A Surprising Offer

After Safrim says his goodbyes to his sister, we leave the building to make our way through the crowd. Safrim explains that there will be a festival for three days to celebrate the arrival of the Light’s chosen hero, after which my party will present themselves and set off. It’s all a bit sudden, the way the people cheer at me when I pass by, trying to touch me as I walk after Safrim. Even though there are several city guards to protect me in the mass of people, some sneak by and actually reach me, tearing at the cloth on my arms. Around us is loud music and cheering, bright and colourful lights in the darkness of the falling night. Above us, there is a shimmer in the air, which Safrim explains to be an extension of the protective spell on the city walls.

When we finally reach the Kal family mansion at the base of the hill the cathedral is built on, I am exhausted and relieved. For all the cheer, having the eyes of so many people on me is frightening. Safrim watches me take a deep breath as I lean against the wall in the entrance hall.

“Is it always like this?” I ask.

“It’s always been a joyous event, but the situation has turned dire during the last ten years, and even more so in recent months. These people are all locked inside Atol, fearing for their lives. They know that either the demons or a lack of food during the winter will be the end of them, whatever comes first. The arrival of the hero is many people’s last hope. They cling to it like a prayer. The cathedral grounds are full every night with citizens praying to Lady Erya.”

I look skywards.

“What happens to the gods when their followers disappear?”

“No one knows.”

It makes sense why Erya was so mad at me. But I didn’t choose to be here. I didn’t choose these powers. Do I really have to pay the consequences for a world that is dying?

“Come on, you look like you need a drink.”

I laugh. “No, thank you. Drinking is what got me into this mess.”

“I also have Skyfruit juice made from the orchards in the cathedral gardens. This year may be the last batch ever produced.”

“Hit me.”

——

Even though there was no alcohol involved, I feel pretty drunk on the sheer wealth of information about the continent of Fylbrin, on which Atol is situated in the very south. Safrim was quite forthcoming and honest about the current situation, once again laying out how the demon army had conquered most of Fylbrin and the surrounding islands from their base in the middle of the big landmass. One would think that its central position would make it vulnerable to being surrounded, but once the paths between the major cities had been cut off, the offensive against the demons had turned into a defensive. The five cities founded around the worship centers of the five main goddesses still hold out against the onslaught, but it is only a matter of time.

Atol, Erya’s city in the south, is closest to Char, the city of fire. The cities of lightning and wind are quite close together in the west and to the far north, the city of water is situated at the ocean coast, covered in snow all year round. To the east, no large cities remain.

Safrim explained that regular communications had broken down with the city of water, wind and lightning some years ago, so they don’t know if they are still safe. There are sporadic messages exchanged with the city of fire, but most of the messenger spirits are intercepted.

All in all, the picture he painted looked grim.

A room is prepared for me and I am glad to retreat to it for the night. After this long day, I am exhausted. I guess being reincarnated and then put through the ringer will do that to you. The room is on the second floor, towards the gardens behind the Kal family mansion. A cosy atmosphere and the sweet smell of flowers welcome me, which is a contrast to the crowded floors of the building. A single lamp is shining golden on the table. I close the door behind me and can barely take two steps into the room when I feel something hard and cold pressing against my throat. Instinctively I open my mouth to scream, yet no sound crosses my lips.

“Don’t waste your breath. I put a silencing spell on you.”

The person pushes me forward, into the room. I hear a click. The key in the lock. I’m locked in here with them. Is that it, then? One day, learning all the misery of this world, and then it’s over?

Once I’m in the center of the room, closer to the light, I move my head slightly despite the blade. I dare to look down at the hand holding my wrists in a punishingly hard grip, but apparently it’s not enough for my appraisal skill to see a small part of the person only. Looks like I need to see their face.

“Are you going to make this difficult?”

I shake my head.

“How agreeable. Well, then.”

And then I get my chance. The person twists me around as they wrap a rope tightly around my wrists. Their hair is hidden below a cap and their face is covered by a black cloth. Yet none of that matters to me. They can’t know I can see their identity—otherwise they never would have risked this manoeuvre. I look up… and the text appearing floating in mid-air is even more surprising than the earlier blade at my throat.

[Nono Lylt]
Attributes: Fire, Earth
Life Points: [100/100]
Skills: [####]

The woman I saved from being crushed by her broken cart. Why is she here? I’m too dumbfounded to react, just staring at her like someone who’s never seen an assassin before. To my defense, I never have, but that’s not the point here.

“I’m going to undo the spell now. Don’t scream—I’m not here to hurt you.”

There’s a cold sensation in my throat and I have to cough to get rid of the weird tickle.

“Not here to hurt me? Could’ve fooled me.”

“Tch. Listen. I’m here to warn you.”

“Then why the knife and the rope?”

“Would you have listened to someone appearing in your bedroom at night without screaming for help?”

She has a point. I hold up my bound hands regardless. Nono shakes her head.

“You can ask someone else to untie you later. Listen first. This is not your fight. This isn’t even your world. You can still walk away from everything.”

“Walk away? I can’t return to my homeworld and the surrounding lands are filled with demons!”

Nono crosses her arms. “Just because they’re demons doesn’t make them unreasonable. What if the Demon King knows a way to send you home?”

“He does??” I blurt out.

“Yes. He’s done it before. Not all heroes have fallen. Some have made the right choice and left this world behind.”

“And why do you care?”

“I don’t. I’m just a messenger. I’ll visit you again after you have time to think. Maybe a visit to the demon occupied lands will set you on the right path.”

“So you expect me to just desert this world and leave these people behind?”

“That’s quite a bit of loyalty towards the people who abducted you from your home and forced you to fight for them in this war. Look. The way I see it, you can follow them to their and your certain death, or you can save at least one life: Yours. This world is as good as conquered.”

“...”

“Think about it.”

There’s a rush of air and Nono has vanished. Is she a demon herself, or is she just working for them? No, she can’t be one. No demon can enter the Atol city walls with their enchantment in place. Besides, she has no darkness attribute. But her skills were hidden… Well, I know at least two now. Silence and some sort of teleportation.

“Great, now what am I supposed to do with this?”

My hands are still bound. I could go out and ask someone to help me, but… If I do get help, I’ll have to explain how I got into this situation, talk about the intruder and their purpose… But, maybe, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to have a card up my sleeve if push comes to shove. Currently I’m more inclined to help the people of this world than not, but I won’t be risking my life unreasonably. And even if… Ah. Well. Time to get those ropes off myself.