[79.2] Mystery POV: Crying Innocence

***Disclaimer: This chapter involves death and gore that some readers may find uncomfortable. 

As the next day approached, I was given a meal and shoved back into the room with my personal door.

I was used to this sort of treatment so I stood firmly in front of the door, waiting for any movement outside.

"Welcome back to the second day of matches!"

As the announcer went through his spiel I stared at the cracks lining the doors.

"Without further adieu, let's see what match is lined up for everyone today!!!"

The door in front of me started to rumble.

I let out a sigh, "Again? I just fought yesterday."

As I stepped out, I looked calmly into the distance. "I already killed yesterday, today shouldn't be hard."

The announcer shouted, "Looks like the match is going to be interesting today! The little priestess against two demons! How fascinating!"

Wait…

Two demons!?

Isn't it supposed to be one on one!?

I stood on top of the rocks, waiting for someone to approach me like before, but no one ever did. It wasn't like the prisoner who had walked straight up to me to attack.

They may be planning a sneak attack instead.

The priests told me that demons always fight with dirty tactics.

I looked over at the areas that could conceal a person but didn't see anyone. I also didn't hear any movement.

What dirty tactics can they use?

As I waited, the crowd slowly started to jeer and boo. As their anger reached a new height, the announcer's voice boomed, "It looks like the Little Priestess doesn't want to search for anyone and the two little demons are choosing to cower and hide. How boring! I guess we have no choice but to release the familiars!"

Wait, they are cowering?

Shouldn't they be trying to sneak attack me? 

Or using their demonic power to trick me?

Why would they be hiding from me?

They are the scary ones, not me.

Just as I was thinking about it, I heard the sound of sneaking footsteps.

I knew it.

They were going to sneak attack.

I turned to face the demon just as it pounced at me from behind a low-hanging log. My Holy Sword sliced into the animal's skin as I jumped to the side to avoid the large cougar's attack. The large cat fell over, crying out in pain. It turned back to me, barring its teeth.

I steadied my sword and waited until it lunged back at me, finally dealing the final blow. The cat stopped moving as a small whimper left its mouth. 

I felt a twinge of guilt, but the demon did attack me.

I wouldn't have killed him if he hadn't-

"-Looks like the cougar familiar is no match for the Little Priestess! Good thing there are two left!"

Wait…

That wasn't the demon?

"WHOA! The poor little demon just got mauled by a cougar! HAHA! Guess the little guy couldn't run fast enough!"

Could it be that the demons didn't intend to fight?

No.

That can't be right.

The priests said that demons were pure evil.

When given the choice to fight, they will always choose to fight and kill.

"Looks like the cougar has found the other little demon who thought he could hide~"

Before I realized it, I was already sprinting towards the commotion.

What am I doing?

I appeared at the source of the fighting, seeing a small boy who was younger than me, crying as he stared at the two cougars who had him pinned to the wall.

This!?

This is my opponent?!

He's younger AND thinner than me!

I jumped down off the rocks, landing in front of him just in time to slash away the cougar's attacks. The cougars hissed and growled, preparing for another attack.

I shouted at him, "Go to the left!"

He sprinted off as I commanded as I lunged at the cougar. It batted my sword back, causing me to lose my footing.

I fell down, losing my sword from my grasp.

A cougar lunged at me, tearing into my arm with its huge teeth. I cried out as it tossed me side to side, intent on ripping my arm off.

I created a Holy dagger and stabbed it into the cougar's skull, over and over until it finally let me go and collapsed.

I rolled out from under it, holding my arm that was barely attached.

Where is the other cougar!?

A sinking feeling crept into my heart.

It went after that boy!

I forced myself up and forward. As I chased after the sounds, I suddenly found myself in a maze of rocks. I heard the sound of running echoing off the walls. Heaving from my injury, I carried a sword in one hand as I crept around the rock. The rocks were so jagged, that it was hard to see what was around each one.

"HELP-"

I panicked and spun around, swinging my sword to protect myself from the incoming cougar attack.

"W-Why…"

My eyes widened as I realized what I had just slashed.

The pained expression of a demon stared back at me. Desperation and misery were in his eyes as he fell over and stopped moving.

I stared at his limp body as a cold sweat broke out across my back.

I…

I didn't mean to!

I thought that he was the cougar!

I didn't know-

"-WOW! The Little Priestess is crueler than she looks! Just as a demon went to her for protection, she cut the little guy down! How terrible!"

I panicked and looked in the direction of the announcer, "No! I didn't mean to! It was an accident!"

I shouted to the crowd, but no one was listening. Instead, they were cheering, reveling in the death of a small boy. I was sickened by the look on their faces.

How can they treat us like we are only entertainment…

Why…

As I walked back to the door, I held my arm that was leaving behind a blood trail. My eyes grew dull as I listened to their cheers for more death.

I mumbled to myself, ignoring my ripped arm and preventing it from healing, "But… I didn't mean to."

I entered back into the room with the other contestants and found them all staring at me with complicated looks. When I glanced over at the demons, they all flinched and averted their gazes.

"Ah!!" The shaved priestess suddenly sprinted up to me, "Your arm-"

"Hm?" I looked down at it and found it was still in shreds. I replied nonchalantly, "Oh yeah. A cougar got it."

"I-It's bleeding really bad!"

I gave her a curious glance.

Why is this priestess concerned?

Have any ever shown concern before?

A prisoner chuckled, "Looks like she'll kick the bucket before the next match."

The shaved priestess growled at him, "Shut your fat mouth."

"F-Fat!? It's not fat!"

As they argued, I spoke, "It's nothing."

She turned back to me and shrieked, "IT'S BARELY ATTACHED!"

I focused my energy on healing it, then held it up to her. "See? It's nothing."

The room grew silent.

I lowered my hand as I looked around at them all, "What? All Holy Priestesses can heal."

One muttered, "Not that well."

A prisoner snickered, "I never thought I'd see the youngest priestess becoming Alora."

A Holy Priestess snapped at him, "We still have a chance."

I glanced at the Holy Priestesses and noticed they were looking at me with envy and hatred.

When I turned back to look at the shaved Holy Priestess, I was startled to see her looking at me with contempt. She let out a hmpf and turned around, sitting back in her spot with a thud. 

A prisoner snickered and leaned over to her, "Thought she was like you, didn't you? Guess you were wrong."

She snapped, "Shut up."

Everyone returned to silence, staring either at the floor or at each other.

I turned back to the demons and noticed them shaking under my gaze. I walked over to them and could see them visibly trying to shrink away from me in fear.

They really don't want me near them.

I stopped approaching and stared at their trembling bodies. I pursed my lips, "I didn't mean to kill the demon."

They all whimpered, hugging each other as I stared at them.

I felt a strange burning feeling in my chest and started to explain, "I really didn't. We ran to the rock maze and the sounds were all scattered. When he appeared from behind, I thought it was a cougar so I attacked instinctually. It's not like the announcer said. I wasn't trying to kill him."

One suddenly shrieked, "Okay, okay! We get it! Just-Just stay away from us!!!!"

I took a step back, feeling a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Why…

Why won't anyone listen to me?

Everyone is looking at me like I did that on purpose.

I sat down in my usual spot, my dulled eyes on the floor.