School sword fighting

It was a nice Saturday morning, as the sun was shining brightly as always. Kids left their parents to go to school. And so did I. My father, as always, was standing at the door giving his goodbye to me.

At school, there was nothing different. The teacher spoke and we listened. It was quite depressing, actually. Only a few of us were sitting there in the classroom. Before, it would've been full of kids. Some listened to the teacher. Some, on the other hand, talked with their friends, giving no attention to what the teacher was saying. Now, however, there were only a few of us left and every single one of them was listening. Not a single soul talked.

At the schoolyard, everyone was training with their magic. Not even Dem said anything. Usually, his mouth would keep going with a bunch of random sentences and nobody would have known what he was talking about. But now, nothing.

It was clear that they had kept yesterday's lesson deep in their heart, as the silence filled the yard. Well, almost. Only the first years were playing and talking with each other. Gosh, I already forgot they existed.

Suddenly, Asta started to cry.

"Finally!", I said in my head, "Some kind of reaction!"

"We have known each other since we were a child", Asta said while crying.

"You're still a child", I said in my head.

After hearing that, Dinna started crying too.

"Stop it!", she said, "Do not mention anything about her!"

"She was our friend! Must we really forget her only because she is dead?"

"Well tell me, what is crying gonna do? We live. We fight. Even animals fight and die. And you eat them every day! Do you think this life is a game where we can freely eat and live? Every single one of us is gonna die, so start getting used to it before it is your turn to fight for your life!"

"Geez, I know this is shonen but that was kinda rough coming from a kid", I said in my head.

"Are you saying her existence means nothing to you?!", Asta shouted in tears.

Dinna slapped Asta to the ground and said:

"Be quiet! I never said anything like that! Even though she was a good friend, she is now dead and there is nothing we can do! You are not a kid anymore, so grow up and realize the reality and accept it!"

"Again, you're both still a kid", I said in my head.

With tears in her eyes, Asta stood up and ran away.

"This is your chance. Go to her and be a hero!", I said in my head while chasing after Asta.

She was sitting in a corner and crying. Imagine a classical anime girl who just got bullied in school. She was quite like that.

I walked up to her and asked:

"Are you okay?"

Sobbing in tears, she asked:

"Wha...what is 'okay'"

"Wait. These guys don't know what's 'okay' but they understand words like 'shut up'?", I wondered.

"I...I mean are you fine?", I said.

"Well, what do you think?", she answered.

"Geez", I said in my head, "I'm just trying to cheer you up. The least you can do is appreciate it"

"Hhh", I sighed, "I know it may be rough, but think about the bright side: at least you still have us!"

"Are you saying Bente doesn't matter?", she said furiously.

"No, I didn't mean that. But ugh, I know it's rough but at least we are still here with you!"

"She was my friend! Are you saying I should just forget her?"

"Gosh, I wish I never came", I said in my head, "But it's too late now"

"She was my best friend...She was the only one who spoke to me when Dinna was talking with you and Dem"

"Gosh", I said, "I didn't realize you felt that way. I'm sorry. I should've talked with you both more"

"She was the only one who truly cared…"

"I know how you feel, but that isn't true"

"Yes it is!", she shouted with tears all over her face, "Who else would have? Even Dinna did not!"

"Yes, she did! Didn't you see how she cried? Didn't you hear how her voice was shaking as she spoke? It's clear that she cared. And she isn't the only one! I care too! Otherwise, why would I be here talking with you?"

"But…", she said, but I interrupted her by saying:

"Snap to reality! You aren't the only one here! You have us!"

"Gosh, I feel like a shonen protagonist", I said in my head while talking:

"I know it's hard and at this moment you feel like you're the only one suffering. You feel like you're the only one in this dark world. But open your eyes! I am here. And even if Dinna wouldn't care, I swear I care about you and will continue caring even after we die!"

"Now, that was cliche but this always worked in anime", I said in my head.

After hearing that, Asta didn't say anything. She started crying even more and hugged me.

"If I weren't four years old, I would have an erection right now", I said in my head.

We walked inside together, as the next lesson was starting. While feeling relief, there was still regret in my heart, as I knew I should've talked to her more. I knew almost exactly how she felt, as it was the same for me in my past life. I was alone without anyone talking to me. I was just a nobody, whose existence was remembered only by those who needed me.

"Bam!'', a loud noise came from somewhere.

