Mirac widened his eyes, hugging his sister tighter. Ai noticed the entire scene, arrow aimed at both Mirac and the mysterious guy. Narrowing her eyebrows, she focused her attention solely on the platinum blonde-haired boy. Tightly hidden behind a wall on a rooftop, she licked her lips, releasing the arrow.
Noah's eyes widened as he swiftly moved to the side. Realizing the potential harm to Mirac or the unconscious girl, he made a split-second decision and caught the arrow, injuring his hand in the process. The platinum blonde boy vanished into thin air. Mirac spotted him outside the window, suspended in the air, summoning a large lance into his hand. With a powerful swing, he threw the lance toward Ai, who had already fled from her position. Noah's eyes scanned the entire area, but Mirac and the girl remained hidden behind him. He re-entered the house, keeping a vigilant watch.
Mirac was too focused on his sister, his eyes turning to Noah as he snatched the girl from Mirac's hands. Holding her gently in a bridal style, Noah observed her pale face, noting that the wounds were healing at a rate faster than he expected. Turning back to Mirac, who was determined to take his sister back, Noah kicked him against the wall, almost rendering Mirac unconscious. The blonde boy sighed, watching Yosephine heal completely as he still cradled her.
Mirac had already lost consciousness by now.
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Mirac widened his eyes, the memory of that moment flashing back. The lance was a bit different now? He could swear it was the same, but maybe not. In that moment, Mirac could swear Noah was helping him. But why would he hand him that card afterward? Where was that card now? Mirac turned to Ai. She looked a bit concerned and confused as she sat there watching him. She was pale, bony, shivering in the cold just like him. She could've stolen it but also left him to die. The card was, to begin with, not with him, but Ai was.
Mirac's weakened voice barely reached Ai as he whispered, "I knew you before, right? You're the girl who approached me before I came here. You're still engraved deeply into my memory... You also shot that arrow." His voice slowly gave out, but Ai smiled softly.
In a desperate attempt, Mirac pushed Ai to the ground, aiming to snatch the card from her possession. However, Ai effortlessly kicked him away, deftly placing the card back in her pocket. She smiled, putting a finger on her lips, signaling him to be quiet. There were voices outside, close to their hideout. Mirac, fixated on the card, hid behind something, cautiously glancing outside the cave but seeing no one. They must be lurking somewhere down there.
"Give me my memories back if it's linked to that damn card! I could've stolen yours, but I would never do that! What is your reason?" he pleaded, his veins showing in his throat.
Again, Ai gestured for silence, maintaining a distance from Mirac. She tightly clutched her arrow and bow. Suddenly, a face appeared at the cave entrance, accompanied by multiple people. Mirac seized something wrapped in black clothes, an item also part of Ai's inventory.
"Mirac! And your bitch!"
A lance pierced through the guy's chest, and both Ai and Mirac looked up just in time to witness Noah vanishing again. The wounded man before them bled profusely, his followers casting uncertain glances between him and the captured duo. Confusion hung in the air. Why was Noah here? But before they could make sense of the situation, Ai and Mirac found themselves already captured.
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The man with a hole in his chest glared at the blood surrounding him. "Noah, you traitor... You intend to kill me but also not save your friends." The atmosphere grew tense as the implications of Noah's actions sank in.
"Was Noah just here? Damn, this guy hands out lances like at a birthday party! Where the hell has he got all those lances?"
Mirac swung the sword, beheading some of their assailants. He felt a surprising familiarity with the weapon, as if muscle memory guided his movements. The grip, the weight, and the sensation were all too familiar.
Ai engaged in a battle with her needles and knives, shooting in all directions, almost hitting Mirac in the process. He managed to dodge the knife, breathing heavily in exhaustion. Mirac shot Ai a glare as she effortlessly took on the attackers, seemingly oblivious to the close call.
"She also throws knives around like they're candies! Damn, where do you guys get all those weapons!? Ai, watch where you're shooting!" Mirac cried out desperately as he fought off their attackers. The assailants seemed to focus on Ai, considering her the most formidable opponent. Mirac couldn't believe how effortlessly she handled herself. This woman could kick his ass anytime. Mirac's jaw almost dropped, but then he noticed a card slipping out of Ai's pocket.
He moved to grab it, but his hand was cleanly slashed off. Mirac widened his eyes, struggling to process the moment. He stared at his severed arm on the ground, then at the bloodied stump. Panic and pain surged through him, and he began to scream. A sword swing was about to behead him when, suddenly, Noah reappeared. The sword carved a deep wound from Mirac's shoulder to his chest. Noah widened his eyes in shock as he threw one of the attackers to the ground, seemingly carrying him. Was Noah helping them?
Noah carried the lifeless body into the cave, blocking the sword swing aimed at Mirac. Together, Noah and Ai eliminated the remaining attackers one by one. As Mirac bled out, his vision blurred, and Noah pointed the lance at him, piercing the air beside him. Water gushed out.
Mirac teetered on the edge of consciousness. The water swept everyone out of the cave. Noah placed Mirac on a rock, examining his wounds. Mirac saw a perplexed expression on Noah's face, as if he had no idea what to do in this situation.
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"The card will hold my powers for a while. I will give my powers in exchange for my memories. Though I don't know what you will do with my head, I hope you won't betray me," Mirac said weakly. Where was he?
A girl with black hair and red eyes stood in front of him, looking confused. She grinned a bit manically, hunger evident in her eyes, giving Mirac goosebumps.
"Why would I want useless things like that? I already learned how to shoot arrows by stealing a bump's talent. I also have the memories of three Harvard students and five other Ivy League students. Rather than that... I might take your memories for another reason. Noah Milano. I want to know everything about him," Alice pointed her red heels at Mirac's shoulder.
Mirac grabbed her ankle, leaving a mark. "Only if you agree. I want my powers and memories sealed, you bitch," he uttered.
Alice tilted her head, looking Mirac up and down. Ai was ready to intervene, her frustration evident. However, Mirac signaled Ai to stay back. "It's okay," he huffed.
"The thieves of the dark voids. They've taken every area with a question mark; I can't get past them," he explained. Mirac pushed Alice's leg away, brushing off the spot she had sullied. Though rough, Alice seemed intrigued by Mirac's behavior. He looked at her with determined eyes.
"Again, there's nothing I can do with your powers," she said, about to leave. Ai put a knife at her throat, and Alice was almost about to round-kick Ai, but Mirac intervened again. Sighing, he said, "If I beat them, chances are that the path will be cleared for everyone. I just need points to move on. Plus, there's a surprise for you if you just take half the fragments of my memories. Just try. I have healing powers."
Alice widened her eyes. She hadn't attained healing powers yet. She smiled, looking at him. Mirac had smooth skin like an angel, and she wondered if his parents were somewhere in the heavenly realms, just like hers. However, there was also a dark aura around him, one she could feel from standing miles away.