My day started on a high note.
Despite everything that happened yesterday, I had a good feeling about today.
Not that something good was going to happen, but just a good feeling.
.
In class we had your usual after exam review, grades, mistakes, advice on the actual exam.
I wasn’t interested in all of that.
.
Should I go to Ophelia after training?
Are we close enough so I can just come uninvited?
Honestly, I’m not sure, we are far from my usual playthrough, so now my knowledge on relationships is like any other man’s.
Hmm… Should I get her some flowers?
…
I guess she’ll appreciate the sentiment, but the idea of buying flowers for a flower seller isn't the most brilliant one.
Decorations are a decent idea, but I got one for her just yesterday.
“Oi.”
Maybe a dress?
.
Damn I don’t really have money for a dress…
“Oi!”
But a dress is a fine idea. I believe she doesn’t have any, only practical ones… I wonder how pretty she’ll be.
“You moron! Are you dozing off!?”
“Huh?”
“Finally, a response.”
Cien?
.
Why is the classroom empty?
“Because of your stupidity, I even had to return to the classroom for you! Do you know how humiliating that is?”
Why is she… talking to me first?
“Here I thought you would be wagging your tail behind me as per usual, but no, one time when you should do that, you decide to take a nap in class. Top 3 my foot, you are pathetic.”
She shouldn’t do this, shouldn’t talk to Roland at all first.
Especially not without the player.
What is happening?
“...Did you… You have no clue, do you? That ugly mug of yours says everything I need to know. Ha~, damn it. Having me say it myself. We were put on the same team for the exam, so get moving, we need to discuss some things.”
“...the hell?”
They fucking what? That’s ridiculous!
“Huh?”
Ah, my expression, damn it.
“Isn’t that wonderful? Haha, sorry, I had trouble sleeping today.”
Need to get into character.
Phew, think positive thoughts, you are Roland.
I am Roland.
“...Right. Now follow me… quietly.”
“...not even a little chit-chat?”
“...”
“U-understood.”
.
The story is changing.
Not even in the weirdest scenarios were Roland and Cien on the same team.
.
I don’t like this.
.
.
The room we came to was the gardening club room.
It isn’t used much by other years, mainly for storage.
Cien uses it to relax at times… as well as meet with people and drink tea.
…Will she offer me tea?
“Sit.”
A simple coffee table for 4 people was all this room had to offer… apart from a ton of gardening tools.
“May I…”
“Shut up and listen.”
…so no tea.
“I have no idea what was going through the heads of the people in charge here, but I have no time to make an actual complaint through my family.”
“Then-”
“No, the extent of our cooperation ends here. On paper we will be on a team, but I am not going to be there with you. Do you understand? I don’t want to be seen with you, don’t want to be in the same space with you. I don’t even want to feel your presence!”
Ouch… that hurts.
.
Cien that I know of… is not like this.
She’s a feisty girl, sure, but not hateful.
…Did Roland do something I’m unaware of?
It’s not like I can just ask.
“...I’m sorry.”
“Sorry for what? For how pathetic you are?”
“...”
“So? Is it understood?”
…
I can’t agree. Can’t do what she wants.
There will come a time when I will require her help.
A time when I will need her as an ally.
For that, I need our relationship to improve.
…the only issue is that I need to do that as Roland.
.
…if not for the cult, I would…
“No.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’m… I’m sorry, but I can’t do that.”
“Are you kidding me?”
“...It’s better for us to act as a team.”
“You are definitely kidding me.”
“...”
“*Inhale* *Exhale* So, what, you want us, to cooperate as a team? To fight back to back and get a good mark together?”
“...yes?”
“Even imagining that makes me wanna puke.”
That fucker definitely did something.
Something disgusting.
Cien never had a character like this.
No, she still doesn’t.
“...”
“And spending those 2 weeks training with you!? That’s worse than hell! I’d better allow Lilian to take first place!”
“That… we don’t have to do that.”
