Adam: [So you're like a princess or something?]
We sat at a campfire as we rested and I healed myself. It seems that the mannequin purposely missed anything that would instantly kill me when it stabbed me in the back. That said, I still needed some time to make sure everything was working properly. As I fixed my legs and organs, I made an attempt at some lighthearted conversation, but Raya didn't appear too excited.
Right… since she is clearly not much of a princess anymore, it would make sense that this is a touchy subject.
Raya: [Yes, like I said, I'm the first daughter of Dionysius Drogo and granddaughter to Kael Drogo, the Duke of the northern regions of New Artenia. I plan to end my grandfather's tyranny, but I need to gain strength first.]
Adam: [I see… I was the first son of Marquess Witherton. So our situations are somewhat similar.]
I hope she doesn't get offended by that. I agreed to be her "shield" but I'm not really sure what that entails. Should've read the terms and conditions.
She looked at me and smiled a bit at my words.
Raya: [Is that so… We should get some sleep. I'll take the first watch.]
Adam: [No, you can sleep first. I still have to finish my legs, and I doubt I could sleep right now anyways.]
Raya: [Hmmm,] she hesitated before finally conceding. [Alright, good night.]
She laid herself down and turned her back away from the fire. Then I was alone with my thoughts again. Everything was silent except for the crackling of the flames. The stars were out and shining, as they always did.
Looking around our makeshift camp, I assessed our current resources. We didn't exactly have much. I also didn't know where we were going, but Raya seemed to have a destination in mind. I decided to ask her about it tomorrow.
Raya had been adventuring before she ran into me, so she had some rations, supplies, and her sword. I, however, had nothing but the clothes on my back. I had even dropped my sword when Rock flung me into the air. It was just a standard steel shortsword, but somehow I had gotten pretty attached to it.
Then an idea popped into my head.
Right before I had encountered Raya, I had managed to create a knife from blood.
Remember those emotions. Trace out the shape of your spell.
Pax: [Cut me from this world] –Blood Armaments
I manipulated blood into the shape of a sword and augmented it to be as strong and sharp as possible. Then I swung at the air to test it out.
Pax: [As expected, it's weaker and lighter than a real sword, but it should still do the job.]
As the hours passed, I fine-tuned the spell and tended to the fire until Raya woke up and told me that it was my turn to sleep.
Now that I had no excuses, I couldn't turn her down. That didn't mean that I could just fall asleep, though.
As I lay on my back, I stared up at the night sky and thought about everything that had happened so far.
Mother, Rock, Oliver, Mau, Ash, Father, and all of the maids and soldiers of the Witherton estate had died… except for Alyssa.
Actually, what happened to her?
If nothing had happened, she would still have been in Guileva, taking care of Rock's house. But there was no way for me to go see her because Charlotte would kill me if I showed my head in Guileva again. She'd just have to find a new employer.
I'll have to apologize next time I see her.
That's right… It's all my fault.
Raya: [Can't sleep?]
Thankfully my thoughts were interrupted before that woman could appear.
Adam: [Yeah… Raya, what should I be doing?]
Raya: [I think that's something for you to decide.]
She looked at me as if still wondering the meaning behind my question.
Pax: [I'm your servant, right? Step on me, beat me, sell me, or send me to my death… I'll do whatever you wish. Just… tell me what I should be doing right now.]
Raya: [I think what you're doing now is fine.]
She doesn't understand. Of course she wouldn't.
Adam: [My parents, my mentor, my comrades, and my servants are all dead because of...] I sat up, clutching my chest. [BECAUSE OF ME! It's all my fault… And at this rate you'll die too. What should I do? What am I doing wrong? Please… I'm begging you.]
I held my face in my hands as tears began streaming down my cheeks. I could tell that I was hyperventilating through my short irregular breaths.
Raya: [All those people, they died to protect you. You need not torture yourself over their decisions, or else you disregard their thoughts and choices. Keep walking forward and do not forget their sacrifice. Live on, for them.]
She approached me cautiously before sitting down, patting my back, and giving me a warm smile.
Raya: [You know, I once had a brother. He was strong and kind and would sneak me sweets against the wishes of the servants. He would sit me in front of the fireplace and read me stories whenever I couldn't go to sleep at night. The only reason I'm here today is because he was there to protect me. Of course, he later died because of that.]
She stopped smiling at that last sentence, but she still looked into my eyes and continued.
Raya: [To this day, I think that the world would be better if he was still in it instead of me, but that would disregard his kindness. We can't change the past. Cry and mourn for them but don't waste their kindness. Don't worry, Adam,] She said as she hugged me. [you're doing just fine.]
I let the conversation end with that as I had already calmed down. I let Raya return to her place beside the fire, and laid back down on the ground. Looking back up at the stars, I couldn't help but find Raya's words a bit hollow. Did a murderer thank his victims for their kindness?
Then again, there was nothing else to be done for someone already dead. So I let an uneasy sleep wash over me.