Forsaken II

I could hear her weeping from the other side of the door.

Well… I did it, I guess.

I turned away and walked back down the hall.

However, when I neared my room, my legs buckled and I crumpled down onto the floor.

Tears… tears dripped down to the ground as I bit my tongue.

Why… why did I have to do such a thing to her? She… she really did love me… so why did I do such a thing?

I had to hold all my feelings back just to say it. She didn't deserve it. She's innocent and pure, so why did I do such a thing to break her heart?

It's cause of this stupid voice in my head.

"Are you satisfied now, Seffirot?"

I said as I hit the floor and cried.

"You got what you wanted, so are you happy!? You nagged me and annoyed me just so you could get me to destroy all ties with the person that mattered to me most!?"

I waited for Seffirot to answer.

[Leaving her will save you…]

It said.

"Fuck you. How the hell is that going to work?" I asked.

[You lure danger to yourself. If she were to be alongside you, it would put her life in danger. If her life were to be taken away, you would lose control of yourself. Doing this will protect her…]

"But I can protect her… I can protect her from the danger."

[No. No, you cannot. Adversaries are everywhere and one of them will be the end of you. You are confident in your own power and drunk on bloodlust.]

It would continue to speak in my mind.

[Your goal is to gain power, but having her on your side would only cause you to worry about her since she lacks combat prowess. You must understand that this is for her own good.]

"But… did I really have to be so cruel with her?"

[Yes. Without cruelty, she wouldn't have taken you seriously.]

"But… I could've just-"

[If you had complied to her feelings with your own, you would've only had her on your mind, distracting you which will eventually lead you to your own demise.]

"Damn it… if there was only another way-"

[A sacrifice must be made in order to gain power…]

With that, his voice faded away from my mind. Yukie would then return.

[It seems the window is now closed…]

"Yes… I know."

I wiped my tears away and stood up.

I had no choice. It was the only way for me to leave her, otherwise, she'll continue to follow me.

Please forgive me Risa, but this is all for your own good.

After fixing my composure, I walked back to my room.

Opening the door, I watched as the girls slept peacefully.

After what happened, I think we should leave now. We've been taking our time traveling to Maroon city due to many incidents happening. It's about time we actually got there.

But… I think I'll let them rest for a little longer.

I closed the door and commanded my shadow servants to continue guarding.

I need to take a breather after what just happened.

As I walked down the stairs to leave the inn, I felt a hostile presence coming from behind.

"Cage, if you want to fight me then we'll take this outside," I said without looking at him.

I left the inn and I could hear him follow me. We walked into the woods until we stumbled upon an open field.

I don't even need to hear his reason. I know exactly what he is going to do.

Shing!

Clang!

Cage drew his sword and swung it towards me. I quickly drew my dagger and parried it before kicking him back. He quickly stopped himself with his sword.

"You bastard!" He yelled. "How could you do such a thing!? You… you broke her heart!"

"Hmph, and why should I tell you?"

"You'll tell me after what I'm going to do to you!"

Cage dashed towards me and swung his sword horizontally. I quickly blocked him and swept him off his feet. Before he touched the ground, I delivered a heavy kick to his stomach, sending him flying.

"Do what to me? Become my punching bag?"

"Damn it!"

Cage got up and turned around, but I shifted in front of him and kneed him in the stomach. I elbowed him directly in the back, sending him back into the ground.

"Ough! Ough!" He coughed as he struggled to get up.

"Give up."

"I don't understand. If you have this much power, then why don't you kill me?" He asked. "Isn't that what you want?"

"Yes, I do. I really do want to kill you but making you suffer is much better."

"Damn it, just kill me!"

"No."

"Why?"

I closed my eyes and turned to the direction of town.

"I need someone to look after her."

"…what?"

"I hurt her… for her own good. Her mission was to bring me back to the king and that goes the same for you. However, that will never happen."

"Bring you ba… y-you are the Inept Hero?"

"Correct."

"The-then why didn't you-?"

"If I follow you guys back, then everything I've been doing has been for nothing. I simply cannot go back. That bastard of a king will die by my hands one day. I know you want the same too."

"…"

"Silent aren't you? Well, since you've seen how demi-humans are being treated in this country, I guessed that you would've listened to some of my words."

"But that doesn't explain why you hurt her."

Damn it, why doesn't he understand…

I clenched my teeth and fell to the ground.

"I hurt her for her own good, okay!? I had to break her heart so she wouldn't search for me again! I can't risk it! She is the only person bounding me to my senses and if she were to die, everything would be over for not only her but me as well!"

I crawled over to Cage and grabbed him by the collar.

"She'll only ever face danger if she was to be with me! If she had the combat power, things would be different! We simply can't be near each other! I'm… I'm afraid I won't be able to protect her… so that's why I must leave her."

I'd let go of Cage's collar but kept my vision locked onto him.

"Cage… you are a warrior whose life is dedicated to Risa. You'd sacrifice your life for her, right?"

"…y-yeah."

"Then… will you protect Risa in my stead?"

His eyes widened as I said those words.

"I just need you to protect her, that's all. If you manage to do that until I've taken out that pitiful king, then I'll promise you whatever you want."

"And… what if I don't manage to?"

"…then I'll kill you."

Cage gulped. I got up on my feet and walked over to him, lending my hand.

"Do we have a deal?" I said.

Cage hesitated but eventually took my hand.

"Yes. I'll protect her with my life."

"Good."

As we got on our feet and walked back to the inn, I told Cage to never mention this conversation to her.

Then we got to the inn and separated.

An hour before sunrise, I told the girls to wake up and get dressed. As they prepared and got ready, I went out to get myself another scroll.

I needed something for poison resistance. Sometimes I get a little uncomfortable drinking refreshment from an inn and now I'm just very cautious of what I consume. With resistance to toxins, I can eat with ease.

With all our stuff packed up, we left the town.

As we got further away, there was a pain in my heart, telling me to go back. Some parts of me wanted to go and tell Risa everything but as much as I wanted to, I couldn't.

Forsaking her... it was for the best...

"Bear all hatred, for it will only drive me further... and beyond. All power requires sacrifice... even if it pains."

The words of others will only push me towards my goal. Though it will be tedious, I'll manage somehow, and I'll be expecting any obstacles that will get in my way.

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