Chapter 11 : Eina (2)

*-Eina's POV-*

I still remember it clearly. Those cries, wails of other tribesmen of the cat-eared beastmen. They were running, clearly afraid of what's on their back that is chasing them.

"H-help me! Aaaahh!!"

Those are one of the last shout of one beastwomen that tripped while running, before being gobbled by a wolf monster.

"Hiehahahaha! Run, run, run! You won't get away anyway!"

A voice echoed in that place, our home which was now being overrun by monsters and undead lead by that man. That man... had a reddish skin, and its horns sprouting in his head was glowing crimson, probably the magic he was using to control those monsters.

"Run... Eina... now!" The voice of mother  reached my ears as I looked at her, wounded.

"But Mother, I can't leave you!" I cried while looking at the state of my mother. Not only that...

"Father..."

I just looked far away at the voice I heard earlier cackling like a madman. My father... was killed... by that man. Not only that...

"He even..." I said as I clenched my fists, knowing I couldn't do anything. I can't even save him.

Mom and I managed to escape, though not for long, monsters tried to attack us, and mother defended me and attacked them, until she reached this state.

"Eina... go... I know I can't go on anymore... and you know it too. So... leave me... and please... be safe," Mother said as tears dropped both in our eyes.

I watched her until she breathed her last, crying loudly I could feel myself heating up with each of my wailing.

This shouldn't have happened...

This is what's supposed to happen at all...

After all, our home... this forest was a peaceful village inside the forest.

..........

......

....

"Eina, come down the tree now! We're having breakfast!"

"Coming!"

A voice called out to me while I am sitting on the tree, and I responded to that voice while going down. My mother, after all, was a strict but kind person. I quickly headed home to one of the houses inside this forest.

This is our village. This forest was in the north of Citrine Kingdom, outside of its protection. However, being in this forest already serves as ous protection since it was believed monsters or demons cannot enter this place because of an unknown magic barrier warding them off.

As a proof, you won't see any monster near here, or even in this forest. This place was a safe haven for beastkins like us, who were often ridiculed as demi-humans, making us seem like we're below them.

However, even though we're in a secluded place like this, we are always happy. It can be seen on the smiles of the people here.

I proceeded to go to the dining table where Mother was readying breakfast. Then, Father came and said good morning to us then sat at his seat. We continued to eat while talking about many things.

Then Father suddenly said, "Oh right, you're going to be 13 next week, what is your wish?"

I pondered about what I want to wish, then said it while grinning.

"I want to learn how to fight! I want to be strong like Mother and Father!"

""Eh?""

They both look astounded at what I just said, however I mean it. To prove it, I returned their gazes with a look that might show my willingness and resolve. After a while, they looked at each other.

"I see our daughter here wants to act like a grown up now, eh?"

'Haha, you said it. I don't disagree since it will also be for her protection, but I will abide by your decision since your my husband," Mother said while she looked at Father with a sweet gaze, blushing a little. I tilted my head about it when I saw Father blushing too, but after seeing me looking at them with curious gaze, Father coughed and talked.

"*cough* Y-you don't need to worry about it, Eina. You'll learn it soon enough, though not now. I will accept to train you to be a good fighter, though. Only after your birthday."

"Really?! Yay!"

I beamed so brightly that Mother hugged me while saying I am so cute. Father tried to join in, only to be flicked by Mother at his head. He still joined though.

This was our daily life. And it should only continue this way.

However, it seems that fate won't allow it.

2 days before my birthday, Father and his companions set out to hunt animals that will be used for my birthday. Mom and I saw Father off, then continued our day.

However, Dad and the others didn't came back tomorrow. Usually, the hunting group will hunt starting really early, and will come back the next day before breakfast. But Father didn't came back with his companions. We waited until noon, then until afternoon but he still wasn't here.

We became worried that something may have happened on the way, and we prayed for their safety. At this time, even... My birthday will be tomorrow, and things like this happened at this time...

"Father, please be safe..."

I could only continue to pray for his safety. With Mother being worried now all day thinking what may have happened to Father, I need to keep a level head.

And then tomorrow came. It was now the day of my birthday. Even though I told myself to keep calm, I didn't even get a wink of sleep.

Mother and I were now waiting where we sent Father off 2 days ago, also with the worried others, hoping to see Father coming. We waited for minutes, then hours. And finally, qhat we're waiting for became true. We can now see Father and the others.

However, they came back the way they aren't supposed to be. Why? Because of the changes of them. They even have 'companions which was supposed to never be here.

Monsters. Beings who shouldn't be here because of the barrier. How did they came in here? Moreover, the hunting group, which Father was in, was too painful to look at their state.

Wounded bodies. Some don't even have arms, crushed shoulders, and so on. They are walking so unevenly like they're...

"It can't be... they became undeads..?" Muttered by a woman with horns from the minotaur tribe, her face pale and trembling. 

Yes, they very much look like an undead. With the monsters at their side not attacking them,  those thoughts became surreal.

But those things became irrelevant for me. Because of this sightings, we all feared the worst. Us being attacked, and killed.

After we saw them, the most notable creature appeared in the middle of them.

"Father..."

That person was my Father. But... he also isn't.

"Happy birthday, Eina! Look! I've brought you my gifts! Hahahaha!"

Father, who I knew was a loud but kind and cheerful person, was laughing at me now. I couldn't believe it. Or rather, that form he's in explained all of it.

He had a form of reddish skin that should be white, and not only that, her cat ears which should have been there... was torn, with horns now protruding in his head.

A demon.

My father had become a demon.

"Aaah, it's such a good vessel to use... Although it was quite weak, it's fine for now. These memories were quite annoying... Now then! Let's start the slaughter!"

...

I don't recognize him anymore. He's not the Father I used to know. He also said it. That man...

"He possessed Father..."

I can't believe what I just heard. However, I don't have the time to tbink it when Mother suddenly grabbed me. I could see her tears right now.

"Lets go, Eina... He... he's dead now. We need to be safe.For him..."

"..."

I couod only nod, with tears in my eyes as I looked at the figure laughing like a maniac.

And then, the monsters began attacking us and the others. They were mercilessly killed, being torn alive. We managed to escape...

However, at what cost? I could only look at my dead mother lying at my wounded lap. I cried. I cried until I couldn't anymore.

And then someone came near us. I was alarmed, only to see a rough man, probably an adventurer, with some people at the back. They were chained by some sort of collar,.

"Heeh, what an unlucky fella."

After he said that, he extended his hand towards me. Afraid, I tried to get away, thinking about what Mother just said about me that I need to be safe. However, he was quicker than me whose body was wounded.

"Give up, brat. Look at that corpse. That your mother, am I right? Wanna end up like her?" He said as he kicked my mother's body. Seeing that, I felt my rage coming out.

"Stop that! Stop that right now! I will kill you!!"

"What a lively brat. And how can you even do that?"

After he uttered those words, I felt an indescribable pain in my stomach and was knocked away. I was probably punched in the stomach.

"It hurts..." I held my stomach while gritting my teeth for mw to bear the pain, only to be kicked at my stomach again.

"See here brat, this is the truth of the world. The strong rule the weak. The weak have no rights. Basically, it's survival of the fittest. So just give up," the man crouched near me and said those words.

Unfair. That's all I could think. This world is unfair. It took everything to me. Now, even my independence will be taken away too? I couldn't fight anymore as I was too shaken from all the things that happened this day.

Days passed by.

After I got collared by those adventurers, we were sold to a merchant at the Citrine Kingdom and was brought to the city called Negissa, where that merchant set up his store.

Thus, that day became the worst birthday I ever had in my life.