Asher the Insane

67 - Asher the Accused

I ate a mouthful of dirt, then turned around and looked up from the tall grass.

From the dust of the crash zone, a figure emerged.

"You're Cyrus, right?"

Okay, Asher, play this cool.

A woman with lime-hair who suddenly crashed on the ground like a meteor, asked you if you are who you are.

Size her up in your mind, she's a woman. That usually meant that she's physically weaker than a man, but that information was useless in a fantasy world where stats decided your power, a woman CAN just be a strong as a man, there are no inherent statistical differences.

She looked taller than me and clearly had more muscle mass than I did.

If you did, in a world like this, that must have meant that your strength and constitution skill must be high.

Also, there was the fact that she could enter into orbit, and not just burn up while hurtling through it and land, creating a crater without getting hurt.

"No," I said.

Great work Asher, now expand on it to make it feel more real.

"...never heard of this Cyrus fellow." I looked at her, with fake confusion on my face, "I have no idea who or what you're talking about. I just got here. I must say, how does one such as yourself even come hurtling down like a star without even a scratch on your being? If you don't feel all too well or have hit your head, then I can accompany you to an infirmary."

She looked at me skeptically, but then her expression softened. "Perhaps you are not the one I am seeking vengeance on. But be warned, mortal. I will not tolerate any further interference from outsiders like yourself. And if you are not the mortal who I am searching for, then who are you?"

Damn, she's clever.

"...okay, you got me. I didn't think this far ahead. Asher Burell, at your service," I bowed to introduce myself formally.

Though she didn't like that very much as she got closer, she put her hands on my collar and lifted me up, almost strangling me.

"Whoa there, lady," I said in the moments I could squeeze out the words, "at least buy me dinner first."

She shook me around like a toy. "You are Asher Burell, you are Cyrus the Mortal. Someone who is not native to this land, are you not?!" she said, screaming into my ear.

"Yeah, what about it?"

"You took her from me! You took them all from me! They don't want me anymore," she threw me to the ground, "and now I'll kill you."

Approaching me with a fist already drawn back, on the ground, I shaped a T with my hands. "Time out."

Strangely enough, she did stop.

I stood up, and I felt woozy.

I liked strong women, but this was too much.

It's been a long time since I felt this hurt, but at this moment, I am euphoric because I am delighted by my own pain. I wonder how she would react if I asked her to hit me again?

Hope I won't come over as too much of a weirdo.

"A dead man got the right to know why, does he not?" I asked her, "I won't be able to tell anyone anyway, so what's the harm? Who are you and why do you want me dead? Who is 'her' and 'them'?"

"You seriously don't know?" she said, almost with pity.

The sky darkened, and a beam of light shone down onto the woman and she started floating upwards. "I am Ioine, the Goddess of Desire." She pointed down at me, "and YOU, mortal, have invoked my anger."