"Kill them all"
That's what that sweet voice had said, what was hard to believe.
I didn't realize it, but I had my eyes closed from the beginning. When I opened my eyes, I was floating in a void of blackness, I couldn't feel my body. But something— Someone was standing out; There she was, a white glowing feminine figure, I couldn't see her face, just her silhouette and long hairs, and that sweet, comforting smile.
She was in front of me, floating as well.
So this is what comes after death, huh. Getting judge by an "angel" . I thought.
But then something came to mind. What she had said at the beginning, That's not something you say to someone who's going to heaven, is it?
Countless questions came to mind, but when I tried to speak, my body refused to respond...
Before I could try anything else, she lifted her hands at the level of her chest, she joined them, and a dark glow mass with a purple streak appeared in her hands. And her hands began to approach my chest with that, terrifying, yet intriguing thing in her hand.
Of course I was scared, my brain was screaming at my body to get away, to run away, but of course, like before, nothing happened.
And before I realized it, her hands passed through my chest, touching my heart. And in the blink of an eye, I felt an excruciating pain coursing through my entire body, starting from my heart. This sensation was indescribable; I felt like I was experiencing The suffering of a thousand people at once. And yet, that should normally instantly turn any brain off, but of course it would be too easy, I felt that pain during something that seemed like an eternity, helpless.
When my gaze met hers, it was still there, that innocent smile. HOW CAN YOU SMILE WHILE DOING THIS TO ME? This thought screamed loudly in my mind, wanting to get out, but it only echoed in my mind.
And the suffering had finally given the impression that I was finally going to faint, The pain subsided gently, and my eyes finally closed. And at the last moment, the same voice from the beginning told me something:
"I trust you, Amos."
And instantly my eyes opened, but I was no longer in the same place. I was lying down, face towards a sundering sky.
"What happened?" I muttered. My eyes were irritated, as if I had just slept. And when my hand went near my eyes to rub them, I saw it, they were filled with blood.
And that's when my sense of smell finally awoke; the place I was in, It stank of corpse.
I jumped and instinctively stood up, and when I turned my head behind me to see where I was, the place where I laid was nothing but a pile of corpses of men, women, and children dressed in medieval clothes mutilated to death, their bodies dismembered.
The smell alone was already unbearable, but this horrific sight I had just witnessed was the last straw, and unable to stop myself, I vomited in disgust on the ground.
"Crap, what am I doing here?" I said, still disgusted by the smell. Then I noticed something I hadn't paid much attention to earlier: a red glow in the distance. Looking up to see what it was, I saw flames, large flames, Engulfing and destroying an entire village.
"This must surely be the village where these people lived, what could have happened?"
But something more important came to mind.
"This is someone's work; I should leave before I run into them."
I turn around and see a rather dense and deep forest, and looking around I realize that this is my only option, since the rest is just a vast plain and the village burning behind me.
"Since I have no choice."
I started walking towards the forest. As I walked through the forest, I finally began to realize the absurdity of the situation.
"After this "woman" tortured my body, I landed on this pile of corpses; does that mean she brought me back to life?"
My eyes narrowed the more I analysed this situation.
"Maybe, but I'm almost certain I'm no longer on Earth..."
I thought back to the corpses and their clothes, which brought back the disgust I felt when I saw them.
"Those... Corpses, they were wearing such unusual clothes, The sort of medieval tunic that villagers wear in fantasy manga."
I lowered my gaze to look at my clothes, Just to see a grey hoodie and black pants on me.
"These are the clothes I wore before I-"
I clenched my teeth a little when I was about to say something that I had instinctively been avoiding from the beginning.
"Before I jump off this roof to kill myself."
"Yet my body is intact, even though the height should have torn it to shreds. I don't think I reached the ground before waking up in this bizarre place with this Woman."
Ultimately, I only came to one conclusion.
"I was summoned into this world, and surely by this woman."
This thought, this idea, was much less unpleasant than I thought it would be.
"The loser that I was read a lot of reincarnation manga where the hero is summoned to another world and is extremely powerful and has an easy life, most of the time"
"I don't even know if there's magic in this world; in fact, apart from the fact that this world is set in the Middle Ages, I don't know anything else."
As I continued to delve deeper into the forest, and also into my thoughts, the snap of a twig stopped me in my tracks.
I stop and look around. An animal? Or is someone following me?
As I looked around to see what it was, I began to feel several rather oppressive presences surrounding me. Then I finally noticed them. Behind the trees, hidden in the foliage, wolves.
But not just any wolves, wolves with fur of a deep black, and red eyes that light up despite the fact that it's only sunset.
. And there wasn't just one...
One, two, wait five!? No... there are at least 10 of them, I stumbled upon a pack.
"Guess it's time to run." Is the last thing I said before, with what little courage I had, ran away with all my might.
