Chapter 1

Akira writhed on the straw bed, clutching the wound to his groin. He locked his handsome face in a grim façade. A fresh batch of sweat drenched his clothes. Pain radiated out in waves from the stab wound. Each one felt stronger than the last. The wound Ayasse had given him wouldn’t stop stinging. If Mel hadn’t performed some quick healing to stem the blood loss and stop the poison from killing him, Akira would’ve died there on that battlefield. Alone.

He didn’t want to be alone.

 “It hurts! Damn that woman! This is all Sam’s fault!” Akira clenched what was left of his teeth, breathing through the agony. This was Sam’s fault. That bitch was always destroying everything she touched.

“Calm down Akira. I’ve found something to help take the edge off,” the white-haired, wispy mage, Mel, responded from the small room door, holding a small plant. “It looks like the toothache plant. My Master used to use it all the time. He had stacks and stacks of it in his laboratory.” She grunted, lifted his head, and placed the leaf in his mouth. He bit down and winced over the bitter taste, spitting it onto her shoes.

 “It tastes like shit. Where’d you get this filth?” Akira glared at Mel.

She leered and dropped him back onto the bed. “From where I got the water you wash with, Lord Akira. The scum pond out back.” Mel pointed to the broken window, her long thin arms cast a small shadow over his face.

He could break those arms with a simple twist of his wrist. Let her experience the same kind of pain.

Akira scowled at her. “This is payback for rejecting you, isn’t it? For choosing Sam! You want me to die, don’t you?” He spat in her face.

“It’s crossed my mind, but I’m stuck with you.” She grimaced, wiping the spittle off. “Eon has probably branded me a traitor along with you for abandoning the battlefield, and his Relancian butchers would love to gain the reward. However, if you’d point me to the nearest town, we can part ways and I’ll never bother you again.”

“Haw! Don’t make me laugh. You couldn’t find your way through a flat farm field,” Akira scoffed.

 Mel scowled. “Tell me again, why did I save you?”

“I don’t know! I still haven't forgiven you for that wind spell. You almost killed us,” Akira said, wincing as what remained of his teeth clacked together. They still hurt whenever he clenched his jaw. Another reminder of what that bitch Samantha had done to him. Stacks and stacks of humiliation.

“If I hadn’t pulled you away from there, Sam would have captured you and given you to the Demon King.” She smirked. “Did you want to become his plaything?”

Akira was silent. His pride refused to bend, even when he knew she was right. He was the hero. It was up to him to save the day, not the other way. He needed to save the day, not her.

“We have to move soon. The Demon King’s patrols are getting closer. Some of the mana traps I set a few days out were triggered,” Mel continued.

“How much longer do we have?” Akira asked through his clenched teeth.

“We should be okay until the morning.” She picked up the cup. “This is siguma country after all, and they hunt at night. I can feel them out there. I’m no Rock, but I know what’s dangerous. I’ll get our stuff ready so we can leave at first light.” She stood up. At the door, she stopped and turned back to him. “Can you tell me what is happening with that sword of yours? Why is it singing in my head when I pick it up?”

Akira sat up and glared at her. “You haven’t hurt it, have you? I need it. Bring it to me!”

Mel rolled her eyes at him and left the room.

“Bitch. Wait. You’re next,” Akira grumbled as he lay back down. He needed some sleep before they moved out. “Bring me my sword!” he yelled through the door. “It’s lonely. It needs me.”

                                                ****************

“Who’s the beautiful girl, your Majesty?” Akira asked the hefty king as he pointed at the attractive woman with short blond hair standing in the courtyard. She stared at the orange sky like she’d never seen one before.

“That is Samantha. She’s a visitor to our lands, but she’s had some trouble when she arrived,” King Eon said, resting his hands on his fat belly. He had lost much of the power from his youth, but the king retained the same intense look as the man who single-handedly held off a demon invasion in the Kolori pass.  

“She’s lost her memory and doesn’t remember anything,” Eon continued.

“That’s too bad,” Akira said, tearing his eyes from her and turning to the king. “What does that have to do with me?”

“As you know, the Holy Sword, you carry is Relancia’s prized possession. With it in your possession, nothing can stand against you. However, to beat the Demon King and secure our border, we need more,” he pointed to Sam. “She is quite powerful.”

“How powerful?” Akira asked, a small smile appearing as he watched her move.