"What was that?", one of the first years asked.

We saw how a man came out of the classroom. He wore bronze armor and wielded a bronze sword. The sword was covered in blood and with a menacing gaze, he looked at us.

"Who are you?", one of the first years asked.

But instead of answering, he just ran straight at us. He lifted his sword high up and we saw how he was gonna slash one of us. Fortunately, a teacher came and shot him with fire. He fell to the ground but didn't get knocked out.

"Run to the classroom!", the teacher shouted while shooting more fire at the man.

The first year and the second year, all of us ran to the classroom and closed the door.

"The village must be under attack", one of the second years said, "Did you see? None of us in this village carries a sword"

After that sentence, all of the second years started looking at me.

"Hey, you all know full well that my sword isn't out of bronze!", I said.

"Hey second years, what should we do? Should we go and help the teacher?", one of the first years asked.

"No, you all stay right here", Dinna said with a confident tone.

But I already knew she had no idea what we were supposed to do. None of us had. We were just mere children trying to survive.

A cry of pain came out from the other side of the door. The sound would've eased our worries but sadly, it was of the teacher’s.

With a shaky voice in a worried tone, one of the kids asked:

“Did...did he just die?”

"Just stay calm!", I said, "Those who cannot fight, gather the seats and hide behind them. Those who can, prepare yourselves!

We heard the footsteps and how it was coming closer and closer. I felt how my heart pounded and how sweat dripped on my forehead. The kids were shaking from top to bottom, as they feared these might be their last moments.

Asta squeezed my arm tightly and with tears in her eyes, she said:

"I don't want you to die"

My heart pounded even harder after hearing that and honestly, I started getting emotional myself.

"Oh, be quiet", Dinna said, "If we just keep worrying instead of fighting, we all are gonna die"

"No, you be quiet! These might be our last moments. It's natural to cry!", I said in anger. But I knew she was right: we weren't going to survive if we didn't concentrate.

Some of us were leaning on the wall, right next to the door, ready to attack. The rest of us were waiting right in front of the door, ready to shoot magic when the door opens.

"Wait, if the village is under attack then where are the guards?", one of the kids asked.

"There are probably more of them outside. We cannot rely on the guards", another kid said.

Suddenly, the door opened. The man stepped in and the kids tried to grab him. But he took his sword and slashed every single one who tried to come near him. I saw how they all fell on the floor, crying in pain.

The kids, who were waiting in front of the door, started spamming magic at him but it didn't work.

"Don't shoot fire and water at the same time!", I shouted.

But they did not hear me, for fear had taken their heart and all, that was on their mind at that moment, was the thought of killing the man in front of them.

Mercilessly, the man grabbed one of the kids. Using her as a shield, he rushed at the kids and slashed some of them with his sword.

One of the kids jumped to his back and tried to choke him, but he raised his sword and stabbed the kid. That gave an opening for Dinna, who took some rocks from the floor and shot him with them. Some of it penetrated his leg, which made him fall to the floor. I lifted my sword and was about to cut him, but he turned and blocked me with his sword. His sword bent for a little bit.

"I knew it", I said in my head, "Bronze swords are weak against iron"

Again, I lifted my sword, took another step forward, and was about to go for another blow, but he grabbed my leg and pulled me, causing me to fall. He then lifted his sword and was about to stab me, but Dem shot water straight to his eyes.

"Ah!", he shouted while covering his eyes.

Some of the kids took the opportunity to grab him and melted his bronze armor, causing him to fall to the floor while shouting in pain. I gathered my strength and stood up to stab him. In a panic, I just kept stabbing. The sound of a sword penetrating human flesh kept echoing in my ears, as I stabbed him multiple times. Eventually, there were no longer any sounds coming out of him. Not even a tiniest squeak, that would’ve proven he’s alive.

"Is...is he dead?", one kid asked.

In relief, I sat on the floor and said:

"Yes. I guess he did"

In relief, the first years started crying and the second years sat on the floor and relaxed, losing their guards.

"Hhh", I sighed while trying to relax my heart, which was beating at the speed of light.

But it didn't take long till we heard new footsteps coming towards us. I stood up and so did the others.

I cut the man and quietly said:

"Hurry! Paint yourselves with his blood and play dead!

Quietly, the kids ran to paint themselves and then fell to the ground. We all went quiet, but none of us were able to stop our hearts from pounding, as we heard the footsteps coming to the room.