Taking A Different Path

My eyes open and the world is back in flames. However, these ones are not my own.

A pointed arrow is still drawn and aiming at the helpless creature struggling to free itself. Had I not regained myself, this point may have actually pierced its brain. After all, my accuracy should still be in decent shape.

"Alright…"

Taking a deep breath, I give the demon my full attention. Now that I've drawn the arrow for the first time since receiving this bow, I might as well shoot.

Fwing

"AH!"

The creature lets out a yelp upon hearing my arrow whistle through the air. It shuts its eyes and waits for death to arrive, but it never does. When it assesses its fate, it finds the arrow resting against one of its ears.

"Crap! I almost actually hit!"

Perhaps my aim wasn't as good as I remembered.

"Uh…"

We stare at each other once more. I was supposed to do a really cool shot right next to its head, then act all admonishing towards the creature. The near-hit shocked me so much that I forgot to act like a parent reprimanding a child. Now we're left in this awkward stand still.

"Y-You got lucky this time! I won't miss next time!"

With that poorly delivered line, I put the bow back around my chest. The two children still sit by their bleeding father, all of them still being in danger.

"Come on! We've gotta get you to the shelter!"

"R-Rado…"

"Don't talk, just move!"

I help the man to his feet and provide him with my shoulder as a support. After putting some distance between ourselves and the trapped demon, we come across a group of survivors in the process of fleeing from a lone demon. Unlike the normal villagers, some of these men are able to chase away the demon with their axes.

One of the villagers notices us slowly making our way towards them.

"Wait! Look!"

"They're alive!"

They run towards us and take my place in supporting their fellow villagers. They aren't sure how to face a complete stranger, but I can feel their gratitude. Considering that these people are still here, my job isn't quite over yet.

"Are there any others still around?"

The armed men look between each other, then at the noncombatants. It shouldn't be surprising that the situation is difficult to keep track of while your life is on the line.

"We've picked up everyone we can, but we have yet to check the windmill at the edge of town."

"Got it. You guys head to the mines and I'll go check."

"Are you sure!? The demons are still running amok!"

"Don't worry, I've made it this far already!"

Without giving them a chance to stop me, I ran towards the elevated area on the far side of town. The windmill they were referring to is visible from just about everywhere in this village, especially with most of the buildings reduced to piles of ash.

"Just a little further…"

This is what I tell myself as I struggle to maintain my consciousness. The windmill will be the last place I check. I know that my body won't be able to take me much further. As I get closer and closer, my legs prepare to finally take a rest.

"Anybody here!?"

Maybe yelling out into a field of demons isn't a great idea, but I'm too tired to care. I'm close enough to the door of the stone cylinder that anybody inside would be able to hear me.

"We have to get out of here! If you're in there, tell me—"

The door does in fact swing open. However, it completely falls to the ground as if it were never fastened to its hinges. Upon closer inspection, it looks like the entire structure has been weathered by a terrible storm. Any moment now and the whole thing might collapse.

"Hello?"

When I take a step towards the dark opening, my breath becomes locked inside my chest. A dark presence steps out into the light, one that I dread more than anything else in the world. I don't have the time to be angry about my scars. Every second that I stand here is another reminder that the end is near.

"D-Demon Lord…"

All my legs can do is tremble as the swirling dark energy makes itself known to the world. Unlike that night, I'm not blind to the calamity's form. I must witness it properly before I die.

"H-Huh…"

Something isn't adding up.

I had expected a horrifyingly tall and muscular demon fit for the title of Lord. Bloodthirsty eyes were supposed to gaze upon me with an evil glare and deliver a death more painful than humans can even imagine. This was supposed to be a face that I would see only once and then never again.

"Ailith…?"

The calamity has a small body, one that wouldn't even be able to reach my shoulders without standing on its toes. She has flowing hair the colour of lavender. It's not the colour that I remember, but that somehow doesn't surprise me. After all, I can't seem to remember what colour her hair was in all of our other meetings. What I can't forget is that round face and powerful stature unfitting of the dark armour she wears. In place of an aristocratic hat is a pair of horns. Instead of a flowing dress, she wears a short skirt that rests beneath some kind of metal plating. At her back are a set of black wings and a pointed tail.

"Rado…?"

I can't see her face clearly from the dark mask she wears. When she turns towards me, I can see that the mask is nothing but a fragment. It hides barely half of her face and allows me to confirm those eyes widened in surprise. There is no mistaking her. This is the same woman that I've shared drinks with in that rowdy tavern.

The disbelief in her sweet voice is audible.

"Why are you…"