I was exhausted. Even without using my boosting skill, I had worn myself down pretty hard in that fight. It had been a bad matchup for us. Nym couldn’t do much against an undead that big, and our new guy didn’t end up doing much of anything before being knocked on his ass.

I was in awe of Nym. Even with that bad of a matchup, even with how terrifying it must have been to see that creature again, she threw herself after that thing with no hesitation. I still had the memory of that horror seared into my mind from that terrible day. How close it had gotten to Nym and her siblings. I remembered watching helplessly as my best friend was about to be killed in front of me. And I remembered the sheer weight of the pressure that undead had exerted. I still had nightmares about it. I could only imagine what it had done to Nym, and yet she didn’t let that stop her.

I would never admit it to Nym, but I was thankful everyday that Allium had saved Nym, even if it cost Allium her life. Allium was incredible; she has always been kind to me, and she made Nym and their siblings so happy. She even taught us both on the basics of adventuring. But as much as I liked and respected her, she wasn’t Nym. And if I had to choose between the two, Nym would always win. I also would never admit that I thought Allium was dead. It had been ten years, and the odds of being unable to return home after all this time but still safe seemed slim to me.

But I never wanted to hurt her or ruin her hopes. My role wasn’t to doubt her; it was to protect her while she pulled us upward, chasing grand dreams and absurd goals like it was the only natural thing to do.

I watched as Nym walked over to Takan, not even taking a moment to catch her breath.

Love that woman.

She bent over to check on him and—

Huh?

Takan was standing up now, and Nym was hunched over. Takan was laughing now. I was getting an uneasy feeling.

Then Nym fell over, and I shot to my feet. By the time I was halfway there, I saw the knife.

HE STABBED NYM?! I’LL FUCKING KILL HIM!

My vision turned red. I didn’t even notice I had activated my boosting skill until I was already striking at Takan. I managed to clip one of his arms, but it wasn’t his sword arm.

He was still cackling. “You and that dumb crippled fuck actually fell for it!”

“Why?” I snarled.

“Because you bastards killed my brothers!”

I was too angry to care about his response. Didn’t even know why I bothered asking.

No one hurts Nym. No one.

I kept swinging and swinging and swinging, but the bastard was slippery. He kept getting in tiny cuts, which was pissing me off even more.

I could feel the boost starting to fade, and my sanity along with it. I still couldn’t hit the damn bastard. I heard a noise coming from behind me and nearly swung out at it

Nym was singing.

“I don’t really like being stabbed in the gut.

It really really fucking sucks!

I don’t know why that jackass tried to kill me, but

I don’t think I really give two fucks.”

Despite myself, I let out a laugh.

That crazy ass girl…

I relaxed a little and managed to clear my head a little. I shifted into a defensive posture, and he responded by ramping up his aggression. I kept defending against his barrage until I finally was able to parry and throw him off balance. Not wasting the chance, I chopped off his arm and kicked it away, sword still in hand. He fell to his knees.

“Please, let me go! I’m sorry! I won’t bother you again. My father has money! J-just please…” he was sobbing and blubbering, but I just didn’t care.

“No one hurts Nym,” I said calmly.

I split his head like a log. My boost ran out not long after, and I started heading back towards Nym at an agonizingly slow pace. I looked at my axe, and it was bathed in that catfolk’s blood. At least I had been able to carry the kill out this time.

I couldn’t help but replay the ambush from last week. How Nym had braced herself for the cruelty of the world and took it all on for my sake. She had been so clearly traumatized by the experience, but there wasn’t an ounce of regret on her face, no matter how much it horrified and haunted her.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

I had grown up loving the tales of noble adventurers who would save the day and protect everyone. They would show mercy to all but the most vile, and were always strong enough to defend their lofty ideals. I had read the one book of adventuring tales at the orphanage, Adventure into the Unknown, so often that I could recite it from memory even now. After I was adopted, my parents bought me so many books–they loved to spoil me so much, and I was never able to successfully refuse one of their loving gifts. Nymia would also regale me with stories of Allium’s adventurers, as did the adventurer in question. I wanted to be that strong while still being that kind. Like Nym, always protecting me.

