Chapter 6 – Blood Brothers

Aoi's gaze wasn't directed at me anymore.

[What has it been? 30 minutes, 35?] This is for how long we have maybe talked, and in this time we have become the centre of attention of each other's respective worlds. It might only be a little while but it is more than enough for me to realize that this is the most important moment in my life. [How could I have been able to live until now without her eyes upon me?]

If the meaning of a person's lifetime could be crystallized into a moment, it could only be something like this. It's as if all my past life is drawn into this moment and defined by her anew. Would I compare my life to a book with the most horrible poetry on the first pages, then the page on which she appeared would have the power to rewrite the beginning. You could read it a second time and be amazed by the beauty of the words. That's the kind of existence she has become for me in this mere moment of a lifetime's crystallization.

[So would you please look at me again? I'm not begging but it's something like water in the desert. Yes! That might work. She seems to have a radar for thoughts like these. (when I think rude things) That comparison lacks finesse so she will sense it: Water-Desert, Water-Desert, Water-Desert, Water-Desert]

“Lucius, stop it. You are the light of my life and don't need to tease me to get my attention.”

[I knew it'd work.]

“How did you know my name is translated as 'light'?”

“It is?”

“It is.”

“Do you know the meaning of my name?”, asks Aoi with somewhat of an expectant look on her face.

She is mature enough to understand that I might not know the answer and won't mind it but she'll also be happy if I know it. [I can completely read you.]

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Aoi's POV

[Says he.]

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Lucius's POV

“Your name is a reflection of the colour in your eyes.”

She smiles knowingly at that.

“Lucius, you need to turn around. Someone is looking in this direction.”

“I can understand why he'd watch you.”

“He is looking at you, not at me.”

“Wait. You are not talking about a demon here, are you?”

“No. He's just like me. I think you released him, too.”

“I...didn't release anyone.” As I whisper this I turn my head around and – Pflegggg! (an iron bat hit)

After reawakening I see him. [What a pained expression...] If Aoi's expression was a result of the horrors she experienced here, his would be more similar to mine, I guess. But his eyes aren't full of regret, it's sadness. [Where have I seen something like that?]

...

[Ah...mother had the same look on her. He was betrayed by a loved one.] I would have normally felt guilt for seeing through someone like this, as if I'm prying, but he wasn't hiding it. Aoi's case is different. It's a fated meeting. We couldn't hide things from each other, even if we wanted to. He on the other hand side has simply no will to hide anything.

[The pain seems to affect him more than us.] Of course, I have Aoi and she has me. He might fall back into the dark again at any moment.

I talk to him in the black tongue:

“You broke free from the terror. There is no way your mind is that weak that it can be preoccupied by physical pain for an eternity. You know the truth, don't you? At some point you realized that this pain isn't amplifying anything inside yourself, it is just a hindrance in facing what you try to hide. It might be your momentary will to engulf your wrenched body, in an attempt to run away from greater agony, but it is not mine. See yourself the way I see you; someone who came to the same truth as I did: a broken body – it means nothing. You don't want to run away.”

He was at a point right before the abyss, a moment akin to standing on top of a building and looking down, wondering what would happen if he'd jump. [What would I do if that would be the first thing I'd see as the full world? I'd probably be blinded. So it's that. He's just like a new-born, waking up and finally taking notice of his surroundings.] In a sense he became self-conscious again. It is wondrous how fast the both of them could do it compared to me, who had to gradually come to this point. I wasn't fully aware of everything from the beginning. Step by step I widened my world, accompanied by constant torture and slowly but surely seeing myself.

In the moment where I stopped talking to think, he started to fade away again. So I go on:

“True strength isn't defined whether you have the courage to go into the darkness. It is defined by whether you understand that darkness can't stand where you go because it has no meaning. Do not back away. Let the abyss back away from you!”

I do not know whether he heard or understood me. There was just a need for me to say these things to him. Although I see him in pain and agony, there is also strength, and gestures of understanding and sharing the pain together don't seem right. It would have been an insult to him so I decided to see him walking by himself.

