We continued on our journey down the paved road which led us to a forest. It’s rather eerie looking in nature. Thinking back to the ogres I still can’t believe I took them down with a single slash.

Hey Belros is it just me or were those ogres weak or am I just strong?

I wouldn't have an inflated ego over it, they were just grunts. Despite that you handled them with relative ease. I was worried about you. Souls usually regenerate into their physical form in Hell if left alone but if you’re consumed by another you’ll be lost forever. There won’t be a next life.

I dunno though, I feel powerful, like I can take on anything! I just fell two ogres with a single slash of my scythe!

Sigh what am I to do with you. I’m not your nanny, you know.

Hahaha, you sure have been acting like one recently. You know, I had you all wrong Belros, you’re alright. As far as I’m concerned you’re an official Legion member.

What even is this “Legion” you go on about?

The Legion is an organization I run with other members. We deal with bad guys and send them to Hell.

And yet you’re her yourself…

I figure God doesn’t like other humans killing each other for mediocre causes. My hands aren’t entirely stained with good intentions, I got a couple of innocent blood on my hands but it’s no big deal to me. Me and my friends run the group, it was just nights of mayhem at first but it turned into a cause bigger than ourselves…it got a little out of hand I gotta admit.

I stop moving, feeling this overwhelming sense of dread like I never felt before just crept over me. I don’t understand why…I never get scared, it’s as if I’m paralyzed and I can’t move. Something is wrong here…something is very wrong.

Belros, I’m not feeling too good right now, heheh…I think…I think somebody is following us. I can feel their bloodlust.

Keep your voice down and just keep walking…we’re being followed definitely. I’ll try to casually look behind us.

She side eyes her peripheral vision then casually looks behind her. And there spotted into the distance, a Minotaur, a high-end Monster camping behind a tree. Its piercing gaze fixated on the two of them with white glowing eye, drool salivating out the mouth and a huge axe on its back.

Soda, we need to leave and we need to leave NOW.

Why, I can handle myself, I can take on whatever it is.

That isn’t some monster you can easily handle, that is a minotaur. A high end monster, and it looks like it hasn’t eaten in weeks. It must be desperate, you stand no chance against it!

I psych myself out of the fear and dread. It is time for me to go to work.

What are you even talking about?! Belros panicked

I got this!

Soda! Don’t you dare go out there and fight that monster, you can’t even see the stats, what makes you think you can handle that beast?

I can handle anything, I am unstoppable! You saw me handle two ogres by myself. This will be a piece of pie.

I’m sorry Soda but I’m not going to let you rush off to death…you’re an investment I can’t lose, not yet.

What are you say-before I finished I felt a sharp pain in the back of my neck and my vision became a blur.

Sorry Soda. But we’ll live another day thanks to me, you’re welcome in advance. I picked Soda up with my magic and before then the Minataur knew that it’s been spotted and we were preparing to escape so it charged at me with incredible speed. My heart sank as I took flight with such speed with Soda in tow. I made sure we were incredibly high to the point the minotaur was nothing more than a spec on the forest floor and took off. The minotaur let out an ear piercing roar and flailed his axe in the air. Or so I thought until I saw his axe heading towards me in mere seconds. I dodged the oncoming attack but not unscathed.

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I let out an anguished howl as the axe practically buzzsaw the right side of my waist. How? How did it reach me from this distance?! I thought. Before I could assess the situation the minotaur raised his other axe again and flung it at me with impeccable strength and velocity. With no choice I kicked my wings into high gear which made me disappear with Soda momentarily escaping his grasp.

After I reached a safe distance away from the minotaur my wings gave out and started to free fall. We hit some trees before crash landing back onto the paved road, none worse for wear. I’m pretty sure I left a blood trail…but…but this should be a safe distance I’m sure of it, we can rest here for a little while…I started a fire and laid traps for some game. Resting by the tree, gasping for breath, in so much pain right now; I ripped my stockings and fashioned bandages out of it, God I wish I knew healing magic!

I let out groans and whimpers and I seem to have woken up Soda…putting on a brave face I spoke to him softly.

Look who decided to wake up, sleepy head. Had a good rest darling? Heheh…heh…

You son of a bitch, you knocked me out didn’t you?! I woke up enraged. If you’d just let me go at them I could have killed them with no sweat…at…all? After taking a look at Belros' condition I quieted down. I was befuddled by her ragged appearance.

