8. A Twisted Soul

Ress and the captain worked hard to dig sand holes large enough for many traps.

I sat on a small log next to the tent, and asked the two youngling to go get the long pillars, firmly hammered into the ground.

"The job is done! Now I suppose we should go out to help the captain digging holes?"

I looked up, the wind was still blowing dust.

"Lair, Rolas. Do you know what you are missing?"

They looked at me for a while, thinking hard.

"…It's skill, and experience. Willpower will help us to conquer ourselves, but not our enemies. Next I will teach the basic movements, techniques in real combat. Engrave it in your heart if you still want to go back home."

"Wait, before all that, I heard in the Capital there are people who can use magic? Is it real?"

Lair asked with a sharp voice and bright eyes as if the words "I want to learn! I want to learn!" appears on her face.

Her suspicions were not wrong, it is true that in this Kingdom, there is an elite group of Nobles who can use magic.

But the number of only a few dozen people makes it extremely difficult to study.

Especially since no family wanted to reveal such an important secret, it could become a burden once caught by their enemies.

"I also belong to a family capable of using magic…"

"Really? Haven't seen you use it though."

"Because I don't have the ability to use it."

Those bright eyes slowly darkened. She seems to be disappointed. But she still smiled at me, albeit a bit awkwardly.

"It's okay. So are we."

"You also know how to care for others? I thought I was about to get a laugh in the face!"

"What? I'm not that mean!"

I finally convinced them to practice swordsmanship.

Clutching the iron sword, the two started off with sharp lines.

Right foot forward, body center of gravity in front of your chest, arms swing strong.

"Step back your right foot, withdraw your hand; swing the right elbow to the left, parry the counter attack, swing the tip of the sword to the left so that they lose balance; immediately put force into the shoulder, swinging all the way to the right, cutting deep into the enemy's back. After completing the above steps, step back to keep your distance. That's all for today. Every day I will test your proficiency."

At the end of the day, we sat in the tent together again, energetic laughter dispelling fatigue.

They seemed unafraid of the approaching army.

That image is still present in my mind.

The soldiers cried out in pain, their bodies covered in blood, their eyes were white… the long and cruel death that followed them down to the depths of Hell.

The feeling of someone scratched my arm, desperately clinging to life.

But leaving it was impossible.

I surrendered to fate, and so did they.

Perhaps we should all have perished in the Éclairer citadel.

In an ironic way, the one who had no right to remain in this world, was the last survivor.

I suspect, but there's nothing more I can do. Didn't have the courage to return again, just silently running away like prey being chased.

And they reach me.

Cecile was here, but she herself didn't know what to do.

She clings to me through each dream, gradually dragging this sinner down the pit of guilt and instinctive lust.

After midnight, each person gradually fell asleep, I gently got up to make a cup of tea.

Tonight is another long night.

Two cold hands wrapped around my stomach.

"Cecile. Where are you…"

No reply.

Slowly licking along my neck, she stepped in front of me. Our lips touching, quickly merging. Still the same seductive scent, the undeniable softness. Wrapping her arms around my back, she pushed me to the ground.

Bodies wrapped, she touched the face of the person who left her.

Those hungry for love eyes made me feel even more tired.

Maybe I should have given up a long time ago, maybe everything would have been "solved" if I had accepted the truth.

But I have gone too far, turning back is a mistake.

I then decided to run, turn my head again so as not to hurt the woman who sacrificed for her child.

Who knows what awaits ahead, who knows when the coward will give up...

But it was, and still is, my only decision. That's it for now.

"Cecile, you and I no longer have any relationship. We can't see each other… It makes no sense. No matter how much I repeat, you won't understand. This family twists that innocent soul, replacing it with a sick, twisted, sinful mindset. But I don't blame you. I cannot stay. All the insiders like us are damned by God. The only thing I can do, is not stain you any more…"

Cecile just looked at me, laughing hysterically, tears streaming down her face.

I raised my hand and squeezed her neck, but it seemed that our kiss continued, tormented from the depths.

Consciousness jerked back, body drenched.

Looking out of the tent, the figure of a woman walked in silence.