When I wake up, I am told by the nurses that New Year has already came. Apparently, I have been in a coma for three days straight. After some checkup, the doctors tell me I have regained enough strength to function like normal. While it's possible for me to discharge right now, the doctor insists on having me stay for a longer while. I refuse, of course, since I don't want to spend the first day of new year in the infirmary.
And so, they have no options left beside letting me go, though not after giving me a schedule for medical checkups and a standard-issue crutch for me to support myself, since I'm not one hundred percent healed yet.
That's the story behind the reason why I'm using a crutch to walk around this castle.
Not a very interesting story to kill time, I guess. But then again, I just spent three day in a coma. Some random rubbish are what I need right now to keep my mind working. Believe it or not, when I just woke up, I almost forgot what happened and why did I end up in the infirmary. Eventually, they all come back to me, everything about that day. The competition, the fight with Naranath's familiar, and Deborah's little stunt. And of course, it just had to end with me falling down unconscious, again.
I don't think this has anything to do with Deborah's enhancement spell. Rather, I think it's because of the drug I used back then (temporary named 「Rush」) to combat that crab. Well, when you used drugs to stimulate your adrenaline beyond its limit, I guess I should expect something like this would happen.
Come to think of it…I use guns, play with bombs and engage in drugs. Since when did the thug life choose me?
"Jesus…it's freezing."
I'm practically breathing fog right now. While my cloak is doing a good job of keeping my body warm, my face however is unprotected from the cold. Last month's temperature is nothing when compared to this day. So winter has finally come, heh?
I guess I shouldn't waste more time here talking to myself. Time to get shit done.
With the help of my crutch, I walk to the main hallway at the castle's center. The reason for why I want to come here is very simple.
"So this is where they posted the test results."
Before I can take my time and look for my name however, my focus averts to another thing that catches my attention.
I see no students. None at all, despite this being the main hallway - a hub area used as a gateway to reach practically everywhere in the castle. The students have been replaced by soldiers instead. People clad in exotic and animal-like armors, wielding swords and spears while casually strolling around the place. While I don't think they mean any harm, the looks they give me however isn't exactly pleasant or friendly. They are filled with cautiousness, as if I'm a detestable pest, only kept alive by the cloak and the armband I wear.
I should quickly warp this up. I don't want to be here any longer, especially when these people are around.
"Hmm. They divided the results from department to department."
I quickly search for my name at the Alchemy Art's test result. While I don't have any hope to begin with, I still start by searching my name among the top ten highest. I'm not surprised when my name doesn't come up, though. After another look, I find myself at rank 19th. It's a passable rank that I can be content with, for now. My field practice test (a.k.a blowing the rock) result is rather high, while the others are pretty average. Well, I have a very good tutor to help me pass the tests, but that doesn't change my lack of knowledge from the sudden enrollment. Said tutor's name is also at the top of the test result's board. Yes, Kardia is ranked number one among the Alchemy Arts's first year. All of her results are pretty high, though the students below her only need several more points to dethrone her from the top. Close one there, Kardia. I hope helping me with my study isn't the reason why it was such a close call for her.
Next, I turn my gaze to the War Art's result. While most of the names are unfamiliar to me, I can easily search for Caelan's name by searching from the bottom. This department is far more numerous than my own, so of course, the ranking won't end with just two digits. Luckily, Caelan's rank among his department is 99th, a close call there. He did pretty badly at subjects that require a working brain, but the guy easily excelled at the physical tests, with scores even higher than those on top of him. Why am I not surprised?
Finally, I give a glance at the Magic Art's board. It's pretty easily to look for the names worth seeing, since all of them are in the top ten. Iola is ranked 7th. Amadia is ranked 2nd. And of all people, the novel fanatic – Deborah – claimed the 1st rank as her own domain. As expect of Miss Perfect. I'm more surprised to see Amadia at the second place though. You'll never know that girl is actually the smart type. But then again, intelligence is not wisdom – says Akuma, a self-proclaimed wise man.
This may sound random, but seeing the names on the board suddenly make me remember something. It's a story told to me by a nurse. She said that a bunch of people paid me a visit during my short coma. However, there was one girl who stayed by my side for two days straight. When I asked who might that girl be, and what was her body features, the nurse said she doesn't know, since she heard it from another co-worker who had already went home the day before I wake up. She assumed that was my girlfriend, which I don't have any at the moment. That piques my interest, though. Just who might that be? Kardia? Amadia? Iola? Or some random girl who fell for me from my display of courage in the competition?
