New World - A New Beginning

Chapter 123: The Price to Pay

MIA STIL'S POV:

I dug my glacial spear out of the final Dwarf's body, blood spurting out from the wound. I remained unfazed as I looked back at the mountain of corpses behind me. This was what war meant.

I let out a deep sigh as a gentle breeze wafted through the area. My weapon evaporated, leaving me free of any extra weight. I relaxed momentarily, knowing full-well that more carnage was soon to follow.

We had made it to our desired location and eliminated all opposition in three days, and we now had to set up camp and rest as much as we could before the final engagement.

"Good job," said a voice behind me, my head instinctively turning to identify the source of the sound.

"Ah, thank you, Marc. I'm glad we didn't lose too many," I replied neutrally. It was never easy to acknowledge all the individuals who had lost their lives under your command, and I chose to revert to my emotionless state whenever the subject was brought up.

"Indeed. The wyverns were able to wreak havoc on their frontlines, and without ballista, they were vulnerable."

"It seems like all of the machinery has been moved to the main front. This fight may be much harder than we anticipated," I said, turning back to face the empty horizon.

"Many will die. It will simply come down to which side continues fighting regardless of the cost, and Jay will not hesitate to sacrifice those required."

My eyes glanced at the Dragon, slightly surprised at how casually he had addressed his Supreme Commander.

"Do you know Jay?"

"Not very well. He and I met a long time ago, and we've hung out a few times back in camp. That's it, though," Marc responded. I could tell my question had come off as aggressive, a tone that had pushed the Captain onto the defensive.

"I see."

"..."

"Commander Mia, do you believe we'll win?" he asked suddenly, possibly searching for comfort. I thought about the question, not really knowing how I felt about the future that awaited us.

"I don't know. I choose to focus on the present, taking things one step at a time."

"You're not scared of dying, then?"

I paused again. This line of questioning felt like something Jay would be interested in. Were his bizarre questions beginning to affect his subordinates?

"Of course I am, but that won't hold me back. I'll fight with everything I have, and if it's not enough, then I'll die knowing I did everything I could. That's all I can hope for."

It wasn't a very optimistic answer, but it was what my gut was telling me. I'd fight to protect my new family.

"Come on, let's go help the others," I said, turning around and walking past the young captain. He nodded, following my gaze. Dragons and Humans had already begun preparing to construct provisional settlements, and my position wouldn't prevent me from supporting those who fought for me in what appeared to be mundane tasks.

"Of course."

JAY CADMIUM'S POV:

I sat on the soft grass of Pandora, something I still couldn't believe existed in the middle of the Earth. The crystals brimmed with energy, sparkling magnificently.

Attempting to appreciate the beauty present before me was now impossible, my mind beginning to realize the situation at hand. Our chances of winning our clash against the entirety of the Dwarven army were almost none. All it would take was one thing to deviate from the plan, and we'd be wiped out.

Did that mean I'd have to use the crystal? Lightning sparked on my fingertips, the dark violet stone appearing in my hands. It seemed to be calling out, whispering to those who wielded it, wanting to be crushed. Was this the will of the Elder Wyvern?

I recalled my conversation with Selena, knowing full-well what the consequences of meeting the Wyvern were. If one wanted to create a bond with the Elder Wyvern, you had to absorb its power. This evidently made the wielder the most powerful individual on Auroria, but calling them sane would be an inaccuracy.

"So I'd lose my identity, huh?" I muttered, sighing. It could probably win us the war, but there was no guarantee I'd return.

I began to laugh. I was such a hypocrite...

Letting others die for the sake of attaining my goals was simple, and yet here I was, hesitating when faced with what could be our best shot at defeating the Dominion. Had I really become so weak?

I had not hesitated when it came to risking my own life for saving my friends back when I was adventuring, so why was I wavering now?

Brief images flashed before me, my mind unconsciously answering my own doubts and questions. I saw a tall man with messy black hair and ocean-blue eyes with his arm around a gentle woman, her emerald eyes looking right at me as her brown hair fell to her shoulders.

A third figure appeared in front of them, a young girl holding her mother's hand as she waved at me with the other. Silhouettes kept forming around the initial group: an aged Fei who wielded Phoenix comfortably, a pink-haired girl who smiled enthusiastically, sticking out her arm and giving me a thumbs-up, a blonde fighter who sunk her rapier into the ground quietly.

I looked down, seeing myself in the empty space of shimmering light. The crowd seemed to be calling me, wanting me to return to where I belonged. I closed my eyes, feeling three more presences behind me.

I turned around, facing the three girls who were fully-equipped with battle armor and weaponry.

"What's wrong?" asked Mia, her brown hair and chestnut-colored eyes radiating with a timid yet kind warmth.

"Now's not the time to be spacing out, you know?" asked Diana, her noble aura fading momentarily and being replaced with that of an ordinary girl, something that she had wanted her entire life.

"We'll all go home after this, okay?" said the final figure, Asthia's white hair and ruby red eyes crushing my heart.

I dropped to my knees, understanding what this vision meant. The light around me shattered as I found myself in an empty forest under the moonlight.

"Fuck, man," I muttered, tears beginning to drop from my eyes.

I want to stay with these people just a bit more! Why... why must I always leave behind the things I care about? Why can't I just have a happy ending?!

"It's hard, isn't it?" asked a familiar voice.

"!!"

I turned around, my eyes shivering from the sight in front of me. A girl with medium-lengthed hair stood before me, her hand outstretched as she offered me her support.

"Kath?" I croaked, not wanting to see anything else in this vision.

"You know, I'm really glad I met you, Jay," she said as I took her hand. The girl pulled me to my feet, raising her head slightly to meet my gaze. "You grew, didn't you?"

I let out a small laugh amidst the tears that streamed down my face.

"Maybe I did."

Katherine smiled, patting my chest softly.

"There are people who need you right now. Go do your best, because that's all you can do, isn't it?"

I said nothing.

"Why can't you be telling me this in person?" I asked, a question that even I found pitiful, but it seemed to come forth without permission.

"Why? Because I'm dead, idiot," responded the girl casually, wiping away one of my tears, "but all the people you care about aren't. Fight for a future where you all laugh together, that's what living means, no? To continuously fight for what you want."

"Right..."

"I mean, you're Darck! I'm sure the masked adventurer who defeated bosses on his own can take care of a little conflict," joked Katherine, winking. I smiled, realizing her silhouette was beginning to fade away.

"Go on, Jay. You'll do great."

I wasn't able to say anything as I watched Katherine disappear from my grasp once again. I snapped back to reality, the blue crystals welcoming me back to Pandora. My hands flowed through my hair, clutching the top of my head as tears returned to me.

"I don't want to die again..."