Hero Stories: Spear of Vengeance

You can't, Senya!

No! Let go of me, Alencia!

Mom... Dad... Roni! They're all there!

Who asked you to save me? Why didn't you just let me die with everyone!?

*gasping* ...!

*panting*

Urk...

...

...I'm so cold...

Ah, you're finally awake. How are you feeling?

My goodness... How could this happen to someone so young...

...

No... I'm not going to cry anymore. It's not going to change any...

Hmm.

!

I thought she would've done a better job at hiding her.

...You are...

*panting*

Why do I keep missing today? This angle worked just fine yester, Agh!

...My hand...

Ah, it's hot!

Are you all right? Let me see. I told you to be careful.

I was so excited I couldn't wait any longer, hehe.

Hmm, then I have no choice. Maybe we shouldn't bake any more pies until your hand is healed.

No! Mom, I swear it doesn't hurt at all!

You can't even see those scars anymore. They're all covered by the new ones I've gotten from training.

...

All right Senya, don't overthink it. It's only proof of how hard I've been working on my spearmanship.

I've got to wrap my hand first...

Footsteps?

WOOSH!

CLANG!

What do you think you're doing?! You almost hit me!

What are you doing here?

Sir Mort is looking for you.

He is...?

I hear you learn quickly for a Human.

...

Once you set your eyes on a goal, you waste no time.

Why did he call me? Except for the occasional spearmanship lesson, he rarely visits me.

I've known her for years now, but she still keeps her guard up when we speak.

Hmm?

...?

What's that on your hand?

I got them while training. You don't need to worry.

Training injuries...

It's ridiculous of her to think I'd care about those.

But there's no need to point out her stupidity.

Just be careful.

Your body is one of your weapons. Taking good care of it is the key to survival.

...Is he saying that because he's worried?

But he's not really the caring type of per, I mean, Dragon... What does he want?

Why did you call me? I'm sure you have more important things to discuss than my injuries.

I've been waiting for the right moment to tell you this from the moment I took you in.

I'm sure it's something you've been waiting to hear as well.

What is it?

The perfect way for you to exact your revenge.

...The perfect way to get my revenge...

What could it be? He said it was something much stronger than his spearmanship techniques...

But I don't think I've ever even considered anything beyond that... Huh?

Medicinal herbs?

Delivered right after I got injured...?

...No way.

Just be careful.

Did he send me these because he was worried about me...?

Of course not. That doesn't sound like him...

Although they look very similar to medicinal herbs, they could be poisonous. I'd better check first.

So these ARE medicinal herbs.

...

I don't get him. Even during those brief visits, he always looked so bored.

Am I being paranoid? He is giving me the help I need, after all...

Then is he the person who's been bringing me all these blankets and food...?

...

I should thank him the next time I see him.

...I should probably give him an answer then, too.

You must have yearned for this moment.

The perfect way for you to exact your revenge.

...Revenge.

What's that look on your face? Isn't this the reason you decided to follow me in the first place?

I thought the spearmanship you've been teaching me was supposed to be my way of getting revenge.

You think that's all it takes? You think very highly of yourself.

If there's another way, why didn't you tell me sooner?

Because you needed time.

...

I'll give you some time to mull it over. I don't want you to make a hasty decision.

I'll wait until your hand is healed.

Is this finally my chance to get revenge?

I'm getting what I've wanted after all these years. Why am I not more excited about it?

Why am I hesitating? I would never have followed Mort if not for this.

Argh... I just can't wrap my head around this!

...

I need to get some air.

There's snow everywhere you go here.

I don't even remember what the weather was like in the village I grew up in.

It's inevitable. The longer I stay here, the less I remember about my childhood.

Once my revenge is complete...will I be able to return?

What are you thinking so hard about all by yourself?

...!

...It's been a while.

I haven't seen you in such a long time. Why are you here now?

...You told me never to show my face again.

Where do you think you're going? That direction leads to Dragon territory.

You're not thinking about trying to get revenge, are you?

...

Mort came and told me he could teach me how.

Mort...came to see you?

And you're thinking about listening to him? Do you even know what that means?

Why do you think I kept my distance from you even though I was worried sick about you?

I wanted you to forget everything, including me...and lead a normal life.

...

I can't even begin to imagine what you're going through right now, but don't even think about going out for revenge, Senya.

Why don't you just live peacefully and do whatever it is that you want to do in that village you're living in...

Do you really think I could live that way?

Every day, I hear people whispering.

They say I got so close with Dragons that I decided to side with them and betray my village.

...

Every night, I dream of my village burning. I relive it every time I close my eyes.

And you're telling me to put it all behind me, to forget about vengeance...?

