“The Devil has a shiny arm?” Tanya said as she looked closer at the dead Devil’s body.

“Is it made of steel?” Tasya wondered.

“It’s not a steel. It’s some kind of metal. I need to investigate further to know the correct kind,” Lyra said as she cut through the Devil’s clothes.

Lyra was able to scan the metal with her eyes and match it with all known metals, and the conclusion was the robot was made from a metal unknown to the Galactic Empire. She concluded the metal was native to this planet.

“His whole body is metal!?” Tasya was shocked. It was like the monsters from a tale of old.

Tasya once heard the story of a creature made of metal that destroyed the old civilisation. She wondered if this thing was a remnant of that era and whether this thing came back to finish its job. Her face turned pale when she had that thought.

“Interesting,” Lyra said with a curious face.

Lyra examined the body of the Devil. It had a human-like body and resembled one of the early android models from the Galactic Empire. It had no silicone muscle or skin covering its metal skeletal body and head.

“Is this what the Devil looks like?” Tanya said.

“Looks like it,”

“So this is it… This is the Devils.”

“It must be the remnant of the old civilisation,” Tanya said worriedly.

“Remnant of old civilisation?” Lyra asked.

Tasya nodded, “Our mother told us a story about the old civilisations, There was a war between humanity and creatures made of metal. The creatures claimed they were sent by God to destroy the world, and the humans fought a bloody war against them. In the end, humanity was able to defeat them.”

“Creatures made of metal?” Lyra said.

Lyra was sure the creatures in that story must have been the robots in front of her.

“Yes. At first, I didn’t believe it, but now…” Tasya said as she looked at the dead Devil.

Lyra—or rather Lucy whose memory resided inside the android—did believe what the twins said. She wondered what made these robots go berserk and almost annihilate the human civilisation on this planet.

As Lyra pondered, she heard footsteps, “Someone is coming.”

Tasya and Tanya prepared themselves to fight another battle. However, Lyra stayed relaxed beside the Devil’s body, she knew who was coming.

“Luca—Lord Lucas?!” said Tasya.

Lucas came running with a group of soldiers behind him, “What’s happened here?” Lucas asked.

“As you can see, a dead Devil,” Lyra said as she pointed to the mechanical body near her.

Lucas approached the body with a curious face and said, “This is the Devil?”

“Yes!”

Lucas had never thought the Devil was just a robot.

“Isn’t this a—“

“Yep, just as you would guessed.”

“And is this the creation—“

“Yes... Probably,” Lyra answered Lucas’s questions before he could finish it.

Lucas sighed. It was no coincidence that he and Lyra crossed paths despite the chaos. Lucas saw Lyra’s position on his PCD and went to her. He never thought that she would take care of the Devil.

“So the Devil is dead, huh?” Lucas was relieved.

“One of them, yes.”

One of them? Lucas thought.

“What do you mean? Are there more?” Lucas was flustered.

“Yes, there are four more... Hopefully.”

Four robots like this, who could have maintained these things? Lucas thought.

“Umm, excuse me, my Lord. But, shouldn’t we take care of the Living Deads first?" Tanya broke Lucas’s deep thought.

“You’re correct. Tasya, take half the soldiers with you and bring this body to the castle then support the others in killing the Living Deads. Tanya, bring the rest of the soldiers and kill all the Living Deads and protect the civilians. Lyra will go with me.”

“You know Lyra?” Tanya asked.

“Yes, she is my companion from my home country.”

“I see. Then, we’ll do your order, Lord Lucas! Soldiers with me!” Tanya said as she ordered the soldiers to follow her.

“I’ll leave the body to you,” Lucas said to Tasya.

“Yes, My Lord,” Tasya bowed before Lucas left with Lyra.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

It was not long after they parted that Lucas and Lyra met a horde of Living Deads. Swiftly they took them down. Both of them aimed the necks of their enemies or stabbed them in their hearts to kill them.

“Lyra,” Lucas said with heaving breathing, “I envy your android body. You don’t need rest do you?”

“Well, you can say it like that. But, my manual recommends to at least sleep for 2 hours every week. Shall we take a rest?” Lyra said as she sheathed her sword.

“Yes, give me a moment, to catch a breath.”

“Sure.”

“You dyed your hair?” Lucas noticed Lyra's hair colour had changed to brown.

“Not really, I can change the colour of my hair at will.”

“You have that kind of ability?”

“Yes.”

In an instant, her hair changed colour from brown to white then to brown again.

“That's cool.”

“Lucas, I was told that these monsters are hard to kill, but—“

“Our swords can easily kill them.”

“Yes, a slash on the neck or stab at their chest, they dropped dead.”

“I tried it with the swords from one of the guards. When I cut their neck, their body and head were still alive. I suspect it has to do with the materials of the swords.”

“It could be a possibility.”

“Well, whatever it is. We can investigate further after we’ve done with tonight. Let’s continue to hunt those monsters.”

“Yes!”

Lucas and Lyra spent the whole night fighting against the remnant of the Living Deads. Lucas was worried that the Living Dead would infect other civilians, fortunately, people who were bitten or attacked by the Living Dead would just die or be injured.

