Taking On Fate

"GRAAH!"

"NOOOO!"

"DIE!"

Screams of both vigour and terror echo through the battlefield. Groups of human knights will try to fell even a single demon, with most perishing in the process.

"Hurry, Ailith…"

The longer this continues, the more casualties we'll see on both sides.

"Commander, there is a fire in the distance!"

As if she heard me, I look up and see a rising trail of smoke in the far distance. It starts as only one, then several more make their appearance.

"I hope she isn't going overboard…"

Complain as I may, the distraction is having the intended effect.

"What do we do!?"

"The demons are still fighting, we must stay!"

"A village is being destroyed as we speak, we must save them!"

Charles is at the centre of the chaos, the decision held firmly on his shoulders. He understandably hesitates, as turning back here could lead to losing many lives in the retreat. Fortunately, I stand and make the decision for him.

"Alright you demons! Listen here!"

I stand atop the now shorter boulder just as Ailith had done earlier. In all the confusion, some demons are able to hear my voice.

"I have taken your leader! If you want her back, then leave at once!"

Normally, this would be a pointless endeavour. There is no way that the long-lived demons would believe the ramblings of a random farmer. However, I feel each and every demonic gaze shift into me. Some look in awe, others with anger, and many are impossible for me to discern due to their physical appearance. Regardless, they all stare at the mask fragment in my hand, the same worn by their leader.

Some of them take a step back from the battle and start yelling amongst themselves.

"What happened to the Miss!?"

"She wouldn't lose so easily!"

"That human must know! Get him!"

"Yes, run away, run—Huh?"

I had expected them to comply, retreating back into the woods to save their leader. However, I now see all blades turned towards me.

"W-Wait! You're supposed to be running away!"

"Get him!"

Shock keeps me from moving away, leaving me open to take any number of painful ways to die.

"AHHH!"

"Rado!"

I had shut my eyes in preparation for the worst, but the demons never arrived. When I take another look, I see a wall of magic pushing back the oncoming threat.

"Katherine!"

"Get out of here, old man!"

"That's no way to talk to your elders!"

Seeing the young wizard straining to hold the demons back, I hurriedly drop down and begin running into the forest. I don't make it very far before a spear of bones is facing me down from behind.

"Die human! Then tell us where the Miss is!"

"Isn't the order kind of wrong!?"

I backed into a tree, leaving me no room to escape. Other demons that had made it past Katherine's defences start moving towards me as well. I'm surrounded with no way to run.

"By my authority!"

"GAAH!"

The demons around me all break down in pain from a radiant light. My senses begin to tingle from the rays, but I'm able to look past them and see Bernard with his massive axe.

"We will hold them here! Get away while you can!"

"T-Thanks, Bernard! You were always my favourite!"

Leaving him behind, I break into a sprint through the trees. It's a slow process with my creaky knees, but I'm opening the distance between us. My breaths are already ragged, but I have no choice but to continue. Who knows when they might slip past the others.

"Gah…so…tired…"

Need a hand?

So the beating of hooves on the ground seem to be saying. A riding animal making it to this part of the forest is unusual, but the trees are becoming more sparsely grouped. A horse would be pretty convenient right about now, assuming it wasn't this irritating thing.

"Have you…come to…mock me!?"

I'm just trying to help.

So the twitching ears seem to be telling me as it comes up beside me. Part of me wants to collapse onto its back and let it take me, but I still have my pride.

"Likely story! Now get your rear over here!"

Reaching out, I attempt to grab the reins on his saddle. It slips away before I can get a good grip.

"What!? Where are you going!?"

Sorry, you're on your own.

So the grunts of my retreating horse seem to say. When I turn back, I see an army of demons tearing through the trees to meet me.

"You coward! I'll skin you alive when I get back!"

Assuming you get back.

So the swaying tail seems to say as it disappears into the forest as quickly as it had arrived.

"Argh! I guess I've just gotta keep going!"

I use all of my effort to put one foot in front of the other. With hanging branches and thorny bushes in my way, I take care not to fall down. Stopping now will only guarantee my death.

"AH!"

As such, I trip on a protruding tree root and flop onto the ground. The dirt tastes healthy. I wish the same could be said about me. A demon that had broken away from the pack is now standing on the tree above me.

"Found you!"

"Curse you! Why are you so fast!"

A sneering grin of the lithe demon leads to a descending doom. Sharp claws reach down towards me and prepare to sink into my flesh.

"RADO!"

The air warms up, evaporating any sweat dripping down my face. A burst of flames strikes the demon in mid air and sends it flying into a nearby trunk. Now standing between me and the threat is a young hero surrounded in flames.

"L-Leon!?"

"Stay down!"

Leon's blade flashes and he appears directly in front of the demon. It tries to claw at him first, but loses its entire arm from a flaming arc.

"AHHHH!"

"This is it!"

The young hero raises the sword above its head, light glowing from the metal surface. His foe can only weep at its fate and wait for death to arrive. However, it continues to draw breath.

"Hah…"

Leon takes a deep breath before allowing the flames surrounding his body to dissipate. The demon is confused, but soon continues cowering at the hero's vengeful glare.

"I'd better not see your face again."

"O-Okay!"

A sword does not cut the demon down as it escapes. Leon returns to my side and helps me to my feet. There is a lot I want to say, but it's all stuck in my throat. It also doesn't help that other demons are quickly approaching as well.

"I don't know what your plan is, but I'll trust you."

He releases my hand and turns to face the oncoming demons, blade glowing brighter than the light peeking through from above.

"Now go! I will hold them as long as I can!"

"G-Got it! Stay safe, kid!"

"Likewise, Rado."

I turn and allow Leon to guard my escape. Whatever I want to tell him will have to wait. It will wait until we all return home.

"Just a little further…"

I'm not sure how far I will need to run, but I need something to tell myself. Otherwise, I fear that my legs will give in. Ahead, a clearing appears.

"Just…a little…"

Heading directly towards an open area can't be a good idea, but I'm drawn towards it. My head is a pile of mush and I can't form any proper thoughts. All I can do is rely on instincts and press ever so slightly forward.

"Just…AH!"

My knee is the first to give.