Connor watched in abject horror as the fireball closed in on Heinrich, in that moment he realized how powerless he was. In a world of warriors and immortals he was but an ant. His existence amounted to nothing in the face of real power, not the power of money or fame but the one cultivated within. The power of the universe bent to one’s will.

Heinrich’s body suddenly jerked away, like a puppet controlled by strings. The movement was anything but natural yet it didn’t matter because Heinrich managed to get out of the fireball. That didn’t stop his body from being bathed in fire and shrapnel due to the explosion but that was besides the point.

The other two fireballs that were directed at Karl met a wall of red. They quickly doused themselves on the liquid, not a spark in sight. Karl dropped down on his knees, the liquid around him splattering down onto the ground.

“How touching, but your heroic actions will have been in vain. If you had just let your friend get hit you might’ve had enough blood to finish me.” The legionnaire said walking towards Karl. Flames wreathed his fists as he clenched them. “You were a worthy opponent, may the light of dawn guide you to the divines.”

The legionnaire stopped next to the kneeling figure of Karl. “Any final words?”

Shadows covered Karl’s face, a pool of blood was slowly forming under him. ‘It’s over, once he kills Karl I’m done for.’ Connor thought numbly. ‘My journey’s over before it really even began.’ He smiled coldly. ‘I guess the old man was right, I was a deluded fool for ever thinking I could make it.’

Connor spared one last glance at Karl before his execution, a smile flashed from the shadows. Suddenly the blood that had been pooling up under him rose, like lightning it speared through the chest of the legionnaire.

“H.. How?” The legionnaire said, pain and shock written across his face. The blood spear impaling him widen, creating a massive hole in his chest. Soon the light left his and his body slumped over, falling to the ground.

The blood then rushed back into Karl, who had become even more pale than usual. Once all the blood had reentered his body he slumped onto the ground.

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Connor looked on with confusion before approaching Karl’s body? “Are you alive?” Connor asked as he nudged Karl’s body with his shoe.

“Ow.” Karl moaned.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” Connor said then glanced around for Heinrich. Spotting him on the edge of the blast crater caused by the fireball he walked towards him. Kneeling down next to the armored figure, Connor shook him.

‘No response. I need to check if he’s at least breathing but I can’t with him in this armor.’ Connor reached for his helmet but was stopped by a bloody bandaged hand. Connor flopped back onto his butt in surprise, looking up he saw the grisly figure of Manfred covered in blood and flesh.

“Don’t.” Manfred croaked out in a gravely and almost inhumane voice. He then grabbed Heinrich by the arms and started to drag him away.

“Where are you taking him?” Connor couldn’t help but ask.

“Cart.” Manfred spat out.

“Ok, I’ll go get Karl then.” Connor said running off in a definitely not panic.

‘I’m never going to be comfortable around Manfred.’ Connor glanced at the pile of meat that used to be a man and almost immediately glanced away. ‘Yep, not happening.’

Arriving next to Karl he attempted to put him in a fireman’s carry. ‘Damn, he’s really light.’ Standing up he started to walk towards the cart. ‘I guess if you use your blood as a weapon you’re not going to be the heaviest of fellows.’

Connor propped up Karl against a wheel of the cart next to Heinrich. Now finished with his task Connor looked around awkwardly. ‘I never thought I’d essentially be alone with Manfred.’ He looked at the… man, covered in bloody bandages and wracked by intermittent fits of coughing. ‘Why would someone want to end up like that?’

“Are… You… Disgusted… By me?” Manfred asked between pained coughs and panting breaths.

“What, oh sorry. No of course not…” Connor said trying not to look Manfred in the eyes.

“You… Don’t have… To lie.” Manfred let out a sigh and then another fit of coughing. “I know… What I… am… What… I’ve become.”

“Sorry.” Connor said, starting to feel bad for but still wary of him.

The bandages around his face moved and loosened a bit, a smile taking shape. “It’s fine… You know… You’re a… Very… Kind… Person.”

“Thanks.” Connor answered trying not to be disrespectful.

“Most… People… Don’t… Give me… The… Light of… Day.” His tone, though gravily and alien, was self deprecating. “Even… Before… I… Became… This.” He raised his arms and showed his sickly bandaged body.

Connor didn’t respond and only silently listened.

“I… Only wanted… A place… To… Belong.” He dropped his arms and shook his head. “Now… I do… Have a… Place to… Belong… But… At what… Cost…” He said the last words somberly but Connor felt like he wasn’t speaking to him, at least not specifically. He was a wall that this broken man had decided to vent to, and a man this was. Connor felt without a doubt this man was human, at least in heart.

‘A monster with a human heart.’