ENCY?! VYLONA?! WHAT’RE THEY DOING HERE?!

“Tsk! Never thought that Ellmit would have a spare few warriors up their sleeves…”

The disciple appeared to pull out some sort of device out of his pocket, most likely calling for his friends. I’m not even sure if the two could even handle that many…

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN THEY SLAUGHTERED YOU ALL?!” He argued. I wasn’t entirely sure what to make of it. Was he really going to argue with his friends in the middle of a fight?

“No matter. They were simply just weak. The upper priests have been recruiting the worthless. I’ll demonstrate what a true Pacifist’s power is about.”

Ency and Vylona stood still without saying much… Their usual demeanor can be rather playful, however there wasn’t much of that here-

“AHAHAHA! DID YOU HEAR THAT VY!”

“Hey! Now’s not the time for making fun of the weak!”

Weak!? That guy!? He nearly destroyed the entire village with his squad! Are they delusional or something?

“Now… I’ll have you know that our great leader bestowed upon me great power, that being my newfound… sharp… intuition, if you would call it.” The disciple drew many weapons from his sleeves. Where is he keeping all of these weapons?! Some of them don’t even fit in a robe to begin with!

“Calling me weak will be your undoing. Focus up!”

Instantly, he lunges forward with those two swords… that… stabbed… Kyman… SHOOT, I NEED TO CHECK UP ON KYMAN!

“ENCY! VYLONA! COULD YOU DISTRACT HIM FOR A BIT?”

“Psht! Piece of cake!” As he nonchalantly says while parrying the disciple’s weapons with his own. Their mastery is beyond my comprehension… Are they that experienced when it comes to combat? Vylona isn’t even doing anything, yet Ency’s not even using any effort whatsoever…

Their weapons continued to clash, disturbing the peace of night. I flew to the second floor where Kyman laid still. He was still alive, but just barely. His breathing was loud, heavy and disjointed.

“Kyman! KYMAN! Answer me! Please…”

“Heh… if it isn’t Froya… I still have a bit left in me… but not much…”

“No, you can’t leave! Everyone needs you!”

He leaned towards his side, the two gushing wounds caused by the swords were still bleeding immensely.

“Everyone? I… don’t think there’s anyone, Froya… The fires… they’ve caused… too much damage for anyone to have lived…”

“SURELY THERE ARE AT LEAST SOME! I’LL TAKE A LOOK!”

Sliding down the flight of stairs, there must’ve been at least some people still alive. Even if the fire engulfed the entire village, I doubt that everyone didn’t make it.

But… there was… no fire at all… It was all gone… How?! The flames were the size of the tallest of buildings and they roared as loud as the storms! Could this be Ency or Vylona’s doing? I didn’t want to believe it at first, but that all changed when my foot ran into something.

Taking a glance downwards, the bodies of that disciple’s friends were lifeless, completely dead. It made me want to vomit. I couldn’t take the amount of death. People were falling left and right without warning, and it was unbearable for me to watch…

I gave up. Kyman was right. Being this optimistic, even in a situation like this isn’t going to get me far. I have to accept reality. Walking back to the town hall, the scraping of metal and shouting was still coming from the back. It wasn’t worth the risk to check up on what’s going on.

“Kyman. KYMAN!” He was becoming less and less responsive. C’monnnnn… There HAS to be at least some sort of medicine here in this world that can heal wounds… Even though searching for something to save him was my top priority, Kyman tugged at my pant leg, refusing to let go.

“Froya… Come here. I have… something to give to you. It’s… something very dear to me…”

“A locket? Why would you-”

Opening the pendant, This… picture… It was… me and Kyman when it was decided that I could stay at Ellmit… I was frail and unsure of everything. The surroundings were completely new to me, I had no idea where I was. Yet, they treated me with something that I never thought I would receive…

Acceptance.

He was the first to reach out to me, the first to tend to my wounds, the first to teach me what it meant… to be… family… Kyman was… everyone’s dad at the village.

Droplets of water fell on the locket. I… couldn’t bear what was about to come. He was about to leave me…

“Oh… come now… don’t cry..! You were always my little bright light, Froya! I can’t see that light dim…” He caressed my cheek, wiping the teardrops off my face. That smile of his never faded, even when I was still afraid of everyone.

