Ganersam Volume 2

“Will she be alright?”

“She will. Let’s just wait.”

“Alright...”

The sight of Emma comforting Amber reminded me of the time when Riko comforted me back in Omega.

It had been two whole days, and Nia was still unconscious. We rushed her into a hospital the second we arrived at Kalagai. We now waited outside a hospital room. As we waited for the doctors to finish their inspection, we told Amber what had happened.

"Sigh... Me should’ve told her the truth.”

“How close is Nia to her?”

“She’s really close to Natalie. Actually, Natalie is close to most of us.”

“But if that’s the case, why are you two the only ones who attempted to leave?”

Amber looked at the room where Nia was being taken care at. Its brown-colored door reflected the shine from the lightbulbs in the hallway, as if saying that everything is going to be alright.

“Because us the only ones who were brave enough... will Nia hate me?”

I couldn’t answer that. It was hard to tell what Nia thought about this, as she was quite skilled in maintaining her mask.

But it does break sometimes...

The door let out a creek as it opened. The doctor and nurse came out from it.

“She’s awakened.”

I then looked at Amber and gently push her. She stood up and entered the room alone.

I found myself in a white room, feeling slightly dizzy. I tried moving my limbs, but it doesn’t feel like I suffered any heavy injuries, maybe slight aches here and there, and my left wrist slightly hurts. I heard the door closing and found Amber Senpai coming from it. She let out a faint smile and approached my bed. I blinked twice, resetting my vision.

“Hey... ye alright?”

She asked. I nodded. I thought about asking about that, but I thought it was not the right time, so I decided to ask about something else.

“How are the others?”

“They’re alright. We... well, she, destroyed the research lab.”

“She?”

“Master... me think. Me don’t know, it just went ka-boom.”

“I... see...”

“Nia.”

“Yes?”

“Me sorry.”

I instantly knew what she was sorry about.

“It’s fine, really. Besides, Natalie Senpai died for you. It would be disrespectful to her if I blame you for her death. It’s her choice.”

“Is that how ye think about it?”

“Yes. Regardless, it’s pointless. She’s gone now...”

Saying those words hurt my heart a little. I had long accepted her death, but every now and then, the memory of her came back. I glanced at the scythe that N1 gave me. They had put it in the side of the room, beside the window. I tried to stand up, but Amber Senpai stopped me. I pointed toward the scythe, she quickly grabbed it for me.

“She’s not coming back, but her legacy lives on, so don’t blame yourself for it, alright?”

I said as I stroked the scythe. Tears started rolling from Amber Senpai’s eyes. I opened my hands wide and hugged her.

“Still, how did ye know about it, though?”

“I don’t. I simply lied.”

“Why?”

I shrugged my shoulders.

“I don’t know. I just felt like that’s the best option.”

“Me see...”

The kingdom was kind enough to wait for Nia to recover before throwing a massive party for us. They celebrated our success in defeating the demon’s army. Thanks to our brave act, the human army managed to push back the demon’s army.

It had been five whole days, and the humans had successfully reached Asparagus. It seemed that the destruction of their research center hugely affected the offensive power of the demon’s army, while at the same time majorly improving the human army’s morale. The party was thrown partly to push the morale a bit more. If being a hero meant being celebrated by the country, other soldiers would probably be motivated too.

"Hik... spoil me more... William...”

“Emma, you’re drunk. Stop it.”

“NO, I’M NOT...HIK!"

Emma was clinging to me. Her drunk face looked a bit cute, though.

Seeing the girls go crazy at this party made me decide against drinking. If everyone was drunk, then we would be in serious trouble for sure.

Like Emma, Amber had been drunk as well. She was currently sleeping on a chair in the corner of the hall.

We were welcomed as heroes, and this party was thrown specifically for us, so I couldn’t blame the girls for going a bit crazy. Riko was talking with the princess, and Amel was talking with her family.

Nia on the other hand...

“Where’s Nia?”

"Hik...? I’m here, and you’re looking for Nia? Why don’t you pay attention to me more...Hik...”

