Orphanage Alumni

“It’s not looking good for you.” Reiji smiles looking at the Lieutenants and his remaining knights. The 5 adventurers off to the side wasn’t even worth paying attention to.

“Ho-how?” The lieutenant stuttered, the words gasped out in bewilderment.

“Extreme training? We’ve been through hell the last month.” Reiji shrugs as he looks at his two friends flanking the remaining knights.

“It shouldn’t be possible to grow this fast. I guess it was true, you really are a other worlder.” He spits out the final worlds, glaring at Reiji.

“Huh? Yeah I am. What about it?.” Reiji asks confused.

Picking up his sword, he levels it at Reiji, his eyes burning with renewed fury. “Then this is no longer just a petty squabble to apprehend a heretic. You are our enemy, and must be purged immediately.” 

The lieutenant envelopes his body in mana, his sword flaring with a silver light. The other knights follow suit, igniting their manas. Their armor and weapons glowing with a holy light, lighting up the entire district, as if it was day. Then each of the knights fall to their knees as their mana and strength was transferred to the Lieutenant, causing the mana around him to blaze, becoming an inferno.

“Uh was it something I said?” Scratching his chin, Reiji looks at the Lieutenant, his body tense from the pressure emitted by the lone knight in front of him. 

“Begone. Cleaving Light!” Raising his sword of light, the Lieutenant slashes down, the surging wave rushing forward, along the ground, tearing up the streets, destroying everything in it’s path.

“Dammit!” Raising his Ki, Reiji is swallowed by his black and white aura as he drops into a guard stance, unable to dodge, as the attack would destroy the orphanage behind him.

Sliding backwards at an alarming rate, his feet tear up the ground, digging long trenches along the road. The distance between Reiji and the orphanage decreasing at an alarming rate.

“Reiji!” Nraltia and Souma jump in, standing behind him, as their mana flares up, adding their strength to Reiji, slowing down the wave of light. 

But it wasn’t enough. They continued sliding backwards, gritting their teeths, sweat pouring from their brows, soaking them. 

15m, The feelings in his arm disappear.

 12m, Souma’s loses his blades

10m, Blood spurts from Reiji’s mouth disappearing into the light wave

8m, The light wave weakens greatly

5m, Nraltia’s spear is stabbed into the ground, blood dripping between her fingers

4m, The light wave slows down, but it’s not enough

3m…

2m…

“ENOUGH!” 

A shadow appears, her long hair trailing behind her, her armor and sword glinting under the holy light. With a diagonal slash, the light wave is shattered, it’s main force sent up into the sky, brightly lighting up the sky, before disappearing in a firework like explosion.

Panting, the trio look up to see the Holy Blade of the Saintess, Captain Ophelia standing before them, her face darkened with fury.

“Captain Ophelia! Why would you protect the enemy of the Saintess?” The lieutenant asked, bewildered at the unexpected conclusion.

“Incase it escaped your attention Lieutenant, there was an orphanage behind them.” Her eyes burn with righteous anger, as she stared down her Lieutenant.

“A inconsequential collateral damage, one for the greater good. Purging the world of the false heroes. Surely-“

His words are cut short, as the sacred sword appears by his neck, prickling the skin, drawing blood.

“There are no such things as inconsequential collateral damage. Pick up your men, we return to the Capitol.” 

“Bu-but…” 

“By order of the Reagent of Light, we return to the Capital. Now. Lieutenant.” Her sacred sword glints dangerously, echoing the light in her eyes.

Sensing her intensity, the lieutenant reluctantly obliges, sheathing his sword, before barking to his men. “Get up. We return to the Capital." 

Turning around, he salutes Ophelia, not hiding the anger in his words. "At your command, Captain Ophelia.” 

With those words, the Knights quickly stream out disappearing into the night leaving behind just the captain.

Baldy and his friends slink off after the knights, trying to sneak away 

Baldy and the other adventurers slowly sneak off, trying to escape the tense situation, but are quickly stop by a spear that is thrust into the ground in front of them.

“Uh… We’ll  be leaving too…” The leader speaks, looking at Reiji and the Knight Captain. 

“We’ll finish this later.” Reiji says not taking his eyes off the captain, the remaining four falling into a tense silence.

“Big sis Lilia… it’s you right?” Souma speaks uneasily, torrents of mixed emotions seeping through his words.

Refusing to answer, she looks at Souma and the orphanage one last time, her eyes filled with unreadable expression, before turning on her heels, and marching away.

“Wa-wait. Big sis Lilia. Come back!” 

Souma surges forward, his feet moving before he realized, chasing the figure in front of him. But she doesn’t stop, her boots clicking heavily against the streets as she walks ahead, her pace increasing, refusing to look back.

With outstretched hand, Souma reaches for her shoulder, pleading her to turn around. At the last moment, just as his fingertips brushed against her shoulder, she spins around to look at him, a gentle expression decorating her face. Gone was the ice cold features of the Holy Blade, replaced with a sweet and innocent look filled with joy.

“You’ve grown Souma.” Her bright eyes mist with tears, before turning away, her hand brushing her tears before pushing away Souma’s. “I’m glad the orphanage is fine.”  

A burst of mana emanates from her hand, washing over Souma, during the split moment of contact, paralyzing him. 

“I’m sorry… but please… forget about me.”

With those final words, she storms off, leaving behind a confused Souma. The young oni stood motionless, his hand still outreached towards the figure that was no longer there. Eyes filled with confusion. The slight moisture from her tears still lingering on his outstretched hands.

By the time he could move again, the shadows of Lilia was long gone.