“Huh? Oh, and how would we manage to score well then? Huh? Do you think you can just waltz your way to the exam, kill some monsters and get a good grade like you did during the mock exam? No, you moron! They placed us in a team for a reason! We will get hurt or even die if our teamwork is bad! Does your loner brain even understand that word? Huh?”
“Y-Yes… I understand… what I said.”
“Oh-ho, and how exactly is that gonna work then?”
“I can… fit in… well… with you…”
“...Do you even hear yourself?”
“...”
That’s the truth.
I know all of her moves and how to support her.
…I also know how to improve said moves.
“Ha! I give up! There’s nothing I can do to you anyway. You have no idea how lucky you are that I need to keep my image as a noble.”
“T-Then!?”
“I have conditions.”
“...yes.”
“First. We will not train together, I know asking you to not meet is not going to work. Second, during the exam, you may do whatever you want, however. you are not allow to interfere with whatever I'm doing. That means, if I can do it by myself, you will be a porter. And third, if we fail, or get a bad mark, I will make an official complaint to the teachers, saying that you refused to train together and instead harassed me, is that understood?”
That’s… cruel... and ineffective.
But… I don’t think I have a choice.
“...yes.”
“First good thing I ever heard from you. Now off you go.”
“I-”
“Leave.”
“…”
I have to hope she'll allow me cooperate...
I have to hope...
.
.
It’s hard.
Hard to see a familiar person acting so… unfamiliar.
Cien is probably the only person I know better than Ophelia in the whole Fallen Paradise.
I know more about Ophelia as a person, sure, but I spent far, far more hours on the battlefield with Cien than I saw Ophelia fight, let alone fight back to back.
Cien was a part of my regular playthrough route after all.
Players had only 2 choices in permanent party members, either Cien or Lilian.
I have nothing against Lilian, but Cien simply fit my playstyle better.
Not to say that I’ve never tried playing the Lilian route, but I never finished the game with Lilian.
As it’s impossible to have both of them at the same time, I always choose Cien when it mattered.
And now… how do I fix this?
I will definitely need her for the event at the end of the second year.
…Gifts.
Roland used to send her gifts, however, she always throws them away.
But I have an inch on Roland.
I know what Cien likes.
It’s something that she will never buy by herself.
Candies and comics, I mean graphic novels.
They always say that a lady should watch her weight, so she should only eat healthy food and in moderation… but Cien has a sweet tooth.
The only thing she allows herself is putting more sugar in her tea than she ought to… and even that she hides from others.
And graphic novels come from her love of fairy tales that she secretly read in her childhood.
Those things… it’s what she likes.
…so I really hope it’ll help.
.
.
Today’s meal with Lilian was somehow even more lackluster than usual, although I tried to hide that, she must’ve noticed.
At least I was sad as Roland and not as Michael.
.
.
I couldn’t train properly today, so I decided to go straight to the orphanage.
I shouldn’t really be here so much on workdays, but I don’t really have many places to go to… except for Towers, but those are dangerous and require preparations.
.
Ophelia doesn’t seem to be here today.
“Brother Roland’s here!”
“Tsk, he is bad at playing, why didn’t Sis Ophelia come?”
Janice is grumpy as per usual.
She and Michael Junior are the only kids that even try to play with me.
…I know I’m bad at it, but it isn’t something you can just get good at randomly…
“Roland, what brings you here at this hour?”
Sister Rosetta noticed me from across the room.
“I had nothing better to do, so I decided to come… Do you need any help Sister?”
“As a matter of fact I do, I’ve been thinking of repurposing the attic, you could start with the boxes of stuff I already packed up.”
“Ah, no problem.”
This was something that happened in the game.
Seemingly irrelevant event that could happen just anywhere.
But once you find out that she plans on buying beds and placing them there, you connect the dots.
The orphanage is full.
That in itself is not a problem, but every time a child comes, you have no choice but to refuse and direct him or her to another orphanage.
That usually doesn’t happen often, so other orphanages just take them in.
…But not this time.
There’s simply too many children.
