I was still suspended He continued to beat me without stopping. That piece of iron made me feel like my insides were twisting with every blow. I wonder what did I do to deserve this.
Someone, please help me...
"It's time to finish you demon" That's what the man said as he walked away to get a knife from a table in the distance. I have to find a way to kill him... Even though I want the pain to stop, dying isn't a good option, and nothing is guaranteeing me that it will be fast but not painful.
After grabbing the knife, he headed slowly towards me, his steps low and loud, echoing in the entire room. This is my only chance...
Waiting for the perfect moment, just as he positions himself in front of me, I delivered a sharp kick to his face, stunning him enough for the impact to make him spin.
Now This thought sounded lound in my mind, I knew that if I'm not taking this opportunity, I was going to die here.
And without further hesitation, despite the pain and the little will I had left, I managed to wrap my legs around his neck to strangle him.
"Demon!" That was the only word he could let out with a crispy voice as he started to run out of air, I thought I was out of trouble, but of course, he stabbed me in the stomach with his knife. It hurt, it hurt terribly, especially since the blows he had inflicted made it feel like my insides were being crushed to bits from the inside, now with my stomach stabbed, it just felt like I was burnt alive from inside.
But I knew I couldn't let go.
But..
I was tired, my whole body ached terribly, as if a flame was slowly growing inside me, gradually burning everything away. I wanted only one thing: To faint.
What If just let go? No one will blame me for not wanting to suffer anymore,
Right?
The pain was too much for me, even if I wanted to continue, my body couldn't.
Without me even realizing it,
my legs had already let go.
"You'll regret what you just did demon's freak."
He said, clutching his throat I had just strangled. In any case, whatever happens, fainting will bring me relief. Will stop this pain...
My eyelids grew heavier and heavier as the man approached. Maybe if I'm given another life again, I'll try to not to die this time.
And when my eyes finally closed, Everything went quiet, I've never felt so peaceful in my life. I wouldn't mind staying like this forever.
Then, I felt something hot, slowly spinning on my stomach. And with a blink, my eyes opened back wide again. I could feel my heart racing, my blood flowing from my stomach wound, everything was loud again. And above all, this bitter, burning pain where the knife was stabbed me, the same man who tortured me, It seems that wasn't enough for him, he had to fucking spin that knife in my wound to wake me from that peacefull moments.
"You really thought you could die without suffering despite what your kind did?"
What is he even talking about, I've only been in this world for a day and I'm already being accused of things I don't even know.
"If you started explaining to me what I did, maybe I could feel guilty"
I know I should just stay quiet, but this is just pissing me off, this pain combined with anger is hurting me more than anything else.
"Who gave you the permission to talk, demon?"
With that, he yanked the knife off my stomach, a spurt of blood following the blade. Feeling the sharp edges getting off my skin only amplified this unbearable pain, so unbearable that I was unable to think of anything else. Naturally, I spat blood on his face; at this point, I don't know if I did it intentionally or because of the pain.
The man was taken by surprise, and his expression was even more disgusted than before, which was hard to believe. He wiped the blood on his face away with his hand.
"Did you just covered me with your cursed blood?"
Did he say that literally? I have no idea...
"Cursed blood? What?" I couldn't help but those words slipped out of my mouth, And I regret it, because in my condition, talking was too painful.
"I forbid you to speak to me, demon!"
His words were followed by a punch to my face.
It's funny, I'm starting to get used to the pain, and anyway, my body was far too busy reminding me of the pain I feel in my stomach to make me feel anything else.
He approached me and untied the two chains that were suspending me. Normally I would have been delighted, but the impact with the ground only made things worse; I was indeed unable to land on my legs. I wonder why he did that, actually; did he feel pity for the "demon"?
He grabbed me by my shirt, then threw me on the door. The impact was strong enough to stun me, my vision was blurry, my head began to bleed, blood ran into my eyes, turning my vision a horrifying red. But I was sure of something, he grabbed a long, black sword, already filled with blood. looks like I'm not the first one who's going to die from this blade.
