Grand forest - morning

My feet are on fire, all my focus narrows in on the spider, not to mention my heart is beating like a drum during a solo. It recovers in time to swing its leg at me. If that hits me, I can kiss my life goodbye. This thing is big as hell and built like a dumpster truck, but it’s agile enough to keep up with me. And with those big ass legs, I can’t get behind it without it following me.

I dive under it, pushing through before it can track me. No doubt it's gonna find me, but I’ll get to where I need to be before it knows what’s going on. In one bound leap, I climb on top of the monster’s back, grappling the hole on its back. Back then, the stone sword wasn’t good enough, but now…

“Alex, sword!” Nodding, he chucks it at me. Got it! Now, let’s see if this thing loves steel or not! “Suck on this, creepy crawly!”

The blade plunges into the hole, ripping into its flesh. Deeper, it needs to go deeper! Crap, it’s gonna shake me off before I can end it! And despite my best effort to hold on for my life, it throws me off like I was a child on a mechanical bull. Rolling, skipping, and sliding, I land on my feet. Shit, my injuries from my last fight are biting at me. Who knows how long I can keep this up?

“Watch out, it is charging!”

The damn thing is spitting out spiderwebs, blind fire and all that. We won’t be able to get close without it hitting us… Screw it, all or nothing…

“Nunnalé!” Her attention draws on me. “...I wanna finish this! Run up behind me and let’s take this thing out in one go!”

Nothing else comes to mind except this last play at winning this thing. A reckless charge at the enemy. All or nothing, giving this my 100%. It doesn’t matter if I can’t kill it; I don’t care anymore! Winning is the only thing that means anything.

Evading the webs hurling at me, the spider ends its rapid-web fire. It shows its back to me. Perfect, just what I wanted!

“Come on, you ugly bastard!”

The moment it leaped forward, carrying all its weight along with it, I took a defensive stance. If my math is right - which it always isn’t - this is gonna hurt like a bitch! But this is the best I can do, the only thing I can do! Meeting the full force of its tackle, the bones in my forearm and left-hand break, and both my legs push into the ground, resisting the sheer power this thing is throwing at me. Agonizing pain wrecks my body, screaming at me to stop, to just give up and run away. Never, I never will… I’ll kill this fucking thing here and now!

“KILL IT, NOW!”

The last piece of my plan zooms above my head, landing behind the Spider. A blade tearing open flesh reaches my ears. A shrill screech does as well, but it dies down just as quickly. I think I…I think it’s not moving anymore… I can even hear something leaking… Good, very good…

“We…did it…”

Good…good… I’m…so glad…

“Pro– Hear…”

Alex’s voice is getting farther and farther away… My body feels weak, and I feel lightheaded… Damn, I think…it split my…head…open…

“...P…”

Yeah, that about does it for me… The rest…is on y’all…

…

Alexander accesses Proxy’s injuries. Several fractures and broken bones are highly probable, blood loss is apparent, and he is unconscious. Proxy’s condition is bad. If not treated, then he may succumb to his wounds. However, that is not my concern as of now. I have filled the vial with the creature’s blood. If we make haste, we can save Master’s life.

“Have you retrieved the blood?”

“The blood is in my possession.”

“Excellent. Just allow me to retrieve my sword and we shall leave…”

Alexander runs over to the spider, moving behind it. I stare down at Proxy’s broken body. He will most likely not awaken until some time later… He went to extremes to defeat the enemy. If he had stood back, I could have defeated it without an unnecessary tactic like that. If even one of his moves were off, then he would have lost his life. Was it all calculated? How could he be sure he would survive? But it does not fit his usual behavior pattern. Then what was the purpose of him acting in such a reckless manner?

“I…am unable to comprehend…”

All I am able to conclude is that there is no logical reasoning for him exposing his body to such danger. It truly is incomprehensible, as well as foolish… Yet, there is this undying need to understand. I do not know why, but I feel uneasy just not understanding this… He perplexes me…

Anti-bandit Camp - evening

The first thing I feel is my chest and head beating, pounding, actually. Almost like someone beat me with a jackhammer. My arms feel no better. Both eyelids open slowly, adjusting to the light hitting me from the corner of my sight. I lift my upper-body, facing the light.

“You awake at last.” Sitting there, Selena rests a book on her lap. The light is the campfire crackling a few meters away. Probably means we’re in the center of the camp. “...And here I thought I would have to leave without saying a word to you.”

“How did I… Wait, what about–”

“He is alive.”

Words can’t express the level of relief I felt, and a huge weight pressing on my shoulders disappears. I sink my head into my hands to process.

“Thank God… Thank you!”

