I stared at my hands. The purple residue of mana and glyphs flickering along my hands as I tried to calm myself. Horus had made some excuse on my behalf and decided they would scout ahead to see if the caves had shifted this far back, too, or not.
Did I really kill the goblins…? I looked up to the pile of rubble blocking our way. We'll have to come back the way we came so…
My breath hitched, again. I closed my eyes, hoping this was just some twisted dream and I was actually at home sleeping through my twelve alarms for work. But, I knew that was a lie. It had been a year since I came to this world and even more so I couldn't feel Rewrite for once. It didn't stir, it didn't hum, it didn't say anything to me.
"…they went that way for sure." Horus' voice appeared in the distance.
"I guess it's time to go." I started to get up but was met with a crushing weight pushing down on my hands. I grunted, forcing myself to stand. My hands felt like two iron balls chained to my arms, weighing me down.
You're okay. I lied to myself. You're safe. Nothing will hurt you.
Slowly, the feeling started to disappear from my hands. I slowly flexed my hands, stretching my arms and by the time I finished, Horus and Lian had returned.
"Did you find clues?" I asked, trying my best to hide any emotion behind my voice.
"The caves didn't shift this far back for some reason." Horus replied. "We're thinking its because the room Lian was in was disrupted which caused the spells to fizzle out there."
"There are signs of fighting, too." Lian's voice was laced with worry. "I'm just worried that—"
"There wasn't any signs of blood or mana residue from the others." Horus put a hand on Lian. "We should try to catch up to them as soon as possible. Who knows if there's more goblins like the ones from earlier."
I simply nodded.
"Lead the way, then."
Horus stepped closer, whispering, "Are you fine now?"
I nodded.
"You sure?" He seemed worry for someone he barely knew.
"I'll be fine." I nodded, keeping my eyes low so I didn't have to look at him. "Lead the way."
I followed behind Lani and Horus as they led the way. I half-heartedly paid attention, too focused on Rewrite's silence.
Why did it grow silent all of a sudden? I wondered. Was it because I had done something wrong? Did I break my own Creed?
"Tch." I clicked my tongue.
"You hear that?" Lani asked.
I nearly bumped into Horus, breaking out of my own thoughts and looking up. Horus and Lani were looking around, listening for something.
The mission comes first. My feelings and theories come later. I moved mana to my ears, straining myself to listen.
Panicked breaths, quick footsteps, and stifled grunts filled with pain reached my ears.
I stepped to the side of Horus and moved forward.
"You hear something?" Horus asked me. I lifted a finger to my mouth before waving for them to follow.
"…did you think he's ever coming…?" A man's voice quietly whispered.
"He promised… we must believe in… him…" Another man answered.
"Hush, Leo, you must save your strength." A woman spoke up.
I turned the corner, pulling myself back in time. Another squadron of armored goblins stood at a large opening. My eyes glistened from silver to purple as I scanned for mana signatures.
Two, three, four people. The goblins have some mana signatures as well… I noted. I pulled back and looked to Horus and Lian.
"Four people. It sounds like the one named Leo is hurt." I whispered. Lian opened her mouth to say something but I shushed her. "There are goblins in the way."
"What are we going to do?" Horus whispered. "If Leo's hurt, surely that means the rest are hurt, too. It's only a matter of time before something horrible happens."
The crushing weight on my chest grew heavier. I pushed myself to ignore it as I tried to steel myself.
"I can create an opportunity for you and Lian to get past the goblins." I threw out a random plan. "Maybe I can pull them to me and they'll follow?"
"And if they don't?" Horus asked.
I hesitated.
"I'll have to do what I must." I answered.
Horus looked at me for awhile before nodding. He turned to Lian.
"Are you ready?" He asked Lian.
"I am." She nodded.
"Alright, then." Horus turned to me. "Ready when you are."
I sucked in a sharp metallic breath. I turned, summoning my staff and stepped out.
"Hey dipshits!" I mustered every ounce of courage in my body and waved my staff. The goblins turned, all cocking their heads and realizing I had infiltrated their secret tunnels. "This way!"
Every inch of me was screaming to run away. I forced myself to stand there as the goblins pulled their swords out and pointed them at me. They jabbered, only allowing two out of the four to come to me.
"Dammit." I cursed under my breath as I slammed my staff onto the ground. Purple glyphs fluttered to life as I pooled the glyphs together and blasted one of the goblins.
The goblin shifted backwards, knocking into one of their buddies before two rushed at me.
I have to pull all of them towards me… I cursed again. I twirled Runtime, pointing the purple gem at the goblins.
"Blossoming hearts, charm my opponent into pure rage: let them focus on me — Rageful Charm!" Purple shot outwards turning red as a wave of rage washed over the goblins. Their eyes turned red, all becoming irrational and rushing at me.
I moved backwards, leading the angered goblins away. My eyes watching Horus and Lian slip past. I turned and broke into full sprint.
If I can just run long enough, maybe I can lose them. I thought as I entered the next room. It was a large opening with tunnels in every direction. I turned shooting a blast of energy at one of the goblins, sending it flying. The other three goblins rushed, swinging their weapons as I threw up a barrier. They mindlessly shouted and slammed their swords into the shield.
I pushed the shield outwards, turning the shield into a repelling blast and sending them away.
Maybe I can do this. I thought.
"Ahhh!" Lian screamed.
"Shit did I—" I began to say when I heard Horus' voice.
"Lian! Get away from her!" Horus shouted.
Did I miscount? I wondered. I had clearly seen the four people and the four goblins. How could goblins slip past my detection…?
My mind raced for theories and answers but the raging goblins rushed at me, swinging their swords at me. I threw up a barrier with a grunt as their empowered strength from the spell pushed me backwards.
A bright light of green illuminated the cave in the distance with more screams following after.
If I didn't do anything, everyone would die. But, if I did what I didn't want to do… Would that make me the same monster as the rest?
The shield broke as a sword flew into my shoulder. I let out a cry as I forced myself to peel away from it. I jumped backwards and for the first time, I found myself pinned to a corner.
Because once something is gone… it can't be rewritten.
What do I do?
Do I do it?
Do I not do it?
There's always another way… Because death ends iteration.
I gripped my staff and pointed it at the goblins with a twisted somber smile.
"It's twisted, isn't it?" I spoke to no one in particular. "I would rather preserve lives, but here I am… doing the opposite by doing nothing."
The goblins leaped into the air, all lifting their swords and swinging downwards as they approached me.
"Using this spell won't make you evil, little Elias." Lady Tyresa's voice echoed in my head. "It will just mean you finally learned what you're willing to lose."
Everything in my body swirled as I let the words out, "Compile."
In an instant, a purple glyph glew white, splitting into four and rushed the goblins. The lives in front of me were no more. Their sword arms went slack and the life they had just a moment ago vanished into nothingness. The goblins hit the floor, weapons clanking as I slowly lowered my staff.
I didn't let myself feel a thing. I rushed past the goblins, into the hallway I had left Lian and Horus at, and into the other room. A multi-colorful shield was thrown up. One made by Horus and what looked to be another woman with blonde hair.
"I cannot hold it much longer!" Horus shouted.
"Surely there's something we can do!" The blonde woman strained.
I lifted my stave and pointed it at the goblins I hadn't registered. Because of my miscalculation, my manasense had lied to me.
"Compile." I spoke the spell once more. The white glyph shot outwards, piercing every remaining goblin in the room.
The goblins stopped moving. I waited for Rewrite to speak.
It didn't.
Somewhere in front of me, someone was still breathing. I wasn't sure if I made it worth it.