I hadn't even been running for half a minute when I heard several paw prints following me, at the same pace, or even faster.
I realized the horror of what was happening, and as I turned around while running, I saw them; they were there. They were all chasing me, and one of them was dangerously close to me.
"Shit! That's not good, I haven't even met the heroine who was supposed to fall madly in love with me yet!" I was screaming, panicking.
As I continued running, and the gap between the wolves and me narrowed, I instinctively stopped in my tracks in front of a slope. But before I could react to change direction, the wolf that was closest to me jumped on me, its mouth wide open, ready to welcome me. With a quick reflex, I put my arm up to my head, making sure it got bitten instead of my head. The wolf clenched its teeth extremely hard, the pain was intensly unbearable. And without being able to do anything about it, I lost my balance and fell, and to make matters worse, it was downhill.
"Fuck" is the only word I could say, before with the wolf who, like an idiot, was still clinging to my arm, we fell together down the slope and rolled down it, rolling over ourselves.
As it tumbled down the slope, it finally let go of me, but despite that, upon reaching the ground, the pain of having rolled so fast with so many obstacles on the slope was palpable. My head ached as I tried to sit up, but no sooner had I lain down and lifted my head than the wolf, even wounded, was still ready to devour me, moving slowly but dangerously towards me. I tried to get up to run, but when I tried to put weight on my left leg to stand up, an excruciating pain shot through my body, and I fell straight back down. At this stage the pain made it difficult to see, and when I tried to look at what had happened to my leg... It was completely twisted and broken. I don't know why, but it intensified the pain even more. Despite my efforts to try not to scream for a while now, I could no longer hold back and let out a scream, which in itself did not relieve anything.
Turning my gaze back towards the wolf, he was now less than 2 meters away. This situation was desperate; I didn't know how I could survive.
"Is this the end?" I muttered in pain, blood coming from my mouth, my vision becoming increasingly unclear.
Then came the fateful moment, the wolf bent down, then in a fraction of a second, leaped towards me.
In my mind, it felt like time had slowed down.
But with my last bit of strength, I managed, with a sharp blow, to punch the wolf's mouth as it headed towards me, propelling my body.
The blow was enough to stun the already wounded wolf, but something else caught my attention more: my fist, when my will returned desperately, When I swung him to punch him, my hand was covered by a black trail,
And that black streak reminded me of something; it was extremely similar to the one the woman at the beginning was holding in her hands.
But before I could analyze it, it disappeared from my fist just as quickly as it appeared.
Even though I had won by cowardice, I couldn't rejoice because my leg was still in pieces, and I was still unable to stand up. I rolled onto my back to get a clearer view of where I was. The same scenery again, the same forest trying to kill me.
"Well, at least I'm at peace." I said as I was relieved despite the bitter pain on my leg, preventing me from having a relieved face.
But this moment did not last long, a predator never abandons easy prey, just like this pack of wolves, which had joined me and found me at the bottom of the slope.
"Crap, I have to do the thing with my fist again." I told myself, but before anything could even happen, they all began to rush towards me. And this time, I didn't have time to think, then one grabbed my leg with its mouth, then another bit my arm, then the neck, until the whole pack started biting every single part of my body.
The pain of the fangs penetrating my skin, my own flesh tearing apart, my blood spurting everywhere and its nauseating smell. I was screaming so loudly my vocal cords could have broke. I tried to fight them, but it was no use; the pain was too intense and there were too many of them. Then, despite the fact that it's not something I should be relieved of, I lost consciousness on this pack of wolves that was devouring me like a poor, defenseless deer, which was indeed what I was in the case.
While I was unconscious, I felt my mind floating. Then, when I opened my eyes, despite my blurry vision, this time, It was the same place where it all began, this empty space.
And there it is again before me, that luminous white feminine figurine. With hands clasped and still that innocent smile, which was beginning to To resemble to a creepy smile. Glad to have witnessed the spectacle of my death.
Wait, so I'm dead? I'm pathetic, even given a second chance I die like an idiot. I'll never change..
But before I could delve any deeper into my thoughts, I heard her voice again.
"Not yet."
Then, I opened my eyes again, this time waking up lying on a bed, my head facing a rustic wooden roof. As I look around, scrutinizing the room, it is nothing more than a medieval bedroom, with old wooden furniture quite damaged by time. Then, at my bedside, I noticed sitting on a chair, reading a book, a fair-skinned young girl in a white skirted dress, under an equally white short cloak. She was quite beautiful and elegant, but something else had most caught my attention: her pointed ears.
Could she be an... Elf? The thought seemed absurd to me, but with all the pain I felt, I couldn't deny reality. I was indeed standing before an elf, and I had been transported to another world.
As I tried to sit down to talk to her, I lay back down with a groan, My body still in pain.
The girl at my bedside noticed it, then looked up from her book.