.“I would imagine I deserve all the gratitude. After all, I was the one who synthesized a cure and healed your wounds.”

“O-oh, right, sorry! Thanks for healing my wounds.”

“Hmph, I’ll forgive your lackluster thanks.”

“Where’s Richard, I need to–”

Selena stands from her seat to cover the entryway. “I will not allow you, and frankly, you do not deserve to see him.”

“What the hell does that mean!? You can’t tell me what to do! Get out of my–”

“Proxy!” She…she yelled at me… “...You foolishly put his life in danger then begged me to cure him! Do you know why? Because you overestimated your own strength!”

“I…I thought I could protect us. I mean, I…I always won… I’m the strongest punk of NewPort Island…!”

“...How pathetic… You have no concept of the world beyond your small, enclosed bubble. You were ignorant of the larger world around you. But I suppose that is to be expected from someone of such a frail mentality, let alone flaunting such meager strength. I have no words for someone like you.”

Frail… Why the hell did she say that!? And she called me weak! That witch! I’m not, I’m the strongest punk! That’s right, I am… I’m the strongest punk in all of NewPort island. Unmatched, no punk, delinquent, or anyone can beat me… That’s right… I always win there… But here, I’m the weak one. All those battles don’t amount to shit here. All that grandstanding was just me blowing air out of my mouth. And I was too goddamn stupid to see that!

“Y…you’re right, Selena. I… I’m some dumb kid who thought he was hot shit, and look what happened!” All I can do is sink to my knees, putting my head on the ground. “...I am pathetic.”

Is this all I’m capable of? Am I just gonna have to accept this as fact? That’s…not what I want.

“Indeed, you are. You're pathetic, weak, frail in mind, ignorant of your surroundings, and of how your actions affect the ones around you… But shall you do next?”

“What?”

“Do you simply wish to lie down, accept this reality as is?”

“Hell no! I don’t want that!”

“Then stop groveling and learn from this!” She snaps her fingers at me and steps forward. “...If you do not wish for this, then accept your loss and grow stronger from it!” Looking up at her, there isn’t a shred of disappointment or condescension. A beautiful smile born from a genuine want to see me grow. My head went blank and my tongue was tied up. Her hair is illuminated by the campfire from outside. “I do wish for you to grow stronger. After all, it would be a shame if you gave up now, no?”

Yeah, she’s right. I don’t want to give up, I can’t let it end like this! Never again, I never want something like this to happen again!

“I…I want to be stronger! Strong enough to never feel like this again!”

With a nod and her eyes shut with her elegant smile. “Then I hope to see you grow, child.”

If I had to put it in words, her beauty is breathtaking, ethereal even, as the moonlight itself. It’s fleeting, but even if she goes back to acting like a smug brat, I don’t think I can forget how beautiful she was.

“Oh, and while I love to see you on the ground, is it not embarrassing?”

Yep, there we go.

“You bet it is, so you better not expect me to do it ever again, ‘kay?”

She responds with a light chuckle, wearing a patronizing grin. “Only time will tell, Proxy. Hopefully, you will have the strength to back up your claim.”

“I will. And before you leave, thank you for saving Richard… I’ll repay you one day, I swear.”

A single wave of her hand is all she gives me, exiting the tent without another word. That’s fine, I guess. A gentle breeze blows outside. It prompts me to run out of the tent to see if Selena is still there. She isn’t here anymore. A gentle breeze is all that remains, and the light of the moon… Shit, don’t know if she knows how to make an exit or it’s just me.

“Thanks, Selena.”

Next time I see you, I’ll show you how strong I have become! And maybe I won’t call you a loli… Maybe shorty witch?

“Right, maybe I should go see what’s up with Richard…”

I say that, but my feet don’t want to leave the ground. Am I scared of seeing him? Crap, what’s wrong with me…? Maybe, I don’t have a right to talk with him. It was my fault he almost kicked the bucket, so maybe he doesn’t even want to see me; I know I wouldn’t…

“Heh, this isn’t good, not good.” Come on Proxy, now isn’t the time to act like a sissy. You owe him an apology, so be a man and give it! “Okay, let’s do this…”

After a bit of searching, I walk into the tent he’s situated in. He’s asleep, with Nunnalé sitting on a chair across from him, watching him. There’s a moment of dead air before she speaks up. “Hello, Proxy…”

“Uh, hey, Nunnalé.” Crap, this is super awkward. We’re not exactly on the right foot here, so I’m probably the last person she wants to see here. “Hey, can I… Would it be okay if I stay here for a moment?” She doesn’t say anything, gazing at Richard the whole time. I knew it. “...I get it, and you’re right, I don’t have a right to be here. I’ll...get going. Just tell him I’m glad he’s okay when he wakes up.”

