Gathered before me were the villagers of this small village. This was a decently pretty place, nice view all around, and must be relatively peaceful too. Here, anyone could live a decent, simple life. Although, if it was me, I doubt I would be satisfied with something too simple. However, it was different for these people, simple people. Innocents. The ignorants that knew nothing about anything that was happening, nor were they even involved in the first place.
And now, here I stood before them. They all looked afraid, confused, and expressions of betrayal pointed towards the knights that were supposed to protect them. This must be so sudden. No way in their entire life could they have imagined something like this could happen — especially in this supposed start of a peaceful era.
“Oh don’t tell me you’re hesitating.” The reflection of my former self suddenly appeared, standing next to the crowd with a wide grin. “These humans are of no value. What do they even contribute to the world, hm?”
Shut up.
“Don’t tell me you still hold compassion, you? We’re so disappointed, Syndra.”
Shut up. I’m not hesitating.
“Sure you are.” She shook her head. “Whatever the case, we don’t have a problem with how you hesitate, hehehe. Although, we just see how pathetic you are.”
I ignored her and faced the crowd. It was then that an old woman slowly stepped forward and slowly approached me with a kind and gentle face. Like how you would typically see when you meet your sweet grandmother.
“Excuse me, young lady,” said the old woman. “I never saw you here before.”
“Why are you speaking to me?” It was truly a bother. I didn’t prefer any of them talking to me. It humanizes them further.
“Oh wow, really? So you wouldn’t want to kill them because you talked to them? Hahaha! I never imagined something like that would matter.” She appeared and laid her elbows on top of the old woman’s head.
In the end, they’re people. Innocents… Talking to me means they’re their own person…
And that… giving them individuality would make it harder for me.
“Hah! Pathetic. These aren’t people. They’re your sustenance. Keep thinking that, and you won’t last long.”
I clenched my fists.
“Well, you have us brought here,” answered the old woman. “Isn’t it our right to know what’s going on?”
“Return to the crowd,” I coldly said.
I was always taught to respect the elders — especially that I had grandparents of my own. Guess I’d be breaking that lesson. I had always carried that to heart, too. Back in the old world, I was quite helpful and gentle to any old people. I mean, they are quite fragile, in a way. They need help with many things… I didn’t like seeing them having a hard time.
This time, I have to harden my heart.
“Why are you doing this?!” one man in the crowd shouted.
“Are you a noble?!”
“Let us go!”
“That’s right!”
“Whatever you’re doing, better stop it!”
They started shouting in waves, raising their fists as a sign of resistance. I turned a glance at Avelyn, and she seemed to understand what I was trying to convey. She stepped forward and pointed her sword at the villagers.
“You better shut the hell up! Else I swear, I’ll cut you to pieces!”
As I shifted my eyes towards my death knights, I noticed that Elyscia seemed conflicted. She was avoiding looking at the villagers. Hm, it would seem some bit of humanity remained. Like me.
Suddenly, a sharp pain radiated in my head. I winced as I placed a hand on my temple.
“Hehehe, you’re running out of time.”
Shut up, I know that.
“Then why are you delaying it?”
I’m not.
“Hahaha! Always in denial, you.”
I looked at the villagers again, taking a deep, shaky breath. There were children there too. The most innocent among them. Beings that bore no sins. Ones who had seen little of the world, nor have achieved what they dreamed of. Children carry the brightest and purest hope.
I glanced at a little girl who had the eyes of pure cluelessness, clinging on to her parents.
My reflection appeared next to the little girl and crouched down. “Aaaw, don’t tell me you’re about to make an exception for these poor little children.” She began caressing the little girl’s face and head. “Look at those eyes, you’re gonna try to kill them? Tsk tsk tsk. How sad. Their life is gonna be cut short like this… Because of you.”
“...”
“Unless, of course, you let them go. But then again, how can they live without their parents? You might as well let them go, too. And how many of them have children here, hm?”
I know that.
