Good news, for you at least.

I couldn't sleep so here is another chapter.

Also, thanks to the user ShamelessLeech, I was reminded of my title and that I thought about changing it, since I don't want people to not giving this a chance for the title implying a poor fanfic.

So tomorrow, when I'll (probably) release a new chapter, I'll make a poll with some titles and you decide what's best.

Of course, the option to keep it will be present, and if you don't care, option is included and I'll do whatever.

By the way, thank you ShamlessLeech for giving it a chance and enjoying my work.

To others too, of course, thanks for the support.

Enjoy!

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A hundred men stepped out of the woods, completely surrounding us from all sides, with only our backs protected because of the rocks.

Apart from one man, all were dressed in rather high-quality leather armour, carrying crossbows with an Energy enchanted metal tip, specially designed to penetrate through Energy barriers and pierce the soul.

It could even potentially harm me.

What’s surprising is that none of them had a single shred of Magic in them, something very strange considering the previous time I was awake, everyone had at least some Magic.

But they were completely without and, more surprisingly, their crossbows had Energy enchanted bolts, something only those who completed the road of Magic or by reaching the late stages of technological advancement.

Considering they possessed neither Magic nor high-end technology, it was rather strange.

“Final warning. By order of the Lord, give us the children. What do you say?” The captain, the only one wearing metal armour, said, drawing his sword and pointing it at us.

The ‘Lord’ huh?

The way he said it, it sounded more like an order of ‘God’ than by a king.

So some megalomaniac is behind this all?

How dull.

But really, what should I do?

Protecting the children is a given, I’m not a monster that won’t help little children who are being threatened like this. Especially since I know the pain of being experimented on and having been reminded of it recently. Strange coincidence, now that I think of it.

But anyway, should I kill them?

If it were five or ten people without those enchanted bolts and quality armour, then it wouldn’t be a problem.

But a hundred, dressed like they were some special and professional regiment? It would definitely invite unwanted trouble.

I can understand where they’re coming from though.

If – I don’t know for certain – these children could truly manipulate the Energy in their souls, they could easily kill ill-equipped soldiers. And if they couldn’t, then they present a huge possible threat in the future, thus requiring a quick and thorough extermination.

I decided for the ‘let’s-see-what-happens’ approach of problem-solving.

Especially since, seeing the commander and the soldiers sweating bullets and looking anxiously, they must have sensed the Energy leaking out of me by now.

Taking a last glance at the anxious look of the children, I looked the commander in the eye, making him flinch almost unnoticeable.

“….Nah.” I said, sighing and feigning disinterest in them.

I sat down, forcing myself between the boy and girl while looking at the commander struggling with his decision.

After a while, resolution dawned on his face and shouted: “Company, fire!”

The soldiers, disciplined as they wore, fired without the slightest hesitation and with great accuracy.

Since the bolts were enchanted with Energy meant to penetrate a barrier, I decided to take a more interesting approach.

Although I might wanted to show off to the children.

Since my soul and the Energy in the world were connected with each other, I need but a quick thought and I could sense through the free Energy in the world, and alter it as I wished.

I activated my Soulsense, allowing me to sense every bolt, every rock, every blade of grass and every patch of dirt around me.

For every single bolt, all 99 of them, since the commander didn’t have a crossbow, I made a current of air, sending them through some sort of tunnel to whatever location I desired them to be.

In this case, the heart of the 99 soldiers.

Within a second after firing, the thumps of impact, the cracks of ribs and the grunts of dying mean filled the air, before everything became eerily quiet.

All 99 men collapsed, having a hole in their heart with the bolts having flown away, since their flesh and armour were not strong enough to lodge them in their bodies.

The commander stood frozen, seeing all his men dead in the blink of an eye.

Since everyone was already dead, there was no reason to keep him alive.

In fact, it would be less troublesome if he died.

Focusing some Energy in a small ball on my thumb, I shot it away with my index finger, sending it cleanly through the still-frozen commander’s left eye, instantly killing him.

Looking to my sides, I saw the children looking at me, eyes filled with awe in their amazement.