The last one I would expect is Deborah. But then again, this is Deborah we're talking about. There's no way in hell that girl would use her precious time waiting for me to wake up, right? Right?
"Oh, Akuma!"
Suddenly, I hear a familiar voice. When I turn back, I see Iola who is already standing near me, without me noticing.
"Happy new year!"
The girl cheerfully speaks. Iola's usually the gloomy type, but I guess the last thing you should do in the first day of new year is being gloomy.
"Happy new year."
I answer. Right now, Iola isn't wearing her normal attire as a cadet of Melas. She has already switched to a brown common dress with a short coat on the top, like a lady from the Victorian era. Instead of shoes like normal, the girl is wearing boots, the type for travelers. The only thing she kept from her everyday image is her twin grey braids hair style. I presume this is the girl's traveling attire, and damn, does she look cute in it.
"How's your health?"
Asks the girl.
"Well, as you can see, I'm not dead yet, haha."
I laugh. The girl just smiles, like she knows that I'm fine if I can make jokes like this.
"Still hasn't depart yet? You forgot something? You're gonna be late, you know?"
According from what I heard, most of the students had already went home yesterday. I guess I also don't want to be late for the new year's family meeting if I'm in their shoes.
"Kind of. I still have some unfinished business here. I'll take my leave after I'm done. Beside, my parents are easy-going people. They won't mind if I get home a bit later."
Says the girl. If she doesn't mind, then I guess it's okay.
"Amazing, isn't she?"
Suddenly, the girl averts her gaze to the result boards. Her longing gaze is more unusual than normal.
"You mean Deborah?"
The girl nods.
"I'll never be a match for her, either in magic, and academic…"
"Well, you have Miss Perfect for an opponent. Don't expect it to be an easy task."
Seriously, I have a feeling that the girl doesn't even have to try to be number one. She is already unbelievably good by nature. Though it's not like people like her don't exist back in my world. Still, I kinda envious of her…
"Amadia was so close, though."
She only needed a few more points to dethrone Deborah from the top. Just imagine her face when the girl found out she lost, again.
"That girl tried her very best not to scream out loud that day. I feel bad for her…"
Says Iola. I can only smile as I imagine the sight in my head.
"Well, I won't keep you busy any longer. You have stuff to take care of, right?"
I speak. She may be late for her trip, and knowing Iola, if I keep letting her talk, she will be late for real.
"Where do you intend to go?"
The girl asks.
"I haven't got anything in my stomach for three days straight, so I'm gonna grab a bite at the cafeteria."
Seriously, it doesn't matter if the cafeteria's food taste like shit. Right now, I'm so hungry I can eat a horse.
"So you're going to the cafeteria…Hmm. Shall I escort you?"
Suggests the girl after a brief period to think.
"Don't you have something else to do? I'm fine, really. I can reach there by myself."
"It's alright. The place I want to go is near there anyway. And one more reason: The demon soldiers…they make me feel uneasy."
Iola gives the soldiers a glance as she tones down her voice. The feeling is mutual to the soldiers as well. When their gaze are noticed by the girl, they quietly leave. When you think about it, the soldiers are at war against the humans, and there are two human look-alike boy and girl talking in the middle of the main hallway like they own the place…
"Okay. I'll depend on you then."
I smile as I give her my answer. The girl happily smiles back. We begin to depart from the place after finishing our business here.
On the way, I ask the girl about the reason why there are so many soldiers here. The answer Iola gives me is that they are here to prepare for a vacation, just like the cadets. Apparently, they are soldiers with good military performance, demonstrated during their service time and picked by the higher-ups for a week long vacation back home. They just arrived here yesterday, and will depart from the castle by tomorrow after finishing their own preparations.
"You should depart as soon as you can, Iola. Something tells me they're not exactly the friendly type of guys."
It's understandable. They spend their time fighting humans, and they have to look at some humans freely wandering on their turf while unable to do anything about it. I'm fine since I'm wearing the school's uniform. But Iola…no matter how you look at her, you can only see a normal (but cute) human girl. If she stays here any longer, I'm afraid bad things may happen to her.
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"You shouldn't think so bad of them. They are the ones fighting to protect the peaceful school life we have here. But…maybe you're right. After I'm done, I'll depart immediately."
The girl has a point, but we should be cautious nonetheless.
