“It’s dark, once again. It’s lonely, once again. This endless abyss of darkness, how many times did I see this? Just… let me rest in peace.”
“Hey, wake up”
“I knew it, I’m not dead yet.”
“Hey, I know you’re not dead yet”
I felt like I’m constantly falling into this dark abyss that’s swallowing me, I looked around and noticed someone sitting in nothing, in darkness. Wearing a red suit with a black tie, white gloves that’s covering his hands but his face is all smoke. He tried talking to me, trying to wake me up. I stood up and asked him;
“Where am I?”
He answered strangely; “You’re nowhere, but at the same time you’re everywhere. You can call this place the shadow.”
I didn’t know what to say, I just stood there, awkwardly. Waiting for something happened. He then stood up from his position and a pair of demonic wings sprouted out from his back, and a metal-like tail was shown. He walked towards me and gave me a strange paper.
“My name is Mephisto, my good sir. Would you like to form a pact with me?... Mr. Faust.”
I remembered that this is not my body, it’s the prince’s body. Mephisto thought that this is the prince talking but It’s not, It’s me, Rentaro Satou. I thought I could live a peaceful life in this world. I thought that I could live in a world without war but that’s impossible. Everywhere I go, there will be war. Every person I meet, they always want power. If I can make a world without war, if only I can make them understand how blissful peace feels like then I can enjoy my life.
I said to him calmly; ”I, want the world to be peaceful, no more war, no more bloodshed, no more battles and the soul of Lucius Arturius Faust will be yours”
“Unfortunately, I can't do that but… let me grant you the power to do so;” he replied.
Suddenly the infinite darkness disappeared, and I noticed that the time stopped when I was talking to Mephisto but we were still surrounded by the enemy soldier. I was still holding her hand but this time a screen popped up in front of me
--------------------------------
{{LINK}}
-conditions are met-
Would you like to use
Y / N
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I panicked and I quickly pressed Y, our hands glimmered for a short amount of time and suddenly I understood how her powers worked.
The dead knights that I killed came back to life and they started attacking the enemy knights. They rushed towards my side and protected me. I didn’t question the power that was given to me and I freed her from her chains. The burning stage didn’t hurt me but I can still feel a slight tingle on my body. I carried her on my back and I ordered the dead knight to create a path in order for us to escape.
The more they killed the stronger my army became. All the fallen knights became mine and fought the enemy. I ran as fast as I could to carry her out of the city but as I was running, she touched my face once again and uttered; “I’m sorry… I did this to you… just… leave… me here”
“No, I CAN STILL SAVE YOU. TRUST ME… I’ll save you… hey…. Heyyy….. HEY wake up”
I looked back at the knights and all of the undead stopped moving as if my control over them was gone. I thought that maybe because they’re out of my range, that I can't control them. I continued running but as I reached the city gates, five guards were blocking my way.
I saw this strange knight that stands out from the rest of them all. He stood in front of us, menacingly. Wearing a huge full-body jet-black armor with a tint of fiery red on his breastplate, and carrying a two-handed double-edged greatsword that’s about a meter tall and gives off a sublime and magnificent aura.
My body got chills just from seeing him and my running pace slowed down. As I stopped and ready myself to fight him, he raised his greatsword with one hand and pointed it at us,
he screamed; “WHAT ARE YOU FIGHTING FOR? WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?”
My whole body froze in fear and it feels like he can see through me. I didn’t try to lie and answered calmly and honestly; “for peace.”
The strange black knight lowered his sword and moved away from the gate and the four knights behind him followed. I was confused by their actions but I didn’t mind them and continued to run away with her.
I ran towards the forest so that no one could follow us. I looked at her soft face that’s covered in ashes and said; “We’re free now, let's start all over again far away from here”
But she didn’t answer me.
I worriedly look back at her and utter in a silent voice “hey… come on wake up”
But she never did
I immediately noticed that she will never wake up. I gently put her down to the ground and as I removed the dirt and ashes on her face I noticed that she was smiling. She looks so happy even in death. At that moment, her gentle smile and her beautiful face were engraved in my mind, and sometimes, I envy the dead, resting peacefully. Even in the face of death, you're smiling.
I tried using the skill that I got from her but it never worked, It seems like I forgot how to use it. I tried and tried but why? Why can’t I use it anymore? Then suddenly the pop-up screen showed itself once again;
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Skill owned: 1
{{LINK}} - The user may learn or give any skill he wants but only when the other party befriended the user or there’s a mutual understanding between them. The skill that was learned from others will disappear when the other party perishes.
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“I’m so sorry...I couldn’t even save you;” I whispered to her.
I once again carried her but this time, I held her in my arms. One arm under her legs and the other supporting her back, like a princess-worthy to become a queen. I walked away quietly towards the thick forest. I didn’t know where I was going but I continued to walk and out of sheer coincidence, we were back to where we first met. The coffin that was full of gold was never touched. The cold and dusty armor that we left was still there. I removed the gold that was sitting in the coffin and put you inside and as I closed the lid, I said my final farewell;
“Sometimes fate is really cruel, huh. You’re just protecting someone important to you and the next thing you know, they’re gone. I hope you can be peaceful there.”
It took me three days and three nights to bury her under the ground and a bunch of gold and dusty armor was left on the ground.
I picked up the dirty chestplate and slowly cleaned it. While I was rubbing it I was enchanted by its beauty and its finest detail. The crimson red armor with a slight touch of gold on its edges. Then I grabbed the helmet and the red iron boots that were laying on the ground.
I tried to wear the armor and it perfectly fits me. The fiery crimson red armor covered up my skeletal body. I was lucky to come across this place once again. I won’t worry about them finding out about my condition and I won’t worry about money for a long time.
I will start my adventure in this world. I will travel far and wide and start a new life.