And once you start digging deeper, you fall into a rabbit hole you shouldn’t have found at this stage in the game.
It takes quite a while to get to an answer, a whole series of quests.
But as a player, I already know the answer.
Demons.
One powerful bastard to be precise.
Sacrifices are not something uncommon in this world.
But this one is more vile than the others, targeting only married couples… who usually have children.
And although it is awful… I can do nothing about it.
Regardless of the player's interference, the situation will be resolved soon enough.
Though the consequences are already present.
So, to help as many children in need, Sister Rosetta decided to take them in regardless of the budget and space… even if out of her own pocket.
…Can’t I at least help her?
I could get a lot of money only if I sold all of my junk from the Tower.
The question is where.
I lost my opportunity to stabilize my position in the Black Market because it’s the second year, and to not get suspicion from both the academy and the cult, my option must be as discreet as possible.
…Damn it, I don’t know.
I’ll need to look into my options later on.
“Already done?”
“Yes, it’s not that hard.”
Got some muscle training in as well, great.
“Care for a cup of tea?”
“I assume you don’t have any coffee, so yes, if you’d be so kind.”
A warm cup of tea sounds nice.
.
.
“So, how is your relationship with Ophelia going?”
“*Cough* That was out of nowhere…”
“Considering how both of you look at each other, I wouldn’t say that.”
“...”
She’s not even that old, how can you be so perceiving, sister?
“I’m older than I look.”
“...did I say that out loud?”
“No, but you’re easy to read.”
“...We are not in a relationship… yet.”
“Then hurry up, she’s way past the age for marriage. I keep telling her to find someone, but she keeps giving lame excuses.”
“That’s… not something you can rush.”
“I know what I’m talking about boy, just have confidence.”
“...You’re not her mother to really be a matchmaker for her…”
“Well, she wasn’t blessed with a good mother, was she?”
“*Cough**Cough**Cough*”
The hell?
Was that a guess or does she actually know?
“You didn’t lie back then did you?”
“...how do you know about her?”
Not many know about Ophelia’s true identity, and I don’t remember sister Rosetta being important enough for Ophelia to tell her…
“You first.”
She isn’t your ordinary nun.
In every single run Ophelia would perish. The reason for that is the same every time.
Inquisition.
A power strong enough to not be swayed by demon’s influence… yet matching them in vileness.
How did they track her? That question remained unanswered in every iteration.
…I might’ve discovered the source.
“Boy, you have a great relationship with our Ophelia…”
Our…
That’s enough.
I’m not losing this chance.
I don’t have a weapon.
Room is cleaned from all sharp objects, figures, it’s a trap.
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
Concealing weapons for a nun… it’s easy. There’s even a division in inquisition that specializes in infiltration. Or her being a part of battle nuns is also a possibility.
A cup in my hands is useless, throwing it into her direction could serve as a distraction, then breaking the plate to get a small sharp shard… no. Am I faster than her? Considering her build alone that would be a losing fight, but strength, I could bet on that. Flipping the table is the correct option. Restricting her movement, her vision, enough to get an upper hand, from then, I could finish her easily, depending on her actions. Break the table on top of her, strike her when she can’t even block… should be enough. But I need her alive. Need every piece of information I can get.
…Everything for Ophelia.
“That’s a fierce gaze, Roland… Did I catch onto something I wasn’t supposed to? *Sip*”
Each of her moves is in my grasp. Every muscle, every piece of fabric on her dress.
“...Of course I didn’t lie.”
Information comes first.
I’m at an advantage when it comes to the first move, due to my reaction time.
“How come? Your reaction speaks for itself.”
“Ophelia is not worth the risk for other factions to recruit her.”
“That’s what a young man like you might think, but why would they send you then?”
“...Nobody sent me. And how long are you planning to fool Ophelia? Was your every interaction a lie? Every smile? How about the children?”
“Don’t bring the children into this.”
“...A shred of kindness still remains in you I see, at least Father might forgive you.”
“Hah! Hearing that from a child-torturing inquisition member! How can you even be a part of the clergy!?”
