{Author's Note: This will get heavy. You'll see what I mean later. If you do choose to read, ofc. but it's important, and I hope that you'll stay with me... TAT}
- - -
…Holy fuck. I inched backwards. Level thirty—
*BANG*
My vision went black. Opening my eyes, I'd been thrown back against the cold boss room door. The tough iron almost dug into my shoulderblades as I struggled to move.
HP: 1 / 75
Status Effect: Stunned
Ah. That was probably why. My vision pulsed once more as the lightning icon for the stunned condition swam above my player card. A buzzing noise rang incessantly in my ear. I could barely make out Midori and Lilith lying beside me. Lilith was reaching for her staff, while Midori—
Shit, Midori.
She looked… really bad. Her right arm was twisted at an unnatural angle and she'd been hit on the head. She was bleeding, and a trickle of blood dripped out of the corner of her mouth. Her skin and clothes were peppered with small shards of stone and marred. From her condition, she might only have…
Fuck, fuck, fuck, no I can't think about that—
I tried to reach for my backpack and the potions but my stupid fucking arms wouldn't move. In fact, I couldn't feel them.
No.
My breath jumped up to my throat as my heart sank.
I can't let this happen again.
I can't let someone die in front of me again. I almost died earlier, and it's kind of ironic that I'm feeling this way for Midori now, but…
No, no, no, no…
I could feel the corners of my eyes burning—I'd completely forgotten that this was a game. I couldn't even register my own body. But I had to save Midori, somehow.
Then an explosion rang out once more, and the world returned to blackness as my head snapped backwards.
- - -
[Dame Airi's POV]
Emerging from the explosion, Dame Airi slid to a halt, her boots screeching across tile, her rapier trembling in her grasp. The blade was vacillating so much that she thought it would snap off and fly, and her arm was shaking after the impact.
The doctor was too strong. Stronger than before. Was it that pill he'd swallowed earlier?
Alexander's rapier gleamed under the flickering lights, the tip catching a glint as he leveled the point toward her heart.
"Tch." Her eyes darted toward Doctor Hiyomi, Miss Lilith, and Midori—all crumpled on the floor, helpless. Airi shifted forward, placing herself between them and the man in white.
"You know, Dame Airi, it's a shame, really… if only you'd stayed away from my patients. It's my job as a doctor to save my patients, and currently—that means protecting them from you."
He dropped low, ready to charge once more, his shoes scuffling against the floor.
Dame Airi thrust out her rapier, preparing to counter. "Miss Lilith! Are you able to—shit!"
*CLANG!*
The point of Alexander's blade flew into the air as Dame Airi parried the strike—but she wasn't completely unharmed. The boss' sword nicked Dame Airi's side as she parried, and her ears cried to god almighty as there was a screech of shattering metal.
Her ribs screamed in pain and her side burned crimson.
"...Ugh!"
The bindings of her shattered chestplate snapped, clattering to the ground. Haneul dropped the now-useless metal to the side and steadied her stance.
Alexander smiled faintly. "Come now, Dame. My patients would've managed more."
Then with a snap, he blinked.
To Dame Airi's eyes, it was almost as if he teleported—one moment he was standing thirty odd feet away, the next he was right in front of her, the point of his rapier singing straight for her chest.
Airi barely saw the blur before instinct seized her. An aura erupted from her chest, flooding the hall in light—a wild bloom of rose and gold that hurled the doctor back amongst the voices of a choir.
"Commander's oath, section three." Her voice trembled as she set the palm of her free hand on the pommel of her rapier. Her hair whipped wildly around her as the aura continued to grow, washing the entire room in its light.
"You are responsible for your subordinates' well-being." The strands and ribbons of the aura wrapped around her companions, tending to their wounds. It would be some while before they'd be ready to fight, but…
Soft and pink threads of light snaked through the air, knitting wounds, steadying breaths. Strength pulsed through Dame Airi's limbs, sharpening her vision and steadying her resolve. It felt strange, like something cool and hot was touching her at the same time.
