I'm not sure why I did it. I barely knew them, but for some reason my body moved on it's own.

For some reason as I ran a sense of urgency continued to grow within me, and I became nervous. A nervousness that overcame the guilt of possibly failing my quest.

'I have more than two hours before the mission ends and it shouldn't take more than a fraction of that time to reach them. I'll just quickly check and then race back to the exit. It's alright I have enough time!'

That's what I thought, but I wasn't as fast as I imagined. By the time I got to kryse's house, or what was left of it more than half of my remaining time was gone.

[ Time limit: 01:04.59 ]

Although, I barely noticed because there was a larger issue at hand.

"...No way.'"

I said, as I watched what used to be a home burn in a pile of rubble. At its base there was a strange man casting flame spells continuously, as if to keep the fire going. Strangely enough, I don't think it could get any larger.

"What's he... hey you stop!"

Chinng!

My blade cried as I unsheathed it and tackled the man to the ground. A dot of blood ran down his neck as I held my sword to it.

"Oh dear me, please spare me!"

Anger was seething through my voice. "What the fuck are you doing, why are you burning kryse's house?!"

The old man gasped. "...You're the human, you mustn't be here. Hurry, get away from here! If they catch you then it was all for nothing."

"What... no stop! If you say anything other than explaining why kryse's house is burning to the ground I'll chop your head off. Now answer my question."

Gulp

There was terror in his eyes. He did not know me, nor did I know him, but we were in a very sensitive situation and my anger was uncontrollable.

Keeping my blade drawn I let the old man up. He patted himself down and cleared his throat.

"I am kryse's grandfather."

"...You, you're the one that saved me. So what's the meaning of this."

Somberness filled his face and his eyes were glossy. "I'm burning this house to forget." He said.

"I not only healed you, but I heal all people of our village. I... I got carried away and must've misspoken to the wrong person. Before I knew it, I was forced to lead the guards here."

"...They were looking for me..." I mumbled.

"That's right, and kryse and Kaine fought to protect you."

'This can't be... Why would they go that far?'

I didn't understand any of this, but I knew I couldn't get them involved any more than they already were.

"They've been taken away, likely to the prison below the emperors castle. It's already been nearly a week since then. They're likely de-"

I cut him short, and demanded. "Tell me exactly where they are."

He explained to me the exact layout of the castles cellars, and what went down under there so that I wouldn't get lost. Compared to more civilized nations, it was rather simplistic which was good for me, because I didn't have much time left in my quest.

[ Time limit: 00:33.47 ]

I was feeling a plethora of emotions as I raced to the cellar. Anger, fear, desperation and mostly worry. Worried kryse and her brother wouldn't be alright, and worried I wouldn't finish my quest. Every couple minutes I would glance back at the remaining time.

[ Time limit: 00:24.12 ]

'It's alright, I'm closer to the exit from here anyways. Just clear your mind and focus on saving kryse.'

That's right, I had to save them. I couldn't let them go down for something they weren't responsible for. With a shake of my head, and a clear mind I focused on the most important goal ahead of me.

Finally I reached the cellars. Following the instructions clearly, I went directly underneath the stairway that leads to the castle's a door. Done, I kicked it open and ran inside.

Just like what was explained there was a pathway, and it went straight until I entered a hollow square shaped room. Actually I'm not sure I could consider it a room, it was too large, and had dozens of cells alongside its walls.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

"Huka!"

"!"

There were some guards that noticed me, but I had no time for them. Were they innocent, I'm not sure but the easiest thing to do was kill them. Luckily they were not nearly as strong as the royal knights.

One by one I ran down the stairways to a lower floor, but it was taking too long.

[ Time limit: 00:11.23 ]

'Their cells should be at the very bottom. I should just do this."

Swoosh.

I leapt over the railings and began to fall all the way down. It must've been at least a hundred meters deep because I was falling long enough to see all the sad miserable faces of those imprisoned here. Most looking like normal people.

At the very bottom there was only a single large cell covered in all the heavy darkness that weighed down on it.

'It's too dark, I can't see anything..'

Bzzt..!

A flash of blue light sparkled from within the cell. I could faintly make out a person lying against the wall surrounded by what appeared to be lumps of flesh.

"...lowly human... so you've come ."

'That voice..'

I ran to the cell and forced its freezing doors open. Shock made me stumbled back as I laid eyes upon the persons body.

[Notification]

Skill fortified mind (lvl1) cannot resist your mental distress and has been forcefully deactivated!Attempting to reactivate.

[Notification]

Reactivation of the skill fortified mind (lvl1) failed!

[Notification]

Reactivation of the skill fortified mind (lvl1) failed!

[Notification]

Reactivation of the skill fortified mind (lvl1) failed...

The face was the same as I remembered, beautiful and fair with white long hair to compliment. Yet, everything was tarnished.

