The next day. Evan woke up before dawn. The reason of that is another weird dream. He dream about countless people died in the winter and countless undead rise from death. It’s short but it feels forever. Evan decide to take an exercise.

He running around the village till sweats covered his body and then he used a cloth to wipe the sweat. He takes a look at the sky, the sun is rising.

“Morning thick.” a familiar voice which makes Evan frowned.

“Why calling me thick?” he said. The one who called him was Kalba. He got much more friendly face than before

“You don’t need to understand that thick.”

“Stop calling me thick!”

Kalba laughed by Evan’s reaction. He is too thick to know why he is called thick.

“Morning you two!” the cheerful voice. Nimura greeted them and looks very happy.

“Morning Nimura.” Evan greeted her with a smile.

“Ah, morning.” Kalba scratched his head and looking away. His face is slightly blushed.

“You two looks lively in the morning. It’s much better than before!” she said, she watched Kalba greeted Evan earlier and when they have quarreled a bit.

“Just like old times isn’t?” she smiled brightly.

“Three of us.... together.”

Three of them fell silent. Once again they reunited as friends. But deep inside themselves, they are changed. They are not kids anymore. Especially Nimura and Kalba. Even though they are together, they are changed. Evan is an exception since he is thick and not think about the future of three of them.

“Well! Why don’t we go play like before?” Nimura said and grabbed both Evan’s and Kalba’s arm then pulls them.

“Play? But we are not kids anymore.” said Kalba with blush on his face.

“What are you talking about Kalba? It’s not like playing is limited for children only.” Evan answered.

“He is right! So, let’s go to the forest!”

When they were kids, they often playing at nearby forest. No matter where they go, they are always together. Back then, their friendships are unbreakable until emotion called love grow inside two of three.

“So, what are going to play?” Evan asked after arrived at the forest.

“How about hide and seek?”

“Okay, i’m it and both of you quickly go to hide.” Evan said and he close his eyes and turn over his body. Both Kalba and Nimura start running into the deep of the forest. Evan counting till ten and finally he is going to seek them.

Evan’s steps are quiet and there is no noise at all. He hides between tree to tree and to a rock and bushes.

“I think this is the place. Evan wouldn’t find us right away.” Kalba’s voice.

“So, what are you going to say.... Make it quick before-”

“Nimura.” Kalba said and holds Nimura’s shoulders. “Ever since kids, i always love you....” Kalba continued with slight embarrassment on his face. Nimura’s eyes widened and her heart beating really fast.

“Umm..... I....” Nimura flustered and don’t know what to say.

“I know you’re in love with Evan but i love you, that is why i told you know.... So, that....” Kalba scratched his head.

“Well...... I’m still not confessing to him, so it’s not fair. I don’t know how to-”

“It’s fine, after you confessed to him. I’ll wait your answer.....” Kalba smiled.

Nimura looking at him with widen eyes and then look below with smile.

“Thank you, at least you’re not thick as him.” she said.

‘Why is everyone calling me, thick.’

Evan frowned, he is actually hiding behind the tree nearby. Hearing his friend confessed, he feels happy but knowing Nimura is really loves him. He feels weird and awkward.

Evan sighed and then faking himself by appear just now.

“Found you- two? You two didn’t go hiding?” Evan acted as if he never heard anything.

“Well, you took a long time and I remembered that I got things to do.” said Kalba.

“Ah... Me too. I remembered about the fishes we caught yesterday, i forgot to keep it inside after dried them up.” said Nimura.

“Oh well..... That’s mean we’re going back home.” Evan looks dejected.

“Cheer up, we’re going to play next time.” said Nimura. Evan slowly nodded and thus they are going home together. On their way, it’s rather awkward and there is no conversation at all.

Arriving at the village, they are returning home and Evan going back with dejected. He thought he finally reunited with two of them and going to have fun but it turned out to be awkward.

Evan didn’t do anything at all, he went to sleep after having lunch.

“Why? Why did you do this?! Are you giving up? Is your heart already fall to the abyss?!”

“You never understand Rivast. Besides, I no longer have a heart. I’m an undead.....”

“Then why you-”

“Good bye Rivast.”

Bam!

“Aaaaaaaahhhh!!”

Scream. Evan woke up from his sleep with sweat. Countless screams can be heard outside and. He quickly stood and walks outside his room and found three armored people with weapons facing against his father and behind him there is his mother.

“Why fight back? Just give us your wife and we will never hurt you.” said one of the armored men while laughing. Oswald hold a spear and thrust it towards the neck of one of the armored men.

“Bastard! You don’t know how to give up?!” one of them attacking, Oswald pull back his spear and blocked the attack. The spear easily split into two, Oswald use the upper broken spear and stab it towards the eye of the second man.

“Gaaaah! Fuck-”

Oswald didn’t stop there, he stabbed the other eye with the other part and blinded the man.

“Die!” the last one swing his sword towards Oswald, but Evan running towards him and picked the sword lying on the ground and thrust it towards the last man’s neck.

Blood sprouted from the neck and showering Evan. He fell to the ground and slowly touched the blood on his face.

‘Feels familiar....’ Evan thought. He killed someone and yet he didn’t feel anything at all.

“Wake up Evan!” Oswald said as he picked the sword on the ground.

“Evan, get the sword. Follow me and protect your mother.”

“Y-yes!”

Three of them slowly coming out from the house with Oswald is being in the lead. Evan widened his eyes, dozens armored men raiding the village and killing the villagers. He couldn’t believe it, why his village got attacked? The kingdom is in peace, so why?

