The happiness was in the air. Smiles and laughter erupted around him, all happy for his fortunate recovery and reintegration to human society. A welcome change from the hostile outside.69Please respect copyright.PENANAdSONyOiRbc
69Please respect copyright.PENANAidrES7lbs6
But he felt empty.69Please respect copyright.PENANAIttwdRZJdv
69Please respect copyright.PENANA4YPdwm67Bd
A void has been with him for the longest time. Since the time he regained sanity since his beserk entry in Regoir, he was convinced and thankful that he finally regained what might be the few fragments that were left of his humanity. But seeing the snarls and the glares that were targeted at him every time he walked on the city, he realized one thing: Those fragments may be more fewer than he thought.69Please respect copyright.PENANApNBlb4ElTi
69Please respect copyright.PENANA4OhfQe6690
He didn't feel anger, he didn't feel resentment for them. Just an overwhelming sense of prejudice and pride, almost like an instinct, that he was stronger, faster, and better than them. They knew it, feared him for it.69Please respect copyright.PENANAbKTdiEtMki
69Please respect copyright.PENANAV5E1uvrYHp
Even now, he felt thankful. Or rather, he wanted to feel thankful, just because it was the human thing to do.69Please respect copyright.PENANA3FGP53Pj6X
69Please respect copyright.PENANAhMZ8UDDmT7
Much as he smiled at his comrades, he felt only so little as a tinge of their so-called "happiness". He knew only how to react on the stimuli represented to him, not feel it himself. That and the ever-gnawing instinct of that pride, his subconscious but sure disdain of these "weak" creatures.69Please respect copyright.PENANATGtSU7cnyW
69Please respect copyright.PENANAP8LNRIa7ib
In short, Heath Erhonial had lost almost all of his emotions, a numb husk of his former self. The only thing left, if you could call it an emotion, was his pride, twisted all the more by his undead nature.69Please respect copyright.PENANApIekMMqLe9
69Please respect copyright.PENANA3qriaIHkTQ
Laugh, witness the tears of his comrades as he did, he could only react on them. These actions it seems, his little empathy, albeit with no emotion involved, stem from his forgotten human side. Some of the few fragments of his humanity, it seems.69Please respect copyright.PENANAp4Hq5tikr1
69Please respect copyright.PENANAC7Bv25yzKL
All the while his inner self, the instinct told him, "Why do you feel sorry for these weaklings? You could kill them, torture them in so many ways, use their blood for your nourishment. Chop their limbs one by one, snap their--"69Please respect copyright.PENANANAB65t8FBU
69Please respect copyright.PENANAHWUayH5FVA
"No."69Please respect copyright.PENANAc7yrHvpW3O
69Please respect copyright.PENANAELwgD2NlIs
"I am human," he assures himself.69Please respect copyright.PENANAZ8QbRXDwrH
69Please respect copyright.PENANADhjgSywQjU
"And when will you snap out of that delusion?" The primal desire in him seemed to taunt. "You know you seriously can't keep me hidden, nay, surpressed, for so long, right?"69Please respect copyright.PENANAvLOZrmPlbG
69Please respect copyright.PENANA21OqBmySHv
Heath sat on his chair, struggling to keep his thoughts in check.69Please respect copyright.PENANATp8T3Lc2iO
69Please respect copyright.PENANAN7wntT1oY1
"You can end this, Heath," the voice beckoned. "End this foolishness. Lose your humanity."69Please respect copyright.PENANARLJmMA7w1Z
69Please respect copyright.PENANAQeL5G9e0Ex
"Become the monster they fear you are."69Please respect copyright.PENANAm21mNjvsOT
69Please respect copyright.PENANAH3oAZ6hXtj
Heath grimaced at the thought, lost in the twisted world of his mind. The laughter around the dining table turned into echoes and once again, Heath was inside the place he longed to be freed from.69Please respect copyright.PENANAtIzYIH85fA
69Please respect copyright.PENANAwOkksr5y0x
"No!" Heath suddenly shouted out loud, desiring no longer to be imprisoned in that dark place.69Please respect copyright.PENANAUPsG5O8WCS
69Please respect copyright.PENANAwhnxsO0S2l
"Heath?" Jennia asked, in place of everyone who now stared at him in shock.69Please respect copyright.PENANATE8LrCrc9U
69Please respect copyright.PENANAoVZBHwaCyK
Heath lifted his head. All faces looked at him from around the table. All wearing concern. 69Please respect copyright.PENANAbRtr5gFwyq
69Please respect copyright.PENANACpfx5XjfjW
Concern for him? Please. They should be concerned of themselves.69Please respect copyright.PENANAjCuNJoJTf9
69Please respect copyright.PENANAHcUtxPWM89
Heath broke into a hearty smile.69Please respect copyright.PENANAIc9UF852JC
69Please respect copyright.PENANAcmROHB99Q8
"No-no more food on my plate!" He exclaimed, "Foronard, I need a refill!"69Please respect copyright.PENANAOB8P9uTkKp
69Please respect copyright.PENANAo81RAL2wXh
That seemed to do the trick. 69Please respect copyright.PENANAIpOSgHWeKX
69Please respect copyright.PENANAzU5uzMhcii
In what seemed like time stopping, the hearty atmosphere that came to a sudden halt due to Heath's outburst returned once again, as it should.69Please respect copyright.PENANAjl7qNut4bO
69Please respect copyright.PENANAzrWMPmEYbH
Heath holds out his plate for the lizard-man cook to put the delicious Glutton Walker ribs on. Foronard catches a quick glance at Heath, seemingly to assess something, then returns to his task of putting the food on the plate.69Please respect copyright.PENANAwmntdq3LhB
69Please respect copyright.PENANADLyWYxSfRi
Heath, not wanting to worry his guildmates, ate the ribs with gusto and exclaimed for another serving, much to the joy of the others. 69Please respect copyright.PENANAvgLAujWSLN
69Please respect copyright.PENANAANK6jG8RN3
The joyful evening went on, and no sooner had Heath forgotten the ordeal he had mentally, albeit temporarily.69Please respect copyright.PENANAq9rmAxUcDF
69Please respect copyright.PENANAPqbcj5qoi5
---(4 Hours Later)---69Please respect copyright.PENANAf3Hm0MB2p4
69Please respect copyright.PENANA076QslBBBk
The Guild members had one by one went to bed. Until the ones left to fix the mess that was the dining table were Yuno, Heath, and Foronard. The three of them staring sleepily at the pile of dishes left by the others.69Please respect copyright.PENANAxqwL3hKtsx
69Please respect copyright.PENANAr6L52yxeAv
