"Just when the eyes begin to adjust, the sunlight hits them again, ruining the adjusting! That's eyeism, man."
Oswald and his friends—with the prince in tow—trekked deep into the forest on a quest to deal with a goblin population, attacking a nearby post-town.
"'Tis not thee alone. Count me and the prince not among those forsaken."
"I do agree with your friend. It is slightly irritating."
See! Only for this occasion, fuck you sun!
"Hahaha. We're gettin' blinded same as you lot."
Zharrak raised an eyebrow. "Me? M'peepers are fine."
"Sorry, mate, forgot you're a lizar—"
"Shh!" The banter was interrupted by Oswald.
Everybody ceased at once, even the forest.
So the forest does get silent when danger is present.
He walked up to Zharrak who scanned shadows cast by the thick and overlapping branches.
"How many are we looking at?"
Zharrak glanced back, whispering. "Too many, we four ain't enough to handle the horde I am lookin' at."
"We can't escape or we'll get surrounded…"
"Ya better come up with somethin' quick, they comin' closer."
Oswald spotted a flash of green before darkness enveloped it.
Oh boy… This again. Um… Umm… Nothing? REALLY!
"I— Nothing is coming…"
Zharrak turned around, looking at Aelindor. "Our leader's drawin' blank, ya got anything?"
Ah shit… Ah shit! He shook his head, man. Think Oswald! Think!
"Hey! Say somethin'!"
Oswald's clenched his fist, his breathing hastening, the clenched fist trembled.
"I… I…"
He turned to his friends, "RUN! PROTECT THE PRINCE AT ALL COSTS!"
And so they sprinted, Zharrak grabbed the prince on the way, hauling him onto his back. Swift footsteps followed by multiple twigs breaking sound every few footsteps.
The sound of his friends' footsteps quietened to a silence, only his footsteps remained as he ran past the horde.
I am so stupid.
He spotted yellow eyes, beaming with malice. The orc—the one he'd fled before—now stood behind the smaller goblins, and there were more of them.
"This is so fucking stupid. I'm so fucking stupid. I just woke up, saved the prince—twice!—and now I'm about to sacrifice myself, AGAIN!"
He unsheathed his double-edged sword—Aelindor bought for him. His free hand joined the other on the hilt.
"I'm so stupid. I'm so—Argh!"
His knuckles whitened on the hilt, the horde chasing behind him.
"I'm so fucking stupid, MAN!"
SQUELCH!
He swiped his sword rightward, the leaping goblin caught in his swipe, dying instantly.
"Oh my god—" Tears of failure fell, making him pinch his eyes. "Why am I even the LEADER!"
WHOOSH! SQUELCH!
Two heads left their bodies.
"I-I saved the prince, and NOW!"
SQUELCH!
He thrust his sword through a heart and the neck. "I'm a leader. A fucking LEADER!"
He split a body in half—green blood and guts spilling out as the top half fell.
"What am I achieving with this? NOTORIETY!"
WHOOSH!
He side-stepped a club, piercing the head that missed him.
"What did I expect? Standing on a pile of goblin corpses! Like DOOMSLAYER!"
WHOOSH!
He slowed his pace a moment, a goblin whizzed by.
"What are you doing you FUCKIN— AH!"
From the many, one of them struck him—right on the shoulder.
"RAAAAAAH!"
He spun around with his sword extended, killing every goblin in the blade's path—their screams echoed through the forest.
Then he sprinted away, for their numbers haven't dwindled. His quickened breaths propelled the sweat falling on his mouth as he ran toward a group of huge goblins, forming a wall.
"You… You thought you were the main character… in ANIME!"
BOOM! SQUELCH! THUD!
One of the orcs swung their club down, he side-stepped, slashing its foot then running away.
His clubbed-arm screamed, his legs begged, his lungs were on fire, but he kept sprinting.
Endless trees rushed past, countless twigs snapped, yet the excited breathing behind him never wavered.
After an eternity, the forest opened to a cliff. He skidded to a stop—cloud of dust flying from his brake. He stopped just before the cliff, kicking rocks over the edge. Below, a thin line of water snaked through the pebbles.
He turned around, standing before a sea of yellow eyes, staring from the shadows within the treeline.
This is so pathetic."
THUD!
He flipped his blade and drove it into the ground, sending crisscrossing cracks through the earth. He collapsed, his back resting on the long side of the blade.
"I'm so pathetic… pitiful."
The horde of goblins began inching closer. His head hung low, shaking it.
"I don't want to be saved last minute. What is my sorry, tragic and wretched ass going to do?" He clenched his fist. "The same thing. Do a monumental, impossible task, collapse, then get hailed as a hero."
He curled into a ball. "I… J-Just end me… I don't want to play the part… anymore."
