“Hey, what’s up! Less busy nowadays?”
Demund was surprised to find Edan in the hallway. He was leaning against a wall as if waiting for someone.
“I guess,” Demund replied. “Are you waiting for someone?”
“For you,” Edan grinned, waving his phone. “Didn’t feel right to text. I was thinking of having another party soon. You in?”
He hadn’t expected that. “Me? I don’t think I’d contribute much.”
“Are you kidding? Last time, everyone loved you. It was a pity you left so early. You know, it makes me sad that you don’t realize how popular you are. The genius of the school, the scholarship student, the one who beat Enariss in a race! So many people want to know about you, and a party’s the perfect place to make some new friends.”
Edan’s words were far off from what Demund felt. But it was true that the atmosphere around him had softened. And it felt good to be praised.
“It was a relay race.”
“A win is a win.”
“I don’t know,” Demund admitted. “I’m not an outdoors person.”
Edan smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder. “I’ll teach you how to become one. It’ll be fun. I’ll invite Rhyne and Riley as well.”
“Really?”
“Well, anyone can come if they know the date. That makes it exciting, doesn’t it? Like a secret meeting for the elect.”
Edan patted Demund’s back firmly, waving as he walked away. “I’m glad I came earlier to school today. I’ll send you the date!”
Demund waved back. Checking the time, he went to class.
Things began to become strange starting then.
By the end of school, two separated groups had casually come to talk to him, which he wondered why—until the conversation was led into the subject of parties. At this point, Demund knew that they wanted to know about the date and time for Edan’s party.
“I haven’t received a date yet,” he bluntly told them, uncomfortable about the way they were hinting at it.
“Oh, we weren’t talking about that,” they insisted. Then why talk to him at all about parties?
So he decided not to tell them even if he received the message from Edan. Plenty of people had found their way to the previous party, after all.
That had been a few days ago.
⤙ ◯ ⤚
“Demund?”
Mrs. Blanner’s voice echoed through the house, and her footsteps grew louder as she neared Demund’s room. It was nearly time to go to school, and Demund still hadn’t come down to eat breakfast. He wasn’t late, but it was unusual for him to stay in bed for this long. Worryingly, she placed her hand against the door and knocked twice.
“Demund? Wake up, it’s time for school.”
Without waiting, she opened the door, stepping inside the room.
Demund blinked. He looked up at his mom.
“Is there something wrong?” she asked. “You’re later than usual.”
“Nah, Mom. I was just…thinking,” Demund answered. “I’ll be down in a minute. Uh, let me get dressed.”
After his mother left, Demund blankly stared into the air again, wondering what would have happened if he had let the beastman go earlier. He would still be alive.
The man had tried to kill him. Had it been any other normal person, they wouldn’t have gone unscathed. And yet, it felt wrong to see a man he had talked with dead on the ground, eyes like a dead fish’s, body rigid and grey. The first time he’d seen someone get beheaded and had moved their body was not that long ago, but maybe it was because of his failed promise, there was a chord of guilt that rang through his head.
He hadn’t felt guilt in the other world. Only when he woke up did he feel sick about it. His stomach turned cold when he recalled the man’s corpse, accompanied by uncontrollable shivers on his fingertips.
A real world. A real death. Something that was directly a consequence of his actions.
He didn’t feel horrible. It was like shuddering at maggots infesting garbage during the summer. It made him feel sick, but the knowledge that it couldn’t harm him kept it distant. Maybe the reason why he had been so shocked was because of the disparity between the two bodies he possessed.
As if to confirm his thoughts, his muscles relaxed when he circulated, though it was nowhere near what he felt as Shaden. The difference had only become greater, and being in his crippled body again reminded him how insignificant he was. And his circulating time was limited too. He let go of his mana. He’d need it for later when he was in school.
The sickness had subsided. It always did like all the bad things he’d experienced as Shaden. Like a bad dream, it would never affect him too much emotionally.
Probably.