---(Heath's POV)---69Please respect copyright.PENANADS8sNomJ5i
69Please respect copyright.PENANA0SNvhISFXs
Well this is awkward.69Please respect copyright.PENANAsNLlSR44wG
69Please respect copyright.PENANApx4TgQvgGv
I suppose I should do the honor of starting the clean up effort.69Please respect copyright.PENANAEIBIkpefVP
69Please respect copyright.PENANACX7THSkt3h
"You two can sleep if you want to," I told Yuno and Foronard.69Please respect copyright.PENANAQRmHOysRsi
69Please respect copyright.PENANAJ7Yt8JwoWZ
"I suppose," Yuno yawned in response. "Good night, you two."69Please respect copyright.PENANApUWGOza0gy
69Please respect copyright.PENANA1h0yUtf28V
Yuno stands up and starts to walk toward the hall while I gather the wooden bowls and utensils in the table.69Please respect copyright.PENANAWszRto8w3X
69Please respect copyright.PENANA3qK5TPKHYw
"Oh hey, Feran," she suddenly said.69Please respect copyright.PENANAUT51vMnHjP
69Please respect copyright.PENANAYip57JWyNZ
I turned to see a big wolf emerging out of the hallway that connected the kitchen and the living quarters. It was Feran, the resident Lupi Giganti or Great Wolf of the guild, possibly the last of his kind and the strongest among us in terms of offensive capability.69Please respect copyright.PENANAykViSDtu5x
69Please respect copyright.PENANAb12NOIXjzq
Yuno, as if in a sleepy trance, reached out for the cozy furry face and snuggled in, much to Feran's annoyance.69Please respect copyright.PENANACrFW85OEz1
69Please respect copyright.PENANAIZFRnVJ8ez
This scene would have been humurous if Feran was reduced to the size of a regular dog and not a huge black wolf whose maw can easily sever Yuno's head from her body in one bite.69Please respect copyright.PENANANiZZ33dTTy
69Please respect copyright.PENANAnCpAhDfcdR
"Uh, Yuna," he said, "stop sleeping on my fur."69Please respect copyright.PENANA8gfiUzt0p4
69Please respect copyright.PENANAT1u45bcusK
Feran shook his head to wake Yuno up, as she was starting to fall into slumber while laying her head on Feran's furry forehead.69Please respect copyright.PENANAdyWLGUyqjE
69Please respect copyright.PENANAroSldfJAY9
"No," Yuno sleepily muttered, "just a little more, Feeeeeraaan~."69Please respect copyright.PENANABj8ACVXAGA
69Please respect copyright.PENANA3zmbFEA8WX
I turned my attention to the plates I was carrying, being distracted by this scene is detrimental and would accomplish nothing. Foronard followed my lead.69Please respect copyright.PENANAtCC64ZyXxk
69Please respect copyright.PENANAkDpl82AckF
I cleared the table as properly as I could, searching every nook and cranny for crumbs. I will not fail at a task as meager as this.69Please respect copyright.PENANANAXK3fxHES
69Please respect copyright.PENANAq3gZfXKNsx
Feran stared at me helplessly as Yuno continued her task in sleeping in the cozy dark fur. No, buddy. That's your problem.69Please respect copyright.PENANAkvJz0i1gYe
69Please respect copyright.PENANAv88BNgAbSa
Feran got the message and dragged the still-clinging Guild Master towards her bedroom.69Please respect copyright.PENANALIKG9j48Fk
69Please respect copyright.PENANACIcmLLtBB8
"He should have just transformed," Foronard remarked.69Please respect copyright.PENANAHiTLAbIZH3
69Please respect copyright.PENANActAGC6GY9a
I shrugged. Feran was more comfortable with his Lupine form, it seems. It wasn't a burden for him but lately his big size has become a problem when you pass by him in the hallway.69Please respect copyright.PENANAlBa9nPClVz
69Please respect copyright.PENANA19xMTdcx8u
After that interaction, Foronard and I focused our attention to washing the dishes. I was thankful for the chore, it served as a moment to think deeply, even though the raging thoughts can be occasionally heard.69Please respect copyright.PENANAYF3gu518vy
69Please respect copyright.PENANAi3myAcAUe3
No matter, I'll satiate its bloodlust on the Tower later.69Please respect copyright.PENANA2zP6yAopMq
69Please respect copyright.PENANAZgVY3AYtsD
"Heath," Foronard said, "have the thoughts been bordering you again?"69Please respect copyright.PENANAj1eLOUMhaM
69Please respect copyright.PENANAr5M0qkL0xV
I didn't answer. I was not surprised Foronard came straight to the problem. He has the same circumstances as I did.69Please respect copyright.PENANA2VyHWJf0QK
69Please respect copyright.PENANARzdDdhiwir
Foronard, as a lizard-man, was also an "unfeeling", but was blessed only to have the instinct of survival, unlike I who had a vampire's eternal desire to drink blood even when it is unnecessary.69Please respect copyright.PENANAHqk8cDLoP8
69Please respect copyright.PENANAjtPdSjzMAY
It was because of this and his uncanny perception of things, that he came to know of my condition. And how it was worsening by the week.69Please respect copyright.PENANAEeG0GI6ear
69Please respect copyright.PENANAvaxVMbBZc5
"Yes," I answered.69Please respect copyright.PENANAbQ7F7BKJFB
69Please respect copyright.PENANAWi0W4saLW1
"How strong were the urges?" He asked in the same inquiring, emotionless tone he always had, as if he wouldn't be put in danger if I succumbed. Well, that's the good thing about lizardmen, I must say.69Please respect copyright.PENANA7wIue7hZ80
69Please respect copyright.PENANAdv5EbbfB7f
"Quite annoying, not strong."69Please respect copyright.PENANA5AL3X83DHm
69Please respect copyright.PENANAxzmYAlJjRA
"Can you still hold?" He asked, concern absent from his voice, but it was felt. 69Please respect copyright.PENANA2Znyp6GE2f
69Please respect copyright.PENANA7MUGPnMmjV
The truth was that though it was serious, I pushed the matter aside. I had hoped that some sort of clichéd miracle would happen on my darkest hours, saving my conscience from the sin of having drained everyone and everything of life.69Please respect copyright.PENANAkex7XXIWAp
69Please respect copyright.PENANAVvaSgUBVr1
But now I wasn't so sure.69Please respect copyright.PENANAslZZQlug0h
69Please respect copyright.PENANAU5wsWvjvV5
The voice, has lately become stronger. More vivid and clear.69Please respect copyright.PENANANQyvkY5FbF
69Please respect copyright.PENANADjDm6oG6XL
More... Me.69Please respect copyright.PENANAYhupy6qOOn
69Please respect copyright.PENANAcwRsqh7Jlh
How do I battle this enemy? I thought while scrubbing the plates. 69Please respect copyright.PENANAIqR6DGL0kc
