My Lifeline

Chapter 3: Do you regret it?

That night, a full long night, they escaped successfully. A week already passed by. In a far city from where they came from, lounging in an abandoned broken stone house, in a city full of poverty. No one is talking, they still can't believe what happened to Ash. Every day is an uncomfortable day, finding food and supply every morning and sleeping at night.

The hero recovered fast due to her hero status: Recovery.

Meanwhile, at the Land of Roil, the place where the orphans came from. Turbulence happening, and every human living in the said land, panicking, evacuating, and full of fear thinking about what will happen to them when the empire falls. Everyone already heard what happen, the missing hero. No one knows where she is which adds fuel to their fear and panic.

Inside the palace, King Rolando Roil, the king of the Land of Roil is restless and angry. " Where she is? Where is the hero!"

"Your Majesty, we were trying our best to find her. Our group soon will enter the Land of Demon. I will make sure to bring her back safe and sound." - Captain of the knight says to make the king calm. Deep inside, he is not happy. He knows well, even though the hero is stronger than him, she is still too young to suffer the life of the hero. A young age is not suited to be part of the battle that can take life.

"Pathetic hero. She was the one that supposed to save us. tsk," the king shows his disappointment. And no one talks back to the king. He always talks big, but, never in his life, he works hard for his nation instead the nation does all the work for him.

Then, the captain walks back to their barracks. All of his squadmates are waiting for him. He opens the door and enters the room. "Salute to the Captain of the Knight of Order." there are a total of seven members of the squad including the captain. Everyone is waiting for the order.

"It's been two days since the demon suddenly withdraw from the battlefield and the hero is missing for about a week already. We didn't know what happen, and the Majesty want us to look for her."

One of the knights asked, " But she was last seen entering the Land of Demon."

"Exactly, that is why I'm giving you a chance to withdraw from this mission."

An echoing silence filled the rooms, every knight looking at each other as if they are wait for what will happen next.

The vice-captain raise his hand and said " If no one is willing to withdraw then we must move now we are taking too much time. And, what is the point of withdrawing from this mission? Are you going home and then waiting for the demons to attack again? We all know, even if we kill all demons that going to attack us, nothing will change." for the second time, echoing silence arises. "We all know, only the hero can kill the demon king, once the demon king dies all of us can be saved from this war." everyone started to agree with his words.

No wasting time, they ride horses and started to travel across the land to look for the hero.

"OH, MY DEMONS!" the demon king gather all the demons across his land. "How was your day off? I heard humans are starting to panic without their dear hero HAHAHA." all demons are roaring as if they are celebrating already. Acting as if they are victorious.

"Calm down, the war is not done yet. I'm not done playing with the hero. I'm sure it will be fun for both of us my dear little hero. hihihihih hahahaha"

*step*step* A young girl with lifeless eyes walks and stops beside the demon king. "Oh, before I forgot she is my new righthand." he introduced the girl to the crowd of demons.

One demon interrupted the king and said "That girl reeks of human my lord, she looks young and weak."

The young girl lifted her hand and point her finger to the demon who said those words and "BOOM!"

The demon exploded and scatter the body and flesh on the ground. All demons whispered and questioned what is happening. "Oh my god, oopsie, should I say oh my demon? HAHAHA" her laugh sounds crazy. "Yes, yes. I'm a human before, but, I do love being a demon better HAHAHAHAHAH"

"I will be assigned her to hunt the hero, and it will be funnier than before." a smirk showed on the demon king's face as if he planned something that can make the hero's world upside down.

The hero picks up wood at the nearest forest to their current quarter, while, Joseph picks fruits for their dinner. After picking the supply, they decided to go back. As they get closer and closer to their quarter, Carlito and Jess's voices get louder and clearer. "Carl, do you think we did the best choice to save her?" Carlito stops her, "You must not say that, we all agreed to do that."

"But.... ASH DIED BECAUSE OF HE---" they heard a falling wood come from the entrance. Both of them were shocked, they saw Lyra crying with Josep in front of the door.

Lyra breathed deeply, " D- do you regret saving me?" Joseph taps her back and tries to console her. "No, of course not. We are fami-"

" WHO SAID I WANT TO PART YOUR FAMILY" she fiercely turn and look into Joseph's eyes "DO I EVEN ASK YOU TO SAVE ME!"

