Marionette

Chapter 18

"Marco! Thank God you're alright!" Yui rushed into my arms, eyes full of tears. "I'm sorry! It was my fault! I was too weak to end it..." 

Even though about half a mile separated us from the Guardsmen, I could still hear them cheering loudly. They were celebrating as if they had defeated us already. Mocking our fallen.
I had been indifferent to them before, as I was now used to this world, but I now truly felt no sympathy for them. 

Arguments of innocence no longer mattered. 

They had killed my people in the hundreds. They had killed Azi. 

I thought I could take it, but I was sorely mistaken again. 

I thought we would only lose a few at worst and that I would repay their sacrifice down the line when I would defeat the queen. 

How naive. 

How childish. 

How could I think for a second that with just three months of training, we would be able to defeat the most elite force in Milwick, the King's Guard? 

Pathetic. I had killed Azi for nothing. I wasted his life. 

For what? To surprise the queen in case she ever showed her face to me again? How stupid could a person be? 

Why was I worried about the future when the lives of my comrades were at stake now?! What mattered was the present. What mattered was saving them now. 

Too late now. I could not bring them back. 

They were gone, done, eating mud. 

I could save the rest, though. 

Yui was still in my arms, her head resting on my blood-stained chest plate. She felt responsible for this mess, even though it was all my fault. 

"It's my fault, Yui," I said, rubbing her back gently. "You did your best, and that's what matters." 

Yui raised her teary eyes and gave me a questioning look. 

"How is this your fault? I don't understand," she said. 

"Where's Azi? I can't find him!" dressed in her new leather armour, Azra came out of nowhere, looking for her tentmate in panic. 

I lowered my head, unable to look her in the eye. 

"Where is he?!" she wailed, not wanting to accept reality. 

"He fell," I replied, head still down. 

"No... no...!" Azra fell on her knees, grabbed her chest and howled loudly. 

The sounds she made sent shivers down my spine. 

I could not bear it. 

Yui tried calming her down, but Azra kept wailing, pulling her hair harshly. Azi's death broke her. 

"Where's my sword...?" Captain Arne asked, perplexed. 

"I don't know, Captain," I replied. 

I was worried about him, too. He looked terrible. The lives of his family depended on the outcome of this battle, and judging by the first attack we launched, their chances of survival had dropped near zero

 "I'll go find another, then we'll try again..." he said. His eyes were wandering around, his mouth still hanging open. I don't think he had noticed the massive cut on his right cheek. 

"It'll be alright, Captain," I said, looking down at the enemy. "I'll take care of this." 

"Huh...?"