I'm hurting, why? There's so much smoke. Where am I? I can't breathe... There's something heavy on my back. I can't move my legs... Mummy. Daddy. Weren't we about to run away? Where are you? Don't leave me...

"Captain!"

People!

"H-help..."

They can't hear me! No!

I see their clothes... Red, gold and black. Why aren't they coming to save me? Aren't they here to help? My eyes are so blurry even though I'm not crying... my eyes are so hot... it's painful, please help me...

"Vice-captain..."

A man and a lady... why are they just standing there... help my mummy and daddy please...

"This was a settlement! We bombarded civilians!"

"Yes, I'm aware."

"What do we do?! If the army finds out-"

"They already know to some degree. They just don't care. Instructor Maximus has been given orders from the top. Nobody else is to know about this. Not even the other elites are allowed access to reports on this mission. Am I understood? Keep your wits about you, vice-captain."

Who are they? This is their fault!

"Y-yes, Captain!"

Captain... who is this captain... I need to know... He's trying to keep this a secret. They're bad people!

"Vice-captain, calm down. Our mission is to search for the Phoenix's summoning feather. Once we have evacuated, instruct the fighters to bombard this place into oblivion. Fire all the magic ammunition we have. Leave no trace of this place having ever existed. Scorch everything."

"But these were civillians! Captain!"

"These were Separatist Demonic Forces masquerading as normal civilians, they kept a stockpile of ammunition and weaponry hidden. No one here was innocent... No one. We couldn't take any prisoners alive; they resisted till the very end. Even the children were conscripts. Slaughter them all."

Liar! We were just trying to hide from the war...

"B-but captain!"

"Vice-captain! Are you disobeying my direct orders?!"

"No, captain!"

"If I say they are armed rebels, they ARE armed rebels. If you don't want her to find out about this, you will do as I say."

"Y-yes, Captain!"

One of the figures left... I have to get out. I have to get help!

No... Is someone coming towards me... It's red and black. No! Don't come towards me!

"P-please don't!"

"I'm sorry, little girl!"

"No! NOOO! Please don't!"

"I-I'm sorry... I don't have a choice."

"I-I won't tell anyone please! I'll keep it secret! I'll do anything please! I just want my mummy! Daddy! AAAAAAA-"

"Shhh... please rest peacefully now. It is alright. May the Empire's Light embrace you..."

I hate you... I will remember you demons clad in red, black and gold...

I'll remember. I'll remember it no matter what. You will pay for this. I'll definitely remember...

----------------------------------------

Ugh. I feel terrible, I think I had a bad dream. What was it about?

There was a lot of chaos and screaming, I couldn't tell what was going on. I definitely heard Instructor Maximus' name. That crazy murderer... even in my dreams, he's still horrid. Perhaps there are evil forces gathering in the empire, they wore the army's elite uniforms.

Was that a prophetic dream from the Goddess? Does this mean I have to prevent that? The sky was blackened... Mossy ruins, with lots of vines... Not many clues as to where that could be. My head really hurts, and the cold breeze is blowing through despite multiple layers of blankets... It's unbearable.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Claud is still here holding on to my hand. He didn't have any blankets...

"Claud? Are you cold?"

No answer.

"Claud?"

He's not turning around. I use my skill to check on him.

-Claud Branford's Willpower: 3/34-

His Willpower recovered a little, it has not been long since he fell asleep. No matter how high his Vitality is you'll get sick like this. I pull him by the shoulders onto the rug and cover him with the blankets. It's my turn to keep watch now.

How did Claud sit here for so long? Just a short while and I want to crawl back under the warmth of the blankets.

There are a bunch of bat corpses here and there. Claud worked hard while I slept. I want to be as reliable as this soon. Maybe that dream was a warning for Claud? Will Claud be in danger?

The heroes of old always had a companion in the beginning of their adventures, no matter which hero it was, they always had at least one ally. Maybe the Goddess sent Claud to help me too. That isn't a comforting thought at all.

Does Claud perhaps know I'm the Hero or maybe the Goddess guided him to me? My heart grows heavy when I think about this. I've tried not to think about this. He might have only chosen me because God made him to. I hate this. Just a bad dream and I'm doubting everything. There's no way to stop my mind from thinking about bad things.

He's always protecting me and supporting me no matter what I do. Whether it was getting into reckless fights or going on this dangerous trip, and now there's a scary monster glaring at us. We should turn back now while we still have the chance.

There's a chance. A very small one but Claud might die.

An old mentor or a close friend who initially far outclasses the Hero in strength and ability. They always end up dying to let the Hero escape. Given the frequency of these events in tales, theories emerged from historians and scholars, saying that these allies were a gift from God to allow the Hero to survive the beginning of an arduous journey.