I'm sure it's easy for someone who's never lost their family to say.

But...my village was razed to the ground and my family was taken from me before my very eyes.

How could you possibly understand any of this when you've never lost anything in your life?

...I...

I lost...you...

...You told me to do what I want, right?

There's only one thing I want to do right now. I want to find a way to get revenge.

Senya, please just listen to...

If you really want to help me, then don't let me see your face again, no matter what happens.

...

And you don't need to hover around trying to help me in secret anymore.

...Right, I did say that.

Alencia, you...

You look like you haven't changed a bit.

You too.

No, I've changed a lot.

The little Senya who used to be your best friend...doesn't exist anymore.

...What makes you say that?

You know exactly what I've spent the past few years doing.

But it's interesting how talking to you makes me feel like we're right back in those good old days.

...Although those days will never come back.

Mort tells me the time has come. He's going to tell me the key to my revenge.

...Are you sure you won't regret this?

Of course I'll have regrets.

Senya, I know you. The choice you're about to make is only going to make you more miserable in the long run.

Yes, Alencia. Perhaps you're right.

Let's see what my little girl made today!

Go ahead and try it, Daddy!

Yum, that's really tasty! I think we could sell these at the market right now!

Really? Do I cook better than Mom?

You cook better than anyone in the world!

Oh no, maybe it's time for me to pass the title of the world's best chef on to Senya.

Hehe, but you're still MY number one chef, Mom!

...But I won't stop. I can't stop.

It's not too late to change your mi...

Why? Are you afraid that you're going to lose one of your friends or family members?

...Senya.

Even if I want to change my mind, I just can't.

Like I said, I've changed a lot.

The Senya you knew is gone, Alencia.

...

But having this conversation with you made me realize what the right choice for me is.

...Thank you.

Senya! Senya...!

This is the least I can do...

If not, how could I ever face Mom and Dad after selfishly surviving alone?

Why is no one here?

I-I don't know, sir. I clearly saw her come back here that day...

So you lied to me.

I-I'll go find her right now!

Hmm.

...Sir Mort? What brings you here?

I came here to hear your answer.

Didn't you say you were going to give me some time to think about it?

I did.

It looks like your injuries have nearly healed.

...They have...

Ah, right. I was supposed to thank him...!

My wounds healed so fast that I didn't even realize how much time had passed.

Um... About the other day...

Thank you for sending me those medicinal herbs. It really helped speed up the healing process.

Medicinal herbs?

...No one's here. I'm just going to put it here before Senya sees...

What a beautiful friendship.

You...! H-How long have you been standing there?

Since you snuck up like an alley cat to put that food over there.

...Don't say anything to Senya.

I'm under the impression that she doesn't want to see you.

That's exactly why I'm telling you not to say anything to her. She won't accept it if she knows it's from me.

I have one more favor to ask you.

What is it?

...Let me know if Senya gets injured or sick.

What are you going to do, fly in and rescue her?

Regardless, even if that were to happen, I think you would know before me. You obviously come here very often.

...

Do you truly still think she can return to being that innocent young girl?

...Yes, I believe she's going to take back her decision one day.

This was Alencinox's doing.

I suppose there's no need to correct her. It will only make her trust me even more.

I'm glad you've recovered. So have you made your decision yet?

Yes, I have.

...I want to know.

Such a shame that Alencinox is not here to see the look of determination on her face.

Follow me.

The wind is getting violent... How long are we going to keep going?

Wait a second. Where are we?

You said you'd teach me how to get revenge. At least tell me what we're doing...

Yes, this is where you'll find your means of exacting revenge.

...Here? But I don't see anything.

You don't see it now. You'll find it after making it out of here alive.

...I beg your pardon?

Grrrrr...!

M-Mad Dragon...?!

It looks just like the one I saw in the village...!

You brought me all the way out here to kill me?

Of course not. I want you to survive more than anyone.

Liar...!

Grrrrr...!

....Revenge! Blood of my kin...! Humans... Bloody...

Revenge?

Humans...! Revenge...!

Ah...!

Hmm, she's pretty good.

Kill...you...! All Humans, I kill them...all!

...No, I'm not going to die.

Not until I make you watch...

Grrrr!!!

As everyone around you drops dead, one by one!

Kweeeeek...

*panting*

Your revenge will...

Tear you to pieces...in the end...

...

Did I just kill...a Mad Dragon...?

Her growth is astonishing. I thought she'd lose an arm, at the least.

I wasn't wrong about her.

So how was it?

How was what?

...You just watched one of your fellow Dragons die right before your eyes. Now can you imagine how I must've felt back then?

Hmm.

...I can't stop trembling...

This is so different from all those monsters I battled during training.

