Aura

  ***

  Seeing red banners coming down the road, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. As expected with The Empire, they are quick when it comes to saving their own. Heading down our rebuilt encampment walls, I saw the men double and triple checking the surroundings. The st thing anyone wants is for those guys to find anything wrong with the pce Evelyn was staying.

  Evelyn… Heading away from the main camp, I headed towards the pce I knew she was. Almost a week had passed since the attack. Her transformation, whatever that was, saved us, but not all of us. With the scale of the demon attack, it was a miracle that any of us survived. The fact that she saved all but twenty-seven people is something to be proud of. She however didn’t see it that way. Coming to the small graveyard, I saw her along with the six people guarding her.

  Somehow, she seemed worse than when we first found her. Though physically she was better off, her eyes showed none of the light that was previously behind them. Not only that, but her hair was visibly darkening to the point it was almost bck. As far as we could tell, she wasn’t ill. Whatever was happening to her must have been due to her transformation. That transformation, which we all agreed on, never happened. Being able to kill demons that easily surpasses the stories of the old saints. Regardless of what The Empire knows, none of us felt safe even whispering about it.

  The official story was that demons attacked the group outside the camp and we managed to retrieve the bodies. As for her depression, it can’t be helped. Reani was among the dead. She, out of all of us, was the closest to her. Not only that, but from what I heard, she doesn't really have any retives back home. None that she knows at least. I can’t help but worry for her. Stopping at her side, I pce a hand on her shoulder but she doesn't react.

  “Time to go.” I called out to her.

  “Right.” She looked up, smiling that same sad smile she had.

  Standing up, she brushed off what little dirt was on her clothes. Despite her clothes being thrown together from what we had with us, she still somehow manages to look dignified. I suppose that’s what it means to be a noble. Even in what she probably considered to be rags, she stands out. As I turned around, ready to leave, I felt a tug on my shirt.

  “Aura…” She called out in a small voice.

  “Yes?” I turned to face her.

  With a lonely look in her eyes, she waved her hand to signal for me to bend down. Doing as she wanted, I take a knee for her. As soon as I was in range, she wrapped her arms around me and gave me a hug.

  “Thanks for everything…” She said with a muffled voice.

  “Yeah…” I said, hugging her back. This was the same kid who kicked me and called me a witch.

  “I’ll miss you…” She said.

  “I’ll miss you too, kid.” Despite everything she put me through, I truly did mean that.

  We stayed like this for a moment until we heard a horn from the camp’s gates. Looks like it really was time to go. Letting go first, I encouraged her to do the same. Reluctantly she did so.

  “Come on, let’s go.” I gently guided her.

  Trisia

  ***

  Standing at attention with the Regent’s guard, I couldn’t help but feel nervous. Was she truly alive? We all heard of the demise of the main Eytell family line. Their guard was attacked by stray demons and their carriage went over a cliff into the Dark Woods below. The fall alone was said to have killed them all. Even if they somehow survived the fall, the scattered bone fragments were clear signs of ravenous demons. Four months ter, news from some mercenaries appeared ciming that they had found some noble child. That along with the name gave me hope. But could it truly be her?

  Inside the camp walls, I waited for her. If this was her at all. Could Evelyn have been alive all this time? How could she have survived? Waiting for what felt like hours, A woman rounded the corner with what appeared to be a child. This… Is that her? She had short dark hair, almost bck, and her eyes were dull and lifeless with bags under them. The soldiers around me were getting suspicious. They knew what her parents looked like, as did I, and this child did not look like them at all. Even though this child bore no resembnce to them, I couldn’t help but feel some sort of familiarity with her. Having been one of the few people who was regurly around her may be pying a part in it. Then again, this could all be my hopeful wish that Evelyn was alive after all this time. Feeling our doubts, a mage from the department of magic stepped forwards.

  “Is this her?” He asked.

  “Yes.” The woman leading the child said.

  “Have you any proof of her identity?” He asked.

  “Only her word.” She said.

  “Are you aware of the Eytell’s physical traits?” He asked.

  “No, I’m not.” She said.

  “Then how can you be sure that this is their child?” He asked.

  “Truthfully I’m not.” She said. “All I know is what was sent in the letter.” She said. “We found her out here and when we asked who her parents were, she gave us the name.”

  “Have there been any abnormalities with her?” He asked.

  At this, the woman’s expression changed ever so slightly. Slowly she began to nod.

  “Yes, well recently her hair seemed to get darker.” She said. “Our mages looked at her, but we couldn’t find anything wrong with her.”

  “Ah, is that so?” He asked.

  “Yes.” She said.

  The way that the mage nodded seemed to suggest that he knew something, but didn’t say anything. I’m not well versed in magic, so I can’t exactly tell what this meant. Looking at the child once more, I imagined her with blond hair. If this child were blond, she would certainly match Evelyn’s description. If what that woman said was true, what could cause her hair to darken? Could this be the result of a prolonged stay in the Dark Forest?

  “Lady Eytell, come along.” The mage said, before I could think on the subject any further.

  The girl simply looked forwards, unblinking.

  “Lady Eytell?” The mage asked.

  “I’m sorry, she’s been doing this often.” The woman said, before speaking slightly louder. “Evelyn, they’re here to pick you up.”

  “Ah? Yeah…” She said, stepping forwards.

