Talentless Beast Knight - An Original Novel

Arc 1, Ch. 9 - Hiding

BAAMMM!!

I kept my attention on the barricade. I had made small cracks when building the makeshift barricade, imperceptible from even a short distance. Looking through one, I had a clear view of the entrance.

A titanic shadow covered the gems' lightning, leaving only the occasional gaps in the ceiling to illuminate us in soft rays of the gems' glow; we were in partial darkness.

There's a colossal Beast outside. I couldn't see it properly, but I felt that my previous hunch was correct. The wolves wouldn't win if they fought against it.

CRASSHHHH!!

The biggest paw I'd ever seen in my entire life crushed the small entrance with utter ease. Debris flew everywhere, destroying the bookshelves and a huge part of the wall and the ceiling. The dust exploded into a cloud that covered everything in the room, including us.

Luckily, the debris didn't destroy our barricade...

But seriously?! I feel--no, I'm certain that if he had destroyed one of the walls closer to us, we wouldn't be alive at this very moment.

The cub probably never felt this much pressure and fear in his short life. His parents' eyes were fixated on the barricade. Unwavering, rigid, still. They were ready to attack and protect their small cub if they needed, even if it meant turning this library into a volcano.

They surely could do it, but would it defeat the Beast that destroyed the entrance with a simple slash?

I shrugged that thought aside and paid attention to the huge mess at the entrance. The dust had almost settled down. Silence engulfed the room.

A gulp of saliva roughly forced its way down my throat. I was afraid of the cub's sudden whining, so I placed a finger on my lips and shushed it, hoping that he would understand the message.

Beasts were thought-capable animals with physical and magical abilities, so this kind of thing would usually work. But the cub was too small, meaning that he wouldn't know the human language or hand signs.

Unfortunately, I was correct.

He continued yelping, and his parents began to nuzzle him with their nose, also trying to silence him...

But it was too late.

BAMMM!!!

BAAMMMM!!!!

BAMMMMMMM!!!!!

I was careless. The Beast came faster than expected, and I was distracted with the cub. Not even the wolves could act as that Beast ripped the barricade to shreds.

We were completely exposed. My mind couldn't follow as the Beast immediately slashed again.

I guess what they say about dying is true... Everything seems one hundred times slower, and small details fill every corner of my mind.

My eyes reflected the knife-sharp claws that cut through the air like a sword. They glistened with the gems' glow, yet they weren't beautiful: it was disconcerting, unnerving. I foresaw blood on them, my own blood. Even if for a moment, I imagined my head, rolling on the ground as the Beast neared the wolves, dismembering them with bloodshot eyes.

Huh... It's the lion Beast that attacked me and made me fall in this hell-pit. How did he reach us? I won't get an answer anyway...

If I had waited before going to grandpa's house, would I stay alive? Would the Beast have attacked the village?

Kyel, why did you save the cub? You knew he'd be a burden.

He... reminded me of myself.

Really... You're pathetic, you know?

Shut up...

I couldn't deny what had happened to me up until this point. It was dreadfully real.

From the tallest strand of hair in my head, to the tip of my toes, I trembled. My calm was already long gone from this place, no matter how many times I smiled and continued on.

Have I accepted death? There's still so much I have to do. So many things I couldn't say, so many things I haven't done...

I have to live.

I have to take one step further... but I can't.

There is nothing for me to do. Absolutely zero possibilities of standing up to that monstrosity.

I wouldn't have some secret power like those of the stories in children's books. Sure, I spent my childhood reading them, and I had fun, but they weren't... realistic.

'I will die', is the conclusion that took over every nook and cranny of my brain.

Crying wouldn't solve anything, so I just accepted it. It was frustrating. Why couldn't I live in peace? I'm already Crestless, so why should I experience these situations?

It's unfair!

Maybe if I had a Crest I could've... forget it. It's no use crying over spilled milk, especially in this situation.

SKREEEEEE!!!!

A thunderous bang abruptly cut off my thoughts. A mysterious voice echoed throughout the room.

"Found you."