A Random Stranger in Need
1837 Words
"Eight! Please endure this tedious strategy for a couple more minutes!"
"Okay!"
I began charging up, trying my best to make it to its maximum output.
An arrow that has no explosive properties, only pierce.
An arrow that never stops until it pierces the jellyfish.
I aimed at the gemstone that Yukti said was the weakness. Let's do this.
Eight was still fighting relentlessly beneath the jellyfish, cutting every tentacle about to hit her. She's starting to use a rune card that boosts her agility as well. Pretty sure that it'll burden her body if it lasts too long.
Please, be fully charged already.
Huh? Where's Yukti?
•••
"Excuse me, may I know who you are?"
"Wha- [Spherical Pulse]!"
I sneaked behind an individual who keeps on peeking at us. I detected his presence after I used [Nightmare Requiem] to bring the two of them to safety. We're at a corner of the building, a blind spot to the three of us from my previous location.
What I see is a ragged young boy. His scruffy hair was covered with snow and he's malnourished. I'm quite impressed to see him being alive despite living in this cold weather. He's wearing a couple of thin clothes, making his condition worse. His skin tone was pale as hell.
He could even use [Spherical Pulse]. It's a rune card that deals damage and adds status defects to the people who'll get hit. If it's in this cold weather, whoever got hit by this would be frozen or just plain experience coldness in their body.
I explained it briefly, even though I just whacked it with my bat.
"That's some good reflexes you have", I said as I reverted my bat to a rune card, crouched, and reached my hand on the kid as if I'm trying to lure him. "You must have experienced a lot of pain. What if I tell you that you can be more?"
I can't take it.
He's but a small child. I estimate that this kid is only 5 years old. The world must have been cruel to him.
"You... I've watched a lot of people being captured and brought to that place, never to be seen again., just like how my parents end up. So why... Why did you come months after it happened? You could have saved them! Why... WHY!?"
I lowered my arm and locked my sights on his eyes.
His eyes are full of disappointment.
Full of hatred.
He was enlightened about how the world truly works at a young age than I did.
Well, at least his parents love him, as I could comprehend from his words alone.
That's what I lack.
"You know kid, sometimes, what you need to face against the world's corruption, is guts."
"What? What are you talking about?"
"Who knows? I'm just mumbling here. Anyway, I'm not good at persuading people with words. Though, I have a question to ask. Would you want to stay like this forever and dwell on something that could no longer be reverted? Your parents could no longer come back, but I think if they're here, they would be proud if they see you smile once more and live a comfortable life, unlike this life you're having right now. You can join us. Or not. The decision is up to you."
Ugh, that was awkward. I don't know if telling him that is fine or not at all. The kid inhaled deeply before he responded.
"Mister. I don't know who you are. I don't know what's your real identity, and what's the objective that brought you here to this place. How am I supposed to believe you?"
"Then let's have a little deal."
"A deal?"
"Yes. I'll tell you who am I after we're finished with that monster my companions are now facing with. Trust a random stranger just this one time. Take my hand, and I'll swear that the next phase of your life won't be as turbulent as your current."
"What would you get in return?"
"Information."
"Information? About what?"
"Information about this country of course. You are living here long enough if I'm not mistaken. Right?"
He nodded.
I smiled wryly and continued.
"I can't think of anything you can give to me besides that. However, information is important to me than money or whatever."
"I thought most adults love it."
"Not for me. Anyway, have you eaten yet?"
"...no. My last meal was a week ago."
And yet you survived. That's an amazing feat you know?
"I'll treat you to a meal if you come with us."
"R-really?"
"I would never lie to someone."
"Adults often commit betrayal to gain the upper hand."
Whoa there, just who told you that. I mean, it's a fact, but still.
"You'll see if I lied or not after this."
He stared at me with tired, yet resolute eyes.
"Then, could you please avenge my parents in my stead?"
"Want me to have you see it up close?"
He responded with a nod.
"Then grab my hand, and let's go there."
We could have already gone even without the child's permission, but that's how it should roll. One should gain the trust needed in a relationship. I'm not just referring to the romantic one.
I mean, it's all fun and games until someone backstabs the other.
"Now, shall we go? Taking my hand would be your first step to a new life."
A tiny streak of light pierced through the giant jellyfish. That's Agony's doing.
"Now, shall we go? My companions already killed the jellyfish. Look. The jellyfish is now falling from the sky."