“Powerful enough to make standing up against Kale and his minions a possibility,” Eon said, putting his arm around Akira and leading him back into the throne room. “She’s untrained, but that’s where you come in.”

                                                *****************

Akira woke up with a gasp and clutched the sheet. Sweat dripped down his chest and made a pool on the sheet, staining everything a deeper yellow. “I’d forgotten about that,” he mused, running his hands through his hair, and shaking the grease out. “How in the hell did I ever think she was attractive?” He tucked his knees under his arms and stared out the window. She still needed to pay for destroying his first Holy Sword.

“Why didn’t that fat, useless twat of a king tell me she was the Realmwalker?” He growled. “That useless story he made up failed.”

Eon had come up with the idea of pretending to be childhood friends. It wasn’t hard to sell, and he had the perfect backstory. She would find nothing if she investigated, as a battle between Relancia and Kolori had destroyed his entire village.

The pain in his groin flared. He was tired of shouting out. Mel had used all her spells to heal him, but the feelings wouldn’t vanish. What poison had that assassin used to cause this?

Akira sat on the bed and crossed his legs in front of him. He winced. The stab wound in his groin threatened to break open again. Closing his eyes, he practiced the breathing techniques Master Jin taught him to compartmentalize the pain, isolating it, and allowing him to move. He’d have to pay for this later, but he needed to move.

“A hero must move past the pain, past the suffering, for the good of the people,” Akira mumbled with each breath. His mantra used to give him comfort, but that was before Sam betrayed him.

“Being trapped in a cabin with Yoruhi would have been better,” he mumbled. “She couldn’t float a stick, but she was nicer.” He pushed thoughts of his sister to the side. She was probably long dead, anyway. One day, Kolori would pay for that.

Master Jin’s breathing techniques helped him reduce the pain to a dull throb. Letting out a sigh, Akira got off the bed and dressed. The first moon was going down. “Two hours left. Damn. I wanted some more sleep.” He strapped on his sword and made a strained smile at the song. While it still filled him and comforted his soul, it was different than before. Less powerful, like it was hurting, but with it on, the pain receded even further. It allowed him to function. He stepped out of the room.

Mel was sleeping in her shift, her blanket on the floor. Sweat covered her brow and stained the sheet as well. Akira stared at the white-haired witch and had to push the bile down. He had thought she was attractive as well, once, when they were lovers. Now, she was useful. But he’d leave her for Demon King Kale in a heartbeat if she couldn't use magic. Maybe with a stake through her heart. He didn’t want her to come back.

Akira stepped out the door and looked at the black forest. He hated this place. Every leaf reminded him of his defeat against the Demon King. Every sound spoke of his humiliation at Sam’s hands and his wounding at Ayasse’s knife.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

A lifetime of pain in a breath.

“So much hate. Do I need to keep it?” He mumbled.

 At night, the Deadland Forest smelled the same as the forests back home, but that only added to the disgust he felt. He was the Hero, the star. His bed should be swarming with women ready to throw themselves at his feet. Apart from Sam and Mel before that, there’d been no one. He was alone.

Always alone, except for his sword. He placed his hand on the pommel.

He still remembered hearing that song for the first time. It was like describing blue to a blind man. He’d tried to explain it to the magic researchers who’d made the sword, but it was impossible. Heaven was the closest he could come to it. That first day, he spent hours listening to the music ring in his ears. It filled the hole in his soul, and made him forget all about his family, Yoruhi, and that he was alone.

Yoruhi was the only thing that saved him. He’d felt guilty about forgetting Yoruhi. That forced him to put the sword down.

The first time he killed with it in battle, it made him sick. He threw up. He knew it was wrong, but the sword loved it. It felt like it sucked in the soul of the man he killed. King Eon said the others chosen by the sword died in the first forty-eight hours. They forgot to eat, drink, even breathe.

He drew the sword, glaring at the moonlight reflected off the blade. “I survived your predecessor. I will not let you control me. I am the hero.”

 “Where did I go wrong?” He sheathed his sword, sat on the ground and started his breathing exercises again. Rage was threatening to overwhelm him and bring back the pain.

He turned to his memories. After that fight, Akira tried not to kill, but it was so hard. The next time was easier. Each time he killed someone, it became easier to take out the next person. Besides, he had so much revenge to give. Kolori needed to pay for killing his family. The Demon King needed to die for opposing him. His Master had to die for the abuse he inflicted in the guise of training.