The one who clearly catched on to my speech was his tormenting demon, though. He had an interested look on his face and was just about to say something. [Maybe he wants to switch out with the iron-bat swinging boy that's working on me right now and initiate a conversation?

It is obvious that he would talk through the power of his sword.]

Deciding on another course of action he didn't answer and instead went on by showing greater zealous in the abuse of his original victim.

As I started to scream at him in anger and telling him to come over to me I blamed myself for talking in the foul language of those demons. It was Aoi who noticed it:

“Lucius...it's alright. Don't be blinded by your anger and let them hog all of your attention on them. Just watch. Don't you see it?”

“What are you talking about?”

“It's as if you used a spell, although I couldn't see any Mana, it clearly worked.”

“It was no spell. It was my honest opinion.”

“Nevertheless it helped him. Can't you see it? Even though the demon uses much more strength than before, he isn't able to inflict as much pain anymore.”

Certainly, she's right. His behaviour shows now more signs of resistance, mainly noticeable through the change in his screams.

[It can't really be that a sorrow shared is a sorrow halved, can it?]

I try to talk to him again, this time in my own language. He's still not answering and seems to be in deep thought. Even Aoi tried it in her language but it was still to no avail. Still not answering, I start to wonder, if he does not wish to talk.

There's something; his gaze doesn't seem to be focused on me anymore.

[Is he falling into the darkness of his mind again?] Following the path his eyes are taking I see that he is staring at the ground. [What might he be looking at? Is it his past?]

Yet, he does not fade away. There! He's opening his mouth, finally willing to say something. It is just one thing whose meaning I do not know:

“²&%)=”

It's the same again as with Aoi?

“Did you understand him, Aoi?”

“I know what language it is, although I am not able to speak it. I only understood one thing. He is dangerous.”

“Dangerous? In this place?”

“There is only one kind of people in the world who would use a 'Blood Oath' to promise death to others.”

Even the demon in front of him put a hold to his actions in surprise.

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New guy's POV

The woman I loved killed me. It was a dirty betrayal for money. We've been in the same party for three years and I thought we had something real going on. To find someone special at the age of 44 is truly uncommon and I felt like a youngster of 16 again.

But...at first I didn't want to believe it. In the night before, we were at a tavern with rooms for adventurers. Our party of six had just finished with preparing for our departure in the morning to go on an A-Ranked Quest in the outskirts of Endron.

I went early to bed so I'd be in top form for the next day. There I found it. It was a letter with instructions on how to lure us into a trap and kill me. I didn't want to believe it. I DIDN'T WANT TO BELIEVE IT. Was I prepared to go to my doom to test her loyalty? I was. But at the same time I prepared for the worst case scenario. The thought of escaping didn't cross my mind. I wouldn't have permitted that kind of ending.

The next day I woke up early and went out to conclude some affairs. The first and the hardest thing was to meet with a proxy of the Assassin's Guild on such a short notice. As someone who was in the business for many years I had a good enough reputation to get to the necessary people.

Throwing money around left and right as bribery it was obvious that I was desperate and thus my case was deemed sincere. With him I deposited a large sum and left instructions to send someone after her if I wouldn't show up after a week's time.

For the next thing I bought poison. Just in case. I didn't know how many of my party members were in on it so I might have needed to put them out of the game early on. You should never cross the cook in your group.

So when we went out I was full of anxiety, not able to do the right decision and hoping for the best outcome, that it was all just a joke or a big misunderstanding. On the way I was watching her carefully, observing every move she made. She was obviously all tensed up.

My fears became real when she suggested to make an early camp at the very spot that was described in the letter. Preparing the food, I put the poison in every serving – hers had the largest amount in it. It was a good poison, no smell or taste, a white powder just like salt. The effect would only paralyze them but her dose would be lethal if no antidote was applied fast enough.