“Children or not, they are still sustenance. Still, I wouldn't mind really, if you decide not to do anything.” She grinned, and she hugged the little girl with a soft expression. As how a parent would embrace their beloved child, but I knew very well it was just her being annoyingly playful. “Poor little lambs. I’m going to shed a tear.”
I shouldn’t be vulnerable. These creatures were using my own emotional vulnerability. Toying me. I must harden my heart and my mind, and do whatever is necessary. No matter what it may need, or cost. In order to survive…
Even if I have to take the lives of these innocent people, I must do it.
I knew that in the end, I’d come across the same road. Therefore, I must start here, my first step… I must have a strong will.
“Oh?” She grinned.
I slowly raised my hand, mana radiating. I took a deep breath before I let out the words. “Touch of the Decayed.”
The moment I cast that spell, the ground beneath the villagers’ feet cracked and glowed azure in the gaps. They all looked down in confusion and fear. They sensed an ominous power about to consume them. And they knew, they felt it, that death had come for them. All living creatures would know.
And then the light touched them. That was when the screams began. The pained and terrified screams filled the air, as they felt something part from deep inside them being pulled out of their body. A piece of them being torn from their mortal flesh. I watched with glued eyes as they slowly succumbed to the touch of death. This was my action, my conviction, my crime, it was my obligation to see it through, and not look away.
White mist came out of their bodies and seeped into the unholy ground.
“Aaaaah!”
“Help me!”
“Stop!”
Countless, unending screams, as their vitality and… their souls were being slowly taken away. They crawled on the ground, unable to stand any further, their strength having left their body. Their skins began to wrinkle, and their fats and muscles slowly vanished, turning them thinner.
“P-Please spare my daughter!” a mother pleaded.
I noticed the little girl from before, slowly reaching out to someone. I couldn’t help but be curious and looked in the direction of where she was reaching out towards.
“E-Elyscia…! Help, please!” the little girl pleaded as her life force and soul were being robbed from her. Her skin wrinkled and turned gray. Her body became thinner and thinner that her bones became more prominent. An intense expression of pain was on her face, her eyes brimming with tears. Still, they looked quite hopeful. Still trying to reach out for help in someone she believed in.
And the one she called was one of my death knights, Elyscia. But the knight had her face averted and eyes closed.
She knows them, huh?
It would seem they were nice to each other, for some little girl to rely on someone like that. How unfortunate…
A moment later, the screams had stopped. The villagers were now dead, their bodies, their corpses now lying flat on the ground, unmoving. None survived, men, women, old and children.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I could feel myself become stronger, like I had just gotten my meal. I felt good. I felt relieved. I have averted the closest threat. But at what cost?
Couldn’t bear it any longer, my stoic face contorted a little, seeing the result of my action. My body felt good, but my heart, not so much.
“You got away this time.” She appeared and sat down on a corpse. “But I know, you will not last for long.”
I can.
“If this hurts you, I doubt it. You think this will be the only time?”
Shut up.
“There will be more, tens, dozens, hundreds. This is the cost for devouring us. The cost for your survival, your freedom.”
“SHUT UP!”
My sudden outburst prompted the death knights to look at me in confusion. They couldn’t see her. In their eyes, I was just someone who shouted for no particular reason and at no one in particular. I clenched my fists.
“Sorry.” I closed my eyes for a moment, opening them again, and she was gone. I looked at my hands. I had full control again. That was the most important. “... Bury the bodies.”
I ordered my death knights before walking away. I wanted to be alone.
I shouldn’t feel guilty. There’s nothing to be guilty about…
Indeed, I was just doing what I needed to do. There was no need to feel for those people.
I found a long tree, and I leaned on it, feeling exhausted. Not of the body, but of the mind.
“Do you still consider yourself as human?” She appeared before me again.
I glared at her.
“Are you, Syndra? Because no matter how much you delude yourself, it won’t change the truth of what you truly are.”
I lowered my eyes… “I… I will never be beaten by you… I will not fall under your mercy again.”
She smirked. “And we will not remain your prisoners. Sooner or later, there will come a time that you will be vulnerable.” She stepped up close to my face. “And once that happens, you will see nothing but darkness for all of eternity.”
“... Just try it.”