The conversation hits the deep end when I can no longer find anything worth chatting about. And while Iola is more chatty than I thought, the girl's enthusiasm button only gets pressed when a topic of her liking appears. Beside schools stuff, I can't think of anything right now. Asking a girl about her family may not be the best thing to do, but I can't think of anything. Maybe I'll ask about the weather?
"Hey Akuma. Do you know where Deborah is?"
The girl suddenly asks.
"I don't know. I just woke up from my coma. How should I know?"
"I see…so you don't know."
Iola mumbles.
"For all I know, maybe the girl had already went home during my sleep."
"I don't think that girl has a home though."
I look at Iola in disbelief as she replies to me.
"Really?"
The girl becomes flustered when I raise my voice.
"Err…I mean. I don't know if she has a home or not, since she doesn't talk much about herself. Maybe she has one, but we just don't know about it."
Come to think of it, the Headmaster and other teachers never said anything about her home either.
"Maybe she's still inside the castle ground."
I say to the girl.
"I think so as well. And…Akuma, you shouldn't think so bad about her."
"Hmm?"
I give the girl another glance.
"Err…I promised not to tell, so I won't tell you. But…please don't think bad of Deborah. She's a nicer girl than you thought."
"..."
I fall silent from her words. The memories that day start to reassemble itself from my head. My feelings about her is complicated. On one hand, she sabotaged my efforts, and helped me achieved my goals on the other. It's like she's the physical manifestation of contradiction. Women…
"Okay. I'll try to reconcile with her."
The girl just smiles in delight.
The following walk is rather uneventful. We keep walking and pay no heed to the soldiers around. However, our ignorance stops along with our feet when we get near the castle's courtyard.
On the courtyard, there are lots of soldiers gathering around. Near the center, there is a newly built wooden platform, which resembling…
"A scaffold…?"
The words escape from my mouth as I search for the image in my memory bank. I have read about it in a book. This wooden platform is similar to a scaffold…the one used for public executions. The joyful shouts from the soldiers only reinforce my theory. They are making the courtyard into an execution site. But why…?
"The demons never take prisoners. They don't have enough resources to feed captured soldiers. Captured soldiers worth nothing, it's meaningless to put a ransom on them. So, they decided to publicly execute all the captives as a policy, to save supplies and…to entertain the Realm's own soldiers."
Iola starts explaining. I heard a similar story from the Headmaster before. But to think her words are the truth when I thought she just wanted to scare me…
"By captured soldiers…do you mean…humans?"
The girl only nods without saying anything.
Like a crowd of excited fans when their beloved pop star shows up and takes the stage, the soldiers loudly shout and fanatically scream. But the star in question is no celebrity, and isn't limited to only one. From afar, a line of people are led to the scaffold by some soldiers. There are about twenty of them. Their hands are bound by a rope. Their clothes are tattered and dirty. They show signs of malnutrition, probably starved by their captors. We can't even get a glimpse of their faces when all of them are forced to wear dirty burlap sacks on their heads. It's likely that all of them are gagged under the sack as well, since none says anything. There's a distinct groan of despair under their sacks, but that sound starts to fade away the louder the soldiers shout.
This is a concert of death…
"Are they denied even a chance to say their last words…?"
"It's not like…we know what they're saying even if they let them…"
"What the…?"
I turn my gaze of disbelief to Iola. The girl closes her eyes for a moment before answering.
"We don't share the same language with people at the Heaven Realm, and it's highly discouraged for demons to learn that language…"
So even if they are allowed to speak, we won't be able to know what they're saying. If I'm in their position, I'll probably drown the site with profanity. Maybe that's the reason why they are gagged.
"..."
It's cruel, too cruel. The humans are starved, gagged, and going to get executed without letting their last words be heard and understood. Yet…I'm standing here like a statue, unable to do anything, knowing troubles will follow if I decide to act up right now. All I can do…is to look at those men as they walk to the last moment of their lives.
One by one, the captives are forced to step on the scaffold. The scaffold itself isn't that big in size, so when five captives have taken stage, the others are forced to wait until their turns to die arrive. The crowd of soldiers become more excited as five men clad in mantis armor and armed with swords climb on the scaffold. The five executioners even greet the audience, waving hands included. I swear I can hear some guys below screaming: "Let me do it! Let me do it!"
This sight makes me sick. Yet, for some reason, I can't walk out of the way and try to make this a mere memory. And just like me, Iola doesn't give any objection for being here as well, she's intensively looking at the execution's site with the eyes of a girl who just found the secrets of an adult woman's life. I'm the same as her. This sickens me, but deep inside, there's a part of me saying it want to witness this moment. My curiosity is controlling me, knowing full well this will be my first time witnessing the death of people, and it excites me…
"Kill! Kill! Kill! KILL!"