  That voice. I can't forget it. It was Evelyn’s voice. Is this truly her?

  Lloyd

  ***

  After a day in the saddle, I fall down in my bed. Today I went out hunting with father and it was much more tiring than I thought. I don’t have the strength to use a bow, so I was given a crossbow. Though I’ve been trying to prepare myself, I couldn’t shoot the deer. Luckily father got it, but I couldn’t help but feel as if I failed. If I can’t kill a simple deer, what makes me think I can kill a demon, or anyone who will actually fight back? Sighing, I close my eyes. I keep telling myself that this is a game world, but it’s hard to believe. Nothing feels like a game. The demons are going to come. Our only salvation is the saint. I need to protect her at all costs. Only her powers can defeat the Demon Lord for good. Who is the saint…? I need to find her. Deep in thought, I missed the footsteps heading towards my bed. Unannounced, I suffered a blow to my stomach.

  “Buwea!?” My eyes shot open.

  “Hey.” Lna looked at me with a smug smile.

  I sighed. “Can you not?” I rolled to face away from her. “I’m not in the mood.”

  “I heard you messed up today.” She said.

  “Not in the mood.” I repeated.

  “Probably because you’re an idiot.” She said.

  “Do you want to fight?” I turned to look at her.

  “No, I just wanted to congratute you.” She said.

  “For missing?” What kind of taunt is this?

  “No, for shooting.” She said.

  “So what if I shot? I missed it in the end.”

  “Yeah but you tried to shoot it. That’s more than I could do. You actually tried.”

  “Where’s this going?”

  “Well, I don’t know how to say it but thanks.”

  “Thanks?” I asked curiously. “For what?”

  “Yeah. You know, for everything.” She said.

  “I haven’t done anything…” Where is she going with this?

  “Well no, not yet…” She muttered. “But you know, about the demons and Demon Lord and everything.”

  “What about them?” I asked.

  “Well, its just…” She hesitated. “You’ve been working really hard to prepare for them. Learning swordsmanship and tactics and studying magic. Meanwhile I haven’t been doing anything…”

  She turned away and started pying with her hair. Why did she bring this up now? Obviously I would prepare for the demons. Yes, I may have forgotten most of the plot of the game, but we still need to prepare.

  “I just want to say thanks for keeping us safe…” She muttered. “You know, like in the future. I’m scared of fighting… I can’t even pick up a sword and you're out here already trying to get experience… I just… Thanks…”

  Is this brute actually shy? The same girl who days earlier was trying to knock my lights out is thanking me? Seeing her blushing and frantically avoiding eye contact, I couldn’t help but smile. For such a brute, she sure does have a cute side. Feeling the urge to tease her, I reached out my hand and patted her head.

  “D-don’t pet me!” She said, hesitantly spping my hand away.

  “Aw, but you were acting so cute.” I smiled.

  “Don’t call me that!” She said, turning even more red than before.

  Seeing how worried she was about the future, I decided to reassure her. Once more, I put my hand on her head.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll keep you safe.” I promised her.

  “W-whatever.” She turned away. “Just go back to bed, stupid…”

  Suppressing a ugh, I felt the urge to hug her. My sister is really cute.

  Aaron

  ***

  Sitting in what was formerly my brother’s office, I looked over my remaining paperwork for the day. Ever since he and his family died, I have been reassigned. Given that I was the closest living retive, I was the obvious choice to take over the family name. My wife and son were more enthusiastic about the change in our positions, but I wasn’t. Setting aside the fact that I had lost my brother, I had far too many responsibilities as it was. Worrying about my wife and son’s ambitions seems to now be another. Perhaps I should tell them soon? In my pondering, I felt a breeze from the previously closed window.

  “Lord Eytell.” A Shadow appeared in front of my desk.

  “Give me the short version.” I ordered him without looking up from my work.

  “As you predicted, it truly is her.” He said. “She is expected to arrive before noon.”

  “Good.” I said. “Ensure she arrives here safely.”

  “It will be done.” He bowed.

  Finishing signing the st few papers, I finally looked up to find the office empty. Looking outside, I estimated that there were only a few hours until her arrival. Looking in the garden, I saw my wife enjoying tea with my son by her side. I wonder how they will feel when Evelyn arrives? Becoming pceholders until Evelyn reaches age?

  Evelyn

  ***

  The carriage passed the estate’s gates and stopped at the main entrance. Being lined with maids with armed house guards behind them. I don’t recognize many of their faces… One of the guards opened the door and I stepped out. After multiple days of a long carriage trip, it felt good to stand on my own two feet.

  “““Welcome home Lady Evelyn.””” The maids bowed for me.

  That’s right. I’m home… Looking towards the house’s entrance I saw an unfamiliar family. A tall man who resembled my father, a shorter woman who hid her mouth behind a folding fan and a curious looking young boy who was maybe three. I suppose that they were the ones who took over. None of them looked at me kindly. The father looked at me as if he was trying to gauge my use. The mother’s gaze was cold. If she was trying to hide her resentment, she wasn’t doing a good job. As for the kid, well he looked at me as if I was an alien. I suppose that the clothing they arranged for my arrival wasn’t to their liking. Having seen my reflection in the window of the carriage, I still look like some sort of wild child. Taking a deep breath, I stepped forwards. I’m back.

  Grayburne