Joseph can see the hero badly hurt, without a word, he already knew that Lyra blaming herself for what happened to Ash. Being a hero is useless if you can't even save someone you important to you. "L-lyra, that's not what I mean." Jess trying to talk her way to Lyra.

"No, you already said it, Did she mean it right? N-no, all of you-- all of you are blaming me." she can't contain her pain and she holds her chest and run away. "LYRA!"

Joseph follows her but the hero is faster than him. He stops chasing her because he already run out of breath. He can't do anything, he just looks at Lyra's back till her shadow disappeared. He went back to quarter exhausted. He was mad, yet, he didn't say a word. He was thinking if how can he get Lyra back. He was seriously worried.

"Let her be for the time being, she can at least protect herself anyway." that is what Carlito says which makes Joseph uncomfortable. He still didn't say a word.

Jess felt the guilt, she knows well that she shouldn't say those words. She knows to herself if there is someone that would be hurt so much, it will be Lyra. But, she can't take her words back, not now. The room was filled with silence, no one dare to say a single word.

"Ehe, did I miss something fun?" a young but familiar voice. The three of them instantly look in the direction of the front door where the voice came. "A-a-as-- Ash!?" they can't absorb the shock of what they saw, a young girl the same age as Lyra.

The hero run further than she thought. She still crying like there is no tomorrow. Those feelings of sorrow can only harm her. She started questioning things, 'Why did I even be reborn if I will be suffering again like before.'

'Why can't you just let me die or just remove all of my memories of my previous life?'

'Whoever you are, are you happy seeing me in this uncontainable pain?'

'Why did you even give me power if it is not enough to save me and the persons around me?'

She was thinking everything is just a waste, there is no use for her anymore. She walks far enough in the middle of the night. Without a rest, wandering, thoughtless, and senseless. She continues walking till she bumps into something. She can see a pair of feet below, slowly, she lifts her head and meets an unexpected guess.

"Hello, dear hero." then he waves his hand. "Remember me? I'm the demon king." he adds.

She is trying to ignore him yet a smile on his face shows there is something he wants to say. "Are you here to kill me? If so, make it faster."

"Oh, no. Actually, I have a gift for you. I know it will make you happy." his tone is something that can get on anyone's nerves.

"Whatever it is, I don't need-"

"Ash." a simple word, no, a name that can make them feel shivered on her body.

"HOW DARE YOU!"

"OOHH, scary. HAHAHA, calm down. I'm not here to fight. Remember I have a gift for you."

"What do you want?"

"We could say, I just want to know if you are fine. I want to have a battle against you again. But, you are weak as you are now. There is no fun on it, you know boring."

"What the--" the demon king suddenly attacked trying to pierce the hero's body, but he failed. The hero black the attack using her magic, she created armor made of ice. Then a greatsword fall from the sky above the hero's head good enough she can dodge it.

" HAHAHA don't be angry. I told you I'm giving you something. Hmmp, it is more like I am going to help you become stronger."

"Huh? We are nemesis, you're not supposed to help me become stronger."

"But it is boring to kill you without resistance." he suddenly disappears. The hero summons her sword. She becomes wary of her surrounding trying to guess her enemy's next move. *clang* She blocks an attack from behind using her sword.

"Good, sharpen your senses HAHAHA" it feels like the demon king is having fun.

She steps back, concentrates, and casts magic. " GUARDIAN GOLEM"

Two golems appeared, starting to attack the demon king. He swiftly dodges every attack, while, the hero has a hard time controlling two golems at the same time. The demon king laughs while dodging, one of the golems trying to punch him directly and he just blocks it with his sword. He pushes the golem and he steps back a little, snaps his fingers then *boom* both golems are exploded.

"Let us stop here, little hero. You are tired and it is not my gift yet."

"No, I can still fight. We need to settle this now." she insists while catching her breath.

"Oh, can't be. In a few seconds, my gift will be going to happen. I promised it will be fun. HAHAHA"

*BOOOOOMMMMM* A massive explosion happened in the direction where the hero came. The quarter they are currently staying.

"See, that was my gift for you HAHAHAHAHA. See you." then he disappeared

"Wh-what happen?" she rushes her way to the quarter. Her minds are full of bad thought, what if something happens to them, she will surely blame herself being a hero.