Erratic movement, hand too far away to reach for the weapon, it’s time…
“Sorry?”
Inquisition? Isn’t she?
“Don’t even try to feign ignorance, it’s not just the members who know about it. I witnessed it first hand! You can’t silence everyone!”
“I know that too, that’s not my point! I’m not from the inquisition!”
The hell is this!? An opera!?
“Stop lying! You were ready to kill me just a moment ago!”
“That… That’s a misunderstanding!?”
“...Do you take me for an idiot?”
Damn it. How do I calm her down?
“P-Please, calm down sister!”
“Only if you acknowledge it with your own mouth! Or I’ll scream so hard you’ll have to kill everyone around the church as well!”
Acknowledge what, woman!?
“I-I really don’t know?? Please don’t scream?”
“You-!... You… why are you suddenly acting like this?”
“...I’m sorry for overreacting. I thought you were from the inquisition.”
I was wrong… A very unfortunate mistake.
Fortunately I didn’t act… damn it.
How can I be so wrong even while knowing the future?
“Me!? How the hell could I be a member of that damned group!? Haven’t you done a background check on me!?”
“...How is a regular academy student supposed to do a background check?”
That’s hard to do in the beginning of the game… I’m not really in the beginning, but… fuck, that doesn’t even matter…
“Huh… So you’re not…?”
“Like I was saying.”
“But… how the hell do you know then? You’re too young? And you were always so suspicious too. What kind of student goes around actually volunteering?”
“I could ask you the same? Her identity isn’t common knowledge.”
“...It was.”
“Sorry?”
“It was common knowledge about 7 years ago.”
“That… how is that even related?”
“...Boy. I worked at the church she “volunteered” at… No, she did, unlike all other. And it’s impossible not to know the daughter of the “Matriarch” herself.”
Well… that’s certainly possible…
“But they scrapped all mentions of her? Silenced everyone?”
“Can they erase memories?”
“…”
Some demons can, but not the inquisition.
“They threatened me, sure. But killing everyone who knew wasn’t a viable option was it?”
“...How could I not think of it before?”
“Considering how well they are at controlling information, you weren’t wrong to assume, Roland.”
Then… The reason Ophelia was found… It’s not because of the sister… not because of anyone.
Rumors.
It’s just rumors.
Someone bought flowers from her, saw her, spoke to her, doesn’t matter.
They recognized her, told another, started a rumor… and it eventually reached the inquisition’s ears.
…And considering the timing… the rumor is probably already out there.
“So how do you know?”
“Huh?”
“Let’s say I believe you aren’t from the clergy, how do you know about her?”
“...she told me?”
“...Sorry?”
“She just… told me?”
“She…that foolish, naive girl… But you know each other for less than 2 months?”
“I thought the same.”
“Huh…”
“Were you the one who helped Ophelia hide?”
“No, no I wasn’t. She just appeared at my doorstep one day. She didn’t come to me for that… Ophelia, she just wanted to help children, reckoned I didn’t recognize her.”
“Oh? And? Did you… just tell her you know her and she stayed?”
“...No. I didn’t tell her I knew.”
“Ah. Well, that makes sense… Wait, what was your plan?”
“What do you mean?”
“Now. You assumed I was from the inquisition, being just a nun, why would you do something so dangerous? How would you defend yourself?”
“Ah… about that…”
“You are a regular nun, right?”
“Of course I am, but you see…”
.
.
She reached out for something under her skirt.
There was a stone in her hand…
Is that…
“It’s a… transmission stone.”
“...and not just any.”
It’s something very familiar to me.
“...Are you there… Ophelia.”
*Creak*
“...I’m here.”
…I see.
Her plan was to expose me.
.
.
I was... too suspicious.
“It wasn’t Ophelia’s idea, Roland.”
“...”
That stone… it’s not just any stone, not just any transmission stone.
An artifact from a tower.
…and the last gift Ophelia gives you before becoming lovers.
It’s something I carried with me in every single playthrough.