You are now under the effect of AOE: Commander's Oath, Section Three.
Your party have received status effects: Regeneration (Lv.5), Emboldened (Lv. 5), Courage (Lv.5)
She poured the overflowing aura into her blade, swinging in a wide arc. With a whoosh, a storm of cuts erupted from the point, shredding the walls and eviscerating medical equipment. She dashed through the haze toward the doctor.
When she blinked, he was there again—right in front of her.
Unscathed.
"A shame," he whispered.
Their blades met and sang, ringing and clinking against each other. Parry, thrust, counter. Over and over their blades flashed and chimed until breath became pain. Haneul's arms shook. Her vision blurred.
Why? She should've recovered by now. Cosfour's healing should have sealed the wound—
Her eyes dropped. The gash had worsened, blood dripping languidly and carmine down her thigh.
"…What?"
Shocked, she barely caught the next strike. The impact sent her sprawling into the iron gate. The iron tang of blood filled her mouth, and her head rattled with the impact. Her ponytail and bangs swayed as she dragged herself upright.
"Haneul!"
She heard Midori's voice. It was faint.
Another explosion rang out. "Stay back, Midori!" Haneul snapped.
Her blood rose, flowing from her wound, spiraling into the air like crimson threads, wrapping around her rapier. It glowed from within like veins of red that had seared the steel.
"Commander's oath, section two. The commander shall fight alongside her subordinates."
You are now under the effect of Commander's Oath, Section Two.
Your physical and magical prowess have been greatly increased.
Your HP will now constantly decay.
*CLANG!*
She met the boss halfway through his swing, catching his rapier. Lunging in, she punched him in the chest with her gauntlet, hearing a satisfying crunch.
He fell, and Dame Airi rained down attacks, finally being able to meet the twisted doctor as equals—-no, she was winning. The exhilaration of battle spurred her onwards as she felt the air part and whip around her blade.
But she needed to end this quick. [Commander's Oath, Section Two] drained her blood, and she'd lost plenty of it already. But on the bright side, she was clearly winning. Her swings and thrusts drove the doctor back.
She lunged again—only to be hurled backward by another explosion from the doctor's blade. It once again left Airi with her ears ringing and her body trembling from the impact.
Alexander stood tall, his veins pulsing with sickly light, a second pill crunching between his teeth.
Dame Airi landed hard again on the floor, quickly clawing herself back up. The exhaustion was getting to her.
A crossbow bolt whizzed through the air—Midori's. It dissolved against Alexander's aura. "Oh?" the doctor sneered. "Looks like a rat's up."
"Shit—Midori! Don't provoke him!"
*CLANG!*
Airi caught the next blow aimed for Midori's neck, locking blades with the doctor.
"Oh, you're not calling me Miss anymore?" Midori shot back. "Why do you care?"
The words struck deep as she grit her teeth, grinding her rapier's edge against the doctor's, neither of them willing to give way. Airi's throat tightened.
She sprung apart from the doctor, before meeting him again halfway, her own sword catching the light like liquid steel as it flashed toward Alexander.
However, Midori's question was a good one. Why did she care?
Airi had always told herself that truth was everything. That her words, her oaths, her faith in the unbending blade of honesty made her strong. That being right—being true—was what made her a knight, and a commander. One that cared for her subordinates, one that always pursued what was true and what was right.
But earlier, seeing Midori and Doctor Hiyomi together, she realized—truth had not saved Rena. Truth hadn't saved anyone.
"Because…" she began, barely able to speak through the sound of clashing steel. "Because I was wrong."
"What?"
Her rapier crossed with Alexander's. They threw sparks as the steel clashed and rang before she pushed forward, throwing him back. "I was wrong, Midori."
Midori faltered. "What are you talking about?"
"Do you know what my name means?" Airi's eyes burned. "Airi means love of truth. But that blinded me. I thought truth would protect Rena. I thought righteousness could never be cruel. I was wrong."
