Thump.

Inside my room, a leather mat and a small table with a letter rest on the left side of the door. The wall houses a wooden window without a curtain, lending the room an old yet neat appearance.

Approaching the round table by the window, I pick up the letter placed upon it.

"Thank you for today."

A smile creeps onto my face as I set the letter down and lie on the mat, gazing out of the window.

Soon, sleep overtakes me before I knew it.

...

Several hours later, I awaken, finding myself in a state of confusion.

A lot of unknown moments are flashing upon me, in less than a second.

It feels as though I had an odd dream, but its details elude my memory.

Surveying the room, I notice a reddish glow suffusing the space. My gaze drifts to the window, revealing a crimson eclipse painting the surroundings in a vibrant hue.

How rare it is to witness such an event.

Legends speak of Red Eclipses occurring only once in a century.

I continue to gaze at the mesmerizing spectacle until a dryness forms in my throat.

"Perhaps I should quench my thirst and get back to sleep."

Rising from the bed, I open the door and make my way to the inn's main area in search of a drink.

There sits a swordsman, leisurely sipping from his cup.

He looks at me, raising his cup in a silent toast.

"Care for a drink?"

"No, thanks. I prefer something milder," I respond.

Approaching the long table, I pour myself a drink while the swordsman keeps his gaze fixed on me.

"Quite uncommon to find a swordsman here. Are you on a journey?" I take a glance of his sword sheathing by his waist.

"I've actually been assigned to this place for a mission," he replies in his typical cold tone, taking another sip from his cup.

His dark brown eyes meet mine, brimming with memories and a sense of familiarity...

His face sure bears a resemblance to somebody I am familiar with. However, I am too afraid to ask.

"Is there something amiss with my visage?" he asks, causing me to shake my head and hastily avert my gaze.

The swordsman resumes his drinking, his icy gaze transfixed on a window.

"If I may..." I venture, "what kind of mission has brought you here?"

He glances in my direction.

"It's—"

An unnatural and eerie noise reverberates from outside the Inn, resembling the deep, compressed sound of wind forming an unfamiliar presence in the distance.

Without hesitation, the swordsman's face turns pale, his eyes widening as he springs to his feet, his hand instinctively reaching for his sword's hilt. He keeps his gaze locked on the inn's entrance.

"Hey, are you okay?" I call out, my voice tinged with worry.

Suddenly, a series of strange and unsettling sounds emanate from beyond the inn's walls, unlike anything I've ever encountered. The air is filled with cries, slashing noises, and the crackling of flames.

The swordsman stands firm, his grip on his sword unwavering, his eyes never leaving the door.

"It can't be..."

A powerful thud resonates through the room as the inn’s door slams. Suddenly, a pale figure stumbles in, hand trembling as he reaches out for help.

"H... help... The village..."

A sharp object impales the figure's chest from behind, silencing his attempt to scream.

With wide eyes, he collapses, his body splitting in two from the middle torso.

Seeing the cathasthropic scene right in front of my eyes, I throw up kneeling, and avert my gaze toward the front door.

"W-what is happening!?" I breathe hard, trying to contain myself.

The swordsman swiftly draws his sword and rushes towards the door.

As he draws near to the exit, my eyes lock onto a terrifying sight—a creature with a goat-like visage, its sinews bathed in crimson, and its muscular, bare body radiating menace.

"Wake the villagers, and get out of here!" The swordsman’s authoritative command echoes as he engages in a fierce duel with the monstrous entity.

With a dreadful flourish, the creature raises a bloodstained black scythe—a sinister weapon that had previously impaled an unfortunate villager. It swings the weapon menacingly towards the knight.

Swift as a gale, the swordsman masterfully evades the impending strike and responds with a powerful counterattack, his blade poised for a decisive blow.

Yet, in a surprising turn of events, the creature contorts its form, thrusting its twisted and razor-sharp horns directly at the knight.

With lightning reflexes, the warrior withdraws his initial strike, opting instead to skillfully parry the imminent assault, deflecting the creature's deadly tail.

In the midst of this intense battle, the fate of the village hangs in the balance, and the clash between the knight and the goat-headed menace unfolds with gripping intensity.

My legs tremble as I watch the swordsman.

"Tell me! What is going on!?"

"I have no time to explain! If you wish to survive, leave this village. NOW!"