You probably regret ever teaching me spearmanship.

That's not true.

That Dragon was only here to prove a point. Nothing more, nothing less.

The point being that you survived.

...That I survived...?

Now I can keep my promise.

...

I don't know if you recall this stone.

...A red stone...?

This stone... Is it yours?

Do you understand what it's saying?

Does it speak to you?

Yes. She kept saying someone was calling her, and chased the sound all the way here.

That's the stone I saw back then...

Why is it in the Mad Dragon's corpse...?

This stone grants its bearer power that surpasses that of what a Human is capable of.

This is your way of getting revenge.

...!

I thought she would've done a better job at hiding her.

...You are...

Judging by the fact that you're living all by yourself in another village, it seems your friend was unable to protect your village.

How does it feel to have your life saved by befriending a Dragon?

...!

Because of Dragons... Because of your people...!

I'll never forgive you!

Ugh...!

If you need help ending your life, I'm willing to snap your neck as an apology for the pain my kind has caused you.

Considering your friendship with my old friend, offering you a merciful death is the least I can do.

I... I'm...!

I'm not going to die...! Not until I find the ones who destroyed my village! Urk...!

I'll find them all and make them watch as I kill everything they hold dear, one by one!

Hmm.

*coughing*

What a pity that you have nothing to back up that fiery vengeance of yours.

But it's also interesting to see that having nothing doesn't stop you from trying.

Do you want to get revenge on your enemy?

Argh...

I'll help you.

I can show you where you to direct your anger and how to get your revenge.

...!

This stone is the key...? I can get gain immense power as long as I have this...?

Then what happened to that Mad Dragon? Is that what happens to those who use the red stone...?

...

Is that what my end will look like too? Then I...

Are you afraid?

You're not "choosing" the stone as the means to your revenge. You simply cannot do without it.

...Why is that? I took down that Dragon with my strength alone.

If I practice my spearmanship a little bit more...

The target of your revenge is the Dragon Lord Uberius. Who also happens to be my father.

His father...?!

Regardless of the fact that you have studied spearmanship under me, you, as a Human, are simply not strong enough to defeat him.

That is your limit.

...My limit.

Is that what's going to happen to me if I use the red stone?

This Dragon ended up the way he did because he sought power too far beyond what he was capable of.

That's not going to happen to you because I'm going to teach you how to control the stone's power myself.

...!

I...don't understand.

I don't understand why you would help me control this stone's power only so I can kill your father.

Why would you help me when he is the target of my revenge...

What does his being my father have to do with your revenge?

Let's just say he and I have a score to settle.

All you need to worry about is keeping your eyes on your goal.

But...

What happened to the spirit you had just a moment ago? When you defeated this Dragon? Or when you met me for the first time?

Is your resentment against those who brought tragedy to your family and village that feeble?

...My family... My village...

I'll look forward to it, little chef.

This is the cradle we were born in and the grave we're going to be buried in.

Sweet dreams, Princess.

Mommy will always be by your side, Senya.

...No. I have nowhere to run.

Give me...

This is the only path.

The power of the red stone.

There is no other choice.

!

Arrghh!

Revenge...! This is for revenge...!

Urk!

*collapsing*

...Sir Mort...

You're getting stronger.

Were you looking for me?

I'm told it took you longer than usual to regain consciousness this time.

...

You called me in because you're worried.

...You always summon me here whenever you're concerned about me.

Concerned... Ha.

I'm really fine. I'm actually getting better the more and more I train.

And...

I got the latest care package you sent. I was going to visit you as soon as I started feeling a little better...

Thank you for taking care of me...every time.

Of course she got it. Alencinox hand-delivered it, after all.

There's something exhilarating about watching a sturdy tower come crumbling down.

Alencinox is doing a good job. I don't even have to lift a finger.

Don't mention it.

I know exactly what you're going through.

...Right.

I have something to say to you.

I'm listening.

It's time for you to train somewhere else.

Are you saying I should leave?

Practicing against new opponents will help you control the stone's power better.

If you keep fighting similar enemies in a place you're already too familiar with, it's not going to help you improve since nothing is pushing your limits.

I assure you that being exposed to new environments will help you get even stronger.

...But I'm still not really used to this power... Is it safe for me to leave?

That's not going to happen to you because I'm going to teach you how to control the stone's power myself.

...

I'm sure it will be okay. He trusted me enough to grant me this power.

Understood. I'll go prepare to leave right away.

Just try not to get hurt.

Of course, Sir Mort.

And...

What is it?

I promise you I'll get even stronger.

For you, who has always had faith in me...and for my revenge.

...

I'll be looking forward to it, Senya.

...I won't let you down!