The Death Of Stencil Marakov

The beast lurches towards me, its jagged teeth ready to tear my body to pieces. The stench of matted fur and fresh blood fills the air as it lets out another scream. There's a sudden flash of blue light. The monster is screaming again, but it's different this time.

Painful.

I try to focus my eyes on the sight in front of me.

On the ground in lies a large, bloody fang, freshly cut from the beasts jaw with a single, clean cut. I see the beast wince backwards in pain, its eyes locked on someone or something behind me. My body feels intact, but I can feel my mind slipping away.

I must have worn myself out by using that barrier spell. Another failure.

As my vision blurs, I get a glimpse of a figure approaching from my left. A blonde woman wearing gold-embossed armor and carrying a sword with a golden hilt. She raises the sword against the greater monster, and its blue glow seems to fill my entire vision.

Unfortunately, this is too much for my 14-year-old body, which finally gives in. I lose consciousness as the beasts screams fade into the distance.

---

I wake up lying in the grass. My eyes are closed, but I can tell that it's grass from the smell. Did I reincarnate again? No, I'm still Number 13. Stencil. I sit up slowly and look around me.

The greater monster is nowhere to be seen. The same goes for what was left of the mansion. And my parents. Instead, I seem to be in a small clearing in a forest. It's mid-day and there's a small pond of water glittering nearby. Sitting right beside it is a young woman.

Her blonde hair flows in the wind as she peers blankly back at me. She's still wearing the golden armor and, strapped to her hip, is the sword.

I spot my blood-stained clothes lying in the grass a bit away. I look down to see what I'm currently wearing. The clothes are clean, but not nearly as well-made as the ones the royal house provided. Did she undress and re-dress me while I was sleeping? Creepy. Who is this woman?

"Who are you?"

She beat me to it. That's what I was going to ask.

"Did you strip me while I was sleeping? Who are you?" I reply.

"My name is Elizabeth. I did no such thing."

"What is that supposed to mean? Are you suggesting that my clothes flew off while I was sleeping?"

She look at me, thinks for a moment, and says "Forest nymphs."

"Are you trying to be funny?"

"Yes."

Jesus Christ, why do I always get the weirdos?

Oh, I still remember my expletives. Good to know.

"What happened to the greater monster?"

"The what?"

"Are you trying to be funny again?"

"Yes."

Jesus. Fucking. Christ.

"The beast. What. Happened. To it?"

"It escaped after I cut off its fang."

Escaped? You mean it ran away? From her? A greater monster *ran away*?

"Are you still trying to be funny?"

"No. Look."

She makes a gesture towards her hip, pulling something out from behind her back. It's the bloody fang from the beast, mangled flesh still sticking to the end of it.

She's lying. She must be. I've fought more than 30 greater monsters, and I've never seen one run away. Though, maybe it's just because I never let them. This woman is undoubtedly strong, though. Her mana may not be as powerful as mine once was, but she is definitely a capable fighter.

"You never answered my question," she prods me.

"Hm?"

"Who are you?"

"My name is Ste-," I begin, but I cut myself off.

There may be an opportunity here. New clothes, a new name, and a world that believes that Stencil Marakov died with his parents in a horrific attack from a greater monster. This could work, but I'll have to be very careful. I'll decide on the details of my life later. For now...

"Sebastian. You can call me Sebastian."

I would have used Shawl, but it's too rare a name. A shame, but no matter. Sebastian will do.

"Nice to meet you, Sebastian."

"Likewise. You've saved my life."

I need more information on this woman. On the greater monster. On the magic system. On everything.

"Speaking of, why *did* you save my life?"

"... I don't know. You remind me of myself, somehow."

Elizabeth gazes blankly at me for a moment. Our expressionless faces seem almost to mirror one another. I suppose I can see what she means. However unalike we are, I, too, see something of myself in her.

No, not that; get your mind out of the gutter.

"If you'd like," she starts, "I can train you."

She beat me to it again. But why would she offer, just like that?

"Those two were your parents, right? I wish I could have helped them, too. If you have nowhere else to go, let me help you, instead."

There's a pang in my chest as she mentions my parents. Stencil's parents. The mangled corpses of the two people who made futile attempts to protect me. This young lady is certainly not delicate. If I had actually been 14 years old, I would most likely be having a mental breakdown by now.

I suppose this is the preferred outcome considering the circumstances, though. I need information and she is offering information. I think it's better to stay close to her, rather than run off and hope a better opportunity comes along. I should add a bit of flattery to make her like me more, while I'm at it.

"Yes. Please. Teach me how to be strong, like you."