The words from that murmur unknowingly traveled from my ears to my heart, making it slightly warm. Those soft, delicate arms around my neck warmed my body that cold night.
"It worked!"
As I thought this, a slight tremor arose in my heart, and it began throbbing violently. A series of stark pains made it ache, my eyes burned, warm pearls like tears fell, and I lifted my arms, slowly wrapping them around her, gripping her tightly. I had no reason to do that.
"Why am I hugging her? Why does my heart ache like this?"
I thought to let go of my arms, but they didn't listen, gripping her more tightly.
"Huh! What is happening? Why are they not listening to me?"
"It was all supposed to be an act?"
While I thought this, a sudden warmth flowed through my body, and it felt something it had forgotten long ago. I knew it in my mind, but my body didn't listen; it was like an instinct for all living beings to never let go of something comfortable. I didn't accept it, but it was comfort, which I had not drifted in for quite a while.
Just for that moment alone, I dropped thinking, just embracing that feeling. A sweet aroma came from her body, something otherworldly, as I buried my head in her long hair. But I still justified it as an act. I didn't want to accept that I experienced comfort from a stranger.
"It's all an illusion! I am not feeling anything."
Meanwhile, something was going on in the girl's head, as her cheek reddened slightly.
"What am I doing!!! Why am I clasping myself to him!!!"
"I have never hugged someone. I just came back from the hunt, I am covered in sweat. Ain't I reeking of sweat?"
As she thought this, I pulled her closer, surprising her, but she agreed, allowing me to embrace her.
"Ehhh, why is he pulling me closer?"
"But I can't seem to reject it, and why is that?"
SNIFF
"And what is this smell? Why is it this addictive?"
Her face was fully red, as thoughts came to her mind.
"I can feel his cold skin, large hands, and his whole body."
"Can he feel mine too?"
Her face brightened like a tomato, eyes closed tightly.
"What am I even thinking?"
"But why does his body feel so cold? Does hugging someone always feel like that?"
While she thought this, my eyelids got heavy, and a warm, low yet stern voice left my mouth.
"I will take revenge on that bastard."
Upon hearing it, the girl's eyes widened.
"He wants revenge on the one who took his parents? No wonder I felt he was hiding something from me."
And a gentle, soft voice resonated in my ear,
"Rest for now, I'll help you with it."
As I processed, a tender pat on my head. A soft muffle left my mouth.
"Mom."
And my body relaxed, my breathing calmed, and an unknown trust rose from my heart as I fully leaned on the girl before me.
A low, visible steam rose from the girl's head.
"He leaned completely on me!! And why did he say 'Mom' just now? Is he missing her?"
"And why does his chest seem warm for a moment? Am I imagining things now?"
But she quickly shoved those thoughts aside.
She unwrapped her hands from me, and smoothly mine too, supporting me with her tender arms, she rested me down on the bed softly, covering me with a blanket. And started to get up, but just as she turned around, she sensed a sudden pull from behind, my fingers curled around her like vines seeking warmth from the sun. Like urging her not to leave me.
As moonlight danced on my face, erasing the darkness inside, making my face glow like an array of gleaming stars in the dark sky, my eyes shone like two glittering orbs, giving them an ethereal look, lowering her gaze in surprise, a thought rose in her mind.
"Was he always this attractive?"
Her cheeks got slightly rosy as she came forward, beside my head, whispering in a flushed voice.
"Don't worry, I am not leaving you alone."
Listening to those words, a wave of relief rushed over me, soothing me, as the intertwining fingers began loosening, finally parting from each other.
The girl, with her heart throbbing, hurried outside with heavy steps. As her footsteps' sound slowly faded from the room, only deafening silence remained.
The girl stormed out of the house like a walking lightning, knuckles whitened, as thoughts swarmed in her head.
"Aghhhh!"
"What did I even do today!!!"
Noticing her violent chest.
"Why is my heart throbbing so much!!!"
"Calm down."
She took deep breaths, calming her heart.
While she was doing this, a voice came into her head from a tree nearby.
"Battle Captain Celestia, there's a report about the sighting of a herd of goblins approaching the village."
Celestia's eyes suddenly became sharp, her warm look replaced with a cold one; her eyes glimmered in the moonlight, giving it a rather menacing look. Her commanding voice sounded.
"Lead the way. It's time to hunt."
Hearing this, the figure in the shadows rushed out, kneeling in front of her. With a respectful tone, he said,
"Battle Captain, it's on the western part of the village."
Celestia's eyes squinted as a hateful look surged on her face.
"From the west, you say… Isn't that…"
The figure replied in his respectful tone, a slight sweat appearing on his face.
"Yes, as you suspected, it is the same side where the new vein of Aetherium Crystal has been discovered."
"And where the Solantha Empire and Nerathian Dominion, both empires' armies, are clashing."
Stomping her leg on the ground, thoughts flowed in Celestia's mind as she bit her lower lip slightly.
"Due to their armies' battle, all the monsters from that side are coming in our direction!"
"Their endless greed is now even enveloping civilians in danger."
Gripping her fists tightly, Celestia said,
"Time is of the essence. Let's move, now."
"Yes, Battle Captain!"
As these words left her mouth, she hurried toward the goblins' direction. The figure followed quietly behind, leaving the place in a sudden silence.
Meanwhile, across the battlefield to the west, the sounds of destruction filled the air…
As the moon hung in the clouded sky, screams filled the surroundings. Loud explosions instilled fear in the soldiers nearby. The ground was covered in deep pits filled with corpses, and blood flowed into the open spaces.
But suddenly, a cry rose from this desolate and mundane space.
The third commander, Fuzimura Suzuki, holding a sword in his hand, stood on a wall made of sandbags. His fist was tightly clenched, his face dyed in the enemy's blood.
"If you wish to live, you must tear apart the enemies in front of you."
"If you wish to see your family and friends back home..."
"If you wish to face them with a smile..."
"Then you must fight and destroy the enemy blocking our path."
His breathing grew heavy as he raised his hand, fist clenched. Moonlight shone on his blood-red face, making him look like a war god leading his soldiers to victory.
It felt as if the whole battlefield had calmed down for a moment as he loudly declared:
"We are not going home covered in white—we are going home soaked in blood."
"We won't back down. We must win."
"Those who stand in our way must prepare themselves for agony."
"My soldiers, rise! My soldiers, tear your enemies apart!"
"Carve a way for yourself and your future with your own hands!"
As these words reached their ears, the soldiers who were down with faces of defeat rose. Those who had been thinking about their wives stood tall. Those who had been lost in thoughts of tomorrow also rose.
Countless soldiers stood, crying in unison:
"We must carve a path!!!"
"Tear our enemies apart!!!"
Rushing forward with blood in their eyes, they looked like devils marching ahead—as Suzuki charged forward like a war god, cutting down anyone in his way.
It was the army of the Solantha Empire, and the one leading them was their third commander, Fuzimura Suzuki—who rose to the commander's position quickly with his ruthless ways and cunning personality. With him in the lead, the Solantha Empire hadn't lost a single battle ever since. And even with all these achievements, this fellow was just in his twenties, yet no one dared to underestimate him due to his young and charming face. He was a walking demon once he was on the battlefield.
As he cut his way through the enemies swiftly, a crazed expression slowly appeared on his face. His eyes widened, and his lips curved in a sinister smile.
"This is fun! Ah, this is so much fun!"
"It is not enough. I have to slaughter some more."
Just as he thought this, a voice came into his head.
"Suzuki, the Cataclysmic Commanders have been spotted."