Well, So I'm really going to die here? Just like that? Anyway, I'd rather die than stay in this world; if surviving means I'll have to endure this again, then dying sounds good for me.
The more he approached, the more I felt pathetic, useless and a coward who choosed the easy option. But at least, I will be freed from this.
He finally arrived infront of me, rised the sword and...
Something snapped back.
"If he'll leave, I'll leave." that's what Leah said, She was against the idea of abandoning me, she wanted to save my life, and Gladius risked his for us, and I'm just giving up, like this?
But the sword already reached its target... But not exactly.
My hand, I raised my hand at the very last moment, and blocked the slash.
Normally it shouldn't have worked, but since the man wasn't at his best, my hand was able to take the hit.
"How?" the man said, his voice trembling, looking at me. But it was not because of my hand blocking his sword, but Because my fist was covered in by a glowing, black streak.
I'm not going to waste this chance, I grabbed his sword, pulled it towards me, and like an idiot, he didn't let the sword go, making him fall headfirst towards me. And it felt so natural, the dark energy that was in my arm traveled along my body to my free fist, and instinctively, I punched him in the face. It was strong enough to make him fall to the ground and be destabilized; the sword was still planted in my hand, I removed it and used it as a support to stand up. At this point, I'm already used to the pain.
I approached the man, lying on the ground, he was still alive.
"Where's the girl?" I asked him.
He spat on me "Go to hell, I'd rather die than help a demon." he said, Despite the fact that he was helpless on the ground, with that expression of pride.
That was enough.
I dropped the sword and landed sitting on him, then I punched him. And asked the same question again.
"Where's the girl?"
"Do you really think that would be eno-" he tried to provoke me again.
I punched him.
Then asked the same question, this time he didn't say anything. I punched again. Again, and again. The more time passed, the more my hand turned red with his blood.
I punched, punched, punched,
during several minutes that seemed like an eternity passed, until tears streamed down his face, and he finally spoke.
"Upstairs... You're in a basement right now, it's the room at the back, upstairs..." His voice was desperate; I knew he wasn't lying.
I picked up my sword to stand up, my back turned on him... But something was nagging me.
I turned towards him, lean my free arm against a wall, then raise the sword above him.
His expression turned to horror, the tears flowed even more, his voice desperate begging me.
"P-Please! I'm not lying! I have a kid and a wife!"
"That's surely the same thing the people from that village you brutally killed and burnt said to you, right?"
The smell of blood and corpses in this room reminded me of that horrible scene, and I only wanted one thing, killing him.
I lowered the sword to cut his throat.
As the sword approached his neck, I could see his face become increasingly frightened.
Finally, it was replaced by a blank expression after the sword pierced his neck. The same on those corpses. Honestly, I don't know if it was the right thing to do, but I felt a sense of satisfaction, a revenge fulfilled. But a void within me also began to open up.
As I pulled out the sword, I couldn't help it but, the pain came back and, I fell to the ground and vomited a jet of blood. The fact that I had lost too much blood was now becoming apparent. I had to do something or this would really kill me...
What Leah said to heal me! That could work.
I put my hand on the wound of my stomach, and tried to remember what she said... yes, it was that!
"Regeneratio vitae"
...
Nothing happened.
Wait, no, something happened. It was hard to notice, but my hand shone a soft black, which bonded with my wound, soothing the pain and gently regenerating the wound. It wasn't too much, it still hurt, but it didn't feel like it could kill me anymore.
I picked up my sword again to climb up, leaving the basement. I walked slowly, but surely. Upon reaching the room above, it was a long corridor filled with cells containing injured and mistreated children, but to my surprise, no guards, a bunch of idiots. At the end of the corridor was a wooden door, she must be there.
As I walked towards the door, the children looked at me with eyes filled with despair and brokenness... Even though I would have liked to help you, I can't do nothing in my current condition. My priority is Leah... Admitting that disgusted me, but I have no choice and no time.
Gladius isn't in any of the cells; he must be somewhere else or have managed to escape. Whatever, I've reached the door, I should be prepared of someone waiting for me behind.
I grabbed the handle and opened the door with a sharp jerk.
