You're the future I chose

“Looks like I figured out your attack patterns. This fight is mine!”

“W-What! Nonsense, how did you manage to see through the Sleeping Dog style’s most hidden strike!”

The scoundrel held his chest with a baffled expression. He was bewildered that I managed to cut him, especially to land a good cut on him. I smirked at him and decided to humor him.

“The mistake I made was trying to find you with my eyes, so I decided to see you in a different way. I did so by using my ears-”

“Are you dumb, you can’t see with your ears you moron!”

I glared at him for interrupting me, he silenced himself like a naive child. I continued my explanation, prepared to cut him down if he cut me off again.

Like I was saying, before I was rudely interrupted, I decided to perceive you with my ears instead. That's when I discovered the fatal flaw in your style.”

“Nonsense, the Sleeping Dog style has no-”

“Whenever you attacked, your blade made a howling sound. It was the sound of your sword being swung at a high speed. Not to mention, I felt chills run down my spine every time you tried to attack me.”

The bastard started moving back towards the entrance, his back against the wall.

“Nonsense, this is nonsense! In order to even attempt the methods you used, you would need to be a seasoned warrior.”

“That’s easy, I was raised by one after all.”

The bandit dropped his sword in astonishment, I guess he ran out of sanity. I’ll have to make sure to thank papa, his teachings saved me again…

…Again? What do I mean by again? I felt a strange feeling in my head at that moment. I remembered strange things: a building, the sound of something collapsing, and a woman’s terrified screams. I know that voice, it’s-

“Listen up lass, I might be a bandit now, but I too was raised to be a warrior. It’s only fitting that my life ends by one’s hands. Wouldn’t you agree?”

The bandit leader lifted his greatsword once again, I prepared my sword stance. The next move will end our fight. In an instant we leapt towards one another, aiming for each other's throats…

…Was what I wished happened, instead an explosion rang from the entrance. Sending the boss flying forward onto his face. I blinked a few times, only to see Kesandra and the others at the entrance.

“Sorry for the wait, Matty did he harm your cute face? What about your supple skin? Or your sweet-”

“Dammit you ruined my moment!”

I threw my sword down, crossed my arms and pouted. Kesandra was startled by my actions, the captain snickered and the lieutenant adjusted his visor. The bandit boss tried to get up, but rock fragments had pierced his back. He could only manage to prop himself up. He coughed up blood and smirked at me.

“Nicely played girl, you managed to trick me in the end.”

“No, this wasn’t my intention! Please you got to-”

“Before I die allow me to tell you my name, I am an ex-student of the Four Hound School-”

I don’t know why, but the expression on his face made me feel off. That’s when I felt a chill run down my back, I sidestepped just in time to dodge a poisoned arrow aimed at my back.

“W-What, how’d she do that!?!”

“Dammit, you had one job, you little crap.”

The bandit leader glared at his foolish subordinate, so it was a trap. I threw my spare knife at the boss’ little helper, needless to say, he screamed as my knife pierced his left eye. I began moving in to fully subdue him, with this the mission is-

“Matilda, No!”

A familiar hand pushed me towards the right. In the next moment I saw the bandit leader, his sword was stuck in rubble blocking the mine entrance. I looked down to see Kesandra breathing heavily, a deep gash on her left ribcage. I screamed seeing her in that state, the runt working for the bandit leader did the same.

“Master no!”

“Shut up you idiot, get out of here through the secret exit. Quickly before my life expires.”

With tears in his eyes, the skinny thief ran off to a hidden panel in the entrance wall. The bandit boss’ breathing stopped and soon strange markings spread across his body.

“Th-Those are runes, damn! We need to leave now, he’s going to self-destruct!”

Captain Victor sounded the call for a retreat, realizing what the scoundrel's last plan was. However, I was a different story.

“Wake up, please wake up. Gods, Kesandra please open your eyes!”

I held Kesandra in my arms, she was starting to turn pale. I opened my emergency tonic, and gave it to her via mouth to mouth. She was barely conscious enough to drink it herself, but that’s besides the point. I kept begging Kesandra to wake up, but all she managed was labored breathing. Soon I heard the captain call out to me.

“Dammit cadet, lift Kesandra and bring her out of there. The place is about to blow!”

