An Indominable Spirit

"Well, I'd like to hear the full story."

Back from the dead, Nite's lips twisted into a huge smirk. His back bent forward, and his hands swayed at his sides.

"Hey, big fella. Want to go for round 2? It'd be real fun."

His eyes shimmered as they focused on the monster in front of him.

"And this time, I'm the one who's leaving this dance alive."

As those words left his mouth, the air grew thick with shock. The merchant and oracle, with their eyes as wide as can be, had their focus locked on the resurrected Nite.

"How is this possible?! My predictions are never wrong."

"Aren't you elated? He's alive. Quite a surprise though."

The Oracle's lips pressed together, forming a soft pout.

"You were really okay with him dying, if it meant your predictions stayed correct?"

"It's not that simple. My predictions have never been wrong."

Her gaze focused on Nite as he stood with his lips covered in blood.

"Something's unique about him."

The bear lunged forward, its claws positioned to attack. A laugh burst out of Nite as he swayed around shakily. He slid out of the way; his movements were as smooth as ice. The bear regained its footing and launched a spinning claw at him, but he had moved out of range just in time. The bear kept on attacking as Nite dodged with his smirk turning to a grin.

"You'd be surprised what a clear head and a bit of adrenaline can do for you."

He said as he taunted the behemoth to keep on attacking.

"I can't keep this up forever. I have to find a way to stop this thing.

Trying to escape is pointless since it's obvious they won't leave that cart and run."

Nite focus shifted to the crystal glowing on the bear's forehead.

"With the amount of muscle you have, it'd be stupid to let you get close enough for an attack.

Isn't that right, big fella?"

The bear growled as its attacks grew faster and fiercer. It backed Nite to a familiar tree and felled it with a smash of its claws. The bark splintered everywhere as the tree tumbled over.

"That's a deadly trick you've got," Nite said as he ran for his blade, "but what use is it if it doesn't hit me?"

Nite grabbed his longsword and kept on running in circles to avoid the bear. The bear charged at him with its teeth bared in a grizzly snarl.

The bear growled as it stretched its paw to reel him in. Nite leaped into the air and came down on the bear's back.

The bear reared up on its hind legs, swinging its body rabidly. He grabbed its thick neck, and its claws flew at his hands as he released his grip within a hare's breath.

Blood gushed out like a water hose as Nite shot his forehead. The tall behemoth came crashing into the ground as Nite sliced the crystal off its forehead.

It's blood spilled out of its neck, coating the ground with its thick blood. Its eyes went white, and its blood had trinkled out the last drop.

Nite's lips twisted into a wild grin as he stood limply.

"I guess that's... game... over."

Those words left his mouth as his heartbeat slowed down and his muscles relaxed.

He fell to the ground with a thud as his eyelids sealed shut.

Light seeped through Nite's eyelashes as his eyes fluttered open. His blurred vision cleared up as a soft, sweet voice slipped through his haze.

"Wha–Where am I?"

"You can relax. Your wounds are treated, and the fight has been won."

Nite's focus returns to his eyes, allowing him to make out brown luxurious hair flowing from a purple veil. The veil shows a bit of their brown skin as they bend to watch him.

"Oh yeah, the fight. The bear. Are you and the merchant okay?"

"Yes. It seems your vision has cleared up."

His vision sharpened as he realized that his head was resting on the oracle's lap. With flushed cheeks, he tried to force himself up only to be sent down by an intense stream of pain.

"You might be bandaged up, but your injuries require time to heal. You truly gave your all and put intense strain on your body.

You deserve to relax for a while."

Nite's eyes almost fluttered shut as the oracle shifted to make him more comfortable. The merchant appeared from behind the large wagon cart while holding a roll of bandages and a pack of medicines.

"Nite! You're awake!" The merchant said as his expression lit up.

"Shh!" The Oracle hushed him with her brows furrowed.

"We can't let him go back to sleep forever. We still need to get to town today before she leaves." He said as he walked over and laid the things in his hands arranged on the floor.

"Now who's heartless? If it wasn't for the fact you treat her like a little sister, I'd think you had a crush on her."

His face turned red, and his stare widened at the oracle.

"That's not even a funny joke, and to think you're the one that made it."

"Now you know how it felt listening to you for 3 days."

The oracle released the tension with a breath and calmed her voice.

"She'll still be there. I can guarantee you we won't miss her, but this boy just saved our lives, so at least be grateful enough to let him heal."

The merchant's firm gaze softened into a pitying and remorseful stare. "I agree."

Nite woke back up and mumbled, "Sorry for making you late, and thank you."

The Oracle's gaze softened as a smile grew rapidly on her face. She placed her hand on his forehead.

"It's alright. As long as you're okay, it's fine.

We should be thanking you for being so heroic and saving us from that bear."

"It's nothing for the great and amazing Nite. I told you you had nothing to worry about and you could thank me later. But I didn't expect to be sprawled out this weakly on a cute girl's lap like this."

Her face slightly bleached for a moment as she tilted her head with a smile.

"Thank you. Aren't you a charmer?"

"I think I've seen enough of your flirting for a lifetime."

The oracle wheeled on him in a frenzy with her cheeks highlighted red.

"You want to bring up flirty, or should I remind you how Crimson got her name?"

His cheeks reddened as he stumbled back.

"That's a private topic from the past, so no need to bring that up. I stroked a nerve, didn't I?"

"Talking to you is like talking to a stubborn monkey." She said as she placed her hand on her forehead.

A low giggle came from Nite as he watched them argue with one another.

"You guys could make a pretty good couple."

The Oracle's expression died as she stared down at Nite.

"I think that's enough."

She placed his head on the wooden chair and stormed off.

"I guess I'm going to be applying your new bandages and medicine."

As the sun settled, the moon rose. The starry night sky chased away the darkness of the night.

The poles were firm beneath the strong, thick fabric of the tents as the fire illuminated the setting. A lot stewed over the bright, hot flames, with some steam escaping the lid.

"I have some questions for you, Nite."

"What are they?"

"How did you come back to life earlier? You were dead, weren't you?"

"I think it's like when you use jumper cables to restart an engine, but for me, it was adrenaline and a strange feeling."

"It's not uncommon for individuals in life or death situations to get a second chance at life. It does happen, and it explains why your muscles are all torn up."

"But my crystal ball showed me his death. My crystal ball always tells the final truth."

"It seems like he's got really lucky to be the first time you missed a fortune."

"Yeah, I'd say so. That's MC plot armour for you, though it hurt like crazy."

"MC? You're a weird kid with the way you think."

The merchant burst out into laughter as he slapped his knee.

"Seeing life as a story is quite a unique view of life, Nite." The oracle said as a giggle escaped her lips.

"Well, it sure beats my previous way of thinking. I saw life as having no purpose since we'll still all die one day, but today has been a lot of fun, and I made two new friends."

"Friends?!"

"I'd love to be your friend, Sir Nite."

"Very well, me too."

The night went on with cheers decorating the air. When everyone had eaten, they all went to their tents' with Nite and the merchant bunking in one.

The oracle went into her tent as her expression still seemed troubled.

"Lucky, huh? I didn't even notice when he arrived before that fight. That's the first time someone has ever snuck up on me like that, and I never even saw them.

That boy is... peculiar, to say the least."

The oracle lay in her sleeping bag and closed her eyes.