I learned plenty of new information about my former classmates, my murderers. They really had done a lot for themselves. Did they deserve it because of all the sacrifices they made for this world? In another perspective, perhaps. But in mine, they absolutely did not. I’d get them all, eventually.
From what I learned from the knights, the Empire had taken in the smaller adjacent nations of the once Aspila Kingdom. The Empire's expansion faced little resistance, either due to popular support or the futility of opposing those who vanquished the demon king. As for the rest of the bigger nations that I heard in the past, they were still standing, and had made a tight alliance with the Empire, with the latter as the head. A defensive alliance, to be precise.
Quite surprising really that Kiran didn’t bother to take over the rest of the continent. I was sure he could do it. Anyway, one of the most notable things I learned was that some of my classmates took rulership over some territories in the empire. In fact, one was pretty close. And I was looking forward to meeting that guy.
Furthermore, it would seem they hadn’t completely wiped out the demons. Humanity was pretty exhausted after the demon king’s defeat and couldn’t afford another ongoing war. And after the demon king was gone, the demons pretty much gave up fighting the humans, openly expressing their surrender, while others apparently began fighting against each other to rule their people. Still, the defeat of the demon king basically calmed things down. And so far, there hadn't been any large-scale fighting between the two races. But that held no significance to me. All that mattered was the people that killed me.
After learning a lot from the knights, when the night fell and covered the earth in darkness, I retired to a room in a building I took for myself. I wanted to sleep. I was not sleepy though. As I sat on the edge of the bed, I placed a hand on my left chest. My heart was not beating. My skin was naturally without warmth.
I sighed, it would seem I was no longer fully human. Could I even sleep?
My fingers twitched and trembled. I pressed my hands together frantically. I had that feeling again, that thirst and hunger. It was not too bad, but it was just there. Why? I had just consumed the life force and souls of those soldiers.
Was that never enough?
“Of course it’s not enough.”
I jerked up in utter surprise and looked around cautiously. There was a voice that responded to my thoughts. But there was no one around. I certainly did not imagine it. I heard it in my ears.
“That’s right, you didn’t imagine it.”
“Show yourself!”
“So aggressive. It’s pointless, you cannot dispose of us. Not ever.”
And at that moment, a silhouette formed in the shadow at the corner of the room. It took a moment before I could make up what it was. When I did, my eyes widened in shock and confusion.
“W-What is this?”
“Hehe. A familiar face, isn’t it?”
Yes, it was, I knew that face. It was mine. That face, that body, those clothes. That dark hair and dark eyes, that light skin. It was me before I turned into what I was now. It was me before I was thrown into death. I clenched my fist.
“W-What are you?” I was thinking of attacking it. Whatever it was, it wasn’t good.
My face formed a wicked smirk, one that I would never make. “Oh please, don’t bother. We are only in your eyes. Only you can see us.”
“Us…? What are you talking about?”
The girl leaned her back on the wall, crossing her arms. “Have you forgotten already? Do you really think that devouring us is enough to get rid of us?”
Upon hearing that, my hands trembled, my legs slightly weakened as I realized what she was. My lips shook, breath faltering, all the terrible memories of suffering came rushing back. I was afraid. It was them…
“H-How?” I could not believe this.
She laughed with my face. “You devoured us, and thus we exist within you.” The girl approached me with slow and steady steps. “You can never erase us. We are the reason you possess the powers you have now… We are the reason you still exist.”
“I defeated you…”
She stepped behind me as I stood there frozen and she whispered, “Indeed. Even that was a surprise to us. However, it’s not yet over.”
“W-Why my face?”
“Hahaha!” She twirled around in front of me. “A reminder of who you once were. From when you were still human, and not something else.” My face grinned widely. “Why? Does it irritate you?”
“... Even now… you seek to torment me?”
“Why not?” She chuckled.
I gritted my teeth. “... Just leave me alone.”
“Never.” She placed a hand on my shoulder. “But you have more important things to worry about, hehe.”
“...” I averted my eyes away from her.
She caressed my arm, and then my cheek. “You feel that, don’t you?” She pressed herself on me. “That hunger. You think a few lives would be enough to sate you?”
That was a few…?
“Yes, it was a few. You need way more.”
Why?
“You are a newborn. Aren’t babies always hungry? Always crying for their mothers to feed them.”