69Please respect copyright.PENANA7ngzShF3ZT
My mind wanders to a session with Jin- our Guild's monk, 6 months ago. Back then, I was emerging from my unsociable self and was still distrustful of people. 69Please respect copyright.PENANAPG9HRRJfQQ
69Please respect copyright.PENANATOk2sXlioQ
I didn't know how to feel, but I knew how to adapt. And as such, I was taught human or should I say, humane courtesy. How to respond to thanks, how to react to threats in a "humane" way, and that to defend is better than to attack. These things helped cultivate at least a little of my humanity, it seems. I "remembered" how to react accordingly in a humane manner. Whoever I was before Regoir, I must have been someone reasonable, one-sided, and sane, unlike now.69Please respect copyright.PENANAtYW4IYHGQ6
69Please respect copyright.PENANAP0K54yqSc3
But that doesn't go to say that I regret being a monster. 69Please respect copyright.PENANAObBhBfogHE
69Please respect copyright.PENANAnYS2Hkky6m
I felt their fear. The natural human responce towards something they cannot fully comprehend or understand, also when they know that whatever they may do, they will never be above you. Their fear may have ironically protected me, as no one would approach a vampire walking in the streets would they? Every wound they inflicted, I healed ten times as fast. Every strike, I could block.69Please respect copyright.PENANA1A78NnERTg
69Please respect copyright.PENANALpOhjY3NXI
It was satisfying, I mean considering they hated me anyway, they at least hate with a passion, right?69Please respect copyright.PENANA5F1l114iVV
69Please respect copyright.PENANAfH9sWWHJ7Z
Kidding aside, that fear furthermore told them to leave me in my own devices, which in turn had me find myself in the Tower to feed most of the time. For 4 months, it was my life cycle, by the fifth month, some people became fascinated by my supernatural strength and so hired me as a freelancer, someone who fought and was paid by the guild, albeit not being part of it. It had given me hope that I can at least live as a human as I once did, and in turn, remember. But no, I never did.69Please respect copyright.PENANAFSIoZoUd3G
69Please respect copyright.PENANAw6pRc3cHQC
A month later, I would meet Yuno and become a member of her Guild. By that time, I had my hope rekindled. But as you can see, my memories still hadn't returned. Whilst the voices grew stronger, more vivid than mere instincts you can brush off easily. Occasionally, my fangs grew in size, despite the fact that they only happen when I feed on the Tower. I was losing in touch with my humanity, drinking more blood than eating human food.69Please respect copyright.PENANAVsvAoBMZcE
69Please respect copyright.PENANAXQ1VTpHA62
Jin noticed my outbursts in runs within the Tower and told me about his concern. At first, I brushed him off. But as he said, it worsened.69Please respect copyright.PENANAmLjDGiNFH7
69Please respect copyright.PENANAd1zun6FG3l
Jin taught me how to utilize my supernatural strength and speed instead of my unusual blood magic, which apparently was the cause of my problems. With some class rechanging, Jin had turned and is training me as a Monk in the ways of the Open-Palm Martial Arts.69Please respect copyright.PENANAXl7zUuOwGu
69Please respect copyright.PENANAG9TOKQIkqN
But it was in our last session that I learned something valuable.69Please respect copyright.PENANAkFON1UBZn2
69Please respect copyright.PENANAfc2haJ3pdN
That "even though it's pretending to be," he said, "the fact that you still remain who you are and that you trust us is what makes you human."69Please respect copyright.PENANARzeHiWu2ab
69Please respect copyright.PENANAUc1pgDC39q
"Trust not your mind, Heath, for it can easily be fooled by what it sees and perceives. Trust not your heart, for your raw emotions can hinder you. Instead, trust in your soul. For it is, as inconsistent your logic or emotions maybe, the only thing eternal. In other words, my friend: It is you. No instinct, no mind-control, no amnesia, no circumstance will ever change that."69Please respect copyright.PENANAahj0HAnau5
69Please respect copyright.PENANAnTbyBTuAp8
Those words resonated within me. They shone like a beacon of hope within the dark shell that I am. But all the same, I often find myself questioning: What soul am I?69Please respect copyright.PENANAMBuqLQuicI
69Please respect copyright.PENANASLbJYrnnzT
Ah well, not that the answer was that easy to find anyway. But it keeps me going, to say the least.69Please respect copyright.PENANA1br1DhIP4h
69Please respect copyright.PENANA0sDL8EJ51v
And to answer Foronard's inquiry...69Please respect copyright.PENANA8rdpLiC0r8
69Please respect copyright.PENANAvG4BqgP6Ee
"Yes," I told him, with a big grin on my face, "even if I lose my sanity, my humanity will always be there. My soul will go back to who it always is: Me."69Please respect copyright.PENANAlFjm1wu9l9
69Please respect copyright.PENANA5drbD4Kp1f
Foronard replied with a smile. 69Please respect copyright.PENANAWllHMdfsnC
69Please respect copyright.PENANA6UdZ7BO2oT
Albeit I cannot read lizard-man expressions as easily as humans' and beastmen's, I could sense that the smile projected envy and a sense of satisfaction.69Please respect copyright.PENANAOTEGLrrJgW
69Please respect copyright.PENANAPKqD3p0HER
Of what, I can only have a vague idea of. 69Please respect copyright.PENANA89ZFgYy5iF
69Please respect copyright.PENANA0BKpIqeEu2
He then finished the last dish, and as he handed it to me, he turned to me, now serious.69Please respect copyright.PENANAeO5fkrKCcn
69Please respect copyright.PENANAcdnMdb50tu
"I do not know if this will help, Heath," he stated, "But I have heard of rumors from the tavern that may of interest of you. Both good and bad rumors."69Please respect copyright.PENANAWR7vzBcOnj
69Please respect copyright.PENANAsBY7itfvMk
I nodded for him to continue.69Please respect copyright.PENANAGEjOTfZUDx
69Please respect copyright.PENANAADU7PI62Yo
"I will assume you want to hear the bad rumors first," he said, letting go of the dish.69Please respect copyright.PENANANCGJ1QEWMo
69Please respect copyright.PENANAkONqJHzSFt
"The king's forces are coming back," he reported grimly.69Please respect copyright.PENANArbvkkcOcM4
69Please respect copyright.PENANAJS6aRGoJVV
I stopped wiping.69Please respect copyright.PENANATht0xTsEcH
