The things happened so suddenly. Suddenly, around ten people in black robes stood around us. They had shoved their hoods deep into their faces and every one of them had a sword hanging on their hips. The robes also had a star emblem on their chest below which the letters "MRL" were embroidered. One of them additionally helt a strange black staff with two cross-beams attached at the end of it. It looked kind of similar to a mace, but instead of something spikey at the top of it, it had a small beam perpendicular to the shaft and similar one perpendicular to both, forming a cross at the tip of the staff. The whole weapon was black without any decoration; looking like three black sticks were simply attached to each other.
When I was readying my sword in preparations for a battle, the one with the staff suddenly mumbled something and the staff activated. In the blink of an eye, the 3D patterns appeared where the two cross-beams were attached, and a bright flash of light exploded.
After that, I could only hear how those robed people rushed towards us in an instant. While still blinded, I readied my sword in preparation of getting hit by an enemy. However, that hit never came.
Instead, I could hear them grabbing Kaitlyn, and when I was able to finally see something again, they were already retreating with Kaitlyn tucked under their arms. How was this already the 3rd time I had to help her to not get kidnapped?!
I instantly started running after them. However, they were already ahead of me because of the flash bang, and they also seemed to have some kind of magic that made them run faster than any human I've ever seen before. Even with my quite well-trained body, I couldn't keep up with them. They were fleeing north, following the street, but after a few turns of the road I lost sight of them. Fuck!
Since I'd just passed a sign which showed I'm near to the capital, I was sure they had a hideout somewhere there. I didn't have many clues to go after, but at least the letters "MRL", which stood on their robes, might help me find them.
After running for a short while longer, I could start seeing parts of the city. It was surrounded by a defensive wall and had an entrance gate for the road. The capital looked exactly how I'd imagine a medieval city to look like, however there didn't seem to be many people here at the moment. Well, that was only good for me so that I could enter the capital as fast as possible.
There seemed to be a guard stationed at the gate, but the few people walking into the capital didn't seem to get checked, so the guard was probably only on the lookout for monsters. But if I was searching for something, a guard should know this city the best.
When I approached the guard, he looked at me with a slightly annoyed expression.
"What do you want?", he asked.
"I'm searching for an organization, which uses the letters 'MRL' to identify themselves." I better shouldn't reveal too much information, as I didn't know the power relations of the organizations in this world.
"You're probably searching for the Magic Research Laboratory. They have a branch here, which is located directly between the slums and the middle class residential area. You can get there by just following the street to the right, after entering through the gate."
"Thanks!" Without wasting time any further, I headed down the street. I was sure that's where they've brought Kaitlyn!
While running down the street, I once again noticed the people around me. Or rather the lack thereof. While there was occasionally someone, I didn't see anywhere enough people in comparison to what I'd expect near an entrance gate of a capital city. The few people I came across all gave me strange looks, but that was no surprise since I was still holding my sword while running at full speed down the street.
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After only a few more minutes of running by standard medieval looking houses, I noticed how the quality of the buildings around me dropped significantly. I was probably getting close to the slums. And sure enough, shortly after that I came across a big building with the words "Magic Research Laboratory" written in huge letters above the entrance door. At least they were not hiding anything. Made it easier for me.
I readied my sword once again, in preparation to cut down anyone who'd stand in my way. However, I was not seeing a single soul. Cautiously, I opened the door of the building, then...
Nothing. No one.
There wasn't anyone in the huge lobby. There was only the dim light from outside shining through the half closed curtains, dimly lighting up the reception desk. It made the impression like this building has been completely abandoned. Despite this, I could still faintly smell smoke, which probably came from the candles all around the room. And when I looked closer, I saw that the wax on those candles hadn't completely hardened yet, so there must have been someone around here not too long ago.
I wasn't sure how to interpret this, but if this "laboratory" had actually been recently abandoned, it at least meant I was still on a hot trace. After checking around in the lobby for a bit, I turned towards the door in the back. It was near the reception desk and except for the entrance this was the only other door. Thus I cautiously opened it and look through it.
I was ready for some guards or assassins to attack me, but I wasn't ready for... Whatever the fuck this is! I could only look for a few more seconds at this completely disturbing sight, until I had to puke all over the floor.
On the other side of the door was a room, even bigger than the lobby, containing a huge amount of operating tables. On each of them lying women and girls of all ages. All of which were dead.
Most of them were lying on their belly, while having their skull opened and brains exposed. Many of them also had their spinal cords exposed, and others were even completely missing some body parts or organs.
As much, as I'd love to run away from this place, my eyes were glued to one particular girl. I first didn't recognize her, because she was particularly mutilated, but the cut-off ponytail on the desk next to her didn't give much room for interpretation.
This was Kaitlyn. And I was too late.
At this moment, an old feeling came up in me again. The sheer panic and despair, which I'd only ever experienced right before I died and reincarnated came back. Only this time it wasn't me who died, but someone else. And it felt even worse.
In this frenzied state my mind came up with many useless ideas how I could still save Kaitlyn, but she was clearly dead.
But then I remembered what the catgirl in the village has told us. The "stone of the goddess" could supposedly grant any wish, so all I had to do was to get my hands on it!
I was sure it would be heavily guarded by the royal guards, but I just had to kill everyone in my way with my overpowered sword and it'd solve everything!
Without any further thought, I turned around to the street and headed straight towards the center of the capital, where the castle was located. I didn't even notice the people staring at me. My mind only filled by the slight hope of getting my wish fulfilled.
When arriving at the castle, I was stopped by two guards: "What do you want here?"
"Tell me where the stone of the goddess is located.", I demanded in a monotonous voice.
"And why should we tell that to a child, like you?"
Without further thinking, I struck one of the soldiers. My sword completely ignoring his heavy armor and the guard instantly died.
"Tell me!", I demanded again, while holding the tip of my sword at the other guards neck.
"It... It's in the treasury! But I can't let you get there!" With these words, he readied his halberd, but I just struck my sword, cutting both his weapon and body in half.
I could just wish for them to come back to life together with the dead women in the laboratory.
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After cutting down a few more guards, I finally made my way to the treasury. In its center stood a pedestal with a faintly glowing stone lying on top of it.
This was it!
With this everything will be solved!
Everyone will revive and Kaitlyn and I'll be able return to our original world!
Everything will be how it should be!
It will be back to normal!
Finally!!!
When I touched the stone, it started to shine with a bright light until it formed a pillar of light reaching far into the sky like a beacon of hope.
Then, while laughing like a maniac, I noticed the tip of a blade sticking out of my chest. After a short burst of pain, I died. Once again.