Senior left the estate after making some finishing touches to his plan, and he is most likely to return home late. Even without him, the estate still runs as if he is still with us. That’s just how united the people here are. I don’t even need to order them around and do their tasks well. All that’s left for me to do is train like I usually do.
But this day is different. I decided not to train at all.
“Brian, you seem a bit tired these days. Do you get enough sleep?” I pointed out.
“It’s nothing, mister Jakob. I was just thinking about things recently like my mind is drifting away for some reason. Please don’t mind me.”
That’s what he said but it seems like he is really worn out. Even his voice tells me that he isn’t feeling all that well. I turned to him and shook my head.
“I don’t want to pry, Brian. But when you act like that, I can’t help and worry. Tell me what’s been bothering you lately. It’s dangerous for you to stay like that. In no time, your health will deteriorate and you will die. Tell me and I may be able to be of assistance.” I told him.
As if taking it as an order, though he is a little hesitant at first, Brian told me his worries. And just by listening alone convinced me. I need to make my move soon.
Only during the night when people who don’t want to be caught start to take action as they can move freely in the darkness. And that doesn’t just apply to humans, but to every living being.
I walked out of my room. It was eerily silent than a few days before. It is as if someone is forcing everything to keep quiet which is completely suspicious.
“Silence, huh? Is that how you are trying to deal with me?”
I immediately stomp my foot on the floor, creating a series of echoes throughout the hallway. I can see them lurking in the shadows.
“So you have finally made your move. What a surprise.” I said to myself, while unsheathing the sword that was collecting dust on the wall.
“Let me borrow this for a while, senior. I will clean your estate of monsters.”
At that moment, I can sense them lunge towards me without making a sound. However, unfortunately for them, I don’t entirely need to rely on sound to counter them.
With a single slash, I took down one of them and swiftly made a horizontal slash to take down another one. Their bodies colliding with the floor as they fall only made things easier for me.
“1..2..3…4….5….6….7…9. If you survive, it's not your time yet. Come.”
Seeing as how I was able to take down two of their kind in an instant, the rest of them remained still. They are aware of the danger by merely taking a single step. They have become wary of my existence. If the reason for them taking action lies in the fact that the senior left and has not returned yet thinking that they will take over the entire estate, whoever is behind is gravely mistaken.
If they don’t plan to attack me, then I guess I don't have a choice but to take the initiative.
It was around 10 PM when I suddenly felt uneasy. My surroundings are so quiet that it gives me the creeps. Though I’m too afraid to even walk out of the room to check, I gathered my courage and forced my legs to bring me towards the door.
As I was about to reach out to the doorknob, the door suddenly flung open. Revealing Elicia standing in front of the door. Seeing her staring at me, I instinctively knew something was wrong. But first, I need to make sure before acting hastily.
“Elicia, how many times do I have to tell you to knock it off? I’ve had enough of this. Just stop.”
Normally she would have replied by now and insisted, but this time, she just stared at me, almost glaring. The one thing that I found strange is that there is no life in her eyes. Her usually bright looking eyes look dead, like an empty vessel. I’m convinced, something is indeed wrong.
I walked towards her to check what’s wrong, when all of a sudden, Elicia pushed me and I landed on my back. Before I could even react, she jumped on top of me. I tried to push her away but she quickly neutralized my arms.
“What the…..where did this monstrous strength come from?!”
I grit my teeth as I try to yank my arms from her grip, but it proved to be useless. After pinning me to the floor, she reached out between her legs and ripped something off.
Within the dimly lit room with only the moon providing light, I stared at her hand holding her ripped underwear. A red flag. Not only that it brought unnecessary worry, the fear of becoming like her came to mind. I can no longer afford to stay still.
Yanking my hand from her grip already proved to be impossible, if that’s the case then there is one thing I can try: break her balance.
And to do that, I focused my strength on my lower body. Elicia has a relatively small body compared to me, and so the weight of our bodies are different. Trying to exploit that chance, I tried yanking my arms to the side and poured every ounce of strength to my lower body to push her to the side and I succeeded.
“What now?” I asked myself. I have not thought it through after achieving this.
For some reason, Elicia’s grip loosened and I quickly backed away from her and stood beside the door.
“Brian.” I heard her call out to me.
“Elicia?” I called back, still holding the door in case she charged toward me.
I thought it was the same Elicia who tried to take advantage of me, but I was wrong. As the moon illuminated the room, I saw tears streaming from her eyes like a river sparkling under the sun.
“Elicia…..is that you?”
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Seeing as how she called out to me with tears in her eyes, she must be the Elicia I know.
“Stop….don’t come near me.” She warned.
I know it’s dangerous, but seeing her suffering, I can’t just sit back.
“Brian! Stop! Leave now….leave this estate– no, leave this city. You’re not safe here.” She said, extending her hand towards me as a gesture to stop.
“I want to help you…is there anything I can do to help?” I asked but she remained silent and panting heavily. “Hey! Answer me, Elicia-”
She didn’t respond but shook her head instead. The look on her face, it seems like she decided to give up. She isn’t the Elicia I know. Elicia is bright and hopeful, which is the reason why I fell in love with her.
Even with her warning, I walk towards her. And with every step I take, her eyes widen as if she is terrified of what she could do to me, but still, it did not stop me.
I was a fool. I rejected her advance last time despite knowing how I felt about her. My chest tightens as I embrace the fear that’s surrounding me.
“Please….don’t come near me…Brian.. please.”
She continued to plead, but I disregarded it and embraced her.