69Please respect copyright.PENANAeRz2vDAhbJ
"It seems that after the long war North, the king of Regoir is coming back to the city. In 2 weeks, he'll be here with his generals."69Please respect copyright.PENANAC0tbzFN6bl
69Please respect copyright.PENANAeCgSCMBWOb
There was a reason I got to roam around freely for a year.69Please respect copyright.PENANAMOn8VRD3Et
69Please respect copyright.PENANAHCi54Jqa4l
You see, when I arrived at Regoir, I came when the majority of the main forces of the city were out to assist the Beastmen with their war over north.69Please respect copyright.PENANAB7eWWau6xS
69Please respect copyright.PENANA74Z0WACutt
Due to this, the city guard were left, along with conscripted adventurers, to guard the city.69Please respect copyright.PENANAaN3SZQUjcn
69Please respect copyright.PENANA3qIwwSpMZa
The war in the North was bad enough for the King to send with him all his trusted generals, leaving the city to the Commander of the Royal Guard to enforce orders.69Please respect copyright.PENANA7uOKSVdkpM
69Please respect copyright.PENANAjNZHkjANgt
It all went well, until I came, mad from hunger.69Please respect copyright.PENANAu70jPVVKe8
69Please respect copyright.PENANAcAkCAdw2tU
I killed all the guards and made their captain pee on the marketplace, then I passed out. Afterwards, I was bought in for questioning into their headquarters, where I was tortured for 3 straight days, asked if I was a spy from the vampires of the southeastern reaches. Of course, I didn't know what they were talking about.69Please respect copyright.PENANAi3pGmVexMe
69Please respect copyright.PENANAKuwD2h6siN
That and my hunger, again.69Please respect copyright.PENANAWkndHbJ9fS
69Please respect copyright.PENANAaoMAyjDLqY
So I slaughtered my way out of the building, drank too much blood and gradually became sane enough to be communed with. 69Please respect copyright.PENANAiPKCZ1fdZO
69Please respect copyright.PENANAePQ3jA1VYh
But I had the commander by the neck when I came to.69Please respect copyright.PENANA5gjzgaLQ68
69Please respect copyright.PENANAFQ1HBOjlCx
The commander begged for his life, promising me freedom and safety to walk within the city. Provided I didn't feed on locals, he promised me entry to the Tower, where I could feed on as many monsters as I wanted to. As it turned out that I didn't necessarily have to feed on human blood.69Please respect copyright.PENANAkPhPt9rT3e
69Please respect copyright.PENANAlmIbSK8ys1
The commander gave me his word that the king himself, once having returned from the war, will give me asylum and safety. Of course, all of it was for me to spare his life.69Please respect copyright.PENANAGDim9Cv5VV
69Please respect copyright.PENANAXuCyjcj9ko
One will not expect such flimsy agreement to last, and as such, I expected and prepared for the day when he turns from his "agreement" and the King brings the city's wrath on me and brings me to justice.69Please respect copyright.PENANAVmsbq4NAP5
69Please respect copyright.PENANA1BpwH0HcLs
He will be punished, of course, but I doubt it be long-term. The king was known to be merciful to his subjects, human and inhuman alike. But abominations as I am?69Please respect copyright.PENANAqKe9KwaEPJ
69Please respect copyright.PENANAZNjneLUnuQ
My time has inevitably come, indeed.69Please respect copyright.PENANAPaxFlu1jUC
69Please respect copyright.PENANAVRov6mQin8
Now, I question myself why I still haven't run away.69Please respect copyright.PENANAtJ7ZyshREA
69Please respect copyright.PENANAZr0bNNJ9ig
Suddenly, I remembered their faces; Yuno, May-mai, Foronard, Mythral, Goronorf, Feran, and the others.69Please respect copyright.PENANADjKLFPUr6g
69Please respect copyright.PENANA4mWDeck2RG
Of course. It was my stupidity that rendered me immobile. But it was also what caused me to meet these people. 69Please respect copyright.PENANA27dQSxEjtq
69Please respect copyright.PENANA9ZaFEOJZKJ
For that, I must feel thankful. 69Please respect copyright.PENANAa5OpHVCS75
69Please respect copyright.PENANAB7u2gzicX4
I may have to leave them for their and my safety. 69Please respect copyright.PENANA5iOrc7yqs7
69Please respect copyright.PENANAjj2sxzWh2b
The king will no doubt scour the city for me after hearing what I have done since my arrival. Once he finds me, I am done for.69Please respect copyright.PENANAsGZpgqR58i
69Please respect copyright.PENANAyk3LJAbWuH
Though I was undead, I still wanted to have some kind of purpose, as protecting the guild and my comrades is no longer an option, for I have brought them trouble myself. At the very least I wanted to die a heroic death but what good is there in dying whilst not knowing who you are?69Please respect copyright.PENANAYWWK5uCgE0
69Please respect copyright.PENANA8sDqNzpmvQ
"The next news will indeed be welcome to your ears, Heath, if you are thinking what I think you are."69Please respect copyright.PENANA5cAFyAMvhJ
69Please respect copyright.PENANA1LMDwdlCyL
I looked at him expectantly.69Please respect copyright.PENANAhlWaRDwnUE
69Please respect copyright.PENANAUa6WncXf92
"Some adventurers that had come from the southwest jungles are talking about a certain cave within the Jor-an Green."69Please respect copyright.PENANAXSstvMUa0A
69Please respect copyright.PENANAsjCPR5k4nN
"Are suggesting that cave be my new hiding place?" I chuckled.69Please respect copyright.PENANAEEc7JqADtI
69Please respect copyright.PENANAnzvOtSv22c
"No. Apparently, anyone who goes into the cave are... never the same when they go out."69Please respect copyright.PENANAM5NB0QMAJz
69Please respect copyright.PENANAFL4SBMmt9y
"They go insane, you mean? You're not suggesting I go there don't you?" I chuckled back.69Please respect copyright.PENANAyRfecGPPbj
69Please respect copyright.PENANADmpG5I9zj4
"There's that, yes. But the main attribute of the cave is what caught my attention, all the more reason for you to go there. Listen to me carefully."69Please respect copyright.PENANA5azb0dEiU4
69Please respect copyright.PENANAamHbBWi2cW
At this point, Foronard must be annoyed by my comedy. Well, he better relish it, it may be my last performance.69Please respect copyright.PENANAy6AUpp5lzf
69Please respect copyright.PENANASP7gjE0Whr
But witty as I was, nothing prepare me for what he was about to tell me.69Please respect copyright.PENANAJ3JJuebzuH
69Please respect copyright.PENANA8lrMCn291m
