Holy shit… I think I may have gone a bit overboard with this. I intended it as a short side story how the fuck did it end up longer than most my chapters? Actually I do know. I went into quite the detail because I never liked POVs that only showed the overall feelings of the person the POV was for. Maybe you’ve read some? The ones that didn’t go into any detail and just offered a barebones explanation of the feelings of the person at the time. WELL NOT THIS ONE BABY! IN FACT I MIGHT HAVE MADE IT A BIT TOO DETAILED!

Anyway enjoy the side chapter. Or hate it idk.

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I was just a normal girl. My mother died when I was young. My father used to be a strong adventurer but he got his leg injured and was forced to retire. The healers couldn’t even help him since he was injured by a beast with a strong affinity for darkness, an affinity stronger than the priests’ one for light. I’m sure if a High Priest got involved they would have been able to heal him but there wasn’t one around and by the time my father was able to see one it was too late for recovery.

After his injury my father couldn’t really get a job at any place and so the adventurer’s guild offered him to be a receptionist in one of the frontier countries. I was a bit sad to have to move but in the end I didn’t mind since I would be with dad. After all he was the only family I had left.

The country of Astrain was worse than we thought but we were in one of the safer cities. The lord around here was nice and it was one of the only safe havens in the country… until five years ago when the lord was stripped of his status and a new one came. The new lord was for lack of a better term a piece of shit. His sons were more like bandits passing through towns and taking whatever they liked. Thankfully they usually announced their visits beforehand so as long as people hid their daughters and didn’t agitate them they didn’t take much.

Me and my father usually didn’t meet with any of them since dad was usually at the adventures guild and I rarely left the house other than to get groceries. My dad came back home one day drunk. That was weird. To my dad drinking was a competition. When the other side gives up he stops drinking too. And he was a STRONG drinker. Some people at the adventurer’s guild called him the drink master and as ridiculous a title as that was he was quite proud of it.

“Heh. You won’t believe the guy that came to the guild today.” (Brul)

“Dad. You’re drunk. Go to bed and rest.” (Lily)

He was already drunk enough to not be able to stand straight so I ran over and caught him before he stumbled. Really though what kind of person was this to make dad drink so much?

“Never seen such a kid before. He beat me without even strengthening his body with mana and then drank with me all day and still left looking like he didn’t even get a drop of alcohol down his throat. Hahaha!” (Brul)

“Dad seriously.” (Lily)

I don’t know who this person was but I was really thankful to him. I hadn’t seen my dad so happy very often after we moved. Or rather after mom died. It’s not as if he was depressed the whole time or anything. I just didn’t hear such a truly genuine laugh out of him very often anymore...

“You know Lily if you ever think about marrying someone that’s the kind of guy you need. That kid would throw his life away like it was nothing to save something he loves. Could see it in his eyes.” (Brul)

“Dad… seriously you need to go to bed!” (Lily)

“Haha! Sure princess. You can let me go now.” (Brul)

I still helped him up to his room at least. He really was drinking too much. I felt my face get hot as I thought about marriage. I wish that kind of person really did exist. What girl didn’t wish to be a princess saved by a knight in shining armor?

I shook that thought away and got back to chores. I still needed to make dinner for myself even though dad didn’t look like he would be eating.

Nothing changed after that. Dad still went to his job as a receptionist at the guild. I stayed at home taking care of the house. If there was one thing that changed it’s that dad kept talking about this guy he met in the guild that left him drunk and went to exterminate the goblins that I heard were gathering around two days from the town. He even told me he offered me to him since I wouldn’t be able to find a decent guy anyway. SERIOUSLY DAD!

It was peaceful… for about three days. I was going to deliver lunch to my dad today but when I was turning a corner in my rush I bumped into someone. I was about to apologize but someone hit me across the face instead, making me fall on the ground.

“AH!” (Lily)

“You wench! Do you know who you have just bumped into? This is the lord’s third son. You’ll bow down and beg for forgiveness if you know what’s good for you!.” (Guard)

Looking up I saw the man who hit me was quite the large man with iron armor on. Looking behind him I saw a boy maybe two or three years younger than myself dressed in high quality clothes that a noble would wear. I quickly got on my knees.