“Captain, she’s too injured to be moved! If we don’t give her proper aid soon, she might-”

I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder, it looked up to see the lieutenant. He looked at me with sincerity, I’ve never seen him like this.

“Matilda please, we need to leave right now. Kesandra shouldn’t have to die in a place like this.”

I understood what he meant, but his words had multiple meanings to me. Regardless I lifted her as gently as I could and ran as fast as I could. As I reached the exit, a magnificent light shined behind me, and the world soon turned into a realm of light.

****

It was strange, the day was so bright and sunny before. I finally proved myself, I finally got those jerks to stop making fun of me, but now it’s raining. We made it back to camp, and it’s raining. Some of us died, and it’s raining. Kesandra’s eyes still haven’t opened…

…I hate this rain. Soon one of the regulars ran to me, he was drenched in sweat. He grabbed my hand and pulled me along. He told me we had to hurry, I asked why and he said Kesandra opened her eyes. I let go of his hand, and ran myself. She was alive, my friend was alive. I opened the medical tent where the wounded were, and the captain and lieutenant turned to me. They looked towards the ground, the looks on their faces were bitter. I walked up and froze, Kesandra’s bottom half was covered. Her upper half including her arms though, I saw everything. Her arms were frail, her stomach barely had any fat. Her breasts were covered, but her injury bled through her gaws. At that moment I knew, I knew I was wrong to dream. Kesandra looked towards me slowly, a dry smile on her face.

“...heh, aren’t I the sexiest woman you’ve ever seen.”

“Kesandra, why?”

I couldn’t take it anymore, I walked to her side and fell to my knees. I cried hard, I asked her why she saved me. I asked why she chose death for me.

“My dear Matilda, you did the same for me. Remember?”

I did the same. What is she…

I saw it, I remembered. I remembered the first time we met, how she slapped me, how I almost died holding up that ceiling. I screamed, it was like my head was tearing open. I think what hurt the most, was that I forgot how close we were. All this time I ran from her and she just wanted to be at my side.

“For how long?”

“Pardon?”

“Kesandra, how long have you been a walking corpse?”

The room went silent, Kesandra closed her eyes and smiled warmly.

“You needed blood from somewhere.”

I froze, when I was injured back then, the lifeblood that saved me was hers. So then why, I saved her and she saved me. So why a second time? I didn’t need to say anything, Kesandra grabbed my hand. Despite its frailty, her hand held strength I had never felt before. I looked at her, the look on her face was serious.

“You saved me twice, the first time was when you broke a giant pillar of ice with your bare hands. The second time, you taught me something important.”

She brought my forehead to hers, and smiled with her eyes closed.

“I finally found that power you had, when our loved ones are in danger we can make miracles happen. I love you Matilda, that’s why I wanted you to live. That’s why you need to be strong right now. For yourself and for our squad.”

Kesandra pushed me away softly, but I didn’t want to leave her embrace. I didn’t want to leave because I knew what was coming. Kesandra looked around the room and started addressing those there and those who weren’t.

“Victor, you better take good care of my girl. She’s the last female in our squad, no sexual harassment either! Sneed, I know you're a gentle person. Promise to be gentle with her, okay.”

She gave a joke and heartwarming advice for all of us, except for Scott. Then she turned to me.

“Honestly, I want you to leave this life Matilda. I have some money saved up, you could use that for your family, start over somewhere quiet, maybe even find someone to love. Someone better than me…”

She coughed up blood, I tried to stop her, but she kept going.

“Then again, you’d looked fine with some muscle and a few scars. Not too many though…”

“Stop, please Kesandra, just stop. You’re hurting me…”

My tears couldn’t stop, and neither did Kesandra’s words. She looked at me, with a warm gaze.

“You’re too good Matty, make sure to love yourself too. Promise me that whenever you feel inadequate, you remember that you’re the future I fought for. Remember…that you’re enough. Remember, that you're my hero.”

Kesandra’s hand went limp, at that moment my world stopped. For the first time, I heard the captain cry, I heard the lieutenant cry. The whole camp was crying, and while they were, Kesandra was smiling. In her last moment she found peace.

I felt my strength leave me, I wanted to wail but I didn’t. I collapsed realizing my friend was gone, and that I lost something that couldn’t be replaced.