Chapter Twelve: ...Reconciliation

"Godfrey, how large is the army?" "Around three hundred or so." That's not a lot in terms of manpower. We would probably have around eight hundred or more if we assembled everyone capable of fighting. However, we don't have a trained army or even an equipped one. This is a dire situation. If only I spent more time...

"Lenka, don't worry; I will handle it," said Annabelle as she stood up. "Annabelle..." Godfrey said in a worrying voice. She shook her head. "I can no longer run from it." She turned to look at me with a serious look on her face. "Lenka. "Yes, Annabelle."

"I don't know why you were chosen by the gods or what hell you have been through, but I believe you have the power to change this rotten world. This world is full of nothing but misery and despair. That's why you need to give everyone the hope and will to fight back against the cruelty of this world. Just like..." Annabelle took a deep breath to hold back emotions. "Just like you've done for me."

"I won't be able to stop them, but at the very least I can buy you time." Annabelle started to head out the door but stopped and turned around. "Lenka, just promise me that you will not only protect my daughter but also everyone who cares about you." Annabelle gave me a genuine smile that I had never seen on her before. "Farewell, Lenka." She then turned around and left.

We followed her outside, where an army of soldiers awaited us. The rain had already stopped, leaving the ground damp and full of puddles. Annabelle walked towards the army, splashing water from the puddles on the paved walkway with each step. The army commander recognized her and had some soldiers place shackles on her hands.

The commander walked up to us. "Godfrey, it's been a while, but unfortunately, I have come with the orders to take Annabelle and her daughter." "Alistair..." Godfrey was stunned and did not know what else to say. "Her daughter has run away, and we haven't been able to find her." I chimed in. The commander looked at me. "I see. You must be the daughter of the lord. You have my deepest sympathies." He said as he bowed to me.

"I will inform the lords that her daughter has regretfully escaped us. Oh, where are my manners? Here's the orders for the arrest." He handed me the scroll firmly and gave me a very serious look, almost like he was trying to hint at something. "I'd rather not have to send another army here, so please inform us if you locate her." The commander walked back to his army.

I opened the scroll the commander gave me. It read: We believe in you, chosen one. Do whatever you can to prepare yourself. The nobles will soon act on their plans and destroy everything you have built. You're our last hope, our last salvation. At the bottom of the scroll was a symbol that looked like two crosses put together with a circle around it.

The clouds parted, letting rays of sunlight shine through the dark clouds. The commander saluted us and then began to leave, and the soldiers started to follow him. Annabelle gave us one last bow and then followed the soldiers. While walking, she stopped and looked back at the manor. I could see that tears started to flow from her eyes. She turned back around and started following the soldiers again.

Leon ran out the door, but Godfrey grabbed him. "Let me go. We can't just let them take her. You know what they are going..." "Leon!" I yelled. "She chose this path knowing what awaits her. We must honor her choice and her sacrifice." "But..." "Leon, I am the lord of this place, so this is my fault. Neither you nor anyone else should be blamed for it." They both became silent, and then we watched Annabelle slowly disappear into the horizon.

I always regretted not being able to do anything to save Annabelle. I was unprepared and never even cared enough to learn what an amazing person she was. Her twisted fate has always haunted me, but I always remembered her brave sacrifice, the tea she would always brew, her devious attitude, and her warm smile.

"Godfrey, my office. Leon, go find Mary and make sure she's safe. Kate!" I heard a loud bang from the manor's doorway, and Kate emerged from the doorway rubbing her head. "Kate, go with Leon and make sure he doesn't do anything reckless." "Okay," Kate said as she stopped rubbing her head to reveal a red mark on her forehead.

Leon looked annoyed but went on to do what I asked. Godfrey looked somewhat worried as he followed me to the office. I sat down at the desk, and Godfrey chose to stand. "Go ahead and ask. I know you probably have any questions," Godfrey said in a dejected voice.

"Godfrey, what is this chosen by the gods nonsense?" I'm curious if he actually knows about my reincarnation, or if being chosen by the gods has happened before. "I don't know much about it. Annabelle was the one who had researched it and knew a lot about it, but the only thing she told me was that it's a person who can change this world for better or worse. Annabelle was never one to elaborate about that topic. I believe something in her past made her very quiet about it."

I guess that was the reason Annabelle always seemed to interrogate me, but how did she know about me? Has she dealt with another person who reincarnated? I have too many questions and not enough answers. Information is everything, and right now, I know nothing. What the hell have I been doing all of this time?

"What about that commander? He seemed to know you." "Sir Alistair was your father and my brother in arms; we trained and fought together. He's a good man, but I have no doubt that he will be punished harshly for protecting Mary as well as you." I see now why my father was always writing letters. Who else did he contact, and how far did his influence really go?

I looked at the scroll the commander gave me. How did they know about me, and who are they? "Godfrey, explain this." I handed him the scroll, and he proceeded to read it. This... this symbol is from the Church of Humanity." "What church?" There's no church in this city, and I don't recall anyone who came here talking about one.

"The church of humanity is a somewhat new religion, or at least it was when we lived in the capital. They have been getting a lot of followers and have grown to the point that the nobles can't easily touch them. When your family fell, your mother donated a lot of your house's money to the church, and they used the church to help keep the nobles at bay."

"Why does the church think I'm this chosen one?" "That was your mother's doing. She always believed that her child would be someone chosen by the gods. She would talk about having dreams of the goddess telling her that." So that so-called god has been pulling the strings all this time. What else has she orchestrated? The church? The nobles? Kate and Leon? The citizens who came here?

