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Road to Valhalla Prologue
That day, the wind blew into swirls of sand, as if possessed by a demon. It blew and blew, towards a single wasteland, filled with an army of corpses and guts. As far as the eye could see, on mounds and in ditches, were fallen men with spears and bayonets impaling the Earth and their flesh. The wind blew strongly but silently, not with respect to the fallen but trodding upon those whose eyes failed to close all the way as if awaiting some hope.In that wasteland, where the sun shone no longer, stood a man, cloaked from head to toe with a staff in his hand. This man shone in a strange glow, with a face so beautiful and sparkling, he could have been a woman. And who knows, perhaps he wasn't even human. He looked around upon the endless wasteland and took a deep breathe."The blood is so thick in the air", he thought to himself as the pungent air burned through his throat and he had to cover his nose."Humans...this is beyond ridiculous", he murmured as he investigated the landscape.His
Road to Valhalla Chapter 1: Beginning of a Long Road
"You are weak. And weakness only gives birth to regrets. All you can do to prevent that is to keep your head down. Don't look them in the eyes. Don't breathe a word in front of them. Don't let them know you exist. There is salvation in inconspicuousness. That's why you must go. There only the dead live, no names, no past, no histories. And when you are there, I'm sure you'll be able to forget..." **************************My name is Seraph. And right now, I'm looking at something of a murderer, who admitted to her crime without the slightest reservation. Honestly, I don't even know why anything at all shocks me now. When I came here 2 months ago, I never expected anything to throw me off guard but every morning I open my eyes, I come to question if the world I live in isn't a dream. Oh but its real alright. If nothing else, at least this woman, sitting in her comfy chair with her legs crossed on the table, isn't something I'm even capable of
Road to Valhalla Chapter 2: Bad People
I think bad people are needed to exist. I didn't know this reality before I came here and its not hard to accept that fact. Its hard to actually be the bad guy. The people that live to be that, are not praiseworthy in the least, but their burdens bend their backs and they are always looking down. Its so easy to call them bad people because you can't look them in the eyes.My search for any and all clues would prove to be futile. I went around the Gran stage and figured this much that he was sniped on Lady's signal. Beyond that there was nothing. The killer could just have been a hitman working for chump change. With Lady, you really can't tell what is what. At one point I thought of giving up but then the thought of my impending death kept me going. You never know you are madly in love with life until something threatens to take it away.That evening when I went back to the church (that's what we called it), everyone was in as light a mood as possible."Maybe its time we start taking
Road to Valhalla Chapter 3: Fires that Still Burn
On our way to our destination, about which I knew next to nothing, Chopper seemed completely oblivious to the fact that I was his companion. I knew Lady had intended for me to get the ropes of our work with this mission but I began to wonder if that would be possible. Sure enough, we travelled by foot. We took some shady routes to get there and sometimes, I wasn't even sure if we were going the right way.On the seventh night of our journey, Chopper sat me down around a campfire and said it was about time he explained the gist of the whole ordeal. It appears he had finally deemed me worthy enough to do so."To the south of Mercae, is the country of Ildia, a small strip of land separating this continent from the next over. Now, we dare not leave our continent...for now anyway. As for Ildia, that country is dealing with the remnants of the history. I assume you at least know about the War of Giants?""Yes! I-""Good, 'cause if you didn't, I wouldn't have considered you real. When the th
Road to Valhalla Chapter 4: A Very Gray Man
Things went according to plan and we travelled with a caravan for the next few days. These people were gypsies and I barely ever heard them speak. They had taken to trading in the recent few years but it didn't look like they were doing very well. They told us the caravan would rest in the capital before moving onwards to the next continent. It seemed they travelled the whole world. I suppose such a journey despite bad business was still worth it. Chopper decided we'd stay in the capital until the caravan took off in three days.The capital of Ildia, unlike Mercae, wasn't the center of opportunity. There were two kinds of people that occupied the city. The rich and the oppressed. It looked like one of the smaller cities of Mercae, at least to me. Chopper wasn't surprised at all. He was accustomed to places like these. My Ildian accent was subpar but he spoke like a true native and so he did most of the talking wherever we went. We booked a room at the inn but I noticed that Chopper n
Road to Valhalla Chapter 5: What he Sees
The townspeople welcomed us warmly but oddly enough, Chopper didn't seem to get cozy with their hospitality. I didn't take him to be one with a nasty attitude so I assumed he might just have a lot on his mind right now. I couldn't have been more wrong. He despised that place so much, he confined himself to the room we were allowed to stay in after two days and never went out.There was a barracks, going down towards the valley where we had headed soon as we'd arrived in town. We met a man called Col. Erele, supposedly in charge around Halen. He told us about the conflict and how bad the situation had gotten because they couldn't contact the capital due to the bandits now running amuck, causing all sorts of ruckus."I've been here 7 years now", he told us, though I found him rather young, " This isn't war anymore, it's all about their revenge. We tried negotiating but they claim this part of land is their territory. And they sure as hell don't care about the people's wishes even if the
