Perspective 2 - The view from down here

In the realm beyond death, two spirits conversed.

Even to this day, Pax doesn’t really know how you felt about him.

???: Pax… So that’s what his real name was. Alright, I’ll give you my soul.

Thank you, though I wonder what good this perspective will do for his story…

I reached out to collect this perspective, but it hesitated for a moment then spoke:

???: Though I have to wonder… How has Adam, sorry Pax, been doing these days?

I think currently he’s the happiest he’s ever been.

???: Good, I’m glad.

With that, the spirit closed its eyes and let go, allowing me to enter its dreams.

- - - - - - -

Martha: I hate this view.

Martha had been born in the slums of Celestia.

Martha: I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. I HATE IT!

It was dirty and smelled of shit. There was nothing good about being born with nothing. Still, Martha had a wish. She wished to fly out of this place and live amongst the people she felt she belonged to – the nobles.

Perhaps that is why she was graced with wind manipulation magic at the young age of 5. Truthfully, Martha didn’t even know how old she was but she had heard that nobles gained the ability to practice magic at the age of 5. Thus, she too must have turned five the day she learned magic.
There was only one way for someone born in the slums to one day become a noble, that being to become a strong adventurer and then marry into a noble family.

Anyone can do it with enough strength and luck. But because anyone could do it, that made it all the more difficult to stand out from all the competitors.

Martha: Don’t look down on me. I’ll rise up and become the strongest.

She trained hard and recruited friends to join her on her journey. Oliver and Mau had been her friends for a while but she trusted her dreams to them and together they rose through the ranks. Climbing through mud and shit to gain every bit of strength she could get, Martha fought. Risking their lives with every battle, the Golden Wings rose to prominence. One day, they added Rock to their ranks to gain even more strength.

Rock was a bit older than them, but they needed another warrior to help Oliver hold off stronger monsters while Martha prepared the final blow.

No matter how many years had passed, Martha would never forget her dream or get comfortable where she was.

A rank was the minimum you needed to become a noble. At least, that’s what Martha believed. Truthfully, there was no guarantee even if you became S rank because the only way to become a noble was to marry into one or become a concubine. Nobles marrying commoners was uncommon but not unheard of. Those with magic power were believed to pass their strength on to their children. Even so, Marquis Witherton was a bit of an eccentric when it came to nobles.

He didn’t care about rank or background and instead fell in love with Martha, the person. Her strength and beauty were just an excuse to him.

They had met randomly one day at the adventurer’s guild. In those days, Marquis Witherton sometimes went monster hunting for fun. Though he went incognito, as soon as Martha saw him she could tell that he was no ordinary man. The way that he carried himself gave off an air of refinement even when he was acting like a commoner.

Even in ten years after that day, Martha never fell in love with Donovan Witherton, the man. She loved his status and his money. She loved how people would serve her and treat her with dignity and respect.

She didn’t miss her adventuring friends. They had always been a means to and end. Besides, they would be perfectly fine without her.

Eventually, Martha had to bear a child for Marquis Witherton. She didn’t mind because she knew that this was one of the duties of a nobleman’s wife. What she didn’t expect was for her child to be a monster.

Even from a young age, Martha knew that there was something wrong with Adam. He never cried, he never complained, he never sought out his mother, and he never looked her in the eye. One day, she caught Adam reading a textbook and practicing magic when he was only three years old.

She knew that even without any help from her Adam would grow frighteningly strong and intelligent.

Martha: But why does that bother me?

Perhaps it was a deep jealousy for her own son.

Martha: Why was it that he was simply born with incredible strength and intelligence? Is that what it meant for someone to be a noble? Am I truly a noble?

If the Marquess ever got bored of her, she would instantly be reduced to a lowly slum-dweller once more. Adam was truly a noble though. She was just a fake.

Martha: Don’t look down on me.

She would stop acting as a noble and start being a noble.

But for some reason, Martha and the Marquess couldn’t have another child. They tried for years and even saw some doctors but nothing would work. Adam would be the only child she would ever be having. He was the only thing keeping her superficial dream together.

Martha: Is this all that my life was worth? Is this the extent of my dream?

Though sad at what her life would amount to, she was determined to see it to the end.

But then one night her dream burned down right in front of her, literally.

How unfair that everything she had worked for was just taken away. How embarrassing that she would be forced to run back to her adventuring buddies and ask them for help. How angry she was. Angry at herself for letting her dream slip through her fingertips and angry at the world for stealing what was rightfully hers.