“I’m sorry my lord! Please forgive me! I was in a rush and did not see you when I was coming around the corner!” (Lily)

My face still hurt but that wasn’t the reason I wanted to cry. It was so humiliating. Why was he here? He didn’t announce himself coming here today.

“Good. I accept your apology. In exchange you will come with me to my father’s mansion.” (Lord’s son)

What? No… no… NO!

“NO!’ I screamed as the guard that previously hit my face laughed and grabbed me.

I was unwillingly pulled around town while screaming and crying. I begged them to let me go. To let me stay. I apologized over and over but the brat heard none of it. When he was done mindlessly strolling around the city and exploiting the shop owners they threw me in a cage at the back of a wagon he bought... for free and left me there.

We had traveled for half a day already. When we left the city it was the evening but it was now day. I could tell from the slight opening in the curtains at the back of the wagon. I kept crying. My throat was hoarse and my tears dry but I could not stop crying. This was the end of my life. This was going to be the end.

“YOU MOTHERFUCKERS!”

The voice sounded like dad. No I was sure it was dad. But there was no way for him to win. Maybe if he was in his prime but not with a limp leg.

“DaD! Don’t! Run!” (Lily)

“What are you doing? No need to stop. Just leave a few people to deal with him and keep moving.” (Lord’s son)

No! NO! ANYTHING BUT HIM! AT LEAST NOT HIM! My thoughts were completely denied. The wagon kept moving leaving the sounds of swords clashing in the distance. I couldn’t see what happened through the curtains. I could do nothing but cry again. I could do nothing. Nothing at all. I could only put my head on my knees and cry. No… I couldn’t even do that anymore because my tears had dried up.

A few more hours passed while I listened to the random chatter and laughter from the guards outside. I couldn’t make out what they were saying but I still listened I had nothing else to do in this darkness. There was only one line of light coming through the tiny gap in the back. I accepted my fate already. My father was probably dead… I didn’t have a place to go back to anyway. The only thing I could do now is probably kill myself before something even worse than death befalls me.

I realized it was quiet outside. The wagon had stopped again. Before long I heard someone shout.

“A-An elemental of darkness!”

“Wh- Why is it standing in the middle of the light as if it’s not affecting it?”

I could hear the soldiers going crazy about something but it was just stupid. There’s no way a darkness elemental was here. Let standing in the light.

“What are you waiting for? What do you think my father pays you for? Hurry and kill this elemental or whatever and let’s move on!”

I heard the noble brat complaining to his men. The soldiers started running while screaming battle shouts. Whatever the thing outside was it would probably die soon… or so I thought.

“Foolish idiots.”

The voice sent chills down my spine. The bloodlust contained in it was so strong, so concentrated that even someone untrained like me could feel it creeping down their backs. I cried again. I couldn’t handle the fear. What followed were many very different kind of shouts. Shouts of fear. Shouts of despair. Shouts of death. And silence. Absolute silence. Whatever the thing outside was I could feel it walking closer. But it passed by the wagon.

It seemed to be aiming for the son of the lord. I couldn’t hear anything but I could feel whatever that thing was coming towards the wagon again. I was shaking from the fear. I saw a single hand grasp the curtains at the back of the wagon. It was pitch black and looked more like a concentrated mist of darkness than an actual hand. I stopped crying at this point and held my breath in fear of what was to happen. At least maybe whatever this thing is will offer me a quick death rather than the life I would have had after this.

The hand pulled aside the curtain and the thing climbed in. The inside of the wagon got even darker than before when it came in. I could see nothing else but I could weirdly make out the thing even in the darkness. It stopped in front of my cage and two blades came out of its back. At this point I could only cover my face so as to not look at my approaching death. I heard the bars of the cage fall to the ground and prepared myself. I waited. A second. Two seconds. A few more. But it never came. I peeked out from behind my hands and what I saw shocked me.

There was a man there. A single man with white and black hair and eyes. The man, my father told me about was stretching out an arm towards me as if waiting for me to take it. I hesitated. I didn’t know what would happen if I took its… his hand. Would he help me? Would he save me? I remembered how much my father praised this man while we ate dinner at home. How much of that was true and how much was deceit? But… I decided to trust him. Not the man in front of me but my father.