Biking to school was like any other day. Though he felt strange feeling cold; he hadn’t batted an eye in the middle of a snowstorm as Shaden. If he could replicate what he had done with his other body, there was no doubt his physique would improve. He hadn’t experienced a breakthrough with his original body.
Feeling cool-headed after feeling the wind, he knew why he felt so off and melancholy. He had been elated from power in the other world, feeling as if anything was possible, and while the effects had worn off somewhat, it was still a big difference waking up with this body. He’d been stripped of his power.
It was a good thing he didn’t do much with his body other than exercising. If this much was cold for him, he wondered how well he would do in the middle of the snowy mountains alongside the soldiers. Die, probably.
Well, that was enough with the gloomy thoughts. Today was a good day. Edan’s party would be tonight, and according to him, a lot of cute girls would come. Who knew? He could find someone he liked there.
Demund doubted it. Come to think of it, Enariss had never mentioned these parties. Whether or not she’d attended, he didn’t know. Maybe she had without telling him, but they had exercised daily.
If she had, would he feel jealous? He wondered how she was doing. Without her, the world was less colorful, both literally and figuratively.
So many people he liked were being whisked away from him. First Jothan, then his brother Rother, Mistillia, Eilae, the Jakhar Kishaks. Everyone he genuinely liked never lasted long around him. Well, he still had Riley and Rhyne.
Maybe it was time to make new friends. The party would help with it.
School had never felt so slow, and when class finally ended, he quickly went over to the Battle House to meet with Edan. He’d told Riley and Rhyne that Edan had invited them, but they likely wouldn’t be able to come. Their parents were on the stricter side. Demund knew that their thoughts on Edan weren’t too positive, but he couldn’t reject his offer after all the kindness he’d shown.
“Are you guys sure you’re not coming?” Demund asked.
“They have alcohol,” Rhyne whispered. “Edan might be safe ‘cause his family donates to the school, but risky stuff, man.”
“Careful not to be filmed,” Riley warned. “Just—be careful, yeah? Some people in that group are, well…not too clean.”
“You two always wanted girlfriends,” Demund urged. “This is the perfect opportunity to meet some girls.”
“Hmm…” Rhyne mused.
Riley slapped Rhyne on the head, causing a short cry of surprise from him. They exchanged a look Demund didn’t recognize, then shrugged.
“Are you planning on finding someone?” Riley asked.
Demund shook his head. “Never. I wouldn’t have time. Besides, I’m only going because of the invitation.”
“Riiight,” Rhyne whistled.
“Demund! We’re leaving now!” Edan called from across the room.
“I hope you guys come. I felt like a stranger last time,” Demund told his friends. “Well, gotta go.”
“See you soon—I mean, yeah,” Rhyne said.
“Don’t get drunk,” Riley sighed.
Demund grouped with Edan to get into the large van that one of the other students had borrowed from their parents. They all knew each other, so he felt somewhat out of place among them. But his worries were soon dissipated.
“I might have quit last time, but that was because it was leg day,” a dark-skinned guy said. He was on the shorter side, but his muscles looked the most toned out of all of them.
“Excuses, Juvel,” a large guy said. “You weak, boy.” He was on the chunkier side, but by no means fat. None of them were fat.
Juvel frowned a smile. “The heck? You quit as well.”
“It was leg day, remember?”
“Pao was never good at cardio,” someone yawned. It was a blonde guy who looked like a buff model who’d spoken.
“Anyways, Demund. You can be proud that you beat a lot of people here,” Edan grinned. “And on your first day too!”
“I was honestly surprised. You don’t look like you have much muscle,” Juvel commented.
“It’s the cardio,” Demund said. “I like cardio.”
“Ho, it’s another crazy guy,” Pao groaned. “Anyone who likes cardio is a masochist.”
A bunch of complaints arose from the van, and everyone was arguing at once now, Edan sending Demund a funny glance, mouthing, you’ll fit right in. They’d felt unapproachable at first, but maybe they weren’t so bad after all. Compared to the stone-faced soldiers of the north, this amount of excitement felt liberating.
