It was the dead of night as darkness enveloped the dense forest below. The moonlight shone, giving a faint illumination to the ground below.
It was silent with only the sound of the wind echoing throughout the vast forest. The trees swayed and the leaves fluttered to the wind.
The forest was still, peaceful yet mysterious, when suddenly a figure ran below the shade of the trees.
It moved quickly as it dashed on the ground and jumped to a tree branch before jumping to the other branches in front of it. The nimble figure dashed and swiftly moved from tree to tree and ground to ground.
Following that was the sound of multiple footsteps and the sound of iron clacking together. It was a group of armored human soldiers, armed with weapons and torches on their hands.
"Find the demon!! Avenge the king!!!"
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
A female commander roared as she motivated the men to move forward. Their shout echoed and made the forest slightly tremble.
…
The figure heard this and it looked behind for a quick second before returning to the front while still moving.
"Why does it comes down to this…..urghhh"
The figure was a young female assassin dressed in tight black clothes and armed with two daggers on her back.
She has a petite body and her hair tied into that of a ponytail. She has the facial figure of a young adult and her yellow eyes are sharp and cold.
Her face frowning as ahs bit her lips while still moving.
"Why am I blamed? I didn't do it…I am framed…."
She continued moving as her anger and fury slowly rose within her. Her chest felt tight and hot, her hand clenched and her breathing became deeper and deeper.
"I need to escape. I can't fight them, especially since those guys are also on their team."
'Even though they were supposed to be my allies…This hero party.'
She was part of the heroes party who is supposed to exterminate the demon king.
But now, the heroes' party are siding with the soldiers who are blaming her for the death of their human king.
She was blamed as the one who committed the crime.
… …
This was supposed to be a normal banquet. A banquet to celebrate the election of the new heroes.
Heroes are selected from adventurers guild. Individuals who performed well and have a high rank in the guild are the ones chosen to be candidates of the heroes party.
Every country has its own heroes party so there are other parties out there including us.
She didn't like to be picked as a hero in the first place, but since the pay is good she couldn't help but accept the offer, it's a opportunity that she couldn't just let pass.
And now, she is teamed up with a party consisting of a male defender, a saint, a female mage, a male knight, a female archer and her, an assassin.
And because this banquet is hosted by the king, she has no choice but to attend. Normally she would reject events like this where she needs to socialize and speak but again, this is not those kind of party.
So she forced herself to attend this party and push through.
All she wanted was to live a peaceful life. All she wanted to do was save money for her retirement and do whatever she wants after.
But now… That's impossible.
When the king fell on the throne, the saint quickly ran towards the king in attempt to save him. But, it was too late.
And after that, everything felt fast like a dream.
The saint pointed her finger towards her saying that she poisoned the king with black magic.
Saying that by using her skills, she hid and sneak her way to put poison on the cup to be served to the king.
It was plausible since she avoided the crowd and just stayed hidden and silent on the side.
Her skill set as an assassin can be the prime suspect since it excels at conducting hidden attacks or sneaky actions. It's very suited for assassination attempts like this one.
Additionally.
She has a distinct affinity towards black magic which is unique.
Honestly she could apply to take the role of a dark mage or dark sorcerer, but she didn't take that role knowing that being a sorcerer is expensive and requires too much study work.
There are also plenty of mages too who have more useful and practical magical elements.
So being an assassin is more easier since it can cover more grounds in the field of adventuring and mercenary work.
But now, her role is being used against her.
Following that was the captain ordering her arrest. And because she was surprised and a bit panicked, she ran away using her skills and dark magic. She used her magic pushing the soldiers who were approaching her. She formed walls behind her and also used dark barrier spells when arrows or magic attacks are coming towards her.
And because of this display of dark magic, she was called a demon.
Dark magic is commonly associated with demons since they mostly use it, so dark magic is one of the indicator when the individual is a demon or not.
… … …
She continued running when suddenly, a roar happened again followed by a yellow sphere expanding behind her. She was hit by it but felt nothing touching her skin or harming her.
However shortly after that, she felt something was wrong, she felt her movement becoming heavy and slow.
It felt as if a heavy force was pushing her down and restricting her movement.
'What the? A slowing spell?'
She then realized.
The roar that she heard, it was definitely the defender or specifically, the tank who did it.
The slow spell can be casted by the tank, however, it should only be effective by a few meters. It shouldn't reach her unless someone amplified the skill effect.
And judging by the yellow sphere that passed by her, it should've been the work of the saint using her support skills although the casting time for that wide effect is long it is still a big advantage for them.
… …
Shit… . This isn't good.
She tried to run even faster but it seems it's not working.
She continued more but then a female voice rang behind her.
"Found you!!"
She then quickly looked back and she was hit by an arrow on her leg.
"Gahh!!"
She was then hit by an earth spell, with a large rock hitting her on her side making her pushed back and falling to the ground.
She tried to stand up but the pain on her knee stopped her. She just knelt there looking at the people who attacked her with rage in her eyes.
She was then hit by an electric spell. Making her limb and paralyzed and so she fell to the ground still awake.
"Bind."
Another voice rang before her, and following that was her body being bound by a rope created by holy magic.
Not before long, the saint, alongside the Archer, the mage and the knight appeared and walked towards her.
The knight then spoke with a disappointed look on his face.
"I was so wrong about you… I can't believe this is what you are planning all along."