Only Leah was there, fainted, tied up with ropes, sitting on the ground. So chains were only reserved to the "demon" I was, huh? Kind of dumb to be honest.
Without wasting any more time, I approached her to untie the ropes. I noticed that she had some bruises on her face; it looked as if they had beaten her until she lost consciousness. I hope she didn't suffer too much.
After untying her, I gently shook her to wake her up.
"Hey Leah, wake up, it's me."
Her eyes opened slowly, revealing her blue pupils.
"A-Amos? Is that you?"
Her voice was trembling; she was still quite shaken.
"Yes, it's me, don't worry, let's get out of here"
Leah sat up, regaining her composure. Looking at me, she noticed my injuries and the one on my stomach which, despite the sort of spell I had cast, was only half healed because of how weak my heal was. Her eyes opened wide, more worried about me than herself.
"Oh no! What happened, look at you, let me handle this."
She approached me, and put her to hand in the wound.
"Ugh—"
I couldn't help it but, the contact of her hand on the wound hurt a bit.
"It's okay now. Regeneratio vitae"
And when she said that, her hand glowed a soft green again, healing my wound, and this time, unlike my poor attempt, it healed it much better and made the pain almost gone.
Like last time, she gasped after finishing it, this wasn't the only injury on my body, it must have drained more of her energy than I would think.
"Thank you Leah."
"Don't thank me, you came to save me after all."
I suspected that she would not accept my thanks, and instead she would try to thank me. This girl is far too nice, which suits her well.
But there was no time to waste, anyone could come and stop us from leaving.
"Let's go now, we have to leave."
Leah nodded and stood up, I was able to stand back without the sword now, but still kept it, something is telling this isn't over yet.
I opened the door and and began to walk, Leah following me, but as soon as she stepped out of her cell, she stopped her track.
"Amos, we have to free those kids and take them with us."
"Leah... We can't..."
"What!? Why?!" I know this tone, the same as when she didn't want me to leave, but saving them meant taking on heavy loads, and risking our lives, and theirs.
"We can't! We have to leave now! And there must be guards outside! We'll just make things worse—"
"NO! I don't care! We have to save them!" she shouted.
"Leah, We can't save everyone!"
"I can, and if you won't help me, I'll do it alone."
Her eyes were filled with determination; I knew I couldn't convince her.
"I won't be able to protect them all."
Upon hearing this, Leah's expression shifted to slight disappointment. But I hadn't finished my sentence.
"So I'm counting on you to help me."
A smile of faith returned to his face, nodding.
She helped me open every door cells, the kids gathering around us, they were around ten. i had to open one last door cells, inside, was a small girl with Short purple hair, She looked terrified.
I opened the door but she didn't come to me, instead she stayed sitting there, terrified, covering her ears.
I lowered myself to her level.
"Hey, don't be scared, I'm here to save you."
She didn't respond, she even looked more terrified. I sight, but I couldn't leave her here.
"My name is Amos, what's yours?"
I tried my best to sound gentle and soft and... it worked, she stopped covering her ears, and looked at me, her eyes still covered with small tears.
"M-My name is... Mira."
She sounded less terrified that she was before. Even if her voice was shaky, I could tell she trusted me a bit more.
"Nice to meet you Mira, Come on, let's leave this place, you'll be safe from now on, I promise you."
...
How could the situation go that wrong? We're outside and Leah was surrounded by these masked lunatics, She completely lost her mind; all the children were killed by those bastards. Their bodies were lying on the ground. I didn't see Mira's; she must have managed to escape.
But more importantly, I'm lying on the ground against a wall, A sharp stone cone stuck in my shoulder, I've stumbled upon their leaders... How do I know? He's the only one with a magic scepter, I couldn't manage to touch him once, his spells were too strong. But nothing of that really mattered, as I said, Leah lost her mind because of the death of the children, and I don't know why and how, but her anger is forming, a gigantic, devastating storm, her beautiful blue eyes now blank glowing white. And not a single of these idiots can stop her, there's a wind dam around her.
And if no one stops her, this storm will kill everyone here.