That monster is still there...

[Class: Giant Lycosidae

Traits: Aggressive Hunter, Patient

Skills: Paralyzing Venom Lv3]

It's trying to blend into the dark environment, but its silhouette is clearly highlighted. Too dangerous. I'm certain it's waiting for us to leave. We absolutely have to go home. I'm an idiot.

It isn't worth losing Claud. I can bear with mother's behavior as long as Claud and I are safe.

I'll tell him as soon as he wakes up.

I'll prepare some soup once his willpower is around 20.

----------------------------------------

-Claud Branford's Willpower: 34/34-

Any second now...

"Morning, Claud~ Or good night rather!"

"Ugh."

I said something foolish again... I'm married now, I should show a more dignified appearance.

"2259 hours. No monsters attacked while you were asleep. The spider is still lurking outside the gorge, and we have soup and dry biscuits for supper."

That sounded as if a subordinate was giving their commanding officer a report...

Slowly he got up into a sitting position and started eating.

"The biscuits don't taste good. I can't wait to eat some meat soon."

What am I saying...

"When will we reach the next town?"

0... 1... 0... 0, he signed with his fingers.

"That's only an hour from now! Let's quickly leave then!"

I've realized I'm just stalling for more time...

"I wish we had tasty rations. I wouldn't mind having some steak. Hehe..."

I'm a coward, saying it in such an indirect way. Why can't I just tell him I want to go home?

Eh? Why is Claud coughing and drawing his sword?

I instinctively dived forwards, and Claud swung his sword. A severed black leg plopped onto the stone with a squish. It came from the ceiling! So many spiders...

[Child Lycosidae]

That giant spider gave birth... Even the children are big, they're slightly taller than Claud.

Several of them pounced at the same time, knocking into each other and crashing into the walls. They're still uncoordinated. Claud and I took the chance to decapitate a few while they were still dazed.

Their comrades' bodies were seized and dragged backwards by the horde where the corpses were feasted on.

A spider reared up and charged. I don't have the confidence to take it head on.

-Willpower 16/17-

My Deflect skill made it stagger backwards and I left deep gashes on its front legs. It can't move anymore.

Thank the Goddess, this crevice is small enough to allow only 2 at a time. We get a brief moment of respite for every spider we beat.

Their numbers are still overwhelming. I'll empty my Willpower before we beat all of them. Claud cut two down in the same amount of time that I beat one. If I don't use Deflect, can I beat a spider?

I should be able to do the same.

"Aaah!"

"Sophie! Use your skill! Don't save it!"

-Claud's Willpower: 33/34-

The spider's legs pierced through my defense and grazed my thigh. I barely avoided being bit. Claud's mana encircled me, a heal spell.

-Willpower 12/17-

Claud's killing them so quickly! I should be able to keep up with his pace! No... I could only compete with Claud because I have the Justice trait.

"Mantis, help Sophie!"

-Claud's Willpower: 30/34-

A white flash zipped through, leaving gory carcasses behind.

Some more room to breathe...

The swarm's closing in, about a hundred. Is this really it? Because I didn't keep watch. I got too confident because Claud was here and that I was the Hero. I thought we were invincible beating the small monsters...

No. We shouldn't have been here in the first place. Claud wanted to stay home. I'm the one who asked him to leave, I can't give up, I won't let Claud die because of me!

-Willpower has increased to 22-

"Sophie, run! Follow mantis! Don't stop for anything! No matter what, you understand!? Go!"

-Claud's Willpower: 27/44-

Slash. Slash. Slash again. Every Sir Mantis' disappears, Claud summons him again and again. Claud's bringing up the rear, I can hear so much fighting.

"Claud! The big spider is still there!"

As soon as we exited the cover of the rocks, the giant spider leapt into us.

Sir Mantis jumped to combat it.

----------------------------------------

Mantis. Are you alive?

'Yes, but I have been defeated in combat. Resummoning will be impossible for some time.'

This dumb maternal spider. It's your problem, letting your spiderlings loose at that location. Don't fault us for killing them. You wanted them to learn how to hunt by attacking us, right? This is just retribution.

-Claud's Willpower: 6/44-

Giant Lycosidae, they're supposed to nest much further away from here. Why are they on the border between East and West? The only thing I can think of is the train. Because the train's inactivity, monsters have gradually started returning to the area. The noise pollution and threat of a high-speed hazard used to scare away the monsters.

Sophie's moving too slowly, I can hear the heavy thumping of its legs stomping towards us...

Mantis, lend your trait to Sophie!

I tapped her shoulder sending mantis' power over.

We just need to build enough distance. I thought about carrying Sophie, but mantis' power won't apply if I carry her with both arms.

The next town... it's in front of us...