This Time, A Future

The six-shot revolver almost falls from hand when I hear Bailey's declaration. It's not often that I'm stunned beyond belief, but my jaw is well and truly dropped at this moment.

"I'm…afraid I don't quite understand…"

"I shall accompany you!"

Hearing it a second time doesn't make the meaning any clearer. I remain dumbfounded as her blue eyes flare with strength that would put her supposed hero to shame.

"I shall accompany you to Melior, then to your next destination, then to wherever you travel after! Whenever duty takes you somewhere new, I will be your ride!"

I have been proven skilled in deduction, but even I fail to understand how our conversation led to this conclusion. I'm surrounded by nothing but death and she still proposes such a ridiculous plan.

"Might I ask why…"

"Because your ability to communicate is atrocious!"

She points a judgemental finger at me with a frown.

"I have believed this for quite some time, Mr. Clark. Your speech is cold! Your words seem posed to merely dismiss feelings and reach the quickest end!"

Her words would leave a normal person flustered, but my brain is only focused on comprehending this so-called 'flaw'.

"Is there an issue with being efficient?"

"A big one!"

The farm girl marches forward, a ginger braid swinging down her back. My weapon had lowered at some point, allowing her to pull right up to my face.

"You don't bother understanding people's feelings!"

"Of course not. Humans are all selfish, so they operate under their own desires. Understanding the reasoning is pointless as long as I know their desire."

"SEE! This is why I cannot allow you to operate alone!"

Bailey crosses her arms and shakes her head. She looks out over the people I killed, eventually landing on Bermar.

"Today, Lord Bermar was killed because you two could not reach an understanding. One day, you might cause conflict with someone you cannot defeat!"

Her concern isn't unwarranted, but I believe there to be no enemy that I cannot kill with ample preparation. However, I can agree that avoiding conflict is ideal in a lot of situations. That previous fight came dangerously close to an undesired outcome, but I cannot find a single series of events that could have resolved it peacefully.

She has made her thoughts more than clear, yet one loose thread still hangs strangely.

"Are you not upset that I killed your Blessed Knight?"

"Hm?"

My question catches her by surprise. I'm not sure if even she has thought about the crimes I committed. Once again, she surprises me.

"It is quite unfortunate, but I don't believe that you did so willingly. Lord Bermar is known for being resolute in his actions. If he selected you as an enemy, then you would be given little choice."

"I see…"

The gun in my hand disappears with a flash of red. All I can do is stare at the farm girl as she eagerly marches back to her wagon.

"Come Mr. Clark! I must inform my family before they set off towards Norwin."

I feel a pat on my shoulder from a small hand reaching up. Peo appears beside me with twin dragon scales fastened to her back.

"C."

The young beast continues past me and follows Bailey towards the patient mule. Something about this scene has left me completely speechless.

"This world is truly fascinating…"

My eyes witness something that should not exist.

The beast child should have been killed in that forest, lying dead amongst her people whilst under a chorus of cheering knights. I should have put an end to her there, that was the decision Agent C would have made. Instead, Peo is at my side. She lives with me, fights with me, learns from me. The beast child is like a daughter I never asked for, except for the moment I did. My cursed whim gave us this opportunity.

Then we have the farm girl. My meddling brought us along the same road and tied our fates together. I decided that we would never meet again, but a coincidence brought her riding that wagon back to me. She should have fled with her people, yet returned out of concern for a knight she has known for not even a week.

I was supposed to kill her. She is a witness that could very well uproot the security I've been working to create and preserve. In a way, Bailey can't help ruining all of my plans.

"Maybe…"

Lastly, there is the government agent with numerous skills and a record of unmatched perfection. I should have died in that van. My organisation discarded me out of fear and hoped to rid the world of my potential. They should have succeeded, turning me into nothing more than a memory destined to fade away. Instead, here I am. I'm wrecking havoc on this world in a role not suited to my goals.

"Just maybe there can exist a future…"

A future for those of us who should not have survived.

The idea is akin to a fantasy where the characters triumph despite impossible odds. It's not something I believe in, not before and certainly not now. However, it does not have to remain just a dream. With Peo's ability to see the world as a beast, with Bailey's ability to connect people, and with my unrelenting firepower, such a reality may not be far away.

"Consider your mission accepted, Agent C…"

For the agent that was unable to survive on Earth, I will create a new future. This is a selfish journey, but I'm only human.

"Why do you still stand there! The others will worry if I don't return at a decent hour!"

"My apologies."

Peo, Bailey, and even Apricot watch me from the wagon as I walk. The brown mule swings its tail back and forth with one eye almost complaining. Bailey unties and reties her bandana before gripping tightly to the reins. Peo readjusts the position of her silver scarf after a quick twitch of her ears.

"I have a feeling that I will be seeing this sight quite often moving forwards…"

The world still has the threat of Titans and each nation threatens the influence of others. I'm a Blessed Knight among a group that has grown one fewer, but each member may very well be the greatest threat this world has.

Much of the road ahead is uncertain, but I don't concern myself with it as I pull myself into the wagon.

"For now, let us focus on our next mission."