-- Cane --

Flying through the air from the unexpected attack. I hit the ground hard, rolling across the floor. Before hitting the wall I was able to arrest the momentum helping me back up. 'The hell was that. Did they wake up?'

Suddenly, I felt something sharp slide through my shoulder from behind. *Thud* I heard the sound of my arm hitting the ground. "What the hell is going on?"

I whirled around pulling my remaining arm into a defensive position readying my sword, only to feel the sharp point of metal at my back. This time I was ready, before it could penetrate my armor, I lunged forward avoiding the killing blow. I looked back to see James, moving to attack.

"I see you're awake," I said calmly, already moving power to seal my arm.

James stayed silent, continuously attacking me, each strike wild, easily parried. Giving me plenty of time to full stopped my arm from bleeding.

"Come on. You are better than this." I said disappointedly.

James said nothing, moving like a feral animal unrelenting in his attack. I slid to his side away from his onslaught, preparing to strike, only to find James continuing forward swinging his weapon through the air until he reached the wall. Even then James did stop attacking.

"I'm over here?" His action bewildering me. 'First, he cripples me, then he hits the wall? Are their screws finally loose?'

"Aster get out of the way!" One of the girls yelled.

I turned ready to fight expecting to find Aster flying through the air attacking me, or at least one of the girls, only to find Aster on the ground a good distance away being tended to by the dark-haired girl. I think Violet was her name.

Searching for the other female voice I heard it speak again. "Reality Encapsulate shatter and end"

My body froze for a moment, instinctively I cycled my power right outside my skin me creating an energy field. The field just solidified when the air shattered around me. My body feeling like it was trying to shatter to pieces, even though my hastily conjured force field. That wasn't the end of it, once the feeling of the world breaking passed, my body tried to implode, then immediately explode out. It was an extremely strange feeling that drained a lot of my reserves, but my shield held.

Looking up I found the mage girl pointing towards me unmoving. She was just standing there. Statues still, eyes seemingly unfocused. That made me turn my head back to James. James was still swinging his sword at the wall. When I looked over to Aster and the healer, I could feel power gathering in her, but then she spoke franticly. Violets words making no sense.

"I'm not gonna let you die again. That damn fire can't do this. Wait, why is there a spear? I will heal you."

"What is going on with them?" My words ringing in the room.

Then Aster took in a deep gasp. My head whipped around back to see Aster's body spasm under the girl's ministrations.

*Squelch* A sword sliced deep across my chest, the remarkable revival of Aster was enough of a distraction that I didn't notice James come back for me.

-- Aster --

An explosion of power shot through my body, permeating every cell and nerve. Any semblance of lethargy was gone as I had no choice but to sucked in air.

"You will live." Violets voice cut through the remaining fog in my mind. Attempting to move, I found a soft hand holding me fast to the ground. Looking up I found Violet restraining me. 'How can such a small person be this strong.' No sooner did I have that thought than another pulse of electricity diffused into me, causing another round of spasms.

"Violet. Stop!" I shouted, through gritted teeth. I think Violet was trying to heal me, but she had already done that. Now whatever Violet was doing was just hurt.

"You will live." Again another jolt of power detonated inside me, my entire nervous system was raw and burning. My body seizing from the fresh new nerve endings Violet was continuously destroying and creating them. When My body finally stopped seizing, I finally had the wherewithal to try to get away from Violet. I pushed trying to my body only finding I couldn't move. Violet holding me hard to the floor.

I could feel Violet pulling in power, knowing what was to come I frantically tried to get out from under her hand yelling. "VIOLET! I'm Healed"

Violet paid no heed to me, she just kept on repeating. "You will live."

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"Fuck. This is going to hurt." Another wave of energy pulsed through me. Now knowing what to expect I was able to get control faster than before.

"Why won't you stop healing me!?" I pleaded, finally able to look up into Violet's eyes. They were empty like she was looking at a far-off dream. It was like we were back at the beginning. Violet wouldn't listen to reason because there was nothing there to reason with.

"Violet! Go heal Bay" I decided to try and change Violet's target. Violets hand lifted for a moment. 'I think I'm on the right track.' The moment passed Violet pressing back down locking me back in place before injecting more power into me. Flailing wildly underneath Violet's grip, I struggled frantically to take back control of my body.

"VIOLET! Bay is dying! She needs your Help! Please go Heal her." I screamed, grasping at my one idea. This time Violet looked up and away letting up enough pressure for me to escape. I barely got out from under her before she pushed down hard on the ground repeating. "You will live." Only now there was no one for her to treat.

I was beyond lucky Violet had made it to me to treat. There was no doubt I would not have survived if she didn't do it, but seeing Violet like this made me question how. There was no time to dwell on that thought as I finally remembered what nearly ended me. I quickly scanned the room hunting for Cane. When I found Cane I paused, seeing him and James locked in battle. With Cane missing an arm.