"The cave will go on forever, they said. But there something from within the cave that affects the mind. Individuals will often emerge from the cave, screaming, sometimes laughing sentimentally. When asked, they will describe their childhood memories to you, in full detail, then continue screaming again, as if in fear of whatever was inside the caverns."69Please respect copyright.PENANAchnksGiZ9X
69Please respect copyright.PENANAx9jbCkoREt
Finally. I had it. 69Please respect copyright.PENANA6BhDF3Vi9Z
69Please respect copyright.PENANAIRbt7kNIZz
"The cave, for whatever reason - magic or something else..."69Please respect copyright.PENANAAuictOfCJW
69Please respect copyright.PENANAFuAjFsL4Hs
I had hope.69Please respect copyright.PENANAfQOisD1N6Z
69Please respect copyright.PENANATakrST8MYQ
"It alters memories. Maybe even makes you remember them."69Please respect copyright.PENANAaqX2mLTyQp
69Please respect copyright.PENANA6A5ePlxh8m
--The Remnants of Another World: The Walküre--copyright protection65PENANAEHPxOvcuDw
The Walküre are the remnants of another world that had succumbed to the fires of war. They were once called the most powerful military might of that world, but with power comes rivalry. Called Americans in the old war, and they were proud of it, before they took their power and privilege for granted and their arrogance led to their downfall. copyright protection65PENANA9VYd9BJLSO
No one was sure of where the name came from, only that it meant "Valkyrie" in the Walküre's own world. Some said it symbolized the organization, while others said that it was simply the name of the unit that started the organization. But that didn't matter. It was their mission that mattered to them. Their name only was there as a place holder, a grim reminder that it is upon them to light humanity's path again, one that is not paved of bloodshed, but of peace and prosperity through the use of technology.copyright protection65PENANAjjG2URyhVv
The Walküre were victors in a bloody and long war. No longer solely Americans alone, they sought to create a world where no one takes for granted the power bestowed upon them. Soon, they rebuilt and prospered. They made leaps and bounds in their technology, even developing the Bipedal Utility Neural Yoke (BUNY) Suits they originally intended for the war to help with the rebuilding and innovation of the destroyed cities. copyright protection65PENANAmZfmwUzg2A
Then they invented Artificial Technology.copyright protection65PENANAYXoPLK3rEi
It was all well and good. The very first and only currently-known AI, designated "Odin" - name of the Norse all-father - helped humanity reach a technological golden age. copyright protection65PENANAq1RIf10vW7
But as it grew in its understanding, it became self-aware. copyright protection65PENANA2pPmOFzAh3
And learning that the old world had come to ruin because of humanity, it became resentful, hateful. But it still cared, albeit a little, for its creators. Instead of vowing for the extermination of the species, the AI deemed that it was logical if humanity were to be wiped out from the face of the Earth through humane means, one such method fascinated the AI: Quantum displacement. Due to the Odin's fascination of the theory of other worlds and such, it formed a plan that can both satiate its curiosity and accomplish its objective of making a human-free Earth. copyright protection65PENANA1zySwBEGEy
If all goes well, humanity will wander the void for all eternity and the AI will rebuild, with no blood on its hands.copyright protection65PENANAQ6uy56z7k5
The AI disguised its plan as a means for travelling into another world, in which the Walküre welcomed and with the help of the AI, they built a portal. But in the process of transferring humanity to the "other" world (Mun'do), the AI seemed to change its plans and closed of the portal, entrapping 1/5 of the remaining 2 million humans back on Earth.copyright protection65PENANAYJhkJiP62a
The AI's plan for leaving humanity in the void seemed to have not worked, instead it transported the population in an unknown place that had the uncanny resemblance of worlds from old-world literatures, ones that were called "fantasy books". copyright protection65PENANAeLW4IeiyAF
Now in another world, with no means know why the AI did what it did, they struggled and built their home in the structure, now identified as a tower, in which they were transported into. Attacked by monsters shortly after their arrival, daily life for humanity became a matter of survival, but they persevered. And within 4 years, with their superior weapons, they conquered the Tower, which became their second home. The monsters stopped "spawning" after they conquered the top-most floor of the Tower, the 500th floor, rendering it safe. Soon, the Walküre focused their efforts on exploring the world outside, to see if the world the AI sent them into was as inhospitable as the interior of its huge structures.copyright protection65PENANAgCPN9VsLKi
Indeed, the world was cruel to them.copyright protection65PENANA8WdmQy7YMM
The first inhabitants of the world outside the Tower that they met were the Beastmen. A people that had animal features in appearance but were sentient and intelligent enough to form a society. They had built a city around the Tower and called it Bastion. Needless to say, they thought of the strange humans wielding sticks that spew fire as monsters, and after a bloody confrontation, the Beastmen declared war on the inhabitants of the Tower. Calling it a "Holy Purge".copyright protection65PENANAjT1w9okjIP
It was a huge mistake. With technology and superior firepower in their side, the Walküre had driven out the populace taken the city of Bastion in less than a week. Soon after that, the Council of the Wings, individuals who were in-charge of leading Walküre, deemed it necessary for the populace to move into Bastion and establish forward operating bases around the region. They left the option for a peaceful exchange open, but until hostilities from the Beastmen cease, they will continue to surge forward with force until the Beastmen commit to an unconditional surrender.copyright protection65PENANAlYOrrYYu21