When the effect became apparent and my 'friends' started to choke on their food and fell in a state of panic I didn't move a finger. Watching them as they fell over I calmly ate until I was finished. The whole time I was watching her.

“Why?” , I asked her with a calm tone.

With tears in her eyes she answered:

“I-I wanted you to stop me! I gave you so many hints, not even hiding the letter.”

That was no answer to my question.

“Why?”, I asked again in the same tone.

“P-please! I love you. I beg of you.”

“WHY?”

“Th-th-they have my brother.”

“Lies.”

“Please....”

“You will die here. As for the others: The poison will wear off in a couple of hours. If you ever cross my path again I will kill you. Consider yourself lucky that I don't know whether you were in on it or not. It's my last gesture of gratitude for the years we were together.”

“Why didn't you...stop...me?” Her voice was already faint as she drifted into unconsciousness.

“Because it was you.”

Clap! Clap! Clap!

From the background I heard three slow claps. In an instant I grabbed my two-handed sword and turned around. [How did I not notice him?]

There was an arrogant Endron-Elf standing without the slightest hint of being alarmed in his posture. His two swords were still sheathed and he showed no signs of hostility. Yet, there was no opening in his stance. No chance of victory. A high level opponent. [The letter said the time of the ambush shouldn't be before midnight.]

“Who are you?”

“I'm her employer.”, said the bastard and tilted his head a little in her direction. “A magnificent display, by the way.”

“Why would you want me dead? I don't know you.”

“Don't play the fool. You know who I am. I am the last person you'll ever see alive.”

[Fighting is suicide. I need to get out of here.] Probing my surroundings I eventually understood that I was already in an encirclement and that there was no room to escape.

“You finally noticed?”, asked the bastard in his tentative tone.

[I doomed myself. But I don't regret coming here. Nobody crosses me without paying for it.]

I took the last stance of my life and readied myself, but I would not be the one defending.

The bastard also knew that playtime was over. He didn't give me the honour of a fair fight, though. Upon a wink of him demons appeared out of the woods. [What are THEY doing here?]

That was something I didn't expect. [Why would an Eldron-Elf use demons as subordinates instead of other elves? A mercenary unit? Useless thoughts. There is something more important to do.]

And that was attacking him. I was never good at attack magic. The only magic I ever showed any talent in was from the 'School of War' the Beast-Races developed. Body strengthening techniques and mind-magic, befitting of a natural born predator.

There was no hesitation in my jump; at the same moment the demons around began with their charge but they are not my target. My aim is to unleash a powerful side-swing from the right at the eldron in front of me. The classical move of a two-handed sword-fighter. I knew it wouldn't connect with his throat I was aiming at but I still forced him to take out one of his swords and to deflect it. Not stopping in my movement I changed to a one-handed grip and rotated my body for the second strike, which he evaded through an acrobatic manoeuvre in jumping backwards, kicking my arm in the process. That did not make me lose my momentum. Until now the fight has been going as expected so I changed to a two-handed grip again and upon my next rotation I charged once more at him, this time by using my weapon like a spear and aiming at his heart. I scratched his armour.

By now the look of arrogance disappeared from his face but the one of confidence was as strong as ever.

It was now my time to defend. He followed in the path of my sword with an unimaginable speed when I had to draw it back to regain my stance. The most crucial moment for someone without a shield like me and he preyed on in without mercy. With the sword in his left hand he hindered me in my defence – I was wide open – and he pierced my heart with the blade in his right.

I wanted to close in on him, now one of his weapons was stuck in my body, after all. Maybe a last headbutt to break his nose but he didn't let me and used a headbutt on me instead. [Who would've thought something like that of an elf? Truly, a high level opponent.]

I fell backwards on the ground. His last words to me were:

“One move more than I anticipated. I had to use a headbutt. Really, it's such a shame...”

….

I was not allowed to rest in peace. I thought I had died but when I woke up there was another demon in front of me. [What a weak little child, I'll break your neck.]

“Uagghhhg.”