She then replied with a pained face.
"No it's not me… please, believe me."
Her tears formed on the side of her eyes.
"Shut up, demon."
The saint knelt beside her and smiled before speaking in a quiet voice that only the both of them can only hear.
"You brought this to yourself. That's what you get for seducing him."
Huh??
She widened her eyes confused to what the saint is saying before taking a moment to realize and understanding what she meant.
The saint was in love with the knight. And maybe out of jealousy, she planned this.
'But I didn't seduce him. I don't even bother approaching him, it is him always trying to approach me, it was always him who wanted to talk to me even if I didn't want to…'
She always preferred to stay alone and silent, she always tried to stay unnoticed. She didn't demand attention or she didn't even tried to seduce him.
This is all nonsense.
!!?
Suddenly another question pop into her mind, something very critical and concerning.
'Why go to such lenghts? Is it necessary to kill the king?'
She couldn't help but question the absurdity of the situation. If the saint wanted her gone then there are many ways that the saint could've approached this.
"Why did you… kill… The king? "
She weakly spoke as the pain continued enveloping her body.
But again, the saint just smiled and replied.
"You know, I am not the one who killed him. It was all lucky coincidence."
She then widened her eyes after hearing that. She is now confused, shocked and dumbfounded.
She couldn't believe it. That coincidence is too timely as if it's a miracle made just to ruin her.
"Still, it's a waste to not use an opportunity when presented with one, so, I am thankful to the one who did it ~ it helped me deal with you much easier."
She then stood up and looked down on me.
"Goodbye~"
She then turned around and faced the group who was looking towards us.
The saint then spoke again in a worried tone of voice.
"Stay away! We need to exterminate her, she is too dangerous! She is affecting my mind, luckily I am still able to counter it."
The others, convinced by her acting, stepped back away from us.
The knight then walked towards her and prepared his sword.
He walked and stopped once he was close to her.
He raised his sword up and looked at her with a pained expression. His hands trembling and hesitating.
The saint spoke again.
"Don't be fooled by her human appearance! If she lives and gets captured by the soldiers, who knows if she might control their minds! We must end her here!"
"urghh… "
Hearing this the knight gulped and closed his eyes. His hand clenched harder before taking a deep breath.
"Sorry… Sera."
Sera then looked at the face of the knight and tried to speak but her voice was very weak and quiet.
"No… . Please… . Help… . "
The knight ignored it, making Sera feel more helpless and desperate.
'Why won't you listen? You are all being tricked…..this is unfair ….why am I always suffering?'
Sera's anger burns more and more. She looked towards the saint and glared.
'I will kill you, if I return as an undead, I will hunt you down! I hope you all suffer!'
The knight put magic on his sword as it shone brightly. He then swung down and everything was finished…
Sera… a female assassin, lied coldly on the ground. Tears on her eyes and blood spilling from her wounds.
—--------------------------
—-----------
'Where did it all go wrong?'
'I thought everything was going well… '
'I worked hard only to be destroyed by stupid jealousy.'
'ughhh… . Maybe if I were smarter… maybe if I were more distant… '
'Maybe I should've been more careful with my decision… maybe I should've focused on living happily instead of being too concerned for my future… '
'Maybe I could've done things better… '
'I don't want this… .. I don't want to die like this…'
'Is this really the end?'
… …
I then remember everything that I went through.
I was sold as a slave by my parents and I was bought by a man.
He tried to toy with my body… tried to do something sinful.
I protected myself… I killed him.
I was alone surviving in the wild and another man appeared.
This time the man helped me survive. He taught me how to live in the forest, taught me to hunt, to process meat and herbs. To move, hunt and fight.
After that, we separated. But after a few months, I met a witch…
I learned about my affinity to each elements, I learned my capability with dark magic.
She then taught how to use mana, how to use dark magic. She also taught me other spells using the other elements.
She gave me a grimoire. I studied it and was satisfied just doing that.
We live together, eat together, sleep together. Everything was peaceful. It was a time I would never forget. It was time I was happy and content.
But after a year, she was killed by humans. She was suspected on bringing the famine into the land. She was suspected of being the one why crops are not growing and were always destroyed.
Because of this, she used herself as bait and took the attention of the hunters to her. She used herself to save me and let me escape.
And because of this I survived.
I went back to the hut and found every thing was destroyed.
There were hunters and they identified me as someone connected with the witch and tried to capture me.
But I was angry…
Angry of everything…
I killed them all…
Months passes by again and I found myself working as an adventurer. Using all the knowledge passed down to me. I climbed the ranks steadily.
I then decided… I will live a peaceful life… quiet yet serene.
I steadily earn money. Gain connections. Learned new things.
And now here… dead.
… …
Why am I reminiscing the past.
Why do I feel like everything was painful.
No…
Maybe it was.
In the end…
I was alone.
I only had myself to be there for me.
Ahhhh…
…
…
To my younger self… you've really done well.
… …
Maybe if I were to see my younger self. Maybe I would hug her tightly. Pet her hair. Spoil her. Praise her and say good job.
Ahhhh.
This feeling.
This regret.
I want to return…
Back in time.
…
…
…
…
"Very well ~ "
!!!?
—--------------------------------------------
Her eyes snapped open, and she saw a scene she never expected.
A girl, a familiar figure she definitely knew, was staring back at her.
.....
...
"It's..... Me?"