The boy looked at the sky and cried after seeing it.
Hmm? How did he know about the jellyfish?
"Father, you're finally free."
The answer came soon enough.
"Is your father that cult priest I killed earlier? I'm sorry for your loss kid."
"Ah, no... Don't. You didn't kill him. He's already dead, killed by someone before eating a strange pill."
A pill huh? So that's how those bastards do the trick.
"I've been hidden by my parents in a cabinet next to our bed. The next thing I knew, their heads...flew away...hic...and then...hic...then the pill was...hic...the pill was being pressed inside the neck of my parents, maybe from the pipe to the stomach. Their heads were picked up by the beheaded bodies and just casually...hic...puts their head back to their original places as if nothing had happened...hic. Then I've heard that guy who killed my parents that the "Angel Jellyfishes" have now increased in numbers."
Eh. What a weird naming sense. Nevermind that.
"Hush now, child. You've been through a lot. I'll assure you that your parents love you so much that they sacrificed their own lives just for you. Now, what you can do for your parents is
The child finally lowered his guard, approached me, and hugged me tightly.
•••
"Are you alright, Eight?"
"Yes, I think I do."
I found the two of them, lying on the snow (oi, don't rely on your clothing. What you guys doing would make you sick) exhausted from that.
"My, you'll have a lot to learn."
After hearing my words, Eight forcefully stood up and prepared her daggers but got her shoulders slumped after seeing me.
"Uwah! Yukti! Just don't pop out like that!"
"Huh? I thought assassins could detect the presence of a used rune card or something that goes with that?"
"For some reason that I couldn't comprehend, I can't detect you teleporting us. Is that a new rune card similar with [Teleport]?"
"Nope. Not even close, Eight", intercepted Agony after welcoming me back. "Just consider this guy as an abomination."
"Eh, so that's how it is?"
"Hey, I'm just behind you. Stop spouting nonsense."
"Yohoho. Hey, just kidding Yukti, don't stare at me with that kind of eyes. More importantly, we need to get out of here. I'm pretty sure that what I did earlier is visible enough to—"
"That won't be necessary."
A shy voice came behind me. It's the child I carried here.
"Huh? A kid? You're k********g now, Yukti?"
"Shut up. Kid, what do you mean by that?"
"This country is no longer a country. The leaders were already dead and were replaced with moving corpses that seemingly look alive. The people were made to believe that they still existed. And the guarding of the national barrier is next to useless."
"Huh? How did you know about that?"
"I have rune cards named [Eagle Eye], [Flight], and [Invisibility]. Combine them all and—"
"You'll never get caught", intervened Eight as she dusted off the snow from the upper part of her clothing.
"Yes. Eh? One of the clones!?"
"Don't worry, she defected and became one of us. Her name is Eight", I said as I pat his head.
"I am Eight. I know me and my former colleagues brought sorrow to your heart. I hope you understand I am no longer a puppet and am acting based on my own will."
"It's not that I didn't believe you. You can't blame me to be afraid of someone who wore the same type of clothing that guy who killed my parents wore. You're uh, this man's friend, right?"
"Er..."
Eight looked at me, curious what my reaction to what the kid asked was. I snickered, and gently bowed my head.
The fact is, I don't even know my relationship with Eight. She's the spitting image of Cory, that's why I felt a sense of friendship. But in the end, Eight is Eight and could never be Cory.
The rune card that could thwart death is long gone.
There's no sense for me to think of reviving the dead. If that were to happen, what I'll be doing is just the same as their usual trope, desecration of the dead.
"Hey kid", I said as I knelt and faced the child. "She's my friend. You can count on her."
"If you say so, mister."
What this kid told us earlier is quite disturbing. If what he said is the genuine truth, this country is good as dead if we don't do something about it.
"Are there any resistance fighters waging for freedom in here?" I asked.
"There was a group like that, but..."
Eight lowered her head.
That would mean that it's gone, or perhaps were killed by her own hands.
"I... I killed them all, as per ordered."
I hit the nail on the head.
"It's not the time to feel remorse. Let's go back to the base. This time, we'll travel my way."
•••
"What!? Our sister Cory got a clone!?"
"I know. I also freaked out after seeing her firsthand. She's with Yukti to that cloning facility. All we need to do is wait."
It's too hard to swallow.
It's inhumane.
Sister's body was already in our custody. She resting peacefully now.
I couldn't discern the mastermind's way of thinking.
- Writer
