“It got worse.”
A frustrated sigh couldn’t help but leave my mouth, especially when the ordeal seemed so close to be over.
The masses - or at least the more “civilized” portion of such – were still showering Mary with a rain of love and attention. From clumsy attempts at courting carried out by lovestruck fools, to baseless boasts that the heroine must have traced her heritage back to noble bloodlines, and even the odd plea where some doddery halflin asked the miraculous maiden to foster her brood...
All sounds of cheers and celebration unceremoniously came to a stop, soon as a wolfkin made his entrance with some slow, sarcastic claps.
“Angelic one!” The scraggy boy shouted, undisturbed by countless stares from Mary’s admirers all around. “Me wants to thank! You, speech, amazing! We all blessed to have a kind-hearted angel like you!!!”
With a grand flourish – purposely done to get as many eyes on him as possible – said wolfkin continued his praise.
“Me notices. Me kins too shy... No one came, congrats angel. So, me would like to say thanks, for everyone!”
Such words caused a stir within the crowd. There were raised eyebrows from peaceful wildkins and halfbloods, though it also didn’t take long before a certain group of warmongering beastmen - whose leader (unfortunately) happened to be me – became quite rowdy.
Despite being able to instinctively sense that Mary and Gary were one of the “top dogs” of Folen Frontier, an invisible barrier still prevented my followers from openly acknowledging such, it seemed.
This was understandable, of course.
After all, their wounded pride from being crushed by the first emperor ran deep, and subtle acts of submission towards a citizen of the empire were already considered taboo within most tribes – let alone the “bootlicking” this wolfkin was trying to do.
Seriously... This is why it’s so weird when D’a W’eenes keeps trying to gain my favor and whatnot... In fact, how did he even manage to convince everyone that I was their war hawk in the first place!?
I shook off the distracting thought, especially as Mary began to speak up.
“Oh! Well then… Thank you as well! After all, peace is peachy, no? Can you imagine if someone doesn’t like to have peach~es?”
“... Pardon?”
“Ah ah ah~ Thanking should always take priority over apologizing, as my mom used to say. Unless… There’s something you would like to apologize for…?”
“...”
The not-so-subtle accusation caused the wolfkin to freeze up.
A tense atmosphere soon enveloped the crowd. Everyone could only look back and forth in puzzlement, seeing how their beloved idol suddenly took a defensive stance in front of the archpriest, all while a seemingly harmless fan stood like some sinner of sorts.
As for me, I couldn’t help but be impressed, especially when a glance revealed that Gary had also noticed the threat and moved to act accordingly.
The two protagonists had succeeded in sniffing out evil – something my “second-in-command” and the priesthood couldn’t even hope to do. Such a thought would have made me laugh...
... If it wasn’t for the slasher smile widely plastered on the snake’s face.
“Show’s over, then.”
Annoyingly enough, despite having a pair of powerful fighters closing in on it, the bastard still had the nerve to turn towards my direction with a smile.
Go ahead. Stop me. See what happens.
I could just hear such taunts in the same, irritating voice.
That snake had expected me to use this failed coup against it, huh?
Perhaps, I might have underestimated the “starter villain” a little bit...
That said.
*Grumble*Grumble*
Based on the heightened state of tension in the priesthood, as well as the way more clerics were chanting a protective invocation of sorts, it seemed that my second-in-command had finally sprung the trap...
Still, before things could escalate any further, I decided to give the bastard a smirk of my own.
The way its smile got wiped off its mug was certainly a treat to see, though not as much as the shocked look when it saw what had happened to me.
*Grumble*
*WHAM*
“Gotcha! False Eagle!!!”
A searing sensation came just a moment later as pain exploded throughout my body.
My feet no longer touched the ground. It was almost impossible to even breathe.
With gritted teeth, I glanced back to see the owner of one furry hand – which was holding my neck in a deathly grip.
“What’s going on!?”
“That beastman... Is he trying to kill the cursed seer?”
“C’as S’andatru! What you doin to war hawk!!?”
“SILENCE!!!”
The beastman’s shout echoed across the town square, causing an uneasy stillness to descend – broken only by the occasional mutterings and furious whispers.
Loud footsteps resounded around me, and it didn’t take long before several beastmen formed a protective circle around a lionkin - whose hand was choking me to death.
“Grkk... Wa..i...t...”
“Shut mouth, false hawk! You brought no victory! No glory! Me cut head, see if you rise from ash like First Eagle!!!”
“...”
*Thump*Thump*Thump*
My heart felt like it wanted to leap out of my chest, especially when the growling lionkin brought his other hand forward - whose sharp claws glowed a murderous glint under the light.
Yet, even as my consciousness slowly faded into darkness, I refused to break eye contact with a certain figure not so far away.
