Mind and Heart
1043 Words
Five years ago, when I'm still known as the "Ghost Tactician".
It was an afternoon during that time.
I sat beside her while eating some roasted steak and rice.
"Yukti, you really love rice, don't you?"
"What's wrong with eating rice? It's a food that never gets out from my menu. It gives me the energy, you know?"
"Yeah, you told me that several times already. I couldn't possibly count just how many you told me about this and that of rice."
I mean, what's wrong with rice? It doesn't have any flavor, sure. But with a viand, it's the best.
You're an elf you know? I thought you're a vegetarian?
"Yukti, if you're looking at me while doubting my existence as an elf, that's rude. Contrary to common knowledge, not all elves love to eat everything coming from the plants. I'm one of those."
"Mmm. That's a bummer. No wonder you are eating spicy curry right now."
"Heh heh. Be surprised Yukti. I am...the Queen of Spicy Curry!"
"Please don't tell me it's one of those self-proclaimed titles just like that one time you said that you're—"
Before I could finish my statement, she stood up as fast as lightning and put a spoonful of her curry into my mouth.
Argh! The spiciness! I hate eating too much spicy food!
"N-no! What are you talking about? I didn't talk about anything!"
"You don't have to be defensive. Anyway, could you bring water?"
"Eh? What's that? You want me to get some water? I'm a proper lady, men should be the ones who do the labor."
"Yeah right. Miss proper lady, you threw a spoonful of curry into my mouth despite knowing that I hate spicy food. If I were you, I'll abide by this one request, for now, to make amends."
"Urk! No, uh... Never mind, I'll go."
Our mission this time is to escort a certain person without being spotted. I seriously don't understand why an exploration team like us was given this mission, which is, ridiculously far away from our field of profession.
Speaking of which, where's Cory? Getting a pitcher of water is not that hard of a request. Don't tell me she's—oh. There she is.
"Oh, that was a bit later than I expected. Where have you been?"
"W-well, I just talked with someone I knew."
I wonder what topic did you and that supposed to be "someone" were talking with. Your anxiety is obvious, and you're a bit pale.
Something's not right.
Those eyes are back.
The eyes who sought revenge.
I stood up and look over the place. But, Cory stopped me for a reason I don't know.
"Yukti, don't go. Please? Stay with me for a little while."
I could only nod at her request.
The night eventually came, and we need to dine on the inn's first floor, the floor where the kitchen was. I knocked on her door and asked her to come out.
However, I didn't get a response.
That's odd. She loves to eat and yet she doesn't want to eat dinner? Is she sick perhaps?
"Cory, are you feeling unwell?"
"Huh? Oh, Yukti. You can go first. I'm preparing, so could you please head first?"
"Oh, okay."
I did as per what she told me to do.
Maybe I'm going to the marketplace after this.
I later found out that she's plotting something absurd and stupid.
I finished restocking the supplies when I saw her out of her room.
I knew it.
Someone may have tipped her about something and made her this tilted.
I've known Cory for a decent amount of time now, and I knew that this isn't the usual Cory.
"So, where are you going, and why are you not allowing me to accompany you? We're partners and you've said it before that partners stick together!"
My voice echoed across the inn's hallways.
It's already the dead of the night. The moon shone the brightest for it is full and its beams pierced through the windows.
The lady I tried to confront just turned her gaze towards me while smiling.
She possessed silver eyes and hair, pointed ears and is currently holding her precious weapon, the one I gifted her -- the Mirror Scythe.
She just smiled at me and answered calmly.
"I can't afford to bring you into this mess this time Yukti."
"The hell's with that 'I can't afford to bring you' nonsense Cory!"
Cory just chuckled, used her prized [Teleport] card, and went away.
Dang, it!
I wasn't able to stop her.
I ought to search for her whereabouts to no avail. I couldn't find her at all. But I need to finish our mission first.
I wasted two days escorting someone I don't know.
The next news I knew shocked me show much that skipped a beat of my heart.
I got a partner who had absolute faith in me. She's the one who always gets the quests from the request board, which is pretty annoying but even with that, she's an irreplaceable friend. I cherish the moments we have together.
And yet I lost her.
Cory is dead.
And I wasn't there to lend a hand.
I'm confident in my skills, and if I were to accompany her, the odds would surely be in our favor.
So why, Cory...
Just what are thinking and you did that?
While I'm thinking of those, a rune card appeared in front of me. A completely unknown rune card. A rune card that soon became one of my faves.
"[Faint Heart], is it?"
That's cute. I got [Nightmare Requiem] that assaults the mind directly, and now I got this one?
•••
"Ugh, there is no way I could accept this."
"Oh just accept it already lizard. I have no time to spare for you and your pathetic pride."
The dragon dude finally caught on to his situation.
He's gasping for air while putting on all fours on the ground.
"There's no use clinging for life when there is death you can embrace."
A rune card appeared in front of me, and as I snapped to activate it, he just dropped dead as I said the rune card's name.
"[Faint Heart]."
- Writer