“I… it seems I did something rash, I’m sorry Ophelia, your gift was meant for children’s protection… but I used it selfishly.”
It’s hard to choose my emotions.
…Especially while looking at Ophelia’s face.
Should I be angry at sister Rosetta?
Happy that she worried for Ophelia?
Sad that she gave that stone to someone other than me?
…Such complicated situations weren’t present in your training, Brother.
My old, mute self is returning at moments like these.
“Sister… could you… leave us for a moment?”
“...Of course, here… And just so you know, this room is soundproof.”
Why would it be?
But Sister left before I could ask that.
“...”
Ophelia looked at me for a moment, her expression unchanging, as she turned to the stove with the teapot.
“...It’s still warm.”
She picked it up, poured herself a cup.
“Do you want a refill? Or is yours still warm?”
I… I don’t know.
.
.
It… should be warm.
.
Do I say it?
“Please, take a sit.”
She’s being formal…
.
Why…
She’s angry?
She is, right?
“Now, will you say something, Roland?”
“...”
I…What do I say?
.
.
I don’t know.
“Ha~, I’m not angry, don’t act like a child about to get scolded.”
“...”
…not angry?
Then what?
Disappointed?
Or is she lying? No, she wouldn’t… right?
“...”
“Besides, how do you know about the stones?”
“...”
“Roland?”
“...”
.
.
.
“Brother! Ahaha! We fooled all of them! Can you believe it? Even your mother! She was so happy! So happy! That made me happy as well! It works just as you said!”
*Bump*
“Stop trying to make a move on my mother, you little shit.”
“Kuh! Stop hitting my head! I’m still a patient! A cancer patient goddammit!”
“Will you stop then?”
“No? Why would I?”
*Bump*
“Ouch! Stop!”
“Hah, you’re 18 and still an idiot, do you plan on dying as a child?”
“Tch, as if. It’s only you who treats me like a child! Well… and your mother… and Fox… and Beetle… and everyone else… Shit.”
*Bump*
“What was that for!?”
“Children aren’t allowed to swear.”
“You-!”
He ignored my screams and sat on the couch, lighting a cigarette.
“You’re doing great, I don’t think there's a need for me to train you anymore.”
“Oh, so no more leg days?”
“You know damn well what I’m talking about.”
I smirked.
Of course I knew.
All of my free time was wasted on his stupid whims that he called training.
But… It worked.
I don’t know how merely imitating what others do in different situations can bring such an effect… but it works.
“Am I an actor now?”
“Call it however you like, but remember that those emotions aren’t entirely yours.”
“Yeah, I often feel that. Like… I’m actually considering leaving your mother alone, you know?”
“Idiot, I know when you’re lying.”
“Crap, but I do feel a bit embarrassed each time I approach her.”
“Good.”
It’s bizarre to experience it.
One day you’re an emotionless husk, floating in time, reaching at strings others call emotions, not being able to even touch them.
And now… I’m standing with everyone on even ground.
And all I did was weave my own strings.
They just look the same, yet, indiscernible from others.
“...Eldest Brother.”
He exhaled some smoke in the air before glancing at me.
“What if… What if it disappears?”
“It shouldn’t.”
“What if?”
“Just remember our training again, and start acting again.”
“How do I notice?”
“How do you notice? The hell does that mean?”
“For me, nothing changed. I still think the same, I’m still me… just that emotions surround me.”
“Yeah, isn’t that obvious?”
“What if they disappear again?”
“You would notice that they disappeared, no?”
“How do you notice a lack of something intangible?”
“Huh… You sure ask weird questions.”
…It’s just that I don’t want others to notice my act.
For me, there’s no difference.
It’s not like I experience emotions all the time.
Even when I’m in the middle of imitating them.
I can act like a fool in love, when in reality I feel nothing.
…still think Brother made me do that just to make fun of me.
“So… what happens when I don’t notice the lack of them? What if… What if they don’t return? What if I forget about them… again…”
“It’s not like you intentionally did that, right?”
“But the fact that I lost them remains.”
