“I hate the world. I hate those who want to hurt me. I hate the monsters that kill people. I hate those who don’t care. I hate those who lie, and lie, and lie. But…I refuse to believe in only hate. Sir Hans. Lady Adelyn. Mama. Papa. They proved to me that there is good in this world.”

- Excerpt from Alizée Amboise’s Notebook Scribbles (Later Journal).

+++

+++ Captain Ebert Strobel +++

Rousselot City

AUG 6, 1538 CE

Ebert wasn’t liking this situation one bit.

Quite frankly, the plans of Lieutenant Hoffman baffled him greatly. Why did he place his troops in the most obvious main target of the beast? What exactly was he hoping for in this battle? That the demon would just easily fold to their defenses? Did the battle over Belancon Hill perhaps cloud that man’s judgment?

Ebert didn’t know. All he knew was that he was hoping that the venerable Lieutenant Hoffman was wrong and he didn’t spot a damned demon right inside this city. That would be a disaster too far. He knew that the only way they’d triumph without much losses in this situation would come from a miracle. A miracle that he doubted to be possible.

Even with the Countess in the fight, I doubt she’d be able to hold off the beast for long. If she struggled with the “Rodent of Pestilence”, what more with this situation? She’s a strong Vanus sword mage, but other than that…she’s already alone.

“Attention!” He emerged in front of the gathered men of the 4th Holy Ygeia Regiment. They were mostly officers—the various Lieutenants and remaining Captains of his Regiment. They all looked to him for attention, even when they were mostly still sleepy at being awakened early in the morning, or because they genuinely had no sleep, as multiple companies were ordered not to sleep and remain on high alert through the night. “Men of the 4th!”

He looked around them as he paused for effect. The men straightened themselves further. Good.

“Today, you all face a task…so great, that it may determine the fate of this very city you are in. Men of the 4th! I have ordered many units already yesterday for various tasks. The orders…were vague. But now, I shall divulge the truth to you. The feared ‘Tentacled Eel’ may be inside of this city’s walls.”

Silence. Ebert could see it in the eyes of his men. Panic. Fear. All were repressed by their training, and by the sheer fighting experience they had. Yes, fear. They all feared demons. But these men were no greenies. They killed a demon. With their own artillery. With their own musketry. With their gunpowder and lead.

They feared, yes—but he knew these men had good reason to believe that there was a chance. A chance for victory.

“Men of the 4th! You shall fight, in one of the most important battles in the struggle against these malformed monsters. Your names will go down in the annals of military history. I wish that the monster and the reports of its presence in this city are untrue. And that we shall not fight yet today. But if it is true, then we shall fight. Know that every soldier of the Holy Empire will give up his left nut for the honor of being in this battle. Do not waste it. Do not run from it.

“Men of the 4th! Rousselot…is watching. Ygeia…is watching. The Empire…is watching. The Countess…is watching. But most importantly, I am watching. I expect great results from you. Trust your training. Trust your instincts. Trust your officers. And the men fighting side-by-side with you. And most importantly…”

He grinned.

“Keep your powders dry, gentlemen. That’ll ensure our final victory.”

Placing back his hat and walking forward, the men roared. Victory! They shouted. Victory! He hoped that such triumphant roars would be heard once the day was over.

Lieutenant Hoffman…I swear, that miracle you’re looking for must work, you dirty rascal.

+++

+++ Lieutenant Hans Hoffman +++

I see then…

The first distant cracks of gunpowder. The sounds of chaos from the center of the city. All of it finally came in an intensifying crescendo, stopping the trio from continuing their morning search in the slums. Captain Weibel, Lieutenant Preisner, Hans, and even the few soldiers of the 4th all looked in the direction of the central district.

That tugging coldness almost overcame Hans’ spine once more. And he felt his hands tremble a bit. The unspoken question that he feared…once again repeating itself endlessly in the back of his mind.

Will I die again? Will I? Would she turn…and kill me again?

Hans took a deep breath, as the dumbfounded IYC mercenaries with him walked back slightly, with Captain Weibel even gulping from the sounds of the obvious attack.

“It’s…it’s true…” He muttered.

“Heh, lost your nerve?” Hans asked, looking at Captain Weibel. The IYC mercenary frowned before he steeled himself to hide his obvious fear.

“Just a bit surprised, is all. Besides, you don’t look much better, Lieutenant Hoffman.”

“I know,” Hans replied. “But…well, we can’t do anything else than stick to the plan now. I shall contact my Captain, all while running back to grab my vehicle. You two, go to the Countess’ estate and organize the fight. Hold on till I return.”

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Lieutenant Preisner drew his saber and nodded.

“At once. Let’s go, sir,” he said to Captain Weibel. “Let’s get this damned thing done. Can’t believe we’d really fight a demon in the city, but it’s real.”

“Right,” Captain Weibel pulled out his pistol. “Let’s go. Lieutenant Hoffman, make haste, please. This’ll be a tough fight.”

“Heh, look at the bright side. If we win, that’s a lot of money.”

“You’re right.”