Yell the crowd in excitement. The executioners even start posing like real entertainers, and the crowd love them for that. They're brandishing their swords and pretend like they will kill the captives prematurely. Suddenly, the executioners kick the captives in their back, bending them on their knees in the process. Some captives are visibly shaking. While they know not the words of their captors, the intent however is clear across all the captives. They probably know how the ending of their fates will turn out, and they can only wait in despair until that moment comes and ends it all.
Sometime, I wish superheroes are real. When there are people in need, the superheroes will descend from the sky, beat the bad guys, help the suffered and save the day. But life doesn't work that way, doesn't it?
After the charade is over, the executioners finally decide to get their job done. Each of them take position behind a captive, preparing their swords for a clean decapitation. The crowd fall silent as they hold their breath watching the scene unfold. And that silence scare the captives. It becames a cue for them to know their time is up. A few can be seen crying, wetting a small part of their sack in the process. A guy tries to run, only to be dragged back by his executioner. The ones that do nothing may have already accepted their fates, but they don't do it in despair. It's like…they still have a flicker of hope, not about getting out of this situation, it's more like they know their comrades will avenge their death in the future. A wild array of hope before the end arrives.
When the time is nigh, the executioners finally do their jobs. Each one take a clean cut to decapitate their captives, and five heads fall on the scaffold, along with their former bodies. Their remains start soaking the wooden platform in red. I close my eyes just seconds after their death, and slowly avert my gaze from the scene. Yet, the sight has already been captured by my mind, and it's unlikely that I'll forget this in the meantime. The crowd scream in excitement when the deed is done, however, there's still more to come. But I don't care anymore, I just want to run away from here, as far as possible.
"Not a fan of bloodshed…?"
Iola asks as she try to pat my back and ease my worries.
"No…Actually, I detest those types of people. How can people...enjoy the sight of death...?"
I don't know if people like that exists, but I absolutely do not want them within my eyesight. They can go to hell for all I care.
"Yeah...maybe…you're right. People like that are detestable and despicable…They shouldn't exist to begin…with."
Iola's expression saddens as she voices her contempt. Maybe it's because of my bad eyesight, but why would a nice girl like her feel sadden for some edgy maniacs who love death and despair?
Suddenly, before I get the chance to pursue this any further, we find ourselves some troubles as several unhelmeted soldiers start aproaching us, with swords in their hands and smiles on their faces.
"Why are there two humans in this place?"
Says a guy with an unshaved beard. The other ones get to our behind, effectively surrounding us before we find ourselves a chance to escape. Iola stays close to my back, knowing she's can't match the soldiers in close range. The girl is depending on me now, I have to say something to clear this up.
"We're just mere cadets. Please don't mind us. We aren't worth your precious time."
Several guys seem surprised when they hear me talking.
"You speak our tongue. But doing that while wearing a Melas uniform doesn't make you an innocent man. For all we know, you may as well be a human spy, posing as a cadet to gain info and sabotage us from inside. Right, guys?"
The guy with the dirty beard looks at his lackeys and they nod in response.
"You have a wild imagination. But please, it's the truth. Let us be. We don't want any trouble."
"But what if WE want some troubles?"
The guy suddenly points his iron sword near my neck to intimidate me. But since I literally just fought a giant enemy crab three days ago, I'm not easily intimidated just by mere threats. That doesn't mean I should play the tough guy card right now. Even though the gun is inside my cloak, I'm not in my top condition yet, the soldiers have us surrounded, and there's still Iola behind my back. I need to be careful of my moves.
"What's the matter? Cat got your tounge?"
Says the bearded guy. The other ones laugh in response.
"What do you guys want?"
I ask.
"We haven't think of it yet. But how about we make you two join those guys for a start?"
The guy suddenly pulls the sword away from me, and points to the group of captives awaiting their execution instead. This has gone too far for a joke.
I try to reach the gun beneath my cloak. If I'm going to die anyway, then I'll do it with a bang. If I try hard enough, maybe I'll give Iola enough time to run away. But a fight should be my last resort, I don't want my life to end this soon. What should I do?
If only superheroes are real…
"Okay guys. You scared them good, but you're getting overboard here."
