Just a Game

"The Orc's general?" Reika asked in confusion. "Wait, no... Do you understand your situation right now? Your bones are hanging by a thread and your stomach wound is going to open if you move too much. You are not going to be getting up any time soon."

"Three days." Keita responded confidently. "Ask your companions if they can move in three days. If you can't that's fine. I'll just go by myself."

Reika felt irritated at Keita's words and tone. She argued with him for some time before giving up. She firmly believed that Keita wasn't going anywhere with his injuries so she let him rest.

It was still morning but Keita couldn't keep his eyes open, even with the sun and noise around him. He was relieved. He could finally get some sleep after all these times.

* * *

"Kid! Kid wake up!"

A voice was shouting at Keita. He felt someone was shaking his shoulders. He slowly opened his eyes.

"You are..."

The old veteran was looking at him with an urgency in his face. Keita was drenched in cold sweat. He looked around and saw everyone around him staring at his direction. When he met their eyes they looked away. They seemed... scared.

"Did I do something?" He asked the veteran.

"No... you were... Uhm... screaming in your sleep." the veteran awkwardly responded.

Keita placed his hand on his forehead and buried his head to his knees. He remembered his dream. It was the boy's eyes. Staring at him. He eyes felt like he was crying. It was still in the middle of the day, maybe noon. Keita felt even more tired than before he went to sleep.

"Sorry... I..." he tried to say.

"Don't worry about it too much. It happens to most of us. By the way, I still haven't introduced myself. I am Meliacs. I used to be in Aerch Militia and then served a few years in the army. You said your name was Keita right?" he spoke with a kind smile.

"Yeah..." Keita was still hiding his face. He didn't want to be seen like this.

"Well Keita, how about you take a rest at my house. I live alone and there is a guest room you can use. Sleeping in a real bed should be better than a sheet on the street right? It's the least I can do, after you killed the enemy commander."

Meliacs tried to sound like he was repaying Keita, but he knew that he was being considered for his... condition.

Keita nodded and the old veteran helped him up to his feet.

"Better not forget your prize." he joked while grabbing the Orc Chief's axe.

Keita forced a smile but his eyes were glued to the ground. Meliacs, put Keita's hand above his head to help him walk. He didn't refuse.

'I was just fine when I went to sleep...' he thought. 'Why did it all come to me in nightmares...?' he felt helpless.

He peaked at Meliacs. He was looking away, thinking.

"I don't want to talk about it." Keita told him. He could guess what Meliacs wanted to say. There were things he ought to not say, or thing no matter what he said couldn't be fixed.

"I see." Meliacs responded. "It can help you know. Talking about things. That's how a lot of us live with the things we've done. I've seen many people let these things define who they are. That's not right. We are not defined by our actions but our choices. You saved everyone here by defeating the Orc leader. Don't let the ghosts of friends or people that you didn't save tell you what you are. In my eyes you are a... good kid. If you ever want to talk, I'll hear you out." he sounded awkward.

"Thanks..." Keita gave a dry response. He couldn't talk about the kid in his dreams. Not to Meliacs, Helene or his parents. It was something he had to carry alone for the rest of his days.

"This is it. Come in." Meliacs gestured and opened a door. His house was on the East part of the city so the fire hasn't touched it. It was a stone house, with a small living room and a second floor.

Keita didn't bother lifting his head. He just wanted to sleep. He was so tired. Meliacs helped him to the guest room and put him in bed.

"I'll leave the axe here. I don't think I will be back anytime soon, so when you wake up you can get something to eat and drink from the kitchen. Just try not to move too much. I'll send someone to leave you some medicine and band-aids later." Meliacs said and left the room.

Keita lied on the bed, with his hand covering his face. He didn't want to think about anything right now. He just wanted to sleep but he couldn't. He was afraid of going to sleep again. He was afraid of those eyes that were watching him.

He wanted to do something to distract himself. He sat at the bed and crossed his legs.

"Heaven's Path: Tranquility." he said as he activated the Skill.

Small threads of bright white magic power surrounded him. He tried this Skill before but he felt no change. It was a Skill that he could only activate and sustain while immobile so it was obviously not a combat one. After hearing from Koba that healing him meant nothing more than barely closing his wounds and mending his broken bones, he thought that this Tranquility was a Skill that helped him recover.

'This is pretty strong. I can't close open wounds but it can help me recover faster after being healed. With this I'll probably be fine in a day or two.' he thought with excitement. 'I'll be ready to pay Wrath a visit in three days.'

After fighting the Orcs for a full night, Keita finally found the answer he was looking for. This was no war. It was just a game. One of Wrath's hobbies to be exact.

Orcs elected their leaders through ritualistic combat. They valued strength so it was no wonder Wrath who was both violent and strong would appeal to those warmongers. Sometimes she went to their territories and they welcomed her like a king. She would drink, party and fight with Orcs. A few times she coerced the Orcs to attack human territories but since the South was a united human kingdom back then, they were easily crushed so it was nothing more than a game to her. The Orcs didn't seem to care either. They loved the battlefield above all else and even Mogur, the Orc God, welcomed the Orcs that died in battle as heroes.

'If Wrath is behind this that would explain what she was doing here, the few Orc numbers and the fact that they came from the West. Only mystery is that axe...' Keita opened one eye and looked at the giant red axe that was next to the bed. 'Where the hell did a lowly Orc Chieftain find a weapon like this?'

He closed his eyes and focused on recovering.

'It doesn't matter. If Wrath keeps doing this, it's just a matter of time before one of the Southern kingdoms falls to the Orcs. I have to stop it here and now. In two days I will join Aerch Militia and ask Nao and Reika's party to come with me to the Orc's base. Having a Priest with me will make things easier.' Keita glanced at himself for a minute. 'I'll also go to the blacksmith. I still need to pay him for the sword and find some clothe armor.' he was slowly forgetting his troubles and was looking forward to what happens next.

'Don't rush. Mortal or not, I will do what I can. I just need to be patient. The Orcs won't be able to attack so soon after this loss. Probably... Don't rush. If I have another fight with Wrath when she doesn't need to hide that she is a Demon I will surely die. First I need a plan.'