Blinded and fueled by rage I began my charge towards the last orc. My body mind and maybe even my soul were at their limit. My vision had turn red due to the blood vessels in my eyes popping. The pain I felt coursing through my body was nothing compared to the weight of my emotions despite it being horrendous. Our weapons crashed against each other shooting sparks alongside a deafening ring. Our little strength match didn't last long, I am the loser. My strength has been sapped thanks to the previous horde. Moving aside I redirected the massive sword with my own. Despite being weaker in terms of strength I continued with my assault, what I lack in strength I shall make up with speed.

Moving to the left while swinging I managed to get a hit in. It was a superficial wound but that was all I needed. The orc angrily struck back and since there was no time to dodge I blocked the attack. If the other orcs' hits were like trying to stop a truck, his were comparable to a train. After that, my mind went black for a second or two. Looking up, I had crashed into a building and my arms were mangled and broken. I screamed in frustration and anger as my arms heald just enough to hold my weapons once again.

The orc, on the other hand, dashed inside while swinging at me in a wide arc. Dodging it I stabbed at its knee to which he reacted by moving to the side, once again only creating a superficial wound. A second later the massive sword came crashing down towards my head. Dodging was not an option, blocking wasn't either. If this little dance of ours were to continue I would lose for sure. It is all or nothing, moving slightly I let the sword cut through my left shoulder all the way down to my stomach. I didn't take the hit without retaliating though and with a swift thrust pierced the orc's chest straight through the heart.

Mutual annihilation. That was the only thing I could think of as my mind faded to black. How stupid I was for letting my emotions rule my actions. However, I do not regret what I did. The orcs were dead so the village was safe. Those girls that were still alive could now scape or be rescued. As for my past regrets, I feel like I have atoned. I should have died, that is obvious, my wounds were lethal anyone could tell that much at a glance. Nevertheless, as I bleed out on the floor a slight glow came from the orc's chest as a cool sensation entered my body. I could feel how my body began to mend itself as my consciousness slowly but surely drifted to black.

"You came, it has been a long time since last time, hasn't it? I saw you fighting. Reckless as always, disregarding your safety for others. I know you want to deny it, I know you too well. You know, I feel a little jealous. To think you would act this way because of that girl. Well, it doesn't matter, you are not mine anymore no matter how much my heart wishes to believe otherwise. I will be happy as long as I can keep watching you"

That voice again and with it that feeling of melancholy and longing I feel every single time I hear it. Once again I am unable to speak. I remember that last time I managed to communicate somehow but I don't think I can do so again. She says she will be happy as long as she can keep watching me but I feel that's not entirely true. It's just how I feel happy by listening to her, yet I feel like something is missing, something far too important to forget and I can't seem to remember.

"Your visit time seems to be up already. It was nice talking to you again, even if I was the only one doing the talking. Well, until next time"

My consciousness drifted to nothing once more. Then I opened my eyes. My body ached to the extreme and the mental fatigue I felt only made it worse but above all, my heart felt like it was in a compressor under thousand of psi. As my thoughts cleared a bit I could guess the pain in my heart came from my abused core. Checking myself I was a complete and utter wreck but I was alive. The cut I had suffered on my shoulder to my gut was almost completely gone. I was still bleeding a lot from it but at least my two half were attached.

Picking up and sheathing Naru and Pyrka I began walking out of the small hut with a limp. As a matter of fact, I had to use a piece of broken wood as a walking stick. Walking was arduous and painful, to say the least, but I pulled through. Thinking about it how many near-death situations had I been in already? Not counting my actual death the number was at three. That's too many for only two months of being in this world! With I sigh I kept walking with an objective in mind.

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Finally reaching the decrepit hut where the kidnapped women were I opened the door. Looking inside I saw a few of them shudder at the sound of the door creaking open. That sound must have etched itself in their minds as an omen of what's to come. However, after looking at me they were visibly confused. With my limp, I slowly walked towards the nearest one alive and cut the ropes that restrained her. Her face had an expression of incredulity and while looking back and forth between me and her freed hands she broke into tears while tightly hugging me.

After a while, she let go of me to my delight. That hug had been torture as it sent jolts of excruciating pain through my bleeding and battered body. It took a few more seconds for her to calm down after which I asked her to free the others. Ten women had been kidnapped ranging from the youngest one, a girl of no more than eleven years, to a lady of around twenty-eight. Six survived, the other four had died from different factors but one thing could be clearly seen. The hips of all four of the dead were shattered, what a horrible way to go.

I couldn't help but feel my chest tighten as one of the four corpses belonged to a girl of around twelve years of age. Once again the photo of Pamela's corpse over imposed itself over the current scene. I had to breathe deeply a few times before calming down. After a while, the captured women had found some rags to cover themselves with and we walked out of the hut. A few of them showed clear signs of pregnancy, we didn't talk about it but it was obvious that what was growing within them were orcs.

It took a while, to walk all the way to the village since most of the girls were weakened. I for one was a mess and my limp made walking through the irregular terrain a challenge. By the time we came out of the forest, the moons were high in the sky. Thankfully no monsters attacked us on our way back despite carrying the four corpses. We did bring the corpses back, most of us if not all were reluctant to leave them behind and so those that were in best shape carried them.

As we approached the guards on night duty spotted us. In shock and disbelieve they began helping us in any way they could while calling for more guards to come help. I was dragged away from the others into what I can only assume is their medical facilities. Bandages and medicine were applied all over my body with the utmost care. As I began to relax in the safety of this dimly lit room, fatigue took over me as I fell asleep.

I had an odd but pleasant dream. I dreamed of Pamela, I dreamed of our childhood together and I dreamed of the future that could have been. We had grown up inseparable as ever. She found herself a nice husband that loved and took care of her. I never married but didn't bother me at all. I would visit Pamela and her loving husband and kids. The small ones would call me aunty Lia and I would play and pamper them a bit. It was a nice dream. At the end of it, I was in a white room with nothing in it except for Pamela as she thanked me.

I must have cried in my sleep, as my face was somewhat sticky. I tried to stand up but the pain prevented me from doing so. However, I didn't feel as drained as I thought I would be. My chest still felt slightly tight but I ignored it. Looking around the room has a window and a nightstand next to the bed I am currently sitting in. On top of the nightstand, there was a glass of water which I drank almost instantly. After a few more tries I managed to stand up and walk to the door, my limp was better too.

It took a while but I managed to convince everyone I was fine. With my soul ability and the speed at which I regenerate mana, I should be as good as new in two or three days. To my surprise, a huge feast was held that night to celebrate the death of the orc's settlement alongside the return of the kidnapped women. In total there were twenty-four missing people of which six came back. I could see through the village's chief true intentions behind this banquet. It was an attempt at forgetting the pain.

I ate and drank with everybody else. I feel obligated to clarify that I drank juice, not alcohol. I was thanked by the family and friends of those that returned and even of those that didn't. In the middle of the celebration, a young girl of around eleven years of age approached me. I instantly recognised her, she was one of the ones that had been kidnapped. In her hands, she held a flower crown, presenting it to me she said.

"I-I made this as thanks for saving me and the others. I wish I could do more to thank you but nothing came to mind"

With a smile, I let her place it on my head. Not being able to hold myself back I hugged her while trying to contain my tears. Only once before had I worn a flower crown, it was when I was eight and it was made by Pamela. With a soft almost cracking voice I thanked her to which she responded with.

"It's alright, I don't know what made you sad but it's alright to cry"

And cry I did.