Dusk’s cold breeze brushed against my skin on the walk home. In this smaller and skinnier body, I was much more sensitive to temperature changes. I didn’t have a significant layer of fat to protect me against the coming chill of night.
There was an uncontainable skip in my step. I was filled with delight from what I had accomplished. The XP and levels I had gained were a minimal factor in my glee. I was mostly happy that I had drawn Penrin and Newmill closer to understanding my morality.
I had made great progress with the two of them. And I supposed in a way, they had made great progress with me. I was beginning to think of them less as children and more like my friends. It was a strange feeling to think that way. I did not know if I wanted to welcome it or turn it away.
Was it ok for me to befriend kids? I couldn’t think of anything wrong with it. On Earth, I was close with my niece, and our relationship was as close to friendship as one could get.
The difference here was that neither Penrin nor Newmill knew I was really 45 years old. I would have been more comfortable being close with them if they knew the truth.
There was no helping it. It would do me no good to distance myself from them. After all, they were the only two people I had gotten through to so far.
My mind dwelled on that notion for a while. The idea of changing people. The ethics professor I met previously had informed me that it would take many years of convincing for humanity to change. However, there was an alternate route at my disposal.
I, and the 99 other Earthlings, were all summoned to win the war for humans. That meant we all had the potential to change the world. If I could only manage to bring compassion into their hearts, perhaps I could fast-track this world to a greater morality.
Technically, convincing them should have been easier than convincing the people of this world. They already contained within them the morals of Earth. If only I could remind them.
I decided to try it. I would take a serious shot at convincing my fellow Earthlings to abandon their wicked ways and embrace kindness as a virtue.
I finally made it home. Two large wooden double-doors stood in front of me. Behind them I heard the laughter of my peers. I wondered if maybe they were having a party without me, but that thought was banished by screaming. The laughter almost drowned it out, but I definitely heard someone screaming from within the building.
I pushed open the entry-hall doors to see a savage and ungodly sight. Approximately 30 or so people gathered in a circle around a large man with green skin. Next to the man were three Earthlings. One of them had a dagger. He cut deep wounds into the green man’s body.
When he did so, the second of the three would use a small wand to cast a spell into the wound. The wand would glitter with purple light and then form into tiny creatures. Maggots. The second Earthling was conjuring maggots that writhed into the open wounds.
Lastly, the third Earthling would use the base of her staff to close the wound with healing magic. Green particles of light would mend the victim’s body and trap the maggots within. The poor tortured man screamed as the maggots consumed him from the inside.
This horrific act of brutal torture was only made worse by the crowd of surrounding Earthlings who all laughed and smiled. The pain and suffering served as entertainment to them.
It was laughable how moments prior, I believed I could change these people. “What the hell are you lot doing?” I shouted while slamming the doors shut behind me.
All heads turned to look at me. The resentment apparent on my face seemed to dampen their festivity. Someone mockingly jeered, “Wrap it up guys; the fun police has arrived.” That comment brought the laughter back.
Loftus emerged from the crowd and approached me with arms wide open. “You came at the perfect time, Yarm. Let me catch you up with what’s going on.” He came by my side and wrapped his arm around my shoulder. With his other arm he pointed at the green man who was being tortured. “We captured this orc alive a while ago and brought it back here.”
Punch him, punch him, punch him, punch him. My brain was flooded with the singular desire to punch Loftus.
“Do you know, Widnes?” He pointed at the healing girl. “She got this skill called Heal Monster. It’s useless since it only works on monsters, but the mana cost is so low that we can keep this orc alive forever. We’ve all been using him as a living training dummy to test out our abilities on. Is there anything you want to hit him with?”
“I want to hit you!” I shrieked in Loftus’ ear. He recoiled away from me and cupped the side of his head.
“Ow! What was that for?” He gently pulled his earlobe.
“I don’t understand what is wrong with you people,” I spoke to the crowd. “How can you do this? And how do you derive pleasure from it? Please explain it to me. I want to know.”
Everyone looked at each other, hoping someone else would explain. “Do you feel sorry for the orc or something?” asked Widnes the healing torturer.
How was I even meant to begin to answer a question like that? It was as if the concept of empathy was completely foreign to them.
Someone from the crowd said, “You wouldn’t feel sorry for it if you knew what orcs did to women.”
“Don’t even bother trying to convince him. He’s a monster and slave sympathiser,” said another.
“Please,” my voice came out as a whimper, “just tell me why you’re doing this. For what purpose? To what end?”
“Because it’s fun,” someone said while rolling their eyes. Several other Earthlings verbally agreed. “You should try it sometime, party pooper.”
“Why does he always act like we’re the crazy ones?” someone whispered to their friend.
Loftus recovered from my shriek and placed his hand on my shoulder. “Come on, Yarm. Everyone knows the best part of war is getting to do whatever you want with the people you defeat. Unfortunately, the law says that we eventually have to kill this guy since he’s a monster. However, the same is not true of half-monsters. If you ever defeat a half-monster on the battlefield, you can take them as a prisoner and legally turn them into your slave. I actually ended up beating one, but guess what? They were a half-hippo girl. So gross. Fatties are totally not my type. She was on the verge of death, so she begged me to put her out of her misery. Guess what again? I just left her.” Loftus cackled and nearby Earthlings joined in.
I couldn’t take it anymore. I punched Loftus as hard as I could, drilling my knuckles into his face. All my might was drawn and put into that one blow. I knew that I shouldn’t. My greatest chance at improving this world was persuading Loftus and the others, but I just couldn’t do it.
[-20 HP]
That was an impressive blow. With only one point into body, I had managed to deal 20 HP in damage. Maybe my pure resentment had pushed my body to go beyond what it was capable of, kind of like hysterical strength.
My hand hurt.
My hand really hurt. I realised that Loftus’ HP bar was still at its maximum. It wasn’t him who had taken 20 HP worth of damage. It was me. When I pulled my fist away, there wasn’t even a mark on Loftus’ face.
He must have raised his Body level to a point where my punch did not affect him. This was bad. After being punched he was sure to retaliate. He was going to hit me back. With so many points into Body, he could kill me with a single strike. I had to dodge his retaliatory blow or I would die.
Loftus raised his hand up and then used it to scratch at where I had hit him. “Was there a fly on my face or something?” he asked sincerely.
I breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness that the rat known as Loftus was somehow dumber than me.
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