I took his hand and he grasped it tightly. I felt calmer holding his hand. Somehow it brought out my sadness. And I cried.

I cried for a few minutes. The man waited for me patiently while holding my hand and said nothing. When I was done he asked me if I was okay to which I answered that I was. I wasn’t really convinced of it myself but for now I told him I was. I didn’t want to upset him. His face showed no emotion. He might be annoyed with me taking so much time.

I suddenly remembered my father and asked him about him but he simply looked down. His face showed emotion now. I instantly knew that my father was no more and he confirmed it with his words as well. I thought I would cry again from having hope be born in me only to be once again torn away but my tears were now pretty dry again so I just sobbed tearlessly. Not even able to cry for my own father’s death.

When I calmed down he urged me to get out. I was all for it but I had to make sure of something first. I asked him why he was helping me. His answer… that he just felt like it. What kind of a reason to help someone was that? I still went outside a bit unsatisfied by his answer.

The outside was covered in bodies and blood. Before we moved on the man looted the corpses for money. I didn’t disapprove. These guys could rot in hell for all that I cared. After he did so we distanced ourselves before he turned to the scene of the massacre once again and without even blinking or moving a limb a black fire burst forth and absorbed it. There was nothing left. Only ash and the liquid metal on the ground.

I once again realized how terrifying the man was. For a moment I had even thought that someone had just killed the darkness elemental before it had gotten to me and this was who the man was but now I realized that was only wishful thinking. For starters what kind of darkness elemental used fire as well? There was no way this person was a simple elemental. They can only use their own elements and nothing else.

I mustered up the courage and asked for his name in as lively a voice as I could muster. He introduced himself as Kenos and I also introduced myself. He instantly started calling me Lily. I complained a bit through my fear not truly realizing what I had done until after I had done it but nothing bad happened to me. He just rebuked that he came up with nicknames for most people with long names.

After that we walked. For hours. I asked him to take a break or stop but he kept urging me to walk saying there was something we needed to finish today. It was night when he stopped in front of a big spike made out of something that looked like a black crystal. The earth under it looked freshly dug. Looking at him I realized what it was and fell to my knees, finally losing all remaining power in my legs.

“F-Father?” I asked him barely even able to say the one word. He simply nodded and I once again started crying. As I started he came up and embraced me. It felt so good… so calm… so serene. The sadness kept rushing out as if he was absorbing all of it and my vision got dark.

When I woke up I was staring at his face as he was leaning back on the spike. Realizing my current position lying on his lap I stood up frantically and looked around to confirm where I am. I suddenly remembered what had happened yesterday. My life had changed in one single day. This was the end of my peaceful life.

The man asked me to tell him what happened and I did… the short version. I could at least do that but when he asked me what I was going to do I had no idea. I had nothing to go back to in Acton. If I did it was possible that the lord finds out that his son died after taking me and come look for me. If I’m found and accused of his son’s murder… my fate would be even worse than if his son had just succeeded kidnapping me. I absentmindedly spoke my thoughts out loud but I did not expect his answer.

“Do you want to come with me?” (Kenos)

I was dumbfounded.

“…Huh?” (Lily)

“You don’t want to?

I… was conflicted… But I decided to trust him… again. If not him I still trusted my father.

“No, no!” But I hesitated “I just… Why? Why are you helping me so much?” (Lily)

There was a moment of silence.

“Because your father helped me as well.” (Kenos)

I was shocked but… I could only laugh. As expected of dad. Everyone loved him. Even elements of darkness. I once again spoke my thoughts out loud.

“That statement sounded a tad dangerous. Not to mention I’m not darkness.” (Kenos)

I didn’t realize what exactly he said for a second but when I did I just kept on laughing, completely ignoring his statement that he wasn’t darkness. Who even cared about that at this point?

Our next destination was to be the lord’s town. When I asked Kenos why he just answered while smirking.

“We’re going to visit.” (Kenos)

I didn’t believe that he could just outright oppose the lord. That was his third son but surely there were mages he has hired that could do something to him. He just mocked me and at the same time reassured me.

I didn’t have much of a choice anyway so I told him where the city that has the lord’s mansion is and followed him there. He hunted and cooked for me. The smoked meat he made was good… but the one he cooked with fire was delicious. I was afraid I would get addicted and then fat if I ate too much of it.