Lucas stood on top of the city’s gate, looking at the carnage left by hordes of Living Deads and the Devils. The southern part of the city took the most damage and he concluded that this part of the city was the starting point of the attack. Lucas sighed, he thought he had everything under his control and the trust of his retinues in the Duchy.

There was still an important question that remained inside Lucas’s mind; How did these people get turned into mindless killing machines?

“Someone is coming,” Lyra warned Lucas.

Lyra was standing next to Lucas.

From his left, a familiar figure walked to him and then bowed. “My Lord, we’ve been looking for you,” said Asher.

“I was caught in the chaos,” Lucas said.

“I apologise.”

“Why? Because it happened or because none of you told me?” Lucas said with an irritated yet charming voice.

A brief silence stop their conversation.

“I took full responsibility for that… I told William to keep silent about the Devil and the Day of his revenge,” Asher said, looking down at his foot.

“Look up, Captain. And looked at the city,” Lucas ordered Asher.

Asher followed his command he briefly looked at Lucas—who had his gaze on the city—before looking at the city.

Regret dawned on him.

What if I told Lord Lucas about this beforehand? We might be able to avert the disaster, Asher thought.

“Honestly, I don’t think we could averted this disaster even if you had told me beforehand,” Lucas said, “but, at least, some lives could be saved.”

“Well, whatever in the past is in the past, right?” Lyra said with a slightly cheerful tone.

Lucas sighed. “You’re right.”

“Ummm… certainly…” Asher said. He wondered who is the woman next to Lucas.

Lyra took notice of Asher’s puzzled face. “My name is Lyra, I am Lucas’s subordinate in the military. Nice to meet you, Captain!”

“Nice to meet you too, Lady Lyra. I’m Asher Zermano, leader of the Novgorod Guard,” Asher greeted her.

“You can just call me Lyra, Captain. I’m not a noble,” Lyra said with a smile. Asher was charmed by her, but he quickly composed himself.

“As you wish, Lyra.”

“She is the one who defeated the Devil,” Lucas said.

“What? Defeated the Devil?” Asher was visibly flustered.

“I only kill one of them, though,” Lyra said.

“One of them?!”

Asher who only knew there was one Devil was petrified.

Lyra saw Asher’s expression and asked, “There were five of them. You didn’t know that?”

“Back then, there was only one…”

“One, three, five, even tens of them. It doesn’t matter.” Lucas turned his body to face Asher. “I’ll... We'll find a way to defeat them.”

Asher felt a tremendous burden had just been lifted from his shoulder.

“Asher,” Lucas continued, “if it were up to me, you would be stripped of your position and put in jail. However, you’re my cousin’s people, the Duchess. I will refrain from imposing my judgment without her approval.”

“I thank you for your forgiveness,” Asher said.

Lucas reached out his hand and grabbed Asher’s right shoulder.

Lucas then put his mouth near Asher’s ear and whispered, “You’re lucky the Duchess is merciful and I’m in a good mood. Otherwise, I would stab you right here and throw your body down.”

Asher saw a murderous gaze from Lyra when Lucas whispered those words. As if she knew Lucas’s feelings.

Right there, Asher knew he had crossed the line.

“…”

Asher could not speak a word.

Lucas then walked past him followed by Lyra. “I’m going back to the Palace, take care of the rest.”

“Yes, My Lord,” Asher said.

Asher could not make himself move, he was still in shock. The decision he had taken to keep Lucas unaware of the Devil had angered Lucas.

Moreover, the fact there were five Devils and one of them was defeated by Lyra filled his mind. He thought—again—had he told Lucas, there could be less death and destruction.

Asher gazed at the city, blood, death and destruction were what he could see in the southern part of the city.

“I should have not doubted him,” he muttered.

He heard horses neigh from below. He looked down and saw Lucas and Lyra riding the horses back to the Palace.

“I swear. From this day, I will trust you with undying loyalty to you and your family, Lord Lucas.”

Lyra rode her horse just behind Lucas as they passed through debris and dead bodies. She could see the back of the man she admired. It reminded her of their younger day.

“You’ve changed, Lucas,” said Lyra.

“Changed?”

“Yes. Before, you would have forgiven his mistake.”

There was a short silence. Lyra could see Lucas’s gazing at the sky.

“I’ve grown up.”

She chuckled. The man she grew up together had changed.

She felt a tingling feeling inside her. Is it pride, sadness or regret? she thought.

“Why?” Lucas asked.

“Sorry?”

“Why did you say that?”

She wanted to speak the truth. She wanted to tell him that this body belonged to his beloved twin sister. but she could not bear to say it.

“We’ve been together for years. Of course, I would notice a change.”

“I see… I don't think I've changed much since I commandeer the ship.”

Lyra smiled silently. A tingling feeling swelled up again and tears came out from her eyes. She wiped it off immediately.

She muttered to herself, “Whether you’ve changed or not. Whatever path you choose. Even if you were hated by the world... I will always follow you, brother.”

“You’re saying something?” Lucas asked her.

“Hmm?”

“I guess not.”

All the way to the Palace, Lucas’s back was what Lyra could only see. A back that carried a heavy burden and responsibility. A burden which Lyra—Lucy—wanted to help him carry, not as commander and subordinate, but as brother and sister.