Their jovial breathing neared him, closer and closer. Countless pitterpatters increasing in volume.
Then all sound ceased.
* * *
The skill menu opened before him—a mocking display of his labors' fruits.
SKILLS SP: 86
STRENGTH 50
"strengthen the arms" to increase the strength, both physical and magical.
DEFENSE 15
"Toughen up the body" to increase the physical and magical defense.
PERCEPTION 46
"Good with the eyes" to increase the observation, perception, and intuition.
SPEED 91
"Quick on the feet" to increase the speed and stamina.
Haaah. So I've been saved. Tch! Just get this over with.
Current Skills
SKILLS SP: 0
STRENGTH 73
"strengthen the arms" to increase the strength, both physical and magical.
DEFENSE 15
"Toughen up the body" to increase the physical and magical defense.
PERCEPTION 100 (MAX)
"Good with the eyes" to increase the observation, perception, and intuition.
SPEED 100
"Quick on the feet" to increase the speed and stamina.
* * *
He woke up to thewhite ceiling of the servant's quarter, the lapis lazuli chandelier at the foot of the bed.
"Damn it. Now, I have to face them…Ugh!"
He shifted on the bed to the right, facing a blue three-person sofa. The scent of lavender hung in the air.
"After my stupidity and utter failure, is… the prince safe?"
"Yes."
He closed his eyes, letting out a silent whistle.
"That's good… I mean… I did all that to buy time."
His voice cracked at the last word.
He got off the bed, walking toward the door, he paused before it.
"Y'know, I… Haaah. Thank you."
Respect her rescue…
"Tch!"
His hands clenched into fists.
"I'm such a selfish savior."
He left the quarters and the maid inside.
* * *
I want to go home…
Remembering the path to the exit, he passed ornate vases with the former monarchs' paintings on top.
…return to school, return to… watching anime with Vlad and Li.
He squeezed his eyes shut, hands balled into a fist.
Go back to mom… dad—try all that talking thing again.
He rubbed his temple with one hand, the other still balled into a fist.
Heroes are… only for movies and animes. It's… not for me.
The current queen's portrait passed by and a few meters later, the throne room.
Her Majesty is standing outside the throne room door, I'm not really in the mood to talk right now… Only a little courtesy.
"Good morning, Your Majesty—"
His voice cracked as he said his greetings with a slight bow, then walked past her.
"It is unbecoming to depart before I have spoken."
He paused mid-step.
Oh boy, I— Ugh, man.
He turned around on his heel.
"Sorry." He looked at his feet as he walked back to the queen. "I didn't mean to do it."
He stood before her and silence fell between them.
What do I say to get out of this situation? I don't want to be in the kingdom any more.
"Does some trouble linger from your recent venture? Speak freely."
Still facing his feet, he nodded.
"I made… a terrible decision. I… let everyone run away, while I was the bait."
His fingers began digging into his palms.
"Oh? I perceive it as a prudent decision, well made in the moment."
He shook his head profusely.
"No, no. I-It's the foundation where the decision came from. Haaah."
His hand ran across his face.
"What kind of… 'leader' thinks of himself as… as a hero in some novel or a children's storybook."
A sharp exhale escaped him.
"This is so embarrassing," he muttered, the words strained.
After a pause, the queen answered.
"What I see is but a mistake—a mistake in leadership, and a needless commotion arising from it."
Wha— Needless commotion?!
"Pray, how many times have you stood in this role?"
He gazed upward while his head was lowered. "O-On—"
"Once! Does that not merit some leniency toward yourself?"
He replied like a child getting a stern lecture. "Y-Yes."
The queen frowned.
"Then I suggest you release this burdened state of mind, and carry forward the wisdom your mistake has granted."
Wow, uh.
"Haaah. Yes, mo— I mean your majesty."
The queen's eyes widened in genuine surprise, the regal mask slipping for a full second.
He scratched the back of his head as a smile—one his face had long been without—finally returned.
"I never thought I'd be reprimanded by a queen. Please, keep this between us—it's… not a good look. Heheh."
"They won't believe that I have been chastised by a monarch. The only people who do know are the servant behind the guest room door, and the prince, behind the throne room door."
The throne room door opened, revealing the baffled prince.
"How did you know, savior?"
Oswald grinned.
"Magic… and you were breathing loudly. As for the maid." He gestured toward the guest room door. "It groaned from weight every few minutes. Anyways," he faced the queen and bowed, "thank you for the reality check, Your Majesty. I'll be taking my leave."
He left the two surprised royals, heading to the swordsman school.
"Hm…" The queen looked at his form getting smaller with distance, the guest room door opening behind her. "He possesses exceptionally keen eyes and ears, yet… an undercurrent of longing is ever present within him."
* * *
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