That one always brought a smile to his face. Even if his older sister had gotten in the way, Master Jin would never bother Akira again.

Then Sam came into the picture. At first, he had no trouble using her. She was too naïve, too easy to direct. Her beauty had been a plus. There were some troubles. The first time she threw him across the room, he wanted to take her head. It took everything he had to calm himself down. Even after they became lovers, she would always question his actions, try and tell him what to do, and that stupid nickname of hers.

“Destroying that village was a mistake,” Akira mumbled. He turned and watched the first moon sink below the horizon. “That’s where it all went wrong. We should have left her in Relancia when we did that.”

Mel had erased Sam’s memories, but something remained. Some spark must have come out in the battle with that disgusting Demon King. Akira punched his hand and sighed. He dropped his hands to the side, fists still clenched.

“Why’d you break her, Sam?” Tears formed in his eyes. “She was my best friend. I don’t want to be alone,” Akira let himself cry for the loss, soft tears streaking his face. Even if they had replaced his sword, it was so hard to go on.

                                                            ******

 “Wake up, woman,” Akira grunted, kicking Mel’s bed. “There are some men outside.” He unsheathed his sword.

Mel snorted and sat up, rubbing her eyes. Akira scowled at the thin woman. She was always the most useless on watch.

“What’s happening?” She yawned.

“I saw a few demons in the forest,” Akira whispered. “They were in the valley and are coming here. Keep your voice down. Those bastards have good hearing.”

“Shit!” Mel tumbled off the bed and hit the floor with a thump. Rubbing her ass, she got dressed, tugging on her pants. “Why didn’t you wake me sooner?” she said through clenched teeth.

“Because I’d rather wake a bear. The last time Rock did that, you signed off his hair,” Akira growled, directing her to get low. He wasn’t going to let her know that he’d missed seeing the soldiers until it was too late to escape. It wasn’t his fault.

The Hero doesn’t make mistakes. Someone else does, and he has to fix them.

“How many are there?” She came to the other side of the door, working her arm through her tunic.

“A small party, about six. There could be more in another part of the forest.”

“Blast! I don’t want to use fire here. The place is too dry,” Mel said, clicking her tongue.

“Can you stop any of them from running away?” Akira put his finger to his lips and pointed outside the door. He heard them coming up to the front.

Mel nodded and stood back. 

“Do you think there is anybody here?” A high voice said.

The second voice was much lower and older. Akira knew that voice, but it sounded raspy, like he had a cold. “I’ve found some signs around the area, and Mel likes her comfort. She hates sleeping on the ground.”

“What signs?” A third voice said.

“Some tracks were leading here, and I found the scent Mel likes to use. In addition, that mana trap Su sprung could only have come from her. It had her vicious fingerprints all over it.” The second voice responded loudly. “I know he’s here, and probably listening to us, so I don’t want him to take my head off.”

What was Rock doing here? He couldn’t be sure. They were so far from Relancia. There was no way that lazy coward would come here on his own.

He glanced at Mel. She knew the voice, too. Her eyes lit up. Akira knew what she was thinking. They could go home.

He shook his head. No way. It was a trick. Too many people wanted them dead.

“Akira, you here?” Rock’s voice came from behind the door. “Can I come in?” Akira looked at Mel and she stood up, smiling.

“Rock, is that you? I’m so glad to hear your voice,” Mel said, grabbing the door.

Akira snatched her hand and put a finger to his lips. He wasn’t letting her leave him alone with only his sword. He’d kill her first.

“Can you open the door? I have some friends here who want to talk to you.” Rock shouted.

Akira was silent. Mel stared at him. He saw the fury in her eyes. A a year ago, it would have scared him. Now, he didn’t care.

“We know you’re there. Akira. I tracked you from the battlefield and found the group of demons you killed. It’s no use hiding. We’ve already scouted ahead and this is the only place you could be.”

“Stand back 30 meters,” Akira replied. He peeked through the door and saw the men move back into the trees. He counted five of them. “Where’s the sixth man? Bring them all out. I want to see everyone.”

“Trust me Akira. We’re here to offer you a great deal.” Rock came out into the open. He was still wearing the ugly green outfit. His bow was over his shoulder. There was no way he’d get a shot away before Akira could stop him.

Rock’s arrows were always better than his. Akira tried to match the archer but always came just a hair short. He was the only one Akira could respect.

