Shine's sword collided with Mite's spear. Mite's spear shattered into two pieces, and the blow landed a heavy gash across his chest. Shine had struck with such speed that Mite was thrown back and crashed to the ground far away, blood pouring from the wound. Mite couldn't get back up. He pressed a hand to his chest, trying to stop the bleeding.
Miruth simply watched.
"1000..." Mite said, pushing the hand on his chest forward.
The moment he said "1000," a massive magic circle formed beneath Shine's feet, and a thousand spears erupted from it. Despite the sheer number, nothing happened to Shine. His power meant he didn't take so much as a scratch. Seeing this, Mite felt himself growing weaker by the second.
"How is this possible," Nain said to herself.
The guards and Jhed disappeared somewhere inside that storm of spears. Shine could no longer see Jhed — he'd been swallowed up somewhere within them. The thousand spears had completely filled the entire room.
Shine started walking toward Mite.
"Stop. Don't come any closer." Mite was terrified seeing Shine approach him. He kept backing away on his own, but there was a wall behind him. Fear filled his eyes.
"Your Majesty, save me." Mite hurled spears blindly in every direction. He looked toward Miruth.
Miruth slowly rose to his feet.
"Stay exactly where you are," Miruth said.
"That's enough now."
Shine stopped where he stood.
"Erase," Miruth said, extending his hand forward.
The moment he said "erase," every spear vanished instantly.
The guards and Jhed dropped suddenly to the ground.
"I know you're quite strong. But you'll still have to fight," Miruth said.
He held a massive iron hammer in his hand.
"Do you know why we hate children?" Miruth said, walking toward him.
Luccos looked at Miruth.
"Because they're foolish. Their minds are difficult to control. That's exactly my weakness. And I hate my own weaknesses."
Miruth walked toward Mite.
"My dear companion. Ever since we arrived here, you've grown so foolish. You're not as sharp as you once were. Which is why you have to die." Miruth swung his hammer down onto Mite's head, slamming it against the wall with brutal force. Mite died instantly, right where he stood. His skull had been crushed in. His brain spilled out.
"You were my longest-serving companion, Mite. I will never forget you." There was no expression at all on Miruth's face.
Everyone watching was struck with shock.
Shine simply watched. He said nothing. Even to him, this was startling.
"He was your companion, Miruth." Luccos said, his words catching in his throat.
Miruth turned his head back to look at Luccos. His face was streaked with blood. He gave no reaction at all.
And that's where Mite's story ends. Mite was twenty-eight years old. Somewhere far away, his father still lived in a small hut. Mite had studied at the Demon Lord's academy — graduates of that school were recruited straight into the Demon Lord's army. He'd completed his graduation at the age of fifteen and joined Miruth's ranks. Miruth had killed several of his own companions over the years. But Mite had been the only one who'd lasted this long.
Mite never told his father about the terrible things he did. His father had once fought against the gods in the war. Every month, Mite sent some money back home to him.
And that was Mite's short story — and it ends right here.