"You're different from them."

That was all that I could think of, as an answer, before I plopped myself back down on my seat.

"Now, get back on here. You're dirty."

"..." He stared at me, with his eyes wide and mouth slightly agape. "Is that really all that you're going to say to me?"

"Is there anything that I should be telling you, Anthony?"

I knew that I should try to speak as calmly as I could with him, to persuade him with some sweet words.

But...

I raised my chin, and leaned against my seat, before scoffing.

"Did I hurt you? No. Did I kill a child? Maybe. But you killed eight more than I might've, just now. And for no reason. Shouldn't you be saying something to the other people in this village?"

I saw him shake his head, before he panned his gaze throughout the now dark surroundings. I too, did the same.

Seems they didn't even have the coal to start some fires. But, I could see the glazed eyes that caught the light of our lantern.

Really, this village would just be better off disappearing, and all of the residents dying. Less of a stain for everyone else to deal with.

With a click of my tongue, I brought my gaze back to Anthony. He was back to glaring at me, too.

"You didn't need to get off. I didn't tell you to. But you did. And now, you're dirty. Take that shirt off and wipe yourself clean with it. I'll redress you."

"You're welcome."

He didn't shout. But, it felt like his words were ringing violently in my ears.

"What…?"

"You're welcome." He said it again, before he stabbed his sword into the ground.

Then, as if not expecting me to say anything more, he undressed himself, cleaning the blood off his face and arms, before discarding his shirt.

Abs, tough muscles, and dozens of healed scars were now put in display. But, not even this sight of the man I love, or the anger that was sowed, could take my mind off what he had just said.

"You're welcome…?"

I just repeated it dumbly. I couldn't understand what he meant.

Was I supposed to say thank you, for him killing all these innocents?

Why would I?

"Then… what was with the shame? The angry voice?!"

"... You don't get it, don't you?"

"What don't I get, Anthony?! Tell me!"

"Haaah..."

If you're going to give me the answer, the give it to me, right now! Don't beat around the bush!

"I wasn't ashamed because of myself. I was ashamed that we still have this village. I wasn't angry at you, for not wanting to be near them, either. That was to be expected. The only thing I didn't like was that you thought I was below them."

"What…?"

He pulled his weapon out of the ground, and approached one of the corpses. It was that of a girl. Then, he used his sword to flip open the rags that she wore.

What I saw was...

Maggots.

All over a jagged vertical wound from the midriff to the genital. It was greening it necrotized, it was rotting, pus flowed from the ruptured boils and those that didn't rupture, were bright red, and half the size of my palm.

"... Blech…!!!"

I vomited both my lunch, my breakfast, and even more.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

How…? How was she even able to stay alive, after being THIS deformed…?

"What… is that thing…? Is that even… human…?!"

"She is. Or rather was... It's an incurable disease. It isn't transmittable. Don't worry. But it comes when you eat too much of a certain plant. Their wounds don't heal anymore. So, it gets infected, worsens, and over time, they're just slowly dying."

"Wh...at…? What kind of horrifying thing, is that?!"

"The kind that you have to endure, when you're three centuries behind neighboring countries, it seems. We keep all of those afflicted, here-"

"THEN JUST KILL THEM ALL!" This time, I cut him off, as quickly as I could, before forming a dozen metal balls from my bracelets.

"I'm sorry for making you feel that way! But letting them keep living here, is just punishing them even more! Let's just end their suffering now!"

"You can't do that." I was promptly cut off again, before he climbed back on the cart. "Because there's still the chance of them recovering on their own. So the country leaves them here. At the same time, they're a deterrent. Entire armies turned back, when they saw the state of this town."

"A chance?! Really?! You're okay with letting them suffer? But you're also fine with killing some of them?!"

I yelled out, while using my sleeve to wipe the bile off my chin.

"You're a kind girl…" He said, before grabbing a new shirt from his knapsack. "You felt sorry for me. And you're feeling sorry for them, too. It's too bad you're in the Coalition, and that you're around people like us."

"..." I went silent, before grabbing his collar and forced him to look at me, directly. "That's not the entire story, isn't it?"

"I know you're not the kind of person to kill indiscriminately, just because I somehow insulted you. It doesn't even make sense that you would. Since, you were clearly planning to talk with people here. You wouldn't have told me to stay silent, if you didn't."

"So why?!" I gasped, not noticing that I was breathless already. "Why kill them?! Why kill innocent people?!"

"Because you did." The answer came so quickly, I couldn't help but think he just blurted it out.

But… looking into his eyes, I knew he wasn't joking. Nor was it a mistake.

He was actually pinning the blame on me?!

"I didn't ask you to kill them!"

"But you did kill one of them." Not even a second later, he had rebutted me again. Then, he lowered his head, pressing his cheek against my neck.

"You saw him as a threat to yourself. So I dealt with the rest." He whispered gently into my ear, with a sorrowful tone in his voice.

"I know that I can't protect you from your own goals and aspirations. But I love you, Guila. With all my heart."

"So…" His arm coiled around my waist, while another held the back of my head.

"I will make sure to get rid of everything that could endanger you. All the way until you no longer need me."

I felt his warm lips kiss my nape. Which sent shivers down my spine.

I couldn't stop him.

I didn't want to stop him.

He whispered words that I wanted to hear the most.

"Guila… thank you for forgivng me..."

I didn't want to get angry at him.

I owed him my life.

I loved him too.

But...

Was he really an angel…?

Or…

With one more kiss on my shoulders, which left a mark, he pulled away from me.

"We should get out of here first, huh?" He told me, with a thin smile and a chuckle.

"Y...yeah…" I knew my cheeks were red, and my entire body felt hot.

But, as a breeze came in, the stench of rot and decay ruined everything, causing me to snarl.

"Hrrrngh…! Let's go! As fast as possible, please…!"

"Don't worry. It's just straight ahead. If you can just help me out a bit with the wheels, then..."

"Done! They're floating slightly, again."

"Just cover your nose."

I nodded in response.

It was when the smell had just gotten thin enough to be ignorable, and the only light was where we were, or reflected from the rotating spheres around us, that a figure had approached from in front, from within the darkness.

It was… an old man with a hunched back making him less than four feet tall, malnourished limbs, and blank eyes, also wearing rags. But, he had two layers of rags, instead of one, and a wooden staff to keep him upright.

I could almost hear his body creaking as he trudged through the mud, and raised his head to look up at us.

Reacting immediately, Anthony brandished his sword again.

"Step out of the way. And you'll be spared."

"No…"

His voice was, quite obviously, hoarse, cracked and weak. But, the old man didn't even seem perturbed.

I was surprised enough by how he held his ground, despite Anthony's bloodlust.

"You have five more seconds."

But, what caught my eye, was the medal hanging from a frayed purple and gold strap from his chest.

It was a rusted copper star with the faded etchings of a coin, a flame and a scroll, side by side, from left to right.

"Three... Two... One."

"Anthony, wait!"

I went to my feet, trying to get an even closer look at him.

"You… you're a Calimus soldier?"

I saw him smile. Then... a tear fell down his cheek.

There was a short pause, as a breeze blew through, once again. While the grating and grinding in my ears, seemed to get louder.

"It's been years, since I've heard the tongue of my homeland."

"But, yes. I served within the seventh Magitech Division." He lowered his head, and placed a hand on his chest. "Your father was my commanding officer, Lady Guila. I'm elated, that you're safe."