บท 15: 3.5 Picking up the Pieces

"Leave the small Dirt Eater behind and climb up the stairs."

We stopped at an unassuming corner of the Nenner Furnace. The air was relatively cooler here, a welcome relief after spending almost two months in the constant heat. The door was as large as the one we came in with, only this time, cool air emanated from its wooden cracks. The armored man stood at its side, waiting for me to pass through the door.

Hmm.. Let's try something, shall we?

Gripping Lise's hand tightly, I nonchalantly approached the door. With my right hand, I pushed the gigantic wooden door open. Already, the cooler air seeped through, a refreshing reprieve away from the sweltering heat. I held her tightly as I made an attempt to pass thr-

*CRASH!*

I intermediately leapt back, my body shielding Lise behind me as a halberd swung towards the ground. Its owner stared at me with disdain, his weapon still barring the exit.

"You do not want to play this game, Dirt Eater," he ground out, hefting his halberd up and placing it back on his side. "Leave the child and go to your designated assignment."

"Big Bro?"

I ignored Lise's pleas as I put as much distance between me and the tin can before me. My right hand slowly inched toward the blade on my back, ready to fight my way out if that was what it took to take Lise with me.

"We're siblings, sir," I explained in a passive-aggressive tone. "I'm not leaving without her."

"Hah! Do you think this is negotiable, Dirt Eater?" the tin can laughed in equal parts disgust and amusement.

I stood my ground. "Wherever I go, she goes."

I instinctively lowered my body to the ground, readying myself for a fight.

"For the last time!-"

*CRASH!*

The tip of his halberd hit the ground with considerable force. "LEAVE THE CHILD AND GO TO YOUR ASSIGNMENT!"

A brief silence enveloped the area as I stood my ground; my stance ready to defend at a moment's notice as I gauged my opponent. I had no doubt that what I was about to do would be tantamount to suicide once we get caught. But I still had to try...

For her sake, at least.

I turned to Lise and gave her a nod. "Don't move."

My charge nodded before letting go of my hand. She'd seen me training with my dagger before. And while I refused to train her since I was barely a master myself, she knew well enough how to avoid basic attacks on her person.

Still, even as I prepared for the inevitable, the fact that this was a stupid idea really pounded itself onto my head. Not that I was going to let it stop me.

With a breath, I pulled out my dagger from its makeshift strap, handling it in a reverse-grip before-

*CREAK*

"What's the holdup?~"

I immediately paused my charge as the door opened on its own. That voice...

"I ain't got all day, Sir Knight~"

My eyes darkened the moment the figure emerged from the gigantic door. Rage and sorrow filled my being as my vision tunneled towards the blue-haired bvtch standing at the doorway.

"My apologies, Dame Blutmond."

"No worries~ I'm in no hurry~"

That bvtch... That bvtch!

I gritted my teeth as I roared. "I'LL KILL YOU!"

Screw the plan. Maybe I can at least take this bitch with me to the grave!

"Should I-"

"I'll handle this, Sir Knight~"

*CLANG!*

I ground my teeth as my dagger hit the annoyingly solid blade of my adversary's rapier. Our weapons sang the song of shredding metal as my glare met the amused smile on the bvtch's face.

"Aww~ Is that any way to repay your patron, Rouge?~"

Rouge?! How dare this bvtch say my name?!

*GRIIIIND!*

Our blades slid across one another before I leapt back to disengage.

"Don't you dare call me that, murderer!"

"Hey now~ I'm just doing what I'm told, Rouge~" the woman sang as she held nonsensically waved her rapier around. "I didn't even want to do it~"

I growled as I primed my body for another go at the bvtch. I knew in my mind that I wasn't thinking straight again, but this-

"Rouge!" Wha-

*WHOOSH!*

I cursed under my breath as a blue blur rushed towards me weapon-first in an attempt to stab me. On instinct, I brought my blade up in an effort to parry the blow.

*SHIIIIIIINGG!*

Once more, our blades slid against each other in a terrifying screech of metal as my arms struggled to keep up the pressure. My eyes strained as I briefly saw a growing smirk showing itself on the woman's face as she passed me after her attack.

"Guhh..." I grunted. My arms already burned just from her single attack. And she hadn't even done whatever she did that almost killed me in a single hit.

"Impressive, kid~" I turned towards the bitch. She wasn't even sweating after such a display of speed. "A far cry from when we first met~"

I deigned a response as I stood at the ready, my dagger facing her direction as she simply stared at me in fascination.

"You're supposed to be a Nenner~ You shouldn't even know how to fight~"

I shifted in my feet as a brief flash of confusion crossed my mind. What was she trying to say?

"What's wrong with knowing how to fight?"

"It's simply wrong~" She sang, twirling on her feet before-

A shiver ran down my spine as I heard her sickeningly sweet voice behind my neck.

"An affront to the natural order of things, cutie~"

I immediately turned my dagger towards my back, but the woman simply jumped backward even before I managed to complete my swing. I breathed heavily as my heart pounded at the unnatural feat of speed she just displayed.

When the hell did she even get behind me?

"But here you are now~" she giggled, her rapier spinning on its tip as she twirled it in the air. "Proving to me that you know your ways in battle~"

I frowned at her monologue. Where was she going with this?

"Rouge," the blue-haired bvtch started, her voice losing its jovial tone. "I command you to fight Sir Knight over there."

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