They arrived at the supermarket, and from then on, Demund had a blast following the guys around picking out various snacks and drinks without worrying about the price. Edan had told them to get whatever was necessary. While he didn’t pick out much as it was his first time, he had fun watching the others push items into the carts, pushing them around like racing cars. Everyone looked like they were having fun—all except one.
Demund noticed Davis trying to stuff as many items as possible into his arms while the others carried one or two bags. No one seemed to care. The guy had been so quiet during their way there that Demund hadn’t realized that he was present until they’d gotten off of the van. While the others leisurely chatted to the van, he walked alone, his arms full with stuff.
Well, the guy was one of the bigger ones. Still, it felt off to Demund that although Davis was included in the group, no one seemed to talk to him. He stuck around like a shadow. The only times when someone did talk to Davis was when they wanted a reaction—usually a small prank, like testing out how strong someone’s grip strength was.
“Is he alright?” he asked Edan.
“You mean Davis? He’s always like that. Don’t worry about him,” Edan smiled. “He likes doing the brunt work. Makes him feel like he’s contributing, I think.”
Demund didn’t know what to think of it. His opinion of Davis wasn’t all too good; the guy had challenged him to a battle before, taunting him. But a memory blinked past his mind—a memory of Davis’s dull expression.
It felt like he was forgetting something important. Something about—
“Oh, darn. I forgot about my bike,” he muttered. “Looks like I’ll have to walk to school.”
“With a prosthetic leg?” Edan said. “Just call a ride.”
“Waste of money.”
“You know what, it’s my fault for bringing you to my house.”
Casually, Edan took out his wallet and pulled out a bill, handing it to Demund. “Here, your ride.”
“No, no, it’s okay,” Demund said, pushing the bill away. “It’ll be a good morning exercise.”
“You sure?”
“I run every night,” Demund told him. “It won’t be a problem.”
“You do? Ah, I guess that makes sense.”
Edan put the bill back into his wallet. “If you change your mind, I’d be happy to help.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it.”
He was still new, and most of the members of the group were upperclassmen, but he felt included. It was a different feeling from being with a small group of friends. He didn’t know everyone that well yet, but the party was sure to change that.
He was excited.
“Edan, should we arrange it like last time?”
“Let’s change it up a bit. The kitchen area was a little too small last time, I think.”
“I swear the plug was here last time.”
“Should still be there. A little under the chair. Rhonnie?”
“Just a bite.”
“Fine. Don’t eat all of it.”
“Rats, I was about to.”
“Could I help with anything?” Demund asked, watching everyone prepare for the party. They were all used to it, and he had no clue what to do.
“Oh, you can chill. Relax; you’ll eventually get used to it and know.”
“You make it sound like I’ll be coming here in the future.”
“Well, I’m planning on inviting you every time.”
“Uh, thanks. You know, I’ll go help Davis.”
“You don’t have to—but do as you’d like.”
Davis was transporting the drinks from the van into the fridge. There were a lot of bottles, but it seemed like it was Davis’s job to move them all. Demund went to the van, grabbed two packs, and began to haul them over to the house. He met Davis along the way, who nodded once.
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
“Hey. We battled before,” Demund said.
“Yeah,” was the short and final answer.
Things progressed smoothly. The decorations were put up, the plates and cups prepared, the drinks and snacks set, the speakers tuned, the furniture moved, and the lights dimmed. They had a short dinner of burgers, and by the time they had finished eating, the first person had driven into the yard, dressed stylishly.
“You like it?” Edan asked.
Demund looked in the mirror. “It looks expensive,” he examined, taking the jacket off. “I’ll stick with my uniform.”
“Come on, don’t sweat it,” Edan insisted. “Dressing is all part of the mood. If you want to do something, you have to dress for it.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah, dude! You look great. Gotta get a girl fawning over you by the end of this night, right?”
Demund had told his parents that he might be staying over at a friend's house, and while they would have been more nosy about it before, ever since the accident, they’d allowed him to do everything he’d wanted. He’d have to call them in the morning though.