Emma started weakly pounding on me with her left hand while her right hand clung to my shirt. This girl was too far gone. I looked around, trying to find someone I could transfer her to.

“Riko.”

“Hmm?”

Realizing that Riko had finished talking with the princess, I called him over. He looked at me and immediately walked toward us, having no idea on what I would do.

“Here, can you handle her for a while?”

“Wh- what?”

Not waiting for a response, I threw Emma at him.

“William abandoned me...hik...”

Emma grumbled sadly, while Riko simply looked at her, confused on how to react. I ignored her and went out.

“So here you are.”

“Oh, you’re not drinking?”

“The girls are all drunk. Me drinking is the same as asking for trouble.”

“Ahh... that’s true... youareour guardian.”

I chuckled at her response.

“I definitely did not sign up for this.”

I then approached Nia who stood alone outside. Behind the main building of the castle was a large hall, where the party was thrown. I didn’t visit this part of the castle the last time I’m here. Above that hall was an open space that could be accessed with stairs near the hall’s entrance.

Nia leaned on the railing, looking out at the beautiful city lights of Omega. The bright stars decorated the dark skies above, trying to rival the lights down below.

“So... if you don’t mind me asking... How did stuff with Amber go?”

“I was surprised when I first heard about it. I wasn’t expecting her to be the one Natalie Senpai rescued.”

“... Are you angry?”

“At Amber Senpai?”

I nodded. She stayed silent for a while.

“I was in shock when I heard about it, but no, I’m not angry... Natalie Senpai sacrificed herself for Amber Senpai, it was her choice. It would be rude for me to blame Amber Senpai for it.”

“I guess you’re right... but I thought you said you knew about it?”

“That was a lie. I knew I couldn’t stay in shock for long. You would’ve died if I failed. You protected me from those darts, I must protect you from her.”

“Protect you?”

“You blocked a second paralyze bolt that was supposed to hit me.”

“But I only felt one bolt?”

“The second one bounced off your gun.”

I wonder what would happen if I got hit by both.

But what she said is true. In battle, your mental state is very important. Even a slight hesitation or a loss of concentration could prove to be fatal.

“But Master...”

Nia looked up at the skies.

“N1... she used to use a polearm.”

“Polearm?”

“Yes. It’s a tradition that traitors are executed with a scythe, as it symbolizes death. This scythe...”

She took the scythe hanging on her back. I was a bit surprised when we weren’t asked to put down our weapons. As a change, a lot of guards stood by the area. Maybe they thought asking heroes to let go of their weapons was disrespectful?

Nia caressed the red blade of the scythe.

“I believe she also missed Natalie Senpai. Natalie Senpai used to be really popular with the cademons. N1 often warns her about attachment, but I guess she herself got attached.”

That explains the clumsy way N1 handled her scythe before, she probably wasn’t used to it.

“Will you be using that from now on?”

Nia nodded. She gripped the weapon’s hilt.

“I would like to think of this blade as proof that she’s still with us...”

I fell silent. She returned the weapon to her back, and we watched the stars together.

“Nia...”

I heard a voice come from behind me. I looked back, and behind us there was Emma. Emma approached us. I was about to ask about how she had sobered up so quickly, but decided to shut my mouth when I saw her head straight for Nia.

I mean, it was probably her holy blood doing its thing. The gods probably didn’t want one of their angels running around drunk.

Emma grabbed Nia’s hand. Emma proceeded to close her eyes. Nia was confused, but seeing Emma closing her eyes, she decided to follow. I took a step back, giving the two girls some space.

All of a sudden, Emma’s body started to glow white. The white glow then engulfed the both of them, separating them from this world.

It was similar to the glow when she healed Nia, but it was brighter now. Tears started rolling down from Nia’s eyes. The two stayed in that position for around two minutes.

After that, Emma’s glow faded, and she opened her eyes. Nia followed, looking at the angel.

“Thank you, Emma.”

Nia took a step forward and hugged her. Emma gently patted her on the back.

“No problem... Nia.”