Lea/Memories

## Chapter 1

I've been bullied ever since I was small.

Maybe, because I was a little shorter than most people? Or, because I was shy? Or, because I was nervous with no self-confidence...?

When I realized what was happening, everyone had started ignoring me.

With the way I was, surely even my parents had no more love left for me.

In order to kick me out of the house, they sent me to a training school for the Knights of Longinus.

But, even there...the bullying didn't stop.

## Chapter 2

With everything so new to me, I couldn't talk to anyone like I wanted to.

Thinking back, that's probably why the bullying started.

When I noticed all the talking behind my back, I was already being treated as an outcast.

Everyone laughed at me, picked on me, and they kept getting worse and worse...

Then in the end, some of them took their swords and attacked me!

...So, I drew my sword for the first time, and tried to protect myself.

I somehow managed to fight my way out, but I no longer had a place to belong.

So on that same day, with my body covered in wounds, I ran away from school.

## Chapter 3

Making the most of what I learned about the sword at school, I joined a militia.

The witches' Curses kept me busy with so much work... Still, I felt I finally found the place where I belong... I was happy.

...But, even that only lasted for a moment. I was suddenly sentenced to be banished from the militia.

Wh-Why? Why are you banishing me?!

I'm in pieces as the Knights surround me. Then, I remember the first rule a knight learns at school.

"The duty of the Knights is to *hunt* the witches who defy the Church..."

N-No! I-I'm not a w-w-witch...! I-I gotta fight...! B-B-Before they kill me...

I gotta...kill them!!

## Chapter 4

In the midst of the blood and cries, a girl lies hurt on the floor as she struggles to speak.

...It was the girl who invited me to join the militia.

"How...could you do such a thing?"

Y-You tried to banish me...and not just that. You even called the Knights to...kill me...

"Banish...? We just told you to take a break for a while...Then, you suddenly..."

You're lying...*Lying*.

You said I was banished... You *must* have. You did, right...?

...Y-You didn't? Th-then, the Knights...just rushed over here after hearing the noise...?

"I feel so sorry for you...That's how you've always lived, isn't it?"

...No. No. NOOO!!

All I could do was scream and run as far away as possible.

## Chapter 5

N-No. That's impossible. There's just no way.

I-I-Is it all in my head? E-E-Everything until now...? All of it?

How I was bullied when I was small...?

How I was kicked out of home and forced to go to the training school...?

*Everything?*

W-Wait--that's right. Mom and Dad were worried about me being too shy to make friends, and sent me to that school...

B-But, everyone over there talked behind my back, saying I was creepy or something...

N-No, that's not right. No one said anything. Not one thing...about me...

W-Wait, then...what about the time I was attacked at school...?

A-Ahh...I remember now...I thought...because of how I was...everyone was talking bad about me. I felt so sure...

That's why I drew my sword... They...They weren't bad, but I...I... I hurt them all...

Everything that's happened until now is...

"I feel so sorry for you... That's how you've always lived, isn't it?"

No. *No*... A-Aaa-Aaaaaaahhh!

## Chapter 6

With my heart shattered to pieces, I wandered about day after day...losing all track of where I was.

The one who took me in was him—the Duke.

When he smiled at me and said that everything would be okay, I finally realized...

Ah, everything was just in my head after all. There wasn't anything bad about me.

I mean, there's just no way anyone would be friends with me if I really *was* bad.

Yeah...that's right... This is where I belong now.

I'm sure this time I'll be able to make some friends...

## Chapter 7

...M-My lord, s-sometimes... I-I have, um...weird thoughts.

I-I wonder if people have actually bullied me, talked behind my back, tried to kill me...or if all of that was in my head, or something...

...If everything were just delusions of mine, if there are no bad people out there...and if *I'm* the one who's bad...and what not...

B-But, if I *was*...s-surely I wouldn't have it in me to l-live anymore, right? Th-that's definitely too m-much for me to bear...

But i-if... If I really am...bad...

Then, please.

...Please be the one to kill me, my lord.