“...”
I lived without experiencing much emotion my entire life.
Even if they’re fake… I feel them.
And I express them.
…maybe I wouldn’t leave Lucy if I could back then.
And I don’t want to make such a mistake twice.
“Please, tell me how to notice I’m not acting right. I don’t want others to worry.”
That is the main reason I want them to remain.
Without my family, there was no need for emotions anyway.
“Hmm…”
He stroked his chin, which was forcefully shaved by his mother.
Soon, he nodded.
“That’s a much better way to phrase it, could’ve done that from the start, complete idiot.”
“Haha, funny. (Sarcasm)”
“Did you just put- Forget it, I think I know how to fix your problem.”
“...You do?”
“Yeah, remember the mental trigger we put on everyone?”
“Of course, that reverse sleeper agent bullshit?”
“...I don’t know why Mai calls it like that.”
It’s a trigger to wake us up in case of brainwashing.
“What about it?”
“I’m going to create a new one for you.”
“Didn’t you say that one was my limit?”
“That was back then, you’re ready for a new one.”
“...How would that even work?”
“The same as with brainwashing?”
“How can we apply it in this situation?”
“...Do you think I know the science behind it or something?”
“...Then how do you know it’ll work?”
“Idiot, I applied it on myself, Cat and even Fox, obviously it’ll work.”
“Ah…”
“So let’s go to Mai, but we’ll need to create a new keyphrase.”
“...Latin again?”
“No, it doesn’t have to be… As a matter of fact… I think I know what it’ll be…”
He smirked… and I didn’t like that one bit.
“Oi, Michael! I heard that you learned how to speak! C’mere!”
.
.
Those were good times…
.
My family shared some secrets with each other, but matters concerning mental triggers always were kept to oneself.
.
.
“I’m an idiot.”
“Huh?”
“Shit no i’m not an idiot. Screw you Brother!”
“???”
Huh?
Oh, Ophelia seems to be confused.
“Sorry about that, I know a lot, remember? I just know about those stones, no big deal.”
“You…what was that?”
“What?”
“...You said you were an idiot?”
“Ah.”
I didn’t notice.
…Did I say the keyphrase?
Did I… lost my act for a moment?
*Shudder*
“That was… a close one.”
I can never get used to it.
The whole thing works too damn well, I didn’t even notice.
“...Ophelia.”
“Yes?”
“You make me experience emotions I never felt before.”
Or was taught how to experience at that.
…and love was supposedly on that list as well.
But now I’m not sure if it truly was love back then.
“S-Sorry? W-What does that supposed to mean?”
…it isn’t it yet.
I smiled.
“Nothing. What did you want to talk about? I’m sure you figured what happened here without me having to tell you.”
She’s a smart girl.
“Right, right…I need to scold you… I need to scold you… Put on an angry face and scold you… Phew~, Do you know what you did wrong?”
Why is she acting cute instead of angry now?
“Not quite?”
“These stones, they can not only transmit sounds, but also glow red if the other side is in danger… you knew that didn’t you?”
*nod**nod*
That’s why I though she’d be much angrier than she is now.
“Ha~ Right, even if it was for my sake, how can you even consider killing a sister working for a church? Who’d take care of them? And do you know how sad they’d be?”
“...They would also be sad if you died.”
“Hm? They… I guess?”
“And I would be too.”
“...”
“I would be sad, Ophelia.”
“That…”
“I don’t want you to die.”
“Why would I die?”
“We both know why. Because of the same reason sister Rosetta risked her life just now.”
“...I… I think they forgot about me already.”
I lost my smile, this is too serious, she needs to understand.
“No. No they didn’t.”
“But…”
“No buts. I will do everything in my power to stop them.”
“...You’re weak.”
“...We could escape.”
“Sorry?”
“Anywhere you’d like.”
“...With these legs?”
“I’ll carry you, or use a teleportation scroll.”
“Hah, funny-... you aren’t joking.”
“Anything.”
“...I don’t want to.”
“...”