“No, take a seat.”

“Are you sure?”

“Take a seat.” I sit next to her, watching my buddy sleep off his injuries. “Have your wounds healed?”

“Now that you mention it, I feel sore, but my body feels fine.”

“Selena healed you after she synthesized a cure for master.”

“Oh, I see.”

Nope, still awkward. She’s not good at breaking the ice, and I don’t do awkward talk.

“Given enough time, my master will awaken from his slumber. His life is no longer in immediate danger.”

“I know.”

More awkward silence creeps up on us. My fingers tap against my kneecap.

“Why did you risk your life?” Nunnalé suddenly asks me.

“Huh?”

“During our fight with the spider, if we had waited for an opening, I would have eliminated it without you having to interfere.”

“What, worried about me?”

“No, curious.”

“Well, why wouldn’t I? I ain’t smart, so I couldn’t figure out what else we could’ve done.”

“Do you not fear death?”

“Do you?”

“No.”

“Figures… I guess nothing gets to you, huh?”

“...That statement is…inaccurate.”

The corner of my eyebrow raises. “Really?”

“Fear is the neurological reaction of a threat towards an organism, as well as the unknown. However, I do not feel such a reaction when faced with death. Death itself is the natural order of life. This perspective allows me to fight without ‘fear’ of my life.”

“Still waiting for the ‘but’.”

“Even with this, when I saw my master hurt, dying, my skin crawled, thought ceased, and the breath in my lungs escaped.”

“It’s dread, that’s what you felt.”

“How would you…”

“Cause that’s exactly what I felt when he took the hit for me…” I give her my undivided attention. “...You asked me why I risked my life. It’s because he risked his life for mine, so I don’t have the right to complain… More than that, I didn’t want to lose him; the one person who I could call my best friend. If I can’t save my own friend, then what good am I?”

I get up off the ground, dusting my ass off. “You were right about me, Nunnalé, and if you hate me, I understand. Richard is important to you, that much I get. But I won’t let it happen again, never again!” An echo ripples from my palm when I slam my fist into the palm of my hand. “...I’ll get stronger, strong enough to protect myself and Richard. That’s the only way I can make it up to you and him. But until then, I’m sorry for all the trouble I caused…”

Begging for forgiveness ain’t my style, and no matter how much I say sorry, that won’t be enough. Who knows if it’ll be enough for her, or even Richard, but that’s all I’m able to do.

“Welp, I’m out.”

“Proxy."

“Yeah?”

“If you wish, you may stay until he awakens…”

“You’d let me?”

“It would be beneficial for my Master’s recovery to see that you are safe.”

A faint smile forms from the corners of my lips. “Thanks, I really appreciate it.”

Moonlight castle - library - afternoon

Selena had just gotten done with writing the events that had occurred today. She notes in the journal about the poison in Richard's blood and how it affected him. It appears it acted like any other poison by destroying the organs in his body, but thanks to Selena's healing abilities, they were protected from any actual damage, and the poison was removed from his body completely. While she was healing, there was something else that was helping combat the poison in his body. While it did little when she was holding it back, it must've kept it from spreading too far when he first got infected. Whether it was Richard’s own power or something else is unclear to her. It piqued her interest.

"I see your habit of stalking me will not change?"

Ending her entry, she gently puts the journal down. Facing down an aisle, an armor-clad warrior appears from the shadows.

"Why did you put your hands into their affairs? Were you not the one who said you were merely an observer?"

“I see no reason to explain myself to a stalker.”

“Answer me, witch.”

"Do you know no shame? Breaking and entering into my home and making demands of me. And what of it? Are you going to lecture me about interfering with such things? If so, you would sound like a hypocrite." The silver-armored knight groans, annoyed with her biting remark. "Is that all you wish to speak about?"

"I suppose."

"Then I suggest you please leave my library, preferably before I take off to bed.”

Turning to pick up her journal, her attention focuses on the knight, who disappeared. She feels grateful that he at least knew not to make a scene when leaving.

"Once a lone knight, forever a lone knight."

Selena knew her hold on him would not last long. Eventually, he'll make an attempt for the book. It had many dangerous secrets in it, and it needed to be protected at all costs. But that in itself would complicate the situation that the book can potentially create, as well as the boys who stumbled upon it.

“Observing is the best course of action until he makes his move.”

With a flourish, she returns to writing in her journal, spending the rest of the night in her isolated library, recording all her thoughts on her current predicament. In the book, she notes the conclusion of today’s situation as a net-positive result. As for her emotional response to it, she couldn’t be any happier with how it ended.

“Even I desire a happy ending. After all, being downcast is not a fitting look for him…”