I could barely hold back my anger. How long has it been since I have been this angry? If she has such power, then why doesn't she use it to stop this nonsense? What does controlling my life, my actions, and everyone around fix? Does she truly wish for me to become the Angel of Death again? She's just like...

I couldn't hold my anger anymore. I stood up fast enough that the chair nearly got knocked over. I moved quickly with heavy steps toward the doorway. "Where are you..." Godfrey said with a worried look, but I cut him off. "To think. Deal with Mary's situation for me."

I left and went to my room to cool off. The sunlight from the windows was starting to fade away into the night. That damn god is really going to force me to... I took a deep breath. Stop, Think, Observe, Plan. There were still so many questions, but one thing annoyed me the most. What the hell have I been doing? Have I been swept away by the building, the gestures of gratitude, and the people here?

I shook my head. This isn't me. I'm not one to help others. I only end lives, not save them, so why have I been working so hard to build up this city in ways that don't help defend it? Lenka, if you're in the position to help someone, then help them. Those words echoed to my very core. I... I... I had enough for today. I didn't even change my clothes and hopped into bed.

I woke up and realized that I was not in my bedroom. I stood up and looked around, and I was in the middle of a crossroad surrounded by sand and crumbling buildings, another nightmare, I guess. I turned around and saw my old self standing there, staring at me.

"Looks like we're meeting again. To think that you would let me..." I used my dream to summon my handgun and pointed it at her head. She did the same. "Wow, angry aren't we? You didn't even let me..." *Bang* I fired at her, but she somehow managed to dodge it.

I adjusted my aim back to her and started to fire. She was insanely quick and managed to dodge every shot. She then began to fire at me. Some of the bullets grazed me, forcing me to retreat to cover while I continued to empty the magazine in her direction. What in the hell? People don't move like that. Is it because this is a dream?

Right, this is a dream, so I should treat it as one. I visualized the old kit and rifle I used to run with. A black plate carrier full of magazines and grenades appeared over my dress, and an assault rifle appeared in my hands. I racked the charging handle and moved the selector from safe to semi. The rifle and gear seemed to be in better condition than I remembered, but then again, this is a dream.

I peeked around the corner to see if I could locate her. There were several run-down buildings with many vantage points, but I didn't see any movement. Well, I was facing myself, so I would... *Crack, Bang* several rounds passed me, hitting the concrete wall and sending out dust clouds. I turned to engage her and saw that she was charging at me.

I fired several rounds while retreating to my left. She ran to the right to flank me and somehow dodged all of my shots. She was closing in, so I switched to full auto and... A massive surge of pain shot through my left arm. I braced the rifle into my shoulder and sprayed the rest of the magazine in her direction while I retreated behind cover.

I grabbed a grenade from my rig, pulled the pin, and tossed it in her direction. The grenade armed with a loud pop, then a few seconds later, an explosion sent shrapnel past my cover. Looking over at my arm, I could see that I've been hit. Why in the hell am I feeling pain even though this is a dream? And what the hell is with her? People don't move like that. Putting the rifle behind my right knee, I removed the empty mag, inserted a new one, and then racked the charging handle.

"What's a matter? Are you losing your edge? Has the Angel of Death gone soft?" Her voice echoed throughout the empty city. "You were too busy playing house to see the enemies around you! Annabelle had to take the fall for your carelessness, but it's not like you care! Your father in this world loved and cared for you, but you didn't even bother to learn his name! And what about Mary? Do you even acknowledge her existence anymore, or maybe you only care about people who are useful? You're just a monster!"

She's not wrong, but... Footsteps started to rush towards me. I picked up the rifle that was still resting behind my knee and braced it on the corner of the wall. The footsteps were getting closer at an alarming rate. I braced my injured left arm under the rifle and began firing around the corner. However, she was too fast and managed to shoot my rifle, sending metal fragments at my hands, forcing me to drop my rifle.

I didn't have time to pick my rifle or dream up a new one, so I drew my handgun from its holster, but she already rounded the corner. She came at me with lightning speed and grabbed my right arm, forcing my handgun out of my hand. Pain surged throughout my body, emanating from the left side of my stomach. She stabbed me in my side, and I couldn't even see her do it.

"To think that the infamous Angel of Death could be beaten so easily. Makes me question if you were nothing more than a propaganda tool. I wonder why the goddess of humanity even chose you." It just hit me, I never once called that thing a goddess of humanity, nor will I ever. Hell, I never even thought that I was a propaganda tool either. Who the hell is this person, and why does she think she can talk down to me?!

My anger boiled over to the point I could no longer control it. I ignored the screaming pain and punched her in the face with my left hand. She tried to let go of me, but I grabbed her arm with my right hand and twisted it. I pulled her close to me and then grabbed a grande of my rig. Her face turned from surprise to fear as I pulled the pin. *Pop* The grenade armed, and I shoved it into her chest.

She tried to break free, but couldn't escape my grasp. Then she suddenly disappeared. I tossed the grenade behind the cover, and a second later, it exploded, sending shrapnel right past me. Now she's teleporting away, and what's with that face? Was she scared? That is not me! I never showed fear on the battlefield!

"Hahahaha," I couldn't stop laughing out loud. "What's a matter, you fake? Do you fear death? You see, I never once feared death! So you think you can pretend to be like me and talk down to me when you're too scared to even fight me to the death! Don't you dare try to act all high and mighty! You're nothing but a coward pretending to be me! I will show you why people feared the Angel of Death!"

I summoned a new assault rifle and racked its charging handle. "It's time to show you what a real nightmare is like!"