The words tore out of her like a confession.
"I don't think you were right either," she said softly, parrying another blow. "I think we both were wrong. Rena deserved better than either of us. Though she probably wouldn't like to hear that from me," Dame Airi chuckled.
The hall fell silent except for the echo of steel on steel.
Then Midori's quiet, trembling voice answered her. "...We'll talk after this. We have… what, a couple of years' worth to catch up on?"
Airi exhaled, the ache in her chest loosening. For the first time entering this cave, a smile tugged at the edge of her lips.
"Yes," she said, gripping her rapier tighter. "Provided, of course, we make it out alive."
Midori tossed her a potion before turning back toward Hiyomi and Lilith laying unconscious on the ground. "Don't die, Commander."
Airi bit the cork free and drank, the smooth liquid dulling the pain and easing her fatigue. As she raised her rapier once more, pink and crimson light spiraled around the blade, swirling like the veins of a seashell. Dame Airi pressed her hand to the crossguard, feeling the pulse of two colors beat as one.
"Of course we'll make it out alive." Airi charged, her sword blazing.
- - -
[Hiyomi's POV]
I blinked back into existence, vision flickering like someone hit resume on the world. (Which, obviously, didn't happen—unlike what certain parents think, you can't pause an online game.)
"What did I say about almost dying?"
…Huh?
Oh, right. The boss room. My brain caught up a second too late. I'd been knocked out. My HP bar was half-full now, but everything else was chaos.
Fuck, Midori—was she okay?
She had one arm around me, crossbow in the other. (She was most definitely okay. ///) A few meters ahead, Lilith was glowing, her staff raised as ribbons of white magic circled outward, funneling straight toward… Was that Dame Airi?
I forced my body upright. Midori steadied me as my knees wobbled. My voice rasped lightly as I spoke. "How long was I out for?" Oop. My throat didn't feel great…
"...A couple of minutes."
Jeez, I'd been out for a couple of minutes? My head pounded like it was about to implode.
"Oop—steady." Midori caught me again as I nearly lost balance. My bleary eyes eventually focused on Dame Airi and Alexander, tearing up the boss room.
"What now?" I asked.
"...I don't think we can do anything at the moment," Midori responded. "I can't give any buffs without handing potions to Airi, unlike your healer friend there. All we can do is… watch."
All we could do was watch and wait? No, I hated waiting. And Watching.
Steel rang out against steel and the air blurred as the knight commander and the fuckass maniac of a 'doctor' fought.
I couldn't bear to stand and be useless. Generally, geniuses don't like being useless. Neither do doctors. Especially doctors.
I won't stand idly doing nothing when someone might die.
There had to be some way I could help. I scanned the room. There were broken pillars, debris of destroyed medical equipment, scattered potion bottles (which made me want to cry)—but nothing screamed environmental hazard, please use me. (No, not use as in like that. You degens know what I'm talking about.)
Then I saw Alexander. His body flickered as he teleported behind Airi—except… the debris shifted every time he moved.
That… meant that he wasn't teleporting.
He was dashing. It was fast enough to pass as teleporting to the human eye, like that miniboss earlier.
But…
My brain hummed into analysis mode. That's what I'm trained to do, after all. I could tell every muscle move in his body, even as far away as I was. There was a compensation pattern: a slight head tilt, a micro eye movement. His gaze always darted to where he'd appear a split second before moving.
That was it. His tell~
Obviously, it was a game, so I wasn't sure if it was perfectly true, but if Dame Airi could catch that—
"Dame Airi—"
*Boom*
A shockwave slammed into us and dust exploded through the chamber.
When it cleared, Airi was still standing, but barely. Her sword lowered, and her body trembled. Alexander was gone.
Huh. Looks like Airi'd taken care of him. Boss as he was, there was only so much a maniacal doctor could do to a seasoned knight—and Lucidia always prided itself in realism. (Sometimes too much so. No, I haven't forgotten to write those emails. Devs, I swear to god you will get my full wrath some day when I'm not restricted to emails.)