Road to Valhalla Chapter 6: Seraph of the End
"Looters?""Yeah, even though we're salt merchants and nothing more as you can see, in these desperate times, they don't even leave us with that much. The border means nothing to us anymore, anyone can pass through and plunder us whenever they want. Even the barracks can't stop them.", the thin merchant replied as he lugged his merchandise on to a cart, preparing to leave."So what do you want me to do, Emir-san?", I wanted to confirm my suspicions."Tag along with me as my bodyguard. This is an important shipment. If I can't deliver this, I'll die of hunger. I'll even pay you with something", I could tell he was quite desperate but what made him think I was cutout for this sort of work, I couldn't tell."Are you sure you're okay with someone like me?""Of course, you look like a reliable man. Why wouldn't I be okay? I heard from some guys who came from the barracks. That man that was with you is a merchant too, isn't he? And you are his bodyguard. But since your master isn't working,
Road to Valhalla Chapter 7: He who knows the Truth
As I stood with my sword drawn against an enemy quite clearly superior to me, I declared to myself that regardless of whatever was to come from here on, I will give it my all. Even if I was to die there and then, I would've died brilliantly.I did think that and I felt like a hero as Emir cowered behind me. But now that I think about it, it was foolish."Are you expecting to deflect my arrow with a sword?", the white haired man mocked me, "And also those of all my other companions aiming at you?"Of course, I hadn't considered any of that. I had nothing to say in reply. He noticed my uncertainty."Very well. As a respectable warrior, I will give you the chance to a fair duel. Pardon me for I have only this dagger against your sword", he put away his bow and took out a small dagger. That lifted my spirit, if only just a bit.I actually wanted to thank him but he didn't give me a chance for that. He leapt on to me like a leopard. I couldn't keep up with his speed at all. I barely manage
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- Road to Valhalla
Final Chapter: A World Where They Are No Longer
I would like to think to myself that this isn't the end. But seeing as her story went back to where it all started, I realized that my role wasn't saving her at all. I just made sure she'd continue to exist, eternally.In eternal suffering and forgetfulness and new encounters and the last times, in every world, she'll continue to exist.As for me, I couldn't bear to live in a world knowing she was somewhere out there, helpless and torn, just as she'd been when I first found her.When did I first find her?Who can say? I had always been talking about how I wished I'd met her sooner. In fact, I had always known her. Our existences were intertwined so much that I don't think either of us could just pull away and be happy all on our own without thinking of the other.After I'd returned Lady's power to her, I floated away in an empty space for an eternity. I was foolish enough to think that the sorrow would fade away one day. But no matter how long and far I floated away, the memory and th
- Road to Valhalla
Chapter 211: The End is The Beginning
It was the coldest I'd felt in ages, and there was an aching heaviness in my head that I simply couldn't seem to shake off no matter how much I walked. I don't know when, how, or why I was walking through the snow towards the top of some hill I didn't even know.For that matter, I didn't remember who I was, how I'd gotten there, or where I was going.And just like that, before I knew it, I had collapsed in a den of wolves. Luckily, it looked abandoned, so I didn't get eaten off right away. I figured it'd be a long, slow death. I found the idea of such a gentle death appealing, despite the fact that I was walking mindlessly just seconds ago.I must have passed out, for when I came to, I was stiff as a rock. And yet, I wasn't that cold anymore. I lifted my head to find myself covered in a bear pelt. Someone had been so kind as to cover me up. And yet, the pelt was rather old and shoddy. Who cared as long as it could keep me warm?I stood up, looking around, getting accustomed to my surr
- Road to Valhalla
Chapter 210: Promise
"I didn't imagine we'd ever come to a crossroads such as this", I let out a puff of smoke, standing opposite her."But, as a matter of fact, I always had a feeling we would", Lady answered with her signature smirk."Sure, you did", I said sarcastically.It was surprising at first. But things made sense soon enough. Lady had sent all of us away on a mission. She'd isolated herself at Valhalla. Chopper had left of his own accord. She'd sent Sight to look for him. Deli had gone to see her children. And she bid Lubbock and June farewell. She'd even given her fur coat to June. Grim was on a mission, too. And I was looking for Jean V. to deliver her letter.It was all exactly as it had been back then. When I'd return from meeting Jean V., Lady would already be beyond saving. Back then, all I knew was that the person who sent her that blank letter was the one who came to kill her. I never ventured to find out much else.It all made sense now as I stood be
- Road to Valhalla
Chapter 209: No Bells Ring in Heaven
