Asher’s eyes flickered open with a lively jolt and a massive smile ran across his face.

“... pain? I hadn’t felt this in years,” His smile grew.

Asher extended out his hands and whispered something, moments before reaching the ground. By the time his lips stopped moving, a spear of flames was brought forth and launched through the air. It shot over Mister Ed and cut through the sky like a steel spear wrapped in flames.

It went higher than any of us, up into the ends of the Floor’s sky and at its peak–showered down a heavy rain of black spears. A small burst of fire in the shape of long blades cut down over us.

Mister Ed appeared in front of us and lifted one of his shields. “Spirit of Envy, heed my call and protect my allies. Starlit guard!”

“A magic chant?” I uttered.

As Mister Ed finished his command, a large dome of light covered us with its protection. The spears rained down against its guard but were ultimately shattered upon contact. Splitting them up into tiny spears must have dwindled the power.

Akai didn't have any trouble either, he dodged and weaved out of the way of those spears with ease. He stepped from foot to foot with swift, snap-like motions and avoided getting hit by any of them.

As his foot touched the ground and prepared another dodge, he felt the looming presence of flames build up behind him. Akai dodged to the side just as a beam rushed past him.

“What the…” Akai trailed off but before he could finish that thought, a strong grip caught his shoulder.

His neck was in the motion of turning back when a large jaw dropped beside his cheek and sunk its teeth into his shoulder. Akai’s eyes filled white and faded into a blank state as blood sprayed past his eyes and scattered over the floor.

Asher ripped a large chunk of him off in one bite. Akai dropped to the ground, without a sound from his throat.

“B-brother…?” Alice whimpered softly.

Zephier’s eyes widened and his nails dug into the ground. His mouth hung open for a moment with silence before a powerful scream forced its way out. He charged the edge of Mister Ed’s protective barrier and struck it.

“Let me out!” He cried.

Arga and I held him back but even with his injuries he was still seriously strong. I doubt I could have done it if he were in prime shape.

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After the last spear shattered over the barrier, its guard dropped and we were free. Before I had the chance to blink, Mister Ed had already left under the light of his teleportation.

He appeared in front of Asher and drove the edge of his shield into his stomach. Both ends of Asher’s body contorted forward as he drove the shield into his gut.

Zephier ran to his brother's side as the two fought; he didn't seem to care about the display of fire and sparks that flew off around him. He fell to his brother's side with a worried expression and clenched tightly over Akai’s robes.

His head lowered to his chest and rested over him. After a brief pause, his head jolted back up in surprise as if something important had just come to mind. He examined Akai closer and then looked back at me.

“He’s breathing!”

“What…he’s still alive after something like that? He can’t have much time, we need to heal him right now!” I responded anxiously.

Zephier brought his brother back over to us and hauled him over his shoulder. They rested him against the wall, alongside Alice.

“Fix him! Do it now!” Zephier yelled.

“I can’t, I’m not a healer–we need something to stop the bleeding.”

“Well do something–his heartbeat is weak!”

Arga searched her pockets. She reached into her clothes with a deep grip and pulled out a small vial from deep within her bosom. “Use this!”

It was a purple liquid trapped in a fancy casting, far more expensive than either one of us could have afforded. My eyes widened at the sight of it and suddenly I was filled with confusion.

“Where did you…”

“I might have swiped this from the tent on our way out.” She suggested nervously.

Veldor flinched from hearing it. He looked beyond angry but did his best not to say anything more.

Zephier grabbed it from her hand and held the back of Akai’s head. Gently pouring it, he guided the drink down his throat. Akai’s mouth opened gingerly and took the liquid with what little strength he still had.

The last drop escaped the vial and into Akai’s mouth and quivered. As if a massive pain raced through his body, Akai tossed and turned in place. He gripped his shoulder, just over the wound and let out a faint scream.

A moment later, the large missing chunk in his shoulder began to close up under the illuminating light that filled his body. His eyes opened slowly and looked down to see his shoulder being filled with magic.

The missing part of his shoulder grew back to its regular shape and was as close to being as good as new. It had to have been some high-grade stuff for the effects to be that great, especially so quickly.

Akai’s eyes fluttered open and drifted over to his brother. “I can’t seem to…die properly. Perhaps I’m meant to be alive a little longer.”

“It’s like you’re trying to die!” Zephier barked back.

“He-he…sorry brother.”

Zephier turned his head away. His cheeks and eyes filled red and his voice grew shaky.

“Idiot…don’t you know we can’t do things properly without you.”

Akai’s hand rose from the ground beside him and dropped over Zephier's head. He moved it gently across and comforted him with small strokes.

“I’m sorry–both of you.” His free hand moved over to the little girl beside him and rested over her. He held his siblings tightly and smiled.