“I don’t know anyone,” Demund shrugged.
“There should be some from your grade. Who knows? I’ve heard a rumor that someone wants to try dating you.”
“Must be a joke.”
“One way to find out.”
After getting guidance from Edan and Pao on how to style his hair, Demund headed downstairs with the rest of them. He felt strange in expensive clothes, but a little confident. A peculiar excitement hung in the air as the people began to crowd in one by one. The music was loudened, and soon, he found himself playing games with the main crowd, eventually bringing him to—beer pong.
“And he downs it!” Edan announced alongside the cheer of those around them. “Carefully not to trip there. Now, who will go next? Hey, Demund!”
Demund froze as the crowd’s eyes were focused on him. “Yeah?” he said.
“You’re the only one who’s left besides Pao.”
“Hell yeah!” Pao exclaimed, standing up. “My turn. Prepare your stomach!”
“Make way for last week’s champion and the super rookie!”
“Champion Pao! Champion Pao! Champion Pao!”
“Rookie! Rookie! Rookie!”
Everyone had had at least one drink because they were all overcome with hot energy, eager to see fun. Demund bit cheek. He’d promised not to drink to his friends. They hadn’t come yet if they were planning to.
But he couldn’t quit either. He’d come to hate quitting.
He stood in front of the table as Pao stretched his arms. His cheeks were slightly red, though his eyes were clearer than ever.
“I’ll let you go first,” he said, cracking his neck.
“I won’t refuse then,” Demund smiled.
The rules were simple. Make a shot and your opponent would have to drink it. You could keep making consecutive shots until you missed. Then it would be your opponent’s turn.
Demund closed his eyes. He didn’t want to drink tonight. He circulated, feeling his mana flow into every part of his body.
The first ball sailed through the air, landing on the first cup. The crowd cheered, and Pao instantly downed the drink, wiping his lips.
“Beginner’s luck. Bring it on!” he growled.
A bit too aggressive, Demund thought.
The second ball found its mark. Then the third, then the fourth. Only two cups were left in the span of a minute, and the crowd was going wild, chanting Demund’s name. He wished they wouldn’t do that. It made him nervous and ruined his concentration.
But he’d performed in worse circumstances. None of them knew of the sound of the shrieking wind and the feeling of freezing fingers clenching onto a cliff for dear life for hours and hours. Truthfully, he hadn’t been worried about dying, but his concentration had been real.
He launched his ball, and it was about to fall into the cup—
The ball changed trajectory ever so slightly to the left, falling onto the table—like it had been pushed. Demund glanced around. No one was near enough to blow the ball, and if they had, the people around them would have noticed. There weren't any fans or air conditioners on either. It was January.
Superpowers. Someone had interfered with their superpower.
“Haha, close! Close!” Pao laughed, readying his aim. “But they don’t call me drunken master for no reason!”
The ball was thrown, and even before it flew halfway across the table, Demund knew it was going to go in.
He raised a finger. His energy vacuumed out of him.
The ball landed on the edge of a cup, falling in between the gaps. Demund sighed in relief. He raised his ball.
The ball made an arc in the air, falling into the cup with a plop. A second later, the second ball landed on its mark.
Demund let out a sigh of relief. It was good that he hadn’t taken time to aim. It had been risky, but whoever had interfered before had not been able to react.
“Without allowing a single point, he defeats last week’s champion!” Edan announced.
“Urgh, must have had too much to drink,” Pao muttered, massaging his eyes. “Impressive, dude. Impressive.”
“I gotta use the bathroom,” Demund said, excusing himself. The smell of alcohol was overwhelming. It made him feel a little sick.
In the bathroom, he looked at his phone, wondering if his friends were coming. No messages. Come to think of it, he hadn’t been able to check whether or not people had been filming him. Well, not like anyone had any reason to, right?
He leaned back on his seat, suddenly feeling exhausted. If he used his mana as he did in the other world, he could potentially black out. He had been practicing, but using it out of the blue had made him expend a little too much.