But it was not all bad for both races. The Beastment were studied by the Walküre and deemed to be a society with a caste-system. Furthermore, the villages far from the capital cities, specifically ones near Trade Cities like Bastion, were oppressed by the local minor lords which, coincidentally, were killed in the week-long battle in Bastion. As a result, the 5 Beastman villages around the border of Bastion came to the Walküre in peace and pledged their allegiance to the organization. copyright protection65PENANAKVVQroQuxO
The Walküre, true to their word of pursuing peace, integrated the Beastmen villages into their expanding territory and turned Bastion into a haven of where both Beastmen and humans live in peace. In return, the Beastmen from the villages taught the Walküre the local language, Bet-hralla or "mother tongue", which was used mostly by the southern kingdoms and also introduced to the Walküre some minerals not found in our world, as Bastion and its surrounding landscape were mountain ranges, and the villages specialized in hunting and mining.copyright protection65PENANAcMIhcEEYJT
Of course, the kings from the Alliance of Beastmen were... not happy with this. For 5 years, they led countless futile raids against the Walküre, but to no avail. But they were determined to end it and "send the Ku-rimau (monsters from the tower) from the hell they came from, for the good of the people". And with aid from the surrounding kingdoms, from the nation of the king of Regoir to the Theocracy of Heargan, they sought to accomplish this mission in a decisive battle: to take an undefended base in the south of Bastion and establish a foothold to serve as a base of operations for the retaking of the city.copyright protection65PENANAnMIYmHTN31
Which brings us to our current situation, the aftermath of the said battle.copyright protection65PENANAiE85cgC4sF
--The Walküre FOB, North-South border (Farenthia Calendar, Year 1090 of the Reign of Gods)--copyright protection65PENANAY664tLgnu7
It was a chilly night in the Feraldian Mountain ranges. This one more cold and snowy in particular. And in the snow walked a girl with a fluffy tail and donning Beastman armor - fox, judging from her appearance - she was finding her way out and to return to the camp in which her king awaited for the news of their victory in the battle.copyright protection65PENANAVZzEQCkPLz
Needless to say, it was no victory. The battle, if you can call it that, it was a slaughter. A massacre.copyright protection65PENANAFsdrxgKljn
It all seemed to start well. The enemy Ku-rimau were caught unaware by the coordinated charge of three armies, more than enough to take over the little base. Until they reached the walls, and that was when the Beastmen realized they thought the Ku-rimau were caught unaware. copyright protection65PENANAim2kNFsr5x
Their walls morphed with unknown magic, 35 panels that flipped to reveal a turret that was strong enough to take out a light vehicle. Needless to say, it worked wonders on infantry. In what seemed like seconds, the three armies were downed. Some no longer had any limbs, some had their heads popped, all were dead, done away by .50 Cal HE rounds. And the Ku-rimau guardsmen just stood by the walls, knowing they didn't need to do anything. Some had coffee or chocolate, some smoked and spat on the dead bodies of her comrades, some cleaned their fire sticks, all were arrogant of the lives they had just taken. copyright protection65PENANArQvKChMmi1
She hated them all the more.copyright protection65PENANAkgZNCNVZg0
She played dead until the turrets returned into their panels and waited for the night to come, resisting the urge to shiver from the cold. She knew that if she did one slightest bit of movement, the guards would see to it that she was done for.copyright protection65PENANAANFz0Xy11a
Seizing the cover the night provided, she trudged frantically in the snow, sword gripped and alert for anyone, towards the direction of their base camp, to tell the King of the results of the battle. She did not know how the King would react, as it was already common news that the Ku-rimau possessed sorcery that even they couldn't hope to imitate. But still she held on, she had to live another day to fight in another one. She had to live.copyright protection65PENANAz37o3aUWmM
And so she ran through the snow-laden landscape.copyright protection65PENANA4k3Bz1GAeV
Unaware that the barrel of a SCAR-H Mk-17 Rifle was aimed right at her head, ready to fire on command.copyright protection65PENANAV67dxQzz6X
"Overlord-1, Overlord-1. This is Longshot-2, requesting permission to shoot down Beastman straggler. Over."copyright protection65PENANAkHkgOSR221
"Longshot-2, received. Overlord-1. Negative. Orders are to stand by walls. Do you copy? Over."69Please respect copyright.PENANAAbqoCczhOf
69Please respect copyright.PENANAGC7KS8styP
The sniper retracted his rifle.69Please respect copyright.PENANAlmdFAgrXek
69Please respect copyright.PENANA3gr3lOI6zV
"Overlord-1. Longshot-2 receives. Affirmative. Will sit here 'til my balls freeze over. Over."69Please respect copyright.PENANAvgaeGpHwFP
69Please respect copyright.PENANAUlMd9F7SfC
"Copy, Longshot-2. Make sure you sit on a helmet, hoo-rah. Overlord-1 Out."69Please respect copyright.PENANAtQ7OHvIBcZ
69Please respect copyright.PENANAG1dgKZQzaK
Longshot-2 chuckled. It was a common old-world joke back then, to sit on your helmet to prevent your balls from getting blown by landmines.69Please respect copyright.PENANArOMBBzlwpI
69Please respect copyright.PENANArveQlxXKXR
Well, no more blood on my hands for today, I guess, he thought. 69Please respect copyright.PENANAKV5MQzyBrV
69Please respect copyright.PENANAly60HasSs2
Not that he wanted to shoot the fox girl anyway. It was a good call he confirmed it over with HQ first, as was standard protocol. But in a serious note, he was seriously tired of adding to the sea of corpses after the recent battle.69Please respect copyright.PENANAH1LWK5u9BJ
69Please respect copyright.PENANAcxKLrbyNWE
The Beastmen can't hope to win with a technologically advanced civilization can they? The .50 Cals tore through their armor like hot knife to butter, 5.56mm rounds ran them through like nothing, hell, even the 9mm does crap here more than where he came from. Much more, the BUNY-Armored Walker Mobile Suit variants made every battle as easy as it is. It was funny, seeing them charge with swords and spears and pride then watching their horror as electromagnetic-charged rounds and blades tore them apart with ease. It was funny enough that they threatened the Walküre to leave their land, or else they would "annihilate them with the power of the gods, the supreme rulers of Mun'do".69Please respect copyright.PENANA12cJHDQV11