Stay. Put!
Thankfully, the unspoken order went through, given how D’a W’eenes stopped trying to leave his post.
That aside, the way my second-in-command gritted his fangs tight enough to draw blood, as well as the look on my followers’ faces as they failed to even move and save me, certainly made my heart beat with joy...
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“Pack leader! Why stop us!!?”
“Let go! Stop aura!! Go save war hawk!!!”
“Traitor killin him!!!”
The gang of beastmen near me, despite being numerous in number, couldn’t move an inch.
In the middle of their midst, D’a W’eenes – my second-in-command – now had a hairstyle that looked spiky beyond belief as his aura became one furious torrent, pinning and keeping the rest of my followers in place.
Such a sight caused the lionkin to let out a laugh of relief. His clawed hand slowly raised above like a guillotine instead of going for the previous quick slash, as if he wanted to drag out the deed after confirming none would stop him.
Perfect.
“You... will... regret this...”
One last warning was croaked out.
The table was set.
The die had been cast.
“Hah! Only thing me regrets, not doing this sooner!!! Now DIE!!!”
With that, everything went dark as I closed my eyes, eager to know if my first true “prophecy” would come to pass...
[ | ]
There was a gift, taken for granted by the common folks.
It was the gift of normality.
Being “normal” meant that you were part of the group.
Being “normal” meant that people wouldn’t put unfair assumptions upon you.
Being “normal”, meant that the sweetness and bitterness sprinkled in life, could actually be cherished.
... Mary Stew and Gary Stool had never been normal.
The first memory both siblings could remember was the various whispers behind their back.
.
.
.
“The mayor’s bastards-”
“Hair of black and white-”
“They look nothing like us-”
“Unnatural beauty since birth-”
“Mother made a pact with witches-”
“Sacrifice her own husband in the process-”
“Looking so cocksure of themselves just because-”
“Now that their father is dead, guess who are taking the inheri-”
“What a blasphemous, loathsome pair of irredeemable freaks!!!”
.
.
.
When did that all change?
Oh, right...
It was when the endless darkness closed in, swallowing the village whole.
It was when people saw how said inky darkness couldn’t come close to the siblings.
It was when Mary and Gary went from “two rich bastards” to “beacons of hope”.
It was the day both became useful to those that once hated their guts...
“Shouldn’t we do something? That beastman is about to kill the damn seer!”
“Why? That is a good thing, is it not? One less heretic who plagues the land.”
“But...”
“Shut your trap! Don’t you see how the priesthood and the coppa haven’t made any move? If that heathen is worthy of salvation, don’t you think he would have been saved by now?”
“His own followers have turned on him as well! Look! None of the savages even try to stop this execution!!!”
“Can’t he just be resurrected afterwards?”
“Buffoon! That guy is an unfavored who has no mana or aura within his veins. He’s rutted!”
“Finally, the cursed outworlder will get what his kind deserves... May the Goddess have mercy upon such a wretched soul!”
Somehow, it felt as if time had slowed to a crawl.
The two siblings could hear the horrendous chitter-chatters from all around, despite the rustling of wind and gasping of breaths as their legs desperately sprinted forward.
Both had forgotten about the weird wolfkin and the archpriest, though such figures were stuck watching how this terrible nightmare would unfold anyway.
A nightmare.
Yes... This must be some kind of nightmare!
“-Only thing me regrets, not doing this sooner!!! Now DIE!!!”
They would not make it...
The executioner’s blade was within a hair's breadth of finishing its job.
... Why?
Both Mary Stew and Gary Stool had accomplished the impossible times and times again, had leapt across chasms far greater, had raced through stampedes faster than light... So, why?
Why did they always fail, when they were needed most...?
.
.
.
“I will be your knight, Mary! No matter what anyone says, I will always-”
“Thee c'rtainly art a puzzle, Gary. Yet, nay matt'r what the uneducat'd masses bethink, mine own heart beats 'longside thee and thee only-”
“Don’t be foolish, my little ducklings. Wait here, I will return with the milk soon. Then, once all four of us dine at the table again, I promise to tell you everything-”
.
.
.
Time ceased to be as both siblings froze mid-air.
Memories flooded in, reminding them of a desperate – yet much simpler time.
They remembered leading their neighbors through the darkness, fighting tooth and nail every step of the way.
They remembered meeting droves upon droves of refugees, whispering hopeful words of a sanctuary at the frontier.
They remembered reaching said miraculous bastion, unknowing if entrance would even be granted.
They remembered the gates being opened, all thanks to one “heretical” seer.