“Good job,” he told himself. No drinks would be drunk tonight.
The energy of the party was exciting, but without the buzz of alcohol, he felt like he was being drained. He wasn’t much of an extrovert. Maybe he’d leave early. He’d done enough for the night.
“Hey. You’re Demund, right?”
Demund blinked. Was he dreaming? Before him was a girl he didn’t know, smiling at him. “I am,” he replied. “And you are?”
“Kacy,” she replied, pushing her black hair behind her ears with her fingers.
A few awkward seconds passed before Demund managed to speak.
“Do you need anything?” he asked.
“Just someone to talk to,” she replied. “I don’t know that many people around here.”
She looked at him expectantly.
“Do I know you?” he asked, scratching his cheek. “Sorry, I’m not good with people.”
“I think you’re well known.” She twirled her fingers around her long, straight hair. “You were one of the people I recognized.”
That didn’t answer the question, but he wasn’t going to insist on it.
“So, I guess I’m that person,” he said, to which she nodded.
“I didn’t think you were the type of guy to come to parties,” she said as they moved to the side of the room.
“What did you think?”
“Someone who stays inside to study. You get perfect scores.”
“True, and partly true. It’s hard to get perfect scores in literature.”
“Wow. Amazing.”
Despite her words, she didn’t sound impressed. Demund wondered why she was bothering to talk to him. Though he had to admit that she was cute.
“So, Kacy. I don’t think we’re in the same grade,” he noticed. “Something sweet or fizzy?”
“I’ll take fizzy,” she said. She muttered thanks as he handed her a cup. “I’m a freshman.”
“I’m surprised a freshman knows about me,” Demund said. “What did you hear?”
“You came out on television.” She sipped her drink softly. “Your topic was magic. I thought the concept was intriguing.”
“You know about it?”
She nodded. “Is that your power? Using magic?”
“Yes—and no,” he replied. “The magic itself isn’t a power, but something I learned.”
“Learned. Does that mean it can be taught to other people?”
“I never tried,” Demund admitted. “I was planning to.”
“What happened?”
“The person in question left,” he shrugged.
“I’m assuming that person is Enariss.”
“Yes—how did you know?”
“You’re always coming to school with her,” she said.
He frowned. “Does everyone know that?”
“Everyone knows about Enariss, even people outside of the school.”
Right. She was the daughter of one of the top heads of a conglomerate. “I never knew people cared so much.”
“I assume people care because you’re very different from her,” she said, taking another sip. “And with so many people after her, they don’t look at you too well.”
She put her drink down. “Well, at least that’s what I heard.”
“You don’t seem like a freshman,” Demund observed. “I’m guessing you went to TISE Middle?”
She nodded.
That would mean she was from a wealthy family or someone who’d gotten in with good grades. She seemed to be both.
“Did you come alone?” Demund asked.
“I have a friend, but her parents didn’t allow her to come,” she said. “I’m surprised your parents allowed you.”
“Why would you think that?”
“With everything you’ve achieved, you must have strict parents.”
“Maybe.”
Were his parents strict? When it came to hanging out with friends, they’d allowed everything with Jothan. Then again, he had been the only close friend he’d had until high school.
“Well, I’m here. Are your parents strict?”
“When they care.”
She didn’t continue. Demund took a big gulp of his drink, wondering how he’d found himself in the situation.
“So, uh, Kacy—”
The other side of the room exploded with laughter and noise, causing him to flinch. People were crowding around the commotion, and he realized that there weren’t many people around them.
“Want to go take a look?” he suggested. She nodded.
They got up, heading towards the scene. It was very crowded, and whatever was happening in the middle was making people gasp and roar with exhilaration.
Things felt like they were becoming a little too wild.
“Would you mind waiting here for a second?” he told Kacy. He didn’t know why, but something in his gut told him that he had to see what was going on. Maybe it was because of the sound of something being thunked that disturbed him.
She nodded. Muttering an apology, he waddled into the crowd and made his way through. There was an open space at the center.