I have to kill more people?
“And you need more quickly.” She cackled. “Not just any life. The one that gives the most nutrients. Humans. Kill more of them.”
“I can just endure this hunger. And not give you the satisfaction.”
She moved right in front of my face and grasped me on both sides of my neck, keeping a firm grip on my head, forcing me to look at her. “If you do, you will weaken. And believe me, we will take the opportunity to take control over your body, and get rid of you for good.”
“You…” I glared at her.
“Do not think you can keep a lid on us forever. And now you have brought us outside,” she chuckled. “Once we have control, this world shall drown in our tides of demise.”
“Don’t you dare—”
“You have no idea what we truly are! We are more than ghosts or wraiths. You freed us from our seal, from our prison. The world of old feared us. Now, we are out in the world once more. And we are looking forward to obtaining our complete freedom.”
“I will not succumb to you. I will resist this hunger.”
“You cannot go against your new nature. But whatever you want, give it a try. We are watching and waiting. When you fail, we will be happy.”
And with that, she vanished. I collapsed on my bed, my legs turning to jelly. I couldn’t keep standing after all that. Fear gripped my non-beating heart. I had hoped they would never return… That I had defeated them completely… But it wasn’t the case. I clenched my fists tightly.
I will not give you the satisfaction.
***
I never slept. On my bed, I gripped the sheets tightly. I endured the hunger overnight. However, it was horrible. This hunger was too intense, so intensely agonizing. Completely unlike how a human feels hunger. Mine felt like it was grinding the insides of my head, claws scratching through my insides. It was utterly painful. And while I was enduring it, I could feel my strength leaving me.
I had never expected this. This hunger for life and souls was unbearable. So much suffering. It was driving me absolutely crazy. And most of all, it felt like I was losing grips of consciousness. Like my will was being pulled out. It was them, those things.
I can’t let them.
Gathering every ounce of strength I had left, I got out of bed and immediately went outside to meet my death knights. I was slightly limping as I walked towards them.
“Mistress?! Are you alright?” Gavin and the others immediately rushed towards me.
I raised my hand and did my best to stand straight. “I need to devour more life. Where can I get them as soon as possible? And I mean humans.”
The three knights looked at each other for a moment before the youngest one, Avelyn, immediately answered me with no hesitation.
“Well there is a village nearby with a couple hundred people.”
I noticed Elyscia directing a strong look at Avelyn for a brief moment. But I disregarded it and instead deliberated about that option.
A village… that meant normal people. Not like the soldiers I killed that wanted to kill me. These were people that had no direct encounter with me. Just people living their own lives. It wasn’t right for me to just… there must be something else…
“What else?”
“Um, that’s the closest place with the most people,” Avelyn answered. “The others are miles away.”
That’s too far. I can’t. At that rate, they’ll take over.
I pressed my hands to prevent them from trembling. Just then, I noticed my former self standing from the corner of my eyes, grinning. Shifting my head towards her, she slowly raised her right hand and tilted it. And my right hand moved in the same manner. I took in a sharp breath as I stared at my limb that moved without my will.
“Milady?” Elyscia glanced at my hand, puzzled.
I abruptly used my other hand to lower it. My thoughts were in chaos, panicking. They were slowly taking control. I must stay strong. Both physically and mentally. If I lost control, it would all be over for me.
I will not die!
“If you really want to prevent this, do you even have the luxury of being picky?” she said in a mocking tone.
I clenched my fists. “Take me to that village.”
We retrieved some living horses, we’d be using those to get there. Of course as expected, they were freaking out when they first met the now death knights. However, they seemed to recognize their usual rider and calm down after a few pats.
As for me… The horse I approached was calm. Huh. Perhaps I exuded a different kind of aura or something compared to my death knights. I mean, technically, I didn’t exactly die and come back to life. I just changed. Perhaps that was where the difference lay.
I had some experience riding horses during my short hero days, it was essential to learn them. And believe me, my first time riding horses was terrible. Not my favorite experience. I jumped up on the horse at the same time as the others.
“Alright, lead me there, quickly.”
And thus, with Avelyn leading the way, we galloped out of the forest. From what I could see, she was quite motivated doing this. Furthermore, I could sense some spite in her for some reason. Well, it didn't matter, anyway. She gave a decent suggestion.