And with that, the two dashed in the direction of the fight. On the other hand, he ran in the direction of his Wanderfalke. The only true weapon he had in this fight. The only real reason that he was useful in these fights. All while everyone else, soldiers of the city garrison and the 4th, all followed the calls of the two IYC mercenaries.

Hans…meanwhile ran in the opposite direction, as he took his radio to contact Adelyn. And as the static buzz gave way to her voice, Hans grinned as he heard her.

“Lieutenant! The monster! It broke through the defenses and abducted Alizée!

Well, then that part of the plan worked too.

She really was the true target. All that was left now…was how it would go for her. It’s all up to you now kid. Hans thought as he ran faster on the streets. Will you believe me….or corrupt me into a demon? I hope you’ll choose the right one…Alizée…

He had already died many times painfully to her, but Hans… trusted her. In fact, no, if she had even blamed the girl for his pain, he knew, and trusted her, that this time around…

He’d be able to forgive her.

+++

+++ Alizée Amboise +++

Pain.

Pain at being dragged and carried roughly. Pain at being thrown like a broken doll. Pain from the terror. Pain resisting the monster. Pain at being separated…and seemingly abandoned. Alizée…she didn’t know what to do, as she tried standing up to the monster. Why? Why her? Why…

That strange crystal. That voice. It all intensified.

“Can you really not see it, little girl? That they only led you to your death.”

Alizée winced and tried to block it, as she aimed her palm at the demon in front of her.

“Briller!”

A barrage of her magic slammed at the demon, who blocked it with its tentacles. Stand tall. Stand tall. She tried to keep herself from crying, but tears already streaked down her cheeks, as her tiredness crept in from the amount of AP she was expending in her attacks.

“Die! Die! Just die!”

But it was futile…the demon merely continued to stop her attacks with its tentacles that regenerated endlessly. Alizée backed, and backed, as the demon advanced, her futile attempts unable to even stop or tire it.

“You can’t, kid. Not with your state. Not with what you are right now. Haven’t you asked yourself? Why would they come here to save you…when you can’t even do it yourself?”

“Liar! They’ll come here and save me!” Alizée insisted with a scream. “Just get out of my head! You’ve been lying to me! Again and again! You must be the demon in front of me! You’re evil! Evil!”

“Oh, but I’m not. That thing in front of you is not me. I am but an idea, asking you questions. I offer no answers. I only ask the questions that’s already in your mind…”

Alizée felt her knees giving in, and she collapsed in pain. No. Why would I ask such…evil questions? She finally cried. I trust them. I trust them. I’m not like you!

“Really? Then why the severe denial? You know it from your eyes. Your memories. Your experiences. You know it because of what is happening. That’s why your mind asks this question. All I am…is a voice asking you the most important question. What is your answer…to the struggles of your mind?”

The demon stood tall in front of Alizée. It was poised to attack her. It had already dropped the crystal that it was holding. And Alizée…she was alone, weak, and on her knees.

How pathetic of her.

[SEVERE MENTAL BREAKDOWN DETECTED!]

[WHERE DO YOU STAND?]

“No…”

The tears in her eyes stopped.

“No…you’re right. I…I have to face it…as you’ve said. These questions. These things. Mama. Papa. Sir Hans. Lady Adelyn. Their words…their promises…”

“You’re right…”

“I think I know the answer now. This world…is cruel. So evil to me. But…it’s not all clear cut.”

She frowned, and stood up, slowly walking to the demon.

“No…just as there is evil. There is good. There are good people out there. And…and I refuse not to believe them. In fact, no…”

She shouted at the demon.

“I refuse to fail them!”

The demon staggered backward, as light coalesced around the little girl.

[IDEAL (PURITY) STAGE I REALIZED!]

[CORRUPTION (DESIRE) SHATTERING]

Slowly, her body changed. Alizée felt not just the cool air around here, but the drive. The drive to do what she must do. This demon…this evil entity. This creature that would kill so many people, two of them, people that she valued… must be killed. But she was still too weak. She needed more…

“You…you wretched creature! I’ll end you!” She shouted, as around her, the light transformed her dress into a white armor of sorts, her body now clad in pink-colored metal plates that made her resemble a knight—an angelic knight. Then…a strange crossbow materialized in her hands.

For some reason, even when the weapon was unfamiliar to her, a surge of information washed her mind. She knew how to use this.

[IDEAL PARTIALLY MANIFESTED]

[IDEAL: CROSSLIGHT (PURITY) I GRANTED AND SUMMONED]

So it’s my weapon.

She looked at her status sheet and saw it. It called her the “Angel of Purity”. That only further pushed her forward. Purity. Purity. Was she then the one that the Goddess of Purity, the same Goddess she prayed to many times, appointed as a new angel to vanquish demons? And the evil of this world?

Then if that’s my task…

She moved forward and aimed her crossbow at the demon. It realized its mistake, dropping the crystal and forming a shield with its tentacles.

[REALIZE YOUR IDEAL…AND PURIFY THE DARKNESS WITH LIGHT]

An arrow, glowing pink, plowed through the body of the demon. Blood exploded everywhere, as Alizée heard a scream of pain that was almost as awful as the screams of her parents when they died.

She’d show the corrupted world her light.