Arc 6. A seemingly endless loss
Road to a Hero:
Three Chances in Another World
Chapter 58. Picture perfect
A train coated in blood barrels towards Constal, a train meant for reinforcements that held over eight hundred people, now holds only two. Edward lies on the ground, being held by the unknown assailant, who begins to break down. He remains still, due to the effects of the venom rushing through his body, taking away every sense he has. The assassin removes the scarf covering her face, revealing her identity, and proves Edwards’ theory correct.
Erin: “Yes…it is real…”
Erin rubs her hand across his armor, letting her hand get soaked in his blood, which is slowly leaking from within the small openings of the armor. This covers the dried blood and pushes off the bits of guts and brain matter that were stuck to it. The stench of death that flows through the train car is unmatched by anything she had smelt before, it was a miniature battlefield, and she’s holding the victor.
Tears begin to fall from her eyes, dripping onto Edwards’ unconscious and cut-up face, which she tries to wipe off. She puts her hand on his cheek and begins flowing her mana into the atmosphere, using his mana, her mana, as well as the mana in the air to create a glowing aura around his body. His wounds begin closing ever so slightly, scabbing up. While she’s doing this, his senses begin to return to him, allowing him to hear her cries.
Erin: “I didn’t want to do this…I don’t want to…but I have to…AND YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND! YOU CAN’T!... I want to help…but he won’t allow it…I want to tell you everything…but I don’t want to die…I’m so sorry…He set this all up…he took you to my Inn in Athens…the Inn he had stationed for me…to get to know one of you…then I can back…And I had to see you at Meir…I’m sorry about taking your things…but he told me to do it…DAMN HIM!...”
Her words reach Edward, who’s slowly regaining his ability to move. He moves his hand ever so slightly, touching her forearm. She raises his arm up, rubbing her face with it.
Erin: “I was told to get close to you…but I didn’t think I actually would actually like you…I wasn’t supposed to, I’m not supposed to like anybody…I tried to make sure the letter didn’t reach you…but he stopped me before I could do anything more than make you late…I was born to do this, to serve my country…my brothers and sisters didn’t live to make it here…but for some reason, I had to be the one to live in hell. Have you ever had somebody leave you like this, where you wish you died too? I know it’s crazy…but I hate them for it…they left me with him…but he told me not to follow you, not to get close…he only cares about Gray, and how he needs to be held down…I don’t why he hates him so much, and why he likes you…you need to stay away…don’t go to Constal, take your chance…”
Edward’s ability to speak nears closer to being regained as she continues to heal him, trying his best to console her.
Edward: “...Not…your…fault…”
Erin: “SHUT UP! YES, IT IS! I COULD JUST NOT DO IT! I COULD RUN! BUT…BUT…but it’s too scary…because I know he’ll find me…I can’t leave him…he’s planned your entire trip here, at least to the best of his ability…he’s a devil, in the skin of a man…please, forgive me…”
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Before Edward can regain the rest of his abilities, she kisses him and casts another spell before she walks away.
Erin: “Vortal.”
This causes her healing to continue without her presence, but it’s slower. She looks over to the other train, catching Peter’s attention. Peter, holding Lance’s recently past body, wipes his tears and stands up, locking eyes with her. They both walk to their respective control panels and stop both of their trains. Peter, knowing her train, still containing the rest of its cars, will take longer to stop, so he waits a bit.
The wheels of the train squeal and spark as they begin to stop, creating such a loud sound that it begins hurting Peters's ears, but Erin stands emotionless. Once they stop, Erin opens the doors while Peter does the same, staring at each other.
Peter tries to put up a defensive stance, but with all of his injuries, he can hardly stand. He wipes the mix of blood, snot, and tears from his face, and begins speaking to Erin.
Peter: “So you are the thief, so you lied when Lance and I found your stuff.”
Erin: “That’s nothing new, so Lance…he’s gone?”
Peter begins staring at his bloody shoes, trying not to start crying again.
Peter: “I beat Rupert…and Chester’s still out there. Lance gave me time to stop him, and he’s laying on the floor over there.”
Erin: “Okay, I’ll take that train and go backward, then I’ll look for Chester and whatever I can find in their underground facility. In one of the train cars is your vehicle thing, so I recommend riding the train Edward’s until you get to Constal while I take yours. I’ll make sure Rupert gets to the authorities, killing him won’t be worth it.”
They shake hands and are about to swap trains, but Edward stumbles out of his, leaning on the opened train door.
Edward: “Erin…it’s Julius isn’t it?”
Erin: “I can’t say.”
Erin sighs and steps onto her train. She pulls the lever even further back, causing the flame crystals to turn on and the coal to start burning, making the train pump itself backward. Edward looks her in the eyes as the train makes its way back to the Capital of Valatrositce. Peter stumbles onto the train and pushes the lever, causing it to begin moving again.
Edward feels something poking him from underneath his armor, and when he goes to pull it out, he almost falls back from shock. A bit choked up, he tries his best to not cry as he looks at the picture of a butterfly his mother had drawn for him.
Peter: “She’s one of the good ones isn’t she?”
Edward: “The best…”
Edward looks into the train car, covering his mouth in disgust at the gruesome sight. Dismembered limbs, crushed skulls, walls covered in blood, and piles of guts stretched across the floor. Organs spattered, metal walls sliced open, wooden seats crushed and splintered while halves of bodies lay across them, it’s far too much for Edward, causing him to throw up as a result. Peter, hearing this, makes sure he doesn't turn around to see the horrid scene.
Edward: “How long did that take?”
Peter: “I think it’s been an hour, or an hour and a half max.”
Edward: “Alright, we should be at Consol in about five to six hours. I know it sounds like a long time, but we need all the rest we can get.”
Peter falls back, chuckling as he hits the ground. Edward runs over, but he’s far too late to catch him.
Edward: “Man…you’re all messed up.”
Peter: “Yeah…I did it…I fought Rupert…I beat him..but Lance…he’s gone…”
Edward tightens his fist at the news of Lance’s death, but he tries to comfort Peter the best he can.
Edward: “I’m proud of you. I know Lance’s death is…tragic…but you did it. Your training paid off, I know you’ve been through hell for the last couple of weeks…man you’ve been going through it the whole time we’ve been on this trip…I’m so sorry for not being there for you.”
Peter: “Look, most of this is my problem. Just because I’m not good at something doesn't mean I can learn to do better, the first chance I get I’m saying sorry to all of them…especially Soku. When she told everybody she wanted to become a political figure, I only saw the bad…but she wanted to make a real difference, from the inside of the system…I just don’t like change. I’m a dick, but I’ll try my hardest not to be.”
Edward smirks, as Peter's way of speech reminds him of Gray.
Edward: “Now let’s take a long nap.”
Funny enough, before Edward could finish his sentence, Peter was already fast asleep, so Edward joined him. Then, they both lay there fast asleep on the vibrating floor of the train, on their way to help, ending the short but eventful time on Rupert's train.
End of Chapter Fifty-eight