I knew she’d say no.
It’s not like I haven’t tried that in the game.
“I’m sorry Roland, I can’t leave these children… They are like my own.”
…I’m a bit disappointed.
Though I knew what the answer would be.
“Then I’ll have to get stronger.”
That was the original plan anyway.
We still got time.
I’m quite close to the required strength actually, but I want to get a bit stronger.
…thanks Roland, I’ll put your skills to good use.
“Stronger? You… You’re weak.”
“It’s not about being strong.”
“...You just said.”
“Right. You wouldn’t know. I’ll be using an artifact to boost my strength tenfold when fight begins, so I just need-”
“No! Don’t even think about throwing your life away!”
“What? Why would you… That’s fair, most of them are indeed like that, but not that one.”
“...Sorry? Everyone knows power doesn’t come without a price. And if it’s a “booster”, the only thing to trade is your life, no?”
“Not quite, that’s what most of them do. But occasionally, one without such dire consequences comes around… It’s just that they’re rare, extremely so.”
“...And you just *happen* to know where to find one?”
“...Yeah.”
“...”
“...”
“...Let’s say I believe you, after all, I did so before… but do you think that’ll be enough? Strength isn’t all about raw power after all.”
“I know that, but I’m not weak.”
“You are th-”
“Let’s go then.”
“Hm?”
“Let’s spar.”
“Right now?”
“Yeah.”
“...You’ll lose?”
“To a cripple?”
“...That hurt.”
“...I didn’t really mean it.”
“I know, but now I feel like hitting you on the head.”
“Good. Let’s go.”
.
.
.
I’ve been thinking.
About a lot of stuff, honestly.
But one of those things is my recent loss.
One against a bunch of kids.
I got beaten in a bare-handed fight.
Me.
Someone who killed a bear with nothing but his nails and teeth.
And I couldn’t understand why.
But I have a hunch.
During my time at the Family, I never sparred.
We’ve never done anything like that.
Sure, we had fun exchanging moves, and they taught me a lot during those brawls.
But there was never a winner. There was never a competition involved.
It was never a fight.
All the practice I got was hands-on experience.
Moreover… It was life or death.
I might’ve not killed my opponents, however, I was always prepared to.
My life or theirs, the choice was obvious.
…
Some might say that there is little difference.
A fight is a fight, and a spar is a fight too, just not that serious… those people have clearly never been in a real fight.
From your posture, breathing, adrenaline in your blood… everything is different.
So I’ve come to a conclusion.
I’m not weak.
I’m just bad at sparring.
…
But this time.
I can’t lose.
I must show her.
…that I can save her.
I must prove it.
…to…myself.
.
.
.
*Ophelia’s PoV*
Roland decided to spar out of the blue.
It’s a stupid idea.
I know I’ll win.
I might look fragile, but I’m not.
My skills are not rusty enough to lose to him. I can vaguely tell his level.
He’s great for his age… or not?
Regardless, the outcome can only be one, and if he knows who I was before.
He should know it as well.
I need to beat that ridiculous plan of saving me out of his head.
…But I do feel a bit happy that he’d go so far for me.
“Here’s good.”
“Hmm, a flower field? You sure? I quite like the flowers here.”
Maybe he’ll just give it up?
“We can look for another place.”
His mood is quite sour. He talks much less than usual.
“No, no, it’s fine. Let’s just get it over with.”
I guess there’s no other way, though I really don’t want to hurt him.
“You sure you’re going to fight bare-handed?”
“I told you when we were fetching your spear, no?”
“...Are you fine with that?”
“Am I fine with that? You still have no chances, you know?”
He really doesn’t know who he’s messing with.
“...I see.”
“Ha~. Ready when you are.”
.
Taking a common stance with a spear?
I see he doesn’t know any fancy martial arts.
Well, it seems he’s giving me the first move.
Might as well finish this in one hit.
“Brace yourself.”
I might not be able to control divinity anymore… but it’s still running through me.
He won’t even react.
*Thunk*
He blocked it?