The first night I tried to sleep I had nothing but nightmares. Kenos just sat the entre night watching over the fire. He told me he didn’t need to sleep and that he didn’t get tired. I remembered how well I slept on his lap so I reluctantly asked him if he could lend it to me again to which he obliged albeit while looking at me like I was weird. I don’t care! Anything to get rid of those god-forsaken nightmares!

Again I felt so at peace lying in his lap. As if I was floating on top of the ocean. I had never seen it or swam but I imagined this is what it would feel like. As I absorbed myself in that feeling I fell asleep again. This time without any nightmares.

Before long I was sleeping in his embrace. Apparently I had started hugging him while sleeping so by that time my embarrassment had already reached the max and I just started sleeping while hugging him outright.

It felt different. Like I was being embraced by the dark depths of a large ocean but I didn’t feel scared. The dark waters around me didn’t feel oppressive. They felt calm, serene. This was exactly the feeling that made me trust this person. I just can’t bring myself to think that someone I can open up to this easily would throw me away easily. I just didn’t feel like this person would do that.

When we got to the town we found an inn and Kenos secured me a bath. He even got me new clothes and we went around town. Shopping for ingredients for cooking and the like. He also bought me light leather armor and a sword. I thought that maybe he could buy something for himself at the alchemist but he instead got me a few healing potions and told me there’s nothing useful to him in there anyway. Instead we went to the bookstore but there was still nothing interesting for him so he instead bought me a book on body strengthening. That overjoyed me. I wanted to be stronger. I never again wanted to feel so helpless.

Yet I was. The next day when Ken had gone to the library I was left alone. I read the book he left me and tried to strengthen my body according to what I learned from it but it was hard. I had decided to go out but I had once again bumped into the lord…not literally this time. He took a liking to me since I looked nice. His guards attacked me and I tried to fight back but could do nothing. I was once again captured. I was once again useless. Ken… I’m so sorry for being useless.

I was dragged into the lord’s mansion and thrown into a dark room. The lord was apparently tired and busy as he had just come back to town but he would soon have his way with me. I looked around. I couldn’t see too well but before they locked the doors I could make out other women here. I crawled slowly while touching the floor to make sure what was in front of me. I called out to the women but none of them answered. I finally found one by feeling around where I go. She was breathing but cold. I tried to shake her awake but there was no reaction.

I felt like I had been locked into a room full of corpses. I remembered how I felt when the lord’s son took me from my home. I wanted to die. I was right to think that if this is how I would have ended up otherwise. I hugged my knees. The tears were almost coming out of my eyes but I held them in. I can’t always just cry and ask for Ken to save me. I don’t want to.

I looked around the room again and noticed a brighter part than the rest… no it wasn’t exactly brighter it just… stood out. I walked over and I could make out a metal door. I tried to open it but it was locked.

“Is anyone there?”

I suddenly heard a voice from the other side. The voice was quiet and obviously belonged to a young girl. I was a bit conflicted. What should I say?

“Are you alright? Did they hurt you?”

I was surprised. She was locked away eve deeper but she was worried about me?

“I… I’m fine. Don’t worry. You’ll be fine too. There’s someone who will save us!” (Lily)

I told her with as much of a confident voice as I could muster. I was confident that Ken would come to save us. Positive even. I just… felt conflicted about it. But I wanted to reassure this gentle girl who was more worried for me than for herself.

“Really?”

“Yeah! That guy’s gonna come for sure! He’s not the kind of person to not do something just because it might be difficult!” (Lily)

At least that’s what I felt he was like. He was confident all the time. Some would say he’s just cocky but I dare them to say it after seeing him murder around fifty soldiers without even breaking a sweat.

We fell into silence after that… I walked away from the door and waited around the middle of the room. Or at least I think it was somewhere around the middle. I couldn’t quite see very well in the dark. Before long I heard it. There were screams coming from outside and then silence. A door opening. Questioning. And another door opening with light coming into the room I was sitting in.

Kenos was standing at the door. Some blood was on his face but he was uninjured. I really wanted to become strong so that I didn’t have to rely on that powerful and fearless form standing above me. I didn’t want to ask him to save me… but surely… surely he would be glad if I asked him to save another