She-Devil: The Tale of Camille

By Al Kristopher

I was born in Rikon, and if you ask around, there's a lot of people that'll tell you that I died in New Kalekka, and I'm going to let them say that. I'm what you might call a "debt-collector", although there's plenty out there that would list me as a bounty hunter. A lot of people, mostly men, say that I'm the most beautiful woman they've ever seen. Again, it's better to just let people say what they will. After all, it's usually true. At least that last sentiment is.

Oh, I really was born in Rikon, and I really am a bounty hunter--sort of. But I'm not just a pretty face with a sharp spear and an equally sharp tongue. I happen to be a very sensitive, very caring, very lovable young lady. I'm stylish, I'm sophisticated, I'm suave, I'm debonair, and I'm quite dangerous. There's no denying that--anyone that crosses me will wish they had been attacked by a bear instead of me.

My childhood was as bleak as a foggy pier in the middle of a rainstorm. My parents died when I was just a baby, and so I was taken to a local orphanage until I was old enough to live on my own. I had a twin brother to take care of me, so it wasn't like I was alone or anything. Ah, my brother…

Let it be known right now that I am fully capable of loving other people. I'm not all blood and ice now, mind you--I really DO have a sensitive side. My brother was one of those people who I loved dearly: after all, he looked after me, he protected me, he taught me everything I know. If you think I'm good with a spear, you should've seen my brother fight.

Actually, the warrior who taught us both should have all the credit. Back in the day, the legendary Kobold warrior Lokiwonoki partook an annual sojourn to the orphanage where my brother and I grew up, and on one particular stay, he decided to train us in the art of lancing. Oh, Lokiwonoki was a mind-boggling creature, and his strength is talked about even to this day, seven years after his death. I named one of my spears after him, even.

Let's flash forward a few years. Manille and I (Manille is my brother's name) have finally graduated from high school--well, to be more precise, it has now been five years since our graduation. A few high school friends of ours paid us a visit, and together, we rode off towards the old school for our first reunion. By now, Manille was a fine fighter and a very attractive young man. He had my best friend as a steady girlfriend, and I had his best friend as a boyfriend. I myself was a beauty, and nothing to sneeze at when it came to fighting (although I must reiterate that my brother was my superior when it came to lancing).

Our small group, which numbered roughly fifty people, shouted and sang and talked as they sailed off to the old school. One of my friends was now the owner of a fairly large schooner, and gladly offered to take us to the school for free. Every single member of our troupe was able to fit on, and we would arrive land within a matter of days.

Here, I must pause--and soon after hearing my tale, you will see why.

There, I'm ready now. Please excuse me, but this part of my story has a lot of emotional trauma. Ah, I'm really not quite ready yet. Excuse me.

There. I'm really ready now--really I am. I told you, I warned you that I'm really a sensitive soul, and if you didn't believe me, you soon will. Okay, here we go. Don't worry, I always have difficulty telling this part of the story.

To be frank, we were attacked by a group of pirates midway in our journey. Now, these weren't the hearty pirates you sometimes read about, the type that you just can't help but love. And this wasn't Anji and his fellows, I can guarantee that as well--no, these were bloodthirsty pirates, vicious demons that attacked anything in their territory. To them, it didn't matter if it was an Imperial, a Highlander, someone from the City-State, the Grasslands, Harmonia… Everyone was fair game to them. You could almost say that it was a perverted system of equality.

Anyway, we were besieged by these monsters. Being a lancer, my brother was not about to be beaten so easily, and I supported his decision to fight back. A few other friends also chimed in, and soon the entire boat was filled with blood-hot youths ready to defend themselves against these rogues.

No, I'm all right. Just let me pause for a little while longer. We fought back, you see, we fought back, and killed so many. But… but… I was… no, excuse me… I'll only be a second.

Out of all fifty of my friends, only five of us survived the pirate attack. I got by with a scar or two, but I still lost a lot of blood. Three of my other friends managed to steer the boat to a nearby town, but… but they, well… They all died before they could recover their injuries. Exhausted and beaten, my brother and I dragged ourselves into a clinic, where a kind doctor took us in and mended my wounds to the best of his abilities.

Do you know why I said my wounds? Do you? I think you do.

The doctor was unable to save Manille, and before I passed out from the anesthetic, Manille held my hand and smiled at me.

"It's going to be all right, sis," he whispered, his face pale and dripping with sweat. I shivered, feeling his strength leave him.

"Manille…" I whispered, the anesthetic slowly forcing my eyes closed. My brother smiled, and whispered his last.

"Don't worry, sis. It'll be all right. I love you, you know, so… don't worry." And with that, my eyes closed, and his hand grew limp, and I screamed to the heavens.

Years passed, and I screamed again.

Unlike Manille, I did not grow up with this man--I did not even know him. I had only heard about him, from descriptions and rumors and gossipers. I knew what he looked like, but that was it.

Like most of my bounties, he had a debt, and I had to collect from him. Naturally, he claimed to not have the money, and naturally, his friends tried to make a proposal. "Join us," they said, "and we'll be able to pay off our debt." Join you? What, me? I merely laughed, but they were serious.

Well, I joined them, mostly to humor them, but slowly--oh-so very slowly, so slow that not even I could notice it--I began to like their group. I finally had the first real discussion with my bounty several days after I joined. His name was Gremio, and he knew how to keep a promise, I'll tell you that. I found myself liking Gremio very much, and soon I wanted to do everything in my power to make sure that he was safe. I mean, he did owe me a debt, right? Right?

I never really got that money back, but when I heard the news, money was the last thing on my mind. In my mind, I screamed again--another one gone, another one I cared for, another one I… loved… Well, he was gone too, despite all my training and all my skills. Despite the lessons learned from watching Manille die, I couldn't…

Well, to make up for my errors, I really and truly fought for this cause, this Liberation Army. I actually caught up with the man who indirectly ended Gremio's life, and would have killed him gladly. Our "young master" had different plans for him, though, and I grudgingly allowed the bag of mucus to live.

Again, I eventually found myself striking up a conversation with an unlikely man. Turns out that this guy was Milich Oppenheimer, one of the Five Great Generals of the Scarlet Moon Empire (well, I knew that much). What I didn't know was that Milich was actually being controlled by this thing called a "Black Rune", and it was this rune that made him go insane; it was the rune that made him…

Well, believe it or not, Milich and I became very good friends. Oh, don't go getting ideas--General Oppenheimer already had a special woman in his eyes, and I myself, well… Ah, I won't comment on it.

My journey with the "young master" was a confusing one at best. Enemies joined and friends betrayed, a son defeated his father, an entire town was avenged by a talking sword, an old man helped save a bunch of dragons, a would-be mother turned out to be an enemy (who in turn became an ally), and 106 people gathered under a single man.

To my great relief, Gremio was allowed a second chance at life. According to that woman Leknaat, because all 107 Stars had been gathered together, the one star that was lost would be revived again, making our number whole again. Naturally, there was great celebration and festivities, and when nobody was looking, I privately gave Gremio a hug.

"What was that for?" he asked, his shining eyes staring at me naively. I smiled.

"Two things," I stated. "One: Because of your sacrifice, I now officially call off that debt. And two: Well, I ah, I missed you." Gremio smiled innocently, and scratched his head.

"Yes, well…" he managed. "A lot of people have." I smirked, and took his elbow as I introduced him to all our new friends.

Oh, that's right! I never told you my name! It's Camille! Camille the she-devil.

(Although "somebody" says that I'm more of a she-angel now…)

The End