Bruises and cuts were all across his face, blood and vomit were dried all in his hair, but the worst of all was the state of his body. His limbs were no where to be found, only his torso and head remained.

Was cutting off his arms and legs a means to mock what was once such a majestic being?

"...you, your arms and legs.. how could this happen?!"

I knelt down beside him and screamed, trying to touch where his limbs would've been.

"Shh, we must not cry over what was lost."

"Tell me, what can I do. How can I help you?" I begged. "Your grandfather, that's right. He healed a hole in my heart, he can heal you too I'm positive!"

Kaine's breathing was raspy, and his eyes barely open, it took everything in him to reply to me. Even still, he used his last remaining mana to flicker off random bouts of lightning so I could see him.

"Truly there is nothing that can be done, this is the reality that comes to those who commit treason."

"That can't be true, there has to be a way!"

"None."

I began to desperately look around. "Kryse, where is kryse?"

Kaine lightly tilted his body to one side, and what was hidden was now more easily seen. What appeared to be random lumps of flesh was clearly another body.

"Kryse passed on long ago, and soon, I'll be joining her."

Tears began to roll down his face, and his breathing becoming stiffer.

"...As I said, we should not cry... over what was lost."

Flashes of memories of kryse's warm demeanor crossed my mind and over lapped with the image I was seeing now.

'Huh, that body is kryse? Is this a joke? That beautiful, and kind person. This is them?'

Now, I could barely speak as my throat has been completely corked with desperation and sadness. To attempt to somehow feel her I reached out, but there was hardly anything to touch. That wasn't the kryse I knew.

I fell to the floor and cried pathetically.

"This is all because of me, because I wanted to be stronger... Had I just died this wouldn't have happened. I.. I've ruined you, I've ruined you..!"

In this moment, my mind was chaos, and there was no tangible thought I could latch onto. Echo's of the guards rushing down to this cell to capture me could be heard, but deep down I didn't want to get up. I wanted to die right here with them.

[Notification]

There's only 5 minutes left to complete your quest, you must hurry!

"Shut up!" I yelled at the screen: "..shut the fuck up."

Kaine also picked up on the guards coming down, and made a choice that would forever stay with me.

"Allan, get up. I said get up..!"

"Wha-"

"Will you die here too, and let our sacrifices be for nothing, for kryse's death to be for nothing? If I could go back I would've killed you myself in order to prevent this, but we knew the risk and still decided to save you. So get up human!"

His words struck a cord with me, they were something I could hold onto when I was so lost.

'He's right, I have to live on... If not for myself, then for others who believe in me, who care for me.' I thought as I slowly stood up.

"Good, now come here. You must hurry."

He demanded.

"Listen closely. My grandfather was never such a good healer to the extent of healing a hole in one's chest. No, it wasn't him but it was kryse."

"..."

"Yes, kryse used a spell that is taught to us all, but must never be used. It is one that takes from oneself to give to another."

Somehow I couldn't follow what he was saying. "I don't understand.."

He scuffed. "Did you think you could suddenly grow stronger by yourself? She healed your broken core with her own."

"What, why would someone do that? It doesn't make sense!"

'She said she wanted to be a great healer, but was born with no talent. Did she lie so that I wouldn't feel bad?'

I suddenly remembered what she told me that day that she tended my wounds.

"A true great healer does whatever they can to completely heal their patients. Even if it means sacrificing their self. So thank you."

Everything began to make sense to me now. The small things she would say that didn't make any sense. Kaish showing great disdain for me whenever he could. He was likely upset by the fact that his sister could no longer pursue her dream of being a healer.

My fist instinctively rolled into a fist. How could someone be that selfless? I was beyond frustrated at that fact that my carelessness caused someone else's tragedy.

"I will do the same as my sister did, but on a much greater scale. Do no argue with me, this is the only way you'll make it out of here alive."

The only way I would make it out of here alive was if he killed himself? What kind of dogshit thinking was that.

"No way, I won't accept it!"

Kaish's voice grew cold. "Do you think I am doing this for you? No, I need you to give my sister a proper burial and I want to be the reason for it. I want her to know I never abandoned her."

This man, he was always like this with his sister. If she was selfless for others, then he was equally as selfless for her. In that sense, this current situation made a little more sense, but still it was hard to accept.

"Then, what? Even if you do that I still won't be able to escape, I'm not strong enough."

"That's true, you're very pathetic. Which is why you must listen closely. Come close to me and place your hand where my heart lies, you must hurry."

I placed my hand on his heart, but nothing happened. It was a little strange, but he didn't seem to react and only quickly explained to me how to escape so that I could bury his sister.

"Do you understand?"

"..Yes!!"

"Good."

Suddenly his body became ethereal and slowly started to dissipate. Where I placed my hand glowed, and energy entered.

"Wait what's happening, are you leaving now?!"

"... lowly human, take care of my sister."