Chương 22: Chapter 21. Treasury Part 2

Where am I? I was with Sarah and Julia. Then I walked forward.... What is this place? It's a battlefield. An orange skyline. Bodies everywhere. But no blood!? / Thud! / I flipped a body over. It's a guy. He seems to be a little older than me, he's cut shoulder to hip. But no blood. I walk forward seeing more bodies. The piles of bodies continue to grow. Still no blood. Still being cut, just in different ways. I go forward still, a feeling like someone is watching me starts to settle in.

The piles of bodies continue to grow, now the bodies look charred? I follow the scorch marks on the ground around the burned bodies. It leads to the center of the field from what I can tell. I arrive at the epicenter of the flame marks. There's a girl, she looks 10 years old... And she's sleeping on a stone altar of some kind? I feel compelled to approach her. Just like how I felt compelled to keep walking forward here... / Step. Step. Step.

/ As I get closer, her features and what she's wearing become clearer to me. White skin, like porcelain, dark-red hair, like the color of fresh blood and a frilly black dress. She had on monochrome striped socks and black Mary Jane shoes on her feet.

"!" Her eyes open as I get within spitting distance of her, she has black and red colored irises, the colors were in an umbrella pattern. Her eyes looked around and they easily find me as she rises up from laying down. I begin to talk to her. Since I'm still lost on what's going on." Who are you and why did you bring me here?" She looks at me, she looks puzzled from my question for some reason? After thinking for a minute, she speaks to me in an annoyed tone."

A Gentleman introduces himself first before asking a Lady her name!"

"?" Looking at her in disbelief, I sighed and just introduced myself. No sense in arguing with her... Let's just see if she answers my questions now." My name is John. May I have the pleasure of knowing your name, Miss?" She smiles at me and answers my question." Yes, that's much better, John! My name is Scarlet... Now... Did I bring you here? hmmm?" She answers one question but asks me a question in return. Looking almost like she's trying to tease me for some reason.

I tilt my head to the right an inch as I'm trying to figure out what's going on... But again... I guess the easiest course of action is just to answer her." If not you, than who? I seem to recall being in a Treasury, before ending up here. Are you going to continue to pretend you had nothing to do with it? You're the only live thing I've found here. It's obvious that you have something to do with it." She smiles, then laughs and begins to speak in a mocking tone." Not bad for a Human. Yes, I brought you here!""

Why did you bring me here?" She fesses up to what she's done, but it seems she didn't really want to hide it from me. After a brief moment, she begins to answer my question." Simple really. I'm bored! And I wanted to meet you. It's been ages since someone has been here except for warded Demons! And that one dressed in black, but I had no interest in them. Hmm.. What's wrong, Human?"" Nothing just unpacking some things you said. There's a point to you wanting to meet me, besides boredom isn't there?

If there wasn't, you would've just appeared in front of Sarah and me. So, what is it?"" Careful with that tone! I am of High Standing and I will not tolerate being disrespected!" After she finished speaking, scarlet colored mana burst forth from her. It started pressuring me like I had something heavy on my shoulders. I tried to channel my mana, but no luck. Biting my tongue, I decided to placate her." Alright I'm sorry! It was my bad!" the pressure alleviated. Scarlet started to talk.

With a blooming smile on her face like a kid who just won an argument." Hmph! As long as you get it. Now continuing on! I brought you here to alleviate my boredom. So, tell me a story!" Deciding to roll with the punches, I decide to tell her a ghost story. After finishing the story, she was hiding behind the stone slab she was sleeping on... Is... Is she really just a kid? As I was thinking about her, Scarlet started to talk to me with tears in her eyes." You Insolent cur! I didn't tell you to tell a scary story!"

All of a sudden, I felt bad... I guess she's like an up-town girl who never had to speak to anyone before that wasn't trying to kiss up to her. As she sat with her face in her knees, I decided to try a different approach." Sorry, to tell you the truth. I was still kind of angry at you dragging me in here just to placate you. Let me tell you another story. With your permission of course." Grip! Pull! / TEAR! /" Here." / Woosh! / She raised her face to me, it was full of tears and boogers...