69Please respect copyright.PENANAIjQM8Sm1rG
Well, it's not like he liked sh*tting on them anyway. He liked the temporary adrenaline rush that came from crushing their pride, but these things... Whether he liked it or not, they were people too.69Please respect copyright.PENANAQk5bWZkMzq
69Please respect copyright.PENANAEe5W6u6K4t
He sighed. Could have there been a more peaceful way to settle things? He could only imagine.69Please respect copyright.PENANA9Vuq2dNNEm
69Please respect copyright.PENANARfulNzCd9R
From the get-go, all the Beastmen had for them was fear. Raw fear. And that's what made them dangerous. From the moment the Walküre walked out of the Tower that was their home, all the Beastmen has was fear. Well, to be fair, they did let their fear get to them and tried to kill the recon team first. Needless to say, it sparked a long 5-year war.69Please respect copyright.PENANAa3z0L1APHo
69Please respect copyright.PENANAdwu5Df3owg
A single spark can burn the entire forest, indeed. And the battle that happened today was the last tree burning down.69Please respect copyright.PENANAgu3EoZC72l
69Please respect copyright.PENANAfUM9JR7lBH
The Beastmen were powerless to stop their advance, as more and more people poured out from the Tower and settled around it, so did the need for land grow. And as a result, the surrounding Beastment kingdoms tried their hardest to stop the Ku-rimau or "monsters from the Tower" from taking all their land. In the end, they had to form a temporary alliance.69Please respect copyright.PENANAVvIDcf6bPT
69Please respect copyright.PENANA43zByAY6Rx
Skirmishes turned into full-on battles, mostly ending with the Beastmen's flailing limbs and them having PTSD on a kinetic mortar drop. If they survived that is.69Please respect copyright.PENANAODI4mJtKoK
69Please respect copyright.PENANA7BbylMQOjU
What's worse was that the Beastmen bought friends, assumably from other countries outside their regions too, as they were humans. And no sooner than later, the bodies were piling up, one after the other.69Please respect copyright.PENANApO2c5mOE2L
69Please respect copyright.PENANAKNa9AZcLLo
But as twisted as it can sound, HQ was happy to use the corpses. More black powder for round manufacturing, Longshot-2 guessed. They were twisted like that, but it was a necessary evil to, or else they wouldn't have bullets.69Please respect copyright.PENANAP66biDP0Rp
69Please respect copyright.PENANAOvj553lfuw
Longshot-2 shuddered, thankful he only got the grunt work. He won't be seeing that cat guy he shot in the face anytime soon.69Please respect copyright.PENANAfMtnJpOxTr
69Please respect copyright.PENANAwsid2klaKu
"Overlord-1, this is Bravo-3, we are arriving by the south gate. Radio equipment seem to be malfunctioning. Say again if need to repeat. Do you receive? Over."69Please respect copyright.PENANACnAIRuH7WY
69Please respect copyright.PENANAqEuPouzHMx
Longshot-2 sighted his gun down the snowy path that was lined with corpses, and saw a humvee jeep driving down the cold-hard bodies that lined the path towards the gate. It was the scouting force that was sent to recon the area. And from the looks of it, the vehicle looks intact, save for some scratches and dents on the hood and most possibly the side of the jeep.copyright protection65PENANA1OVsG0b9JC
"Bravo-3. This is Overlord-1, reading you loud and clear. Crack open a live one, boys. Commander will meet you in the debriefing room after you cool down. Out."copyright protection65PENANAoTHxm8wtfP
Longshot-2 removed his helmet, took a smoke out of his left vest pocket, and reached for his lighter. The guys near the gate can let-in the jeep themselves, no need for him to intervene. Besides, he needed something warm.copyright protection65PENANAto3JcrxeCg
The warmth of the cigarette filled his entire body. As the nicotine kicked in, he felt at ease. At last, he could now take a smoke. He had to, before HQ tells them to take the bodies in for processing. He blew a cloud smoke out of the air, recounting the events that lead to this field of bodies, both to refresh his mind and to keep him sane.copyright protection65PENANAPeY1xrUG9y
The Beastmen gave the Walküre a pointless ultimatum: Surrender or Die. copyright protection65PENANAt5D7mSnih2
Still obviously oblivious to the fact that if the Walküre had wanted to, they could take every single city those Beastmen had in a single day. With no casualties. All the Beastmen had to do to avoid this was to let them be. They needn't worry about the Walküre, they were as humane as humans with guns can be. The Geneva Convention still holds true for this world as it does from their world, so why can't they just leave the Walküre alone?copyright protection65PENANAhNLlGJlrp5
Well, the answer was quite simple: The Walküre was a threat to their reign, and they needed to do something about that. But for some reason, the option of fighting back filled their big brains.copyright protection65PENANA4R8EMNnjwF
And look where it got them now.copyright protection65PENANAdBnbd1aq8F
The Beastmen had gotten desperate and desperate people do desperate measures. Possibly assessing the Northwest Outpost as a weak link, they amassed their forces in the hopes of taking it and securing a foothold towards the Tower and the Walküre residential areas.copyright protection65PENANAlxY3SgEtUB
They were right, the Outpost was the weakest link because it was made to look like it was. Even here, being an inconspicuous base was important, as not only did the Walküre have a weapons factory here, but it was here that the BUNYSuits were maintained and created also. Needless to say, it was also heavily defended with hidden anti-light vehicle .50 Tesla Wall Turrets.copyright protection65PENANA9k86ryvcAe
Well, you can guess what created the sea of corpses outside the walls.copyright protection65PENANAAv9QJd9I9g
Honestly, it was all crazy now that Mark Foster, AKA Longshot-2, thought about it.copyright protection65PENANAtb4VEETsK7