His hand are trembling though, must’ve been a fluke.
Again.
*Thunk*
Again.
*Thunk*
Again
*Thunk*
“Can you do anything besides blocking?”
Let’s grapple.
*Swoosh*
Nimble, but how can he see my movement?
I’m faster than him.
Hmm, let’s just snap his spear, one good hit in the middle sho-
I’m falling?
He aimed at my blind spot and broke my balance. Good riddance.
Won’t work on me though, I can just get back- up?
*Thunk*
He’s too slow. If I wasn’t so fast, he’d hit my head.
…He’s serious about it.
“Can you stop aiming at my blind spots!?”
“...”
Not in the mood to talk, I see.
Well, me neither then.
I will just hit you until you’re out of breath.
*Thunk*
*Thunk*
Finally an attack?
*Swoosh*
A faint? I can see right through you.
*Hit*
Couldn’t block that one huh?
Let’s see how long you’ll last.
.
.
Roland is quite a good fighter.
Blocking most of my attacks, only getting hit where he can take it.
But for a spearman, distance is key. And he couldn’t distance himself from me, simply because I didn’t allow it.
So my victory was set in stone from the beginning.
I simply outclassed him.
…and I feel bad for him.
But I’m… a bit scared.
That look in his eyes is not the same I remember.
Usually there’s kindness, happiness… or pity in them.
Something.
Although now… there’s nothing… as if he’s empty.
But his actions do relay one thing.
Determination.
A useless one. It’s pointless to be so serious about this when you can do nothing about it.
…He’ll die if he overestimates himself.
There is no need to save me. If they could find me, they already would, I stopped actively hiding a while ago.
…And even if they do find me.
I don’t want Roland to throw his life away while saving mine…
Not even if he had the strength to do it.
…It’s time to finish this.
His moves got sloppy with time.
Now, I can just…
*Clank*
Hit away his spear.
“It’s over.”
“...”
“I told you, you’re weak. I’m sorry but that’s the truth.”
“...”
“And remember, I wasn’t even using a sword that I usually use.”
“...”
“So, will you give it up?”
Please…
“...You haven’t won.”
“Are you really going to be stubborn about this? Then what now? You’re going to fight bare-handed too?”
“...I would if I had to.”
“Sorry?”
He pointed at his neck.
…I checked mine.
Blood?
He landed a scratch on me?
Not just one… a dozen.
How? When?
He never hit me.
“...How?”
“You were so close to me that you weren’t looking at my hands. I can hold a spear with one hand just fine.”
But… did he hide a dagger or something?
Even so, that’s commendable.
Skin of someone trained in divinity isn’t ordinary.
So just grazing it won’t even leave a mark, much less make it bleed.
…And mine is tougher than some monster’s.
He soon came to me with bandaids, so I asked.
“Okay, you might’ve won this one, this proves little. But, where did you hide a dagger?”
I couldn’t see it on him.
“...Here.”
His expression was bitter as he gave me the bandaids.
“So?”
“I used only my spear, left everything else in my Pocket.”
“Huh?”
Then how did he leave all those-
…God…
“Roland! Why!?”
H-His hands!
Blood…So much blood…
His nails are gone, his palms are bleeding.
Oh Father forgive me.
“Why in God’s name would you go this far!?”
He’s in pain, so much pain, must be.
Oh God what have I done?
“It’s fine.”
“No! No it’s not!”
…He smiled.
It was a smile full of bitterness.
“I’m glad you worry for me.”
“Roland! Is this a joke to you!? Why would you do this!?”
“...I wanted to prove it.”
“You don’t have to prove anything to me! I don’t need saving!”
“Heh… But I won, didn’t I?”
“You-!”
*Twack*
.
.
Only after hitting him on the head a few times and giving him a piece of my mind, did the Roland I knew return.
On our way back I treated his wounds, and lectured him thoroughly.
…But…
There was still this bitterness in his stare…
It still irks me…
.
.
*Michael’s PoV*
.
.
.
This…
.
.
…proves little…