"Must you leave without fulfilling my wish, Seraph?"He had some guts to ask. I looked up at the red sky. There was nothing but barren, burnt land all around us."What else could you ask for?", I looked back at him."You look so old, Seraph", he chuckled, "What exactly did you give the others?"I looked behind me without answering his question. There was no one and nothing."What? It's a long story", I answered without looking at him."We've got time to kill", he grinned."I don't", I said, but went on to answer him anyway, "I gave everyone what they wanted.""Really?"I glared at him, "Yes, really, Grim. I took a fee, of course."He laughed."And what will you take from me?", he asked, grinning.I looked around and then rested my eyes on him."There's really nothing."He seemed to agree."So how'd you manage?""Well, Grim, you could almost call it travelling back through time. Though, it really isn't that. I split the worlds to create new ones. Time doesn't exist for me anymore. Ever
- Road to Valhalla
Chapter 208: A Wonderful World
"I will take death in any way and form it comes to me, anywhere and anytime."That had to be the most brazen statement I'd heard. It took me a bit to take that statement in."You really have no special requests? If I can, I'd like to make it up to you", I sat down and stared at his bloodied face.He shook his head."Make up for what?", he asked.He didn't know me yet to call me "boy" but I suppose that's the way it had to be.I had become better at rewriting the reality. I could write quite far back in certain cases. For example, in Sight's case, I made it so he never met Lady and Chopper on the night he killed the prima donna, Czarna Dalia.Before meeting them he didn't know anything about what he'd been doing. He didn't know what an outcast was, even though he himself was an outcast. Ignorance is indeed the greatest of all blisses. And I thought for Sight, it had to be the biggest saving.Lady was right. People who see things differently are the most dangerous of all. Especially tho
- Road to Valhalla
Chapter 207: A World You Deserve
"This isn't what I asked for, Seraph", she complained, fixing her glasses on her tiny nose."I don't get what the hell it is that you want exactly, June", I was beginning to get tired."You don't understand at all", she folded her arms."You're damn right, I don't. What kind of crazy a-""One thing.", she looked at me sternly, "One thing I'm asking for is a place to be happy. Not a mother, not a wife, not a hero, not any of the other things you're trying to come up with.""What'll make you happy, exactly?", I folded my arms and leaned against the wall of Valhalla.Everyone else was off to fend the red sky off. June had been left behind in a protective barrier.She fell silent."How about Lady? Isn't she your favorite?""I could care less about her", she answered, bluntly, "I hate her.""Huh?", I wasn't sure I'd her heard her right."She does everything on a whim. She claims to understand everything when rea
- Road to Valhalla
Chapter 206: The Greatest Ordinary Man
"They are waiting for you, Monsieur Lubbock", a dark woman poked her head into the dressing room, "It's almost time for the show."The bajillion young ladies that were powdering his nose scattered away.His face was pink with heat and he wore a long fancy coat. It almost looked odd on his somewhat small figure."I'll be right there", he answered, gussying up in the mirror."Aww, you're leaving already, Monsieur?", some of the girls came up to him.He chuckled modestly."What can I say? The life of the greatest singer in the world isn't so relaxing, my dears.""You might be the greatest singer, but Monsieur is also the life of all women's hearts", one of the cheekier ones commented.Lubbock laughed. He didn't try to hide how much he loved being pampered like this."I'm sorry, girls. My audience awaits!"Saying so, he shot out of the room and hurried towards the stage. Backstage was always heated just before his shows. He was the one star that every theater wanted to have. But he was a
- Road to Valhalla
Chapter 205: The Stars in Her Eyes Still Shine
"Do you blame me for mother's death, father?", she asked, placing the empty cup of tea on the little side table.Her father wasn't facing her. He was still locked up in his study, reclining on his chair and looking out of the window at some distance lands.She sat straight, with her back erect. The weight of her gown was enough to tire her but she was made up, as befitting of a noble. She had to look all the more perfect since she was visiting her home for the first time since her marriage."Blame you?", the lord of the house spoke in his grave voice after a while, "I simply don't think you were worth her death. Esme was a wise woman. A level headed, understanding, noble woman."Faye looked at her lap."You refuse to carry out the will of the house of Vlad. You'll go as far as to commit a heinous crime to that end. I'm disappointed beyond measure."Faye pursed her lips. No one but she herself had been hurt the most by what she'd done."Vlad was born to you twice. And yet, you ungratef
- Road to Valhalla
Chapter 204: A Nice Dream For Grey Eyes
"Tell you what, Seraph, this one time, I met a girl and she had these enormous scars all over her arms and legs. I couldn't help noticing her, of course. When she told me she did it herself, I couldn't help it. I killed her then and there", he chuckled to himself, "I didn't want to do it, of course. Something just came over me. It wasn't that she told me she did it herself. It was how she said it. She was smiling.""I'm sure she wasn't smiling because she was happy", I answered, with a solemn look on my face."I'm sure of that too. I was sure of it back then too. That's probably why I killed her. But do you know how many people I've saved?"He looked at my face. I stayed silent."I've saved more people than I've killed. I've been counting since the beginning. I know, for sure, that my atonement is over. At least, it ought to be. But does it look like I'm still repenting?", he asked, smiling vaguely, knowing my answer."You do.""That's because I am. No matter how many I save...the ato