“I’m coming out.” Akira opened the door, stepped outside the small hut, and saw the soldiers. They weren’t the orcs from the Demon King’s army, but they weren’t his allies either. “What are you doing with Kolori troops?” he asked Rock, clenching his sword tighter. “Did you betray me?”

Akira would still kill him if he had to.

Rock glanced back at the men and shrugged. “I would never betray you, Akira. You are the Hero. They paid me good money to find you, and I trusted they had your interests at heart. That’s all I needed to know.” Rock turned to one of the soldiers. “This is all you wanted, right?”

“Yes, thank you, Mister Rock. You’ve been most helpful. If you accompany us back to the main camp, we’ll have your final payment there.”

That was the first voice Akira heard. He stared at the soldier. The man was wearing Kolori colours of green and red. He’d removed his helmet, holding it under his arm, away from his sword, and wiped his bald head with a cloth. He was trying to show Akira that he wasn’t a threat. The man’s armour was a dull black. Iron; probably made from the old smelting method. Akira could cut through that easily. They had no backer to offer new technology like Relancia.

“Good morning, Hero Akira, Mage Melisia. I hope this day finds you well.” The soldier bowed to the two. Mel had finished dressing and stood next to Akira. She had removed her travel tunic and wore her last clean, white dress.

When did she change?

“Yes, it is now,” she replied, hoisting her bag onto her shoulders. “I don’t care what you want Akira. I’m going with Rock. Even with Kolori bigots souring the pot, I’ve had enough of this hellhole.”

Mel walked past Akira and joined Rock by the trees. He grimaced and didn’t look happy to see her, but they left with two other soldiers. That left three.

I’m alone again. But I can kill three easily.

“May we talk?” the bald soldier asked.

Akira said nothing. He stared at the man but kept his sword out. There was something strange happening here. They wanted something. Rock trusted them and Akira trusted Rock. Of the original five members of the Hero’s party, he was the only one who’d never betrayed him.

Yet. It didn’t hurt to be cautious.

“Please listen then. My name is General Saku. As you might have guessed, we are from the Kolori kingdom.” He wiped his head again. “We are here to make you an offer.”

“What’s the offer?” Akira asked, staring at the two other men. Saku looked strong. You didn’t get to be a general in Kolori, without knowing how to fight. The armour hid his skills, though. He’d have to take the other two in the background, before the General, just to be safe.

“I’d like to talk about it back at our camp if that’s okay with you.”

“It’s not. Tell me, and maybe I’ll go with you.” Akira moved his position. He needed to take the right one first.

“Sigh,” the General wiped his head a third time. “Very well. We wish to offer you a commission to take down the Relancia kingdom, acquire the technology they used to make the armour and gain this new crop coming out of the land.”

“Why should I help you?” Akira adjusted his stance. The left one had more training. His stance showed he was ready to counter Akira’s move, given a chance. He’d be more difficult to deal with. He had to go first.

“We can help you get your revenge against the Hero Samantha and the Demon King that injured you.”

“I don’t believe you. How can you do that?” Akira watched the General raise the cloth to his head. “If you wipe your head one more time, I’ll take it from your shoulders.” Akira sneered at the bald man.

General Saku lowered his hand, “Ah yes, very well. Did you know that King Eon has placed a bounty on your head? He is blaming you and the mage for the failure to capture Demon King Kale’s castle.” He paused. “The Kolori kingdom can help you get to Samantha. Our reports say she’s gone through the portal.”

“How do you know about the portal?” Akira asked, raising an eyebrow. “Eon kept that a close secret.”

“We know a great many things that will be of great importance to you. If you come with us, we can help each other,” General Saku said, holding out his hand.

“A few weeks ago, I was attacked by a three-man assassination team. They reeked of Kolori gold. Did you have anything to do with it?”

General Saku grimaced. “In the spirit of disclosure, yes. My predecessor believed you were a dangerous threat to the Empire,” he gulped. “I have removed him from his position. You won’t have to deal with such nuisances again.”

Akira stared at the man and watched the sweat roll off his head. The General was hiding something, but Akira was tired of running.

“Very well.” Akira sheathed his sword. “Let’s go to your camp. We can discuss this further there.” He stepped away from the house and followed Rock’s trail through the trees. There was no way he was going to trust another bald man. However, Akira needed to get out of this forest to get revenge.

He wasn’t alone anymore.