Without a second thought, I wipe clean my mouth, dash towards Amy's room, tucked away behind the counter. Her room mirrors mine, with a small cupboard positioned on the opposite side of the table, its surface covered in sheets of paper.

"Amy, wake up!" I urgently call out.

"Ngh... What is it, Rai? It's still... nighttime..." Amy responds, her voice groggy.

"There's no time for explanations. We must go, now!"

"Are you alright, Rai...?" She struggles to rise from her bed, her body resisting the abrupt awakening.

Outside, the unsettling and eerie voices continue to echo in the darkness, sending shivers down our spines.

As Amy gradually fully awakens, her body trembles, and her expression turns to one of fear.

"What... is happening?" Her voice quivers with shock.

"We need to escape. This village is under attack!"

"H-how?" Amy's disbelief is palpable, her emotions raw.

The village had remained peaceful for as long as we could remember, until these recent events. I attempt to contain my own shock, not wanting to further terrify her.

"Amy," I gently grasp her cheeks, trying to reassure her, "Let's wake up the remaining villagers and guide them to safety. Then, we'll run together. Can you do that for me?"

Amy's initial terror gradually subsides, and she nods, taking hold of my hands as she rises.

Although her fear is still evident in her expression, she is able to show some content expression.

Together, we sprint down the corridor, the red-clad swordsman and the creature are no longer in sight.

Amy and I nod at each other before splitting up, entering one room after another, urgently rousing the occupants.

"Wake up! We need to leave immediately!"

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"Why the rush?"

"Are you alright? You look pale."

“W-What’s going on outside!?”

Ignoring their questions, I insistently urge them to evacuate. Gradually, they sense the terror unfolding and hasten to flee.

"Are you finished?"

Amy nods, gripping my right hand tightly.

"Don't worry, Amy. Let's go."

I pull her hand, and together we rush towards the front door as the swordsman seems battling a couple of those creatures just outside the inn. It looks like he had managed to get rid of one of them, judging from one of the creature's corpse lying beside him.

"Stay safe, both of you!" he shouts, swinging his sword at the creature.

"You too, swordie!"

Emerging from the inn, we pause for a moment, catching our breath.

The terror played out before my very eyes. Flames devoured our village, ignited by creatures resembling those we had encountered earlier, albeit in a leaner form. Fireballs, propelled from their crimson hands adorned with sharp claws, rained upon our buildings, leaving destruction in their wake. The scythe-wielding creatures showed no mercy, relentlessly cutting down the villagers.

The streets were marred with blood, and the lifeless forms of our fellow villagers lay strewn about. The same relentless creatures we had encountered before were now on a merciless rampage, sparing none.

Amy's tears flowed freely as she clung to me, her face a mosaic of fear and confusion.

"Rai... I'm terrified... What is this madness? Why is this happening?" Amy sobbed, her face contorted in sheer terror, her grip on my hand unyielding.

I shook my head, my gaze darting around with a profound sense of urgency.

"I wish I had answers, Amy. But for now, all we can do is escape before we meet the same fate!"

Amy nodded briefly, her trembling hand wiping away her tears. She tried to shield her eyes from the horrors unfolding around us, her arms covering her face, her gaze fixated on our joined hands as we fled.

My heart raced, my thoughts haunted by the image of myself meeting the same gruesome fate as those villagers. I pushed those terrifying thoughts aside, forcing myself to stay sane and composed. Despite my trembling legs, one clear objective remained: to guide Amy to safety, running together. Her survival had to be ensured, no matter the cost.

We hurriedly make our way towards the left side of the inn, seeking cover against the adjacent building's wooden walls to avoid detection by the creatures. Holding Amy's hand tightly, we run towards the wooden gate that leads out of the village. I glance back at her.

…

"I can see the gate! Just a little farther, Amy, come on!"

Amy's eyes widen in shock as she takes in the chaotic scene unfolding around us-

"RAI, WATCH OUT!"

I turn my gaze towards the gate, only to see one of the creatures hurtling towards us with incredible speed, wielding its scythe, aiming to strike me down.

In that moment, I feel as though I am on the brink of death.

...

Suddenly, a force propels me to the side, and I tumble to the ground.

!!!

I widen my eyes as I glance back.

There, I see Amy, arms outstretched, shielding me from the creature's attack.

"AMY, NO!!"

CRASH!

But it is too late. The creature impales Amy's chest with its scythe right in front of my eyes.

