Here it is! Please let me know of any grammar errors and the like! :cool:

Might be a little gory. Might be. Proceed with caution!

Chapter 20: Death Dandec!

Continuing into the depths of the dark cave, there were certain parts that we were plunged into total darkness. Aside from these green gemstones, we have nothing else you could call a source of light.

Celica put her hand on my back and stayed close.

“Should we turn around and go back to where we came from?”

“I highly doubt we could reach the other side like this. We were only fortunate enough because of the adrenaline.”

I said while putting my hand on the wall. My boots were squishing water with each step I took, but it was still better than walking barefoot like her.

“Why did you have to go nude behind the waterfall anyways?”

“……And why do you want to know?”

“Forget I asked.”

I blew an unseen sigh. A part of me hoped that this partial friendship would somehow be better, but it was impossible with the likes of her.

A few more steps and it was completely pitch black again.

Seeing this, I managed to let out the shamelessness inside me and said.

“Umm, can you not cast a simple fire spell to lighten our path?”

“No,” She answered immediately. “There’s too many risks involved. We could cause a cave in or attract whatever monsters are living inside this cave.”

I never really understood half of what she just said, but I decided to heed her instructions. So instead of relying with the usage of fire, I walked back and cut a piece of these green gemstones with my shadowy blade.

“Here, grab one just in case.”

I turned to my left and extend an arm to Celica directly.

The fist sized stone managed to catch her interest, and she gazes at the stone like a child brimming with curiosity.

“How can… How can your blade cut this so cleanly?”

While showing a dull face, I pressed forward once more.

“Don’t think too much about it. Come, let’s continue.”

“Wa...Wait! Don’t just leave me like that.”

Scurrying footsteps followed after me, accompanied by a pleasant warm feeling emanating from her palm on my back.

Although Celica could be violent, I guess she’s not so bad when it comes to it.

I have not much confidence by myself, but having another presence here with me takes a load of stress off my mind.

In the meantime, I held the gemstone in my left hand like a torch as we go in deeper.

After continuously walking in silence for nearly an hour, without encountering any monsters, we happened upon something bizarre.

“Mmmp!”

Celica cowered against my chest, and I held her tightly.

There was someone sitting on the floor, looking damp and dejected.

At first glance, I thought that certain someone moved. No, it definitely did. But because of this darkness, it’s really hard to make sure if my eyes were simply playing tricks on me.

“Celica, watch my back…”

No matter how much I wanted to stay connected, I pulled away to inspect this suspicious figure.

The acrid stench of death and decay grew fouler with every step. And the moment I lighted that figure with my stone, I was startled.

“—A skeleton?!”

Surrounded by rats, solemnly sitting over there was a lonely looking skeleton. Judging from the its set of equipment left to decay, this guy used to be a soldier.

But the real question is, how did he ended up here dying?

An exit lies ahead—that’s the only logical conclusion I could think of. I can only hope that whoever caused him to rot here would be long gone by the years.

Added to that, there’s a few gigantic claw-like gashes just a few centimeters above this skeleton.

Was this…… some sort of warning?

“Celica…”

I called her name, chills running down my spine, the words lodged halfway through my throat.

“What… do you think?”

“D-Don’t ask me… I’ll follow your decision.”

“Good. Prepare yourself just in case.”

We resumed our advance once more. Luckily, this hallway is spacious and straightforward, but in this case, we seemed to be walking forever.

Celica clung to my left. She seemed to have strapped Fairy’s Tear on her back since it would be too inappropriate to hang it on her waist.

“This place… What do you think it is?”

“Hell if I know.”

“Hmph, I shouldn’t have asked.”

“Shouldn’t, huh?”

Even though were in a dangerous area, I can’t help but enjoy the soft sensation coming from her bountiful chest. It made me smile sheepishly, like an idiot, as usual.

“Take that disgusting face off… It’s creeping me out.”

She complained. I glance to Celica, and unlike what she said, her facial expression suggested otherwise. Well, if that would make her feel at ease, then I don’t mind being seen like trash.

Eventually, something caught my eyes that made me halt.

Celica stops and looked at me in confusion.

“What is—”

“Shhh… Quiet.”

Unnatural silence greeted us when we entered a spacious room. All of a sudden, the surrounding air turned chilly, shrouding my heart in a basket of fear. Thanks to the growing gems on the wall, it’s surprisingly bright.

“Celica, can you detach for a moment?”