“Although I know it wasn’t you talking to me the other night, you are right. My body feels warm that I want to embrace someone not only for naughty things, but also for the happy and sad times. I have always loved you, Elicia.”
After saying those words, tears stream down our cheeks. At that moment, I felt brave. Finally being able to convey my feelings to her. But that moment is short lived as she tries to grab me once again. And to my surprise, I was pulled away from her.
I turned back and saw mister Jakob standing behind me.
“What are you trying to do?” He asked and turned to Elicia struggling to keep herself under control.
“Please, Brian. Put an end to this. I don’t know how long I can keep it under control.”
I felt a sharp pain in my chest. Her words shook the entirety of my body. Me? Kill her? How can I– the one I love?
As if to honor her wishes, mister Jakob handed me a sword drenched in blood. The sight of it alone threw me on the floor, trying not to throw up, I stared at the sword he was holding.
“Is there no other way to bring her back?” I asked, and mister Jakob shook his head.
“If that were the case, you wouldn’t have seen blood covering the sword. I apologize but there is no other way.”
Hearing that from his mouth made my chest tightened even more. And so, I turned to Elicia hoping to get her disapproval. It was her death we are talking about, after all. But to my shock, she gave me a calm bright smile.
“He is right, Brian. Please put a stop to this before I lose myself completely.” She said with a smile.
How can she smile like that? I don’t get it. It’s her death we are talking about, does she not want to live?
I want to try and persuade her, but knowing that it’s her. She will not hesitate to give her life if it means saving more people, including me. She is that selfless.
“Are you sure about this?”
She just nodded her head slightly with the same bright smile on her face.
With her permission, even though I did not want to end the life of the one I love, I have no other choice. I grabbed mister Jakob’s sword. I held a lot of swords during my entire stay here in the estate during sparring between nobles. I can vividly remember how light the swords are, but why is this particular one so heavy? Is it because I am about to take a life?
I don’t know the reason. I no longer have any space to think about anything. My mind is a mess. I leaned before Elicia, pointing the sword to where her heart is, the place where she will feel little pain but I cannot bring myself to thrust the sword through her heart.
“Please. Brian.”
I look at her face for the last time. She is still as beautiful as the day I fell in love with her. Sensing my hesitation, Elicia caressed my left cheek with her hand. I want to feel her touch, and so I push my head against her hand. Then all of a sudden, I heard a nerve-wracking sound.
I nervously turned my gaze towards the hand holding the sword and realized that caressing my cheeks was a distraction. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I saw her body weakening and slowly starting to die.
“I know you will not be able to do it. I’m sorry, Brian. I think this is the last time we will be seeing each other. I’m glad I died knowing that you love me. Me too, I love you…..”
Her hand slid down my cheeks as the life in her eyes finally disappeared. I was shocked that I didn't even know how to react. I embraced her lifeless body and wept. Calling out her name over and over again hoping that she would call me by my name back. But it was useless, she was now gone.
“Elicia!…..Elicia!…” Wailed Brian holding the lifeless body of the one he loved.
Jakob stood beside him as if expressing his condolences for his loss and did not utter a single word.
After finally calming down, Brian covered Elicia’s lifeless body with a bedsheet. While still mourning for her death, Brian handed the sword back to Jakob with shaking hands but Jakob did not take it back. And instead, turned to look outside the window.
Brian did so, and saw a large fire burning away a part of the forest near the city. At that very moment, Brian felt his body moving involuntarily.
“What is going on?” He asked, hoping that Jakob could answer his question.
But instead of answering, Jakob slowly turned his gaze to his lower body. Brian followed his gaze and realized that his pants were slightly pulled down, revealing his exposed genitals.
He could not help but let out a chuckle. He knew he was doomed and turned to smile at Jakob, who was standing beside him in silence.
“So this is it. I was wondering why you did not take the sword away from me. Mister Jakob, can you at least tell me something before I die?”
“Ask away,”
“....Did…did the others die peacefully?”
“No,”
As if hearing comforting words, Brian let out a sigh of relief and nodded his head.
“This is a great opportunity. I won’t be able to live after taking her life so I’m glad I have a reason to die. Killing myself without any reason would warrant a scolding from her, after all.”
Brian forced a smile as he lay down beside Elicia. Before thrusting the sword through his heart, Brian turned to Jakob and said,
“I’m glad you gave us the opportunity to die peacefully, mister Jakob. I greatly appreciate your kindness. It’s a shame that I did not get to know you very well before leaving. But I guess that’s just how life is. Farewell.”
Brian thrust the sword without hesitation and immediately pulled it out and spent his last ounce of strength to embrace Elicia for the last time before finally drawing his last breath.
Jakob reached out and closed his eyes, still streaming with tears with the same smile as Elicia.
After covering Brian's body with a bedsheet, Jakob walked out of the room and into the hallway stained with blood. He walked over the dead bodies of attendants, maids, and other employees of his senior.
Upon reaching the first level of the mansion, Jakob saw some of the survivors mourning the death of their colleagues, while some gathered the dead. The moment they saw Jakob walking down the stairs, they immediately bowed their heads in sadness. Only a handful of employees survived. Without the presence of a threat, Jakob sheathed the sword and threw it on the floor and went outside.
"Senior, I have fulfilled my promise. I protected your estate. I thought I could do it with ease but I was wrong. I had a hard time cutting them down because they are your family. Please forgive me, senior."
After the tragedy, countless dead bodies lay out on the streets. Out of all the other estates, House Valter is the only house with no broken down buildings. The other estates and the city overall suffered such casualties. This incident is known by the people as 'Purge' which claimed numerous lives all throughout the city.