"Oh! You're awake!"
She exclaimed, looking rather panicked, which contrasted sharply with how she had appeared earlier.
She got up from her chair to come closer to me, unsure of what to do, her voice worried.
"Be careful! We found you in a terrible state, I don't even know how you were still breathing!"
Upon hearing what she said, I decided to look at my body and, without realizing it, I was bandaged from my neck to my feet under my clothes, All my wounds covered.
"How am I still alive?"
I muttered, my voice still a bit crispy because of the pain. My injuries and the pain were immeasurable, it's normal that I ask myself this question.
"I'm asking myself the same question too, actually! And all those wolves carcasses around you!"
She answered me, even though I wasn't really expecting an answer since I was talking to myself. But more importantly, her last sentence.
"Wolves? Carcasses?."
I was saying, thinking back to what had happened. All those wolves were mutilating me, why did they die and not me? Is it because of this woman?
"Yes, there were about ten dead wolves around you..."
But before our discussion could delve any deeper, someone opened the door at the back to enter. It was an old man, rather muscular, with white hair and a white beard, Despite his old age, it was clear he was a warrior still capable of fighting. He wore a reddish-brown leather jacket, Surely it belongs to some fantastic beast of this world; I can't wait to see one...
"It seems you've already met." The old man said in his deep, rustic voice. And thinking about it, this man must be the "we" she was talking about when she described my bad state when they found me.
The girl, who had her eyes fixed on the man, looked at me again, and I don't know why, her face turned red, a red of shame.
"Oh! Where was my head?! How could I have forgotten the simplest of courtesies!?"
she exclaimed. She bowed slightly to apologize, then raised her head before speaking again, always with that restless little voice.
"Accept my apologies, my name is Leah, and this man is Gladius."
Her voice was sincere, and honestly, it made me a little ashamed since thanking them of saving me had never crossed my mind.
"No, don't apologize, I didn't even thank you for saving me. My name is Amos, nice to meet you."
"Amos? That's a very strange name, are you from another country than Artasel?" she asked, confused.
Artasel? So that's the name of the country I'm in... It's normal if she finds it strange, it's a name that was part of my mother's original culture on earth. But I think that summoned beings are not uncommon in this world. I should tell them, it might give me information more information of the meaning of my invocation in this world.
"Actually, I was sum—"
But before I could finish that sentence, my lips stopped abruptly, then an immense pain appeared, and without me even being able to react, I unconsciously vomited blood On my bed cover, staining everything.
The pain didn't go away all at once; I still lost a considerable amount of blood. But more importantly, this pain wasn't random; it was there to prevent me from revealing where I come from... Could this be a trick by the other guy?
"Hey kid, you good?" Gladius exclaimed, quite worried.
"How is that possible?! I regenerated your damaged organs and your insides! Did I miss something?! What an incompetent I am..."
Leah was really, really Feeling guilty, she was convinced that she hadn't, regenerated me? So we really are in a magical world? She must have used healing magic. In fact, I remember now, that black streak on my arm must be some kind of spell, or magical body enhancement. But anyway, no time to think about that, I should reassure her instead, she looks dejected. It's rather cute, well, what am I even saying!
"Don't worry—"
I couldn't help it but, There was still a little blood that remained in my throat, which naturally made me cough up the blood that must have been there.
"No! You're not fine, and it's my fault! Let me fix this."
Despite looking worried and awkward like before, she raised her hand firmly and confidently, brought it close to my body, and said something that sounds like an incantation?
"Regeneratio vitae"
Her voice was calm, controlled, then a green glow appeared on her hand, then connected to my body. I immediately felt the irritation I had in my stomach disappearing slowly.
After a few seconds, she exhaled and lowered her hand; the spell fading away with my pain.
"Wow, the pain is really gone..."
I touched my stomach where the source of the pain was, Quite astonished by this unfamiliar sensation that I've never experienced in my entire life... Instant regeneration? Okay, not completely instantaneous, but it's still pretty impressive compared to medication or bandaged wounds, which can take over a week to heal.
"Despite her clumsy demeanor, Leah is very skilled with regeneration spells. "
Gladius said proudly, it seems that he too has already been treated by Leah, and more than once I'm sure.
"You're both overdoing it, In addition, I really missed something because it was complex to regenerate the damaged part in your body."
She said it modestly. She really wants to believe she missed something, but I'm sure she didn't; this hurt stems from the fact that I tried to say I was summoned. Well, it's better to say nothing, it could kill me.
"Kid, what did you do to those wolves to put them in that state?"
Gladius spoke in a cold tone, a complete contrast to the atmosphere of earlier. He looked at me firmly and... suspiciously? Honestly, I hate that look... I've seen it too many times.
"I... I don't know. And I don't even think it's my fault. They were devouring me before I lost consciousness."