She stepped back. I looked at her face and it showed nothing, but I knew she was thinking the same thing as I. This sudden chill wasn’t brought by the wind, its a presence.

My hands are trembling, but I set that feeling of dread aside, and lifted my gaze in front. Right across the gap, I could see a shadow pulsing with its eyes glaring at me.

*Swoooong!*

I shot my blade out of reflex, but there was no sound of flesh tearing apart nor cries of agony left its mouth—which is somehow impossible.

Tersa’s dark blades could easily cut steel, without any resistance at all, yet whatever type of being there is in front of us set it aside as if it was nothing.

I broke out in cold sweat, and immediately, I ordered the girl on my side.

“Celica, can you heal my wounds in long distance?”

“It’s possible.”

“Then back off as far as you can, and be ready to assist me.”

After saying that, I slid the stone in my pocket, as I imagine two blades forming in my hand.

The shadow did not waste a moment, it began to move towards us.

As the shadow drew closer, I hear a *hoofing* noise grew louder and louder.

Imagine…

Two swords cloaked in shadows, 100 cm in length with a sharp and piercing blade…

“Shade shift!”

While waiting for the weird shadow to come across the light, I gripped those formless swords that materialize in my hand tightly, not even bothering to the intense headache that is tormenting my mind.

Celica popped an “Okay!” and I was wrapped in a warm and comfortable light that restored my brain’s functionality to normal.

And without a word of warning, the shadow—a huge humanoid like creature with the head of a ravaging bull— lunges at me, brandishing a weapon as tall as him in an unsightly manner!

I stepped to the side, yet the monster just swung its halberd in a circular motion, as if that large piece of metal turned into a whip!

And with a vibrating *KLANG!*, I stopped its herculean strength with both blades I stabbed on the ground.

It was a gamble, and my deduction was right. It doesn’t seem like it could cut through Tersa’s blades, but I couldn’t cut its weapon at the same time.

I gave off a single breath, pulled my swords on the ground and attacked the monster on pure instinct!

“………Hraaaa!!”

Accompanied by a loud shriek, I aimed for its head, but the monster retaliated wildly, causing me to guard instead. That large sweep forced me to cross my swords across my face, intercepting an attack that would have surely killed me if I was a second too late.

I slid backwards against a wall. By the time I leveled my gaze, the monster was already tackling after me!

“Shit!!”

With no time to evade, I prepared myself for the worst! Just when my head was filled with despair, a sudden rush made the monster stagger forward, diverting its attack aimed to cut me down.

“………Hiyaaa!!”

She advances with a stab, followed by a kick, and spinning her body, Celica slashed the monster in two large arcs!

“GRRRROOOAAA!!”

The ear deafening shriek of this monster brought me back to my senses.

That’s right, this is not the time to be daydreaming!

“Celica!!”

“Ohh!!”

She responded to my shout and suspended the monster from behind. There was not an ounce of mercy in our eyes. It is either him, or us!

With that gust of wind coming from Fairy’s Tear as my signal, I plunged both swords of darkness on the monster’s muscular torso!

Unable to withstand our onslaught, the large monster shuddered violently, releasing its grip towards its weapon.

I caught the halberd, balance the weapon in my hand, and after taking a wide stance, I chopped its head off!

Blood sprayed all over the area, followed by the monster flipping its headless self on its own puddle of blood. Even though its head already detached from its shoulders, it squirmed and wriggled around, squirting gore all over my body.

“Is it over?”

I muttered to myself.

Celica stare at me with a wry smile, and its all I saw before I fully collapse on the ground.

“You’re not half bad, you deserve a little praise~”

Celica laughed at my miserable state. She dragged my tired body to the side, along the entryway, and gave me a lap pillow. Because she’s not wearing anything underneath, I was only allowed to look the other way.

Still, it feels good~

“You really are clumsy, you were close to death moments ago, and now you’re smiling again?”

She run her fingers at the back of my head, massaging me gently.

“A lap pillow is more than worth it to risk my life for.”

“Haha, you’re weird.”

“That said, can I take a quick nap?”

For using “Shade shift” twice in a single day, I must be going nuts. I can’t seem to calm my head from throbbing like mad. This throbbing pain is driving my thoughts to insanity.

I do not want for anything else other than to take a quick nap right now.

“Sure, I’ll wake you up in a little bit.”

“Sorry…”

With her permission, I closed my eyes.

Forgive me Meles, it seems like I’ll be breaking our promise.

Back to Main Page