Demonbeasts are vile creatures that feast on humans and humans only.
Demonbeasts are ruthless monsters that will not discriminate nor show mercy.
Demonbeasts are born from your fear, and relish in it.
All demonbeasts must be exterminated.
***
-Tap—tap—tap—tap
Hollow footsteps echoed. The absurd geometry of Edenhal was on full display: sunlight obscured by towering buildings, tight, complex pathways, staircases leading up to nowhere.
The only thing providing light here was my new lantern and the bits of reflected sunlight.
'...It feels like I'm not supposed to be here.'
Eerie. My body was stiff. I turn back every few steps, checking my behind. Only to be startled by the smallest of sounds.
Really, I felt like being in a horror movie.
I just wanted to deliver some stuff. Why was this place so creepy?
Each step felt heavy, yet strangely relieving as I drew closer to my destination. The silence was suffocating.
And yet, here I stood in front of a house, my destination. I gently knock on the door.
-Knock—knock
It resounded loudly.
I sort of regretted knocking on the door now.
But it didn't matter since the door opened anyway. To my surprise, a little girl greeted me.
"H-hello, are you the deliveryman? I-I was told by d-dad that he would come soon to deliver medicines to mom."
"Yes, here it is. Can you sign the commission to confirm completion?"
"My d-dad is not here. C-can you wait for him?"
Personally, no. But how could I just leave like that?
"It's fine. I can wait. Can I come inside?"
"S-sure."
The house was a mess. Furniture and various objects were misplaced and worn down, clearly showing a lack of care for them. What were her parents even doing?
I took a nearby chair and sat down.
"When will your dad return?"
"I-I don't know."
Now this was concerning. I couldn't just sit here all day, could I?
'Not like I have any other choice. Should probably get myself acquainted with her.'
"So, uh, where is your mother?"
"...S-she is in her room, but she said she doesn't want to meet anyone."
"I see. Those medicines are for her, right? Do you know what kind of disease it is?"
"I don't..."
"I forgot to ask, but what is your name? Mine is Cain."
"M-my name is Mara."
I was unusually talkative. Maybe the silence was just unbearable. Had a bad experience with it, after all. After chatting with her for a bit, there was one thing I realized.
She was being abused by her parents. I was sure of it now. Bruises, malnutrition, and her shudders, whenever her parents are mentioned, are visible evidence. Her mother was sick now, so good riddance. Still, it wouldn't solve the core issues. Should I bring her to the Order?
"...Wouldn't you want to leave this place?"
"N-no? I cannot just leave mom behind..."
Sighed. Persuading her would not be quick.
-Creak... thud
Weird noises came out of her mom's room.
"...Mara, it's only your mom in there, right?"
"Y-yes, i-it must be her sleepwalking again! Don't pay too much attention to it!"
"...Sure."
With nothing left to talk about, the atmosphere quickly became awkward. Time passes, no words exchanged. Should I just go for now?
"...S-strange, dad should be home by now. Brother Cain, c-could you wait a bit longer?"
Oh well, whatever, I got nothing better to do anyway.
...
-Knock—knock
"!"
"A-ah, it must be dad. You should meet him and go back home. It's getting late, brother Cain..."
True. Thinking that, I stood up and went to open the door. Then it occurred to me.
Why would he knock on the door of his own house?
Frozen. My hand stopped right at the doorknob.
Too late.
-CRACK!
A bloody red hand shot through the door and grabbed my forearm, throwing me outside violently.
Splinters and wooden shards flew with me. Rolling on the hard stone floor, I struggled to stand up. Did I break some bones there?
I stared at the assaultant in disbelief. That was when I realized.
It was a demonbeast.
A tall humanoid figure, yet it had no features that a human should have. An unnatural crimson skin with veins protruding. Only a disgusting wide mouth with razor-sharp teeth stretched across its head. Its eyes were plastered everywhere on its body instead. All of them stared back at me.
It smiled. A grotesque grin twisted across its face.
-SKREEEEE!
It screeched and dashed at me with unmistakable hostility. I drew my sword, though a few moments late, to block its attack. As anticipated, it swung its sharp claw at me.
-CLANG!
The force was overwhelming, making me stumble a few steps back. But it did not end there.
The demonbeast lashed out at me, hellbent on tearing me apart. A right swipe. A left hook. I barely managed to block its onslaught, reacting on raw instinct. Scratches appeared on my clothes. My arms went numb from its blows.
"!"
A strong shove threw me off-balance. Then I fell. Looking up from below, its figure was several times more imposing.
-SKRRR!
Death scraped past me. I rolled onto my side just in time. What would have happened if I couldn't dodge it? Just imagining it sent shivers down my spine. I stood up hastily.
