Danmachi: silver lining

How long have I been falling? No, wait—I'm sinking. Or maybe I'm just being consumed by this darkness. It's been over 750,000 years since I died, so I can't remember what anything feels like anymore. Emotions like sadness, happiness, disgust, and anger are nonexistent to me now. All I see is darkness, occasionally pierced by tiny light orbs that vanish after a few seconds.

Even though I've been dead for almost an eon, fragments of my past life still cling to my memory. Let's see if I can recall anything correctly.

My name is... Asriel Silver. I once had silver-blue hair, soft and silky lion ears, and mismatched blue eyes—my left eye was a light milky blue, while my right was a pure blue. I also had a silver lion tail, smooth and soft, with a black tip.

I had a twin sister, blind from birth; her name was Zella Silver. She had beautiful long silver hair that gleamed in the sunlight, silky smooth lion ears, and gray eyes that rarely saw the light of day since she always kept them closed. Her lion tail was just as silky smooth and soft as mine.

Our parents died when we were very young. We were taken in by a sweet old lady we called Grandma. She raised me to be a gentleman, and she raised my sister to be an independent and respectful maiden.

We were raised in a small village near the Kingdom of lion.

My sister and I were always enchanted by the tales and legends of the knights who safeguarded the kingdom from evil. I made a solemn promise to my sister that I would become a knight for her and for the people of the kingdom. I vowed to be the silver lining in the sky, offering a glimmer of hope to everyone.

I began my arduous journey to the kingdom with the dream of becoming a knight. Though I was mocked for being so young and a naive commoner, my determination was unwavering. Through sheer grit, I completed every task required to become a knight.

I wasn't the strongest, nor was I born into nobility, and I had no prior experience. The other knights looked down on me with disdain, some with pity, believing I would never succeed.

But despite everything, I remained resolute. I absorbed all the knowledge the kingdom had to offer—wielding swords, spears, shields, daggers, and so on. I trained tirelessly, sharpening my instincts and growing stronger. I mastered numerous skills and abilities, including magic, which I learned after a year of intense training.

Though I was a commoner, I earned a modest share of recognition and respect among the knights and citizens of the kingdom. My earnings were sufficient to buy my sister and grandmother a small house in the kingdom.

Everything was going well until the day it all crumbled. I lost the trust and respect of the kingdom's people because I was framed for a crime I didn't commit. I was accused of...

Huh... what was it that I was accused of? I can't remember. What happened after I was framed? The last thing I recall is wandering through some ruins. My hands were bloodied, and I had a slash on my shoulder running down to my abdomen. I remember seeing familiar faces as I walked. I felt weak, then I collapsed to my knees and... I died.

It seems time is catching up with me. I'm losing the memories of my life.

Thud.

Huh... did I hit something? I feel something solid beneath me.

It seems I've reached the end of this sea of darkness.

So, is this where I will stay forever?

When will I lose every memory I have left?

What is this feeling?

Is this fear? My heart races uncontrollably.

Am I scared of forgetting?

Why?

A cold sweat runs down my body, shivering as I think this is the end. Yet my mind keeps asking:

Why am I scared? Or is it something else?

Regret?

What am I regretting?

Do I regret not becoming the knight I promised to be?

No, it's not that.

I did become the knight I vowed to be.

No, that's a lie.

I wasn't the hope I said I would be.

A faint memory emerges... My sister dying in my arms, the kingdom crumbling, my people perishing.

I deserve this.

I deserve to be in this pit of darkness.

I let her die. I let my village die. I let the kingdom die. I let my race die. I am a failure who deserves nothing but this. I am unworthy of being called a knight.

I don't deserve happiness or love.

Why would I, when I couldn't protect my own sister, my only sibling, or the kingdom I swore to defend?

I couldn't save anyone from that war.

Why couldn't I protect anyone?

Why?

WHY?

WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY?

Was I too weak?

Was I not resolute enough to protect them?

Didn't I sacrifice enough?

Why couldn't I prevent the massacre?

Why did it happen?

I don't know… I must have forgotten.

Huh?

What is that light?

It's far brighter than the usual light orbs.

It lingers, glowing intensely for more than a minute.

Is it growing larger?

The brightness intensifies, searing my eyes.

Suddenly, it explodes into a blinding flash.

In an instant, it vanishes, leaving me blinking in the sudden darkness.

Blink. Blink. Blink.

As my vision clears, I struggle to comprehend my surroundings.

Where am I?

I can see the sky, heavy with clouds, casting a somber gray light over the landscape, and trees scattered haphazardly across the terrain, their leaves rustling in the faint breeze.

I... I... I can move.

It took a few tries, but I stood up and took a few wobbly steps before starting to walk.

I could hear a river nearby. I turned toward the sound and made my way to it, drinking eagerly.

I felt thirsty?

I could smell the fresh air around me, but there was another scent mingling with it… blood

I felt warmth dripping down my chest and abdomen. I looked down to see my light blue cotton shirt soaked in my own blood. The crimson liquid poured out, seeping through the fabric, and I began to feel weak. My legs trembled as I stumbled backward, but I kept moving forward, each step heavy and uncertain. My mind, foggy and disoriented, churned with questions.

Why am I here?

How am I here?

Why am I bleeding?

All these questions but so few answers. Why have I been brought back to this world? And why was I brought back bleeding from the same slash I remember?

Why bring me back to life just to let me die again?

Still in a daze, I kept walking.

And walking.

And walking.

Until a scream snapped me out of it.

I looked to my right and saw two people facing a creature larger than them.

An old man with gray hair, holding an axe, trying to fend off the beast.

A boy with white hair and red eyes, standing there shaking with fear.

Without thinking, I ran to them.

Where did this strength come from?

Why am I running to them?

Why do I feel the urge to help them?

I don't even know them.

But I still want to help them.

Is it because I still want to be what I promised to be?

Do I still want to be the silver lining?

I've been given a second chance at life...

But I don't know if I'm worthy of it. Why waste a second chance on me, a knight who couldn't save anyone?

I couldn't save anyone before, but now I find myself running to help two strangers without hesitation.

I can't just stand by while people are in danger, even though I failed to protect anyone in my first chance of life...

I should still try.

I should not stop fighting to protect, even if I'm no longer a knight, I will still fight for those in need.

I will stand and fight. I will not let anyone else die if I can help it... I won't let that happen again. Even if it means sacrificing myself, I will do anything.

I passed the two people, grabbed the old man's axe, and readied myself.

I'll protect them even if it cost me my life.