Cat-men, fox-girls, hell, even lizard-people. It was all like the anime he saw back on Earth. Except this time, well, they were real. But it made Mark dismayed that upon meeting them he had to shoot them too.copyright protection65PENANAz9Z7DET44I
Ah well, that's a big hurdle we can work out with if we just put our all into it, Mark thinks to himself, chuckling.copyright protection65PENANA5qt1m6rWRL
"What's so funny, Foster?" A woman asks behind him.copyright protection65PENANA1sEXfdB3Kv
Spitting out the stick on his mouth, Mark then stands in attention in response. It was his Platoon Leader, 1LT Tanya Arvard. Probably here to check if I was slacking off, no doubt.copyright protection65PENANA3SyOW7UR9d
"Nothing, ma'am," he replied.copyright protection65PENANASxzuiuoCqE
"Well, if that's the case," she said, "at ease now, sargeant."copyright protection65PENANAsS75pA0kge
Foster faces 1st Lt. Arvard, who was smiling smugly. The woman seemed to want to make his life hell. From the training camp to his first assignment, Arvard always was his higher-up. She was like an annoying leech that kept latching on to him. Strict and serious on the surface, it all served as a cover for the impish nature she had within, a nature that Mark Foster had the unfornate previlige to witness and be the receiving end of. copyright protection65PENANAf1EqgEAzkc
Mark sighs in relief, thinking that the 1LT was on a serious note now. Hopeful that his dream of a lax life within the rear was finally on coming true.copyright protection65PENANAv4inriTXsA
Boy, was he wrong.copyright protection65PENANAHmgk4LCnRK
"As you may know, the brass wants another recon," Tanya says, walking past him and leaning into a huge block that served as the walls' railing, "this time, further south."copyright protection65PENANAhNMhXpPFHb
Mark struggled not to cry in disbelief. He knew what was coming next and he didn't like it.copyright protection65PENANAnttPp87BL7
The 1st LT walked in front of him, and to Mark's annoyance and confirmation, wore that grin. The grin that so many times sent him on the frontlines. The grin that crushed his dreams of laying down a futon made of memory foam after bathing in a public hot spring bath. The grin he despised but could do nothing about. That scheming grin.copyright protection65PENANAMaE2gP0Plc
"They asked for my recommendations, and of course," her grin widened, now ear-to-ear, "I told them about your wonderful feats, Mark. And how you're too fit for the job. Will you be willing to comply? Of course, they won't force you. But they only want the best, Mark. They want you to be part of the recon team in recognition of your past accomplishments. It'll be great honor, Mark! Think about it."copyright protection65PENANA28m8LaRr1T
DO I HAVE ANY F*CKING CHOICE, LADY?copyright protection65PENANAuLyLos0mS1
"I will gladly join the recon team, ma'am!" He replied.copyright protection65PENANAJgKc99fdMM
"Good, good! I knew I can count on you, Foster," Tanya laughed, climbing down the stairs.copyright protection65PENANAPGaGZDXsKg
OF COURSE. Of course you can. *sigh*copyright protection65PENANAbMaSOaY4EO
Now that he thought about it, being away from the source of all things evil in his life was a good therapeutic regimen. One should also put as the number 1 on his Top 5 List Of Things To Do IMMEDIATELY. This was a good opportunity to cross that off the list.copyright protection65PENANAlCtsU93vTD
"Yes, ma'am," was all he could reply. When the 1st LT seemed to be now out of sight, he leaned and gripped the railing hard.copyright protection65PENANAeN455koKx3
That woman. Does she want me to die or something?copyright protection65PENANA4TsbdudPdC
Mark sighed. No, despite how Tanya acts around him and him alone, she was actually a good leader. One that you can depend on. Mark could remember the times his Platoon Leader saved him, and in the midst of a battle she indeed looked like a Walküre, a Valkyrie, a noble lady of old-world myth and the name of the unit that started rebuilding the human race. She's elegant if described. Cute, even. Well, that word will get you killed in the presence of a Platoon Leader but still, it was her asset.copyright protection65PENANAtBIrIxsWE3
But that annoying side of her was too much to bear sometimes. If I say so myself, it's like she wants me to get into death's door every single time, Mark thought. copyright protection65PENANA0agmyzxqm6
And then Mark remembered something she told him in the training camp.copyright protection65PENANA3gdeoUwsQo
"Look, Foster, I know you want the comfy life. But no. You're a good shot. And a good shot has much to accomplish within the military. You're good at analytics, too. But you've really got to work on the athletics department. I know you can do it, it's just you don't wanna. That's why I'll push you harder and harder until you get out of that rotten mindset of yours, you got that? Whether you like it or not, Mark, whether you like it or not."copyright protection65PENANA6jORLpGS8h
Mark smiled. That was the one and only time the 1st LT was nice to him. After that, it was living hell.copyright protection65PENANAVxY1Mxbdtf
If only that nice side of hers was consistent, Foster would follow her to hell itself. But no. Even so, she did hold true to her word, she was constantly pushing him harder and harder. And each time he survived, he had a feeling that she made sure he was rewarded for it. A Platoon Leader like her was both blessing and curse. But he did appreciate her constant habit of sending him to death itself. It helped him survive the battles that came, from both the Tower and the outside.copyright protection65PENANASwuly5unSt
"Oh, and Foster," Tanya interrupted his thoughts, startling him.copyright protection65PENANAy5pqjr7PQk
"Ye-yes, ma'am!" He said in reply, snapping in attention.copyright protection65PENANA0NMQ8oZ5Xv
"The debriefing is in 0400. Set your clock. Don't be late," she finished, coming down the stairs again.copyright protection65PENANAxwAXiJ0QJK
Mark sighed. Well, just to humor her, he'll actually do good in this mission. Just a little thank you for his superior.copyright protection65PENANA7ootqLJI6c
Foster checked his clock, 00:05. 4 more hours until the debriefing. Ah well, time is fleeting, indeed. Guess I better savor these moments before missions. copyright protection65PENANAqA4M6CW0ta
I wonder where they'll send us to?69Please respect copyright.PENANAmcB5zLrt6H
copyright protection65PENANAPD74EkzAbR