use fire to melt the kitchen knife, transforming it into a molten iron ball. I take a throwing stance and, as if I'm throwing a baseball, hurl the molten iron ball. I use wind magic to propel it, making it travel at incredible speed. The ball pierces the mabestia, and for a brief moment, I smile for having saved them.
But as I mentioned before, mistakes have consequences.
The projectile destroys part of a tree, which begins to fall towards the people. Instinctively, I rush to the spot and, using wind magic, try to push the tree in another direction. However, it seems my magic isn't strong enough, and it fails due to my weakness.
"Damn!" "Damn!" "Now's not the time to hold back."
With that thought, I release my mana without control. I launch myself towards the falling tree and, in mid-air, position myself to kick it. The moment my leg touches the tree, I shout:
"FURA!" My own version of the spell is unleashed, channeling the pressure into my feet and causing all the wind to strike in an instant.
Wind alone is useless, but at high speeds, it can effortlessly lift even houses.
The wind carries me along with the tree fragment, soaring through the air until I land on the ground. I try to control my descent using wind magic, but the impact I receive drags me into collision with the tree trunk. My mind begins to blur, but I don't have time to waste. I walk toward where the wounded are, placing my jacket over my arm to cover the wound.
As I walk, I notice that parts of the tree are embedded in my leg. The pain is unbearable; my body is burning, and my eyes feel heavy. But I won't give up, not in this world, even if it costs me my life.
When I finally arrive, I see that the mabestias were waiting for me, as if it were somehow orchestrated. Their furious gazes lock onto me, but my determination crushes any hint of fear that might arise. I still have mana, and I want to try something. After all, wind is the best conductor of sound.
If I use a sonic wave and enhance it with wind magic to increase its strength and range, maybe I can achieve something. I position myself in front of the wounded, my own wounds dripping blood as I gasp for breath.
"I'm not a toy!" I prepare my throat as all the mabestias watch me with anger. I quickly finish my preparations and shout, "DIE!"
An incredibly powerful shockwave spreads through the air, raising dust as it travels. It advances towards the mabestias, forcing them to retreat due to the intensity of the scream. My ears start bleeding, just like those of the wounded.
I can't go on any longer.
"Buarh!" A large amount of blood spurts from my throat. My heart beats fiercely, my vision turns reddish. At this very moment, the miasma attacks me fiercely; my heart seems to want to escape from my chest as I fall to the ground, powerless.
Kneeling, I try to gather mana to control the miasma, but I can't focus. To make matters worse, as if it were a cruel joke, I hear them.
Grr!
Three mabestias remain in front of me; the others have fled, but for some reason, these three have stayed. Their saliva is red, they appear injured, but at the same time, they fixate their gaze on me.
I am their meal to recover.
As they draw near, I attempt to rise, using all my strength, but my heart aches again, and blood flows from my nose and ears. I fall to the ground, awaiting my end; after all, everything I did was in vain.
I couldn't make Rem trust me, and that's why I will now die.
Having let myself be hopeful during this week has been a mistake that I must pay for. The mabestias leap towards me, and all I can do is watch as they attempt to devour me.
My arm is broken, my legs are completely injured, and I can't use mana because of the miasma. The only thing I can do is watch as they approach slowly, eager to start anew.
I won't close my eyes; I won't flee. If this chaos is something I must endure forever, then I must strengthen myself, get used to it, and move forward.
"Huma!"
I hear a shout by my side, and in that direction, multiple ice stakes pierce through the three mabestias, which fall completely destroyed beside me.
"Are you okay?" Rem shouts, standing by my side and without a moment's hesitation, she uses healing magic.
I grab her arm and point her towards the wounded.
"I'll take care of keeping the mabestias away. You can go rescue them."
Rem looks at me for a moment. Even though I'm on the verge of death, I must act in accordance with what I believe. I can survive, but there are already casualties there. Every life I save is a gain.
Rem nods and quickly carries multiple people. While lying there, I try to lift my gaze a bit to inspect my wounds. Unnoticed by me, my legs have bite marks from the mabestias, probably when they were about to attack the wounded.
I acted without thinking, used my knife but didn't notice the other beasts.
I guess I have no more options. They must be close by; after all, I don't think they fled very far.
After a few minutes, Rem has already taken all the wounded, confirming what I suspected. She was truly watching me. Anger surges within me. After all, I never tried anything wrong or acted suspiciously. It's because of this damn miasma.
I let out a sigh, surrendering to fate. And then...
Darkness...