Lilith sprinted forward, staff glowing. Healing light spilled from her palms—
"Stay back!" Airi barked. Her voice cracked. Her uniform was in shreds, blood streaking her arms. She stumbled once—then froze.
A thin blade pushed clean through her chest.
Alexander stood behind her, gripping the hilt with one hand, trembling slightly. His expression wasn't smug—it was tired. "You really made me cut it close, Madame. One more pill and I might've overdosed."
His aura pulsed—green and blue laced with a new, sickly yellow.
Airi's eyes dropped to the steel emerging from her chest. The rose-hued ribbons of her aura flickered, breaking apart, fading like ash caught in the wind. Then the blade slid free. She crumpled to the floor without a sound.
"I'll keep you around," Alexander murmured. "You'd make a fine patient."
Lilith screamed. Midori didn't move. She just… stared.
Lilith sprinted and hit her knees beside Airi, casting heal after heal. The light pooled uselessly, dissolving before it could do anything. Lilith's snow-white hair almost looked like it was twirling through the air as she cast again, again, again…
Alexander limped closer, dragging his sword along the floor, its scrape a slow, metallic hiss.
I couldn't move. My legs refused me. I could only watch. My stupid fucking body wouldn't move. I-I'm useless.
…Again…
Then—Airi's head twitched. Her lips moved, barely audible.
"Commander's Oath… Section One."
A faint red glow spread beneath her skin, her veins traced by light. It pulsed outward in ribbons that danced and tangled around her, vibrating the air with soft and quiet hums.
"D-Dame Airi, what's happening—" Lilith whispered, clutching her hand.
Alexander's eyes widened. "What are you—"
"Hush, Miss Lilith." Airi's voice softened, gentle, motherly, and… loving.
…
The exact sound and look that I'd never wanted to see throughout my years as a doctor.
…
I knew what was happening. My breath caught, and I clutched my hands into fists. God fucking damnit. Did you devs really have to go to these lengths?
Even though I knew it was a game, it didn't make it any easier. Actually, maybe it was because it was a game that it felt just as hard—not that this had ever happened on my watch, ever.
Dame Airi took Lilith's hand and pressed a kiss to her trembling fingers. Her rose-red ponytail subtly bloomed and fell, the fine, pink strands hugging themselves for what warmth remained.
"Doctor Hiyomi… Thank you. For saving them. For saving us. Midori—" Her lips quivered with a faint smile. "I meant what I said. I'm sorry. I hope one day you can forgive me."
Midori's breath broke. "Wait. You're not—You can't—"
Whatever she wanted to say, the commander probably didn't hear it. The light was already leaving Airi's eyes.
Alexander tilted his head, watching like it was some kind of experiment. "Remarkable… What are you doing, I wonder?" (Oh, this fucker is going to get it. I'll redefine the definition of cruel and unusual punishment with medical equipment specifically for you, murderer. Killer. Smear on the doctor name.)
Airi didn't answer him. Instead, her eyes went back to Lilith. "I wish we had more time, Miss Lilith." she murmured. "I'd have loved to get to know you more."
She drew one last breath.
"The commander shall take her last breath with her subordinates—and value their lives above her own."
Her aura flared, crimson overtaking the ruin of the hospital hall. The ribbons of light tore free, swirling upward, scattering like rose petals in a storm.
There was no sound at first—just red light, swallowing everything.
Then the thunder hit.
Alexander was hurled across the chamber, crashing into the far wall.
A notification blinked across my HUD.
You have gained the status: Commander's Sacrifice.
There are too many Status Effects to display.
Tap [here] to View.
When the glow faded, the room was quiet. Our health and stamina bars were full. Red petals drifted through the air, landing softly on Airi's still body. The faintest trace of a smile remained on her lips.
The Love of Truth was no more.