My puzzlement hastily passed, seeing a chance I took it. I felt the short sword on my hip, hating the idea to have to actually use it, I could barely wing it without hurting myself. Instead of scrutinizing the ground for my dagger, I found it a few feet away from where I had fallen. I grabbed the weapon, turning to run and help James fight Cane.

"Fall Away" I tried to explode into a cloud of possibilities but found a complete lack of power. "Guess I'll have to do this the hard way."

I was dashing toward the battle, when I noticed Cane conjuring his deadly leaves from nothing, absorbing James's attacks.

'He's delaying him.' At that thought, I noticed Cane's other sword flying towards James.

"Shit!" I lunged forward knocking the blade away, Catching Cane off guard, giving James the chance to slice Cane. A spray of blood splashed the ground as Cane rolled away preventing any follow-up slash. James continued forward, swinging wildly through the air. Without taking any time to figure out what was going on, I lunged forward with my dagger, aiming for Cane's heart.

Unfortunately, Cane was ready for me whirling, knocking my dagger away, causing my body to spin. Using my new momentum, I pulled my sword swinging wildly. I may not have been skilled with it, but I didn't need it for what I was attempting. The blade swung at just the right angle to take his other hand. 'Holey shit that was lucky.'

With as much confidence as I could muster, "Cane just stay down. We won."

Cane smiled. "Not yet." Instinctively, I jumped to the side, metal slashing where I was just standing. Canes conjured leaves continued to fall, as both swords swung to kill.

"Come on! You have no hands." I said, blocking a strike from the side, and contorting my body out of the way of the second blow. I felt like I was fighting multiple people.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Cane asked all too calmly, before turning his conjured leaves into flying projectiles. I had no time to dodge, desperately covering my head while ducking low in an attempt to get out of the way. I was only partially successful feeling the sharp implements dig deep into my forearms.

I shook the little knives out of my arms, flinging blood everywhere. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw 2 swords moving in an overhead strike. I lifted my knife just in time to block the attack. "I don't know, but it should hinder you."

"Why?" Cane was getting back up, blood still dripping from his freshly cut hand.

I had no response, so I went with how I was feeling. "Well fuck you!"

"Elegant." Cane said. He was now standing causally controlling his blades. With Cane upright, the movement of the weapons got harder to dodge. Not to mention the projectiles shooting intermittently.

I was being completely overwhelmed. I was being whittled down while Cane was only speeding up. Covered in cuts, and dripping blood I was barely preventing any fatal strikes. I was failing fast. Cane had nothing to defend himself when James came out of nowhere attacking wildly. James left deep slices in Cane's chest and took off one of his legs before going off on his own again. Cane fell on his back, with his weapons following.

Breathing hard and down on one knee. I asked. "Are you done now?"

Cane laughed. "If you don't kill me? No."

I took my chance to ask what I had been wondering since seeing Cane. "Cane why did you do this?

Cane was silent for a minute before answering tiredly. "It was the only way for you all to be free."

"Did you have to kill us? You could have just let us out."

Cane snorted. "You'd have been fine. You'd have also gotten stronger."

"No, I wouldn't have," I said bitterly.

"Yeah, you would. You're strong Aster. Stronger than you think." Cane levity never leaving his voice.

"No Cane. I would not have come back." I said angrily.

"You would have given up?"

"No. I wouldn't have a choice."

"Explain." Humor went from Cane's voice.

Trying to think of a way to tell cane where he would be able to hear me. I decided to go with semi-vague. "Forced on a mission, with true death for failure."

Cane tilted his head questioningly. "Why didn't you do that first?"

*snort* "I have to get to Level 30, in a month."

Cane looked horrified. "That could take years or even decades."

"Yeah"

"Sorry."

I shrugged. "You didn't know." Looking over to my friends I asked. "Is there any way to help them?"

Cane looked around unsure. "Maybe. I've been saving all their quest eggs. If you can get those cracked it still won't be enough for you, but the energy will level them all up. Fixing their brain chemistry."

"That will fix them?"

"Maybe. They may have some memory loss or mixed memory from this whole experience. Honestly, I don't how they'll react but it will give them a chance."

At least it was something. "Where are they?"

"Kill me and the eggs will fall from the sky cracking."

I looked over at Cane confused.

Cane let out a small giggle. "I thought it would be kinda dramatic."

I ignored his comment asking. "How do we get out of here then?"

"I die then a crystal will appear. You all use it to level and be teleported back to the city square." I couldn't believe how non-nonchalant he was being about dying.

I was tired and weary. "Cane you were family."

"I know."

"Will, I see you again?"

"I don't know. I'm too old Aster." Cane sounded just as weary as I felt.

Staring down at Cane I said the only thing that came to mind.

"Goodbye Cane."

Cane smiled. "Goodbye Aster."

Too tired to feel anything. I plunged my sword straight into Cane's heart.