There is no power in my arms, I couldn't move them. [A strike from an inexperienced hand is closing in on me and I can't evade, simply forced to watch him.] And it happened again and again. [The pain is greater than it should be. I've had many injuries in my life but I never felt something like this before.]

The torment never ends. My thoughts are bound by it.

What kind of vile curse has been put on me? Is this the doing of that witch? Her revenge on me for poisoning her? Even if that elf has given her an antidote, she will meet her end. I have made sure of that.

I was betrayed...love, what a rotten thing.

“You there, the demon in front of me. What is this strike supposed to be? Is this your attempt at hate? If you don't try harder I might mistake it for love. And you do not want that. ”

I have been really betrayed by her...

I had my revenge but why does it still feel as if nothing has been gained and only loss is there? Ah...solitude is a bliss. There! I see a serene forest without anybody. Such a place would be wonderful to live in, with only nature as my companion. It's not like I fear betrayal, I'll take it head on if it comes. It's just...that I'm exhausted by it.

But what is this now? This curse, it's weakening and the horror in front of me isn't binding me anymore. How did I break free from this?

There...it is...I...I smell love!

“Argh!” I didn't break free from the curse, no! It is much worse than I thought – it's the next stage of the curse! I need to fight it! Concentrate on the pain again. Yes, go back to a prior stage of this curse.

“Damn!” I can't escape; it must be a curse of the highest grade. I didn't ever notice you were such a powerful witch, my love. Just you wait, you wench. I will come and find you, even if your survived the poison and the assassins. It wouldn't be the first time a spirit haunted the living.

“Grrrr....” This foul stench of love, where is it coming from?

There! It was you two! How dare you perform such an vile act of indecency right in front of me? I will hear your excuse (pleas) first, and then I will administer punishment. The demons are already dead but I'll give you a chance, because I see that you are also victims of the curse.

“Ahh...!” Is that your excuse? You have been tormented here for what seems to be an eternity and now you just comfort each other out of loneliness? The evidentiary hearing is closed. Now hear my judgement: Death.

I will kill the woman first. They are the more dangerous ones. Any last words?

“§%&^”

The language of the demons? No, your plea for mercy has been rejected.

Now that I decided upon it, how will I do it, considering the state I am in? I don't have any attack spells at my disposal, nor am I able to move any of my limbs.

...I know! Executing them might be impossible for me at the moment, but I can at least inflict a wound. There is one spell from the 'School of War' I know of that hast a damaging attribute to the body. It is a mind attack, which is amplified through the voice of the user: 'Roar of the beast'. Now, feel my wrath.

“Uagh..” Just by trying to gather my Mana I fall into a state of mental exhaustion and nearly lose myself in the curse again...

There is so much blood on the ground, I didn't notice until now. How many litres must there be? The whole floor is covered with it. The blood of the tormented is mixed together; we are basically standing in it. Oh...I see. I can't kill you that easily.

Turning to them again I say:

“We have spilled our innards at this damnable place together, so we have become blood brothers. It is a battlefield on which we stand together and I will honour this. But I swear on my blood that is now flowing through your veins, if I witness any betrayal between you I will kill the both of you without mercy.”

End of Chapter 6

Afterwords.

That Chapter was a pain. Initially i had the idea to put in another history lesson to explain the origins of the 'Blood Oath' but i scratched that. I think it'll become a sidestrory.

I hope you like the dark cupid I came up with. He will bring happiness to many couples. Although i feel like he might be too shallow. There is an idea on how to make him a realistic stereotype, but only in the far future.

Last time I said Horo is a nekonomimi and someone pointed that mistake out to me. I stand corrected. I wanted to say kemonomimi but the other one rolls easier from the toungue so I wrote that.

It was Spice and Wolf, Overlord, Mushoku Tensei and LMS. I hate Legend of the Legendary Heroes on completely forgot about that Eris. If they love each other they should also show it.

My opinion for the best series of this season:

Kiseijuu: Sei no Kakuritsu and Psycho Pass 2