Another's Beginning

The eerie feeling of the halls never fades and the odd resemblance to that 'hell' hasn't faded too. Every moment I spend in here sends me back to those moments...

T-Those...

"You alright?" Misa grabbed my shoulder. Maybe my shaking became even more apparent... I shouldn't make her worry.

"I'm fine." I brushed her off and knocked the metal bars holding the silent elven children. It seems to be the same material as Misa's holding cell. Seems like only the bars are decently strong though. I should be able to punch the small bit of wall in between each holding cell-like foam.

Although my legs are completely useless in combat at the moment, my arms have slightly recovered. Even if it takes a few tries, I can do it. I won't feel the pain anyways.

Railing my arm back, the familiar hand reached out and stopped me.

"What now?" I asked, slightly annoyed. I get that it doesn't look safe for me, but I literally froze half of the hallway, it's not like I'm gonna die from punching a wall.

"W-What's that?" Misa looked onto the end of the hall, her eyes alarmed.

Right... I didn't tell her about that. "Looks familiar right?" I said casually.

"So... it's what I think it is?" Instantly, Misa caught onto only a vague statement I let out. Damn, see this is why I can't lie to this woman.

"Look for yourself," My fist accelerated into the soft brick wall, breaking half of it and covering a little bit of my backhand with wounds. Honestly, the most I could feel from this is a slight burning sensation. Not even burning, it feels like putting your hands into the freezer for a second.

Sometimes I wish I could feel more. Having pain nullification is great and all, but I bite my tongue accidentally a lot and it doesn't really help with the fact that I think that it's good that people think I'm a monster.

As I continued punching through each cell, the kids sat in the corner, away from me.

"It's ok, everything's alright now, just go. You can leave now." I spoke out without realizing what I said. Maybe it was a little bit of PTSD or some weird mental stuff my brain's got going on, but a small part of me saw myself cowering in that corner like a child.

I don't wanna look like a hero. I've never liked heroes, even in fiction so I don't particularly like the fact that I just said that.

I...

I only said what I really wanted to hear that time.

"It's almost filled" Misa muttered just loud enough for me to hear.

Almost filled? No way. It was only at 900,000 like yesterday wasn't it?

Out of instinct, I opened the menu and analysed the circle again.

___________________________

[Hero Summoning Circle]

Mana: 1,452,930/1,500,000

___________________________

No way...

How did they get that much mana in a few days?

I looked around to find that the kid I talked to last time wasn't here anymore. This group looks a little healthier than the last...

Was I wrong? I thought that they were just letting the kids use all the mana they have and make them recover and repeat. Maybe I was wrong. They didn't let the kids recover... they just worked them to death and replace them.

With that thought, my eyes narrowed in disgust.

And they call us demons? Humans are more demonic than any demons I know.

I looked back at the children to find that they've already escaped. Can't blame them, I would run the moment I had the chance.

"What do we do now?" Misa looked at me for guidance.

"Mind if I talk to the other one?" I asked. The other one's kinda a rude name for Misa's other personality, but it's so different from her original that I just don't want to associate them together. Actually, the original isn't exactly the first personality, I don't know which is first.

"Well, this is quite the predicament." A cautious deeper voice spoke in place of Misa.

"I know. I'm not impartial enough to decide the objective best thing to do. So here you are," I hate this Misa, though there's one thing I can always count on with this one. She never uses her heart. Well actually, I'm willing to bet she doesn't have one, but never mind that.

"Fill it." It was only 2 words. She said it so simply... so indifferent.

"Are you insane?!" I don't understand why, but my chest burns at the thought of another person's life being ruined by a choice that wasn't their own. If I had to choose I wouldn't want to be here so why would I do that to them?

"You'd do it, Amber. You'd do it in a heartbeat. You months ago would do it without question." Misa spoke as her hands started to glow, filling the circle with mana.

I hate her...

I don't hate her because she lies. I hate her because she doesn't. She's right. In that classroom, I'd do anything to come to this world.

'Anywhere, but here,' I remembered that thought well. Although I want to remember those days as the good old days, it wasn't. I guess... we all just want what we can't have. I want to go back... but when I go back, will I want to return here again?

"I'm out," Misa's sweat poured down her face as she sighs in disappointment.

___________________________

[Hero Summoning Circle]

Mana: 1,477,930/1,500,000

___________________________

Well, it's too damn close to stop now. I'd rather have the hero on our side instead of the kingdom's pet.

"I don't know what thought process leads to this, but you know what? It's your fault," I stepped on the circle as it started glowing beneath my feet.

Maybe I should've destroyed the thing when I had the chance...

Let's pretend like I never had that thought.

___________________________

[Hero Summoning Circle]

COMPLETED

___________________________

An icon popped up in front of me as a blinding white glow engulf the room. Although it was brighter than the sun itself, both of us didn't even flinch. I'll admit there was a part of me that wishes the familiar light would fade and I would find a classroom, but that's not how it works.

We've only seen it once. Nonetheless, once was more than enough to remember this moment.

"My head..." A single voice came as the light faded.