Suddenly, a guy from out of nowhere decides to interject in. The lackeys in armor can only look in awe as a helmeted soldier from nearby casually waltzs in and occupies the space between me and the soldiers' leader. The man is roughly the same height as me, but slightly taller. He gives out the aura of a big brother, one who will protect his siblings from any harm to the end. However, his armor doesn't indicate that he's as nice as his attitude. His helmet is different than the other ones in that while it resembles a standard metal helmet, the visor has the image of a mouth full of teeth, and his helmet itself is decorated in a way that resembles a human skull. Just a trivial thing, but his right arm does not have a gauntlet, it is wrapped with bandage instead.
"Who are you?"
"Just someone who wants no trouble."
The helmeted guy answers. Even when surrounded, his voice is full of confidence.
"What!? Don't you dare playing hero! State your name and unit, soldier!"
"The name is Lapidoth, scout from the 4th Legion of the Central Corp."
Lapidoth introduces himself.
"That...armor. You're from Annwn?"
The guy in charge seems surprised for a moment, until he decides to continue the haughty act.
"Don't think you're a big shot just because you're a borrowed soldier from that dead city!"
"Whatever. Look, names and ranks don't matter right now. Can we just end this? I'm tired, you know. I guess you guys are tired as well, right? There is no need to waste efforts in needless things like these."
The guy named Lapidoth suddenly turns his gaze to the soldiers around. Surprisingly, those soldiers nod in agreement.
"They're just kids, they don't know the rules around here yet. There's no way a human could walk inside the famed impregnable Melas castle in broad daylight."
"Why do you keep defending those kids? Are you human as well? Right…only humans would defend their own kin to this extent!"
"Seems like the cold made you go nuts..."
The guy starts pointing his sword at Lapidoth. The helmeted man can only shake his head in return. Suddenly, he also draws his sword, closes their distance and points it to the aggressor's throat before the beared devilman can even react, surprising the guys around in the process.
"Are you…for real?"
Says the beared guy.
"If you want a fight, I'll give you one. But if we fight, all of us will be sent to the Dark Line again, all of us."
Lapidoth starts turning around and continue his speech.
"Do you want it? Do you guys want it? I'm sure as hell I don't want it. The last thing I want is getting back to that shithole of a place in the first day of new year. Maybe you guys will understand."
Some guys nod in agreement. The aggressive man can only grit his teeth with the enemy's back facing his side, but he wisely decides to give up. The guy sheathes his sword, and his followers also do the same.
"Hmm. Don't get cocky, soldier of Annwn."
"And a happy new year to you too."
As the soldiers start leaving, Lapidoth waves his hands as goodbye after he's done returning his sword to its sheath. The trouble makers are no more, and the problem is resolved through mere talking, most of it. Yet, I got so worked up over this to the point expecting a fight and almost drew my gun…
"Aaa…umm…thank you, kind sir, for rescuing us. We are grateful for your help."
When the situation returns to normal, Iola departs from my back and bows to the soldier to express her gratitude. I also do the same, but of course, my words are simpler than the girl.
"Thank you for saving us."
"You could have save yourself in the first place by not hanging out around here."
The guy suddenly makes a snide replies, ignoring our gratitude.
"The next time you pick a place to date, don't get your girlfriend to an execution site like this."
"Wha…girlfriend?"
Before I can get back to him for his somewhat aggressive reply, the man leaves behind another trouble for me to solve as he swiftly makes his leave. I really don't know how to make of him, our mysteriou savior.
"Well, that was...awkward."
Iola doesn't answer when she's too busy blushing. It's damn cute, though, almost makes me want to defect from the Sexy faction and join the Cute faction and ask her to be my girlfriend for real. Almost.
Shit, random thoughts have overcome me. Have to stay calm, have to stay calm. Still, this little charade somehow makes me feel better. The sight of the execution no longer bothers me as much as it used to be. In a way, I guess I should be thankful of the guy earlier for that.
"I think we wasted enough time already. Don't you have some unfinished business? I can walk to the cafeteria myself."
"Ah, it's alright. I have already finished what I intended to do here. I won't bother you no more."
What? From when? Like, literally when?
"O…Okay."
Knowing the girl still have stuff to do, I decide not to bother her with questions and just let her go her way.
"Please be safe on your journey."
"You as well, Akuma. Be safe during your vacation, and please, take good care of Deborah in my absence."
"I'll try what I can."
I smile. The girl bows again before she leaves the place. Seeing how I don't have any purpose left in the courtyard, I also decide to continue my walk toward the cafeteria.
What a weird day. Let's hope today won't get any weirder than this.