I slightly smiled, looking at their faces.

….

Smiled?

I, smiled?

I moved my hand to the corner of my lips and indeed! They were ever so slightly upturned.

How long has it been? How long ago was the last time I smiled?

I don’t remember smiling when I met Emily, although I had high hopes for the future. Though that might be because she was a rotten brat.

Although I was kind of glad seeing Lillian healthy and happy, it was but a superficial and fleeting feeling, definitely not enough me to smile.

Because I only smile when I’m honestly feeling like I should smile.

Never a smile out of politeness.

Never a smile when superficially glad to see someone.

Never a smile for the People of Sloth, even when I sort of cared about them.

The last time I smiled, can only be then.

The days with my wife, were the last times I smiled.

That was the time I smiled the most, nearly every single day purely out of bliss.

And now, albeit slightly, I smiled looking at the surprised faces of two children.

Why?

Is it because I like children?

No, although I do not hate them, I never liked them either, thinking they were a bother.

Is it because a similarity in fate?

Sympathy does form a bond. Both of us being cruelly experimented on, a shared pain, could form a bond. But is that enough?

But that is unimportant.

The most important thing is that I am willing – no, that I’m able to smile with them.

Although right now, the bond is small but shallow, I will see where it takes me.

I will take the chance when offered, just like with Lillian and many others before her.

And just like then, I can only hope it would lead to something, and even if it didn’t, I might get surprised like with Lillian and Emily.

Thinking about Emily, I thought to visit her when I woke up, to see what she has become. But this is more important.

She has waited for ten, nearly eleven, million years, she can wait for ten million more.

In fact, that might be better.

For now, let’s see where this leads.

Still looking at their faces, I saw something I had almost forget.

Their clothes were in poor state, to say the least, and their face showed sight of fatigue and malnourishment.

A quick flick of the wrist and the Energy surrounding us poured into them, feeding them, revitalizing them and turning into somewhat more decent clothes, a simple tunic and pants for the boy – similar to what I was wearing – and a simple shirt and skirt for the girl.

Of course, the shirt allowed for her wings to remain free.

Feeling their exhaustion lifted, their stomachs filled and seeing their clothes prim and proper, their faces shone even more

Although when they noticed they were starting to cling on to me, they blushed and stood up.

“Thank you mister for helping us. Anna, you too!” Bowing his head slightly in gratitude, he whispered the last words insistently and prodded the girl with his elbow.

“Thank you mister.” She said, even going so far as to clumsily curtsy, making me laugh lightly.

I was not surprised that I laughed now, even if it has been so long that my laugh sounded odd.

“Don’t worry… Anna, is it?” She nodded vigorously and blushed slightly, looking.

“And what is your name, little man?” I asked the demonic boy.

Feigning a mature face and trying to sound manly, the boy said: “I’m Damien, sir.”

Anna the angel and Damien the demon.

The laugh disappeared from my face and I looked into his eyes with a serious look.

“Do you have anywhere to go?” I asked.

Although it is bad for me to think like this, I slightly hoped they didn’t, since then I could ask them to came with me.

If they had a place to go, though, I’d bring them there and see what to do from then on.

“No…” Damien answered dejectedly, his improved mood now gone. Anna too, her face previously full of vigour and blush, looked down after my questions.

Although feeling guilty about it, I felt relieved.

“It might sound strange, but I know what you’ve been through and want to help you both. Will you come with me? I’ll take care of you, I promise.”

I rarely ever promise.

Initially, both of their faces hardened and looked at me suspiciously, weary of me, which is natural.

But then, I could see they remembered something and their faces softened.

Me, screaming in agony after dreaming about my past.

Me, soaked in sweat and tears as I relived my past.

Both of them nodded, both of them having made a decision and determined to see it through.

I smiled, stood up and walked over to them, petting their heads and ruffling their hair.

They flinched at first, but got quickly used to it, smiling happily underneath my hands and my happily smiling along.

All around us, the bodies of a hundred men lying in a pool of their own blood.