But my childish desire to cling to that fantasy had pushed Nym to take on even more than she already had for me. I was glad that I was able to take care of that jackass, at least. I was numbly aware that the full weight of it would hit me when I was rested enough to think about it, but I’d take on any nightmare if it meant I could protect Nym.

I finally made it over to Nymia. She had tried healing with the knife still inside her.

Why? Oh, right. She couldn’t grab the knife to take it out.

She looked like she was in pain, even unconscious. I felt another wave of guilt. I loved her so much, and it was already hard to look at her without remembering what she had given up for me. And now I had let her get hurt again.

Useless.

I didn’t know if I’d make it any better if I took it out, or how much damage was buried under her patchwork skin. I scooped her up in my arms. She was so light, but my legs felt like lead. We had just cleared this dungeon, so we shouldn’t be in any danger from dungeon monsters. Which was good, since I didn’t think I could fight anything in this state, even with my boost from being near Nym.

I still felt guilty about the bond. I felt like I had taken advantage of her nearly dying to do something I had been wanting to do since I saw the skill. I felt this instinctual urge to make the bond with her; one stronger than any other instinct I’d ever had. I just knew I needed to be with her the rest of my life. I would’ve been following in my moms’ footsteps if Nym had decided to stay in Laketown after losing her arms. I loved adventure, but being with her was more important than anything else.

But of course she hadn’t. Once she knew what her goal was, nothing could stop her. I looked down at her in my arms.

Well, nothing could stop her from trying, at least.

Carrying her bloodied body reminded me too much of the last time she saved me. I was supposed to be the one to protect her now, but here she was. She was always protecting me. From the Stampede, from bullies, from my own weakness. She pushed me to be a better version of myself just by being herself.

I had been so meek and pathetic when I was young. I was the runt in the orphanage, constantly getting pushed around and having my meals stolen. I loved my moms, but I could never understand why they had chosen to take me in, no matter how often they assured me they loved me. After my moms took me in, I was still too timid to do anything when the neighbors would push me around or the kids in the orphanage would come around to vent their anger that my new parents had chosen me instead of them.

Nym was the one who always stood up for me. She would chase after people, faceplant into the mud, then keep chasing them like nothing had happened. When I told her that I wanted to be strong enough to ensure that no one would ever push me around again, she always supported me, like it was the most natural thing in the world. It didn’t matter how feeble and frail I had been as a kid; she never doubted that I would be strong enough to face anyone.

If I had stayed in Laketown, I would’ve already accomplished that. I was strong enough now to protect against anything short of facing a wave head-on. But the night of the undead attack changed my goals. Protecting myself wasn’t enough because what was the point of living without Nymia? She would pick a fight with armies, dragons, and gods if they got in her way, and I needed to be strong enough to protect her when that happened.

I was almost to the gate when she woke up.

“Hey, sleepyhead.”

“Did I pass out again?”

“Yeah,” I let out a weak chuckle. “You should really stop doing that.”

“Mhm,” she muttered weakly. If I was out right now, I wouldn’t be able to experience you carrying me in your arms like a princess.” She laughed and winced in pain.

I tried to ignore the blush creeping up my face; I loved this crazy girl so much. I needed to get stronger. Strong enough to protect her. And strong enough to kill anything or anyone that dared hurt her.

Name: Corbin

Age: 18

Species: Otterfolk Lv. 25

Class 1: Axe Fighter Lv. 8

Class 2: Locked

Stats:

Strength: 91

Dexterity: 80

Vitality: 88

Perception: 45

Intelligence: 47

Mana: 43

Willpower: 45

Free points remaining: 0

Class Skills

* Adrenaline Rush: Lv. 3

* Axe Proficiency: Lv. 8

* Cleave Lv. 8

* Encumbered Movement Lv. 8

* Chopping Power Lv. 8

General Skills:

* Tracking Lv. 25

* Mapping Lv. 25

* Pack Otter Lv. 25

* Running Lv. 19

* Caregiver : Lv. 25

Species Skills

* Otter’s Grace

* Whisker Sense

* Thermal Coat

* Deep Breath

* Bond with Nymia