But then she looked at the little boy sat besides her in the carriage.

How small he looked curled up in a ball and sleeping. How weak and vulnerable he was in this moment.

She was all that he had left.

For the first time in her life she felt like a mother to that child. She felt as if for once she was actually needed. And she felt the depths of Donovan’s love for her. That love that she could never understand.

And so she wept. For the first time in her life, her soul felt love as the tears streamed down her face.

It hurts.

Martha: Love… hurts.

- - - - - - -

Martha: I knew he was strong… but to win against Rock in a head on fight?

Rock, the veteran B rank adventurer, just lost against Adam, a seven year old. How absurd. Is this truly the strength of a child?

Adam: Is this enough for me to join the Golden Wings?

Martha was taken aback by the question. The boy shouldn’t have had a reason to join the Golden Wings.

Why would you want to stain your hands with blood and filth? Why are you trying so hard? Why do you practice until your bones break and fight with your life on the line even when its just a friendly spar?

Martha questioned the little boy in her mind as he stared at her fiercely. She wondered who gave her “son” those eyes. Eyes that would not waver at adults twice his own size. Eyes that faced death willingly and regularly.

Martha: Fine

Another response cut short. Too much to say but unable to say a thing.

She wanted to apologize for forcing him into a life where he had to feel pain.

She wanted to apologize for being unable to protect him from losing the comfort that he was entitled to by birth.

- - - - - - -

Martha: Hah… Look at him go. He’s mowing through those ants with every step he takes.

It gave Martha mixed emotions to see her own son, at just seven years old, completely drenched in blood and murdering dozens of gigantic ants. But now was not the time to be distracted…

Mau: Cheuok-

They truly came out of nowhere and just killed Mau.

Though Mau wasn’t the best in a direct fight, her detection and concealment skills were top notch. It shouldn’t have been impossible for anything to sneak up on her and kill her in one shot.

Even more unbelievable was the identity of the assailant. Even though she’d only heard about them in stories, it was clear that she was facing a Demon.

Martha quickly came to the conclusion that she should create some space and stall for some time until what’s left of the party can regroup. Then, Oliver appeared in her periphery rushing head first towards the Demon.

It made sense that he might do this seeing as the love of his life was just coldly murdered in front of him. But from behind a tree, another Demon holding a bow appeared and shot at him.

Martha: Shit

She casted a wind spell to try and deflect the arrow, but it would be too late. Luckily Oliver managed to deflect the arrow himself, it seems that even in his currently enraged state he could still remain vigilant. But then another Demon dropped from a branch and stabbed him in the back, killing him instantly.

I see, we won’t be getting out of here alive.

Martha: ADAM!

Suddenly remembering that her son was also in imminent danger she glanced over to where he should have been, and began formulating a way for at least him to somehow survive. Instead she saw a giant pillar erupt where Adam had been standing.

Did the Demons get to him already? No, recalling her past adventures, that was a technique that Rock sometimes used on large monsters.

It seemed that Rock had just sent Adam up into the sky. She pushed doubts about whether or not Adam could even survive such a technique down and away. There was nothing she could do now but pray for his safety.

Martha: Never mind, there is one last thing I can do… I swear that you Demons will not leave this place alive.

???: Oh really?

Another demon appeared from behind her and she used the wind to push herself away from the line of attack. Just how many were there?

Evading the five Demons in front of her while sending wind spells at them, Martha took another glance over towards Rock but saw yet another Demon standing over his bloody corpse.

Martha: Enough. I will soar above all and hold nothing –Gust Leap

She shot up into the sky and pierced through the thick fog. Four shadows climbed up the trees and jumped at her.

Martha: You fools, if I could truly fly I would have gone far from here by now.

As her leap reached it’s peak, Martha took in the air around her for a moment. The sunset gave the sky a purple hue and the sea of fog beneath her looked as if it would catch her as she fell. But she knew better.

Martha: I wouldn’t have it any other way –Golden Wings

This was Martha’s final trump card. Usually it would have a longer casting time, but it would appear that the swelling emotions inside Martha allowed for a shorter casting time and larger wings. Still not strong enough to fly, but she wouldn’t have tried to escape anyways.

With a final flap of her wings, she shot downwards on a collision course with the shadows.

An explosion of shadow and light took place just above the fog line but eventually they were both swallowed up as they fell.

And so silence befell the valley of fog once more as the sun set, marking the beginning of a long night.