CH 5.5: I Want To Understand You

My first impression of you was of your crimson hair. The color was striking, and for some reason, I was taken by it.

However, as soon as you heard the sound of my chains, your voice went quiet and with it, the world followed suit. It was like you were a ruler above all, one that none would dare to disobey. But weirdly enough, even though this powerful ruler was right in front of me, I did not yield.

"There's more of you guys coming? You nobles sure are a perverted bunch!" I shouted, eager to see how the dirty lot before me would react.

Like pigs, these 'nobles' who always came along, acted more like animals than the slaves kept here. So I couldn't stand by and let these shits act like we're the animals.

Now, I know that what I'm doing is stupid, but for the life of me, I already knew that. I've had this fact engraved into me. Nevertheless, this act of mine was a matter of dignity!

It was an act of dignity that proved that I was not an animal!

Unexpectedly, at my defiance of your authority, you merely laughed and allowed me to attack you. You even freed me of my chains when everything was over, as though my defiance was a joke to you.

It was at that moment that you caught my ire. But whenever I mentioned this to you, your face would glow with laughter, as your unseeing eyes would glance in the wrong direction.

We could never understand each other. And so, we both strove to kill the other.

But in the end, for some reason, you didn't kill me.

×××××

Nobody ever understood you when you talked, and even if they did, they would choose to ignore you. This, of course, was something that fascinated me.

Hence, when I revealed to you my thoughts, you tried to kill me. Unfortunately for you, although you had the drive, you weren't strong enough to take my life.

In the end, for some reason, I broke your chains and set you free.

×××××

The sounds of the battlefield echoed around us, as enemies tried to chase us down. But I paid the noises no heed, instead, I carried you on my back towards a safer area.

But before we could get there, we were surrounded by a group of more than twenty recruits.

It was easy to notice this, you see, since their breaths seemed scared and their steps wary.

It was then that the heavy footsteps of but one soldier, calmly sauntered towards our position, daring me to attack.

The soldier, who I presumed to be the leader, walked in a way that trampled heavily upon the ground, like a man prepared for war.

From the sound of those footsteps, I realized that the person before me could only be, batshit crazy Lierie.

"Why did you waste time coming here?" I inquired.

Lierie didn't reply, opting to instead raise his weapon.

The blade swung sharply towards my neck, merely a few centimeters away cutting me.

Now usually, a blade was cold and chill. But from what I felt, the one threatening me now was furthest from that. It was strikingly hot and was slick with human blood. This showed that Lierie didn't even have the time to wipe the blood off his blade. A pity, really. A good blade is being damaged merely because of its owner's carelessness.

It made me wonder as to how many Lierie had killed before he made it to this location.

"If you give us the Legion Commander, we will spare you." Lierie demanded.

It was at this moment that I realized that I was at a crossroads. Either I give in or fight.

"Before I do anything," I took a breath, noting that I was already close to my limits. "What will you do to this man if I give him to you?"

Lierie scoffed at my question. I could swear that he must have been smirking.

"Don't you already know th—?"

Without a second thought, I quickly kicked the asshole in the knees and ran, simultaneously using the last of my MP to heal the man on my back.

I don't know for how long I ran but after a while, I realized that the soles of my feet were bleeding.

×××××

The person I hated the most in this world was laying on my lap, dying. Her complexion was pale and sickly, while her breath had long turned heavy, as though breathing was already something impossible for her to do.

Seeing her like this, I realized that the ruler I once saw in my teens, was nothing more than a person. And now, this powerful person was dying.

Curiously, being in this position felt bizarre, especially after discovering that my long-time enemy was finally going to disappear.

I just couldn't feel happy that there was no saving this woman anymore.

"Hey... Why did you save me? I thought you hated me too?" I asked softly, almost as if I was scared of something.

The woman leaned closer into me, her touch, foreign, but not repulsive.

"My first impression of you was in chains," She murmured as she held my hand. "And I was reminded of something when I heard the clanging of those chains..." The woman frowned deeply. "I was reminded that in this world, putting people in chains was something normal."

I listened to her words seriously but found that she didn't answer my question. But when I once again asked for an explanation, the woman who laid on my lap laughed wildly.

Just like the first time we met.

Perhaps this is why I hate her. That laughter of hers makes me feel like she's mocking me.

"It seems that I understand you perfectly, but for some reason... You don't understand me. Quite the shame indeed, we could have been..." She said with a bright smile, her eyes closing in fatigue.

She was so close to the edge. So close.

"Then explain yourself, help me to understand you."

Silence.

"I said to explain, woman! Explain!"

Silence.

"...Why did you save me?"

Silence.

"...Why did you always laugh at me?"

Silence.

"...Why did you set me free all those years ago?"

Silence.

"...What is your name?"

Silence.

"...Why does my heart break to see you like this?"

Silence.

As tears silently burned my eyes, for the first time in my life, I found that I wanted to understand you.

You of all people, my beloved enemy.