A Terrible Whim

I made a fatal mistake.

"Why his face…"

My hesitation was long enough for even a slow enemy to have pulled the trigger and ended my life. Despite this shameful blunder, my finger still does not pull the trigger. Memories of a mission long past return to haunt me and inflict fear once more. No, it wasn't just the memory. It was this girl as well.

The beast girl continues fighting for her life as the last beastfolk remaining. Sword and spear are carefully evaded while magical blasts threaten to knock her down. There may not exist a human capable of holding out against this many enemies.

"Blessed Knight!"

An angered general breaks my trance slightly, but not enough for a red pillar to paint the sky.

"Useless! You there, finish the job!"

Thorsten barks at one of his knights. The soldier readies his sword and prepares to lunge beside the upcoming bolt of lighting. A thundering streak strikes the girl's shield and exposes an opening from behind.

"Now!"

Those words ring heavily in my head as time slows. I witness every step, every straining muscle as the knight pushes for a killing blow. My finger is prepared to pull the trigger, but still hesitates as I watch the girl fight on.

"Why do you kill, C?"

The words of an old friend come to the front of my head. My answer should be simple like always, but something doesn't sit right within me. This is my mission and I have a job to do.

"No…this isn't my mission…"

The role given to me was to defeat the beastfolk monarch. While not performed by my hand, the result is as desired. The general was ordered to wipe out the beasts, but I was nothing more than an afterthought. Should a handful of beasts escape, that is not my concern or even the concern of the crown. A single beast can be hunted with ease and will pose little threat to prepared travelers.

At this point I've been relieved of my duties as an agent. I'm free to make whatever decision I choose. In the end, I've always prioritised my own survival.

"DIE BEAST!"

The time of deliberation is coming to a close. The knight is approaching the exposed flank of the girl with his blade raised. Even with her extraordinary reflexes, there is no way to defend against spears, arrows, magic, lighting, and blade all at once. The time of hesitation is over.

BANG

Silence washes over the clearing for several seconds. The pillar of red came and went, leaving a body to fall to the floor.

"Curse this blasted whim…"

I had two choices, and every cell in my brain believes me to have made the incorrect one. Whatever this feeling swirling within my gut is, I was at its mercy. This is a mistake an agent only ever makes once, one that will cost me my life.

"Wha—!"

The confusion of the knights is to be expected. One of their soldiers has fallen to the ground with a hole in his head.

"There may be no special reason…"

I look at the hand holding my now empty revolver. To my surprise, I'm no longer trembling. Whatever fear I felt during my lapse of judgement is nowhere to be found.

"But somewhere deep down I'll end up asking myself…"

Sandy ears pop out from behind the shields of blue. I make eye contact with the beast girl that I threw away everything to save. A stupefied grin appears on my face when I see my reflection in those large eyes.

"Do I want to kill this target?"

The senses of Melior's knights finally catch up to them. Popping out the cylinder, I gaze at the six crimson chambers while bewildered swords and spears raise in my direction. None among the group are more shocked and enraged than Thorsten.

"W-What have you done!? You strike down one of my knights!?"

He raises his blade and a storm brews along the metal surface.

"You betray us!? For whom!? A beast!? What say you, Blessed Knight!"

I ignore the general and take note of my position. Once the girl escapes, I have to find a way out of this mess. Avoiding a bolt of lightning will be challenging, but I just might be able to keep my head on in time to escape.

"I knew you were unworthy! I shall send you to the Goddess and allow you to speak for yourself in her audience!"

The crackling lighting prepares to fry my body, a fate I brace myself to overcome. Raising my arms in defence, I await coming death.

"Prepare to—AHHH!"

Energy dissipates into the air as Thorsten has his body forcibly arched backwards.

"Hmph!"

A grunt can be heard from behind a pair of blue dragon scales. One is raised in defence while the other drives itself into the general's spine.

"You pest!"

Despite the blood flooding out from his body, Thorsten attempts to slice at the beast girl. He fails to reach her as she leaps onto his back, sinking sharp fangs into his neck

"You fool…"

We don't have the liberty to be greedy here. I used up my final bullet to buy her time to escape, yet she wastes it. The two of us hardly have better odds of winning now that I'm surrounded and without my primary weapon.

"Grrrr!"

As Thorsten fights to remove the girl from his back, he turns to allow me to witness her face. Narrowed eyes lock with mine, a blazing inferno behind those green lenses. She could have left me for dead, an action I would not have complained about. However, she insists that her determination isn't just for herself.

"If you absolutely insist…"

"GRAH! Knights! Kill the traitor!"

The remaining bodies of metal surround me. Bows are loaded and magic has been prepared, all to snuff out this life of mine. Ten seconds ago, I was their hero. Now I'm just another enemy of the state with a charge of treason and murder over my head. Among my executioners is a young man with seemingly blood streaming from his eyes.

"Sorry guys."

My body is filled with a surge of strength as I harden my resolve. I've made decisions and my only choice is to live with them, even if it means cutting down every last person in my way.

"But I'm saving that girl."

The assault is put on hold when my revolver starts shining a brilliant red light. Its crystal cylinder is blinding, but I continue to watch as it slowly solidifies. Once the light subsides, I feel an extra weight in my right hand. It isn't much, but I can tell the difference between my weapon before and after this gift.

I snap the cylinder back into place and spin the crimson container. It doesn't matter which chamber it lands on, the result will be the same.

"Shall we begin?"