Someone was being kicked by some of the members of Edan’s group, including Pao. Demund instantly recognized the fallen guy as Davis—he had his thickened arms over his head, curled up on the ground on his knees.
The sight of it repulsed him. It had been rare, but he recalled seeing something similar at Fort Avagal. To disobey a superior was to bring agony upon oneself. A group targeting an individual—the sight of it made his blood boil.
He remembered the powerlessness. He remembered his past days in school.
“Hey!” he yelled. “Cut it out!”
The people who were kicking looked at him funnily. “What, wanna join?”
Demund pushed them away, immediately causing them to scrunch their faces. They all looked like they’d been drinking.
“The hell, dude?” Pao growled, shoving Demund’s arm away. “What are you getting at?”
“The hell are you guys doing?” Demund demanded. “Beating someone up? What the hell is wrong with you? Where’s Edan?”
“You think—this guy. Hah,” Pao sighed, putting a hand on his forehead. “Way to ruin the fun.”
“Fun? You think this is—”
“Demund.”
Edan had emerged from the crowd, looking slightly tired. Demund looked at him for help.
“Edan, you can’t let them—”
“Just. Calm down. It isn’t what you think it is,” Edan sighed.
“What do you mean?”
“Davis, get up. Would you mind explaining?”
Davis got up slowly and dusted himself, his torsos thinning. He looked grumpy but relatively unharmed, though his arms were slightly red.
“I lost a game,” Davis answered in a low voice.
“Yes, exactly. It was a game,” Edan agreed. “Davis isn’t good with drinks, so he’d rather take things physically.”
Davis nodded with the glummest expression in the whole room.
“A—a game,” Demund said.
“Way to ruin the mood!” Pao complained. “Fuck, making us into villains. I’m out of here.”
“Pao.”
Demund clenched his fist. He couldn’t stop himself. “You think beating people is fun?” he blurted.
“Heck yeah, it’s fun,” Pao grunted. “What do you think the MMA Club is for?”
“Pao! You’re drunk,” Edan breathed. “Go take a nap.”
Pao snorted but didn’t argue. The crowd moved out of the way to let him pass as he headed for the stairs.
“You’ve fought Davis before,” Edan said, turning to Demund. “Must I have to explain everything to you?”
“I thought that maybe, well…”
“You think I would allow something like that in my party? In my house?” Edan wiped his face with both hands. The crowd had become eerily silent while he spoke.
Demund couldn’t reply. His brain felt as if it had been replaced with lead, dull and dark. The eyes were all on him, and he was already exhausted. His heart thumped faster, multiplying the sickness in his innards.
“Really? I didn’t think you thought of us that way.”
His lips felt sealed shut. He wasn’t sure if he was glaring at Edan, and just frowning very, very deeply.
“Well, whatever. These things can happen. Just apologize, and we can move on. Come on, let’s get on with it.”
Apologize. For what? To whom?
The things his friends had told him began to resurface in his mind. How the group Edan led wasn’t something they wanted to associate with.
The world seemed to have frozen. Everyone was looking at him expectantly, waiting for him to say sorry. But he couldn’t. A giant lump clogged his throat.
Two minutes ago, he’d been happily chatting with a girl. Now, his world felt like it was falling apart.
He closed his eyes and circulated.
Suddenly, he was pulled back.
“EMERGENCY KIDNAPPING!” someone yelled, and he felt his body be lifted off from the ground and hoisted onto two pairs of arms.
“What—”
It happened all too suddenly. One second he was in the middle of a disaster, the next inside of a car and driving off. He didn’t resist. He knew the arms that had saved him from a moment of suffering.
“Riley! Rhyne!” he exclaimed.
“Told you not to get involved,” Rhyne smirked. “They do some weird things during their parties.”
“Your mom called,” Riley added. “She was wondering when you were going to come home tomorrow because apparently, you told her you were staying over at my house.”
“I said a friend’s house,” Demund muttered.
“Same thing. You were planning to stay over at Edan’s house?”
Demund didn’t know what to say. It had felt right back when he had made the decision.