My breath was ragged, erratic. Fear engulfed me, again, just like that time. Against a monstrous foe, I always failed to draw my strength. Why is that? Helplessness, fear, despair, and grief resurfaced. Run. My instincts screamed at me to. But my body refused to move.
My vision turned blurry, yet I could see it clearly. The demonbeast.
It smiled again.
It must have loved the expression I was making.
I despise it.
"..."
Oh well, whatever, let's do this.
Breathe in and out. Slow and steady. Focus on what is ahead of me. Do not waver.
I assumed the only sword stance I knew, one I had watched many times. My whole body ached in pain, but I readied my sword properly. Half a step forward, I tried to imitate her swordsmanship. I stared at the demonbeast, shaking off my negative feelings.
At the very least, I hoped to have the same resolve she once had. Even a little bit would be enough. In this moment, that was all I needed.
The demonbeast leaped towards me, clearly provoked by my stance—its claws reaching for my face.
I sidestepped it quickly to the right and stabbed at their neck. Its blood spattered through the air, but the aim wasn't quite right. It was not decisive. So I quickly took a few steps back.
It was the right move. The demonbeast, enraged, ravaged the spot I was on. Horrifying, really.
It glared at me with dozens of its frenized eyes. I strengthened my grip and resolve in response. I was walking a thin line here. One mistake, and I will be mangled. Again.
Its arms spread wide, rushing in to crush me. Our distance closed rapidly. I cannot dodge it. There was only one option here.
I dashed forward suddenly. With my sword pointed at the demonbeast, I lunged forward with all of my heart. All of its eyes widened at the sight.
-SHLKK!
A flesh-piercing sound. My blade was locked into its chest. The demonbeast halted its steps. For a moment, everything stopped.
Then, the demonbeast spread its maw completely, revealing its horrific rows of sharp teeth. Unknown liquid drooled from its unnaturally large mouth. Both of its arms closed in.
"!!"
The sword was lodged in place, so I abandoned it and threw myself to the right. A moment late and I would have been caught.
And yet, I still got hit by its follow-up strike. Blood spilled from my wound.
Honestly, it didn't hurt as much as I thought.
Now, I'm in quite a tough spot, huh? So what? It's not the first time I've fought without a weapon. I will not back down. Not now.
"Come at me, you disgusting demonbeast! Try to kill me if you can!"
-SKRRAAA!
The demonbeast shrieked, its eyes bloodshot. It charged at me ferociously.
It tried to tear off my head, but I ducked it. It then went for my chest with its other arm, but I rotated my body to avoid it. Next, I grabbed my embedded sword and twisted it heavily, forcing it out of the demonbeast.
The demonbeast retaliated and scraped my arm. I swung my sword horizontally, cutting some of its eyes. It punctured my side. I slashed it back. It bashed me. I counterattacked.
Blood and flesh spattered in a vivid display of savagery. I cared little for evasion, striking back whenever possible. At some point, my right arm was crippled, but I continued with my other arm anyway. I used all of my body to assault it. Headbutt. Shoulder bash. Kick. There was nothing I didn't do to bring it down, but so did the demonbeast.
-Drip... drip... drip
Whose blood is trickling down? I don't know. Half of my vision was blacked out. The demonbeast wasn't better; most of its eyes were crushed. Both the demonbeast and I were tired out. Just standing still was exhausting enough. We glared daggers at each other, silently.
Then, out of nowhere, I pondered a question most ridiculous.
...Were there stars on the night sky that day?
-Tak!
An unfamiliar footstep broke our stalemate.
I mustered out my last strength to turn my head. In my unclear vision, she stood out clearly, like a star upon a night sky.
She observed us. Her steps were leisurely.
I called her name.
"...Eirlys?"
She stopped abruptly. Her wide hat covered her face. I really couldn't make out what she was thinking. Her long, snowy hair fluttered.
She raised her hand. A wand appeared. It was pointed precisely at the demonbeast.
"Tonitrua colligens. Flammae urentes. Necte."
I stood and gazed at it, but the demonbeast apparently didn't have the same idea. It rushed in with everything it has, scrambling its way to her.
She didn't take it lightly.
A beautiful magic circle materialized.
「2-star Layered Spell - Flashfire Blaze」
The demonbeast was immediately scorched to ashes. It was too fast to comment on anything more than that. Such an anticlimactic end to my death battle.
"You are Cain, right?"
She spoke. For a moment, my words seemed to be stuck in my throat, unable to be voiced. But still.
"Yeah, nice to meet you again, Eirlys."
In her pitch-black eyes, nothing was and could be reflected. Therefore, that image of me in her eyes must be an illusion. Or was it?
Some things just don't change, even after a millennium.
Most don't, though. That was what I thought.
I looked up.
There really were stars that day. I swear.