I ripped off a piece of my shirt for her. She wiped her face off." To make up for this.... Tell me another story! A better story this time!" After blowing her nose, she's still trying to act all high and mighty... I don't think anything good will come from me talking about that, so, I begin to tell her a story about a prince saving a princess from a dragon. She responded much better to that one." Ahh how nice for the Princess, meanwhile I'm still stuck in this piece of rock."" What are you exactly, Scarlet?"

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. After boosting her mood a bit from the story, I decide to see if she's ready to show her cards. Unexpectedly, she asked for another story instead. I told her a funny story about a boy who lives on a farm, but he has no idea how to farm. She laughs, looking appropriate for her look and what seems to be her age. After she regains her calm from the laughing fit. We sit silently next to each other.

After a few moments, Scarlet begins to speak." My earliest memory was being pulled from somewhere hot. After that, the woman who pulled me out, proceeded to give me to a stranger. After a few years, I ended up in the custody of a Demon. He used me as a tool with no understanding of how great I was. After years of his constant disrespect, I was placed here and its where I've been since. Much to my boredom and displeasure!"" That sounds terrible Scarlet. I'm sorry you had to go through all of that."

I responded to her story with my true feelings on it... It sounds like she was just taken from one place to another... In a way, we're kind of similar, I guess? As I was thinking about that, Scarlet began to talk again." It wasn't all bad. Because I had ample time to sit here, then I became myself fully. I was sleeping until I was awakened yesterday. A pillar of light came from the ceiling and bathed me in its light. It woke me from its warmth. It felt so kind, So different from him.

I thought I found someone who could truly appreciate and keep up with me. And so, I sat for a day and then you walked into my view. So, I called for you, and you answered." Scarlet had gotten up and was looking at me in the eyes. After a few moments she began to speak again." I've decided! I choose you to wield me, John!"" Huh?" After mumbling out a response, Scarlet disappears from in front of me and I start to panic as the world melts away all around me. I blink and I'm back in the Treasury. Grip.

"?" Grip! My hands are on the black pummel of a sword. Its blade was dark red, the blade looked like a katana that was straightened to not have a bend. I was really lost on what was happening at the moment... After looking at the sword for a moment, that's when I heard Sarah behind me." Wait! John! what are you doing!?" Then Julia spoke in my mind." That's the Slaughter King's Sword! Stop, John!" They said all of that, but I felt Scarlet's mana from the blade as my left hand was on the pummel...

Since that was the case... PULL! / Shing! / I pulled the sword from the pedestal as hard as I could. Once the sword came loose, a pillar of red mana burst forth with black lightning crackling around it. It looked dangerous... Almost like a natural disaster had appeared in the room. Sarah and Julia were freaking out, I could tell because I could hear them yelling at me. Eventually, I moved away from the mana with the sword in hand.

But I didn't do it because I was scared, I just had a feeling that Scarlet would be appearing soon. / WOOOSH! / And sure enough, with a blast of wind coming out from the sword in my hands, she did." Ah! I'm finally out! Thanks John! I can stretch my legs finally!" Scarlet stretched her arms and legs out as wide as she could as she floated in front of me. While she did that, Sarah looked terrified and I can understand why.

Those bodies I came across must be all the victims from this "Slaughter King" guy Julia mentioned. But Scarlet never gave me the vibe she was some cruel viscous monster. While I was thinking about that, Sarah pulled out her mana spear and got in between me and Scarlet." John get back! I'll protect you!" I appreciated the sentiment, but I responded in a way I don't think she appreciated." No, Sarah, it's fine. We've come to an agreement. Scarlet and I are going to be friends from now on."" Yeah! I like John!

He's my Prince!"" NO, HE"S MINE!" Sarah, while still keeping her guard up, couldn't help but respond to Scarlet. I decided to explain what happened to Sarah and Julia to calm them down, but they got even more concerned instead." Wait John, she must have manipulated you to set her free! there's no way she's going to be safe for you to use! She's the Slaughterer's Sword!"" Hey! don't you dare say his name in front of me! And don't make me out to be his possession!

That thug should've been killed sooner for what he did!"" What?" With Sarah being surprised. I realized I was missing some important information that Scarlet left out, so I decided to ask about this Slaughterer guy. Even though Scarlet wasn't happy at the mention of his name. Julia filled in the blanks for me to appease Scarlet of not wanting to hear his name again." Sabbeth Amon. He was the 54th King of Diablos, a cruel and evil Demon. He killed and tortured as he pleased whether friend or foe.