“Sorry,” he said quietly.
“No need to apologize. Geez, you reek. Hope you didn’t drink.”
“Not a sip.”
“Good. Well, you’re staying over at my place with Riley,” Rhyne stated. “Gosh, our improvisation is on the mark.”
They exchanged a high-five.
“So, what was happening back there?” Riley asked. “It looked pretty serious, so we kidnapped you.”
“My idea, by the way,” Rhyne said proudly.
He couldn’t believe he’d left them to go hang out with Edan. Demund smiled weakly, leaning back on his chair.
“I might have screwed myself up.”
⤙ ◯ ⤚
Once again, nothing in the world could faze him.
“Fire.”
On Nicar’s signal, the soldiers released their bullets, raining death down on the beastmen who’d emerged from their village to either run away or attack them. Shaden watched as their bodies fell on the floor lifelessly, some crawling away with wounds before another shot pierced their heads.
It was strange that he didn’t feel much. He had wanted to become numb—and so had become numb. After the buzz of experiencing a breakthrough had died down, all that remained was his immovable spirit and indomitable will. The sight of death felt distant as if he were looking through the scene in third person.
This was the first village they’d come across after they had received orders from the Commander. The reason for the attack was to acquire food and cull potential invaders, and Shaden had decided not to argue after seeing that the previous group they’d run into had poison and secret documents in their possessions. This was their way of life. And it made sense because of their circumstances.
“Forward.”
After the command was given, the squadrons moved forward with their blasting rods pointed before them.
“Fire.”
Their targets this time were the houses. Wood splinted and stone cracked as holes were bored into the walls, passing through the other side. The sound was incredibly loud.
Shaden didn’t have his detection active. The last time he had, he’d felt bullets puncturing flesh all too clearly. But he turned it on just in case there would be an ambush.
“Forward.”
The squadrons split up, each taking on a house. Shaden only focused on the things near them, examining the house they kicked into while the others searched the place, he confirmed that there was nobody there.
“We found the storage,” Patran said. “There’s food for the winter.”
“Let’s move on to the next building.”
Sooner or later, this would have been necessary. They were terribly low on rations, and had they not found the village, hunted or starved to death.
Again, no one was present. There was no hidden cellar. Shaden couldn’t believe that every single one of the villagers had run towards their deaths. The vast majority had run towards them with their teeth and fangs bared.
They resembled animals because of the abundance of fur that grew on them during the winter. It made it more bearable to look at the bodies that way.
Still, he found it strange that the village was empty. Closing his eyes, he expanded his range of detection, encircling the whole village.
He found an area underground where a group of beastmen was huddled together. He thought about telling Pillen but decided otherwise. There were children included in the group based on their small statures. While the others looked over the supplies, he left the building and headed towards where the underground area was.
Someone had barged into the building while he had been approaching. Sounds were coming from within.
They found the trapdoor.
He quickened his footsteps.
Something terrible was about to happen.
“Shaden.”
It surprised him when Nicar wrapped her arms around him, kneeling on one leg to match his height.
“Let it pass,” she told him. “There is nothing worse than a beast with a grudge.”
“You can’t do this,” Shaden said. “You can’t kill children.”
She looked into his eyes.
“The Commander has ordered it,” she said. “Don’t look. Don’t listen. Don’t sense.”
She tightened her hold. It was the most human he’d seen her.
“They’ve done nothing wrong!” Shaden objected.
She pressed his head onto her shoulder. “They are beastmen.”
A twisted logic. This was a culture he couldn’t understand. The mindless hatred, the seemingly pointless battles, the killings not referred to as murder, but the ‘Winter Trials.’
He couldn’t accept it.
And unlike the realer reality, he had all the power in the world.
“Let me go,” he said.
“You cannot,” she uttered.
Shaden heard cries accompanied by the familiar sensation of mana condensing at a small, singular point.
“Let me go!” Shaden yelled.
Nicar held him tightly, unbudging. Shaden’s eyes widened.
The air was filled with the cracking of bullets.