They remembered what said “heretic” answered in turn, when he received their gratitude:
“Oh, uh... You’re welcome, I guess? Now if you excuse me, I need to go see those adventurers from that Underdogs team. Gotta make sure they settle in ok and what not... Hm? My name? Well, shouldn’t you introduce yourself first?”
.
.
.
“... Mary Stew and Gary Stool!!! No way... I- Eh, this one... This one sees your destiny!!!”
“Hail and well met, newcomers. It seems that you both have run into the infamous ‘doomsday prophet’. Well, between you and me, I would advise you not to trust-”
“A thousand apologies, young lambs. However, the blessing of destiny district can only shine upon those most faithful to the Golden Sun. Mayhap, your flock should try its luck at-”
“Look. Dawn district is already crowded enough. We need neither more mouths to feed nor extra competitors. Plus, see this craft here? I highly doubt that any of you hillbillies can come close to-”
“Hey, fresh meat! Where do you think you’re going, huh? This part of the dusk district belongs to... Huh? That... That badge...! How did you get such-”
“Grrr, you two, sent by war hawk? Heh... Me no see why prophet thinks you important... But fine. Tell your pack, settle in. Safe shelter here, no rogues or trouble makers around-”
.
.
.
“Welcome to the adventurers’ guild of Folen Frontier. How may I-”
“Unbelievable! Those siblings just managed to raid an entire floor on their own-”
“Did you see the weapons? I thought they had some kind of screw loose, but even a dungeon’s boss couldn’t withstand-”
“Oh beautiful maiden... Even the coldest snow pales against your skin, yet it is your burning compassion that moves my heart-”
“♫ Brave knight, will you not smile for us? ♪ You have a heart of gold... charming both friends and foes-”
“Kyaah~! Mary and Gary, you are the pride of our village! We’ve always believed in youuu-”
“THREE CHEERS FOR OUR BELOVED RISING STARS!!! HIP, HIP, HOORAY-”
.
.
.
“How curious... That henchman of mine has sworn up and down that you two will be our trump card against the dungeons. Yet, all I can see are two lost sheep wandering aimlessly in the dark...”
.
.
.
“Please stop…”
Their plea could barely be heard amidst howls and shouts.
Countless thoughts ran through the two siblings’ minds in the span of mere moments. Yet, one puzzling question was at the forefront of it all.
Why?
Why bother?
Why care so much about this, shifty, “seer”?
Refuge was freely given to those that followed them, that was true.
Training got provided by veterans on someone else’s behalf, for certain.
Funding came for those under their care, so that both siblings could focus on mastering might and magic. None would ever deny that.
And yet...
The seer’s green eyes bore the same calculating look, not unlike others.
Both siblings knew that they were an investment – one that could become an asset someday.
He only welcomed their presence since they were useful, the same way everyone else always did...
...
... That said.
Despite all the terrible rumors surrounding their benefactor, never once had he lied to their face.
Compared to the excessive infatuation or hidden contempt thrown at the siblings on a daily basis, the seer’s measuring gaze was, at least, accompanied by honesty.
Plus, there had only ever been one – and only one – request made to them both:
“Do whatever you please, as long as you believe it to be the right thing.”
.
.
.
“Why I am helping you so much, you asked?”
“Well...”
“There’s a saying where I came from. Something along the line of with great power comes great responsibility.”
“To be honest... I am neither powerful nor mighty. C’mon, don’t give me that look. We all know it to be true.”
“That said...”
“Since I don’t have that kind of gift, it’s only right that I help those who do possess such reach their true potential.”
“And, perhaps, remind them of the duty ones so powerful should always remember as well...”
.
.
.
“… Stop.”
Both siblings knew why they wanted to save the seer.
Gratitude, justice, compassion.
Yet, above all, sympathy.
“Stop.”
Right before them was an unfavored – who had naught but wit and rotten luck to his name. Yet, day after day, he still struggled so hard to live, to thrive, to be useful so that he would not be cast aside...
“STOP!!!”
He was truly just like them, after all.
“I said, STOPPPPPPPPP!!!”
[ | ]
The world shook as two legends awakened, moving heaven and earth themselves.
An omnipotent presence pressed its weight down onto the mortal realm below, causing an executioner to freeze in terror as his claws shivered in fear.
Faster than the eyes could blink, streams of silvery aura surrounded the beastmen who were pinned in place, allowing them to break free and burst forth.
A seer was saved, a lionkin was slashed to pieces, a crowd looked on with awe and tears in their eyes.
“Good job…” The prophet breathed out, a small smile adorning his face. “I always knew that you two were the ones…”
Indeed, for those that got to witness such a divine ascension firsthand, there was only but one proper course of action to be made.
“Messiahs…” Someone whispered, before being joined by countless others sobbing devotees. “THEY ARE THE MESSIAHS! WE ARE SAVED!!!”