“I… can’t… see you go… I don’t want to…”

“Hey… I was meant to give that to you when you were brave enough to leave, but… it looks like you’re all ready now! It’s almost as if the daughter I never had, is now becoming such a fine young woman…”

Overwhelmed with emotion, I embraced Kyman. “And you were like a dad to me. A dad who cared for me so… so… much…”

As the embrace lingered, I clung to Kyman tighter. Droplets of water were surrounding me and Kyman.

Knowing that I have to accept what was before me. I made a vow to him.

“I… I promise… I’ll carry your light Kyman.I’ll… keep it burning for you.”

Kyman’s smile widened even bigger. He handed me a note and pressed it to my palms.

“Please, give this to Sir Scorion… and Ms Infernae. Froya, make me proud, ok?”

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“Y-yes! Yes I will!”

Kyman Cisneros passed away that day, softly in my arms.

I covered Kyman’s body with his blanket. Surprisingly, they were still exchanging blows from outside. Checking out the hole, Ency was still sharp as ever, and the disciple wasn’t having it…

“C’MON! THAT ALL YOU GOT?”

“Clearly he’s not using his accumulation properly, Ency. Worst of all, it’s just Reality class too.”

“Oh shut it! That was DEFINITELY a jab at me…”

They were having a conversation mid fight?! Aren’t they being a little bit reckless?

“You… haven’t received… any of the Sovereign’s blessings… HOW?! No matter… I will go all out now… STAY ON YOUR TOES!”

That bastard… Even blaming his own leader for his failure. It sickens me… I wish I had the power to act on it… I want the power to protect…

The disciple’s power was noticeably getting stronger and stronger, to the point where the environment around me began to grow heavier… and heavier…

“HA! NOW YOUR SWORDS WON’T DO SHIT TO ME! THIS IS WHAT YLVA’S CAPABLE OF!”

That… doesn’t matter much? Ency and Vylona are more than capable of using their accumulations, yet… their expressions seemed worrying… almost as if they were stuck on a roadblock… They engaged in combat once again.

“Guys! What’s going on? Use those powers of yours to defeat him! Shouting from the top. Vylona let out a huge sigh after my remark.

“Due to our code, we can’t use our accumulations to harm others. It’s against what we believe in…”

“Code? What code? Finish him off!”

“He wasn’t wrong, Froya! That damn accumulation of his makes it pretty difficult to use any weapon against him! I can tell!”

The constant clashing of swords between Ency and the disciple began to ring louder and louder. It was to a point where Ency was starting to get cornered. Vylona wasn’t doing anything! What’s even going on?

“Why… aren’t you guys DOING ANYTHING??”

I didn’t know why, but I felt more frustrated than ever before… I couldn’t contain it anymore… I felt… anger…

Wrath…

“DO SOMETHING DAMMIT!! YOUR LIVES ARE AT STAKE AND YOU’RE PLAYING AROUND! END THIS ALREADY!”

They didn’t even budge to my cry. These idiots… They couldn’t even handle a single, SINGLE OPPONENT. One of them isn’t even doing SHIT! I’m supposed to carry out what I promised, yet these two… These two are in my way… If they didn’t come here sooner, or stayed… None of this would’ve happened… It’s their fault… Yes… It’s all their fault…

A burst of flames surged through my body… It was unlike anything I’ve felt before. I felt… powerful… like I could do anything that I wanted, that I desired…

I jumped down. The ground shook underneath me, as did my fists also. Taking a glance at the disciple. He seemed more pitiful, more desperate, and I couldn’t wait to pummel his brains out. He was such an eyesore. Seeing him try so hard made me feel quite amused.

“Your fire… is dim. That won’t do anything, foolish girl.” He comments. This buffoon couldn’t even take me seriously… Without holding back, I lunge towards him with all of my pent up rage.

An inferno swirled around my fist at a moment's notice. He’s as good as DEAD ONCE I’M DONE! Embers rose to the floor that I ran across, covering each path with molten rock.

I struck him, yet his forcefield is strong. “HA! NO MATTER! I’LL WEAR YOU DOWN UNTIL HE CAN NO LONGER MOVE!”

A flurry of blows were followed by my first punch. The more I attacked, the more amusing and fun this was! Seeing Kyman’s killer down to his knees… It made me HAPPY! My flames burned brighter and hotter by time. With his last bit of hope, his protection was gone. I can finally do some REAL DAMAGE!