“Come!” said Oswald. Three of them starting running away.

“F-father, what about-”

“We can’t save them! We-”

“Where did you think you’re going?” another armored people blocked their way. Oswald clicked his tongue and raise his sword. Evan unconsciously raise his sword and protect his mother.

The armored man gazed fell to Katrina and smiled wickedly.

“Hmm... That woman looks good; we’re going to have-”

“Not a chance!”

Oswald starts attacking first but the armored man dodged and got angry.

“Kill the men! We’ll take the woman!”

“Evan! Go!” Oswald ordered.

“But-”

“Go! Protect your- guuh!” Oswald blocking the attack and start the fight. Evan hesitated but pulls his mother and start running.

“Catch them!” the armored man ordered. Two armored men start chasing Evan and Katrina.

Both of them aren’t running really fast due to Katrina have low stamina. Evan stopped and protect his mother quickly.

“Trying to be brave kid?!” one of them swing its axe towards Evan. He dodged it and thrust his sword towards the elbow joint. He didn’t stop there, he pulled out his sword and slit through the man’s neck.

“Shit! Die!” the other man thrust his spear and Evan parried it away. He dashed forward and slash the man. His sword penetrated the armored man’s armor and cut the chest. After killed two armored men, Evan stood while looking at the sword.

‘Feels familiar....’

“Evan!”

Her mother shouted and Evan came back to the reality. A huge sword advancing to him and he don’t have time to dodge.

“Guuuh!”

Blood sprouted, it wasn’t Evan’s blood. But his mother’s blood who protected him.

“M-mom?” Evan shocked and trembled. He holds his mother and looking at her.

“Ughh.... Son.... Stay alive.” Katrina smiled and coughing.

“Mom! Don’t die! I promise to protect you!”

“Evan.... I’m happy to have a son like you.” Katrina slowly touched Evan’s face. Her eyes are getting heavy and she closed her eyes. She stopped breathing and her hand fell down leaving a blood mark on Evan’s cheek

“Mom...... No.......” Evan crying and hug her mother tightly.

“Damn.... That’s sad. We can’t have fun with her.” the armored man with huge sword groaned. Evan twitched when he heard it. He put her mother down on the ground and pick his sword.

An unbelievable emotion rising inside him. An emotion that more than angriness, a hatred and vengeance.

‘Feels familiar....’

Evan stood and raise his sword towards the armored man.

“Heh, think you are-”

Slash

Evan cut the man’s neck in instant. His body unconsciously filled with mana and he is using magic without knowing. He shifted his gaze towards his father. His father had died too. His heart fell into rage and charging at the one who killed his father.

His speed is incredibly fast when he arrived, he cut one of three armored men and then move to kill the other one.

“Bastard! How did-”

Slash

The last one fell down with neck splits open. Evan’s eyes turned cold. He glared at the other armored men who rampaging the village and he run at them.

Evan moved his sword and feets in synchronization as if he were live and die for the sword. Every armored men he encounter fell like wheat before the scythe. Evan is like a reaper from an underworld.

“Fuck....Who is that kid?” other armored felt something different from Evan, they never expected that someone manage to kill more than twenty armored men.

Right now..... Evan is trying to calming himself and observe his surroundings. Are there no villagers survived? No, there are two people and that people is Evan’s friends. Kalba and Nimura.

Kalba is holding a sword while protecting Nimura. Evan dashing towards them and brandish his sword towards the armored man near them.

“Evan?!”

“Evan!”

Both of them shocked by Evan appearance who killed the armored man. He shifted his gaze to Kalba and Nimura.

“Both of you, run.” he said.

“What about you?” Kalba asked with worry.

“I’m staying.” Evan turned his body and facing the armored men.

“No, we’re not going to leave you!” Nimura said, tears almost flowing out from her eyes.

“Run! At least both of you survive. It will be fine!” he shouted and then glared at Kalba.

“Run, bring Nimura away.” he smiled.Kalba hesitated and bit his lips. He then forcefully carries Nimura and starts running away.

“No! Kalba! Stop!” Nimura struggling to escape from Kalba but her strength wasn’t enough.

“Kalba stop! We can’t leave Evan!”

But Kalba didn’t answer and just keep running while carrying her. It was painful for him too. Leaving his friend who finally became on better term. But he has to make sure Nimura alive, or else Evan’s struggle to protect them both will be in vain.

As for Evan, himself, he is fighting like a madman, the armored men wouldn’t dare coming closer to him and feels that they are fighting against a demon. But actually, Evan is reaching his limit. His body can’t hold the exhaustion.

“So this is the boy who manage to slain my men?” an armored man come to him. This armored man wore different armor. It’s painted black and looks scary. The man’s face covered with black helmet and he is holding a white steel sword and a shield.

“I’m Count Orderich, i shall be your opponent. Everyone stand back!” Orderich ordered his men. The armored men obeyed and they are taking steps away from them and form a circle.

“Your talent is amazing; you can use magic too. Unfortunately, you will have to die on my hand.” Orderich said as he raised his sword upwards.

“For my motherland!” he shouted and then he disappeared from Evan’s vision. A sword pierced Evan’s chest from behind. Orderich pulled back his sword and let Evan fell to the ground. He then turned around and walks away.

Evan lying on the ground with blood coming out from his chest. His eyes are heavy and almost no sign of life.

‘No......’

He didn’t wish to die right now. He still has a lot of things to do. He can’t die here, he still need to give proper burial to them, to the villagers. He can’t die here; he needs to stay alive for his mother and father. He can’t die......

At that moment Evan died, in that moment where he revives once again.