Time seems to stand still.

My mouth opens wide, unable to form words. I witness a sight I never wished to see, the sight of someone dear to me being stabbed right before my eyes.

Amy's pale eyes meet mine, tears glistening.

I attempt to scream, but no sound escapes my throat.

Amy's strength diminishes, her pallid face still oriented towards me. Her body seems devoid of energy, and she remains unaware of the wound on her chest. Instead, she senses her life force slipping away.

A single tear trickles from her eyes as she collapses to the ground.

The creature's gaze locks onto me, silently conveying that I am its next target.

...

My body freezes in place.

...

Tears stream down my face. The person most precious to me has been stabbed before my eyes.

I close my eyes, unable to resist any longer.

"[Crescent Slash]!"

As I reopen my eyes, I witness the swordsman swiftly beheading the creature.

"What are you doing!? Leave this place at once!"

The swordsman leaps forward and races towards the wooden gate.

"Amy!!"

Dragging myself towards her, desperate to hear her voice again, hoping against hope that she is still alive, I cradle her head in my arms.

...

She is still breathing, but her heartbeat is fading, slipping away like a whisper in the wind.

"Why... Why did you do this...?" I choke out the words, my voice trembling.

Amy musters a faint smile, her lips pale as she struggles to breathe.

"I... I couldn't bear to see you die, Rai..."

"Neither could I! But why!? You could have escaped without me! Why did you push me away and sacrifice yourself like this!?" Tears blur my vision as I voice my confusion and grief.

"Rai... I'm sorry... I didn't want to witness someone I love die before my eyes... Besides, you made another promise... With them, right?"

"You're... a fool, Amy... I-"

I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to hold back my emotions.

"I love you, Amy! I... I realized it too late, but every moment I spent with you... You were always there for me. I had to get you out of here, find a doctor... You have to survive, Amy... So we can be together, right? Right!?" My voice cracks with desperation.

Amy manages a faint smile and shakes her head weakly.

"Forgive me, Rai... I... I don't think I can accept your love like this... Besides... I am dying, and I don't... want you to regret all this..."

"Stop saying that..." I plead, my tears falling onto her pale face.

"Someday, Rai... You will... You will find someone better than me. Someone who truly deserves your love..."

"Amy... Please... Stop..."

"Promise me... Promise me that you will keep living, Rai..."

Amy's hand finally stops trembling, her grip on life slipping away. Her expression turns pale, tears still streaming down her face as her eyes meet mine, one final time.

...

"Amy..."

...

"Please wake up..."

...

"Wake up, please!! You can't leave! You can't leave like this!"

...

...

...

"AMY!!!"

...

I let out a piercing scream, holding her tightly.

...

My mind overflowed with memories of Amy, each one a poignant reminder of our time together. I recalled the way she greeted me with a warm smile, the infectious laughter that followed my stories about the villagers, and the concern etched on her face whenever I suffered an injury. Her soft head resting on my shoulder, the warmth of her hand in mine, and the dreams we had carved for our shared future—all of it flooded my thoughts.

The pain in my heart intensified as I gazed down, seeing her lying limp in my arms, her expression void of life, her tear-streaked cheeks now dry.

The cacophony of the city under attack became distant, as if muted, while we remained hidden from the creatures that wrought this destruction.

In that moment, it was just the two of us... yet her life had been cruelly snatched away by their malevolence.

"I... I promise. I will always live for you, Amy... I... promise…”

I gaze at her lifeless cold face, gently pressing my lips against her dry, pale ones.

“And I swear… I will not forget this. I swear I will take my revenge to all these things, until the root of them.”

Clenching my fists and gritting my teeth until it bleed slightly, I vow my oath while staring at Amy’s pale face.

Gradually, I regained my composure, closing Amy's eyes gently with my hand.

"... Good night, Amy..."

I slowly close her eyes and place her in a safe corner of a nearby wooden building. With tears streaming down my face, I turn away, refusing to look back, and head towards the gate.

As I make my way out, two figures dressed in purple cloaks stand beside each other, observing my departure.

...

"So, it has begun."

"The Prophecy has been set into motion. Now, it is up to him to make his move. Unfortunately, he has left."

"Should we pursue him?"

The cloaked figure glances at the other.

"Not yet. Not the moment."

"Very well. Let us go. There is much to be done."

The cloaked figures walk away from the scene.

#

End of Chapter 2