Stomping my feet to the ground, the earth shook as I started with a sweep to the face with my leg, then followed by several other of my attacks. HA! THAT WAS AMAZING! I COULD DO THIS ALL DAY!

“DIE! LOOKS LIKE YOU’RE NOT THE ONLY ONE GONNA SEE PARADISE, HUH?”

He was idle at a tree and remained completely still. It seemed like he was on the verge of death. As I prepared to finish things, he chanted a few words, before I jabbed him in his heart. I glanced at my hand. It was the first time ever seeing someone else’s blood on myself, yet this was so EXHILARATING! IT FELT AMAZING! I LOVED IT! I… WANT MORE!

Ency and Vylona were standing right there, calm as ever, yet they were completely frozen. That’s right… It’s their fault too… Not just the disciple… I need them gone… I WANT THEM GON-

AGH! My head… it hurts… What the hell is going on?! Why can’t… I move!? The flames were gone… I couldn’t move… What’s happening to me…

----------------------------------------

“Took you long enough… Thought you were a goner there! Nice work back at Ellmit!” were the first words that I heard along with the sounds of rock and wood.

“Wha- Where am I?! Why am I on a wagon?” We were in the complete middle of nowhere… I’ve never seen any of these places, probably because of my refusal to leave.

“Well, after you brutally murdered and mangled that guy back at the village, you passed out.” Vylona joined in.

“Where’s Kyman? Did you guys-”

“We know about him and the rest of the villagers. Me and Ency took the time to bury each and every one of them in respect. You did treat us to a very pleasant night after all.”

They better not be lying… All I could do though is hope.

“Wait… Where are you two even taking me?! Why am I traveling with you guys?! Won’t I be a burden to you two?”

Ency reached into his pocket and grabbed a piece of paper. It was Kyman’s handwriting… This must’ve been the note that he wanted to give to the two.

“That old man of yours really did want you to have the best life. You object to this, Vy?”

“I don’t see why not, Ency. I don’t see why not at all…”

Ency Scorion & Vylona Infernae, please, if it doesn’t bother you, take care of Froya. That girl has a future, unlike me in my current state. She has the potential of becoming a fine fighter, and I’m sure you two would make great mentors. Froya, I know we’ve been together for some time now, and I have yet to say this: I love you. I love you with the bottom of my heart, Froya. Seeing you as my child brought back so many great memories that I wished I had back then. Take care Froya, make your old man proud. Admornos Parten -Kyman Cisneros.

I pressed the note up into my arms, trying not to cry for dear life. A hand appeared on my shoulder. Vylona took myself into her embrace, as she tried to comfort me.

“Nothing can last forever, Froya. The world is constantly changing, and you have to stay strong. You do have a lot of potential, as Kyman said.”

“Yeah right!? That was pretty impressive what you did to that disciple over there! You have some crazy potential!”

Disciple… The Pacifists… “Who… are they anyway…? What are they even after..?”

“It’s pretty complicated, but from our understanding, their final goal is to obtain world peace.” Vylona comments, as I stand upright.

World peace? That’s ridiculous! Killing innocents for the sole reason of maintaining security amongst the people? That’s crazy!

Ency pulls out something from his pocket again, this time being a map. He points to each of the kingdoms that were labeled, Cario, Fiole, Baricht, Dravnoss and Inwell. “Pretty weird, I know. They’re attempting to unite the 5 kingdoms by terrorizing each city in hopes of them cooperating against them.”

“That's… absurd! Who in their right mind would think that would work?!”

“Well apparently the Pacifists do. It’s unclear if that’s their true goal or not, since me and Ency still lack much evidence to support our claims.”

Still, killing others isn’t a great path to go down if their goals are to have everyone live harmoniously… I still despise them to the core of my being…

“Well? What’re you gonna do Froya? Should we drop ya off at Baricht? That’s our next stop by the way!”

“Please! Take me with you! I… still have so much to learn about this place, and if it’s Kyman’s wish, so be it. His intuition was never wrong.”

That day, there was the ever so slight chance that I may get the answers that I’m searching for. From my abandonment at the Sacred Field, to the Pacifists.

“I’ll be in your care, Vylona and Ency. Please teach me well.”