Holy…Belros, you’re hurt badly! What the Hell happened to you…did…did that…

You fool…I told you didn’t I, you’re no match for a high end monster. I knew all along because I’m no match for a minotaur myself…gasp. She let out a smile through her pained expression

All I could do was stare at her, stupefied. Moments passed and I finally spoke.

I’m…I’m sorry…

An apology, from you? What happened to that spunky kid from earlier?

I really am sorry, Belros…you warned me and I didn’t listen. I just thought…sigh. If only I listened, if we ran…I hate to run away from fights. I should have listened to you more then none of this would have happened. As a leader I know it’s important to keep a cool head but I’m just not the type. I truly am deeply sorry.

D-don't worry too much about it alright? As you can see i'm in rough shape right now, are you hurt at all though? Soda?

I guess I'm fine besides the headache you gave me earlier.

Forgive me for that but I had to be cautious with you. You tend to act first and think last and that's something you have to watch out for, we almost died.

Are we going to be safe? Where did the minotaur go at least?

I barely managed to lose it, judging on what I've experienced with the minotaur, the little bastard gained an attachment for the both of us, especially you with your delicious looking soul...

Soda looked shocked, does every monster find human souls to be delicious or some crap.

Yes, this is why humans stay in Limbo, it’s for their own safety until they themselves turn into monsters…It sorta brings me back to the time when I was human…I don’t remember my past at all but I can recall why I was sent to Hell in the first place…When you stay in Hell long enough you’ll forget all about who you used to be but the reason you came to be in the Netherworld in the first place.

I was a happy woman you know, I think I had a good life. Two kids, a little girl and a son just about your age…I think that’s why I’m so protective of you. You remind me of him, he was a troublesome little boy who always had to scold him and tell him what to do.

But I'm not a trouble maker…for the most part I would believe, I just don't like not getting my way.

Humph, that's what every troublesome child tells their mother.

I'm not sure I told you this already but never knew anything about my family. I grew up in an orphanage and never knew my parents.

That is terrible to hear dear. I know I have my quirks, I'm in Hell after all but even demons and evil of the human heart just have to have a little mercy. My husband and I were a happy couple…but then he decided to cheat on me with some vixen. I was absolutely distraught that I broke into little pieces. I killed my husband, you know but I didn’t stop there. I lured that vixen into a trap, ready to kill her too and I did. She never knew I was coming for her.

But…that is beside the point. I never believed I was in Hell for the murders I’ve committed. I believe I’m in Hell for abandoning my children in their precious time of need. To this day I regret what I’ve done. I don’t know who I am or used to be anymore but that one thing…that one memory haunts me. I made my children into orphans.

Maybe…just maybe that’s why I want to protect you…you’re my little investment, my penance for leaving those two lost kids behind.

I don't know what to say to that Belros, I'm sorry.

Don't be sorry, it's not your fault. I just needed to get that off my chest.

I don't know why but I feel the need to comfort her. I get up and walk over to her and give her a hug.

I know it's not much but I hope it helps.

Thanks Soda, but I'm fine really.

Don’t act like you’re fine with those tears in your eyes…

I have to be strong, I have to be strong for you. I can't be weak.

Don't be stupid, you can't be strong all the time.

I have to, I have to be strong for you. I need to be strong for you.

The hell you're talking about?

I can't lose you, she sobs. I can't lose you too like I lost them. I can't lose you too.

Belros, you won't lose me.

If anything, I need you now more than ever. Without you I’ll never reach Lucifer’s castle. You’re my nanny after all, right? Hahah!

We both laughed.

Well I guess you're right.

You're the most troublesome child I've ever met.

I'm not a child, I'm a man.

Sure, you're a man.

I am!

I'm just messing with you.

I know, I know, I'm just saying.

I'm glad to have met you Soda.

I'm glad to have met you too, Belros. I think we should get a move on, the minotaur is still out there.

Don’t worry about the minotaur. I made great strides while you were asleep, it’d take at least a day for it to catch up.

We both heard rustling in the bushes and I tensed up about to bring my scythe out.

Easy, Soda, that’s just our dinner, must be the game I caught finally.we can eat. She got up painstakingly and got the food, a horned rabbit roasted by the fire and before long we decided to take this time to rest. Belros needed it to recover some of her HP, she said. I couldn’t really catch a wink of sleep, thinking about that damn minotaur but soon enough I drifted off to sleep as the fire dimmed.

And then vanished…