If the tales are to be believed, he also ate parts of who ever he killed. Legends tell tales of battlefields turning into lakes of blood and fire after he finished fighting. Eventually the people revolted, and he was killed by Garett the Noble. Otherwise known as the 55th King of Diablos."" Hmm I see... However, I don't think you truly need to fear Scarlet. If she wanted to hurt me, she would've already. Besides, she isn't all that bad. In truth, just a bit selfish."

Sarah looked shocked at what I said, and Scarlet looked happy and grumpy at what I said. Having stated my opinion, I asked Sarah if she knew where Scarlet came from." She comes from the legendary Dwarven Blacksmith Evelyn Firestar. The Slau.... I mean Scarlet is considered to be one of the 20 greatest works ever made by Evelyn. Unnaturally sharp and able to coat its blade in fire and use the enemy's blood as a weapon.

When Scarlet would enter the battlefields, there were flee on sight orders for her from Diablos's enemies." As Sarah explained it to me, I noticed Scarlet standing behind her, puffing her chest out and raising her head in a show of pride. It's quite cute, like when a 2nd grader gets all A's on a report card. After that, I thought of the only thing left to know about Scarlet." So Scarlet, are you able to maintain that form indefinitely? Or will you need to rest?""

I can only remain in this form for a few minutes, but I just wanted to walk around for a minute. I'll return to my home in a second. But first, you should channel some of your mana into my blade so we can establish a Link! When you do that, I'll be able to stay in this form for longer because I can use some of your mana to help stabilize it."" Ok." I did as I was asked and as I was channeling, I overheard Scarlet speaking." Ah yes, this warmth is exactly what I need. it feels so peaceful!""

Hmm, she may be more like me than I thought." To Scarlet's mumbling, Sarah mumbled something herself. Meanwhile I was a bit lost about this whole " warmth" thing... I guess it's my mana? Either way... After channeling, Scarlet and I formed a Link. She then spoke in my mind like Julia can." Alright! all set, Partner! I look forward to working with you!"" Ah I can hear her too!"" Huh? Who is that?"" That's Julia. She gave me her Armor to use, so we have a Link too... I think?"" Oh! Nice to meet you Ms. Julia!

I'm Scarlet! let's get along as John's Partners!"" Oh, what a pleasant child! Nice to meet you Ms. Scarlet. Let's get along from now on! And yes John, I did form a Link with you, just like Ms. Scarlet." And like that, Julia has a new roommate." Ah! Since she uses a Bracelet, I'll do the same!" / Shing! Woosh! / And like that, the sword in my hand glowed a light red color and then left my hand. It changed into a mass of red and black light and then it rushed to my left wrist.

A black Bracelet appeared on my left wrist as soon as the light touched me. And now I had a black Bracelet to match the purple one on my right wrist. Sarah looked on in shock, so I spoke to her." Sarah Its all ok. Everything is going to be fine."" It's not that... It's just that I realized you truly are Special. You managed to get the Dark Sentinel Armor and Scarlet's Blade from our Treasury. You attract amazing things to you."" Well, I'm just treating people with Sincerity, like My Parents.""

Yes, and I'm also a victim of this warmth of yours, I've fallen even more in Love with you, John!" We both get embarrassed for a few moments. But the moment is ruined in an instant." Oh, so she's Diablos's Princess and he's a Otherworlder Paladin. What an interesting couple, Ms. Julia!"" Oh Ms. Scarlet! you left the communication open!"" OH NO!" It's gotten quiet. I guess they can see and hear a lot? I hope they learn about Privacy Rights eventually." Are you ready to leave, Sarah?""

As long as we're together, I'll go with you anywhere, John!" And like that, we left the Treasury to report back to Warrick and Aqua. Safe to say, they were shocked. After a day of helping them relax by explaining how much of a non-threat Scarlet was, Sarah and Aqua began feeding Scarlet snacks for the rest of the night. While Warrick discussed the Dark Sentinel legend with Julia. And like that, a day passed and I prepared for my First Magic Class with Aqua, it was bright and early in the morning.

And just as Anna woke me up, I came to a realization... I just graduated and I felt like I was back in school all over again.