Saying that made me uncomfortable; honestly, avoiding remembering that horrible scene and that pain would be rather pleasant.
"I suspected as much..."
When Gladius said that, a look of disappointment crossed his face. This doesn't bode well... I should have lied, surely.
"Listen kid, I'm glad we saved you, but we can't keep you with us. We're going to give you what you need to survive, and then you'll lea—"
"NO!"
Leah cried out, giving a disgruntled look. She had interrupted Gladius mid-sentence, but why?
"We cannot leave him to his own devices in his current state! How can you say that?!"
"Listen, I know what you're thinking, but you know very well why we can't take him with us."
Gladius replied. Even though he tried to be firm, I could hear hesitation and guilt in his voice. I wonder why he want me to leave.
"So what?! Just because he's different doesn't mean he's bad, are you really going to stoop to that?!"
Different? What does Leah mean? There's definitely something I don't understand in this conversation, and I'm not really sure when I should intervene.
"It's definitely a survivor from the village! And you know very well they're still in the clearing. If they detect the presence of darkness, they won't hesitate to attack." Gladius answered to Leah.
Why is Leah so determined to defend me? If I'm a problem, I don't mind leaving.
"If you want him to leave, I'll leave too."
Leah was absolutely sure of what she was saying; I didn't see a single hint of hesitation in her eyes. But despite that, I also owe Gladius one, so I'm going to leave.
"Listen Leah, it doesn't bother me—"
But before I could finish my sentence, Gladius cut me off and interrupted me.
"Okay, fine. He can stay, but we'll all have to leave tonight. Anyway, I don't want to have that on my conscience."
How selfish. But still, it's kind of him.
"Thank you, I don't know why you wanted me to leave, and it wouldn't have bothered me. But if I could stay, I would like to."
"Don't thank me, kid; you should thank Leah instead."
As I turn to Leah to thank her, a rather confused expression appears on her face.
"You don't know why he didn't want to keep you here?"
It seems I'm arousing even more suspicion. Well, this time it's better to invent a lie, no need for more problems
"Oh, well, it's just tha—"
But before I could finish my sentence, someone broke down the door and, with a swift blow, pierced Gladius's body with a sword. That moment, which passed so quickly, seemed like a slow-motion nightmare in my mind.
"Leah runs away with him!" he shouted.
But before either of us could react, a fireball burst through the window, incapacitating Leah and hurling her against the Wall. Seeing this, Gladius regained his composure and grabbed the man behind him, The sword was still planted in his stomach, his arms slamming against the wall. The man wore a sort of black outfit and a black mask with only a white cross as its symbol. I tried to get up to help Leah, who was sitting on the floor against the wall, groaning and bleeding from the head. It looked like she'd lost consciousness, but because of my injuries, the pain It resurfaces and knocks me to the ground when I try to get up. Turning my head, hoping that Gladius could help me, but... He was neutralized on the ground by several men dressed in the same way as the one who had stabbed him. One of them approaches and raises his hand, then a voice comes from behind his mask:
"Impetus venti" As she said this, a whirlwind of wind appeared around her hands, and instantly The spear hit me, striking my head full force, which propelled my body towards the wall, slamming my head hard against the wall. The impact was far too strong for me; without being able to see anything else, everything became blurry and black. As I landed on the ground, I looked at Leah one last time, but a man grabbed her, And before I could react, a kick to the head knocked me unconscious.
And here I am again, in this familiar place, a total void where my mind floats. But this time, I'm all alone. But despite that, I can neither speak nor move my body. What a surprise, I'm deprived of dreams when I'm unconscious. Besides, I wonder who those masked guys were and if they're both alright... Could it be my fault? Certainly...
But before I could analyze the situation any further, I felt a pain in my stomach, again and again. I felt like I was being hit again and again, then a voice shouted
"Die!"
My eyes opened suddenly, but what I saw was not something you would want to see upon waking. I was suspended, my hands covered in wounds, chained up. In front of me stood one of the men who had attacked us, but... without his mask. He had a normal face, nothing special. He was holding an iron stick, covered in blood, and still fresh. Surely mine, judging by the pain in my stomach; he was the one who woke me up. I was in a filthy cell that... still stank of corpses and blood.
"Awake, spawn of evil?"
What did he just say? It's so degrading. And that look, an indescribable disgust... I wonder what I've done wrong.
"Where are the girl and the old man?"
I asked him, but I realized I was in a bad way, blood was flowing from my mouth as I spoke.
"Their turn will come for daring to hide an anomaly like you. How did you survive the extermination of your village? Anyway, it doesn't matter, you'll get what you deserve."
What is he even talking about? That village? Was it the one who was burning? And those corpses... So they kill all of those poor people coldly, those children...
But before I could think of anything else, he hit me extremely hard in the face with his steel stick, my blood spurting everywhere.
"You'll get what you deserve, demon."