Part 9

Yelps and screams filled the forest. It was too dark to see into the depths of the forest but you don’t need to see to feel like vomiting.

“Hahahaaah! They seem to be having fun!”

Yet the constant blabbering of the monster leaping from tree to tree stopped Knight from doing so. All he could do was use it as fuel to find Rei. He didn’t have time to think if she was even still alive. He had to reach her because if she was alive, that was the only chance they had of keeping it like that.

‘Where the fuck have they gone?! This is the only way they could have gone.’

That was the only thought swirling around his head as sprinted through the forest.

‘Where?!’

“Heheh Hahaha! You better-HAHAH! Watch out.”

‘Where, where, where?’

Blinded by his thoughts Knight didn’t even register the bile of spit spewed onto his face. He kept running, finding himself inches from hooked claws falling into his chest. Blinded by his desperateness, Knight was torn down-

‘Where, where, where, where?’

Knight continued sprinting through the dull forest.

“Ahhh, I guess cannibalism ain’t too bad,” The glutton let out behind Knight, feasting into what nearly slew Knight in an instant. “Hehe, crunch, you’ve got more guts than I can eat from you!”

‘Where, where, where, where, where?!’

Not even the glutton’s babbling registered. His near-death seemed to only worsen his obsession - an amalgamation of everything he’d experienced in this world. Pain, hope, despair, pain, despair, pain, despair; hope to be a hero; hope to be happy; hope to see Rei’s smile once more; despair.

‘Where, where, where, where, where, where?!’

If he could find Rei, then he would have a reason to fight, even if he knew he would be beaten, he would be able to fight. As long as the reason was Rei, he would fight.

“Where are you!” He screamed, moving both legs as fast as he could. “WHERE ARE YOU, R-!”

The reasons fuelling his obsession entangled, tripping Knight to the grass floor.

“…”

“Oh, haha, obsession over now?”

“…”

‘No…This…That…They aren’t why…’

With the cold, prickly grass stabbing his skin, Knight untangled the amalgamation. Who was he trying to kid? He might have liked Rei but he still barely knew her. Even if he got to know her well, it’s not like it would change much.

‘XGYDGGDWE---------- As long as the reason was Rei? Don’t make me laugh.’

Whatever that voice was, it was right. Knight was wrong. Or was he?

‘Stop kidding yourself that you’re helping others.’

No, Knight knew what the voice was. He knew.

‘You’ve always done everything for yourself. Even if on the surface it was a kind gesture, you always have ulterior motives.’

Knight wanted to believe that it wasn’t true.

‘You have no power. You buddied up with the fairies because you knew they were strong, at least stronger with you. You’ve continued to ignore all the sketchy things Iroha has done, even quickly reconciling after your petty explosion. Heh, I mean where is she to be seen now, when you need her the most?’

Knight wanted to believe they were lies. But he knew that they were his true thoughts.

‘Rei? Heh, you helped that annoying brat because you were all alone in a dark dungeon, forced to slave away. Don’t kid yourself. You know you found her weird and annoying at first, why the 180? Face it, the reason why you care for her just so you aren’t-’

“-----------------!!!!!!”

“Oh, that the girl’s scream?”

He hadn’t realised it whilst drowning in his obsession. But the forest was null of those yelps and screams. A few in the distance maybe, but the forest was near-silent where Knight had run too. The silence was the only reason that yelp cut through that voice and his thoughts. It took silence to stop his obsession.

“…”

He wasn’t sure how he should feel. He wasn’t sure how he should act. He still wasn’t sure of his emotions. He knew that voice. His voice. Spoke the truth. But-

“-It might be for myself, but I need to save her.”

Knight’s conflicted, tangled emotions became one goal. To find Rei.

Shaking off his emotional weight, Knight sprinted in the direction of that scream.

Step after step, the silence crumbled away.

Step after step, a voice filled the silence.

Step after step, an image filled Knight’s eyes.

“Oh, who are…you?”

Step by step, blue hair caught his attention.

“S-Sister?”

Step by step, Rei’s crying face filled Knight’s mind.

Step by step, Knight crumpled to the ground. He had found her, but he couldn’t save her. She was in the clutches of another monster, surrounded by more monsters.

“Ohhhhh? Hehehehe, you’ve made a big mistake, brother.”

Before he resolved to save her, even if it was impossible. But if attempting to save her would lead to his death what’s the point.

“Wh-what’s wrong with eating prey, sister?”

If he only wanted to find her to save himself. If he only cared about her so he wasn’t lonely. He wasn’t going to throw away his life if he knew it was pointless.

“Hahahaah! My prey? Those beautiful eyes? A lot!”

Either Rei would die and Knight can run with a slightly lower chance of death. Or they would both die right now.

‘Th-That’s just fucking stupid.’

It wasn’t that voice, his deep feelings, that made him realise how stupid he was being. It was plain old Knight.

With that, Knight slapped himself back into reality and properly registered the image before him…